Local First Twin Bridges Edition 041323

Veteran Walkathon

COLONIE - On Sat, April 29th, at Cook Park in the Village of Colonie, the 17th annual Veteran walkathon will be held with registration starting at 11:00am and Walk starting at noon from the Sharon Drive Pavilion.

All donations will go to the homeless veteran programs at the NYS VA Medical Centers and to non-profit Honor Flight Hub Network of NY, providing trips to veterans to the memorials built in their honor in Washington, DC at no cost to them.

You can call Judy Benner at 518-869-8668 or Dave Bishop at 518-590-6483 with any questions. This Walk is sponsored by the Albany County Sons of the American Legion and the Albany County Auxiliary.

LathamColonie Columbiettes

April Breakfast

Buffet

LATHAM - The Latham-Colonie Columbiettes are hosting a Breakfast Buffet on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Latham-Colonie Knights of Columbus Council, 328 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, N.Y. 12110.

Menu includes; Scrambled Eggs, an Omelet Station, Home Fries, Corned Beef Hash, Bacon and Sausage, Pancakes and French Toast served w/Warm syrup, A Variety of Cereals and Juices, Bananas and Hot Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate.

$12 Adults, $6 Children (5-10) and under 5 Free! www.lathamcoloniekofc.com/dinner-events

Small colleges try to weather change

Future uncertain as birth rates decline, attitudes shift about education

By KATHLEEN MOORE

ALBANY — When Cazenovia College

outside Syracuse announced in December that it would be closing after 199 years, it was a frightening prospect for other small liberal arts colleges across New York.

With birth rates on the decline for nearly two decades, post-pandemic inflation and attitudes about the value of traditional education likely forever changed, how will smaller colleges weather such uncertainty?

It is hard enough for public colleges to remain healthy, as the State University of New York system has seen enrollment declines since 2019 — even with the lower tuition that state schools offer. But for small, private and mostly liberal arts colleges, there is no government subsidy that will help with debt, operating cost increases and dwindling enrollment.

For the seven schools with fewer than 4,000 students in the Capital Region the Times Union spoke with, the future is mixed. Some, such as The College of Saint Rose and The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, are facing large enrollment declines. Others are thriving and running out of space because they have so many more students.

At small liberal arts colleges, students are the biggest source of revenue, which creates a financial crisis when enrollment drops. But on top of the institutions practicing self-preservation, the cities and towns they are in also nervously await the future because of the thousands of people colleges’ employ and for the artistic and intellectual contributions they make.

Enrollment declines

Some struggling colleges are turning to mergers, new programs and adding master’s degrees.

The Sage Colleges, which were technically under one umbrella but had separate names and campuses, merged in 2020 to manage enrollment and debt crises. Sage was founded in 1916 as a liberal arts college for women. In the merger, they gave up Sage’s single-gender education philosophy to become one coed college — Russell Sage, but retained the two

campuses in Albany and Troy. And it worked. Debt has been reduced from $20 million to $9 million, “rightsized” by dropping many programs, and have had operating surpluses every year since the merger.

The College of Saint Rose in Albany has also been exploring partnerships with other colleges as its finances have tightened. The liberal arts college, founded in 1920 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, used to have 4,000 students. This year it had 2,800.

“(Its) not laying down and accepting a dreadful fate,” spokesman Bob Bellafiore said. “It’s hard and they’re working through it.”

It cut many programs and refocused on creating a “teacher pipeline,” which seems to have resonated with students. Deposits for the fall for incoming education majors have tripled in comparison to last year, Bellafiore said.

Amid a lengthy lawsuit from a laid off professor, the college cut most of the music program but kept a music industry program.

“Looking at what students want, students say, ‘I want to be a music producer.’ So it’s a student interest matched with a potential career path, and they de-emphasized some things where students have less interest that frankly were high-cost programs,” he said.

Saint Rose also refinanced its debt last year, before the interest rates jumped, and saved $700,000 a year. But the college is still heavily burdened with debt, Bellafiore said.

“They did build a lot of property and acquire a lot of property.”

The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, also in Albany, has seen a 33 percent decline in enrollment, from 1,234 students in 2019 to 930 students this year. The college was founded in 1881 and started out as one of only 14 colleges of pharmacy in the United States.

To increase enrollment, it is branching out to what the college sees as a booming career field: biopharma.

The National Institutes of Health annually awards more than $50 million to Capital Region companies involved in biopharma, life sciences and research and development, such as Regeneron and AngioDynamics. It seems like a wide open field for a college to teach, college President Toyin Tofade said.

Screen

Replacement

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518-805-1111 WeComeToYou!

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“It’s almost as if you are starting the conversation with a blank sheet of paper,” she said.

Last June, it bought a building for biopharmaceutical education. It has been holding events there for middle and high school students, as well as undergraduates, to show them the possibilities at the college.

All in all, it is confident that students can get “great jobs” after graduation — if only they would enroll.

“The challenge is just thinking differently,”

To-fade said.

Back to normal

Only two colleges reported they were back to pre-pandemic normalcy. Skidmore College’s 2022 freshman class was the largest in the college’s history, with 784 students. (In the fall of 2019, the freshman class had 738 students.)

Skidmore began in 1903 as the Young Women’s Industrial Club. It became a college in 1922 and began admitting men in 1971 at its campus just outside downtown Saratoga Springs.

Union College in Schenectady, which in 1795 was the first college chartered by the state Board of Regents, reported that its enrollment also bounced back after one year.

This year’s junior class has 100 fewer students than the other years. Officials attribute the decrease to the fact that students couldn’t come on campus to tour before their freshman year. The two classes since then are both at the normal enrollment for the 2,100-student college.

“We are very confident about the future, very bullish about the future,” Scott Jones, vice president for administration and finance, said. “We don’t have any plans to retrench.”

Instead, Union is adding majors, including the restoration of civil engineering, which was

Please see COLLEGES 8

Consumer sentiment brightens statewide

Big jumps in confidence in NYC, among men, Democrats, younger residents higher than nation

By RICK KARLIN

examined over the past few years as worries about COVID-19 came and went and as inflation fears took hold. However, that worry has abated a bit during the past few months.

COLONIE

— Retailers in the Empire State may want to stock their shelves and car dealers might want to fill their lots. A recent survey shows Consumer Sentiment in New York taking an overall jump compared to that of late last year and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have finally returned to a point where collectively we feel OK,” said Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute, which on Wednesday released its New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment for the first quarter of 2023.

The Index of Consumer Sentiment is at 75 points, up 2.7 points from the last measurement in the fourth quarter of 2022.

That’s 13 points above the nation’s Index of 62.0. The national Index is compiled by the University of Michigan. A score of 75 is just below the break even point at which pessimism and optimism about the economy are balanced.

The Index in New York has whipsawed when

In November 2019, for example, New York’s Index reached a high of 93, but plunged to 66 in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was closing businesses and keeping people at home.

The recent score of 75 is far from the highs of past years, Levy cautioned. “These are not astronomically good numbers. They are better numbers.”

And there are age, regional and political splits that emerge when one digs into the numbers.

Much of the rising sentiment was driven by increasing optimism among New York City residents, younger New Yorkers, Democrats and men who posted higher confidence scores than women, older people, Republicans and upstaters.

The split between sentiment in New York City and upstate was stark: NYC Metropolitan area residents scored 81.3 percent compared to 64.6 for upstate New Yorkers.

That could be an indication of upstate’s perpetual struggle to attract and retain jobs

COURTESY SIENA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Despite rising food costs, consumer sentiment in New York is up.

and industry, and a sense that New York City — with its vast restaurant and entertainment economy — was hit extra hard during the pandemic.

The index measures people’s perception of the current state of the economy and future expectations.

Even with a rising overall confidence score, New Yorkers were aware of inflation, especially regarding the price of food and gas.

In addition to the index, a full 81 percent said food prices have impacted their budgets — the highest level in the 14 years of tracking

Please see CONSUMER 10

Clifton ark Se nior

Community enter

CLIFTON PARK - 6

Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park, NY 12065 • 518-383-1343

Membership to the Center is available to anyone 50+ for ONLY $20 for all of 2023!

MONDAYS: Game Room Activities (darts, billiards, & ping pong), Tap Dance, Jazz Dance, Chair Yoga, Clogging, Discussion Group, Rummikub, Ukulele, Quilting Group, Soulful Line Dancing, Healthy

Bones

TUESDAYS:

Exercise to Tape, Game Room Activities (darts, billiards, & ping pong), Yoga, Dice Games, 5 Crowns, Duplicate Bridge Group, Qi-Gong and Tai Chi, Scrabble, Hand and Foot Cards, Ping Pong

WEDNESDAYS:

Exercise to Tape, Game Room Activities (darts, billiards, & ping pong), Investment Group, Ukulele Group, Dice Games, Intermediate Bridge, Bowling, Beginner Mahjong, Poker, Knitting and Crocheting, Healthy Bones

THURSDAYS:

Exercise to Tape, Game Room Activities (darts, billiards, & ping pong),

Chorus, Rummikub, Yoga, Mixed-Media Watercolors & Acrylics, Pinochle, Ping Pong, Mahjong

FRIDAYS: Tap Dance, Ballet, Orchestra, Big Band, Woodcarving, Game Room Activities (darts, billiards, & ping pong), Dominoes, Jewelry Making Class, Bingo, 5 Crowns, Canasta, Latin Line Dancing, Healthy Bones

TRIPS:

Tuesday, May 9th: Elvis Tribute starring Gene DiNapoli, Four Course Luncheon and a Show: Villa Roma, Callicoon, NY

Wednesday, September 13th: Resort World, Live Gaming, Buffet, an amazing show: Mamma Mia, Monticello, NY

Advanced Registration Required FREE

Senior Center Fashion

Show:

Sunday, April 23 from 12:00pm-4:00pm: Open to the Community, all are welcome! There will be an amazing luncheon with Spring Fashion, Silent Auctions, Door Prizes and More! Enjoy an afternoon out with new and old friends. Don’t miss out, get your tickets today at the Senior Center. Located at the Vista at Van Patten Golf Course! Sponsored by Boscov’s and Glennpeter Jewelers.

Defensive Driving Course sponsored by Armand Canestraro and the Empire Safety Council: Monday, May 8 from 9:00am-4:00pm: $31/ person payable to Armand Canestraro. Please arrive 10 minutes early for registration and bring a pen, your drivers license, and lunch (or sign up for our daily lunch program!)

Advanced, in person, check only Registration

Required!

Our Daily Lunch Program (12:00pm Noon) is ongoing. Call for details.

Senior Express -Transportation for Clifton Park Senior Residents – 518371-4444

Saratoga County Office for the Aging - Home Delivered Meals – 518-3634020 or 518-363-4033

Periodic Activities: call or go online to view our newsletter at https://cliftonpark.org/services/senior-services/senior-center.html

Waterford Community

Se nior enter Ap ril

Upcoming vents

WATERFORD - Friday March 24 Trip Club going to HVCC Flower Expo.

Tues March 28 at noon open to anyone in the community, a National Grid Consumer Advocate will be coming to center to discuss 3 grants available, one for HEAP eligible customers, one for customers that are low-to-moderate income, and then a food grant as well. The program is co-sponsored by Waterford Public Library and the Waterford Community/Senior Center.

Friday April 21 Trip to Crossgates Mall, transportation provided. Bus leaves Center 10:30 a.m. and returns at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday April 30 Trip Club planning a trip to the Curtain Call Theatre in

Latham to see a play entitled “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”.

Interested in joining?

Yearly membership is only 15.00. As always, please call Eileen Haldeman, Director at Waterford Community/Senior Center at 518-235-8500 for further information on any of our upcoming events.

Se nior Ap ril Dining vents at olonie Se nior

Se rvice enters

COLONIE - Join us for a hot meal at The Beltrone Living Center

Monday-Friday at Noon.

This program is funded in part by the Albany County Dept. for Aging, NYS Office for the Aging, Administration for Community Living, Town of Colonie and participant contributions. Registration and Reservations are Required for this program. Call 518459-2857 Ext. 303.

New Month Reservation Reminder: The next month’s menu is available 2 weeks before the 1st of the next month. It is extremely difficult on the volunteers and kitchen staff when 20 more people come to lunch than have placed reservations during the first week of a new month. Please place a reservation.

Friday, April 7th at 12:00 Noon: Come see “Standard Time Duo” with Diane Geddes on keyboard and Cathy Olsen on vocals. They will be playing an entertaining mix of styles of music from different eras, including swing, Latin 50s/60s and pop. Lunch served will be a Sausage, Peppers & Onion Sandwich with carrots, a Strawberry Spinach Salad and Cookie. Monday, April 17th at 5:00PM Join us for fun and familiar songs with Peter Yakel, guitar player and vocal-

ist. Dinner served will be Salmon Cakes, Rice Pilaf, Carrots, Spinach Salad and Berry Pie! Tuesday, April 18th at 12:00Noon: Come listen to a crowd favorite present, Dr. Rhiannon

R. Clauss, D.C of Capital District Family Chiropractic, PLLC. She will focus on one of the 5 essentials of health she discussed during February’s Lunch & Learn – Optimal Nutrition. Optimal nutrition sustains wellbeing, disease prevention and ideal weight.

4/14 Shepherd’s Pie

4/17 LUNCH Chicken Piccata

4/17 SPECIAL DINNER

Salmon Cakes

4/18 LUNCH&LEARN

Baked Ham + Scalloped

Potatoes

4/19 Seafood Mac & Cheese w/Broccoli

4/20 Chicken Parmesan

4/21 Vegetarian Antipasto Salad & Italian Wedding Soup

4/24 Stuffed Pepper

4/25 Irish Beef Stew

4/26 Chicken Cordon Bleu

4/27 Spaghetti & Meatballs

4/28 Garlic Herb Baked Cod

Latham-Colonie

Columbiettes Sp ring Fl ea Ma rket

LATHAM - Latham Colonie Columbiettes, 328 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, N.Y. 12110, are hosting their Spring Flea Market on Sat., May 20th, 2023 from 9 am to 3:30 pm! Rain or Shine!

Vendor Space available both Indoor and Outdoor, Undercover and Outdoor Areas for your own popup displays

For pricing information klmajer@outlook.com or www.lathamcoloniekofc. com/dinners&events.

Linton Hi gh Sc hool lass f 973 Re union

SCHENECTADY - The Linton High School class of 1973 is holding a 50 year class reunion on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 12 PM to 5 PM at the South Schenectady Fire District #6. The fire department is located at 6 Old Mariaville Road, Rotterdam, NY 12306. Come join your fellow classmates for an afternoon of food, fun and reuniting with old friends.

The cost is $50 per person, payable by August 1, 2023.

For more information go to classmates.com, Facebook – Linton High School Class of 73, or email Tom Palmiotto at xlfoto20@yahoo.com.

St illwater omic Con oming o Community enter STILLWATER - Calling all Superheroes, Villains, Mutants, and the like! Stillwater Comic Con is coming to the community center at 19 Palmer Street Saturday, April 15th from 11am-3pm. Put your cape on and join in the fun! FREE family friendly event brought to you by the Friends of the Stillwater Library. For more information email StillwaterNYComicCon@ gmail.com

Clifton ark Community Chorus elcomes

Ne w Me mbers

CLIFTON PARK - The Clifton Park Community Chorus (sponsored by the Town of Clifton Park)is rehearsing for its Spring 2023 Concert. All voice ranges are invited (Sections are Soprano,Alto,Tenor and Bass). Rehearsals are at the Clifton Park Senior Center every Sunday evening from 7pm-9pm. New members are welcome at any time. Music selections for the Spring include popular, folk and classical choral four part harmony. There will be at least four concerts yearly with possible special events added. No auditions or memorization is required…and it’s a FUN group…everyone is welcomed!

For further information contact David Rossi, Director at drossi20@aol. com or 518-779-5061

Boght adies

Au xiliary An nual Garage Sa le COHOES - IndoorsRain or Shine • 8 Preston Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 • May 13, 2023 8am to 2pm Rent a table for $25 - Contact Kristi at 518-608-5154

The hrist hild So ciety, Al bany Chapter Ho sting a Re d agon uncheon nd

Fa shion Sh ow ALBANY - The luncheon is Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the Italian American Community Center, Washington Avenue Extension in Albany beginning with coffee and pastry at 10:30am followed by Fashion Show at 11:00am by J. Jill sharing unique and fashionable women’s apparel, accessories and footwear. Our models will be the members of the Christ Child Society. There will be drawings for many lovely, themed baskets as well as door prizes. Please come and join us. All are welcome - reserve a table for friends and family to enjoy the event.

Lunch will be served at 12:00pm. Selections are Chicken Parmesan with Penne Pasta, Broiled Haddock with Fresh Lemon and Eggplant Roulade with a Pasta Nest. Adult reservations are $50.00 per person and child reservations are $20.00 per person to be paid in advance by either check or PayPal.

The Guest Speaker will be Mary Giordano, Executive Director of Family Promise of Capital Region. There will be a drawing for many lovely theme baskets put together by volunteers, along with door prizes.

Your reservation is necessary no later than April 19 and cancellations are a must. Please call Cathy Pastore at (518) 669-4446 for further information and to make your reservation(s}. If you are unable to attend,

“St ep y St ep Sp ringtime vent, Sp onsored y Ho pe for oman s He art

LAKE GEORGE - All women are invited to attend an all day “Step by Step” springtime event, sponsored by Hope For A Woman’s Heart, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Lake George from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 29th.

Participating activities will include: Dance numbers with husband and wife team Aaron & Christy Coulson; the Glorious Praise Dancers group; music by singer Danielle Hoag and a floral arrangement demonstration by Gina Whalen. Raffles and vendor shopping will also be available.

Featured speakers

Jillian Pelkey and Christy Coulson will give inspirational messages of Hope.

Ticket cost is $60.00 per person ($50 with group of 10 or more). A Continental breakfast and Buffet lunch is inclusive. Registration and shopping begins at 8:30 a.m.

For more information, visit the website at https://urldefense. com/v3/__http://www. h4awh.com__;!!Ivohdkk!nNqe06551wLigoTp7fJcf_jq-INvxaG4BwXiXEQibs5Mr28ZdEQz3Ztcl0CgQyB2MJMsAGV3YbkqfMgdrg21a1wijg$ or call Debbie Geer, President of HFAWH, at 518-796-2895.

* Reservation deadline is Friday, April 21.

Hope For A Woman’s Heart is a non-profit organization.

The oys nd irls Club f Al bany Ho st an Ad ult ible St udy ALBANY - Each Thursday at 6:00 P.M.

The address is 21 Delaware Avenue. For further info please call 518-885-3149.

please consider making a donation to assist the needy children of the Diocese of Albany.

So uthern Sa ratoga

Ar t So ciety

SARATOGA COUNTY - The Clifton Park Senior Community Center Gallery, 6 Clifton Commons Ct., Tel. #: 518-383-1343 and SSAS will be hosting an exhibit in the Gallery during the months of April and May featuring seven photographers and members of SSAS. Artists include Cheryl Jenks, Rebecca Jenkins, Denise Kornak, Meda Rigatti, Brian Skanes, Anup Sood and Bill Staudinger. The Mechanicville Library, 190 N. Main Street, Tel.#: 518-664-4646 and SSAS will host a Student Art Show featuring students from Mechanicville High School. A reception will be held for students, families and friends on Wednesday, April 19th at 6:30 p.m. Please visit these venues and support the arts in Southern Saratoga county. For further information about SSAS visit our website: southernsaratogaartist.com or check us out on facebook.

Am ity Re formed

Church Ru mmage

Sa le

VISCHER FERRYAmity Reformed Church located at 335 Riverview Road, Vischer Ferry will hold their annual Spring Rummage Sale on Fri, April 14 and Sat, April 15. Among the items for sale will be slightly used and new women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, clothing for all ages. A large assortment of purses, accessories, scarves and jewelry. Baby clothes and

children’s clothing for all ages along with baby items and toys. Household items including dishes, glassware, cookware and kitchen utensils. Blankets, curtains and variety of home decor, pictures, wall hangings and frames.

There will be a cafe lunch served both days along with the sale of home made baked cookies and breads.

The sale will be held on Friday, April 14 open at 9am to 2pm and open on Saturday 9am to 2pm. The Boy Scout troop will hold a bottle drive on Saturday 9am to Noon.

For further information

please call 518 371-8237

Burnt Hi lls

Ballston ake Ro tary lub Drive hru inner BURNT HILLS - The Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake Rotary Club will be hosting a Spring Drive Thru Dinner in conjunction with Spartan Catering on Wednesday April 19, 2023. The dinner will be Italian themed. Ordering information is on the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Rotary Club website. Curbside pick up will be at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, 88 Lakehill Road, Burnt Hills, NY in the back parking lot from 4:30-6:00 PM. Proceeds will go toward scholarships awarded to BH-BL graduating seniors. Donations of non-perishable food items will also be accepted to support the Rotary Club’s Operation Hunger program. For more information, please contact Darlene Bower at 518-466-5735. https://urldefense.com/ v3/__https://bhblrotary. org/__;!!Ivohdkk!ngNUkRJjBkKYhfN8Tu-

Ma rchers anted! olonie Me morial ay Parade nd elebration, hurs. Ma y 5th

COLONIE - The Town of Colonie will be holding the annual Memorial Day Parade on Thursday May 25th at the Colonie Mohawk River Park. The Parade Planning committee is looking for additional marching groups to participate in the parade, including local businesses, youth organizations, fire departments, church groups, etc.

If interested in participating, please contact planning committee chairman Fox Rifenberg-Stempel, at frifenbergstempel@outlook.com”

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Jubilate Si ngers and Or chestra will erform heir 20th nd Fi nal Concert alled

God s ove at ethlehem

Lutheran hurch

DELMAR - Jubilate

Singers and Orchestra will perform their 20th and Final concert called “God is Love” on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 85 Elm Ave, Delmar NY. Admission is free but seating is limited. Call to reserve your seats at 518-4394328. For more information visit: https://www. blcdelmar.com/event-calendar/2023/4/16/jubilatesingers-and-orchestragod-is-love

Latham-Colonie

Knights of Columbus

Sp aghetti nd

Me atball inner

LATHAM - On Saturday, April 22nd 2023, the Latham-Colonie Knights of Columbus along with Steve and Jude Chiera are hosting a Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner at the Latham-Colonie Knights of Columbus Council, 328 Troy Schenectady Road.

Serving from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Dine In and Take Out options are available!

Menu; Tossed Salad, Italian Bread, Spaghetti and Meatballs and Dessert. Reservations 518 892 3750 or 518 783 0572, $15 per person.

Diocesan

Charismatic rayer

Mo nthly Me eting

LOUDONVILLE - 4th

Saturday of each month

Christ Our Light RC

Church, Parish Hall

1 Maria Drive, Loudonvil-

leTime: 11:00am SHARP!

Until: 12:30pm

April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, 2023

Check us out on: www.AlbanyCCR.org

Ne wtonville UMC

Garage Sa le

NEWTONVILLE

- Newtonville United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Maxwell Rd and Rt 9 (near Siena College), will have a garage sale on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 8:30 - 1:30.

Early birds may pay $5 to come in at 8 o’clock. At 1:30 we will have a bag sale costing $5 per bag. Among the items that will be available for sale are: appliances, furniture, garden tools, holiday decorations, jewelry, household tools, housewares, linens, toys, plants and books. Baked

goods will be available by the cafe which will be serving hotdogs and chili. We will begin to accept donations on Monday, April 10. Donated items may be left downstairs just inside the fellowship hall. All donations must be clean and in good repair. We will NOT accept clothing, CD’s or DVD’s, nuts, bolts, screws, hardware, craft items nor encyclopedias. We appreciate your support.

Defensive riving

Classes t he Beltrone iving Center

ALBANY - Roger Dames, CSSC’s Driver Fitness Coordinator, will conduct Defensive Driving Classes on the following date: -Friday, April 21, from 9 AM to 3:30 PM Classes will be held at The Beltrone Living Center, located at 6 Winners Circle in Albany, NY. Cost of the class is $25 per person due before the day of the class. To reserve your seat, call (518)459-2857 ext 340.

Tricks o rim our tility ill

A rapid rise in the cost of living will undoubtedly prove to be one of the major stories of 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, energy prices rose by 41.6 percent in the 12-month period that ended in June 2022, marking the highest 12-month increase since April 1980.

The significant spike in energy costs is somewhat misleading, as the BLS considers motor fuel prices, which rose more than 60 percent in the 12-month period end-

ing in June 2022, part of the energy category. However, during that same period, electricity prices rose by nearly 14 percent while natural gas prices increased by 38 percent. Both of those increases were more significant than the more publicized rise in food prices, which rose by right around 10 percent. Families need to eat and many professionals now must return to in-person work after years of pandemic-related remote working, which means they must confront higher fuel costs. That leaves little room to save money in those

areas. However, there are ways for families to reduce home energy costs without adversely affecting their quality of life.

• Run appliances during off-peak hours. According to the United States Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the best time to use appliances in a home is when overall electricity use is low. Though this time changes depending on the season and can vary based on geography, the DOE and the EPA both note that after 9 p.m. and before 9 a.m. are generally the off-peak hours in most areas.

• Strategically use your shades and blinds. The energy providers at ConEd estimate that about 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Strategic use of curtains, shades and blinds can keep heat out on hot days, thus allowing homeowners to turn the thermostat up on their air conditioning units in summer. Opening curtains, blinds and shades on winter mornings and afternoons will allow more sunlight in, allowing homeowners to control heating costs more effectively.

• Reorganize your refrigerator. There are plenty of contradictory strategies regarding how best to store foods in a refrigerator so the unit consumes as little energy as possible while still keeping foods fresh and chilled. But various energy providers, including ConEd, recommend that consumers avoid packing a fridge too tightly. By allowing cold air to circulate within the refrigerator, the refrigerator won’t need to work as hard, and thus consume as much energy, to keep foods cool. It’s important to note that the opposite should govern how the freezer is packed. Packing frozen items tightly in the freezer will help the refrigerator work a little less hard.

• Turn off the lights. Estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicate that electricity for lighting accounts for around 10 percent of electricity consumption in homes. A concerted effort to turn off lights in rooms that aren’t being used can help consumers save money.

Rising utility bills are compelling millions of people to seek ways to trim their energy consumption. Thankfully, there are many ways to do that without upsetting daily routines.

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Ho w o repare or n ower Ou tage

Planning ahead can help make adverse situations more manageable. Such is the case when storms strike and the power goes out. Extended power outages may not be pleasant, but some proactive planning can make it easier to withstand blackouts.

• Establish a local support network. Support can be just as valuable as supplies when confronting power outages. The American Red Cross urges individuals to identify people who can help them during an extended power outage. Such individuals may help you stay at home or evacuate if the power will be out for a lengthy period of time. Support networks can include relatives who live in nearby towns, but also neighbors. A single street can be served by different substations and main power lines, so friends or neighbor across the street may keep their power when your house does not, or vice versa. When the power goes out, support networks can pool their resources in various ways, including sharing refrigerators or allowing neighbors without power to access the internet. Such support makes it easier for everyone to get through the outage with as little interruption to their lives as possible.

• Print a list of important contacts. If the power is out, it’s only a matter of time before smartphones lose their battery power. Phones can always be plugged into vehicles to get a quick power boost, but that’s not the most practical way to keep phones charged, especially if local roads are closed. A printed list of important contacts, including nearby relatives like seniors who may be incapacitated, doctors and school officials, ensures people whose phone batteries have died can still contact their loved ones and other important individuals so long as they can use a neighbor’s or a loved one’s phone.

• Learn to use your generator. Consumer Reports notes that improper operation of a generator can quickly prove deadly. If carbon monoxide concentrations are too high, individuals can lose their lives in as little as five minutes. And this is no insignificant threat, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 95

people died from generator-associated carbon monoxide poisoning in 2017. CR recommends operating generators at least 20 feet away from the house. Individuals should familiarize themselves with their generators upon purchasing them so they aren’t forced to endure a trial by fire when the power goes out.

• Stock up on essentials. The Red Cross recommends keeping a two-week supply of nonperishable food and water in the house, making sure to date each container of water and replace it every six months. Keep some

extra coolers in the house so food can be stored on ice before it spoils in the refrigerator or freezer. In addition, make sure there’s enough blankets in the house to keep everyone warm overnight, as it’s not safe to use outdoor heaters indoors. Stock up on battery-powered lights and candles to light the house at night, but make sure all candles are extinguished before going to bed.

Extended power outages can be a nuisance. Planning for such outages in advance can make blackouts more manageable.

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ing students, given the crisis in health care staffing, but it’s not simple.

“We need additional simulation space, lab space, more faculty,” Or-tale said.

Maria was founded in 1958 by the Religious Sisters of Mercy to teach the community of sisters. It began to teach the public in 1965, and only a decade ago received accreditation to award four-year bachelor degrees.

Other colleges are putting significant emphasis on jobs in their advertisements for new students — and doing

better than ever before.

Liberal arts has historically been seen as teaching the whole student: producing someone who can think critically and has a wide knowledge base.

But nowadays, parents increasingly want to know about employability, Siena College President Chris Gibson said.

Siena’s advertisements say it is “#1 in jobs” for graduates, calling the college a blend of “professional training with a broad-based liberal arts education and strong values.”

Siena was founded in 1937 by seven Franciscan friars as a Catholic college for men and went co-ed the next year. The then-president of St. Bonaventure College wanted to establish a satellite campus near Albany. Siena still exists on the land where the college first held classes

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in a farmhouse in Colonie.

The college currently has its highest enrollment in its 85-year history — so high it ran out of room for

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know, ‘How will I make a difference?’ Our education really dials in on this,” Gibson said. “We think that’s resonating.”

111County Route 31, Salem

A4,000 square feet of living space nestled upon nearly 200 acres of picturesque Washington County land. There are rolling pastures, springfed ponds, grassy hills and more to explore outdoors. This Colonial also offers some unique luxuries, like an airplane runway, hangar, horse stalls and cattle run. The home’s interior showcases traditional farmhouse charm, with wood beams, exposed brick and wide-plank hardwood floors. The main

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that metric.

But overall, New Yorkers say they believe this is a good time to purchase major consumer goods, Levy said.

In the first quarter of 2023, buying plans were up from the fourth quarter of 2022. Those who said they planned

to buy a house in the next six months was 17.1 percent, up from 11.5 percent late last year.

For buying cars or trucks, 28.2 percent had plans in the next six months, up from 25.5 percent.

The percentage of those who said they planned to buy furniture, electronics and do home improvements also rose.

The poll was conducted March 6 to March 9 by ran-

SCHENE CTAD Y

CI TY SCHOOLDISTRIC T 108EducationDrive, Schenectady,NY 12303 schenectadyschools.org

APPLICATION:

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JOBDESCRIPTION:THISISA12-MONTHPOSITION.

DISTINGUISHINGFEATURES OF THE CLASS:Thispositionexistsin a schooldistrict andinvolves the responsibilityforproviding support totheNurse Managerandstaf ng coordinationofalldistrictmanagedbuildings toensurethatthere isdaily coverage Whencoverageofnecessary openingscannotbesecured throughoutsidenursingor substitutes, the Assistant Nurse Managerwillsupport withthiscoverage..Theworkis performed underthe supervisionof the Nurse Managerwithleewaygiven forcarrying out the detailsof the work Supervision may beexercised overRegisteredProfessional Nurses(School) Doesrelated workasrequired FULLPERFORMANCEKNOWLEDGE,SKILLS,ABILITIES ANDPERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thoroughknowledge ofnursingprinciplesandtechniquesandtheir relationtomedicalpractices andskil intheir application;ability tounderstandandfollow technica oralandwritten instructionsand the abilitytodisseminatethe sametoonsite schoolnurses;ability toplanandsupervisethe workofothers;

dom telephone calls to 406 New York adults. Pollsters received 398 responses drawn from a proprietary online panel of New Yorkers.

Results for percentage answers had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Data from the telephone and web samples were blended and statistically adjusted by age, race/ethnicity, gender and party.

The full survey can be found at https://scri.siena. edu/2023/04/05/consumer-sentiment-upreaches-21-month-high/ rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU

SHANNON FROMMA

HOUSE OF THE WEEK