About that lead in City water ...

Some of you may have heard the latest periodic report from the City of Troy that high levels of lead have been found during routine testing at some homes in the municipality.

This is a report the City makes every few years, but its findings have never affected any homes on the Terrace. It primarily applies to much older homes -- usually those constructed before 1975. Since the oldest Terrace homes were built in 1995 and others in 1996 and '97 or so, they were constructed after regulations changed concerning use of lead-free water pipes, couplings, soldering, and so forth.

Here, for your reference, is the verbatim press release sent out from the City:

Drinking water quality monitoring conducted by the Troy Public Utilities department has found elevated levels of lead in some of the 60 homes and buildings tested around the City of Troy. 

Even thought the source of water for the City is free of lead, the test samples taken from inside representative residential homes show an exceedance of lead, possibly due to lead water services lines or interior lead plumbing. 

The City of Troy is committed to the removal of all lead service lines from our community. City officials request your cooperation. If you live in a home built prior to 1975 and have not had a water service inspection at your home by the Department of Public Utilities, you should contact the department as soon as possible at 518-237-0343. There is no charge for a technician to come to your home for an inspection. 

There are several actions under way to address the lead in drinking water concerns. 

• A postcard will be sent to city residents via mail this week with additional information and instructions. 

• A Public Utilities Committee meeting of the City Council will be scheduled, and the Council will set spending parameters for funding that is available to assist residents who need to replace lead service pipes. 

• In addition, residents who would like to schedule a technician who can inspect the type of water service going into your home, can call (518) 237-0343.

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Hitting below the snowbelt

 

Bill and Colleen Walsh dropped in on Paula Fox-Murphy and Bob Malphrus. 

Bob hadn't yet mastered the art of incuding himself in a "selfie," but he was there. Honest!

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Watch out for that broken tree!

Snow-damaged tree.

Despite the severity of the recent snowstorm, we came through it well in terms of property damage on community-owned land.

One exception is clearly seen on a large mature fir tree at the edge of the mailbox gazebo parking lot. A large limb broke under the weight of the wet snow (see photo above). Luckily, it is largely off the parking surface, but it does need attention.

To that end, we've called a tree service to give us an estimate for removal of the damaged portion and to see if any remedial work is needed to keep the tree healthy. In addition, we plan to have some other arboreal work done.

We also will have them check a large fir in the planted area (see photo below) that is dying and no doubt in need of removal. For safety reasons, we've been keeping an eye on it, and it did very poorly over the past summer.

So, please exercise caution when walking near those two areas while we get these items tended to.

Dying fir on parking area.

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Mail mixup? It happens, but you can help

Have you been receiving someone else's mail by accident? Several of us have, so we are asking everyone to be vigilant.

While few people would complain about not receiving junk mail addressed to them, in some instances time-sensitive items such as tax bills did not get to the correct addressee when needed; in others, personal correspondence went astray because not everyone checks their mailbox on a daily basis.

So, if you get something that wasn't addressed to you but its intended recipient is clearly marked, please do the neighborly thing and get the item(s) to the right people ASAP. (If you receive something not meant for you and not addressed to a Terrace resident, just drop it in the mailbox slot where you put outgoing mail. That will get it back to the USPS to re-sort properly.)

Thanks, as always, for your neighborly cooperation.

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A sign of the season

 

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The fallout from the snowfall flop

If anyone thinks we don't have a tight-knit neighborhood, all one has to do is check out what happened during the snow removal meltdown Monday and Tuesday.

Here's what neighbors did to help neighbors after our snow removal contractor dropped the ball by failing to clear all driveways and parking areas, and essentially ignored all walkways despite promises to adhere to our contract to remove snow from those areas:

• One couple sent an email message volunteering to help neighbors in need shovel out after they got home from work.

• Another neighbor got his snowblower out of mothballs and helped clear driveways for people who needed to get out to keep a medical appointment.

• Yet another person offered to drive a neighbor to a medical appointment if Hyland Court was not plowed. Fortunately, it was plowed late Monday night and the person was able to get out.

• Still another neighbor cleared access to the mailbox gazebo after the snow removal crew blocked it with bad plow techniques. 

• The THCA Board got into the action by not only haranguing the snow removal crew to return Tuesday night to clear what it had ignored, but to begin checking for alternative plowing services if the current provider does not step up his game.

Thanks from all the Terrace residents to all the other Terrace residents. It is this kind of community spirit that makes us a great place to reside.

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Just another day in paradise

 

It took several calls after we inexplicably were skipped on this morning's plowing schedule, but the City of Troy crew finally came through by mid-afternoon. Now our private plowing company can get to our driveways tonight.

Looking ahead, the National Weather Service calls for zero precipitation on Tuesday, but a 70% chance of more snow on Wednesday.

(See all the fun you're missing, Snow Birds?)

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When do we get snow removal?

This post is mostly for the benefit of newer residents of the Terrace.

The question: When does our contract kick in for snow plowing and walkway shoveling? 

The answer: When the National Weather Service (NWS) officially says at least 3" of snow has fallen in the Troy area.

That means light precipitations such as Thursday's mix of sleet and snow didn't qualify. However, your THCA management team stayed in touch with our plowing company, Bay Contracting, throughout the day on Thursday and that evening in case things changed despite the NWS and local media reports. 

As of midnight leading into Friday -- when your humble management went to bed -- the NWS said only 1.6" had accumulated and only 1.55" was expected in the next 24 hours.

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City Hall closed for MLK Day; trash pickups remain the same for the week

 

The City of Troy has announced that City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Offices will resume normal operations on Tuesday, January 17.

The schedule for municipal garbage and recycling collections will not be affected the week of the closure. The City also has issued a reminder that bulk pickups have been suspended until approximately March 31. The temporary suspension occurs annually to ease snow removal efforts.

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About that old Christmas tree ...

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Happy New Year to all!

 

As we enter 2023, The Terrace Times and its entire staff wishes to thank the entire community for its neighborliness, energy, efforts, and caring throughout 2022.

As an old Irish toast says:

"May your troubles be less, 

and your blessings be more, 

and nothing but happiness 

come through your door."

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Troy suspends bulk pickups for winter months

The City’s Department of General Services announced today it is suspending scheduling of bulk pickup services beginning Sunday, New Year's Day.

The pickup service is scheduled to resume on or about March 31. The temporary suspension occurs annually to ease snow removal efforts.

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Merry Christmas, or as Charles Dickens put it ...

 

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Here's a ray of sunshine for you

 

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A happy Hanukkah

Today is the first day of Hanukkah. 

The eight-day Jewish celebration commemorates the rededication during the 2nd Century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem where, according to legend and belief, Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in what became known as the Maccabean Revolt. 

The eight candles on the menorah candelabra that are lighted during this celebration symbolize the number of days the Temple lantern blazed. The ninth candle, the shamash, is a "helper candle" used to light the others. 

After sundown during the eight days of Hanukkah, families light one candle on the first day, two on the second, and so on, while reciting prayers and singing songs. 

Hanukkah runs through Monday, December 26.

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2023 dues deadline nearly upon us

A friendly nudge:

If you haven't yet submitted a check for your Terrace at Highpointe Community Association 2023 dues, please do so ASAP. 

The deadline is January 1, 2023. (See details of payment possibilities here.)

That said, a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas to all.

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Police cracking down on DWI during holidays

If you're planning on driving during the holidays, doing so after having a few drinks is even less advisable than ever.

An announcement from the New York State Police said the force is participating in the national campaign called “Drive High Get a DUI” as well as the state's annual crackdown on impaired driving during the holidays.

Emphasis on the enforcement campaign will run through New Year's Day. Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints, along with more troopers on roadways during the campaign. In addition to the DWI checkpoints and patrols, troopers will be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and drivers violating the “Move Over Law” that requires motorists to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles stopped in or on the side of the road. State Police also will conduct underage drinker enforcement details statewide. 

During the campaign, troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow troopers to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices -- cellphones, etc. -- while driving. CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe distracted driving violations. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic, but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

During last year’s crackdown, State Police arrested 522 people for DWI and issued 35,016 tickets, including 12,285 for speeding, 840 for distracted driving, and 289 for the “Move Over Law.” They also investigated 14 fatal crashes.

 This campaigned is sponsored by the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation and funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The GTSC and the STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that their “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi or ride-share service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties and provides a way to report a suspected impaired driver.

The State Police and its partners urge all motorists to follow these simple tips to prevent impaired driving:

• Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi or ride-sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Use your community’s sober ride program.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

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Last snow before Christmas is fading fast

A steady overnight snowfall tapered off in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Our snow removal crew made short work of the cleanup, although hampered at first by the lack of adequate City street plowing.

As we head closer to Christmas week, the National Weather Service tells us there will be no precipitation until Friday, when it predicts a 70% chance of rain. 

What we will be having is daytime temperatures in the mid-30s before they dip into the 20s on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

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A Terrace holiday tradition is rekindled

From the late-1990s to the early 2010s or so, a December holiday social event was a regular part of life on the Terrace. However, as the residential mix changed over time, and then the COVID-19 pandemic put the clamps on all group activities, that evaporated.

Today, we were able to revive the tradition with a holiday luncheon in the banquet room of McGreivey's Restaurant in Waterford attended by 20 neighbors. 

Many thanks to Janice Dessingue, who coordinated the event with the able assistance of Anne Hunter, Ellie DeBonis, and Maryanne Gordon and who, as a group, developed the menu with the McGreivey's staff, provided festive evergreen centerpieces, and led holiday-memory activities.

Along the way, we also collected a large box of new socks to be donated to homeless shelters, one of the most in-demand items at such facilities.

Here are a few photos from the event, taken by Bill Dowd -- which explains why he does not appear in any of them. 

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1st real snow, 1st removal -- sort of

 

Terrace snow cleaning. / Bill Dowd photos

The first real snowfall of The Winter of 2022-23 took place Sunday, when it began snowing at  midmorning and didn't ease up until after midnight.

How much did we get? Your guess is as good as anyone's. The final say is up to the scorekeepers at the National Weather Service and the "weatherbeings" at our various local TV stations who love to brag about their accuracy while never issuing corrections -- only "updates." 

What is most important is that Tim, our snow removal guru, showed up around 3 a.m. Monday and cleared the driveways. (See photos, and don't ask what I was doing up at that hour. Hint: seeing to your wellbeing.) All seemed to be going well when we spoke, so I finally went to bed. However, like you I awoke to find that the sidewalks were not cleaned. I'm attempting to speak again with Tim to find out what happened.

The City plow truck came through last night and again around 10:45 this morning to clear the main roadways.

Thanks to everyone for being sure the driveways had no vehicles that might have blocked snow removal. Such joint efforts are needed throughout the winter.

Meanwhile, stay warm, stay safe, and -- for those who have signed up and paid for reservations for Thursday's "Holiday Luncheon" at McGreivey's in Waterford -- stay in the holiday mood. We'll see you then!

-- Bill Dowd

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