Joint Meeting - South Troy Neighborhood Groups

Joint Meeting - South Troy Neighborhood Groups

Burden Iron Works, Little Italy, Osgood, 

Stow Farms and Washington Park

Neighborhood Groups

  

Date:           Tuesday February 12, 2013

Time:           6 -7 pm

Location:    TAUM - 392 2nd St., Troy NY

Agenda

•  Guest Speaker Hilary Lamishaw from TRIP will present to the group on the following:
• Background on the Troy Neighborhood Action Council 
• What is the Troy Neighborhood Action Council and what can it do for me? 
• Landlord training overview
• How to promote landlord training with a neighborhood
• Next scheduled training session
• Update on the Vacant Buildings Project
•  Community Police Update - Jason Valente, Community Police Officer

Burden Iron Works Neighborhood Association Van Buren to Mill Street, First to Fourth Street Jane Snay, frinz40 [at] hotmail.com	Little Italy (4th Street) Rocco DeFazio rdefazio@nycap.rr.com Marion Field, mvf1406 [at] aol.com
Osgood Neighborhood Association Canal to Van Buren; 1st to 5th streets Sid Fleisher, sidneyfleisher [at] yahoo.com	Stow Farm Neighborhood Association Stow Avenue and surrounding neighborhood Charlene Dobert, weschar4254 [at] aol.com
Washington Park Association Around Washington Park; 2nd & 3rd streets Lynn Kopka, lkopka [at] earthlink.net www.wpa-troy.org	http://www.triponline.org

Joseph's House Reaches Out

Provided by Matt Vertefeuille, Outreach Advocate, Joseph’s House and Shelter.

     

Winter is finally here upon us on the opposite end of the Holiday Season.  While many of us have been with our families, unwrapping presents within the warmth of our homes, there are many people in this area who have been staying outside.  Joseph's House and Shelter’s Outreach Program provides services to people who are homeless in Troy and the greater Rensselaer County.  Through Joseph's House we provide outreach services through its three sites: the Shelter at 74 Ferry Street, the Lansing Inn and the Hill Street Inn. 

While providing services out of three different sites, Joseph's House and Shelter is working hard to better reach and serve the community and meet people on the streets of Troy.  Outreach workers have been walking or driving throughout Troy and interacting with those staying outside, whether it's in the street, at soup kitchens or at drop-in centers.  The outreach program has worked with around 70 individuals since July, the beginning of the current grant year.  The program continues to grow.  Services available through the program include personal care items, socks, undergarments, access to shelter, help applying for benefits or just a listening ear. While we are confident that most people in the Troy area are aware of Joseph's House, there are still people throughout Troy and the greater Rensselaer County area that may be in need and do not know what services are available to them. 

If you know of anyone who could benefit from such services, or if you know of an agency or organization that would like to speak with an outreach worker, please use the following contact information or give it to the concerned party:

Joseph's House and Shelter 

http://www.josephshousetroy.org/

74 Ferry St, Troy NY 12180

(518) 272-2544

Ask for Matt or Joel or email Matt here.

Be a Smart Spender!

Everyone can benefit from being smarter about managing his or her money.

"Spend Smart" is a set of free financial education classes offered at TRIP that assist people to achieve a better financial awareness for themselves and their future.  The classes are split into two sessions and are held three times a year.  Different topics are held during each session.

Each topic discussed helps secure a better understanding of the importance of reviewing your current financial and credit situation, as well as how to improve it.  It is the goal of this course to help you realize that managing your money is possible, avoiding unnecessary debt is possible, and reaching goals are possible; we just have to find the right tools and methods to get you there.

The first night of the course is aimed at reviewing items such as spending plans, credit, and the basics of borrowing.  While most people are aware of the importance of spending plans, this class will help you  learn how to create a useful plan, the value and different types of credit that individuals have, charging credit the right way, and the cost of debt (how interest, service fees and different charges accumulate over time).

During the second session, topics such as credit reports, building and repairing your credit, financial goal setting (setting goals that are attainable and timely), and building your savings are discussed.

These two sessions will assist participants gain control over their financial and credit stability with the knowledge they obtain.  This information can also help individuals by giving them tools to help avoid and reduce money-related anxiety and stress in their life.  In a difficult economic time, this class plays an integral part of financial preparation for each person’s future.  The knowledge and information that is shared in "Spend Smart" will help people arm themselves with a plan for their financial well-being.

To learn how to be a smart spender, register for the next "Spend Smart" sessions on February 19th & March 5th.   Go to www.triponline.org to view the calendar or click on http://www.triponline.org/news_and_events/WorkshopRegister.html.

For more information or to schedule a free, confidential appointment contact the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center at 690-0020 x221.

With Heartfelt Thanks

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. 2012 marked our 44th 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 2013. Our best to you and your families.

Thanks to our 2012 Donors!

Wallace and Jane Altes, Eric Anderson and Caroline Lee, Anonymous, William Aram, Bank of America, Judith A. Barnes, Diane Bell, Berkshire Bank, Jeanne Bodin, Joseph Boland, Alice Boos, Chris Burke, Capital Bank, Nancy Carroll, Choice Heating and Cooling, Gerald and Marjorie Christiano, Joyce and John Chupka, Citizens Bank, CKYoung, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Jim and Phyllis Conroy, Andrea Daley, Michael and Rebecca Danforth, DeFazio Imports, Garrett and Shellie Degraff, Geri deSeve, Robert Doherty, Jane Ducatt, Doug Dylla, Lorraine and Jeff English, Carl Erickson, Michael Esposito, Joe and Barbara Fama, First Niagara Bank, First United Presbyterian Church, Joseph and Claudia Fleming, John and Ella Gallagher, Bob Gamble, Marie Gavazzi, Honorable Peter Grimm, David and Katie Haviland, Barbara and Gary Higbee, Hilton Garden Inn Troy & Rensselaer Banquet and Conference Facility, Bill Hope, Hudson Valley Community College Foundation, Rev. David and Mozella Irving, Island View Associates, Honorable Kathy Jimino, E. Stewart Jones Jr., Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Marcia & John Keefe, Key Foundation, Lynn Kopka, Hilary Lamishaw, Bernice Ledeboer, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY, Leo's Overhead Door, Lomonaco & Pitts Architects, Bob and Janet MacLasco, John Madden Jr., Patrick Madden, Joseph Mangione, Martin Law Firm, Morris and Esther Massry, Kim Mazor, Honorable John McDonald III, Honorable Steve McLoughlin, Thomas McGuire, Honorable Ellen McNulty, Honorable Mike McNulty, Heinrich Medicus, Fredda Merzon, Paul Miyomoto, R. Mihran and Ovsanna Mooradian, M&T Bank, Steve and Mary Muller, NE Health Foundation, Christine Nealon, Barb Nelson, Nigro Companies, Kevin and Pat O'Bryan, Tim O'Byrne, Omni Housing Development LLC, Chet and Karen Opalka, O'Rourke Home Remodeling, Jane Otto, John Pattision, Mark Pattison, Gary Pavlic, Pfeil Hardware, Pioneer Bank, Sandra Reizen, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,  Paul and Barbara Richer, Honorable Lou Rosamilia, Dominic Rotondi, Michael Rynasko and Sue Troll, Dr. Susan Scrimshaw, SEFCU, Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball Shaw, Patricia Shevy, Ericka Small, Stewarts Shops, Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, Sunmark FCU, Honorable Paul Tonko, Turner Construction Company, Mary Urban, Tina Urzan, Frank Visco, Betsy Voss, 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.

Please make checks payable to:

Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, Inc. or TRIP 

Mail to:

TRIP

415 River Street

Troy, NY  12180

Green Organization Desigination Award

Tuesday, at an awards ceremony in DC, I had the privilege of accepting TRIP’s Green Organization Designation Award from NeighborWorks America.  We are one of just 16 groups nationwide chosen to receive this designation.

I was both proud and humbled to be able to accept this award for TRIP.  Proud because we are again at the lead of an important national initiative and humbled because the credit for getting us to this point lies entirely with our Green Team.  This effort was not based on a directive from me or the Board.  Rather, it arose from the interest and passions of the staff.  It was the work of a core group of staff members who formed the Green Team, embraced the initiative, set and met deadlines, and successfully made application for this designation - and in the process increased our green awareness and changed the way we do business.  This is not my observation alone.  A number of people from NWA in DC who have a hand in this sought me out yesterday to tell me how wonderful it was to work with our team.

So congratulations Green Team.  Job exceedingly well done.

Patrick Madden

Executive Director

Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program

Please click here to learn more about NWA's Green Organization Program:

http://www.nw.org/network/neighborworksprogs/multifamily/GreenPrograms.asp

Faces at TRIP

Danielle Wattsman

If you have called the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center in the last five years, chances are good that you’ve talked with Danielle Wattsman.  As our Programs Administrator, Danielle manages our homeownership program offerings and grants.  She also gets to use her information systems skills as TRIP’s primary web administrator. 

When she’s not at TRIP’s HOC, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family and playing softball.  Her time on the field is spent as a member of the Troy Co-Ed Softball League.

In the coming year, Danielle hopes to further incorporate technology into daily activities at TRIP & RCHR and promote our need for continued rehab funding.  Quality programming is the corner-stone of the TRIP NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center and the more we spread the word about our services, the greater impact TRIP & RCHR can have.

TRIP and Friends Celebrate Honorees

A great evening was enjoyed on December 3rd at TRIP & RCHR’s Annual Homecoming Dinner to recognize the achievements of – and thank -- two remarkable men.  The Honorable Ron Canestrari, who is retiring from the NYS Assembly, received the TRIP & RCHR 2012 Community Citizenship Award.  His decades of leadership and support of the Capital Region, first as Mayor of Cohoes and then as state assemblymember and Majority Leader, makes him so deserving of this award.  While we will miss him in the Capitol, we wish him a wonderful and well-earned retirement! 

Long-time Troy resident Mike Esposito received TRIP’s “Troy Treasure” award for his many years of volunteering as local historian for Troy and as an active leader of Little Italy’s events and activities.  He also is greatly appreciated for being the most prolific author of TRIP’s “Troy Treasure” columns published in The Record bi-monthly.  Mike is truly a Troy treasure. 

The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan, who demonstrated a comedic ability that kept the audience laughing, even while she gently poked at big brother and former congressman Mike McNulty, who introduced Ron Canestrari.   It was a great evening made special by the two honorees and the many people who came out to recognize them and to support TRIP & RCHR.