Columbia County Habitat for Humanity Women Build

More Thank Yous

2008-11-26T18:15:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving. It is the holiday which is a favorite for so many of us - we usually feel blessed about family and friends, our homes, jobs and security. This Thanksgiving there are many economic insecurities for many of us, but when we say thanks we always feel better. So here goes what will probably be a series of thank you’s to many who supported and participated in Women Build 2008. It is exactly one year ago that a group of women got together to plan for this special project. The Women Build project has had many, many friends and supporters to thank - the volunteers who tirelessly gave their days to ensure another family would have a home for the holidays and beyond; countless hours with countless women who are to be thanked individually - volunteers put in hundreds of hours with weeks of work. Also stay tuned on our website for what we are planning to do in 2009 - some exciting training programs for women!!!!!!

So, while we have used our newspapers and notes to thank on an ongoing way, we plan to use the next few weeks to publicly thank through our blog many of our supporters:

For our Garden Luncheon at Columbia Golf and Country Club:
Suzy Bales, garden writer, who spoke to a group of interested friends and supporters of Habitat at a wonderful luncheon at Columbia Golf and Country Club and helped us all to understand more about our gardens. Germantown and Greenport Garden Clubs for providing wonderful centerpieces for our luncheon; auction items by local artists: Gail Giles, Anna Cinquemani, Patricia Nolan and secured by Katy Nichols.

Foofsique quilters, Annie Quinn and Sandy Parker who worked alongside Steering Committee member, Melissa Sarris in the preparing of the marvelous signature quilt for the Khan family.

Chatham Middle School supervisor, Nancy Barth, who understands the meaning of service and imparts this to our youngsters.

Taconic Hills National Honor Society for not only providing a generous financial contribution, but participating in building under the hot, hot sun.

If I Had a Hammer Cocktail Party hosted by the Toll family. They graciously opened up their home and provided wonderful food and drink to raise over $8,000 for Women Build.

The Second Show for sponsoring Working Girls Fashion Show and Jason’s Upstairs and all the wonderful folks who were outstanding models and all of the marvelous vendors who provided such outstanding auction items- what an incredible success and such enormous fun!

Hudson’s Red Dot and Le Gamin, outstanding restaurants that supported us throughout the build by encouraging patrons to support us !!!!!

Our fabulous graphic designer, Elizabeth DiPalma, who ensured that we had the most tastefully and gorgeous posters and invitations.

Our webmasters - Laurie Quinn for bringing us to the internet and Pat Baer for ensuring stuff got posted.

- Joyce Lapenn

Completed Quilt for the Khan Family

2008-11-04T09:28:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all who donated to this beautiful project!

Senator Saland Speaks @ Dedication

2008-10-28T20:06:00.000-04:00

Thank You

2008-10-28T17:27:00.003-04:00

Dear Crew Leaders,

On Sunday, we experienced the rewards for our efforts. We celebrated the completion of both the Women Build house and the traditional build house. For those of you who weren't there, it was a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and the houses were on display and showing off the contributions of so many generous hours of work. It was moving to walk around, recognizing a bit of our own work, here and there, that became a part of a house that WE built! The ceremonies were moving, with words of support, congratulation and thanks from elected officials, our Habitat team and, most important, new home owners.

To all of you, for your contributions to this magnificent achievement, thank you!!! And we hope to see you all next year. Through this effort, you have become experienced builders ....with wisdom to share.

Thank you,

Pat Baer
Crew Leader Coordinator & Board Member

Kirsten Gillbrand Speaks @ Dedication

2008-10-28T17:21:00.000-04:00

Pics from Dedication Ceremony

2008-10-28T17:20:00.000-04:00

It was a fantastic day! Click on the link below to view pictures from Sunday and all the pictures during our build this year.

www.flickr.com

Women Build Project Recap

2008-10-20T10:25:00.003-04:00

So you ask, "What's happened to Women Build?" Well, we've been busy finishing up the house ensuring it is picture perfect for the Khan family. And, indeed it is now ready for furniture and curtains. Much like many construction jobs, this house took longer than we expected. What was to be a 23 day build in fact took more days than we had planned. But all for the better. Never once would we not want to ensure the highest quality of building that we all expect.

We learned many things from our first ever Women Build in Columbia County. We always knew that when women put their minds and hands together nothing can stop them. Fundraising for some was thought to be a challenge, but we learned that it is quite doable. We definitely learned that the Columbia, Berkshire and Greene counties were extraordinarily generous; and that women enjoy working together. Many new friendships were started through Women Build.

Our Steering Committee of 31 women from throughout the county raised $84,000 since it initiated the planning of this project in November of 2007 through a variety of events like a Chinese Banquet, brunch at the Blue Plate, Garden Luncheon at Columbia Golf and Country club, fashion show in Hudson organized by Second Show, (a Cinco de Mayo night organized with TSL, and a cooking class at Bezalel Gables Fine Catering & Events in20Chatham. And, we received many, many financial donations to help surpass the goal we had orignial set. In fact we received over 550 donations!!!!!!!

Columbia County Habitat for Humanity will celebrate the completion of two new houses with a dedication ceremony on Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m., at the Mill Street, Hudson, site where the homes were built. We will dedicate our Women Build House to the Khan family and our Traditional Build House to the Coons family.

Everyone is is invited to the dedication, which will feature a fall harvest theme, to wish the families well. Refreshments will be served and local dignitaries will attend including the Mayor of Hudson, Rich Scalera and our Congresswoman, Kirsten Gillibrand.

The local affiliate of the international non-profit Habitat for Humanity completed an unprecedented effort of building two homes at the same time, thanks to the assistance of hundreds of volunteers from all over Columbia County who worked on the sites and provided food for the workers.

Debra Gestwicki, executive director of the Columbia County Habitat, proposed the Women Build and the idea of constructing two homes at once, not knowing what the reaction would be. “I was very impressed with the Women Build from the first meeting of the Steering Committee to the last day of the build. It was a nice surprise to find out how many skilled women there are in Columbia County, not only in the construction end of it, but also in the design work for our advertising, fund raising, and our amenities commit tee,” she said. “They outdid themselves when it came to getting food for our volunteers. The Traditional Build also benefited from these ladies’ efforts. I’ve worked for Habitat for a long time now, and I have never had the luxury of having an amenities committee. I think we all felt spoiled. The local food businesses and churches were extremely generous, and I am sure I am not the only one who gained weight this season!"

Looking forward to moving into their new homes are Mussarraf Khan and his wife, Naznin, their children, Sifath and Neshath, and Naznin’s mother, Anuara Bezum. Mussarraf and Naznin came to America 10 years ago. They hoped, like many before them, to find opportunities here that were unavailable to them in Bangladesh. Both hold factory jobs and the children attend public school. The family enjoys fishing in the Hudson River or Lake Taghkanic. Naznin takes pride in their garden and Neshath likes playing with her dolls. Sifath enjoys remote control cars and riding his scooter. The couple and other family members put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity on their Women Build home, with Naznin frequently wearing a wide smile as she worked.

Stacy Coons, a young mother of three, also spent many hours working on her new home with the help of family members, friends and strangers who quickly became friends. Coons was born and raised in Hudson. She works with the developmentally disabled at the John L. Edwards Elementary School and is also employed at the Big Lots store on Fairview Ave. The family has been living with her parents since she and the children’s father, James Servider, separated two years ago. Coons’ daughters, Antanette and Gianna Servider, and son, James Servider, look forward to each having their own bedroom. Antanette plans to leave her room’s walls white because that will make a good background for hanging pictures and other things. Gianna will paint hers pink and James thinks camouflage is the way to go. Coons expects that the family’s new living arrangement will help them draw closer. Coons sincerely appreciates the work of all the volunteers. She found especially humbling the fact that staff and teachers from John L. Edwards School pitched in to provide sweat equity. The children’s father also volunteered sweat equity.

JOIN US on OCTOBER 26 at 2:00 PM at our Mill Street site...........reconnect with women and see the result of your hard work!!!!!!!

August 23rd Recap

2008-09-10T17:06:00.006-04:00

There was much activity and buzz clearly demonstrating a strong sense of community commitment on August 23rd. We were fortunate to have 50 people working on our Traditional Build and our Women Build homes. Yes, there was high energy, and excitement as we advanced the progress of our two homes! And how blessed we felt to have terrific weather, outstanding cooperation and, of course, a fabulous lunch donated by Hudson’s Cascade.

First Niagara Bank, under the leadership of Margaret Barry and Betsy Braley, recruited a group of 15 strong who worked together under the banner of their Bank. Bank volunteers came from as far off as Amsterdam and Clifton Park because the corporate motto is to ensure investment in the community. This team raked freshly laid soil as if for their own lawns, laid seed, and covered all with hay. In addition they sheet rocked and more.

Hudson Financial’s, Jim Armstrong, brought a team of his colleagues and their spouses, who took on some real challenging work ensuring that sheet rocking and finishing up our Women Build porch took place. And, Donna Karpinski, Executive Director of Community Hospice of Columbia and Greene Counties brought her team...once again... to contribute their passion for their neighbors to the day’s work plus, as always, there many, many volunteers from the community who wanted to contribute their time and energies and, as on so many days volunteers from John L. Edwards School joined in the day's work.

You can well imagine that much was accomplished with this level of effort: Women Build's cutting and laying of trim, under the direction and supervision of Pat Baer and Babette Ryder-Card, our superb crew leaders was almost complete and..... this house is almost finished!!!! The Khan's were working alongside of the volunteers and you can tell how eager they are to be moving in soon. Our Traditional Build has more to do and we hope more volunteers will call to schedule some time with us to ensure this house ge ts finished soon. Our future homeowner, Tracy Coons is also eager and almost ready to start buying her curtains!!!

What an amazing spring and summer we have experienced with an amazing Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. So many folks get to our site with a little apprehension in the morning and leave in afternoon exhausted but with a real sense of accomplishment and pride. THANKS neighbors.........

www.flickr.com

August 16th - Volunteer Spotlights

2008-08-26T14:31:00.004-04:00

Contributed by Sue Ihlenberg (volunteer)

All of us in Columbia County are aware that two Habitat for Humanity houses are nearing completion on Mill Street in Hudson. One is a Traditional Build with men and women participating, and the other is Columbia County's first Women Build using only women volunteers with some professional men for certain aspects of the build. Both builds are being led by our Executive Director and Project Manager Debra Gestwicki, who has worked for Habitat for seven years. She is working closely with volunteers. According to her, this entire experience has been most enjoyable, with the volunteers being very enthusiastic and willing to learn new skills. The resulting quality of work has been outstanding. She is looking forward to completion with a celebration being planned to mark the new homeowners taking possession.

One important volunteer always found at the site, is Diana Coughlin, who is now in her third year as President of Columbia County Habitat. She is on site doing spackling as well as running out for donuts, and keeping the workers going with coffee. She said “I am absolutely overwhelmed with the support of the local community volunteers, corporate sponsors, and individual contributors in completing our Mill Street projects.”

Another volunteer for Women Build is Pat Wiswell, who retired this past May after thirty–four years as Professor of Economics, thirty of which were at Columbia Greene Community College. Having worked all of her life in a career where she felt she could make a difference she had a need to continue doing so. Last year, in preparation for retirement, she had gone online and found the website for Columbia County Habitat. A walk-a-thon was being done as a fundraiser, so Pat collected donations from her colleagues, did the walk-a-thon and went on to sign up to work on the build. She had such a positive experience gaining new skills and confidence in her abilities that she continued increasing her involvement by joining the Women Build steering committee and she is now a crew leader with a growing collection of her own tools.

Also on site is Katy Nichols of Kinderhook who works at the Coldwater Creek store in Colonie. She read an article in the paper which prompted her to call her nineteen-year old daughter at college to see if she would also be interested in helping. She signed them both up and has come eight or nine times during the build. "If I didn't have a real job I'd come during the week. When I walked into the house today and saw the rooms I felt like I was going to cry. First it was just a slab, and now to see it almost finished - it's like "our house". The feeling of ownership is a good feeling made all the more special because Chelsea and I got to share it. It was a great mother and daughter bonding experience." She was working with crew leader Babette on window trim this time and has done framing, hanging windows, siding, and sheet rocking. She acquired a new set of skills and thinks it's neat to know she can do these things. She wants tools for Christmas. Another neatest thing was developing new friendships. Coincidentally her daughter Chelsea was a student of Pat Wiswell.

The Women Build is the third Habitat build for Linda Paul who has had her own business as a cabinet maker for more than twenty years in Chatham. Linda always thought she would get involved with Habitat once her children were out of the house so this was perfect timing. Linda lent her skills to installing the kitchen cabinets. She said "It's been fun meeting other women experienced in building. I didn't know there were so many around. I also liked that the volunteers were excited to learn and liked learning non-traditional skills from another woman." The proud owners of the Women Build house are Musharruf Husain Khan and his wife Naz Nin Khan. They and their children are looking forward to moving in very soon. With the help of their family and friends they must put in four hundred hours of work. Musharruf has worked on framing, siding, painting, and was working on the porch this Saturday. These were all new experiences for him. He plans to use his newly acquired skills on the next Habitat build.

Next door at the Traditional Build, Karen and Scott Lisson from Manhattan are helping hang sheet rock. Karen biked cross country three years ago to raise funds for Habitat. As there are not many builds going on in Manhattan, they went online, found this build and have come up by train five times this summer. Also there is a group from Taconic of Germantown. Because of its generosity, Taconic is a partner of Columbia County Habitat. Denise Navins and Dave Lester organized volunteers for two days of work. Nancy Moore, one of those volunteers who considers herself a low skill person, was amazed at the skill level of some of her coworkers, learning alot from and about her coworkers.

Stacy Coons and her three children will be the very proud owners of the Traditional Build home. Stacy has done work at every stage of the construction of her new home. Her excitement has built right along with it. She is planning ahead to the landscaping, flower garden, color schemes, and everything connected with home ownership. She came in as a novice but has learned so much that she plans to help with next year's builds.

August 9th Recap

2008-08-13T22:07:00.004-04:00

How lucky! Sunshine and mild weather all day for Traditional and Women Build volunteers to work side-by-side!

Almost sixty volunteers arrived at the building site on Mill Street in Hudson bright and early and ready to go to work. Groups from Thrivent Lutheran, the Bank of Kinderhook, Chatham School District, Questar and the Register Star, among others, along with homeowner, Stacey Coons, her family and friends, and their crew leaders, hung sheetrock and siding at the Traditional Build site with their crew leaders. Groups from COARC (their third consecutive year) and Key Bank, along with homeowner Mussarraf Kahn, painted and trimmed windows at the Women Build site with their crew leaders.

Both projects remain pretty much on schedule despite the many rainy days and enthusiasm continues to be sky high!

Columbia County Habitat for Humanity and the volunteers wish to thank Dunkin Donuts on Route 66 and 9H for donating breakfast, the Stewart’s Shop on Fairview Avenue for donating water and ice, and D and D Deli for donating lunch. Other site amenities were provided through a generous donation by Key Bank.

And, again, many, many thanks to the sponsors, donors, volunteers, crew leaders, and Habitat staff, Board and Committee members for their contributions to the Habitat mission of eliminating poverty housing in Columbia County.

www.flickr.com

August 2nd Recap

2008-08-13T22:00:00.003-04:00

Women Build for Saturday, August 2, began as a cool, cloudy day. Eleven volunteers including three team leaders and two VICs and our Executive Director, Debra along with a good number of volunteers for the traditional build began the day with a prayer. The women build's task for the day was to complete the sheet rocking (apparently everyone's favorite) of the Kahn home in preparation for the professional tapers scheduled for Monday.

Highlights of the day included the delivery of sheet rock to the traditional build, a visit from Assemblyman Marc Molinaro and friends, and the arrival of lunches sent by The Chocolate Moose and The Calvary Assembly of God church. Mr. Molinaro found that one of his staffers was a volunteer for the Women Build. We ate lunch on the Kahn's porch, protecting us from the rain which began to fall. Debra realized in the morning that the sheet rocking was coming along more slowly than was anticipated and asked the traditional build volunteers to help the Women finish the sheet rock - a good example of cooperation and Executive decision making!

Florence learned to use an electric drill and was so taken by it that she plans to ask for one for Christmas. She said she would teach her husband how to use it!

Chatham Middle School Steps Up

2008-07-22T14:40:00.007-04:00

Our Saturday, July 19 Women Build was another scorcher, with highs in the 90s, a relentless sun and very little shade. But a team of 22 volunteers from Chatham Middle School plugged away nonetheless, with nary a complaint. Female faculty and staff unloaded 80+ sheets of sheetrock before grabbing hammers and drills to apply them to walls and ceilings. CMS principal Gordon Fitting and assistant principal Larry Burud secured donations for our morning break and lunch, and served everyone with smiles. CMS teacher Deborah Roth, a Women Build steering committee member, took on VIC (volunteer in charge) duties, assisted by steering committee member Taitia Shelow and Meghan Connelly, a Chatham Middle School teacher who is 8 months pregnant (she helped at the beginning of the day). Elizabeth DiPalma (in photo), another steering committee member, grabbed a drill and proved she is just as adept at construction as she is at designing all the wonderful posters and programs she made for Women Build.

The middle school staff began its partnership with Habitat’s Women Build at a work party and fund-raiser in February. At the school’s annual open house in March, students began their own fundraising. Soon after, Joanne Del Rossi, Women Build co-chair, addressed the student body, which had many questions for her. Habitat board members Diana Coughlin and Georgene Gardner returned to the middle school on Wellness Day to further educate middle school students.

Special thanks to the many generous donations of Price Chopper, Bagel Thyme, Dunkin Donuts and CVS in Hudson; and Hannaford in Valatie.

Chef for a Day Fundraiser

2008-07-16T19:48:00.003-04:00

Chef David Robinson of Bezalel Gables Fine Catering & Events reports that our July 12 fundraiser, wherein he invited people who made a donation to Habitat into his kitchen to share some culinary "secrets" was great fun.

In his words: "It was a terrific group of folks and we had a BLAST! We had 5 student chefs. Everyone who attended was a client or friend of Bezalel Gables! The class was greeted with local peach champagne and smoked cheese, we then toured the kitchen, settled into demo and cooking lunch: Blue Cheese Panna Cotta with Gorgonzola; Seafood Crepes with Shrimp and Caviar; Grass-Fed Local Beef; Sweet Potato Gratin; Roasted Roma Tomatoes; then we had creme brulee and homemade white peach sorbet. We served Hudson-Chatham Riesling and their Merlot with lunch.

"The baking portion of the class after lunch yielded enough for everyone to take home: 2 loaves of banana bread; dark chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies and a 9-inch plum clafouti each."

Mmmmm.....sounds positively yummy! Thanks again to Chef David for donating his time to help Habitat, and to those who took the class.

July 12th Recap

2008-07-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

Progress at the Khan home was significant and very successful. Our volunteer crew consisted of 7 sets of mother/daughter/granddaughter teams, a group of 3 students from Ichabod Crane’s Habitat Club and Naznin with two family friends.

The students worked with the Johnson’s on their shed roof – all of them in very high spirits (oh to be young again).

Many of the mother/daughter teams worked inside installing insulation in the exterior walls and roof venting materials inside the roof. They completed these tasks very efficiently and the team work, led by Pat Baer & Amy, was amazing.

A smaller group of mother/daughters led by Lucy Grosvenor and Naznin’s group led by Pat Wiswell worked outside to complete the sheathing on the two eves and made progress on the areas of siding installation that still remain. This was a slower, more tedious project happening on ladders and scaffolding that is really coming along nicely.

If all goes well with inspections this week, we should be looking at dry wall work next Saturday and a continuation of the siding project.

Mary Lou Kersten and I were assisted by Rose Rose in the morning for registration while Debra instructed the crew leaders about the day’s activities. We answered many questions by our mother/daughter volunteers about how the Women Build came about. A major organizer for several of these pairs was Lisa from New Jersey who had been planning to bring her girl scout troop to the build. When those plans fell through, Lisa recruited her friends and colleagues (from NY, NJ, PA) who had teenage daughters for an all girls weekend.

A fabulous lunch was provided by Camphill Hudson residents. Tuna and egg salad sandwiches, chips, green salad, carrot sticks and fresh fruit salad with banana yogurt to pour on top. Yum! What a great day. Everyone was amazing!

July 5th Recap

2008-07-13T13:55:00.001-04:00

Our July 5th workday was especially productive. We finally got a break in the heat and this makes a difference. We are about 95 percent completed on siding thanks to wonderful efforts of a group from Germantown and Clermont including lots of families- The Gushlaws, Browns, Bagshaws. We also had volunteers who have previously worked this summer from the Columbia Green Board of Realtors. Returning volunteers just pick up where they left off without a beat. When we talk about motivation we all seem to keep re-inspiring each other. For example, Donna Fingar said she has always wanted to do Habitat and its great being able to do this work so close to home. Maria Smirensky said that she's involved because she knows what it feels like to own her home and wants others to have that too! Each woman on the site was totally engaged throughout the day and totally supported by our experienced crew leaders and Mary Banker who supervised all the work while Debra took a few days off.

www.flickr.com

June 28th Recap

2008-07-08T09:08:00.006-04:00

What a resounding feeling of success for our volunteers on June 28th. According to Liz Jaffe and Raquel Levin, the co chairs of the Berkshire Women team, "The energy, spirit and commitment were higher than the temperature and that’s saying a lot. Here is what was accomplished: siding was installed, substantially completing one side and the rear of the house, the front door was mounted and the front window was framed. Inside the house, the task of putting up drywall nailers was completed. Habitat for Humanity Women Build and the Khan family are most appreciative."

Also on June 28th, a contingent of women from Red Dot Restaurant on Warren Street started to build and just never got off the scaffold. Those of us on site wondered how this staff was going to be able to stay on their feet for their Saturday evening clientele after an exhausting day of building!

Women Build has resonated with so many women - all get to the site not being exactly sure of how the day will play out - but after an introduction by Debra, somehow the day takes on its own shape and it seems that every work day is different. However, what feels the same is the energy, spirit and fun every woman has. We all leave the site exhausted and the Steering Committee volunteers who are there to assist can't wait to get back the following week.

Remember, it costs $70,000 to build each Habitat home. Now that you have experienced the worthiness of this project and how carefully funds are utilized, you may feel inclined to make a financial contribution. If so, please go to the website at www.columbiacountyhabitat.org. The site is easy to navigate and donations can be designated to Women Build.

www.flickr.com

Another build day on Mill Street

2008-07-02T17:40:00.003-04:00

Saturday, June 21 was a gorgeous day in Hudson. Mill Street was the scene of high energy and the sounds of hammers and nails, putting up roof, siding, windows… It was the 11th working day for Columbia County Habitat's Women build and the 4th Saturday for our traditional build.

What a wonderful day it was to demonstrate community service. For our Women Build, the Emma Willard School students, alumni, and faculty were in full force demonstrating the power of building strong girls and women… how empowering the day was. The group included 11 alumnae who are members of the “Capital District Emmies.” One of the “Emmies” said that the group meets for both social events and community involvement and working on the Women Build project was quite meaningful and will “help us redefine the group in a new direction.” The students wore the Emma Willard tee shirt which reads “Empower a Girl. Transform the World.” How true it is! A faculty member said she enjoyed seeing the girls in action and that for her the best part of the day was meeting and working with the partner family. “We’re not just building a house… we’re building a home.”

Our traditional build had employees from Taconic Farms…..a local partner of Habitat. All were engaged in work throughout the day. According to members of the group, they said they could both contribute their building skills and knowledge and at the same time learn new skills. Plus, one member said he liked the energy of a “whole bunch of people running around and keeping busy… and there’s always someone around to help.”

In addition, we had the special joy of young people participating. Taconic Hills National Honor Society worked on two sheds- they completed a shed for a current Mill Street owner and began a shed for the Khan family. A part of the Honor Society’s mission is to do service work and one member noted that the group found it most meaningful to volunteer close to home. All our young people appeared to be surprised by how hard they worked, but all said they would do it again!

www.flickr.com

Steering Committee Update

2008-07-02T17:27:00.002-04:00

While work is progressing on the Women Build home for the Kahn family, the Women Build Steering Committee is continuing to plan and work towards a successsful build. We are almost midway through construction and we want to assure ourselves that all is going well. Debra provides us with an overview at our meeting on June 24... Rose Ross explains that we can improve how we register volunteers in the future....Carolyn Anklam and Mary Ellen Reidy represent the Amenities subcommittee andreport on the wonderful support of the community for lunches and snacks and our volunteers in charge (our VIC's) summarize the overall satisfaction of our volunteers!!! It's so nice to have a meeting ...with lots of successes to report on.

THANK YOU

2008-06-20T22:37:00.000-04:00

House parties are so in keeping with building community to support the efforts of our Women Build. When families get together to host their friends you just know it's going to be successful. Just how successful is always a special treat. On June 1, Kay and Maynard Toll and their son and daughter-in-law Kathryn Huarte and Ian Toll opened their gorgeous home and gardens in East Chatham to raise money for Women Build. If I had a Hammer Cocktail Party, with the efforts of its committee: Sarah Crowell, Christine Cunningham, Hilary Dunn Ferrone, Courtney Hunt, Ann Israel, Megan Kane, Lisa Light Rugen, Courtney McDonnell, Dominique Saint-Louis and Kathleen Triem raised $7,050!! THANK YOU, Toll family and friends.

Fashion Show Videos

2008-06-16T11:41:00.001-04:00

Introducing our Partner Family, The Khans

2008-06-16T11:04:00.007-04:00

Musharraf and Naznin are both employed locally; Musharraf works at ADM (Hudson) and Naznin at Serta (Coxsackie). Their children are son Sifath, 8, and Neshath, 3. They will live in the home with Anuara Begun, Naznin's mother. They are thrilled to be working in partnership with Women Build to build their home.

Partner families are required to contribute 400 hours of equity, which can be at the build site as well as other activities to assist and promote Habitat for Humanity.

Fabulous Fashion Show Fun!!!!

2008-06-15T17:46:00.004-04:00

Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, our latest fundraiser, the fun and funky Working Girls Fashion Show was another huge success and a great time for both the participants and the audience. Once again, we at Habitat are overwhelmed and humbled by the community response and support!

Much thanks to the VERY hard work of Carol Lavender and her staff at The Second Show in Hudson, who put together the whole show with outfits from the resale fashions at the store. They created an apropos theme for the Women Build - women's roles and professions throughout the decades. From the June Cleaver housewife look, to helmet-clad race car drivers, to a female presidential cabinet, they managed to cover the gamut in a lighthearted and amusing way.

A few brave male models joined the more than a dozen female volunteers of all ages, who were as excited to be helping Habitat as we were to have them modeling for us. The models included family of one of the first Habitat homeowners on Mill Street, the Walkers. Behind the scenes there was a lot of dashing about trying to make quick costume changes, but also plenty of camaraderie as we helped zip up dresses and tuck in tags for each other. The temperature in the basement dressing room was sweltering with only one fan to cool us, but we nevertheless kept our cool and had a great time for a great cause.

So many business owners generously donated fabulous prizes for a raffle, we are rumored to have raised more than $5,000 (we'll update as soon as we know for sure). Jason's Upstairs Bar owner Jason Wyckoff most generously donated his establishment and a DJ for the evening, as well as modeled a few outfits. And Hudson restaurants provided plates of sweet goodies for noshing on.

The list of thank-you's is huge.....

The models: Kathy Bailey, Suzy Berry, Nancy Jane Bostwick, Carthette Burnett, Barbara Calkins, JoAnn Cardis, Brianna Clements, Ned Depew, Kerri Esposito, Frances Heaney, Ray Jones, Katie Kappes, Kayla Kosovac, Mark Lacoy, Yasamin Larizadeh, Ellen Liburt, Tim Moriarty, Crystal Nabozny, Ken Polinskie, Jill Salerno, Jessica Sanchez, Shiloh Sanchez, Taitia Shelow, Lisa Small, Ruth Tamaroff, Jackie Thomas, Juliette Tomlinson, Rich Violo, Jennifer Walker, Lakia Walker and Jason Wyckoff.

Dessert Table Sponsors: Baba Louie's; Cascades; DaBa; Karp, Ackerman et al; Rob Lagonia, caterer at Columbia Golf and Country Club; Nolita; Price Chopper; and Swoon.

Chinese Auction Raffle: Dee Keegan (Medium), Hudson Valley Academy of Performing Arts, The Second Show, Rami's Frame Shop, Michael Levinson/Gray Fish, Ad Lib, Hudson City Books, Deborah Davis Fine Art, White Rice, Eustace and Zamus Antiques, Pavilion, deMarchin, Kosa, Lounge, Birgit Antiques, Animalkind, Foxfire Antiques, Sweeps, Atomic Ink, Ananda's Bliss, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Mexican Radio, Alain Pioton, Wasabi Japanese Restaurant, Muddy Cup, Mark's Antiques, Face Stockholm, Mane Street Hairstyles, Dan Rupe, Marie's Chair Caning, Scott Baldinger, Fairlawn Inn, Otto, Olde Hudson, Spotty Dog, Spalon, Tanzy's, Circa Trade, Bodhi, Steiner's, Elizabeth DiPalma, Space 360 and Judith Finley and Suzanne Williams, Vico, Emma Leigh's, Lili and Loo, The Secret Gardener, J. Damiani Gallery, Hudson Wine Merchant, Ca Mea, Vasilow's, John Doe Books & Records, Fairview Wine & Spirits, Foley & Cox, Marx Home and The Vanderbilt Inn.

Behind the Scenes: Tony Markham and Face Stockholm, Rebekah's of Kinderhook, Terry Ackerman, Bobbi Bush, Sondra Patzwahl, Janet Albrecht, Margaret Apa, Vicki Navratil-Kosovac, Tim McGrath, Dee Keegan, Stair Auction Gallery, Arenskjold Antiques and Art, and Carole Nabozny.

"Chef for a Day" Fundraiser

2008-06-10T16:55:00.003-04:00

Bezalel Gables Fine Catering & Events invites gourmands, would-be chefs or anyone interested in learning a few kitchen secrets from the experts to spend a day cooking with their chefs for a fundraising event to benefit Habitat for Humanity's Women Build.

Bezalel Gables Fine Catering & Events is Columbia County’s premiere party and event planner, specializing in creating customized menus of handcrafted food. Bezalel Gables operates out of a beautifully restored 1873 Victorian home on County Route 9 in Chatham, and creates events on-site or off.

Chef/owner David Robinson started as a passionate home cook and later trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, where he was a High-Impact Leader Scholar and Dean’s List student. He also studied catering at the Institute for Culinary Education in New York City. Chef Robinson has created events for an Oscar-winning actor, two U.S. Senators, a two-time Tony Award winning director, MTV Networks, and Brides Magazine, plus is a columnist for InsideOut Hudson Valley and Culinary Celebrations magazine.

The July 12 fundraiser is limited to 10 participants and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For a donation of $150, participants will spend the day with Chef Robinson and his sous chef, Kathy Silliman. The chefs will give a hands-on lesson in how to prepare a gourmet lunch, which everyone will then enjoy in Bezalel Gables’ formal dining room.

After lunch, chefs Robinson and Silliman will present another hands-on lesson about dessert making. Participants will prepare delectable desserts to take home, with the day wrapping up at 3 p.m.

Payment should be sent to Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 102, Chatham, NY 12037-0102. Please designate “Women Build Chef Fundraiser” on check or include with payment.

Volunteer Spotlight - Tri County Builders

2008-06-06T15:13:00.003-04:00

Volunteer Spotlight - Columbia Land Conservancy

2008-06-06T14:57:00.002-04:00

Joyce Carroll of the Columbia Land Conservancy shares her experience as a volunteer with us.

Update on Sharon's Nails

2008-06-06T14:42:00.001-04:00

Thank You

2008-06-06T13:02:00.004-04:00

Many local folks and businesses have donated food (and time) to be sure our volunteers are well fed when they're building and have plenty of ice to keep drinks cold and coffee to keep everyone moving.

We wanted to say "thanks" and give our website visitors a chance to thank them as well!

Verdigris Tea
Bagle Tyme
Chatham Methodist Church
Chatham Churches (Rev. Tommy Jacobs and family)
New Lebanon Women's Club
St. Paul's Youth Group
Mexican Radio
Mary Bradway
Spencertown Store
Rock Solid Church
Ginsberg's
Triform
Perfect Parties, Wanda McGrath
Eda Chapter #459 Order of the Eastern Star
Our Daily Bread
Camphill Allen Street
Chatham Middle School
Carolynn Anklam, Barbara Henry & Maryellen Reidy
The Chocolate Moose
Janet Carey, Florence Mehl & Elaine Greenberg
St James Church
COARC/Key Bank
Berkshire Mountain Spring Water
Stewart's (Fairview & Green, Hudson)
Samascott's (apples)
Lick (ice cream)

Volunteer Spotlight - College Friends Reunite

2008-06-06T12:30:00.003-04:00

Carolyn Schroth of Spencertown, is one of the Volunteer Coordinators for the Women Build. After discussing the project with her college friends, two of them arranged to take the time off from work and the other one joined us as well. They are Joan McConnel of Armonk, NY (the leader of the pack), Anne Handley from Virginia and Zann Thompson from Barnesville, Maryland. Anne and Zann flew to NYC on Monday, made their way into the city where Joan works and then drove up to Columbia County. So it is a fun reunion for the four women and they are already having a ball.

Volunteer Spotlight - Sara & Joan

2008-06-06T12:27:00.002-04:00

Update on Sharon's Nails

2008-06-03T21:43:00.000-04:00

Day 6 and her nails are holding steady!

Volunteer Spotlight - Mary Banker & Son (Woody)

2008-06-03T21:23:00.002-04:00

Debra's Build Update - Day 6

2008-06-03T21:18:00.000-04:00

Girls Can Build and Still Be Pretty!

2008-05-29T23:27:00.002-04:00

Debra proves you can swing a hammer and maintain your manicure!

Volunteer Spotlight - Sharon Smith

2008-05-29T23:24:00.002-04:00

Debra's Build Update - Day 3

2008-05-29T22:44:00.001-04:00

Volunteer Spotlight - Col Greene Board of Realtors

2008-05-29T22:37:00.003-04:00

The gals from the Columbia Greene Board of Realtors showing off their hard hats and "bejeweled" safety glasses. They're ready to come and help build!

FINALLY! The building has begun.....

2008-05-28T16:59:00.008-04:00

WALL RAISING

Yesterday the official kick off of Women Build finally happened, with our first crew of volunteers raising a wall for the cameras, then getting down to some serious work after a brief program. Dignitaries like Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, and NYS Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez joined the Steering Committee in celebrating the success of Women Build. Mayor Scalera said he'd be happy to find Habitat more home sites in the city!

Ms. Cortes-Vazquez (pictured at right) lauded the tremendous community effort that got Women Build off the ground. Our fearless leader, Debra Gestwicki, thanked God for leading her back to Columbia County and for the Women Build's success, then a local Lutheran pastor blessed the site. Co-chairwomen Joyce Lapenn and Joanne DelRossi thanked the many hands that helped in our success and will continue helping throughout the summer build.

Special thanks for the day went to Verdigris Art and Tea and Kim Bach who provided yummy goodies for us to eat; Columbia Tent Rentals for a tent and chairs (thankfully the predicted storms did not materialize); and Stewart's Shops for coffee.

Working Girls Fashion Show

2008-05-28T14:23:00.003-04:00

Please join us for the Working Girls Fashion Show sponsored by The Second Show and Jason's Upstairs on Friday, June 13 from 8 to 11 p.m. This event will include fabulous desserts donated by various Warren Street restaurants, a fashion show and dancing to DJ CA-JO. Tickets are only $25 and are now available at the Second Show or by calling 828-2990.

Click here to download a poster designed by Elizabeth DiPalma.

Hudson Restaurants Help Women Build

2008-05-28T14:10:00.001-04:00

It’s amazing what happens when a committed, caring and fun restaurant owner wants to do something for her community. Meet Alana Hauptmann, owner of Red Dot on Warren Street, Hudson and her husband, artist, Perry Cooney. Alana is a big fan of Women Build and she has designed and built a replica of our house to serve as a “bank.” Happy diners are more than happy to put money in the “bank” to support Women Build and to learn about Habitat.
Red Dot Restaurant & Bar
321 Warren Street Hudson, NY 12534 518-828-3657
Bistro
Wednesday-Saturday 5-10pm; Sunday 5-9pm
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11-3pm

And even more special is that Alana has encouraged other restaurants on Warren Street to join in and place the banks for their patrons to also contribute to Women Build - plus there is also a sign up for more information and volunteering!!!!

So join us and support those restaurants which are supporting us: Le Gamin, Spotty Dog and Ca'Mea.

Build Calendar & Info for Volunteers

2008-05-27T18:44:00.004-04:00

Interested in finding out when we're building? Click here to view our calendar. Coming to join us and build? Please be sure to bring sunscreen and a hat - wear shorts when it is hot, you'll be more comfortable. Choose comfortable footware (sneakers or boots are recommended - no sandals please!) Coffee breaks, lunch and water are provided each day.

We're Building!

2008-05-27T18:33:00.008-04:00

Watch the first wall go up!

If you don't know where Mill Street is in Hudson, you can find directions here. Parking is available on the street, but it is crowded, so please be mindful of our volunteers - we need them!

View Larger Map

What a Great Garden and Home Luncheon!

2008-05-19T21:03:00.005-04:00

The Columbia Golf and Country Club was host to a fabulous Garden and Home Luncheon with garden writer Suzy Bales (at left, accepting a Women Build hat and T-shirt as thanks) on Sunday May 18th. Suzy’s down-to-earth (pun intended) approach and “permissive” style of gardening seemed to captivate all 100 or so guests at a benefit for our Women Build. Her presentation, including fabulous slides of her gardens, and her knowledge of gardening seemed to inspire both the novice and expert gardener alike. She was warm, funny and so appropriate for celebrating spring and Women Build. Suzy signed her book “The Down-to-earth Gardener” for many of the guests who were delighted that their contributions supported Women Build. Prior to a fabulous buffet lunch, a Women Build DVD got us all teary with the expectation of what Women Build is going to be doing in Hudson starting May 27th

In the spirit of gardening and beauty, the table center pieces were donated by Germantown and Greenport Garden Clubs.

As always, Women Build organized an active benefit with so many ways to support the project… in addition to our speaker and book signing there was a sensational raffle of gorgeous artwork by four esteemed local women artists: a landscape painting by Gail Giles; abstract painting by Anna Cinquemani, a photograph by Patricia Nolan and a divine one -of –a- kind wall hanging by Melissa Sarris. Melissa (in photo with Habitat Board President Diana Coughlin), a Women Build steering committee member, organized these beautiful raffle items for the home, asking her fellow artists to donate their beautiful works.

And, there was a silent auction with 15 garden items for everyone’s taste and pocketbook including a gift certificate for 3 yards of any PureGold Compost Product, delivered, to Woodstock Bamboo Wind Chimes. Our thanks go to Katy Nichols who single-handedly organized this wonderful auction, engaging local businesses to donate a variety of items and gift certificates to please all gardeners.

Having fun, building community and talking about the forthcoming Build and raising almost $8,000 was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our thanks to co-chairs: Vicki Simons and Diana Coughlin and to all the steering committee members who helped make this happen. Our special thanks, as always, to our technology guru, Laurie Quinn… who insured that Suzy’s slide show was possible

Our many thanks to:
Columbia Golf and Country Club staff and the club caterer Rob Lagonia.
And our very special thanks to our local vendors:
Maple Lane Nursery *Samascott’s Market * Pi Restaurant * The Berry Farm * The Handcrafters* Classic Country * Michael Devine Home and Garden* A Delicate Balance * Gibson Girl * The Sycamore Garden Center and Nursery * Great Finds
Byron Clough * Crazy Daisy * Mario’s Home Center

LOCAL WOMEN BUILDING HOUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONWIDE HABITAT INITIATIVE

2008-05-12T10:47:00.006-04:00

Laying bricks, pounding nails, and raising walls at a construction site is no longer the exclusive territory of men. Today, a construction crew of women volunteers were manning the tools and building materials at the site of a local family’s new Habitat for Humanity house in recognition of Habitat’s National Women build Week, May 4 – 10.

“Actually, men weren’t excluded” explains Debra Gestwicki, Executive Director, Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. “But we’re focusing on women this week, staffing the majority of today’s volunteer crew with women from our area. Naznin Khan, who will be the Habitat partner homeowner for this particular house, was out here building as well.”

click here to read the press release

Historic Groundbreaking

2008-05-01T08:53:00.003-04:00

The first shovels went in the ground at our Mill Street site April 30, as members of our Habitat affiliate Board of Directors and the Women Build Steering Committee gathered for the historic groundbreaking. For the first time since the Columbia County affiliate was formed in 1998, we will be building 2 homes simultaneously. The Register-Star has a photo and article on today's front page, so check it out!

The Women Build officially gets under way on May 27 and the Traditional Build a few days later. Thanks to all your hard work, Women Build now has a waiting list for volunteers! If you know someone who'd still like to volunteer, try steering them to the Traditional Build.

Keep practicing that hammering and see you soon on Mill Street....

You're in good hands!

2008-04-28T09:00:00.006-04:00

I can't tell you how wonderful it is that Women Build is moving forward. Last night I attended the first ever orientation session for crew leaders. Debra and Pat organized this evening and Debra led the group through crew leader roles and responsibilities, expectations, etc. She handed out training manuals which included terms, how to , etc. She led with humor, warmth and obviously much knowledge through her past experiences.

Over 25 women attended this meeting. What amazed me was the enthusiasm and building skills of this group; indeed in addition to the women who have renovated and built their own kitchens and barns, there were professional contractors who will be our crew leaders. Most exciting, for me, is the diversity of this group of women.... a psychoanalyst, former physical therapist, nurse, etc. Common theme is the strong desire to do good, build a house and have fun.

Our volunteers, who have signed up in droves, will be in good hands.

Joyce LaPenn

Join Us for Cinco de Mayo "Fun"draising

2008-04-23T11:13:00.003-04:00

Women Build and Time & Space Limited (TSL) in Hudson are joining forces for a mutual fund/friend-raiser at TSL to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The event will be held May 5 from 6-8 p.m. at TSL in Hudson, located at 434 Columbia Street, between 4th and 5th streets.

Food will be provided by Picante Uno of Valatie and Bread & Puppet Circus will present a fun-for-the-whole-family performance. TSL asks that we RSVP by sending ticket money to them at PO Box 343, Hudson NY 12534. Tickets are $20 per person, $5 for children under 12. Money raised will be split between the two organizations.

Hope to see you there!

MAY EVENTS..........

2008-04-10T11:15:00.006-04:00

Women Build women can't stop planning!! Not only are we actively engaged in training women with new skills, developing women as crew leaders, but we're also planning numerous events to help celebrate our work and raise money to ensure our goal of $70,000 will be met.

On May 5, at Time and Space Limited our two organizations: TSL and Women Build are celebrating Cinco De Mayo from 6-8; Join Bread and Puppet Theatre, enjoy fabulous food by Picante Uno.... and tenga un buen tiempo with friends and family. $20 per person and $ 5 for children under 12. To find out more about this event, go to http://www.timeandspace.org/.

On May 18, join Suzy Bales who has turned her lifelong passion for cooking and gardening into a career as she shares with us incredible ways to enjoy down to earth gardening. A wonderful opportunity to celebrate Women Build, spring and enjoy lunch and auction at Columbia Golf and Country Club, Claverack from 11:30- 2:00.$50 per person.

Suzy Bales has had her own weekly gardening column in Newsday for two years, joined Family Circle as their contributing garden editor for twelve years. She wrote for The New York Times and Better Homes & Gardens as the Sr. Editor for Gardening and Outdoor Living from 2004 until early 2007. She has been featured in Ladies Home Journal, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Horticulture, Beautiful Gardens, and Easy Gardening.

Suzy is the author of 13 books. The first eight books were in the Burpee American Gardening Series: Bulbs, Perennials, Annuals, Vegetables, Container Gardening, Roses and Vines, and Ready, Set, Grow, a book on children’s gardening. She has also written: Gifts from Your Garden, Garden Parties, A Garden of Fragrance, The Down-To-Earth Gardner, The Garden in Winter.

Suzy won the Garden Writer of the Year Award from the American Horticultural Society in 1995, and has twice been awarded the Quill and Trowel Award by The Garden Writers of America. In 2007 she received the Elizabeth Hamilton Great American Philanthropist award for her twenty-five years of volunteer work with abused and homeless children.

Many cooks and gardeners recognize Suzy from her frequent TV appearances on ABC and NBC as well as her series of garden spots on Good Morning America. She travels and lectures constantly and has been the featured speaker at Epcot, the Williamsburg Garden Symposium and other flower shows across the country including Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, St. Lewis and Atlanta.

Stay tuned to our website and even more events.....much is being planned for June as we continue to build a home, friends and supporters of Women Build.

Sunday Brunch Success!

2008-03-30T21:07:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the more than 100 people who turned out this sunny Sunday morning for our Blue Plate Brunch, we are now well on our way to building the walls of our Habitat home! The brunch and raffle raised $5,500 and many of our guests generously added even more to the suggested brunch donation, and gave to Women Build by adding their signatures to The Quilt Project.

Once again, there was a palpable, positive vibe flowing through the room. The brunch fare was wonderful. The offerings included tasty vegetable tostados, quiche, salad, pasta, fresh fruit and more plus delectable bread pudding for dessert. And a Blue Plate brunch wouldn't be complete without mimosas! Thanks to owner Judy Grunberg (a Women Build Steering Committee member) and her staff for treating us royally.

Thanks also to the generous business owners who donated raffle prizes. Please patronize their businesses and give them a big thanks on our behalf: American Pie, Fork and Pencil, Van Alstyne Jewelers,

and Welcome Home, all in Chatham; Tim Albright Design, Coxsackie; Circa Trade and Lilliandloo, both in Hudson; Great Finds, Valatie; and Sandy Klempner Antiques, Canaan.

Delightful background music was provided gratis by the Bennington Wind Trio: Barbara Ghaney on oboe, Ron Lively on clarinet, and Leon Ponter, bassoon.

A special thanks to Steering Committee member Barbara Henry who organized the event, and all her helpers.

We hope to see everyone at our many May events - Cinco de Mayo, Women Build Week, and the Garden and Home Luncheon May 18. Stay tuned for more information!

The Quilt Project

2008-03-30T20:13:00.009-04:00

The Women Build is proud to announce its latest fundraising effort, a project with a long "herstory" among women - quilting. Quilter extraordinaire Melissa Sarris, a Women Build Steering Committee member, will design and craft a signature quilt. Signature quilts have been, historically, a way women expressed themselves personally and politically. After the Civil War, women took the hobby of quilt making and used it as a way of becoming socially active. They created quilts with signatures on them to support a cause. Women also raised funds by selling spaces on the quilts and raffling the quilts, donating the money to the chosen cause.

Our Quilt Project will help us raise money toward our $70,000 goal, and, when finished, be presented as a gift to the family occupying the Women Build home. The quilt will be a reminder to the family of the caring community that helped them build a home.

Here's how you can participate:

* For a $10 donation, you can sign a strip of colorful fabric, either with your name or a short message; the strips will make up the quilt border.

* For a $25 donation, you can choose a quilt square crafted by local quilters, and again sign your name to it.

* For a $50 donation, you can choose one of the handmade blocks and have a brief saying, the name of your business, etc., embroidered on the square. The squares will make up the center of the quilt.

Quilters who wish to help us make squares, please visit Foofsique, the quilting store on Route 295 in Chatham. They have the instructions and fabric for making the squares (many thanks to Foofsique owners Anne Quinn and Sandy Parker, pictured here with Melissa Sarris preparing the fabric).

To make a donation and sign a piece of the quilt, contact Melissa Sarris at melissa@sarrisquilts.com. You can visit Melissa's website for additional information: www.sarrisquilts.com

Many Hands Make Light Work

2008-03-26T11:20:00.003-04:00

It all started back in December when the fifth grade teachers at Chatham Middle School decided to make their annual charitable contribution close to home, this year to Habitat’s Women Build. Momentum continued in February at a hands-on work party at the house of Debby Roth, teacher and Women Build steering committee member. Twenty faculty, staff and administrators, came together to construct footstools and wooden boxes that Home Depot’s Craig Fenoff donated through the efforts of teacher Kate Lynch. While some were hammering to the accompaniment of two-year old Finnegan Lynch’s piano music, others made generous donations. One at a time the women in the group lined up at the computer to volunteer a day’s time to work at the Women Build site.

Supervised by teacher Nancy Barth, the Middle School students painted the teachers’ handiwork with the middle school colors of red and black and then stenciled the boxes and stools with the paw prints of the Chatham panther. The Junior Honor Society joined in and promoted Habitat at the annual What’s Happening at CMS open house, collecting donations from parents and community members. All told, the Chatham Middle School collected $840 and counting! Hands down, this was an amazing act of service on the part of one school!

Habitat and Rotary...a Perfect Partnership

2008-03-17T19:48:00.004-04:00

Habitat for Humanity is all about helping people, and so is the service organization called Rotary. If you're reading this blog, you undoubtedly are familiar with Habitat. Rotary is another international organization helping change lives around the world. Rotary has 1.2 million members, with clubs in almost every country. Their motto is "Service Above Self" which Rotarians live by directing projects as simple as buying dictionaries for local students or as wide-ranging as providing healthy drinking water to a community in a developing country. Rotary's biggest accomplishment has been the virtual elimination of polio, thanks to 25 years of ongoing vaccination efforts. Like Habitat, Rotary's aim is to spread peace, goodwill and understanding amongst all peoples of the world.

Here in Columbia County, there are 3 Rotary clubs, all of which welcomed Habitat representatives to come and discuss the Women Build. Thanks to the Philmont, Northern Columbia and Hudson Rotarians for welcoming us, and to the Northern Columbia Club for donating $400 to Women Build.

We hope to see lots of Rotarians on the build sites in Hudson on June 7, our designated Rotary Day at both the Women Build and Traditional Build. Habitat and Rotary...the Perfect Partnership of Helping Hands.

- Taitia Shelow, proud Rotarian and Women Build volunteer

Thoughts from the First Training Session...

2008-03-11T15:00:00.001-04:00

Now that the first Habitat Women Build training session is under my belt, my "tool belt" feels a bit better prepared to hold hammers and nails. Surprisingly to me (though not to our illustrious leader, Debra) hammering in a nail straight was the most difficult part! Those scary electric saws were really not so bad nor so intimidating once you understood how to turn them on and safely operate them. But hammering in a 12D nail is no easy task, especially when you're doing it upside-down on an angle. Laurie Quinn and I failed miserably the first try, and thankfully Wendy Carroll of Chatham helped straighten us out, literally. I was able to hammer in a few of them with no problem, and got a great sense of accomplishment from those successes. But I'll need to spend the next few months building my arm strength so I can do it with a few swift swings, like my classmate Leslye Alexander. My advice: practice, practice, practice!!!

Taitia Shelow, Chatham, Steering Committee

Practice! Practice! Practice!

2008-03-11T14:27:00.012-04:00

Everyone keeps asking me how they can prepare for the Women Build. Other than attending the training classes, there is one huge way that you can prepare if you are going to be building on site this spring.
I am very serious when I tell you this: get yourself some scrap lumber, a hammer, and some 12D nails. (You can ask your local lumber yard about that, ladies. Or, you could find out if your husband knows what a 12D nail is) Once you get this equipment together, start to practice hammering those nails into your scrap wood. This is the number one skill that will help us to stay on schedule. This assignment is easy, the cost is inexpensive, and everyone can do it.
Trust me when I tell you that if you don't practice this skill, and you are constantly bending nails over or your nail won't even go in, you are either going to have to pull them back out, or be embarrassed because it is going to feel like everyone is watching. This is NOT fun, and you are going to be sooooo mad at yourself that you did not do this. So, good luck, and get started!

Debra Gestwicki

$5,000 from Lowes!!!

2008-03-08T16:56:00.007-05:00

The Women Build has been awarded a $5,000.00 certificate from Lowes. Hurray! This is not the Lowes grant we have applied for, but something totally separate. This $5,000.00 is being awarded because we will be doing a Women Build Day during the week of May 4-10. We can use it for building materials, so it is like cash. The project will be to assemble a shed at last year’s Habitat house site. We are currently building the components during our training sessions. We are still waiting to hear about the Lowes $10,000.00 grant.

Debra Gestwicki

If I had a hammer...

2008-03-08T09:43:00.005-05:00

If you drove by Questar last night between 6:30 and 9:00 pm, you might have heard the unlikely sound of ladies laughter and the pounding of hammers simultaneously. We completed our first night of training for our Women Build, and it was a success for everyone.

Thanks to Questar for letting us hold our classes there, and the help of two of their staff, Dan Kelly and Rolf Gorlan, we had a wonderful time learning and getting to know each other. John Livinston, a new Habitat volunteer, also joined us and gave the women pointers on tool use and safety. I couldn't believe it when the ladies wouldn't even stop for the coffee and scones that I brought! What dedication! This build is going to be great!

I would also like to thank Doug Dumont, President of DRD Building Products for donating the siding for the project we are working on, and thank you also to P&R Truss, who is donating the trusses. Did I mention that they are also converting our floor plans to panel drawings so that we can build our house on Mill Street faster and more efficiently? It continually leaves me speechless when I see the generosity of this community. These are the people, alongside our volunteers, who make Habitat for Humanity the huge success that it is.

Thanks, everyone! Debra Gestwicki

OFF TO A GREAT START!

2008-02-29T10:00:00.004-05:00

It’s hard to believe what we have accomplished in three months…our first steering committee meeting was held on November 6 and by our third meeting on February 19 we had launched the first ever Columbia County Women Build blog and you’re on it!!

Our steering committee is 31 strong …a diverse group of leaders and “builders” in our community. For example, here are photos of: Laurie Quinn…. demonstrating how she built our site ....who is the owner and creator of Technology 4 All; Elizabeth DiPalma is the owner of Elizabeth DiPalma Designs a major graphics artist firm, and Taitia Shelow is a free lance journalist writing about her community.

We are all volunteers, and what each of us has in common is a desire to serve our community and meet the housing needs of our neighbors….one family at a time. AND, of course, we’re all in it to learn new skills, which make us even stronger ourselves. WHY not really get hammering straight!

We’re so proud to be a part of this effort….and know that the next three months until we break ground will be even more exciting than the first.

Were looking for other strong women who want to feel as empowered as we do, knowing we are building a community together. JOIN us and sign up on our web site and CONTRIBUTE to our build.

Best,
Joyce Lapenn and Joanne DelRossi

NEWS on the Funding Front:

2008-02-20T12:39:00.004-05:00

All citizens of Columbia county wish to support Women Build....including our youth: Aaron Gitto, a 7th grader at Chatham Middle School, chaired a bake sale at St James as a part of his involvement with the Youth Ministry. His mentor, Judy Hollister, a parishioner there, gave him a list of causes to donate the proceeds to. He chose HH Women Build. Yesterday he donated $65 !!!!!!

THANKS, Aaron

We will certainly invite him to our groundbreaking!

Wait List for Taining Sessions

2008-02-20T11:05:00.009-05:00

We have three more Training Sessions: March 20, April 17 and May 15. Although the classes are filled, we are wait listing anyone who would like to attend. There is always a chance that someone who is registered will need to drop out.

The training sessions on basic skills are being offered in preparation for the May build. All sessions will be held at Questar on Route 66 (131 Union Tpke.) in Hudson from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The emphasis will be on:
1. How to use power tools safely and effectively.
2. Basic blue print reading.
3. Overall view of construction sequence.
4. Overall instruction and hands on practice of various construction tasks, ie. framing, insulation, sheetrock, siding, painting.
5. Question and answers.

Attending training classes is not a prerequisite for participating in the build. But it offers an opportunity to meet some of the volunteers, get a more detailed understanding of the project, work on specific construction tasks, and solidify your scheduling preferences.

If interested, click here to e-mail Pat Baer

Letter to the Editor - The Firm

2008-02-19T13:48:00.002-05:00

On January 19th, Jennifer Lawrence and her clients at The Firm hosted a fundraising exercise class to benefit the Women Build project for Columbia County's Habitat for Humanity. Not only did all participants make a donation to support the Women Build project, but we also spent an hour building our muscles, our balance and our stamina.

Attendance was great – standing room only! And it felt terrific to put our weight behind a project that empowers women from all walks of life working together to make affordable housing available in Columbia County.

The support of the leaders in our community, like Jennifer, is crucial in achieving the worthy goals of our important nonprofit organizations. On behalf of everyone involved in the Women Build project, we thank Jennifer and everyone who participated in this very successful event.

Sara McWilliams
Chair, Outreach Committee
Women Build, Columbia County Habitat for Humanity

Upcoming Event - Blue Plate Brunch

2008-02-18T20:07:00.005-05:00

Sunday, March 30 - Blue Plate Brunch 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Blue Plate Restaurant located at 1 Kinderhook Street (Chatham Circle) in Chatham. Cost $35 per person. Reserve a spot by sending check to: Habitat for Humanity of Columbia County, PO Box 102, Chatham, NY 12037; please note that it's for the brunch. Come enjoy a scrumptious brunch with neighbors and the community.

Click here to access the brunch E-vite.

Volunteering - We Need Crew Leaders!

2008-02-18T20:00:00.007-05:00

As you can imagine, we need many volunteers for the Women Build project to succeed. We need at least 15 workers on site every day of the build, plus people to provide food and drink for the volunteers. No previous skills or training are required to be a volunteer! If you do have some experience and some skills, and are willing to commit to at least three days on the build, please think about becoming a Crew Leader. Crew leaders oversee small groups of volunteers and ensure the work proceeds smoothly and safely. Volunteer training for crew leaders will be offered. Do you have what it takes to be a crew leader? Click here to find out!

How-to Clinics will be held monthly prior to the Women Build, on the following topics:

How to safely use hand and power tools, basics of painting
How to frame walls and roof
How to install windows, doors and trim, flooring
How to install siding

To be a Women Build volunteer, please click here to sign up or contact Pat Baer at 518-325-5145 or by email

Fundraising

2008-02-18T19:49:00.007-05:00

Please mail donations to: Habitat for Humanity of Columbia County, PO Box 102, Chatham, NY 12037 and designate Women Build.

Women Build needs $70,000 to pay for materials and contractors to install items such as electric and plumbing. We will be holding a variety of fundraisers around the county - please come! You can also hold a small gathering with friends or co-workers and ask for donations - it's a great excuse to get together for some "coffee talk." Every dollar counts, so whatever you can send will be appreciated and acknowledged. Click here to download a document explaining our Donation Levels.

Build skills, construct a home and create a community.

2008-02-18T19:44:00.004-05:00

Women Build, a program of Habitat for Humanity, encourages women to have fun and make a difference in their community by building homes. Women from all walks of life work together on an important issue — affordable housing. A Women Build is run the same as traditional Habitat builds, except that women occupy the leadership roles, from fundraising to construction.

Building Skills: Besides helping their neighbors, Women Build participants get a chance to learn valuable construction skills. They can learn to use power tools, how to sheetrock and much more in a welcoming and non-intimidating atmosphere. No experience is necessary to participate — just a willingness to learn and take direction. Click here to sign up!

$7,520 Raised at Chinese Banquet

2008-02-16T07:33:00.017-05:00

The Steering Committee hosted its first event for the first ever Women Build in Columbia County. At the St. James Church in Chatham, 128 guests dined on a fabulous banquet to celebrate the Chinese New Year. A variety of superb courses were created by Tung Chi and Tommy Carlucci.

Donations from the event totalled $7, 520! Even more important was the commitment of all who were there to embrace the concept of a Women Build and its desire to address the needs of the community....one family at a time. A series of fun, warm and accessible events are planned to continue to raise money for the Women Build. Join us for brunch at The Blue Plate in Chatham on March 30.....help us to reach our goal of raising $70,000.

Photo Courtesy of Katharina Kienboeck
http://www.illuminatrix.smugmug.com/ Additional photos are available on her site. Click on Habitat for Humanity's Fundraising Dinner Feb 2008.

Click here to make a donation to Habitat Women Build

Thank You

2008-02-13T19:41:00.008-05:00

The Steering Committee of the Columbia County Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build project would like to thank everyone who helped make our kickoff fundraiser a smashing success! Click here to read the entire letter...

Photo Courtesy of Katharina Kienboeck http://www.illuminatrix.smugmug.com/ Additional photos are available on her site. Click on Habitat for Humanity's Fundraising Dinner Feb 2008.

2008-02-10T14:43:00.002-05:00

We need $70,000 to purchase materials and pay for any professional labor. Material donations are welcome. Help is needed to get the word out, raise money, and organize volunteers. You can join any time during our 23 days of construction!

Click here to make a donation.
Click here to sign up!