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.

Troy Community Harvest Festival, Sept 18th 11 am to 5 pm

The ARC of Rensselaer County, The Uptown Initiative and The Missing Link Street Ministry have teamed up to bring our community out for a day of family fun. The first Annual Troy Community Harvest Festival kicks off at 11am tomorrow with games and prizes for the kids. Face painting, a bouncy bounce and a dunking booth will be there too. Thanks to the generous support of Ross Valve, SEFCU and John Ray & Sons, all children’s activities will be FREE.


Free hotdogs will be served up too with Missing Link’s Pastor Willie Bacote manning the grill. Musical entertainment will be on tap throughout the day featuring the AME Zion Church Children’s Choir, the local a capella group REVAMPED, the vocal talents of Tom Teichman and The Missing Link Street Ministry Men’s Choir.

There will be over 20 craft vendors offering a variety of goods for sale. Stop over at the ARC tent for some cider and donuts. While you’re there, take a chance on our 50/50’s or one of our 15 different raffle items.