Troy Shares Free Skill Share Sunday, April 14th

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Add Your Voice to Others Through TNAC

The Troy Neighborhoods Action Council (TNAC) will be meeting on Wednesday, April 10th from 6–7:30pm at The Margaret Krause Center on 2212 Burdett Avenue in Troy.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

We will have a full agenda, including a discussion of Earth Day plans. 

TNAC is a group of Troy citizens who are actively improving Troy’s neighborhoods through implementing projects, starting workgroups to deal with specific issues such as vacant properties, and sharing successes and ideas. If you’d like to have a voice in Troy’s community issues, please come to the meeting on April 10th!

Home Matters

What does “home” mean to you?  Does it evoke warm memories or a feeling that you can’t wait to get there today?  Does it make you reflect on the future and see your kids and grandkids coming home to visit?  “Home” means different things to different people, yet a universal truth is that a stable, safe and affordable home lays the groundwork for family stability and success.

TRIP recently signed on to support Home Matters, a national movement promoting the importance of affordable homes. In a time of mass foreclosures and housing issues, Home Matters looks to shift our country’s perspective so we can understand the power of having a home. Having a stable home allows us to have better health and be more prepared for work and school. Studies have also shown that children in stable homes are able to achieve more in school. Families in stable homes are more likely to take action to combat crime and create safe, vibrant communities in which they can live.

For more information, visit www.homemattersamerica.com.  To tell us why Home Matters to you, go to TRIP’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/TRIPTroyNY.  We hope to collect some of your stories in a video to show at the TRIP & RCHR Annual Dinner in the fall.  

Interested in Making a Difference? Volunteers Needed!

TRIP is seeking volunteers to help with an exciting new project!  In partnership with neighborhood groups and the city, we will be undertaking a community survey in part of North Central Troy to determine the level of community spirit, the advantages and disadvantages of the neighborhood, and the physical condition of the properties. This will give us some ideas about what is working well and what is needed in this community.  Furthermore, we will re-survey the same area in two years which will allow us to measure any differences that result from our collective community efforts over the next couple of years. 

If you would like to join the CIM (Community Impact Measurement) Team for some fun while collecting important information, please email Hilary [at] triponline [dot] org or call at 272-8289 x214.  

In addition to being part of a team to determine neighborhood assets and needs, you will meet new people, explore interesting neighborhoods, enjoy some lovely architectures and get fed.  And did we say it will be fun??   

We look forward to hearing from you today.

Come the Housing Fair!

2013 Capital District Housing Fair

Interested in buying or repairing a home?  Want to save money on utility bills?   Not sure who to call for a house inspections? 

Visit us at the 2013 Capital Region Housing Fair Saturday, April 27th!  The event is from 10 am until 2 pm at the Main Branch of the Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Avenue.  

For home buyers and owners, the event features information on programs for down payment assistance, energy efficiency and home repairs. Learn about programs for home purchase, home repair and energy efficiency; apply for energy efficiency programs, meet lenders, realtors, home inspectors.  Consult with an attorney about your current mortgage; sign up for a free credit report and more.  

For more details, go to http://www.ahphome.org/housing_fair.html

Faces at TRIP - Jay Coons

Jay Coons, Maintenance Mechanic

Zoey & Jake

Jay Coons is a lifelong Troy resident and has been working with TRIP’s maintenance staff for just 18 months. Jay’s job as a maintenance mechanic involves preparing apartments between tenancies – painting and repairing things -- as well as general maintenance requests such as dealing with plumbing, heating and electrical issues. Jay loves the fact that every day at TRIP is a different work day. There is also always plenty to do, so he can keep busy and the day flies by. He says that he “comes in, gets to work, and the next thing he knows it is 3 o’clock – it’s great!”

When Jay isn’t working, he is focused on the three loves of his life: Kelly, his girlfriend of 8 years and his first love, his American Bulldog named Zoey, and his Calico named Sasha. Jay loves all animals and his favorite thing to do is take Zoey for walks and play with her. When Jay can get away, he and Kelly escape to her family’s camp on Caroga Lake where he can recharge and relax with Kelly and Zoey. Jay also considers himself something of a sports nut. He is an avid Dodgers, Raiders, Lakers and North Carolina basketball fan. 

Jay’s coworkers enjoy his sense of humor and helpful demeanor – he has been a great addition to our team!

Thank You to The Record

As TRIP celebrates its 45th anniversary -- having been created in Spring 1968 -- we want to say thanks to all our supporters and partners over these many years.  As executive director Patrick Madden writes in The Record on April 3rd, “The accomplishments of TRIP over the decades are properly credited to hundreds if not thousands of individuals and institutions:  the many current and former board and staff members, the many neighborhood residents past and present, the many city and county administrations, the local business community and the many, many individuals who have supported this effort with their time and their financial contributions.” 

You can read more about TRIP, our accomplishments and the potential that lies before us, how you might support these efforts, and 45 reasons why people like TRIP in The Record’s insert about TRIP that was published and included in the April 3rd edition.  For a copy, email Hilary [at] triponline [dot] org or call 272-8289 x214. 

We want to thank Lisa Lewis, editor of The Record, for her generosity in publishing the 8-page insert about TRIP and its programs, history, etc.  We also appreciate Lisa’s and The Record’s partnership in its ten years of printing “Troy’s Treasures” articles in the Sunday editions about all the positive things happening in Troy.  To read past columns, go to 

http://triponline.org/news_and_events/TroyTreasuresArticles.html.

We look forward to decades more of working with The Record and many other partners to continue the story of how, collectively, we are creating vibrant, sustainable communities in Troy.   

Troy Shares Free Skill Share

When:  Sunday, April 14, 2013
 3pm - 6pm

Where:  Independent Living Center of Hudson Valley, 15-17 Third Street, between Fulton and Broadway, Troy

What:  Troy Shares is sponsoring a free skill share and timebank orientation for the public. Talented members will lead the following activities:

3:00pm:

• Vegan cheese making
• Tai Chi

3:40pm:

• Review of Timebank Requests and Offers

4:30pm

• Braiding rugs
• Making your own cleaning supplies

5:10pm

• Creating a keyhole garden

For more information, see TroyShares.org or call (518) 308-8097.

Troy Shares will be at the Troy Farmers Market on Saturday, April 27. Stop by the table and say hello!