South Glens Falls food pantry gets help from brewery on the mend

Donna and Kelly were on the radio again! Click here to hear them talk about the holiday season!

“’They are out of this world,’” said Graham about the community center.” We are honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Rodeo’s generosity.

Check out the story at the Post Star’s website!

Often times our members and volunteers leave an indelible mark on us and the community. Then there are ones like James “Chip” Merrithew, who served his community above and beyond the call. When Chip passed the Center mourned with his family, friends, and the community he touched. This week we were humbled and honored to have a new flag, raised in his honor on a new pole, replacing the old rusted pole and weathered flag. This new flag reminds us of the commitment to service that lived deep in his heart and radiated from him. His work and memory will live on with the Center and in the hearts of those who knew him.

The Center thanks his family for so selflessly thinking of us when considering how to honor their beloved Chip.

Photographer Eric Pickersgill recently released a series of photos in which the handheld devices we are so used to having attached to us are “edited out,” or rather, removed from the subjects’ hands before the photo was taken, to highlight just how lonely and disconnected our world can look without our beloved cell phones and tablets. Click here! to see the series as compiled by QZ writer, Steve Mollman.

We get it, they’re really handy devices, and we’d be lying if we said we never used them to share info with all of you. Spend fifteen minutes on Google looking for information about cell phone usage tips, and the effects usage has on our society, including the increasing awareness of addiction to the use of these devices, and you’ll find more information than you thought you would. As with any technological advances, we need to learn how to use these tools for what they are and not let them become extensions of our hands – especially since all that looking down is killing our posture, neck strength, and you don’t want to know what it’s doing to that area under our chin!

Our advice – disconnect often in order to reconnect with those around you. Time is precious, when you’re spending it with loved ones, colleagues, even strangers, invest in that time. We’ll never get more from a phone than we will from human interaction. Appreciate your neighbor, engage your children or spouses in conversation or physical activity, and if you can, go visit your grandmother instead of just giving her a call.

Here are a few links to info we found. Check them out and see where else your investigation leads. Then, when you’re done, talk about it face-to-face with someone.

BOLD BUSINESS
SAFETY TIPS FROM IT-TAKES-TIME
CELL PHONE ETIQUETTE FROM SOUTHERN LIVING

zpl 09/18/2019

The Moreau Community Center is committed to fighting food insecurity! Click here to see news coverage of how we’re doing that this and every summer!

Beat The Heat: 8 Ways To Save And Stay Cool In Summer
July 4, 2019 by Libby Donovan

Summer’s coming and you know what that means: days so hot that chickens are laying hard-boiled eggs and cows giving evaporated milk. Maybe the fire ants are actually on fire.

Whatever the case, looking for ways to stay cool is a way of life during the dog days of summer. Temperatures can get dangerously high and it’s important to take steps to fight the heat and stay cool. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, but stay away from alcohol or caffeinated drinks, which actually cause dehydration. Stay out of the sun as much as possible, but when you do have to go out, wear light clothing and a hat, and always slather on some sunscreen. During a heat wave, be sure to check on elderly friends or family to make sure they’re staying cool during the sweltering heat.

Keeping cool in the summer can be fun too, and best of all, you don’t need to break the bank to beat the heat.

1. Pool time!
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, you don’t have to look far to cool off. The problem with having your own pool is that it can get a little repetitive by the end of the summer, so look for games to play in the water. You don’t have to buy expensive games. Make up your own games using beach balls and pool noodles. Don’t forget to share in the fun. Invite friends and family over for a picnic or backyard barbecue. Picnic and barbecue foods are generally inexpensive and, if you’re offering up a refreshing dip in the pool, your guests will be happy to join in on a potluck meal.

2. Make a Backyard Water Park
You don’t need a pool to have fun with water. With a little imagination, you can turn your backyard into a fun water park for the kids. Kids love running through the sprinkler with their friends. Kiddie pools are inexpensive, and young kids can play in them for hours with nothing more than some cups and balls. At the big box stores, you can usually find cheap water toys such as packs of water guns or water balloons. Toddlers can have a blast with a few plastic bowls of water and paintbrushes in the driveway.

3. Hit the Beach
No matter where you live, you’re probably not too far from a day trip to the ocean or a lake. Pack a cooler full of snacks, drinks (don’t forget water!), and your favorite sandwiches and head for the beach for the day. Bring a beach umbrella for shade and don’t forget to bring lots of sunscreen and a beach ball!

4. Visit a Museum
Museums are usually cool in the summer months, and most communities have them so you don’t necessarily have to drive into the city to visit one. A good place to start is your local library. They often offer passes or discounted admission to area museums. Universities often have museums, so if you live near one, check them out. Make an afternoon of it by packing a picnic lunch to have at an area park.

5. Go to a Movie
Movies don’t have to be expensive, as matinees are cheaper than evening shows. Many movie theaters offer summer movie specials where they show not-first-run movies for kids, usually in the morning or early afternoon when they’re not showing new movies. These movies are usually free or cost a dollar or two, and they may have discounted snacks or let you bring in your own from home. Check with area theaters to see if they offer this kind of program.

If you check area restaurants, you may be able to find meal deals and make a nice outing for the entire family.

6. Visit the Library
Your local library is a treasure trove of entertainment that goes well beyond reading books (although that’s entertainment enough!). Many libraries offer summer reading programs for children where they can earn prizes for reading books so they can keep up their reading skills over the summer. They also offer family nights, movie nights, crafts, author events, Lego clubs, and some even have play areas for the younger kids.

How about a library scavenger hunt? Many search lists can be found online, or you can make up your own. All you need is paper and pencil, or if your kids have cell phones or iPods, they can take pictures of the objects when they find them. Clues can be things such as:

Find a book by an author whose initials are C and B
Find a picture of a cow
Find a book about a car
Locate the section on world history
Find an author with the same first name as you
A library scavenger hunt is fun for everyone. Better yet, it’ll help your child learn more about the local library without realizing he or she is learning!

7. Take a Trip to the Mall
Going to the mall doesn’t have to be expensive. Walking around the mall window-shopping can be good exercise when it’s too hot to walk outside. By the time summer rolls around, stores are already stocking their fall fashions so you can get an idea of what’s going to be “in” when you start your back-to-school shopping.

Mall food can be on the expensive side for what you’re getting. Instead of a full meal, end your mall visit with some ice cream or frozen yogurt.

8. Find a Creek
Whether you call it a creek, a stream, or a brook, an area where there’s running water can provide lots of cooling entertainment for younger kids. They can splash around and use their imaginations. It’s a great place for finding little critters and learning more about their habitats. Show them how to make boats out of sticks, leaves, acorns, and pieces of bark, and have boat races down the stream. Water shoes or an old pair of sneakers will make splashing around in the water easier. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

Everyone looks forward to some summertime fun, and too-hot temperatures outside don’t mean you have to stay cooped up in your house to save money. With a little thought, you can find fun things to do this summer without cutting into your savings.

Are you the parent of a student who is entering college this Fall? Do  you work with college-bound youth?

If you’ve got 60 minutes to spare, Wellspring can help you understand the importance of and find the words to talk to college-bound  youth about relationships and consent.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We at Wellspring want to send our warm regards to all the parents and guardians of graduating seniors. This is an exciting time for your family. As you begin the post-graduation transition, we wanted to reach out let you know we are here to support you in any way we can. We know this is a busy time and there is so much you want to talk to your students about. We hope that also includes the topic of consent.

Consent is very simple and is something we use every day. Consent is a dialogue and conversation with another person asking that individual if it is okay to do something. This could be taking money, borrowing a car, or offering them something to eat.

Consent is necessary for all these things, just like with sexual activity.

We know that the process of ending sexual assault, specifically on college campuses, starts at home. When students reach college, they are set in their social norms and behaviors. This means that we need to teach them about consent BEFORE they step foot on campus their first year. They will bring with them positive behaviors and values regarding consent and help change campus cultures to be safer for all. As parents and family members, you have great power in shaping the conversation and instilling values your student can take with them for the rest of their life.

Consent is not an easy topic to discuss with anyone, especially our children, due to the connection to sexual activity and sexual assault. We at Wellspring are dedicated to help you bridge this discussion with your students. We have many resources available to you, either attached to this letter or through our website, including videos and handouts. We will be hosting an hour long workshop July 16^th from 6pm-7pm at the Wellspring conference room, 480 Broadway, LL24. This workshop will cover what consent is, you will be able to hear from our advocates on best practices to talk to your students about consent, and we will give you a chance to explore new ways to talk about consent with your students and hear from other parents. This is a great opportunity to learn and have more support in tackling this discussion.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out at: ce1@wellspringcares.org or calling our office: 518-583-0280.

Best,
Kacey Griffin
Community Engagement Specialist
Wellspring

Our friends over at the Glens Falls Chronicle shared a story about the 8th Annual Paul Schultz Memorial Golf Tournament! Give it a read if you haven’t!

Tournament time