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| Jim Mitchell illustration |
Dec 22, 2014
Dec 16, 2014
Nov 26, 2014
Nov 10, 2014
In memoriam for our neighbor Gerry Claeys
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| Geraldine Claeys |
Geraldine A. Claeys, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 6, 2014, with her family by her side.
Geraldine was the daughter of the late Michael and Anna Kurolvech. Geraldine is survived by her husband of 57 years, Joseph Claeys. She also leaves behind her sons, James, Henry and William, and her daughter Patricia Claeys Gallant. Geraldine also had five grandchildren: Jesalyn, Lauren, Rosalea, Samuel and Michael, who will miss her dearly. She will also be missed by her two sisters, Dorothy and Judith.
Geraldine retired as executive assistant for the New York State Commission on Quality of Care of the Mentally Disabled. Donations may be made in her honor to the Hospice of St. Mary's Hospital, 1300 Massachusetts Ave., Troy, NY 12180.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. To leave a special message for the family, please visit NewcomerAlbany.com.
Oct 29, 2014
Time slows down, if just for a moment
Q: How do you get some extra sleep without going to bed earlier or getting up later?
A: Adjust your clocks for Eastern Standard Time.
That periodic ritual should be done no later than 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 2. That's when we make the transition from Daylight Saving Time to EST, regaining the hour we lost when we set the clocks ahead a few months ago.
Here's a thought about time in general, from the American minister Henry Van Dyke, circa 1905:
Time is too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear
Too
long for those who grieve
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for
those who love,
Time is eternity.”
Sep 12, 2014
Update 2: Driveway sealing called off
UPDATE (9/1/14): It didn't happen in August as originally expected, but Grounds Committee Chairman John Victor now says we're within 10 days or so of having the sealcoating done.
(Original Aug. 1 posting)
Have you signed up to have your driveway seal-coated? It's especially important if you haven't had it done for several years, and having it done as a community-wide project makes it very affordable.
Seal-coating accomplishes several things. Among them:
• It protects your driveway surface from erosion caused by snow, ice and road salt.
• It helps maintain the appearance of the neighborhood, important to both pride in the Terrace and to maintaining property values.
If you're in need of the service, check the signup sheet posted on the mailbox gazebo bulletin board.
Sep 1, 2014
A 3-week countdown till autumn begins
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| "Lost in the Moment," oil on canvas by Kit Hevron Mahoney. |
When does Fall begin?
The equinox brings Autumn on Monday, September 22, 2014, at 10:29 p.m. EDT.
Enjoy a first day of fall poem, quotes, pictures, folklore, and more.
It is the summer's great last heat,
It is the fall's first chill: They meet.
-– Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt
"The Autumnal Equinox"
The word equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night." The Fall and Spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the sun crosses the celestial equator. From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter than the nights (i.e., hours of daylight decline).
Annual fall meeting scheduled this month
Among other things, we will be voting on a proposed change to our rules concerning satellite dishes. Everyone should have received a copy of the ballot and instructions on the voting process. If you cannot attend, you may vote on that issue via the absentee ballot that was distributed.
If you cannot attend but would like to have your vote cast on any other matters, you must give your written proxy to the eligible voter of your choice. That also helps us have an official quorum.
As always, there is only one vote per residence.
Aug 19, 2014
In memorium, Joan Coyne
Our neighbor Joan Coyne passed away on Sunday. Residents of The Terrace send her family and friends our sympathies.
This obituary appeared in the Times Union.
Joan McKenna Coyne, 75, of Troy, beloved wife of over 54 years of John F. "Jack" Coyne, Jr. of Troy, peacefully entered into eternal life, surrounded and in the loving comfort and care of her family, on Sunday, August 17, 2014.
Born in Troy, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Julia L. Freeman McKenna and was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy, class of 1956. Joan retired from First Niagara (former Troy Savings Bank) in downtown Troy and had previously been employed by Gardenway and as a supervisor at New York Telephone Company. She was a communicant of St. Augustine's Church in Lansingburgh.
Joan's greatest joy was spending time with her family; in particular attending all of her grandson's sporting events which included baseball, football, hockey and lacrosse. She also enjoyed vacationing in Wildwood, N.J., as well as in Maine. Joan loved the casinos but most of all, the Saratoga Race Course "the track".
Beloved wife of John F. "Jack" Coyne, Jr.; devoted mother of Darcy (Christopher) Cassidy of Troy and John F. Coyne, III; loving sister of Doris McKenna McQuade (the late, Thomas E.) of Loudonville; cherished "Nan" of Eric, Chad and Garrett Cassidy and the late Kyle Cassidy, also survived by several cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to Joan's Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Lansingburgh followed by interment in St. Peter's Cemetery in Troy.Calling hours will be held private at the convenience of the family. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude for the loving care provided to them all by the staff of St. Mary's Hospital ER and ICU. Those desiring, may make memorial contributions to St. Augustine's Church Heritage Fund, 25-115th Street, Troy, NY 12182, in memory of Joan McKenna Coyne. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc., 565 Fourth Avenue, Troy.
This obituary appeared in the Times Union.
Joan McKenna Coyne, 75, of Troy, beloved wife of over 54 years of John F. "Jack" Coyne, Jr. of Troy, peacefully entered into eternal life, surrounded and in the loving comfort and care of her family, on Sunday, August 17, 2014.
Born in Troy, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Julia L. Freeman McKenna and was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy, class of 1956. Joan retired from First Niagara (former Troy Savings Bank) in downtown Troy and had previously been employed by Gardenway and as a supervisor at New York Telephone Company. She was a communicant of St. Augustine's Church in Lansingburgh.
Joan's greatest joy was spending time with her family; in particular attending all of her grandson's sporting events which included baseball, football, hockey and lacrosse. She also enjoyed vacationing in Wildwood, N.J., as well as in Maine. Joan loved the casinos but most of all, the Saratoga Race Course "the track".
Beloved wife of John F. "Jack" Coyne, Jr.; devoted mother of Darcy (Christopher) Cassidy of Troy and John F. Coyne, III; loving sister of Doris McKenna McQuade (the late, Thomas E.) of Loudonville; cherished "Nan" of Eric, Chad and Garrett Cassidy and the late Kyle Cassidy, also survived by several cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to Joan's Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Lansingburgh followed by interment in St. Peter's Cemetery in Troy.Calling hours will be held private at the convenience of the family. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude for the loving care provided to them all by the staff of St. Mary's Hospital ER and ICU. Those desiring, may make memorial contributions to St. Augustine's Church Heritage Fund, 25-115th Street, Troy, NY 12182, in memory of Joan McKenna Coyne. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc., 565 Fourth Avenue, Troy.
Jul 27, 2014
Venue change for our annual Terrace pizza party
The day, date and time remain the same: 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2014.
However, struck by fears engendered by the local TV weather geeks, we have moved the venue of our annual summer pizza party from the common area near the mailbox gazebo to the front lawn of No. 15, the Gordons' manse, inside which we may seek shelter from the storm -- if there is one. The spillover area is next door at Terry Page's residence.
Bring your own lawn chairs and beverages, and any snacks you wish to share, and be prepared to have a good time. As always, we'll decide on pizza toppings once the crowd arrives.
Considering how many new residents we have on the Terrace, this will be a great time to get together.
However, struck by fears engendered by the local TV weather geeks, we have moved the venue of our annual summer pizza party from the common area near the mailbox gazebo to the front lawn of No. 15, the Gordons' manse, inside which we may seek shelter from the storm -- if there is one. The spillover area is next door at Terry Page's residence.
Bring your own lawn chairs and beverages, and any snacks you wish to share, and be prepared to have a good time. As always, we'll decide on pizza toppings once the crowd arrives.
Considering how many new residents we have on the Terrace, this will be a great time to get together.
Jul 2, 2014
Holiday week garbage pickup day remains the same
The Department of Public Works dispatcher informed me today that plans are for the staff to work a half-day Friday in an attempt to handle all garbage and recycling pickup.
That means, according to city regulations, you can place your receptacles roadside any time after 7 p.m. Thursday, and no later than 6 a.m. Friday.
Here are a couple of excerpts from the city website that might be of interest to you, especially if you are a fairly new resident of the city:
Weekly Household Garbage Collection
• Garbage or moist or liquid waste is to be placed in watertight wooden, plastic or metal covered containers or heavy duty plastic bags tied at the top or specially treated paper bags. If animals manage to break open the trash container, it is the responsibility of the resident to clean up the trash. ... Household garbage is primarily food or other organic waste and food packaging.
• Items such as furniture, appliances, carpets and mattresses may be picked up by making an appointment with DPW at 270-4579. A pickup truck quantity or less may be picked up from an owner occupied one- to four-unit house at no charge. ... Bulk refuse items include old furniture, appliances, carpets, doors, mattresses, scrap metal, tires, etc. All metals shall be separated from all other bulk items. Collection of a pickup truck quantity or less from an owner-occupied single, two-, three- or four-unit residence shall be collected at no charge to the homeowner or tenant. Collections that exceed a pickup truck quantity from an owner-occupied single, two-, three- or four-unit residence shall be collected and an appropriate charge shall either be immediately collected from the homeowner/tenant or be billed against the property.
Here are a few more that may be of periodic interest:
| Recyclables | |
Troy has mandatory recycling in a single-stream process which means all recyclables are placed in one or more City of Troy blue containers and placed at curbside before 7 a.m. on the once-a-week pickup day (which will be the same as your garbage pickup day). Plastic, metals and glass can not be intermixed with newspapers and cardboard. Recyclables can not be placed in plastic bags. You can call or stop by City Hall to pick up a container. All items should be cleared of food. The following commodities are recyclable: junk mail, magazines, newspapers, telephone books, corrugated cardboard, 1,2,3, and 5 plastics, metal food and beverage containers, glass bottles and jars (all colors). For more information on recycling, call 279-7156. | |
| Yard Waste | |
Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, brush, branches, etc.) is collected on a call-in basis throughout the year. Set yard waste out to the curb in biodegradable bags on the evening before your scheduled day for pickup. Curbside location must be easily accessible from the street. Do not set yard waste behind cars, fire hydrants, poles, and bushes or on top of sewer vents. Do not place yard waste in the street or on the sidewalk. Because yard waste is recycled into mulch, all other materials must be removed. Trees and limbs that have been cut by contractors must be removed by the contractor. Tree trimmings and hedge trimmings must be secured in tied bundles not heavier than 75 pounds, not more than 5 feet in length nor more than 18 inches in diameter. Leaves and lawn clippings should be placed in biodegradable paper yard-waste bags, which are available at most hardware and home improvement stores. Setting yard waste curbside during any day/week other than the specified day/week of the residence will result in fines. | |
| Construction and Demolition Debris | |
Collection available for residential projects performed by the property owners only. A minimum charge of $75 will be assessed and that amount will go up depending on the load size. Call DPW at 270-4579 to schedule a pick up appointment time. | |
| Solid Waste Violations/Penalties | |
Any solid waste material including construction and demolition material set out to the curb at other than scheduled times is considered illegal disposal. For these violations, the Litter Officer will issue a court appearance ticket and fines will be imposed. |
Jun 23, 2014
It's dues time once again
A gentle reminder: Third-quarter 2014 dues must be paid by next Tuesday, July 1.As always, you can save the cost of a stamp by dropping your payment in the white lock box below the mailbox gazebo bulletin boards.
Checks should be made payable to THCA. Treasurer Jerry Gordon has sent out an e-mail to all of you who make use of that new-fangled modern communications form explaining the various ways to pay -- quarterly, semiannually, annually, etc.
Thank you.
Summer activity means exterior washing, too
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| A typical case of mold. |
Mold and mildew.
Given the frequency of such growths visible on many residential exteriors at the Terrace, it would be smart to include the outside of your house on the summer to-do list.
The
telltale signs of exterior house mold include fuzzy or powdery spots,
usually brown, black or green in color, or less commonly in a range of
purplish reds.
It usually begins on the portion of your siding that gets the least sun, but once it takes hold it can quickly spread. Some molds creep into the insulation, some are even more invasive and can cause respiratory and all sorts of other illnesses.
It usually begins on the portion of your siding that gets the least sun, but once it takes hold it can quickly spread. Some molds creep into the insulation, some are even more invasive and can cause respiratory and all sorts of other illnesses.
Some homeowners try to remove mold with a non-commercial power spray, but the results are rather iffy. Better to hire an experienced commercial power-washer who can do the job of obliterating the mold without damaging the aluminum siding that covers Terrace homes.
May 8, 2014
Thanks, and a guide to spotting stroke
Luckily, I have no apparent lasting effects from the attack, and I had successful surgery on Wednesday to clean out a carotid artery that was more than 95% blocked, thus cutting off oxygen to my brain. (Which may explain a lot of my inherent weirdness.)
It continues to be wonderful to live among caring people.
-- Bill Dowd
WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE
• From strokeassociation.org
The first four most common signs, forming the acronym F.A.S.T., are --
Face Drooping –- Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
Arm Weakness –- Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech Difficulty –- Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time to call 9-1-1 -– If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Beyond F.A.S.T.
Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg, arm or face.
Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
If someone shows any of these symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or emergency medical services. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs and symptoms of stroke.
More information on stroke prevention and recognition is available online.
Apr 25, 2014
Annual spring meeting scheduled
The annual spring meeting of the Terrace at Highpointe Community
Association will be held Monday, May 5, at Faith Lutheran Church on
Leversee Road (Route 40), opposite the city's Buckley Water Plant.
Please plan to attend. If you cannot, please give a neighboring homeowner your written proxy. That helps us have an official quorum.
As always, there is only one vote per residence.
Please plan to attend. If you cannot, please give a neighboring homeowner your written proxy. That helps us have an official quorum.
As always, there is only one vote per residence.
Mar 27, 2014
2nd quarter dues deadline is Tuesday
A gentle reminder: Second-quarter 2014 dues must be paid by Tuesday, April 1.As always, you can save the cost of a stamp by dropping your payment in the white lock box below the mailbox gazebo bulletin boards.
Checks should be made payable to THCA. Treasurer Jerry Gordon has sent out an e-mail to all of you who make use of that new-fangled modern communications form explaining the various ways to pay -- quarterly, semiannually, annually, etc.
Thank you.
Mar 6, 2014
Let there be light -- on a different schedule
“My first memory is of light ... the brightness of light ... light all around.”
-- Georgia O'Keeffe
Tired of the dark and gloom of winter?
There's not much anyone can do about it, weatherwise, but the powers that be can fiddle around with when we see daylight.
At 2 a.m. this coming Sunday (March 9) we go from Eastern Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time (note there is no "S" at the end of "Saving").
Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. You know darned well you'll never live it down if anyone finds out you're an hour off until you realize it.
P.S. We stay on Daylight Saving Time until 2 a.m. Sunday, November 2.
-- Georgia O'Keeffe
There's not much anyone can do about it, weatherwise, but the powers that be can fiddle around with when we see daylight.
At 2 a.m. this coming Sunday (March 9) we go from Eastern Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time (note there is no "S" at the end of "Saving").
Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. You know darned well you'll never live it down if anyone finds out you're an hour off until you realize it.
P.S. We stay on Daylight Saving Time until 2 a.m. Sunday, November 2.
Feb 16, 2014
City's pickup promise was ... well, garbage
Although most people had their blue recycling bins emptied, the City failed to come through on the promise it made to get around to us on Saturday for garbage removal.
Usually we complain about elected officials reneging on promises. In this instance, it was unelected City employees -- i.e., people we pay to provide a service.
Add to that the poor snowplowing performance by City trucks and we've all been underserved.
Feb 14, 2014
Garbage collection reset for Saturday morning
Our normal Friday-morning garbage collection has been switched to Saturday morning due to the heavy snowfall.
That information came in response to a call to the City of Troy's Public Works Department on Friday afternoon.
The dispatcher on duty told me she did not know an approximate time because all trucks had not yet been plowed out and some pickup routes would have to be doubled up.
-- Bill Dowd
That information came in response to a call to the City of Troy's Public Works Department on Friday afternoon.
The dispatcher on duty told me she did not know an approximate time because all trucks had not yet been plowed out and some pickup routes would have to be doubled up.
-- Bill Dowd
Feb 13, 2014
Is there someone you need to check on?
Don't forget to check on your elderly or shut-in friends, relatives and neighbors during horrendous weather such as this.
It only takes a moment, and there probably will be nothing wrong, but it nevers hurt to make the effort.
It only takes a moment, and there probably will be nothing wrong, but it nevers hurt to make the effort.
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