Woerner's World

Carrie Woerner, a Malta Sunrise Rotarian who is entering her fifth term as a member of the New York State Assembly, was our speaker this morning. 

Carrie said she agrees with much of the agenda laid out in Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State address, including adjustments to the bail reform legislation and a large boost in funding to address the state's "mental health crisis," while not raising taxes. She also agreed with fellow Malta Rotarian Helen Endres, former Saratoga County public health director, about the urgent need to increase funding for other parts of the health care system, including nursing homes, and invited Helen to speak at a Jan. 24 press conference. 

Carrie was skeptical, however, about measures to restrict usage of gas and wood stoves.

Asked about the Senate Judiciary Committee's 10-9 vote yesterday to reject Hochul's nomination of Hector LaSalle to be chief judge of the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, she said that from the outside "it looked like he was railroaded." Carrie Woerner, Hochul, LaSalle, and the anti-LaSalle senators are all Democrats.

 

 

Seeds for Peace Regroups

 Linda LeTendre from Seeds for Peace was our speaker on Thursday. She had Covid so did not appear in person; but the Zoom presentation was clear and vivid with easy communication back and forth, thanks to our tech gurus Bob Bonney and Kristen Stanley.

Linda, who is a Burnt Hills Rotarian, last spoke to us about Seeds for Peace in 2020. She said the organization has been changing its focus since then to support a model of organic, sustainable family farming, mostly in Uganda at this time. It is looking for volunteers, including committee members to oversee the expenditure of grant funding. Those interested should email her at seedsforpeacerequests@gmail.com

Next week's speaker will be club member and New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.

Library Back Running at Full Steam

 

Round Lake Library Director Jennifer Hurd was last week's speaker, telling us how the library got through the Covid pandemic and is returning to normal with programs. It was founded in 1897 in the Village of Round Lake, where it remains in place at the Clark House on Wesley Avenue. It opened a second branch in 2009 at the Malta Community Center on Bayberry Drive.

Jennifer has worked for the library since 2008, and has been its director since 2013. Current plans include expansion of the museum pass program. Graphic novels are popular among young adults now, she said, and "We have gone almost fine free."

This Thursday we will have a business meeting. Next week's speaker will be Linda LeTendre, a Burnt Hills Rotarian, who spoke to our club in 2020 about Seeds for Peace. This time she will speak about sustainable agriculture in East Africa. 

Buy Rotary Christmas Trees at Curtis Lumber

The Ballston Spa Rotary Club has reduced prices for its Christmas trees, which are for sale daily until 7 p.m. in the Curtis Lumber parking lot on Route 67 in the town of Ballston, just west of Malta and south of Ballston Spa.

Steve Williams is a member of the Ballston Spa club, which imported its trees from Canada this year for its annual fund-raiser. Williams, a retired 42-year reporter for the Daily/Sunday Gazette, was our speaker yesterday. 

He talked about the history of Christmas trees, originating in Medieval passion plays when they held more religious significance. Their use at Christmas originated in Germany, and was first spread in the United States by immigrants from that country -- including some Hessian soldiers who fought for UK King George III but stuck around in the New World after their military defeat.

Williams noted the environmental benefits of natural trees, helping support farmers and open space. UK Queen Victoria and her German husband Prince Albert helped popularize the Christmas tree custom in the mid-19th century.

Stewart's, a Malta-based Business

 

Stewart's Shops Vice President, Facilities, Chad Kiesow holds the attention of Dave Kruczlnicki, Jim Hale and Larry Levine at last week's meeting.

Kiesow, who has worked at Stewart's for 30 years, said the company, which is 40 percent employee-owned, offers great opportunities for career advancement. Stewart's continues to expand, he said, but like other employers is encountering difficulties due to a shortage of workers. 

The company has several stores in Malta and is headquartered here on Route 9 southeast of Northway Exit 13. It owns more land near that site which may be developed, but is constrained by traffic issues and a lack of public water and sewer services.

In other business, Malta Rotarians Paul Phillips and Barbara Conner discussed a recent meeting celebrating AOET's work in Uganda, which our club has helped support (including a recent contribution of $1,000). Approximately $1.3 million has been raised for AOET over the past 20 years by donors in the Saratoga County area.

Thomas C. Luther's Big Legacy in Malta and Stillwater

Malta Town Historian Paul Perreault was our speaker earlier this month, and told us about Thomas C. Luther, about whose family he is writing a book. Luther, who lived from 1862 to 1937, turned the White Sulphur Spring Hotel on Saratoga Lake in Stillwater into a famously successful resort. He also ran lumber operations in northern Washington County.

In Malta and Stillwater, Luther created the 7,000-acre Luther Forest Preserve. His descendants facilitated development of parts of the Preserve into a rocket testing facility for the U.S. government, and later into housing developments and a tech park. The tech park (which includes the former rocket site) is now home to the GlobalFoundries computer chip manufacturer.

Luther's granddaughter, Carol L. Mackay, died on November 1.

In other business, we set our Christmas/holiday party for Wednesday December 21 at 6 p.m. at The Galley restaurant on Route 9, just north of the Malta Ridge Fire House. (Please confirm attendance to Paul Phillips.)

$1,000 for QMC in Lesotho

 

Lynn Minderman, right, president of Qholaqhoe Mountain Connections, visited Lesotho in August and September. She is seen here with Remaketse, a recent graduate of the National University of Lesotho.

Our club recently received letters (to which we will respond) from two of the high school students we sponsor. At this morning's meeting, we voted to contribute $1,000 to continue supporting the QMC program. Most of this money comes from our member Mike Williams, who closed out his political campaign fund.