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Image provided by: Guilderland Public Library
The Mtatnont Enterprise--ThursdayiDece^ A Christmas remembrance of Margaret Buslmell Come sled on Kirk Hill To the Editor: Thie snow quickly piling up outside helped us to realize we had not yet sent put the. annual. Sledding on Kirk Hill announce- ment! Please allow this message to serve as an open invitation to all for sledding on Kirk Hill. Jen O'Connor and Eric Krans Altamont Editor's note: Jennifer O'Connor is the granddaughter of Doris D. and the late Jaines L, Kirk, for- merly of 167 Maple Ave. Two dogs need good homes To the Editor: Here's a poem from a dog's point of view: You adopted me, I was one of the family, I got lost, How could you not look for me? I am alone, Now with no home, Please come get me, I need a family. With love, Smooch & Baxter For details contact Cheryl Baitsholts, dog control officer, at 797-5201 or check out www. Petfindercom. Type in zip code 12147. Smooch came to me, being found near Partridge Run in Berne. Baxter was found in Rens- selaerville near the State Land off Travis Hill. Both dogs need homes. Both are crate trained, both seem to be house broken. Cheryl Baitsholts Rensselaerville Editor's note: Cheryl Baitsholts is the dog control officer for Rens- selaerville and Berne. Changes with the V\'ville preschool, open house set for Saturday, Jan. 17 To the Editor: On Saturday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, the VoOrheesville Community Preschool, of the First Methodist Church, will hold its annual open house. Due tqincreased pressures on costs, I and the risk of lower erurollrhent J we will no longer require.parent^ . helper days. We will continn encourage parents to participate in school activities, but are aware that this is not always feasible. We feel confident that the school's strong relationship with the community will continue. It will still be required for parents to participate in our an- nual silent auction fundraiser. The silent auction is held every November and will be our only fund-raiser for the 2009-10 school year. We will continue to ccept donations from individu- als and corporations. These changes will help ensure a sustainable business, as well, as maintain the values that the parent advisory committee holds dear. The safety;'quality of edu- cation, and enrichment of social skills will be at the forefront of our school's goals. We look forward to seeing you and your children at the open house. Lorra Gordinier Chairperson VoorheesyiUe Community Preschool Public invited to share ideas on improving walking and biking To the Editor: I am pleased to announce the second public meeting to engage Altamont community residents concerning their thoughts and ideas for improving conditions for walking and bicycling in the village. It will be held on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Village Community Room at 115 Main Street. The public meeting will in- clude a brief overview of the project and will present the community with a number of ideas and recommendations to be bike racks, signs and safety en- hancements that will continue to improve the quality of village life for residents of all ages. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan will assist the vil- lage in moving forward with com- munity development initiatives identified in the approved 2006 Village of Altamont Comprehen- sive Plan. People concerned about pe- destrian safety and who want to see better facilities for bicycling, walking, and opportunities for People concerned about pedestrian safety and who want to see better facilities for bicycling, walking, and opportunities for casual citizen interaction... ~ are invited to attend tbe meeting. included in the heW Pedestrian : \and Bicycle Master Plan. The recommendations will be based on feedback received in the first public session and build upon the Village's Cpiriprehehsive Plan. The plan, which was initiated by the cuinrent village adminis- tration vnth funding from a grant awarded by the Capital District TransportationCorntoittee iden- tifies potential improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, , casual: citizen interaction either a the village of Altamont or eir own tewris and villages are invited to attend the meeting. Alta Plftrining + DeSigny a fiim that specializes in creating pedestrian-frieridiy cphimunities, is the project consultant For ad- ditipnal information, please visit the project website4tht|pV/www. • altaprojects.riet/altamoht/. Mayor James M. Gaughan Altamont To the Editor: , I am writing-this for ;my mother, Margaret Bushnell, whp raised 13 children in Berne. She.', died on August 17, 2008/ Thanks for all o^ithe; gijfiis yoii've given xae,M.&- ^, When I was younger, I didri't'•.; understand things the -way I do now and my mom would say to me, \When you have. kids* you will.\ I used to iblmikof)ih'e^thihgsf I wanted and sometimes I no- ticed Ma didn't get that much. When we would.gp shppping, jhy brother and I would want this or that arid I noticed shewpuld put what we wanted in the part, arid often put back something else she had in there for herself. As I got older, I asked her why she didn't jrist tell us ho on some things and she said, \When you have kids, you dPn't think of yourself so miich anymore.\ That was true; iny mom never had anything for herself and she never asked for anything for herself. She always thought of her kids. I remember the Christmas that Daddy died. Iwas8 and my mom had a lot on her shoulders. Still, I got what I wanted more than anything. A puppy to love is exactly what J needed even though Ma had no desire to have ah animal in the house again let alone a puppy. On my 12th Christmas, more than anything, I wanted a drum set. I had picked that as the instrument to study. It was way top expensive for us to afford but on Christmas morning there it was for me. My poor mother, I had to love it so much I practiced for hours ivers 7 corner Margaret Bushnell every day She always let me even when she was tired from working all night. I remember as a teenager go- ing shopping all of, the time and Ma would buy me everything that all of the other girls had. I remember she wore the same A puppy to love is exactly what I needed. gray coat and boots for many many years. When I got my first apartment and all the places after that, she'd always be there, making sure I had the right curtains, tow- els, dishes, and everything else I needed or wanted. She always used her old housewares until they wore completely out. I'd say to her; \Ma buy those good; thmgs for you now, you ,di0S,j^6'''^,Q%'t^^;,teb>*'; : '..-! . .'Sfee'fl^;^^,^^;!;'^©!!'* need ,,ahy^h%g^Bee; JW^typtf.tp'i hayP it.\ ]f he lookoh her face told me ^she^aS/Siiicere. ;;•'••:• vWheh I had myson,she held my hand and; with tears in her eyes,, tpld rheslxe would like to take the pain for:,•me, I kriW she would have if she cpui4- .:; iAfter he was born, she : spoiled him rotten. Even though; he. was her 39th- grandchild, she still treated him as special, as the first and loved him more than any other grandma has loved a grandson. The last few years, she was sad because she couldn't buy as much for everyone on Christinas. If she only knew the gifts she gave us that mattered were not the material things but the gifts of her heart, her smile, and the look in her eyes that told you how much she loved you. There is something about the way your mPther loves you that nothing; can ever replace. They may cut the umbilical cord but the attachment of your two hearts is there for eternity. More than any other gift this Christmas, I would love to be with you. Instead, I will remember ail of the special Ghristmases you made for us and the love that you gave me. Merry Christmas, Ma. With all my love always and forever, Your daughter, Bernice Edwards Castleton The tittle Match Girl still teaches about living in the moment By Linda Laudato \Bah humbug\ I thought when my friend June invited me to at- tend Capital Repertory Theatre's holiday musical Striking 12. Why did she choose this particular production, a postrmodern twist on \The Little Match Girl\ by Hans Christian Anderson? I wondered. If I remembered correctly, the little girl dies in the end. I like my holidays su- garcoated. I want visions of sugar plums not homeless little girls. \Bah humbug\ my friend and hairdresser Laurie said about hearing Christmas carols on the radio. Actually she said %&**#!! But you get the idea. Her mother died last month and managing grief and caroling is just too much. \Bah Humbug\ volunteer Nancy said to me last week when discussing television com- mercials with holiday themes. \You know the one where the sbn comes home during the night and brews a pot of coffeearidthe family wakes up to a hot cup of joe arid hugs? L cry every time I see that one.\ \How\ about the coinmercial where the dad ties a Bow around a shiny new car for his daughter? I asked her. \Dp ypu know any families like those?\ X Asked* Neither of us could think of a Hallmark family iix pur address book. We also agreed that we probably knew more,people like the Sycamore family in 'You Can't Tatie it with Yoii arid that they would be more fun t» hang•'•'out with during the holidays. As I sat my skeptical self dbwri i|i the theater seat arid heard the opening notes of Striking 12, I prepared rnyself for the ending, \1 kjiow she dies; I hope -s not unbearable to watch. I hope I don't get all teary eyed and blubbery. I hope I brought enough tissues.\ What I wasn't prepared for was the creative take on the story by authors Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkiri, and Valerie Vi- goda> Before long, I was smiling at the predicament of the grumpy guy who finds himself alone on New Year's Eve. He entertains himself by reading \The Little Match Girl\»arid is interrupted by a young woman selling LED lights to counteract seasonal af- fective disorder. F found myself laughing out loud as the five actor/musicians/ narrators discussed the grim story and debated whether or not Andersen suffered from seasonal affective disorder. Or maybe, they sang, \Screwed up people make great art.\ OK, there were some tears when videos of New York City homeless people appeared behind the set arid the characters posed a moral behind Andersen's tale. \It's not all right\ to walk past sorriepne in need they sang. As the lead actress sang about thrpwirig caution to the .wind, she lit her matches and warrried herself with visions Pf her deceased grkridrripther.She followed; her grandmother's ad-r vice to live in the moment and to make the most of what she had inside pf her while she was still aliye. I weuld have settled for that beautiful ending but in this irrev* ererit play, a druriimer boy gets his wish arid I left the theater laughing. * \ : Oja the way hoirie, I thought of my friend Lajirie who went driving ,with Vher family to See the holiday lights arid my friend \Nancy who loathed to Ibwer expectations and to enjoy each season as it came. I laughed out loud when I remembered how June coped when her son could not make it home for the holidays last year. Heir husband, Ray, made a huge photo cardboard cut-out of him and their son was in every Christmas photo that day. They e-mailed him the images and everyone had a good laugh. And I thought of all the Com- munity Caregiver volunteers who stop at some point in their day to help someone in need; every day, every week, every year. They brhig hope and good cheer all year torig. They follow the advice of the little inatch girl's grandmother and share what they have and light the way for others. T like that end- ing better. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of us at Commu- nity Caregivers. - Orientation for new volunteers will be held: -rThursday, Jan. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Cpriimuriity Caregivers' office at 21 13/ Western Ave. in Guilderlarid;and — Wednesday,: Jari; 28', at11 a.m. at the Bethlehem Public Library. Please call 456r2898 or e-mail us at www.cerrimunitycaregiv- ers>org. .. A meeting of CC respite volun- teers will be held pn Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. arid Mottday, Jan. 12, at 3 psm; at pur office. Volunteers are invited to attend one ofthe^ meetings to share ideas and le^fri indre about respite cafe.; Please let us know if you are corrimg by Jan. $.
