I kicked off last week by honoring and celebrating our veterans in Albany’s Veterans Day Parade and on the USS Slater. Like many of us, I will be joining family later this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I wish everyone safe and warm travels this early winter weather!
 
HEAP Applications Open. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps those on low or fixed incomes pay the cost of heating their homes or apartments. The application period for this year opened on November 13th.  Certain applicants may be eligible for emergency HEAP grants if they are at risk of having their power shut off. 
 
Applied Invests in SUNY Poly. Empire State Development (ESD) and the State University of New York (SUNY) announced on Thursday that Applied Materials will partner with New York State to establish the Materials Engineering Technology Accelerator (META Center) on the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus in Albany.  ESD will provide a five-year, $250 million capital grant for the SUNY Research Foundation to purchase and install tools in an advanced research and development facility that will further position the Capital Region to be a global materials engineering research hub.
I look forward to seeing the opportunities that will develop as a result of this collaboration.

Age Friendly NY. Governor Cuomo on Wednesday issued an executive order that directs state agencies to include New York State Prevention Agenda priorities and the AARP/World Health Organization eight domains of livability for age-friendly communities, where appropriate, into federal and state plans, and agency policies, procedures, and procurements. The goal of incorporating age-friendly concepts into government contracting and procurement opportunities is to create and foster healthier, more integrated communities that allow New Yorkers of all ages to easily receive services, take part in, and move around their community. I welcome this development to create a more livable environment for New York’s seniors.
 
Community Updates

Night at the Discovery Center. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve will host its second Night at the Discovery Center on Tuesday November 20, 2018, 4pm – 7pm at 195 New Karner Road in Albany. Visitors are invited to stop by the Discovery Center after normal business hours to play games, go on a moonlit walk and see the exhibits come to life. All ages are welcome. This free special event will be held rain or shine. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are not required for special events, but knowing how many people are coming helps with planning, so please sign up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events.

Humanities Reading and Discussion. Open to any tax-exempt organization in New York State, Humanities New York's Reading & Discussion Programs bring together community members for a series of thematically-linked, text-based conversations about important ideas. Available themes and application information can be found at their Web site. 

Cooking Equipment at the Guilderland Library. The Times Union has an article this week highlighting some of the many items in the Guilderland Library’s ‘library of things.’ The article highlights many of the kitchen gadgets available to check out (along with cook books!) The Library’s new cooking club last month created Syrian and Persian dishes to share, and this month will be making recipes from "Cravings: Hungry for More," by celebrity supermodel Chrissy Teigen and Adeena Sussman. 

As always, for the latest news or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note, or give us a call at (518) 455-4178.

Pat