Thank You!

45 Years: Thank You for Your Generosity

We are enormously grateful to the countless neighborhood residents, government officials and individual and corporate donors who so generously gave of their time and resources this past year. 2013 marked our 45th year of facilitating community development in Troy and Rensselaer County. As in every prior year the credit truly goes to the community. We are impressed and humbled by the trust you have put in us and we look forward to working with each of you in a busy and impactful 2014. Our best to you and your families.

Thanks to our 2013 Donors!

Wally & Jane Altes, Anonymous, Architecture+, Bank of America, Charles Barnes, Judith A. Barnes, Bartle McGrane Duffy & Jones, BBL Construction, Berkshire Bank, Tony Behan, Robert & Mary Brand, Bob & Sheryl Burke, Callanan Industries, Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP, Capital Bank, Capital District YMCA, Karen Carlson, Nancy Carroll, Carroll Realty, Joanne Carter, Joe Cary, CDWA Legal Project, Andrew Chase, Joyce and John Chupka, Citizens Bank, Chris Collins, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Susan Cummings, Andrea Daley, Michael and Rebecca Danforth, Tony Dawson, DeFazio Imports, Garrett and Shellie Degraff, Jessica Derrick, Honorable Bob Doherty, Doug Dylla, Emma Willard School, Lorraine and Jeff English, Carl Erickson, Michael Esposito, Joe & Barbara Fama, Donald & Lisa Fane, Marion Field, First Niagara Bank, First United Presbyterian Church, Joseph and Claudia Fleming, Melissa Franklin, Charles Freihofer, Sandra Garrity, Marie Gavazzi, Tim & Kathy Gilchrist, Colleen Goldston, Jude Goldwin, Honorable Jim Gordon, Honorable Peter Grimm, Groff Networks, Hannaford, David and Katie Haviland, John & Karen Hedley, Barbara and Gary Higbee, Hilton Garden Inn Troy, Alane & Paul Hohenberg, Penny Holmes, Hoosick Valley Contractors, Hudson River Bank & Trust, Rev. David and Mozella Irving, Honorable Kathy Jimino, Liza Johnson, E. Stewart Jones Jr., Joseph Mangione Inc., Sam Judge, Paul Keely, Charles Keels, Key Bank, Nancy Klepsch, Honorable Lynn Kopka, Gwen Krause, Hilary Lamishaw, Bernice Bornt Ledeboer, Joseph Lomonaco, M&T Bank, Bob and Janet MacLasco, Cara Macri, Patrick Madden, John Madden Jr., Joseph P. Mangione, Honorable Kathy Marchione, Roger & Maria Markovics, Morris and Esther Massry, Norman Massry, Jillian Mayott, Kim Mazor, Denise Mazzariello, Jack McCann, Honorable John McDonald III, Thomas McGuire, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Honorable Steven McLaughlin, Honorable Rich McNally Jr., Honorable Mike McNulty, Heinrich Medicus, Carole Montepare, Ovsanna & Mihran Mooradian, Townsend Morey, Steve and Mary Muller, NBT Bank, Edward Nash, Marilyn Neal, Christine Nealon, Barb Nelson, Theresa Newton, Nina Nichols, Jeanette Nicholson, Kevin and Pat O'Bryan, Tim O'Byrne, Thomas O'Connor, Jane Otto, Gail Padalino, Elsie Pastor, Peony Ventures LLC, Pfeil Hardware, Sandy Phoenix, Pioneer Bank, Ratna Randive, Marsha Ras, George Regan, Steven Rein, Edward Reinfurt, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Reverus, Jay Richardson, Honorable Lou Rosamilia, Ken & Dorcas Rose, Honorable Ellen McNulty Ryan & Mark Ryan, Michael Rynasko and Susan Troll, Peter Sawyer, Nancy Scarchilli, Bill Shroeder & Wendy Pattison, SEFCU Mortgage Services, Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball Shaw, Yvette Smalls, State Farm Insurance, Stewarts Shops, Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, Sunmark FCU, T. McElligott Inc. Trustco, Michael Tucker, Turner Construction Company, Unity House, Tina Urzan, Value Options, Peter Fox and Erica Veil, Betsy Voss, Danielle & Rob Wattsman, Charles Weisman, Amy Williams, Patty Williams, Wiltshire Energy, and Wojeski and Co.

TRIP depends upon charitable contributions to support its work in community revitalization, affordable housing, and resident leadership development. Thank you for your role in revitalizing Troy and its neighborhoods. TRIP is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Click here to make a secure online donation.

Or

Please make checks payable to:

Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, Inc. or TRIP 

Mail to:

TRIP

415 River Street

Troy, NY 12180

Make a Difference - Volunteer with TRIP

Here are some specific ways you can help.

Or if you have a specific skill, let us know.

We can put it to use!


Social Media:

• help with updates to Facebook and Twitter about events and relevant info
• write drafts of articles for monthly newsletter

We Appreciate Your Generous Support

Your Donation Matters

"TRIP rents apartments at affordable prices."

"Really? I thought TRIP helps people become homeowners."

"No, TRIP is about rehabbing old, unmarketable homes and making them useable again."

"Hmm, I thought TRIP supported neighborhood leaders and associations."

Many people don't know that TRIP does all of the above... and more. These core activities enable us to work towards our mission and vision, which is about people, homes, and communities.

We hope you will take ten minutes to watch a video entitled "TRIP - More Than Housing: Building Leadership." it will give you an idea of the impact we can make upon one individual and where that can lead. Enjoy!

To make a secure donation to the work of TRIP, click here.
Or
Please make check payable to:
Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, Inc. or TRIP and mail to:

TRIP
415 River Street
Troy, NY 12180

Congratulations!

Congratulations — again — to Marion Field, a leader in Troy’s Little Italy neighborhood and other initiatives.  In addition to being feted as this year’s Troy Treasure at TRIP’s annual HomeComing Dinner, she recently was awarded the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award at its headquarters in Albany.   She was recognized for her “diligent efforts and contributions to the city of Troy.”  We could not agree more.  Congratulations to our Troy Treasure, Marion Field, with our gratitude for all you do in our city!

Click here to view the article in The Record:

http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20131209/troy-woman-honored-by-fbi-for-community-leadership

Helping Others

By Helping Oakwood this Holiday Season

Oakwood Community Center, a recently designated National Historic Site on Hoosick Street in Troy, is raising money this holiday season to support three important community initiatives: 

• The Oakwood Soul Cafe, which provides a "pay what you can" meal once a month.
• Oakwood Food Pantry, which serves an average of 35 families every Saturday
• Neighborhood Compost and Gardening program

To contribute to this initiative, click here.

Connect with Oakwood Community Center on Facebook.

What Will Troy’s Future Hold?

Help Determine it!

December 10 | 6:15 - 8:30pm | ICC 1450 5th Ave.

The second of three deliberations of “Building A Stronger Troy” will be held on Tuesday, December 10 at the Italian Community Center from 6:15pm - 8:30pm. 

The meeting is free and open to the public.
 Click here to register. 

For information about the first deliberation held on November 19, go to http://www.buildingastrongertroy.org/wordpress/?p=87. 

Building Civic Capacity for a Stronger Troy has been funded by The Louis and Hortense Rubin Community Fellows Program. The funding will support three public deliberations throughout Troy, giving Troy residents the opportunity to focus on the future of Troy. It is organized by Dr. Peter Sawyer of Hudson Valley Community College in collaboration with Russell Sage, Rensselaer, Emma Willard, and other groups. 

For more information, visit www.buildingastrongertroy.org.

Energy Savings Tips

Visit http://aceee.org/consumer

This is the time of year when the heat goes on and utility bills increase – just when we prefer to spend money on holiday gifts or events.   Fortunately, there are many things we can do to save energy and money, but it can often be overwhelming to know exactly what could provide the biggest “bang for your buck;”  i.e., what kind of difference will your actions make. Fortunately, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy put together this handy list.  Click here for the full list. 

It is broken into 4 sections:

• Things to do right away, like: 
• Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).  You will not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.
• Start using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers
• Replace some of your incandescent lights (particularly the 60-100W bulbs used several hours a day) with compact fluorescents (CFLs). These lights can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. 
• Things to do this week, like:
• Visit the hardware store. Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators, and compact fluorescents, as needed.
• Things to do this month, like:
• Schedule an energy audit (click for NYSERDA page) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.
• Things to do this year, like:
• Insulate. If your walls aren't insulated, have an insulation contractor apply blown-in insulation (cellulose or fiberglass) to the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to snuff.

(Read the rest of the list here)

Faces at TRIP: Michele Desormeau

Michele Desormeau: Maintenance Team

Meet Michele Desormeau, TRIP’s newest employee at 3 months and one day.  She is quick to tell people that her nationality is French although based on the different ways that people pronounce her name, it changes from Italian to German to …..

Michele joined TRIP’s maintenance team in September and has many years of experience in this field.  She feels working in maintenance is challenging and rewarding work, particularly since it is not the “same old thing” every day.  The work changes daily, whether it is making repairs or meeting tenants.  She is exhilarated to be working at TRIP, doing everything from repairs to “make readies,”   where she enjoys working alone as well as working with other maintenance staff on joint projects. 

When Michele is not working she loves traveling in her RV, which is currently vacationing without her in warm weather in Knoxville, TN.  Michele recently rescued a Jack Russell terrier who she named “Jack.”  Before you accuse her of having no imagination, she will tell you that her grandson thinks it’s cool when he googles Jack Russell and photos of Michele’s dog pops up. 

She used to be fussy about her hair in order to look her best, which she thought was important until her best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a radical mastectomy.  Now she cuts it as soon as it reaches 8 inches (every 18 months) and donates it to Locks of Love to make wigs for cancer patients.  She explained that she often has clips in her hair, not because she thinks it looks “cute,” but to keep the hair out of her face so she doesn’t cut it before it’s long enough to donate. 

Michele is an awesome worker and a great team player.  In addition to her excellent work, we enjoy seeing her smiling face when she comes into the office.  Welcome, Michele!  

Gang of 9

Troy’s New City Council 

We want to congratulate the nine elected officials who will serve as members of Troy’s City Council beginning January 1, 2014.  We welcome the three new members:  Erin Sullivan-Teta is an at-large delegate, Jim Gordon will be representing District 1 and Anastasia Robertson will be representing District 2.  Additionally, we look forward to again working with the six incumbents who were re-elected:  at-large delegates Rodney Wiltshire (who will become council president) and Lynn Kopka, District 3’s representative Dean Bodner, District 4’s representative Bob Doherty, District 5’s representative Ken Zalewski and District 6’s representative Gary Galuski.  

We look forward to great things in Troy in 2014!

Go Team!

Don't Forget to Register for Your Basic STAR Property Tax Exemption

Don’t forget to register with the NYS Tax Department by Dec. 31st, 2013 to continue receiving Basic STAR property tax exemption (except for senior citizens who are exempt from the registration requirement).

Go to www.tax.ny.gov or call NYS Tax Dept at (518) 457-2036.

Building a Stronger Troy

To more effectively support the City of Troy and to enhance the opportunities for teaching and learning for our students, Hudson Valley Community College, Russell Sage College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Emma Willard School are working together to create a series of public deliberations to focus on the future of Troy.

The public is invited to a meeting on Nov 19th, 2013 at the Italian Community Center, 1450 5th Ave, Troy, NY at 6:15pm. 

This is free and open to the public and will be followed by additional meetings in 2014.

For more information, go to www.buildingastrongertroy.org

Building Leaders

Community Leadership Institute

TRIP hosted a group of residents at this year’s Community Leadership Institute in Sacramento in October.  James (Chick) Mayben, Mack Henderson, Andrea Branch, and Team Coordinator Davia Collington were joined by TRIP’s VISTA volunteer Anasha Cummings, Rental Manager Kenny Holmes, and Director of Community Affairs Hilary Lamishaw.  Spending two and a half days with a thousand passionate resident leaders from around the country and superb trainers has charged up our Troy team, which is putting together an Action Plan for a veteran/youth mentoring program in the neighborhood.  

Go team!

A Benefit for All: A Tax Exemption

Home Improvement Tax Exemption

Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia recently announced how homeowners who invest more than $3000 in their one- or two-unit homes can get a property tax exemption that is then phased in over 8 years.    

The city’s Home Improvement Tax Exemption (City Code §257-32 to §257-36) became law in 2006 (along with a companion Historic Property Improvement Credit; City Code §257-37 to §257-39).   However, it has barely been used, so the mayor is reminding Troy homeowners of its availability.  

The City has prepared a brochure projecting investment in typical vacant, foreclosed property, highlighting the cost savings to prospective property owners and the savings in property taxes over 8 years.  “The numbers are very telling.  An investment of $75,000 in a home assessed for $25,000 would result in an increase in taxes of $825 per year.  The Home Improvement Tax Exemption would phase in the assessment increase of $75,000 equally over an 8 year period.  This gradual increase would save the homeowner $3,716 over the life of the exemption. This program benefits the homeowner and the City,” continued the Mayor.  

The brochure is available through the City Assessors office at (518) 279-7126 or learn more online at http://www.troyny.gov/Departments/EconomicDevelopment/ecodevprogramsincentives.aspx

Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Choices

Have you been thinking about upgrading your furnace, weatherizing your home, or insulating the attic? All of these projects can significantly reduce your monthly energy bills, particularly in the winter months, but they come with a hefty sticker price. You could save up for some fancy new insulation or request weatherstripping in your stockings, but there is a better way. New York now has on-bill-financing of these kinds of upgrades which we know will save money. You can get a guaranteed loan tied to your utility, which pays for the upgrades upfront, and pays for itself out of your savings right on your utility bill. If you move, the upgrades and bills stay behind, saving money for the next owner. 

This is merely one of the innovated financing models available to bridge the gaps between making the right longterm decisions and affording it on the short term.

Check out the simple step-by-step guide to on-bill financing at UnwasteNY: http://www.unwasteny.org/financing

Or Jump right to NYSERDA's program page to learn more: 

http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/on-bill

Lead Poisoning Prevention

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County 

in Collaboration with 

Rensselaer County Department of Health

Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program

WHAT: Childhood Lead Poisoning is a major problem resulting in the loss of billions of dollars.  In an attempt to correct it before it becomes a problem, Cornell Cooperative Extension in collaboration with the Rensselaer County Department  of Health are working together to prevent childhood poisoning.  The Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program will prevent childhood lead poisoning by performing lead risk assessments and providing educational materials and incentive items to residents in the City’s of Troy and Rensselaer.  

WHERE: Zip codes: 12180 & 12182 & 12144 (within the City Of Rensselaer only)

WHY: Lead Exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.  Children who seem otherwise healthy can have EBLL (elevated blood lead levels).  Lead poisoning can happen just by breathing or swallowing lead dust or eating soil or paint chips containing lead.  Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.  Lead is more dangerous to children because babies and young children often put their hands and other objects into their mouths and these objects can contain lead dust.  Because children’s bodies are growing rapidly they can absorb more lead then adults can.  Children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead such as learning disabilities, mental retardation, kidney damage, anemia, and death.

CONTACT: Deanna Miller

                        Primary Lead Prevention Program
                        Lead Risk Assessor, Environmental Health Educator
                        Rensselaer County Department of Health
                        1600 7th Ave.
                        Troy, NY 12180
                        (518)270-2640
                        deanna.miller@rensco.com

Another Fun & Inspiring Evening

Eileen Bagnoli, Patrick Madden and Marion Field

2013 TRIP & RCHR Annual Homecoming Dinner Recognizes Two Terrific Women

It was a fun evening at the TRIP & RCHR Annual Homecoming Dinner on October 28th as they bestowed awards to two amazing women. The 2013 Community Citizenship award was presented o Eileen Bagnoli, who recently retired as President and CEO of Pioneer Bank, after a 41 year career there. TRIP’s 2013 Troy Treasure award went to Marion Field, who has been active in Troy and particularly in Little Italy for decades. John Hedley provided a great deal of entertainment to the crowd as he emceed the dinner (what a storyteller!) and his likewise very talented teenage daughter, Deborah, wowed everyone with her incredible piano playing. 

Dinner guests were also treated to a short video of TRIP’s community-building work, highlighting the impact of their efforts on 9th Street resident James “Chick” Mayben who blossomed into an energetic and committed leader after attending a conference with TRIP three years ago.  

See his story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNkucKueBW8

Faces at TRIP: Bob Cuddey

Bob Cuddey

Meet Bob Cuddey: 
Maintenance staff

Bob Cuddey has been part of TRIP’s maintenance team for 8 years in December, which is long enough for him to see a lot of kids living in TRIP’s apartments grow up to be teenagers.  As a maintenance staff, he and his partner Josh Wiston are responsible for 76 apartments located in 23 buildings.  They do the “soup-to-nuts” of rental maintenance, being responsible for the upkeep, upgrading, repairs and “make-ready” work of preparing apartments with a fresh look when a new tenants moves in.   

Bob enjoys his work and takes a lot of pride in doing the job right.  Although his work is labor intensive, he gets satisfaction from working with our tenants on resolving any issues or questions that they may have.  Caring for 76 apartments means that his work is different every day; he definitely likes the variety that the job brings.

When Bob is not at work he enjoys relaxing with his daughter Casie, his girlfriend Robin and his pit bull mix Elton at his home in Cohoes. He recently got his motorcycle license and enjoys riding whenever he can. He also enjoys baseball, football and mixed martial arts.   Watching drag racing is another favorite activity.

One of the things that Bob enjoys most about his job is his ability to help tenants with issues --  and the smile on their faces when he’s done.  

We are so happy having Bob as part of the TRIP team!  

Faces at TRIP: Ben Dooley

Meet Ben Dooley, Maintenance Mechanic at TRIP

Ben started working at TRIP two years ago and is glad he did!  He enjoys the camaraderie among all the staff and particularly among the maintenance crew.   He also finds it satisfying to be able to correct any issues that might come up with our tenants’ apartments.   Ben was a big help at TRIP & RCHR’s recent Green Fair and Recycling Day, where he collected metal products for recycling. 

With TRIP’s recent purchase of Jacob Square, a twenty-two apartment building on 11th Street, Ben is looking forward to making the needed repairs and correcting any and all issues with the property.

When Ben isn’t working at TRIP, you’ll find him keeping active by playing sports.  His favorites are football, softball and golf. 

And what a team-player he is – Ben is always willing to lend a hand to anyone or anything that needs help.  Ben, we’re so happy you’re part of TRIP’s team!  

Looking for information about the Affordable Health Care Act?

Check out https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/

According to the site, individuals and families have many new low cost, quality health insurance options available through the Individual Marketplace (NY’s “health care exchange”). People can quickly compare health plan options to find the one that brst meets their health needs and budgets. People can also apply for assistance that could lower the cost of their health coverage, such as new tax credits , to help pay for monthly health insurance premiums. Individuals earning up to $45,900 a year or a family of four earning up to $94,200 a year qualify for tax credits. You may also be eligible for assistance to help pay for copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs or for free or low-cost coverage from Medicaid or Child Health Plus. 

Empoloyers, small business owners, sole proprietors and others can also find helpful information at https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/

Help is Available 

The site also lists the agencies serving as In-Person Assistors (IPAs)/Navigators, which provide in-person enrollment assistance to individuals, families, small businesses and their employees who apply for health insurance through the Marketplace. There are 6 agencies in Rensselaer County, including the County Health Department, CEO, Troy Area United Ministries, Seton Health, Whitney Young Health Center, and the Capital District Black Chamber of Commerce. The website lists the agency’s location and site schedule. 

People were able to sign up as of October 1, 2013 for coverage that begins January 1, 2014.

Defending Threatened Sacred Sites

TAP, Inc.and Historic Albany Foundation will continue to build on a 2009 project to safeguard urban sacred sites in the wake of dozens of church closings.

To this end, TAP and Historic Albany will conduct a one-day forum, “Everyone’s Architecture: A Call to Defend Sacred Sites,” to continue to raise public awareness of the magnitude of the problems that urban churches face and the possibilities of overcoming them. The forum will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the historic, accessible Christ Church United Methodist, 35 State St., Troy.

We want to impress upon attendees the appropriate stewardship of these buildings, closed or not, in part by using their outstanding architecture as a rallying point for preservation.

This will spark a grassroots movement to involve the community in the preservation of existing religious buildings and in the appropriate disposition of closed sacred sites. This effort also is meant to encourage people to invest, financially and civically, in the welfare of all houses of worship, which contribute to a sense of place for everyone’s enjoyment and education. Regardless of our backgrounds, this supreme architecture is everyone's cultural heritage.

www.historic-albany.org

Button Up That Overcoat

As we head into winter, many of us are budgeting for the increased utility costs that come with the cold weather, but National Grid has some good news for you: the price of natural gas is estimated to go down by 9% this year due to lower negotiated delivery costs, "barring an unseasonably cold winter season," according to a recent article in the Times Union.

While 9% is nothing to shrug at, and could lower a typical family's costs by $50 to $100 over the course of the winter, National Grid continues to emphasize the importance of efficiency, which can save much more. According to the Department of Energy, their weatherization program is saving the average participating household $400 a year on their utility bills.

National Grid recently increased their rebate programs to offer $1,120 to households for upgrading to high efficiency boilers. The rebate on a seven-day programmable thermostat is being increased from $18 to $36. The deal is being offered through Dec. 31. The New York State Public Service Commission has put together a unified resource at http://unwasteny.org to find other programs available to help you increase the efficiency of your home and reduce energy costs.

For Sale!! 3349 6th Avenue, Troy

A stunning brick building dating from late 1800s, completely gut and rehabbed by professional contractors.

It is an exquisite two-family home (one 3 bedroom unit, one 2 bedroom unit) in which the homeowner must live in one unit and rent out the other.  While it has retained its historical façade—those features that are characteristic of Troy’s architecture --  the inside is modern and contemporary to provide the conveniences desired by families today.  The building was gutted on the inside right down to the bricks.

Every square inch of the building is new construction –built to last another one hundred plus years.

Both units host lovely open floor plans where everything is new, spacious and beautiful!  High-efficiency windows, heating systems, extra insulation and more were added for long-term affordability and comfort.

It is available at an affordable price to an income-qualified first-time homebuyer.   Contact TRIP’s HomeOwnership Center at 690-001 x221 for more information.  

Green Fair: Success!

We want to thank everyone who participated in the recent second annual TRIP & RCHR Green Fair & Recycling Day.  Peter Kroneau from Century Solar Supply said “The idea of a green fair in Troy is excellent! I thought the vendor display was good, the coffee and goodies were terrific too.”  From Tyler Holloway of Empire Zero Waste, “It was a great event and I can’t wait until next year’s Green Fair which I know will be even bigger and better!”  

More than 116 carloads of recycling was dropped off resulting in over 650 pounds of clothes collected by St. Pauly Textile, which forwards it to groups that provide disaster relief around the world; the diversion from landfills of 9,331 pounds of old TVs and other electronics; the collection of hundreds of books for Grassroots Givers; and the collection of bikes for Troy Bike Rescue and Bikes for Humanity.  There was a great array of businesses and organizations that were exhibiting their green products or strategies or information.  

Check out the exhibitor photos at TRIP’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TRIPTroyNY and  The Record’s front page article at http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2013/09/29/news/doc5247ef957c2be416903987.txt

TRIP thanks our Green Fair partners and sponsors, including City of Troy, Rensselaer County, Transition Troy, State Farm, NeighborWorks America, Century Solar Supply, Empire Zero Waste, County Waste & Recycling, Positive Energy NY LLC, and St. Pauly Textile.  Interesting displays and information was provided by exhibitors including Troy Compost, American Chemical & Equipment Co, Inc., Hudson Valley Biofuel, Shaklee Independent Distributors, NYSERDA, Lansingburgh Boy Scout Troop 611, League of Women Voters of Rensselaer County, Clean and Healthy New York, NYS Dept. of Public Service, Troy Bike Rescue, Frear Park Conservancy, Empire Solar Store, Losovo, Pfeil Hardware & Paint, Ecolibrium, and Hollitronics Energy Solutions.  We offer a special thanks to the band “Shadowland” which entertained us for hours with their great music.

Photography by: Joan Heffler Photography - Pictures With Personality

 To see the entire album click here.

Meet the Candidates Night

 

2013 TNAC Troy City Council Candidates Night

Tuesday, October 8th 

6:00 - 8:00pm

Old School 12, 475 First Street, South Troy 

between Harrison St. and Tyler St./Bridge Ave. 

Parking lot on the south side of the school

Come to hear what the candidates have to say about 

the issues in Troy that are important to you.

There are 19 candidates this year running for 6 Troy City Council District seats and 3 At-Large seats.

Want to ask the candidates' what they think about the challenges and opportunities facing all Troy residents?  Please submit your questions to Marie Gavazzi at MLG01 [at] earthlink.net by October 7th at noon.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Marie Gavazzi here. We hope to see you October 8th!

 Candidates:

 1.   At-Large -- Lynn M Kopka

 2.   At-Large -- Erin A Sullivan-Teta

 3.   At-Large -- Rodney G Wiltshire, Jr. 

 4.   At-Large -- Carmella R Mantello 

 5.   At-Large -- John A Cubit 

 6.   At-Large -- Christian J Lambertsen 

 7.   At-Large -- Jessica Ashley

 8.   District 1 -- Suzanne L Scales 

 9.   District 1 -- James R Gordon 

10.  District 2 -- Anastasia Robertson 

11.  District 2 -- Kimberly A Mazor 

12.  District 3 -- Michele M DeLair 

13.  District 3 -- Dean L Bodnar 

14.  District 4 -- Debra A Lockrow 

15.  District 4 -- Robert J Doherty 

16.  District 5 -- Ken Zalewski 

17.  District 6 -- Emily M Rossier 

18.  District 6 -- Gary L Galuski 

19.  District 6 -- Emanuel B Ned

 

  

Faces at TRIP: Anasha Cummings

TRIP is happy to announce that we have a new Americorps VISTA  volunteer: Anasha Cummings.  Anasha joined the TRIP team last week and will be working with us until next August.   As our Green and Sustainability Coordinator, he is coordinating the Green Fair, and helping TRIP become more sustainable  as we help Troy do so.

Since his arrival in Troy five years ago (from Santa Fe, NM, where he was raised), Anasha has been active on a variety of issues. He is passionate about designing new systems to mitigate the impacts of climate change, promote environmental justice, and use awesome new technology to make all of our lives better.  He is one of the founders of the statewide Neighborhood Revitalization Conference; Troy will again be hosting the upcoming annual conference later this month.

In his spare time, Anasha enjoys building things out of wood at the Center of Gravity, and is making a website called Nexus at http://projectnexus.us. 

Welcome,  Anasha!  

Troy Hosts 2nd Annual NYS Neighborhoods Revitalization Conference

Register Today!

Registration is now open for the second annual New York State Neighborhood Revitalization Conference at http://nyneighborhoods.org on Saturday, September 21st, at Russell Sage College 

Billed as “Sharing, Solving, Strategizing for the Future,” it will host statewide neighborhood organizers in a day of idea sharing, problem solving, and strategizing for the future of New York’s communities. Neighborhood activists, educators, business people, and elected officials will gather to share successes at various workshops in order to develop and maintain healthy and vibrant communities throughout Upstate New York. Organizers believe that the strength of our past and the diversity of our people, cultures and businesses will make our neighborhoods destinations to live, work and visit. 

The keynote speaker is Vincent DeSantis, a thought leader in urban revitalization, city court judge, activist and author of the highly regarded book, Toward Civic Integrity: Re-establishing the Micropolis. 

The registration fee is $25. Discounts are available for students and low-income people. Apply today at http://nyneighborhoods.org. 

Kudos to conference organizers and Troy residents Dorcas and Ken Rose, Rocco DeFazio, Kathleen Ryan Cassidy, Anasha Cummings and Rick Hartt.