I couldn't have done it without you

It's official and I couldn't have done it without you.  In August, I successfully competed in the Refresh Everything Pepsi Program for a $10,000 grant to hold the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival this year.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to bring this event back to Troy.  Please join in the FREE family fun on Saturday, October 29.

The festival will be held at the Ross Technology Park from Noon till 5:00 pm.  This year's festival promises to be one not to miss.  The wonderful folks at the ARC of Rensselaer County have offered to coordinate our volunteers and Pastor Willie Bacote of the Missing Link Street Ministry will be manning the grill, serving up our fair fare.

Bring the kids and grandkids down to play some carnival games.  They'll earn tickets which they can use at the Prize Booth, the Bouncy-Bounces, the Obstacle Course and the Sticky Wall. If they'd like, they can get some popcorn or cotton candy with them too.  We'll have arts & crafts and a pumpkin decorating contest.  They could even get an airbrushed tattoo!  There'll be plenty to entertain the adults too with live performances by Tom Techman, Dr. Steven Elisha with Mr. Cello, Museum Guards and Silversyde. 

We'll have raffles this year too, so bring a couple of bucks to take a chance on winning some of the awesome prizes.  All proceeds from the raffles will go to replenishing the stock at Troy's food pantries, assisting families adversely affected by Irene and our local family farms who suffered significant losses.

If you'd like to volunteer your time, a service or a raffle prize, please send me an email.  It took a small city of votes to get the funding.  It'll take a platoon of volunteers to make it a wonderful event. I hope you'll join us.

Being an Active Member in your Community

For those who know me, they know my passions run deep and I can get fired up when they become inspired. If I sense an injustice or feel someone being attacked that can't defend themselves, I'm right there looking out for them. I could blame it on being the oldest of six siblings. Truthfully, I was just born that way. I look out for the underdog. I stand up for what I believe is the right thing to do. I speak up, speak out and take action. That's why I'm seeking this Refresh Everything grant. The families in my neighborhood NEED access to family fun activities. 

Way back in 1982, there was a massive flood in Ft. Wayne, Indiana - my son's father's hometown.  John Mellencamp did a benefit concert that summer to help raise funds for his neighbors and their communities.  He saw a need and knew a way he could help. For me, he's one of the greats.  His music is insprirational.  His Cutting Heads album is one of my favorites.  There's a line in his song Peaceful World that inspires my work in my community - "It's what you do not what you say. If you're not part of the future, then get out of the way."  Yeah, I say plenty, that's for sure and I do plenty too.

Please continue to support my efforts to bring the Uptown Troy Community Harvest Festival  back this year with your daily votes. I've partnered with two incredible projects Nicholson Heritage Association and Angels4Epilepsy.  Please remember them when voting too. Cap Collection Centers are established at CAC Woodside (a previous grant recepient), High Maintenance, Low Budget Consignment Shop, Smokers Choice in the Troy Plaza and all ARC of Rensselaer County offices.  Save those yellow caps and drop off to any location when ya can.  Voting continues until August 31st.