Newsletter - Clifton Knolls – Mill Creek Civic Association

January 2014
www.ckmcca.org
NEWS
CKMCCA
& VIEWS
Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek
Civic Association
(Not Just)
Wine and
Cheese Party
A CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK TRADITION
DATE: March 1, 2014
TIME: 7 to 11pm
PLACE: Locust Lane Clubhouse
COST: $7.00/$10.00*
Food • Drinks • Friends
Tom Harding to entertain!! • 50/50 Drawing
• Please R.S.V.P. to Deb Jackowski at remydog@earthlink.net or 371-9930 and please confirm how many
will attend.
• Food donations are appreciated. Please let us know if you can bring an appetizer or a dessert. **Please
consider bringing your recipe to share! We would like to compile a recipe book of all the delicious food.**
• We need volunteers to help set-up and decorate on Friday, February 28th at 7PM. If you can help, please
contact Deb Jackowski at remydog@earthlink.net or 371-9930.
*$7.00 per person for Civic Association Members. $10.00 per person for non-members. You can pay your
dues at the door and become a member!!
NEWS
& VIEWS
NEW TO CLIFTON KNOLLS OR MILL CREEK?
First of all, welcome to the neighborhood!
Many of us have been here since the
neighborhood started in 1960, and some
of us have only been here for a few years.
But one thing we all have in common is
wanting to live in a neighborhood that is
clean, safe, and reflects our pride in the
community.
FROM THE EDITOR
We decided to push our December issue to
January due to the busy holidays and were
also waiting for details on some upcoming
events to share with you. Thank you for
your patience and be sure to read through
the advertisements as some of them have
time sensitive information.
It’s starting to look like a busy winter/
spring for the CKMCCA. There are a
handful of sponsored events and some
other events we wanted to share as well.
Newly added is the Shmaltz Brewery Tour,
which should be a great way to meet some
of your neighbors. We are always looking
for new ideas for events, if you have an
idea or are are interested in organizing an
event for neighbors to participate in we can
help get the word out. Come to one of the
board meetings or you can email the board
with your idea.
I would like to take a moment to thank
those that contribute to this newsletter.
Genie Bassett always gives good advise in
her “Happy Housing” article. Amy Smith
knows the skies very well and has been
writing the “Star Gazing” section for the
past couple of years. My personal favorite are the responses to the MicroView
questions from the neighborhood children (thanks parents for sending in their
responses! ). It’s great to see the participation! This month, Edward Wagner stepped
up to share about himself in a new section
I’m calling “Resident Spotlight”. I’ll keep
this going as long as there are submissions!
Don’t be shy! So, contact us at newsandviews@ckmcca.org to contribute or perhaps you have a comment or suggestion.
PAGE 2
The Clifton Knolls-Mill Creek Civic
Association has been around since August
1962. The CKMCCA is not a homeowners association that everyone must join,
and does not imparts universal requirements, like mailbox styles. We are a true
civic association—our goal since our
inception has been to make our neighborhood better by fostering a sense of
community.
To that end, the CKMCCA sponsors a
number of events in our neighborhood,
from the Halloween parade and party
every fall, to the neighborhood garage
sale every year, to the summer picnic,
winter wine and cheese party, and college
scholarship. CKMCCA also publishes this
newsletter (which goes to everyone in the
neighborhood), and the annual directory
(which only goes to dues-paying members
of the CKMCCA).
As someone who is new to our neighborhood, we ask you to contact us to give us
your contact information for inclusion in
the next version of the directory, and to
provide us with your e-mail address, so we
can get in touch with you between issues
of the “News and Views”. In return, we’ll
give you a free copy of the latest CKMCCA Neighborhood Directory, regardless
of whether or not you join the Association. Thanks for choosing to live in our
neighborhood!
Shmaltz Brewery Tour
Come join your neighbors to one of the most highly rated craft brewers in
the country! First, we will be taking a tour of the Brewery and then going
into the tasting room.
When: March 15, 2014, 12 pm
Where: 6 Fairchild Square, Clifton Park 0ff of exit 10 of the Northway.
Cost: The tour is free. There is a charge of $10 for the tasting room which
gets you a glass (you get to keep it to take home) and 5 tokens to taste the
different beers on tap.
RSVP: Please RSVP to board@ckmcca.org to save a spot!
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
Happy New Year from the CKMCCA Board!
But before we start talking about the new year,
we want to make sure we express our thanks to
Charlie Rudick and the Leaf District, and to
the Town of Clifton Park for the leaf cleanup
that happens in our neighborhood in the fall.
Clifton Knolls is one of the lucky few neighborhoods that is able to dump leaves at the
curb for pickup, and for the past two years,
with new equipment, the Town has done a
great job of cleaning up the piles regularly
throughout the fall.
As we look forward to our events in 2014, we think we have something
for everyone. From the Daddy-Daughter Dance in February, to the (Not Just) Wine
and Cheese Party in March, to the Annual Meeting in April, to the Community Picnic in
June, to the Neighborhood Garage Sale in August, we hope everyone feels like CKMCCA and
our events are making the neighborhood a bit more special. And this year we’re going to try a
few new things—including a tour of the new Shmaltz Brewery in town.
Town Supervisor Phil Barrett will be our speaker at the Annual Meeting on April 9, making a
few comments and then answering your questions. Mark the date now!
We also want to plug the neighborhood email list. If you have an email address, and we don’t
have it yet, please consider sending it to us. Over the past several months, we’ve been collecting and sharing recommendations from neighbors for things like lawn care, local contractors,
pet sitters, and more. It’s just another way of neighbors helping neighbors. If you want to join
the email list, send us an email and we’ll add you.
As always, this is our neighborhood, this is YOUR neighborhood. The role of CKMCCA is
to enhance living in the neighborhood. We can organize and plan as many events as we want,
but the success of the events depends on you, our neighbors. We always want to hear from you
about things we could do in the future, or how we could make our current events better.
MEETING SCHEDULE
• CKMCCA regular board meetings are held on every second Wednesday of the month
between the months of September through June:
January 8, 2014
February 12, 2014
March 12, 2014
April 9, 2014
May 14, 2014
June 11, 2014
September 10, 2014
October 8, 2014
November 12, 2014
December 10, 2014
• Meetings start at 8:00pm and run 60-90 minutes.
• We want your input! These are open meetings, all Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek residents are
welcome to come and participate.
CKMCCA BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Shanley Alber
Bryon Backenson
Deb Jackowski
Kathy Lamanna-Friedman
Amy McGeary
Joe Osso
Tara Osso
Kevin Simon
Sheila Suozzo
Candice Vild
CONTACT INFORMATION
CKMCCA Board:
board@ckmcca.org
Directory Information:
directory@ckmcca.org
News & Views Editor:
newsandviews@ckmcca.org
Advertise in News & Views
and/or Annual Directory:
advertise@ckmcca.org
CKMCCA E-Mail List:
mailinglist@ckmcca.org
GET CONNECTED!
Follow us on Twitter! We’re
cliftonknolls.
We’re on Facebook too! We’re a
group — do a search for CKMC
Civic Association. Feel free to add to
our growing page on Facebook!
And, don’t forget to be put on the
email distribution list for important
information between newsletters.
• We will send out an e-mail regarding the location of the meeting, and post them on
CKMCCA.org as well.
SAVE THE DATES
FEBRUARY 8, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daddy-Daughter Dance
MARCH 1, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wine and Cheese Party
MARCH 15, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scmaltz Brewery Tour
APRIL 9, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CKMCCA Annual Meeting
APRIL 12, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electronic Recycling Day
MAY 17, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Open Space Day
PAGE 3
NEWS
& VIEWS
News & Views of the Children of Clifton Knolls and Mill Creek
Welcome to MICRO VIEW! It’s the place
for the children in the neighborhood to
read, write and share. Have a story or
article you’d like to share? Submit it! All
entries are welcome and we will do our
best to print them here.
MICRO VIEW ANSWERS
A) WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN EXPERT AT?
B) IF YOU COULD PICK ANYWHERE TO GO ON WINTER VACATION, WHERE
WOULD IT BE?
Sledding is a popular winter activity for
the whole family. Sleds are inexpensive
and snow-covered hills are free, so sledding is a perfect activity for families to
get out, have some fun and get good
physical exercise at the same time.
Sam, Age 11, Valencia Ln.
a) Sledding
b) Virginia
Ethan, Age 9, Valdepenas Ln.
a) Sports
b) Florida
Nick, Age 7, Eldorado Dr.
a) Legos
b) John’s house
Matt, Age 9, Valencia Ln.
a) Art
b) West Mountain
Lucas, Age 7, Eldorado Dr.
a) Math
b) Legoland
Erin, Age 5, Eldorado Dr.
a) Coloring
b) Friend’s house
The earliest uses of sleds were for transportation and survival. In the 1870’s it
was discovered that when they sat on
the sleds that were used for delivering
things, and were pushed down a hill,
they were great fun.
Reid, Age 7, Valencia Ln.
a) Playing
b) West Mountain
Jaydon, Age 9, Eldorado Dr.
a) Skylanders Swap Force
b) Legoland
Sean, Age 9, Cortes Ct.
a) Checkers
b) Utah
Selah, Age 5, Valencia Ln.
a) Running in the snow
b) Colorado
Macy, Age 3, Greenlea Dr.
a) Coloring and cutting
b) Disney!
Nicole, Age 11, Cortes Ct.
a) Tumbling
b) Carribean
Angela, Age 9, Greenlea Dr.
a) Skating with my hockey sled
b) Florida
Luke, Age 10, Greenlea Dr.
a) Remote control vehicles
b) Kentucky
In the 1880’s, Samuel Leeds Allen made
the first flexible-runner sled that was
wooden and allowed a sled to be steered
by hand. Today, sleds can be made of
wood, plastic, foam or rubber. And are
available in many different shapes and
sizes. What is your favorite sled?
MICRO VIEW QUESTION
Answer one or both of these questions. Have your parent email your answer to newsandviews@
ckmcca.org. Include your first name, age and the street you live on.
1) What winter activity do like the best: sledding, iceskating, skiing, building a snowman,
snowball fight, or I’d rather stay inside!!
2) Fill in the blank: “I’m most relaxed when I ______________________.”
The flexible flyer was
patented by Samuel
Leeds Allen in 1889.
PAGE 4
BABYSITTER? YARD WORKER? DOG WALKER? Hey kids,
do you have services you’d like to offer? Submit your name
and contact information and you will be listed in News and
Views. Email information to newsandviews@ckmcca.org
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Calling all Dads, Grandpas, and
3RD
AL
ANNU
r
e
t
h
aug
D
y
d
ad
E
C
N
DA
D
Uncles. Bring your special girl(s)
to CKMCCA’s third annual Daddy
Daughter Dance. Enjoy good
food, new friends and most
of all DANCING!!
FEBRUARY 8, 2014
6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Locust Lane Clubhouse
R.S.V.P. BY FEBRUARY 1st
Brent or Candice Vild
(518) 557-7471
venture48@gmail.com
Please bring a NUT FREE snack or dessert to share.
My pet ____________________ is always getting into trouble. All the neighbors know him. Modst days you can find him chewing
ANIMAL
on ____________________’s ____________________. But I don’t know what got into him yesterday. I had just taken him out
NAME OF NEIGHBOR
SOMETHING VALUABLE
for his morning walk when a(n) ____________________ leaped out from behind a tree. My pet jumped ____________________
NUMBER
ANIMAL
feet into the air! He started to ____________________ really loudly. He took off ____________________ at about a
VERB ENDING IN -ING
ANOTHER NOISE
____________________ miles an hour. Luckily he stepped in ____________________ and left a trail of ____________________
SOMETHING MUSHY
NUMBER
ADJECTIVE
____________________ prints all the way to the nearest store. By the time I got there, three employees were chasing my pet out of the
ANIMAL BODY PART
store. the animal was running down the street with a brand-new pair of ____________________ on his ____________________.
POPULAR SNEAKERS
ANIMAL BODY PART
the next thing I knew, he dashed into a restaurant, jumped onto a(n) ____________________, snatched ____________________
FURNITURE
FOOD, PLURAL
off a customer’s plate, and ran out the back door. I thought I had lost him completely when I walked by another store. There he was,
curled up asleep next to a(n) ____________________ in the window. As ____________________ as I coud, I clipped on his leash
DIFFERENT ANIMAL
ADVERB ENDING IN -LY
and walked him straight home. Boy, was he in the doghouse!
PAGE 5
NEWS
& VIEWS
STAR GAZING
2014 IS GOING TO BE A STELLAR
YEAR FOR US IN THE NORTHEAST!
We will enjoy two total lunar eclipses (April
& October), a partial solar eclipse (also
in Oct.), and a productive ‘new’ meteor
shower during Memorial Day weekend.
This should be a pretty impressive shower,
caused by our journey through a debris field
left by a small comet eloquently known as
P/209 LINEAR.
The early months of 2014 are rich with
lunar events: In January we have a Micro
and a Super Moon. A Micro Moon is when
a full or new moon happens while it is at its
farthest point (apogee) in its elliptical orbit
around Earth. A Super Moon is a full or
new moon coinciding with its closest (perigee) point to Earth. In February, our ‘Man
in the Moon’ is most helpful in pairing with
the planets for easy viewing -- so there are
no excuses to not go outside and look up!
February 3 Moon will be near both Uranus and Mercury
by Amy Smith
February 9-11 Moon near Jupiter
Monthly Highlights:
February 21 Moon and Saturn before
dawn
January 14 Jupiter and moon close
together
February 23 Look SW before dawn,
Moon will be to left of Mars & Saturn
January 15-16 Micro Moon - year’s
smallest moon
February 24-25 Moon and morning star
Venus
January 17 North Star is book-ended by
Cassiopeia & Big Dipper
March 2 Jupiter, look South at dusk
January 19 Mercury becomes visible at
dusk, look SW
March 10 Moon and Jupiter in Gemini
January 22 Check out Mars and the
Moon at midnight
January 24 Moon and Saturn alight at
dawn
January 27 Moon and Venus wake up
before sunrise
January 30 Super Moon ends our month
February 1 At sunset, spot Mercury
coupled with a young Moon
KINDER PARK CHILD CARE
LOVING CARE FOR YOUR CLIFTON PARK, HALFMOON AND REXFORD KIDS
Reading - Writing - Math - Piano
March 3 Young Moon and Jupiter
March 12 Look for Summer Triangle in
the East. Watch it as it climbs overhead
(May 1)
March 16 Final full Moon of winter (yay)
March 20 Vernal Equinox - moment the
sun crosses the celestial equator going from
south to north.
March 26 Venus and Moon paired before
sunrise, look SE
Call Now!
518.371.1519
Kinderparkchildcare.com
Like us on Facebook
PLAY
LEARN
TESTIMONIALS FROM SATISFIED PARENTS
!
Y
O
J
EN
“My son has been going to Kinderpark since he was 3 yrs old. He is bilingual and was a slow
talker when he started. He started talking within months and we were surprised at his progress. The daycare has a smaller group of kids than the other places and the kids get a lot of
individual attention. The daycare is clean and very well organized with lots of toys. They also
have a nice shady playground for the kids. The food is prepared fresh everyday and my son
who is a picky eater loves their food. Their preschool program is excellent and the teachers
are awesome. My son is now 6 yrs. He is a well behaved child with exceptional social skills
and is doing great in school. We owe it all to this daycare.”
For Children 14 Months - 7 Years
“My 3 year-old son and I love this daycare.They have different excellent teachers, my son
could learn a lot from them in a short time. In addition, the food is very fresh and delicious.
My son eat very well every day.”
FREE WEEK UPON ENROLLMENT!
PAGE 6
Hours:
Daycare: 7:30am - 5:30pm
PreSchool: 9:30am - 11:30am
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
HALLOWEEN PARADE: A MAGNIFICENT SUCCESS!
The Halloween Parade was a great success! Melvin the Magnificent did a great show, enjoyed by both the children and
adults. Thanks to all who helped set up, hand out refreshments and clean up. Also thanks to the all those who dropped
off goodies. We can’t have an event like this without the help of many.
CKMC “TBD” Club
Calling all Girls, Ladies, Women, Females.... Welcome to the neighborhood club
for us! We plan outings (Ladies Night Out) or inings (Ladies Night IN!) just for
fun. We also plan to share recipes, plants, anything you can think of. This is an
informal club, events can be planned or spontaneous depending on the group.
All ages welcome!
Our next scheduled event will be at Mocha Lisa’s on Sunday, January 26th at
4pm. We plan to have a ladies night out at Art on Tap in the near future. Also, a
ladies night in! Bring an appetizer to share, and bring along the recipe. Movie
night is also on the list. We will send out an evite for these events.
We are always looking for new members! Interested? Email Heather Fariello at
ha_trent@yahoo.com.
TAKE PART!
Join the CKMCCA Board
The CKMCCA Board is looking for new
members! This is a great way to get
involved in the neighborhood you live in.
Commitment only involves a few hours
a month.
If you are interested in becoming a board
member, please contact us at board@ckmcca.org or call Bryon at 253-7287.
Also, remember all meetings are open...
You are welcome and encouraged to attend!
PAGE 7
NEWS
& VIEWS
RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: EDWARD WAGNER
Springs. Clifton Park was a good compromise
between the two job locations and the Knolls
was a perfect place to live. During that time
frame they have seen neighbors come and go.
However, they still stay in contact with those
“special friends” who moved away. An interesting fact is that Ed’s family has lived in the
region for over 150 years.
Edward Wagner is a lifelong
resident of the Capital Area. He
grew up in Niskayuna and graduated from Van Antwerp Junior
High in 1953 and Nott Terrace
High in 1956. After graduating
from SUNY Cobleskill in 1958 he
enlisted in the Army. Ed & Joan
have lived in the Knolls for 28
years. They have six children and
nine grandchildren. They moved
here because that is where Joan’s
sister Judy Hughes and her husband Ed Hughes live. At the time
Ed had recently started a new
job in downtown Schenectady
while Joan had a job in Saratoga
Ed first started writing while attending Van
Antwerp. He continued to write in high school
and college. Ed even had articles that he wrote
in various gardening magazines and hunting
magazines. He had a series of books published
(still available at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon
Library) titled The Second People. Ed became
interested in E BOOKS when Joan bought her
first Kindle. As a history buff he likes to write
historical fiction, but he also writes fiction.
Currently he has seven books available through
Amazon Kindle – E books – and expects an
eighth book to be available soon.
The titles and subject matter are:
The Fawn & other short stories (fiction) - A
collection of short stories filled with tales of
love – passion – family – conflict and danger.
BEYOND THE HORIZON (Sakini Sono
Horizonto) (historical fiction) – Young love
interwoven with passion – lust – envy – murder
– revenge and intrigue.
Neanderthal (Truly Human) A story of
LOVE surrounded by DANGER – (historical
fiction) – A story of tender moments between
family members interspersed with horrific fights
against both the forces of nature and wild animals. However, through it all the love of family
shines through.
Native American legends and stories of the
first “Americans” (historical fiction) - 1492
changed everything – or at least it started the
change. Before 1492 the land, rivers, lakes and
even the nearby seas belonged to thousands of
tribes and nations. They inhabited the Americas from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic and
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The fire that ate the Mountain (pre-history
love story) (fiction) When did a man first hold
a baby in his arms and feel the instant bond
of a father with a newborn? When did a man
first utter the words “I LOVE YOU” TO A
WOMAN?
The Hunter (fiction) It was the time of the
encroaching ICE AGE in Europe. The resident
Neanderthals (The Chosen) and the incoming Cro-Magnons (The Second People) were
interacting. When the two cultures melded and
co-existed it resulted in the formation of a new
group (The People) who prospered amid the
trials and tribulations of that period.
MY GRANDMOTHER’S GRANDMOTHERS’ STORIES & TALES Actual stories from
my grandparents – “little people – scarecrow –
Family Business - etc.” (REAL STORIES from
generations past).
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
COURSE
Aaron Construction Co.
March 12 and 13 from 6-9 pm. You need to be there
both nights to qualify for the discount. The normal
$45 fee is reduced to $22 for Clifton Knolls and Mill
Creek residents. It is being held at the Liberty Mutual offices at 14 Corporate Dr. off of Sitterly Rd.
Kitchens • Baths • Decks
Plumbing • Electrical • Carpentry
For all your home remodeling needs.
PAGE 8
Snow Plowing - Great Rates!
Residential/Commercial
NO JOB TOO SMALL!
857-8354 or 371-1519
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:CKMCCA
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 2014
Your annual dues to the Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek Civic Association helps our
neighborhoods have the children’s Halloween party, have the adult wine and
cheese party, and publish this newsletter and our annual directory. For the past
several years, it has also granted a scholarship to a different deserving neighborhood student each year.
contact: Bryon Backenson, 8 Eldorado Dr, Clifton Park, NY 12065.
518-253-7287 pbryon@fastmail.fm
There is no formal application form. The application consists of the letter/
essay, transcripts, and optional supporting documents. These should be
submitted to Bryon Backenson at the address above by Aprl 1, 2014.
The CKMCCA is again offering a $500.00 scholarship award to recognize an
outstanding high school senior who shows academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and involvement in the community. Besides showing these
characteristics, the other requirements are that the student must live in the Clifton Knolls or Mill Creek neighborhoods, and their family must be dues-paying
members of the Civic Association. Students are eligible regardless of the school
that they attend, or even if they’re homeschooled.
To apply for the scholarship, high school seniors are required to submit a letter
describing their qualifications and interest in receiving the scholarship. Because
the scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, extracurricular
activities, and civic involvement, it would be wise to include this information
in the letter. A copy of the student’s most recent high school transcript is also
required. Other information, such as letters of recommendation, could prove
helpful in the selection process, but are not required.
Applications are evaluated and ranked by a group of business, governmental,
and academic leaders in the Capital District. They are not members of the Civic
Association, to ensure their impartiality.
If there are questions regarding the scholarship or the application process, please
PAGE 9
NEWS
& VIEWS
A Tribute To Joyce Savage
By Loretta Parsons
Joyce Savage lived a life of service to her
family, her friends and her community. With
energy, intellect and unwavering commitment,
Joyce worked tirelessly and tenaciously to make
life better for family and neighbors. We gather
here today to acknowledge Joyce’s contributions and to dedicate this region of the park, a
quiet place that was one of her favorites, to her
memory.
Joyce was a modern woman, a bit ahead of her
time. She cherished the traditional roles of wife
and mother. She gave her love and support
generously to Howard and their children and
grandchildren. It warms our hearts to have
Howard, daughters Denise and Janice, and
grandson Dan (as well as other family and
friends) with us today at this dedication.
PAGE 10
Martin Luther King, Jr. is often quoted as
saying:
“Everybody can be great... because anybody can
serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to
serve. You don’t have to make your subject and
verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full
of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Joyce was great because Joyce served. She had
a heart full of love and grace. Joyce also had a
college degree…one earned as an adult. In their
early life together, Joyce generously deferred to
Howard when it came to going to college. Yet,
she held on to her dream of a university education and, being the modern woman that she
was, and with attention to detail, she earned a
degree summa cum laude from SUNY Albany.
Joyce applied her voracious appetite for knowledge, her determination to get things done, her
positive forward energy in her work on behalf
of her synagogue and her community. She was
generous in devoting her time and talents to
many organizations. The Clifton Knolls/Mill
Creek Park District is just one of the many
beneficiaries of Joyce’s efforts.
Joyce was there at the first meeting (nearly 20
years ago) of residents invited to form a park
district in Clifton Knolls and Mill Creek.
The neighborhood ponds, playgrounds and
greenspaces that the town was about to receive
had seen better days. Years of neglect led to
rusting fences, tangled weeds, dangerous play
equipment. The list of woeful conditions was
long but the possibilities for improvement
were many and exciting! Those early meetings
were inspiring. Ideas bubbled forth from the
many participants. Imaginations ran wild and
the atmosphere bordered on boisterous (in no
small part due to the dynamic presence that
was Joyce.)
Eventually it became clear that the swarm of
ideas whirling about could never become reality
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
until the group had a plan for organization
and, of course, monetary funds. Joyce, being a
woman of not only ideas but action, was instrumental in organizing a subcommittee to write
bylaws for the committee. She also helped lead
the initiative to supplement our small account
balance built of tax income with a government bond. Without the hard work, generous devotion of time and effort and stubborn
persistence from Joyce and others, the Clifton
Knolls/Mill Creek park lands would have not
had such a rapid turn-around as happened in
the mid-1990’s.
Joyce took the reins of the committee by
becoming one of its early chairpersons. She
led the group through many projects over the
space of four years. Her attention to detail held
the town’s comptroller to provide as detailed
an accounting of the bond funds and project
expenditures as could possibly be obtained. Officials at town hall and workers at Clifton Park
Buildings and Grounds were frequent recipients
of Joyce’s phone calls, visits and messages.
There was much to be done and Joyce made
sure that progress in building our parks,
improving our ponds and cleaning up years of
neglect were accomplished as rapidly as possible. The major projects that the committee
undertook under Joyce’s direction include: resurfacing and fencing the tennis and basketball
courts, ongoing work to clear up the ponds,
installing new equipment at the playgrounds,
securing the services of a landscape architect,
commissioning a study of the ponds and their
flora and fauna, constructing paths through the
woods and many more.
After Joyce’s tenure as chairwoman, she stayed
on as an active committee woman and Vice
Chair. Her prodigious energy, attention to
detail and sharp recollection of facts and figures
were invaluable assets to the committee. Because she had paid attention to every detail of
every project during her years as chair, she had
a wealth of knowledge to tap into as questions
arose. Her memory was phenomenal. The committee worked much more efficiently because
Joyce would lend insight and background as
our various projects progressed over the seasons
and the years.
Joyce continued to be a very active leader for
the Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek Park District up
to, and even during, her final illness. We are
all diminished by her loss at much too early
an age. We will miss her and we will continue
to be inspired and urged on by the vision for a
wonderful park to be enjoyed and shared by all
in our neighborhood.
So as we stand in this lovely park that has been,
and continues to be, enjoyed by our residents
both young and young-at-heart, we remember
Joyce Savage and thank her for her generosity,
tenacity and great-hearted spirit. And over the
years, as we enjoy the shade generously provided by this tree and the restful place provided by
this bench, we will recall Joyce and the love and
energy she gave to make this park the beautiful
and restorative place that it is.
(Written by Loretta Parsons and read at the
Plaque and Bench Dedication at Locust Lane
Park on Sunday, October 6th, by Judy Hughes.)
PAGE 11
NEWS
& VIEWS
Be ruthless and honest as you appraise the utility of some of the
stuff you find stowed away in your closets. If you haven’t used it in
a year, you probably should get rid of it; if it has been more than a
couple of years, it definitely should go.
As you are carting things away to the recycling center, there are
some considerations in this internet age. If you are disposing of any
documents that have your personal information on them – Social
Security numbers, bank information, computer passwords, etc.
– then it would probably be wise to take such materials to a document disposal place. There are several around. The fee for secure
disposal is small and sometimes they’ll even pay you a nominal
fee that represents to the recycling value of the paper.
by Genie Bassett
Chuck and I just expanded the size of our house by 6 percent.
Well, not exactly, but we have gained a lot of welcome space in our
Stans colonial.
Actually, we went on a cleaning and clean-out binge and it has dramatically expanded the useable square footage available for storage
and other purposes. In fact, we can again use the pool table in the
basement!
All of this was prompted by the many people I talk to as they
prepare to move or downsize to a new house and they realize the
monumental task they face in sorting through the accumulations of
several years – perhaps the collection of all the stuff it takes to raise
a family. On a sadder note, I have seen the kids come home to clear
out their parents’ home after they have passed, and too often they
don’t have the time or patience to discover all the really good stuff,
the things that are tied to memories.
There are a few things to think about if you are going to undertake
a house clearing and cleaning. As you dig into a closet and discover
all sorts of treasures, ask when was the last time you used the stuff
that you find. And if you decide you no longer need something, ask
if someone else would want to have it – a child, a friend or maybe
someone you don’t even know.
This time of year, in the spirit of giving, most of the charitable
institutions – Salvation Army, CAPTAIN, After The Fire – will
gladly take things off your hands and find someone who really can
use stuff you no longer want. As an added bonus, you may earn a
tax deduction if you itemize, but more importantly you are helping
someone else.
PAGE 12
And as you dig through boxes and drawers, you truly may
find some treasure. We located a couple of cassette tapes of
telephone conversations we had recorded as far back as 1972. It
was emotional to hear the voices of our parents who passed several
years ago. We sent these on to siblings for their enjoyment as well.
It was wonderful and it made the whole effort worthwhile. Be
warned though that this exercise my lead to more work – finally
getting those old photos into albums or scanned in digitally. You
might also find a favorite sweater that had been overshadowed by
something new.
It can be fun to spend an afternoon going through a closet, trying
on long forgotten clothes and remembering where they were worn.
And if the clothes have shrunk a couple of inches in the waistline
while they hang in the closet (yes, this seems to happen!) then you
have to decide if you are going to renew your gym membership or
pass the clothing along. Those nice warm bedspreads and drapes
that warm your closet might make a whole new room for a person
in need – and you get more closet space – what a deal!!
I mentioned our mission to one of our friends. Her reaction was
that it was just going to make more space for the kids to bring
more stuff home for storage. I think she was kidding. Maybe not.
And as always—HAPPY HOUSING!
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK PARK DISTRICT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2013 UPDATE
Hello Fellow Residents,
The highlights of our park district work this
year include the installation of three new
picnic tables with benches and three game
tables for children, the regilding and repainting of all entrance markers, the installation of
three electric bubblers in upper Barney Pond
and the memorializing of the contributions of
one of our residents. Those accomplishments
along with a recap of the usual park maintenance, will be the subject of this update.
We on the advisory committee hope that
you have noticed the new picnic tables made
of man-made material and placed in each
of our three playgrounds, and perhaps have
used them. The cement game tables with the
checkerboard tops and the block- like seats are
also a new addition. The Clifton Park Town
Buildings and Grounds Department spent
time and care in placing the seats so they can
accommodate most children, from toddlers to
teens. We enjoy seeing kids and families using
and playing at these tables.
Also, all of the entrance markers have been
spruced up with newly painted green backgrounds and gilded lettering. A special thank
you goes out to Nancy and Bill Connor who
for many years now, have maintained the top
planter and all of the seasonal decorations
that we all enjoy year round at the Greenlea marker. Thank you also to Mike Blais
who has mowed around, planted and cared
for the marker at Par Del Rio and Moe for
many years. Also a thank you to all of the
people who help to care for other planters at
Grooms/S.Barney and Beechwood/Clifton
Park Center Road: Claudia Hroncich, Sheila
Suozzo and Doreen Croteau. And thank
you to Miguel and Yocasta Fabian for their
conscientious mowing of the area around the
Grooms marker as well as help with watering
the plantings. It makes such a difference when
the entrances to our development are kept
looking their best.
Perhaps residents have noticed that there are
now three bubblers in the most northern
area of the Barney Pond. If you stand at the
plaque across from Beechwood Drive, looking
south at Barney Pond, the area immediately
to your left/ east, an area we have referred to
as a sleeve, is where the bubblers are installed.
Our committee members have decided as
an experiment, to try to keep the ugly green
growth down by keeping a steady movement
in the water. We’ll keep you posted as to the
bubblers’ effectiveness.
Finally, as we recount the improvements of
the 2013 year, we need to once again mention
the passing of one of our most loyal, vocal
and influential park committee members,
Joyce Savage. Our committee proudly placed a
plaque at Locust Lane Park in Joyce’s memory
and held a memorial gathering in October.
The plaque is off Locust Lane, near a bench
and under a tree to commemorate Joyce’s
favorite spot where she watched her grandson
on the playground. We as park district committee members are proud to memorialize
Joyce’s contribution to the beauty of Clifton
Knolls that we all enjoy today.
The yearly maintenance of the pathways
around the ponds, the mowing of the playgrounds and fields, the mulching, shaping and
trimming of the trees and shrubs, the care of
the perennial gardens including planting of
the mums and replacing of dead or diseased
plants and shrubs, the diligence of our goose
chaser to keep the flocks down to a minimum,
the efforts to keep our ponds from returning
to their once bad smelling boggy waterways,
continued. The landscapers employed this
year include Cliffsides Landscapers , A – Z
Property Maintenance, and Greg’s Seasonal
Service. We also employ several young men
each summer to help keep our grounds in
good order. Aquatic Control Technologies
once again added algaecide in two different
applications this summer to try to keep the
growth down in our ponds.
INTERESTED IN
BECOMING A
MEMBER OF A
BOOK CLUB?
Join the Clifton Knolls/Millcreek Book
Club! We read a variety of books from
fiction to autobiographies; classics to NY
Times best sellers. Our meeting are once
a month and are usually hosted by one
of the members. Sometimes we will go to
Mocha Lisa’s for our book discussion.
To join or for more information, email
Lisa Westrick at lmwestick@gmail.com.
Our January book is The Suitors, by
Cecile David-Weill
We haven’t decided on our February
book, but some possibilites are
- Something Borrowed, by Emily Giffin
- Sleepwalking in Daylight, by Elizabeth
Flock
- Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden
- The Language of Flowers,
Vanessa Diffenbaugh
- Orange is the New
Black, by Piper
Kerman
- Rebekah, by
Orsen Scott Card
- Hemingways
Girl, by Erika
Robuck
Our committee meets most months on the
fourth Tuesday at 7 P.M. at Town Hall in
Room B. New members are always welcome.
Members include Kathy Anselment, Pat
Brackins, Claudia Hroncich, Ron Johnson,
John Laviano, Marlys McGinnis (Finance Officer), Pat Miller, Loretta Parsons (Secretary),
John Rinebolt, Tom Sargent, Sheila Suozzo.
Sincerely,
Judy Hughes, Chair (371-9541)
PAGE 13
CKMCAA 2014 ADVERTISING
NEWSLETTER and/or DIRECTORY
***PAYMENT MUST BE MAILED WITH THE AD COPY!***
“News & Views” Newsletter:
The five issues of the newsletter are sent to every household (about 900 homes) in Clifton Knolls and Mill Creek five
times per season (October, December, February, April, and June).
Rates and Sizes:
A) 1/8 page (business card) . . .
B) 1/4 page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C) 1/2 page . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D) Full page . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.5” x 2” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20 per issue
3.625” x 4.5” . . . . . . . . . . . . $30 per issue
7.75” x 4.5” . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 per issue
7.75” x 9.375” . . . . . . . . . . . $100 per issue
B
A
C
Please circle the ad size you want and check the boxes below for the issues you want your ad to appear.
February/March ‘14 _____ April ‘14 _____ June ‘14 _____ October ‘14 ______ December ‘14 ______
CKMCCA Directory:
The CKMCCA Directory includes names and addresses of everyone in Clifton Knolls and Mill Creek, as well as a street
map with numbered housing locations. It is issued once annually (usually in March) and is sent to all dues paying members of the Civic Association.
Rates and Sizes:
A) 1/8 page (business card) . . . 3.5” x 2” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $95
B) 1/4 page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.75” x 4.25” . . . . . . . . . . . . $165
C) Full page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5” x 11” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225
Please circle the ad size you want.
Instructions:
Please include a copy of your ad submitted as “camera ready” and if possible in black and white print. For business card
ads, please include a copy of your card. Or email a high resolution pdf or jpg to newsandviews@ckmcca.org
Send this form to (PAYMENT MUST BE MAILED WITH THE AD COPY!):
Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek Civic Association
P.O. Box 2
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Provide us your contact information:
Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________________________________________________________
E-Mail: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
See your ad at www.ckmcca.org by calling up the archived issues of the News & Views!
CLIFTON KNOLLS/MILL CREEK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
CLASSIFIEDS
BABYSITTERS, PETSITTERS,
PLANT SITTERS AND MORE!
Do you have services you’d like to offer? Submit your
name and contact information and you will be listed in
News and Views. Email information to newsandviews@
ckmcca.org
SOPHIE is 15 and is available for
babysitting, plant sitting and pet
sitting.
RUBY is 12 and is available for plant
sitting, pet sitting and as a mommy’s
helper.
Both girls have taken the American
Red Cross Babysitting Class and
Certification, both have experience
with new born to 8 year olds, dogs,
cats and watering cans!
518-280-3147
We Need Ads! You
Need Customers!
Help is only a phone call away!
Are you looking for a babysitter or
mother’s helper? Call me, Rachel
Sangaline at 518-383-3106 or
518-932-5122. I am a certified
American Red Cross babysitter, I’m
good with kids, I love being with
kids, and I’m thirteen years old. My
availability is weekday’s afterschool,
weekends, and most days in the
summer. Thank you!
TED will do leaf cleanup or raking
this fall or shoveling during the winter storms. Call cell 669-8084.
Notice that there aren’t
many ads in this issue?
We need more ads to be
able to keep producing
News & Views, as well
as support other
CKMCCA activities.
Your ad will reach over
900 homes, at very
reasonable rates. Perfect
for businesses located in
the area, or home-based
businesses in Clifton
Knolls or Mill Creek.
See the ad form on page
14 of this newsletter.
ITEMS FOR SALE
Computer Desk and Dressers
Computer desk with a hutch top for sale
for $75. Also, two antique oak dressers for
$200 each. One with four drawers, and
the other with three drawers and a mirror.
If anyone is interested, please call Terry or
Dave on 371-9164 or email thalverson@
nycap.rr.com
Bedroom Set
Bassett, Pine, Twin Storage Bed and Chest.
Very Good Condition. $250. Call: 3714626.
Riding Mower
Ariens riding mower with grass/leaf catcher.
371-6845
Cook Tops
GE coil type cook top. Rotary dial temperature controls. 30 in. Black. used, $25 or
best offer. Also a Dacor Cooktop 30 in. flat
surface NEW. $375. OBO 371-9516
Fireplace Child Safety Gate
Fireplace child safety gate fits hearths up to
6-feet wide and 2-feet deep. Door provides
access for adults but cannot be opened by
toddlers. Excellent condition with all parts
and directions. Sturdy, but easy to assemble.
Model info: KidCo HearthGate Model
G70d-C, Price: $145, Contact: Mike DeMasi, 371-1667
FOUND
Purple fleece hoodie with white polka
dots was found on Chestnut Lane this
past fall (I think in October). Anyone
wishing to claim it can call me at 3714896.
If you have a lost or found item, please submit
your information to newsandviews@ckmcca.
org
PAGE 15
Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek Civic Association
PO Box 2
Clifton Park, NY 12065
PRSTD STD
CAR-RT
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 8
Clifton Park, NY
Erik Rossi
WE WANT TO
HEAR FROM YOU!
— Electrician —
Do you have a question about
the neighborhood? A suggestion
for News & Views? A story
you would like to contribute?
We would love to hear what you
have to say... Even to just say,
“Yes, I am reading.”!
Clifton Knolls Resident
Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Testing
Outlets and Switches
Indoor and Outdoor Lighting
Panel Changes and Repairs
Residential or Commercial
Yes, I work on low voltage systems like
those found in most Clifton Knolls homes!
Email us at
newsandviews@ckmcca.org
Or, scan this code with
your smartphone:
518-371-3903
Opinions in submitted pieces are those of the respective author, and not necessarily the opinions of the
Clifton Knolls/Mill Creek Civic Association. Advertisements are solely responsible for the content of their ads.