UPDATE: A big congratulations to the winning group RISSE . They received a $10,000 grant from United Way of the Greater Capital Region for their pitch to expand their after school programming.

http://www.risse-albany.org/home/

Releasing episode 35 a little early on a Monday because on Wednesday, December 1st, (2021) evening I will be at Revolution Hall, in Troy to emcee Perfect Pitch, a "Shark Tank' style event.

In this episode Erin Napoleone chats about the purpose of this event, the $10,000 grant that's on the line, and the issue that's getting attention this year -- affordable childcare.

For Event Details, Finalists and Tickets: https://www.unitedwaygcr.org/perfectpitch

To read more about the local Sharks https://www.unitedwaygcr.org/news/2021-sharks

Owner of Saratoga's Broadway Deli, Daniel Chessare discusses running his Jewish-style deli during a pandemic and why he felt more prepared despite many unforeseen challenges for the restaurant industry.

Chessare is bringing back a free chicken dinner program to his Deli, crediting the success his restaurant has had this year and wanting to spread some goodwill throughout the Saratoga Springs community. The restaurant is giving away free chicken dinners, no questions asked, to those in need of a hot meal in November or December. You can find out information here, https://www.instagram.com/p/CVu6dfGAUFi/ (read the post caption on where to place the order if you need a dinner).

He also discusses the restaurant's social media posts that address bad customer behavior, what needs to change about the industry and why he thinks some businesses are seeing worker shortages.

Wendy Burch, the Executive Director of NAMI in New York State, the National Alliance on Mental Illness discusses the challenges in the mental health community, how to get help, and the resources needed to reach more people.

Wendy was featured in part of a News10ABC special report about a local woman's mental health journey. You can watch that story here : https://www.news10.com/news/special-reports/troy-mom-using-social-media-to-address-mental-health/

Where to connect with NAMI:

https://www.naminys.org/

https://www.instagram.com/nami_nys/?hl=en

Lydia Kulbida discusses her special report on Forest Park Cemetery, why the cemetery is open to the public one day a year, and where its scary reputation originated from online.

You can watch her full report here: https://www.news10.com/video/brunswick-cemetery-slowly-being-restored/7112061/

Mark Scotch, 65, of Wisconsin is biking the "Organ Trail", to raise awareness about kidney disease, living donors, and how he maintains an active lifestyle with one kidney.

In episode 31 Mark shares why he decided to donate one of his kidneys after a chance encounter with a stranger at a bar in Louisiana. He details his journey which started from Massachusetts, through upstate New York, and will end in his hometown.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.nkdo.org/the-organ-trail

https://www.kidneyregistry.org/

https://theorgantrailhm.wordpress.com/mission/

https://www.kidneyregistry.org/for-centers/voucher-program/

Michael Basedow is a Tree Fruit Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension and works with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program.  He talks with me about all things apple.

Including:

This year's apple crop

The best apple varieties

His least favorite

Which apples to bake with during the holiday season

How long the SnapDragon variety took to develop

And new varieties that are now out

Links:

Where to go apple picking in the Capital Region - https://www.news10.com/news/apple-picking-where-to-pick-a-peck-in-the-capital-region/

News 10  family Apple Pie Recipe (John's Mom) - https://www.news10.com/news/trimmingson10-news10-abcs-favorite-thanksgiving-recipes/#Desserts

Fall Foliage season is here.

Eric Sheffel from Empire State Development joins me to discuss how I LOVE NY puts together their Fall Foliage Maps.

You can find the maps and the interactive resource Eric discusses at the link below.

https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/things-to-do-in-the-fall-in-new-york/

My 2nd guest is Fred Breglia of the Landis Arboretum.  Who discusses more of the science of autumn, what's happening to the trees and leaves and the conditions that we need to make it a good leaf peeping season.

http://landisarboretum.org/

In 2015 the residents of Hoosick Falls, NY discovered their drinking water was contaminated by a nearby manufacturing facility with a toxic chemical known as PFOA.

This month, September 2021, residents received news that a settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit with the manufacturing companies about the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination in and around Hoosick Falls. Mayor of Hoosick Falls, Rob Allen discusses what the settlement means for the community and what the village is in the process of doing to secure a new source for their drinking water.

Mentioned in episode:

Hoosick Falls PFOA Settlement Website - http://hoosickfallspfoasettlement.com/

NEWS10 Coverage:

Settlement announced: https://www.news10.com/news/rensselaer-county/firm-announces-claim-details-in-hoosick-falls-pfoa-settlement/

Contamination Timeline Special Report : https://www.news10.com/news/special-reports/taking-a-look-at-progress-in-hoosick-falls-after-pfoa-contamination/

Episode 27 focuses on the local and national effort to save four Afghan children. Suneeta, a legal permanent resident who lives in Albany, NY had been working to get her children to the U.S. from war torn Afghanistan.

Sara Lowry, a staff attorney with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants details the case and the painstaking work that went into getting all four children to safety.

Also featured in this episode, Alex Plitsas, a national security professional, U.S. Army combat veteran of the Iraq War. He also served in Afghanistan as a Defense Civilian Intelligence Officer and worked at the Pentagon. Plitsas discusses how he heard about Suneeta's story, why he got involved, his efforts with the Digital Dunkirk movement and how he ultimately helped the children get out of Afghanistan with the help of people on the ground.

You can follow Alex at https://twitter.com/alexplitsas

You can help USCRI provide critical support for newly arriving Afghan families, including Suneeta: https://refugees.org/donate-afghanistan-assistance/

News10 Stories:

Albany mom pleads for children’s safety as Taliban moves into Kabul

Together at last: Local Afghan mother reunited with children

Episode 26 features an interview with Dr. Boris Medarov  whose expertise is in sleep disorders.

Dr. Medarov works with patients at Albany Medical Center's Sleep Clinic, in this episode we discuss common sleep problems, how to get better sleep, and healthy sleep habits we should consider.

Albany Med’s Sleep Clinic:

https://www.amc.edu/patient/services/pulmonary_medicine/sleep_disorders/index.cfm