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August 22 08/29/2009
 
On Saturday August 22, we again beat the rain and were able to continue with the building of our 5th Habitat house on Mill Street, Hudson. 1st Niagara Bank provided 7 volunteers including Betsy Braley, Habitat Board Treasurer and Margaret Barry, long-time supporter of Habitat and former board member. All worked long and hard on the insulation despite the heat and humidity.

Our regular volunteers Lew Hotaling, Bob Lockwood, Nancy Sahaeffer, Debra Gitterman and Ralph Di Caprio all worked very hard on the strenuous job of installing the sheet rock for the ceilings. Eugene Sullivan travelled from Millerton to work on our house. Our partner family led by Reaz and his sister Riyan and Mohammad Hossain put in sweat equity hours beginning at 8am and ending at 3pm. Also in attendance was site leader Carlo and Habitat Board member Gary Harvey and President Rosemary Carroll.

Bagels, donuts coffee and the fixin’s were generously donated by Etta Shultis, Mgr. Dunkin' donuts. Sheila Leccese, who also worked on the build coordinated the delicious lunch of sandwiches, salad, chips, brownies, watermelon and drinks made by St. Mary's Church, Hudson, Virginia Hopkins, Dick Nobes, Nancy Gabriel, Kathy Parchuch and Florence Hamm. A special thanks to Carol Livellara, who donated paper products for the lunch.

We work every Saturday and welcome you to come down and see what neighbors working together can achieve.

 
July 25 07/29/2009
 
Rain was predicted, but as enthusiastic volunteers pounded nails into the siding of the home of Reaz Mahmood and Aliaa Saleh this past Saturday the sun came out from behind the clouds and shone brightly by the afternoon when the siding was nearly completed.

Twenty –five crew leaders and volunteers including electricians William Graney and Mike Clark volunteered at the Habitat build site along with the homeowners. Youth volunteers came out in force. Representatives of the St. James Youth Program in Chatham were: Katherine Behrens, Rachel Kremer, Abriel Berninger, Kristi Schroeder and Katie Kresser, under the supervision of their tireless leader Chris Cain. Working along with this group were members of the baccalaureate program at Red Hook High School: Clio Chang, Lily Guenn, and Kate D’onofrio accompanied by their enthusiastic Habitat supporter Carola Warren. Arlington teacher Nancy Schaeffer has become a regular at the site along with crew leaders Ralph Dicaprio, and Deborah Gitterman who together lead by example on the basics of siding. Coming all the way from Brooklyn and Long Island with their skills and good humor were Tony, Frank, and Michael Manzolillo, Ellen Moran and Nancy Feldman. Genie Sullivan of Millerton and Manhattan accompanied her veteran Habitat International friends Katrina and Lou Piezzo who have built houses in Viet Nam and Chile and said that the house on Mill Street was their first build in the United States.

As usual manager of the Dunkin Donuts on Route 66 and 9H Etta Sultis and her employees Sue Christensen and Becca Finkle provided the volunteers with coffee, and generous amounts of doughnuts and bagels. St Mary’s Church Youth Group in Hudson provided a delicious lunch of ham and cheese and egg salad sandwiches, pasta salad, iced tea and melt- in- your- mouth brownies. Youth leaders Carol Peters, Donna Hoffman, and Maura Nedwell prepared the lunch in 2 hours flat with youth members Ethan Peters, Claire Villanova and Hannah Relyea who also served the volunteers as they came through the lunch line.

This Habitat House, the fifth on Mill Street and the tenth in Columbia County is projected to be finished by the end of September. Although volunteers have been scheduled for the month of August, more will be needed to complete the house in September. Please go to columbiacountyhabitat.org to find out more about the organization, to make a donation or to sign up to volunteer.
 
July 11 07/20/2009
 

On Saturday June 11th l6 volunteers worked despite the heat and the wind to complete the roof and most of the siding on the 5th Habitat home on Mill Street. Volunteers Ralph Di Caprio, Christine Schrober and Board

President Rosemary Carroll did something they had never done; they got up on a 20' high roof and shingled it, guided by Matt Morris site leader and crew leader Debra Gitterman.

The Coons family represented by Leslie, Stephanie and Board Member Alicia Coons and Kathleen Schober and Meriam Fried helped with the siding guided by crew leader Bob Lockwood. Perennial volunteers BJ Fehr, Mohammed Hossain and partner family member Reaz Mahmood along with Kamal Mann and John Hendrickson did carpentry work and siding. Lew Hotaling continued diligently to finish the front portico.

Donuts, bagels and coffee for the morning break were furnished by Etta Shultis, Mgr Dunkin' Donuts. Much needed water and ice were donated by Althea, Mgr of Stewarts Hudson. A lovely lunch of vegetable and meat casseroles, salad and drinks was made for the volunteers by the partner family. Everyone had a satisfying work day and a cheer went up when the shingling on the peak of the roof was completed.

We work every Saturday. Come down to Mill Street and see your community in action.

 
July 10 07/17/2009
 

On Friday, July 10, 2009, 21 members of the Great Barrington Havurah congregation volunteered their time and energy to work on the site of Habitat for Humanity’s tenth house in Columbia County. The house is being built in the Mill Street neighborhood in Hudson, NY. Currently four Habitat partner families are each living in their own homes in the neighborhood.

Congregation member Carol Smokler spearheaded the build day. She explains that she worked with three friends on the 2008 Women Build. Based on that experience, Carol felt that working together at a Habitat site would be a rewarding group activity for Great Barrington Havurah. She points out the Jewish sense of responsibility and of making the world a better place.

Other volunteers on Friday included two members of the Millbrook High School Junior National Honor Society. Cassidy Scalzo and Sara Walenta organized drinks and snacks, carried water, signed in volunteers, and cleaned up the site during the day. This enabled the work crew to focus on roofing and siding. In the course of the day, the volunteers and a site leader completed roofing on more than half the roof. The siding team prepped a wall, measured and cut siding, and began installation.

Habitat Board members Richard Moran and Sara McWilliams were onsite as well.

 
June 26 07/02/2009
 

21 volunteers from as far away as New York City pitched in this weekend to build our 5th Habitat home on Mill Street. Under the supervision of Joe Rapp, team leaders Lew Hotaling, Ralph Di Caprio, Debra Gitterman and Bob Lockwood worked with volunteer crews.

Michael Killela, Michael Manzolillo and Edward Gerstein, all from NYC, constructed trusses. The Coons family of East Chatham, Eric Sr., Leslie, Stephanie and Eric Jr., who also volunteered last year, helped with the carpentry and the hoisting of the roof trusses. BJ Fehr of Chatham, Meriam Fres of Pine Plains, Donna Kahn of Hillsdale and Carola Warren of Rhinebeck worked on the installation of the windows. Hossain and Morshed Mohammad friends of our Habitat Partner family and Board members Richard Moran, Diana Coughlin and Rosemary Carroll worked on the trusses and the windows as well.

As ever, Althea, Mgr. of Stewart's provided ice and water and Etta Shultis, Mgr. Dunkin' Donuts provided the coffee and donuts for the mid morning break. Delicious pizzas and a lovely salad and drinks were generously donated by Rob Lagonia, owner of Lagonias in Philmont.

The crew completed all the trusses and with wonderful team effort hoisted them up on the framing. All the windows of the house were installed and the volunteers stopped with a well deserved sense of accomplishment just before the rains came.

We are building every Saturday so, if you can, come on over to Mill Street and see the progress that occurs each weekend when neighbors work together

or sign up to volunteer.

 
 
Despite an overcast, gloomy start to the day, a group of about 30 volunteers gathered to launch the building of the 2009 Habitat for Humanity home on May 9. The home, the fifth for the Mill Street community in Hudson, is the 10th project taken on by Columbia County Habitat for Humanity (CCHfH).

Brief remarks about this year’s project were made by Rosemary Carroll, incoming president of CCHfH’s Board of Directors. She thanked former Pres. Diana Coughlin for her dedication and leadership in achieving the groundbreaking for this TENTH Habitat home in Columbia County. She then introduced Brenda Adams, incoming executive director, as well as the partner family for the new home, Aliaa Saleh and Reaz Mahmood.

Rev. Joanna Tipple provided a community embracing blessing to launch the build. Project management is under the guidance of Joe Rapp, owner and manager of Rapp Construction Management in Hudson. Wanda Pertilla, second ward alderwoman, represented the City of Hudson, a partner in the Mill Street community. Marilyn Herrington and Holly Rappleyea represented The Hudson River Bank Foundation, a major financial supporter of CCHFH.

The opening date was selected as a Women Build Day, in conjunction with Habitat International, because as the day before Mother's Day it served as a reminder that families with children make up a significant number of those in need of adequate housing. One in six children lives in poverty housing in the United States alone. Women Build Day gives women a chance to forge friendships as they contribute to Columbia County's effort to help provide decent, safe and affordable housing to one family at a time.

Friendships were renewed as the volunteers, organized by Debby Roth and Brenda Adams, included many returning from last year’s first-ever Women’s Build. Four women who had earned the rank of ‘crew leader’ during the 2008 build - Pat Baer, Pat Wiswell, Linda Paul and Babette Ryder - returned to Mill Street to find familiar faces and new ones to get the 2009 build under way. Veterans of the 2008 traditional build and long-time volunteers included Lew Hotaling and Richard Moran, a Board member.

With the foundation yet to be poured, opening day activities included organizing materials and tools, landscaping around the two homes built last year, and construction of exterior walls. Building of the home continues each Saturday until completion, with a tentative date of Oct. 24 for dedication festivities. A typical workday runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a morning coffee break and a lunch break. The construction schedule is outlined on the CCHFH website.


The partner family expressed happiness and excitement in being selected as this year’s recipient. The couple, along with their two children Marawan, 4, and Rahma, 3 months, look forward to having their ‘own’ home which will be’ larger and in good condition’ and ‘in a safe neighborhood. Reaz, 29, who has lived in Hudson for 13 years, said he will ‘‘do anything that needs to be done and learn to do some things in regards to fulfilling the 400 hours of sweat equity each family is required to contribute to their home’s construction. His parents were among the volunteers working on opening day. Having the majority of volunteers being women didn’t seem to bother him, as he smiled and said, ‘as long as they do a good job.’

In regard to the time and efforts of the numerous volunteers it will take to make this vision a reality for her family, Aliaa, also 29, said, ‘It is good because someone cares.’ Aside from the necessary work to be done, she also anticipates having her own washer and dryer.

Water and ice was donated by Althea, Mgr. Stewarts, Hudson. Donuts and Bagels were generously provided by Etta Shultis, Mgr. Dunkin' Donuts and the Youth Group of St Paul’s Episcopal Church , represented by Frank Curran and his son Phillip, made delicious lunches for all.

For more information about CCHfH, to volunteer or make a donation, call 518-392-9286 or visit www.columbiacountyhabitat.org.
 
 

The Chatham community generously gives and gives as demonstrated on Sunday, April 25 when about 60 friends and supporters of Columbia County Habitat joined together for a fabulous brunch at Blue Plate in Chatham. Champagne, quiche, potatoes, bacon, salads and many, many more dishes were enjoyed by all.

There was, as always, a warm feeling among those present who wish Habitat well as it launches the build for its 10th house on May 9. Judy Grunberg and her incredible staff are always generous. And, this year the most wonderful one of a kind Tote Bags designed and donated by Melissa Sarris were filled with donated items that reflected the community spirit of Chatham.

We want to thank the following donors: Ghent Playhouse, MacHayden Theatre, Spencertown Academy, and PS 21; Sheldon Evans for a copy of Walks by Protected Land in Columbia County; Chatham Film Club and Film Columbia; Bonnie Kurtz and Millie Kidd for Dinner Where; Our Daily Bread; Hawthorne Valley Farm Store; Chatham Wine and Liquor, Vasilow's Confectionary; Chatham Brewing; and Chatham Village Cake Shoppe and Melissa Sarris.

Columbia County Habitat can build safe, affordable housing because of the continuous commitment and volunteer spirit of this community. Thank you.....and see you at Our Build site on Mill Street in Hudson.

 
 

Picture of Joe Rapp with volunteers at the Mill Street site.

Rapp Construction Management is contributing project management services to the 2009 build on Mill Street in Hudson. Joe Rapp, owner of the firm, is also on the Columbia County Habitat Board of Directors. The following interview, conducted by Joyce LaPenn, sheds light on the evolution of Joe’s involvement with Habitat.


Joe, why don't you start by telling us what you do professionally.I own and manage RAPP Construction Management, a company in Hudson, NY. We are involved mainly in the construction of new custom homes.

So, how did you originally get involved with Habitat?
When I was in my early forties I decided to take a break from my career and do something worthwhile and rewarding for a year, I wanted to use my expertise in residential construction and Habitat was the logical choice. The one-year sabbatical turned into 3 full time years and I have continued to volunteer on a regular basis since then.

Why do you think the Habitat mission has been so compelling for you?
I was attracted to habitat because of the concept of true home ownership and the fact that initially the organization did not use public funds.

Have you always been involved in community service?
I was brought up in a family where community service was the norm from the community of our church to scouting to "barn building events", wooden playgrounds, etc. to Habitat.

When did you bring your company, Rapp Construction into the Columbia County building process and how are you doing this? At the moment we are fortunate enough that our company can assist CCHFH in its work, we bring our network of vendors, subcontractors and builder pricing into the process, we offer our expertise both onsite and at the Board level and we provide some meeting and work space for the administrative side of the organization.

What's really fun about the work you do with Habitat?
Getting to know the families and the volunteers and of course seeing a completed home.

What's most important to you about the building process?
The sense of community that it always creates, watching people experience the act of building a home.

What do you think folks get out of participating with Habitat?
Most non-profits are just asking for money, Habitat volunteers get to actually build houses and that seems to be quite exciting for those who come out to participate.

What else would you like to share with our readers.
Volunteer and bring you checkbook!





 
 

On March 10, the Red Dot Restaurant hosted a fabulous dinner to raise money for our 10th Habitat house. Alana Hauptmann, proprietress provided a wonderful Indian buffet, preparedWendy Frost who volunteered their time.

 About 70 guests enjoyed the warmth and spirit of our first event which launched the 2009 building season. Beer, wine and spirits were generously provided by Chatham by Chef Rosalie Glauser and Sous Chef Brewery, Fairview Wines and Liquors and Hudson Wine Merchants. The Red Dot Restaurant is located at 321 Warren Street in Hudson.

We hope those who did not attend will continue to support our Columbia County Habitat and perhaps will join us at the Blue Plate Restaurant in Chatham NY on April 26 for a wonderful brunch. Click here to view evite.

 
 

The first day of the 2009 Columbia County Habitat build is May 9. While we are not doing a Women Build this year, our affiliate is celebrating Habitat International Women Build Week on that day. Women from last year's build will have an opportunity to renew their commitment to Habitat and the friendships they made last year, by volunteering on May 9, the first day of the build.

May 9 has been selected, because it is the day before Mother's Day, serving as a reminder to the public that families with children make up a significant number of those in need of adequate housing. One in six children lives in poverty housing in the United States alone. Women Build Day gives women a chance to forge friendships as they contribute to Columbia County's effort to help provide decent, safe and affordable housing to one family at a time.

This house is the fifth house built on this site in Hudson on land donated by the city. On May 9 we will be framing the new house on Mill Street in Hudson. Lunch will be provided.

Sign up now to participate.