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Pulling For History

img 7714-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Just like the old days: The restored grader is put to work during a demonstration at the Altamont Fair. It was made by Climax Road Machine in Marathon, N.Y., north of Binghamton, a factory that ran from 1887 to 1890. Andrew Tinning plans to display the horse-drawn grader in June at the Gas-Up in Gallupville, and in August again at the Altamont Fair.

img 7717-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Period piece: “Little Winner,” the antique road grader restored to its former glory by Andrew Tinning, looks right at home in front of the also restored village train station, now home to the Altamont Free Library. The grader will be at the station at least through April 9 when, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Judith Wines will give a presentation called “Tours and Trains in Altamont.”

img 7712-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Rallying round the antique grader restored by Andrew Tinning, second from left, holding a whip, are, two grandsons of Casper Wagner, the grader’s original owner — Merlin E. Wagner at far left, and Bernard H. Wagner, at far right. The grader, which Tinning discovered, forgotten and neglected, on property behind his house on Dunnsville Road, was originally used to groom Guilderland’s roads before it was used for ditching at the Wagner farm. At center, is Steve Oliver, Guilderland’s current highway superintendent. Next to him is Judith Wines, the director of the Altamont Free Library, now housed in the village’s historic train station. The grader originally arrived in Altamont by train.

GPD’s Night Out garners $1K grant

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Published on Friday, 28 December 2012 17:17

By Anne Hayden

img 1209-webEnterprise file photo — Michael Koff
Demonstrating arrest: Emergency Response Team officer Raymond Head slaps handcuffs on 12-year-old Caleb Czolowski at Guilderland’s National Night Out in Tawasentha Park. The police department was awarded a $1,000 grant, by the Target Corporation, for excellence at its fourth annual NNO program.GUILDERLAND – Chief of Police Carol Lawlor announced. at a town board meeting this month, that the police department was awarded a grant from Target for its annual National Night Out program

National Night Out is a nationwide program designed to heighten crime and drug-prevention awareness, generate support for local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The first National Night Out took place in 1984, and 23 states participated; by 2011, all 50 states had gotten involved.

Guilderland has been holding its National Night Out, in Tawasentha Park, for the past four years.

Last August, according to Lawlor, more than 4,000 people turned out for the event.

The program, at its inception, featured “lights on” – every house in the neighborhood lit up – and front porch vigils, but has since expanded to include safety fairs, demonstrations, cookouts, and festivals.

The free event in Guilderland required months of preparation by a coordinating committee, spearheaded by Sergeant Roger Ginder, chairman of the Community Services Unit.

“We spend no town money on National Night Out, it is all funded by donations,” said Lawlor this week. The committee worked to get those donations, arrange vendors, coordinate activities, and get exhibitors.

In addition to safety demonstrations by local emergency responders, on topics such as seatbelts, drunk driving, and violence, there were family-friendly activities, including pony rides, a puppet show, a bounce house, free ice cream, and a concert by the Refrigerators.

“It’s about bringing communities together to be safer, but we like to keep it fun,” said Lawlor.

The Target Corporation sends representatives to all National Night Out events, and awards grants to towns with events that best embody the message of the program. The grant is called the 2012 National Night Out Award for Excellence.

This year, it gave $1,000 to the Guilderland Police Department for the event it held on Aug. 7. The money, said Lawlor, will be used for next year’s National Night Out.

“We were thrilled that we won,” she said. “We put a lot of effort into the event and we deserve it; that money will come in very handy.”