The latest cooking effort by Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club at Ronald McDonald House in Albany on Wednesday was a big hit.

As Roberto Martinez reported:

“Before we started cooking a couple came up to thank us. … They remarked how words couldn’t explain how much it was appreciated and what a blessing it was to have someone helping them with the food. Their child was in the hospital for the last week.

“I spoke to a child while he was eating and asked what was his favorite. ‘The tortellini, the broccoli in the salad, and the chicken nuggets’,” he replied.

“The family … reminded us of why we were there and what is means to be a Rotarian.”

Thanks to the volunteers in the kitchen, and to those who helped put the event together ahead of time.

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From Debbie Brown, dinner meeting coordinator:

“Certainly the weather today isn’t the best for outdoor activities, but remembering our men and women who have served our country can happen despite the weather. Thanks to Bill Dowd for the website post on the history and significance of Memorial Day. If you have not yet seen it, click here to check it out.

“Our guest speaker this week will be Alyssa Evans, Student Assistance Counselor working with students from Columbia High School and Goff Middle School. Her topic, an unfortunately timely one, is “Combating Heroin.”

“The dinner menu will include turkey and all the fixin’s, including salad, chef’s choice of sides, bread, dessert and beverages. And, as always, the cash bar is available before, during and after the meeting.

“The following members have indicated their intent to be with us. If your plans can include an evening with Rotary and you are not on this list, please let me know at mdbrown@nycap.rr.com no later than Tuesday evening. We also need to know if you plan to bring guests.”

Pat Bailey
Geoff Brewer
Terry Brewer
Debbie Brown
Peter Brown
April Dowd
Bill Dowd
Murray Forth
Julius Frankel
Ray Hannan
Roberto Martinez
Becky Raymond
Debbie Rodriguez
Alyssa Evans (guest speaker)

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• Ron Annis reports on the Viking Gym construction at Schodack Town Park, a co-op venture of SRC, Eagle Scout candidate Lorenzo Gonzalez (shown above), Top Form, and the Town of Schodack:

“So many people helping on the Viking Gym project. A big thank you to Ken Holmes, Schodack Highway Superintendent  and Bruce Goodall, director of  the town Transfer Station, for arranging wood chips.

“Leo and other Troop 41 Scouts are arranging a final work day for Saturday, June 10, to  spread chips and finalize small projects from 9 to 11 a.m. Want to help? Just email Leo at: 17gonzalle1@egcsd.org to let him know.

“We are almost there. The heavy-lift station is being finalized. Three stations to start: Chin up, crunches and heavy lift. Several Eagle Scout projects to follow over next few years should give us a complete gym.”

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Those cartoon bears extolling the virtues of their brand of  toilet paper in TV ads have nothing on our own Stewart  Wagner.

The always-entertaining Stewart will be making a presentation at this Thursday’s SRC dinner meeting on the topic of “Toilet Paper and Its Connection to Albany.” We doubt anyone could  not be interested in hearing what he has to say.

To that end, please be sure dinner coordinator Debbie Brown (mdbrown@nycap.rr.com) knows if you plan to attend. As always, her deadline is this Tuesday evening.

The dinner menu will feature barbecued pork, veggies, salad, bread, dessert and beverages. The following members already have RSVP’d:

Pat Bailey
Debbie Brown
Peter Brown
Bill Dowd
Dick Drumm
Murray Forth
Ray Hannan
Phil Kellerman
Jim Leyhane
Roberto Martinez
Debbie Rodriguez
Stewart Wagner

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Despite rumors that their “surf and turf” menu for a “Rotary Home Cooking Series” dinner might include anything from burgers-by-the-pool to possum-and-tuna, Murray and Maggie Forth pulled off another fine event with salmon and kebabs on Saturday night.

Here are some scenes from the event:

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Rotarians from the District’s Area 8 clubs — Southern Rensselaer County, Cohoes, Colonie-Guilderland, and Lansingburgh — descended on the Shaker Heritage Site in Colonie today to do some spring cleaning — and digging, and planting, and painting, and generally sprucing up the grounds.

Below are photos, courtesy of SRC’s Terry Brewer and Colonie-Guilderland’s Denise DiNoto, showing some of the work.

(All photos available in album form on the club’s Facebook page. That makes it easy for you to share them with friends if you have a Facebook account. Click here to visit it.)

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This month’s Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club “Third Thursday” breakfast meeting is set for 7 to 8 a.m. at the Greenbush YMCA, 20 Community Way in East Greenbush.

We will be presenting a version of the locally-produced polio history video that debuted at the recent District 7190 Conference in Lake George.

Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez, who worked on behalf of SRC in the joint effort with CASDA, UAlbany School of Public Health, and the District,  will be sharing information on the year-long project that includes an interview with Dr. Martha Lepow, a local physician who worked on developing a polio vaccine.

This is a really special program, so please try to attend. But, please be sure to email Terry  Brewer at tlbrewer12piseco@gmail.com by Wednesday so he can give host Shannon Romanowski an accurate headcount. A $5 donation from attendees will go toward our club’s YMCA summer scholarship fund.

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