It is always a pleasure to speak to the 5th grade class at Watervliet Elementary School. We read the book “Of thee I sing.” President Barack Obama wrote this book to his daughters to underscore the importance of our diversity and unique abilities each one of us has.

Of course, the best part was the battery of questions that followed! They were very thoughtful, especially when speaking about the environment and how we can stop pollution.

HEAP

The Home Energy Assistance Program is here to help with home heating bills this winter! HEAP is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to both renters and homeowners. The HEAP program can help cover costs of electricity, propane, natural gas, wood, oil, coal or other heating fuels. You may also be able to get funds to help pay for home heating repairs if necessary.

You can learn more and apply by contacting your local Social Services Department or by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov. You can also call 1-800-342-3009.

Academy for Character Education: a conversation with Clifton Taulbert

On December the 7th at 8 a.m. Clifton Taulbert, the author of a Pulitzer Prize nominated book “Last Train North”, will be speaking at the Century House in Latham. The event, sponsored by The Academy for Character Education, EducationalVistas, Inc., and Century House Incorporated, will feature Taulbert’s “Entrepreneur Thinking: Moving to Success” speech.

The fee to attend this event will be $25. For more information or to register contact The Academy for Character Education at (518) 244-2336 or online at sage.edu/charactered.

More than $10 million in funding to support programs providing job training and other re-entry services to individuals currently under community supervision has been announced by Governor Cuomo. The first $6.4 million in grants will be awarded to non-profit organizations across the state to provide employment-focused services to individuals on parole, those supervised by probation or referred by the court to alternatives to incarceration programs.

The other $4 million will be used to allow 19 existing Task Forces to hire a coordinator and serve more individuals. Albany and Rensselaer counties of the 108th District will be in receipt of this part of the grant!

I believe that individuals who have served their court appointed time and are matriculating back into society need to have resources in place to redirect them into a sustainable life outside of prison. Resources such as this will help those individuals and the society in which they live.

For more information on this grant check out the Governor’s press release here.

Thank you to the Governors Traffic Safety Committee for releasing this drugged driving PSA. Also, please take a moment to read the GTSC’s press release on drugged driving, some of the facts are shocking!

Drugged driving is an issue that I am truly passionate about. Please share this PSA with family and friends!