MaltaSunriseRotaryNY
The Malta Sunrise Rotary Club is a service organization in the town of Malta, upstate New York, USA. We meet at The Ugly Rooster, on the corner of Route 9 and Dunning Street, east of I-87 Exit 12. Meetings are at 7:15 Thursday mornings, and those who wish to join us are welcome to attend.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Saratoga Bridges
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Rick's Life
Our member Rick Handley was the speaker this morning, interviewed by Bob Bonney. Rick is chairman of the Malta Democratic Committee, but he didn't talk about politics. He told us about his past life in Oneida County, his wife and family in Malta, working for the state energy office, his interests in baking and harness racing. He has an idea for a "porchlight project" to check up on seniors living alone, and mentioned the upcoming food concession we'll be operating at the Nov. 8 Malta Harvest Craft Fair.
He also spoke about some recent health issues, when he had trouble breathing, was referred to a cardiologist's office, and after testing was told "You can't go home".
A heart bypass operation at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany was successful, and now "I can breathe again."
Asked whom he would invite, living or dead, to a dinner party, he said Kurt Vonnegut, Albert Einstein, and his father's father who "was born on a canal boat on the Black River Canal."
Also joining us this morning were new members Donna Gizzi and Melanie Delaney.
On the left of photo (and mirrored on right) you can barely make out Brian Farrell, who will be playing in a benefit concert tomorrow (Friday) evening in Rensselaer County. See Upcoming Events or here for more details.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
From Army to Pub; and Local Events
Jim Cahill, left, was last week's speaker, seen here with our member Brian Farrell. They are friends from Power's Pub, the historic tavern and restaurant on Route 9 and Farm-to-Market Road a few miles south of Malta. Cahill is manager of operations there.
But he spoke mostly about his 36-year career in the US Army, which he joined as an enlisted man in 1985 and retired from as a National Guard colonel in 2021. His service included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He and his wife have a 12-year-old daughter who is a student in the Shenendehowa School District.
Brian, a contractor, is also a drummer, sometime singer and songwriter in the band Enjoyous, which is putting on another concert to benefit St. Paul's Center in Rensselaer, which shelters homeless mothers and children and provides supportive housing for seniors. It will be held on Friday Oct. 10 from 7 to 9 pm at Hope Lutheran Church, 470 Winter Street Extension, North Greenbush, with light refreshments, raffles and a silent auction.
The event is connected to the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary, and tickets can be purchased for $15 at the door.
Speaking of gatherings, some Malta Rotarians were at the forefront of this regional event last week at The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs.
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Solar and presidential power
Dan Havens, a systems administrator at UAlbany, was our speaker on Thursday, talking about solar power. He powers his own house that way, in Guilderland on the border with Albany, and says "Solar just works."
Saturday, August 30, 2025
A Quilt, a Geologist, Two Celebrations and Community Day
This handmade quilt by Susan Kipp is her second such gift to Malta Sunrise Rotary. We plan to raffle it off, maybe at the Harvest Craft Fair on Nov. 8 at the Community Center. Thanks, Susan.
Friday, August 8, 2025
From Bobsleds to Baseball
Last week's speaker, Norman Miller, is a 33-year US Air Force veteran, a former Olympic bobsled coach, and a participant in end-of-the-Cold War adventures involving the Soviet Union, its soldiers and the KGB, the CIA, alloy composites, Latvian athletes and an Estonian escape route to Finland. Miller has fictionalized those experiences in two novels, IceSpy and Inside the Cold War, and is working on a third with a Mafia element.
Shaun Francis, this week's speaker, is a Malta resident who grew up in Colonie, and became a professional baseball umpire. He also became a labor activist, leading the Association of Minor League Umpires, and supporting its affiliation with the Office and Professional Employees International Union. He now works for the New York State Public Employees Federation, and attends law school.In other business, we're sponsoring the AOET booth at the Glenville Oktoberfest on Sept. 27.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Banner Project Update
At a reception on July 24 at the Malta Community Center, the following 10 paintings were announced for the ongoing banner project in Malta.
Cyclist on Iron Truss Bridge by Tammy Handley
First Rose of the Season by Kristina Guernsey
Trail Traipsing by Maggie Dinneen
Winters Past in Luther Forest by Sean Campanie
Whimsical Faces- Zee Zee by Lisa Santy
Whimsical Faces-Buzz by Lisa Shanty
Helping Hands and a Monarch by Annika Nerf
The Malta Drive-in by Kristen Hardy Allen
After the Rain, Luther Forest by Ottavia Huang












