Neighborhood News

* The DANA Annual Neighborhood Night Out is this Tuesday, August 1 in St. James Church Parking Lot on Delaware Avenue.
The Farmers’ Market will take place as usual from 4 to 7pm and feature fresh corn, berries, squash, peppers, peaches, greens, garlic, natural meat, honey, jam, baked goods. (We may be in a slightly different location this week in search of some shade.)
At 5:30 pm free ice cream will be served. Our musical entertainment this year will be provided by an acoustic jazz trio. There will be face painting, door prizes, massage, voting on our school’s name and a chance to learn how to set up a neighborhood watch. Bicycle enthusiasts will be on hand as will elected officials, public safety officers and Officer McGruff. Bring a lawn chair. Join us!

* Our neighborhood’s Carriage House Arts Center is holding its annual art show now until 8/27/06 at the Albany Area Visitors Center, 25 Quackenbush Square. Mon-Fri. 9 to 4 pm, Sat-Sun 10 to 4 pm. This is the 8th Annual Art show of mixed media, showcasing work by award winning students of the Carriage House Arts Center (part of Living Resources) on Cuyler Avenue.

* School 18’s new principal, Maria Vitillo, invites you to a summer time social on August 22 from 6 to 7 pm at the school’s temporary location at 75 Park Avenue. If you would like to attend to meet the school community, please rsvp to 462-7238. When they move back into their new building in January, they will hold a grand opening ceremony.

* Citizens for Responsible Zoning will meet August 3 at 7pm at the Lutheran Church on Garden and Hurlbut.

* We have certainly enjoyed hearing about and seeing some preliminary plans for a new branch library on Delaware Avenue – very exciting. If you missed the meeting and would like to see them visit this website:
http://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/facilities/plans/delaware/index.php

Hope you’re enjoying your summer!

328 Delaware Ave - update

A special thanks to Tim Garrity for calling Lupe and explaining to her the importance of being a responsible property owner. She indicated to Tim that she would work on a speedy resolution to the tenant problem at 328. I'll keep everyone posted through the blog or email.

Thanks to everyone who made phone calls. If further action needs to be taken, we'll outline it here.

Take Action - 328 Delaware Ave

I've been getting numerous complaints about the kids who hang out at 328 Delaware Ave and live above Ada's Botanica. The kids are constantly harassaing passers-by and yesterday the police were called out to stop a fight. Today, around 1:30pm, I saw the kids walking the streets with pipes in their hands.

If you have the time to make a couple of phone calls, please contact the following:

Albany police dispatch at 438-4000. If you haven't witnessed the kids for yourself, tell them you are calling on behalf of concerned neighbors who are afraid of the tenants living at 328.

Also call the landlord for 328. Her phone number is 917-319-2972.

A couple of the neighboring businesses really need your help so please call the numbers above if you can.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Good meeting at Perry and Laura's. Congrats to Ford on moving into the "Contact" position! The 22-23 people was an impressive crowd. Good news on the business association too of about 100 businesses being contacted. Hard to believe we have so many along Delaware Avenue. Credit to Beth on getting the ball rolling. Many thanks to Common Council member Cathy Fahey for her involvement.

South End Quality of Life Committee

South End Qualityof Life Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
6:00pm—7:30pm
Schuyler Mansion

Agenda will include:

• Planning for National Night Out
• Announcements of upcoming events
• Update on South End Revitalization Plan
• Neighborhood Comments/Concerns

Everyone is Welcome!

Link to Proposed Delaware Avenue Library Facility (revised)

This is the link to the Albany Public Library plans for the Delaware Branch.

Please keep in mind, that our neighbors, Chicorelli Funeral Home, are still an active business.

Does anyone know if the library has an alternative site, if the referendum fails?

See you all tonight.

Neighborhood Watch meeting - July 24th

We're planning the next neighborhood watch meeting for Monday, July 24th at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at the old Albany Baptist Church on 431 Delaware Ave (see the picture to the left). 

Neighborhood News

The DANA farmers’ market continues next Tuesday, July 18 from 4 to 7 pm in St. James parking lot (look for the tents.) Special next week will be fresh corn, blueberries, apricots & plums, yum. (and much more!)

While you’re planning your schedule please include the DANA entryway clean up for this Saturday, July 15 at 9:00am. Our neighborhood and Mrs. Keenan could really use your help to renew the park across from AAA. Meet there. Bring gloves, weeders, drinking water.

Join us to learn more about plans for a new Delaware Area branch library on Wednesday, July 19 at 7 pm at the current branch, 485 Delaware.

Neighborhood Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1 from 4 to 7 pm in St. James Parking lot. There’ll be free ice cream at 5:30, music, face painting, information on starting a neighborhood watch and an opportunity to talk with Officer McGruff and other public safety officers and your neighbors. Bring a lawn chair. If you, your faith-based or service group, or business wants to participate by providing info., selling something, donating to the raffle, sharing a skill, please give us a call at 432-0516.

Strategic Cleanu-up of Community Resource

Joyce Keenan has arranged with Judy Stacey to do a cleanup at the garden entrance opposite Graceland Cemetery on Saturday, July 15th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. If you are able to come and help out, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

Neighborhood News

Our neighborhood is bopping with library plans, garage sales, new names, jazz & chickens . . . .

1. The True Witness Apostolic Faith Church of God is having their annual yard and bake sale this Saturday morning, July 8 behind the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit at Hurlbut and Garden Streets. Stop by for treasures and delicious treats!

2. Jazz at the Farmers Market – Tuesday, July 11. Join us for quintessential jazz by the quartet Five this Tuesday. The market runs from 4 to 7 pm each Tuesday in St. James Church parking lot on Delaware avenue. Your favorite farmers have returned to sell fresh fruit, greens, peas, beans, broccoli, honey, plants, flowers, & jam. And there are some exciting new vendors like Nagimor Farms which sells meat from naturally pasture-raised animals. Their animals are raised without growth hormones or prophylactic antibiotics. They enjoy green grass, fresh water and a stress free-life for a much healthier product. The farm is selling beef, pork, sausage, lamb, chicken and beautiful brown eggs.

Kathy Fahey Community Letter

Attention Delaware Ave. neighbors:

The School 18 Renaming Committee met last night. Potential names were winnowed down to the followingthree names:

Delaware Elementary School
Delaware Amistad School
Delaware Community School

These names will now be reviewed by the Superintendent's office and, if found acceptable, sent to the Albany School Board for further review and a final decision at their Tuesday, August 1 Board meeting at Albany High School at 7pm in the NE Cafeteria. Members of the community are urged to speak during the public comment period at the upcoming Board meeting or write/e-mail to the School Board regarding their ideas/concerns about potential names for the school.

The following procedure for addressing the Board ofEducation is from the Albany School District website at http://www.albanyschools.org/:

To address the Board:
You may contact the Board clerk, Catherine Cutting, prior to the Board meeting and ask for you name to beplaced on the public comment sign-in sheet. The Board clerk can be reached at 475-6010 or via e-mail atccutting@albany.k12.ny.us.

You also may sign up to speak at the board meeting. At the beginning of public comment period, the Board President will read the names, in order, from the sign-in sheet. When your name is read, you may approach the podium. You are asked to restate your name and your address. All person addressing the board are asked to keep their comments to three minutes. Speakers may only address the board once during the public comment period. Board members will listen to each speaker's remarks, but no action will be taken until the board is properly prepared to address the issue. The board will respond to all communications by the most appropriate means. Address: Board of Education Albany City Schools Academy Park Albany, NY 12207

Sincerely,
Cathy Fahey

Building Libraries for the Future Meetings

You’re invited to view preliminary design concepts for new and renovated libraries for Albany
The Albany Public Library is hosting six public meetings to give city residents an opportunity to review draft drawings for six new and renovated libraries.

All meetings begin at 7pm.

Tuesday July 11 - Pine Hills Library, 517 Western Avenue

Wednesday July 12 - Howe Library, Schuyler & Broad Streets

Thursday July 13 - North Albany Library (YMCA building), 616 North Pearl Street

Tuesday July 18 – New Scotland Library (School 19), 369 New Scotland Avenue

Wednesday July 19 – Delaware Avenue Library, 485 Delaware Avenue

Thursday July 20 - 200 Henry Johnson Blvd.

If your civic organization would like to schedule a special briefing, please call Library Director Jeff Cannell at 427-4379. For more information, visit our website at www.albanypubliclibrary.org.