More Thank Yous

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

Thank you to all who donated to this beautiful project!

Senator Saland Speaks @ Dedication

Thank You

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

Pics from Dedication Ceremony

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Chef for a Day Fundraiser

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

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

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

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

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

THANK YOU

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.

Fabulous Fashion Show Fun!!!!

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.

Thank You

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)

FINALLY! The building has begun.....

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.

Hudson Restaurants Help Women Build

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.