Local Air Traffic to Increase

The residents of Scotia-Glenville have always been supportive of the brave folks from the 109th Airlift Wing at the Stratton Air National Guard Base. There was even a book written about one of their almost routine trips.

 Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole

Now, for the first time since Vietnam, the 109th Airlift Wing is scheduled for combat deployment in Afghanistan. While many members of the unit have served recently in combat, this is a first time the familiar C-130’s will be making the journey.

According to base commanders, local residents should be prepared to see some very unusual flight patterns as they train for for their mission.  Some planes will also lose the familiar orange stripe as they get their new “combat gray” paint job.

 

Think Before You Post

I have posted this information in my technical blog but I thought it might be important enough to share with parents and our young friends at VisitScotia.com.

If you post information about yourself, it’s public and will remain so forever. It’s a concept kids don’t understand, nor do they get how non-friends can use the information to make their lives miserable.

There’s a new program hoping to spread the word called “Think Before You Post”. The collaboration between the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Ad Council was announced last week.

                        

The new PSA Campaign is geared towards teenage girls who frequent popular website like MySpace, Facebook and Sconex. “Sixty-one percent of 13-17 year olds have a personal profile on a social networking site and half have also posted pictures of themselves.” 

“The popularity, easy accessibility and social acceptance of the Internet, particularly social networking sites, among teenagers can put them in a dangerous situation,” said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “It’s our hope that this campaign will educate teenage girls and their parents about the potential dangers of offering personal information on the Internet.”.

I have viewed all the ads which are available at http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=56.  My favorite for parents is called “Places” but it still doesn’t have the impact as the ones for the kids like “Everyone” or “Bulletin Board”.  If you have teenagers, watch these videos together and ask them what they think.

Tags: myspace, facebook, teens, sconex

Volunteers needed for ABC's Extreme Makeover

If you haven’t seen Extreme Makeover - Home Edition you should tune into ABC on Sunday night at 8:00 PM.  It’s on just before Desperate Housewives.  The team from Extreme Makeover is trying to build a new house in each of the 50 states and for New York, they’ve picked the Oatman-Gaitman family in nearby Colonie.

A number of local companies have already signed up to help including Amedore Homes, and Curtis Lumber. You too can sign up today and volunteer at by going to
http://www.amedorehomes.com/index.cfm?method=Volunteer.Home

Demolition will begin on March 24th at the 23 Fairway Lane in Colonie. It’s just off Consaul Road, across from the Town of Colonie Golf Course. I can’t wait until they MOVE THAT BUS on May 20th.

Hollywood comes to Scotia

Don’t be surprised if you see lights, cameras or celebrities when you’re out and about in the village. There’s a film crew in town shooting scenes in Schenectady and Scotia for a movie currently titled, “Winter of Frozen Dreams”.

Stars include Thora Birch who has made the transition from child actor to red carpet beauty with films like “All I Want for Christmas”, “Hocus Pocus”, “American Beauty” and Harrison Ford’s daughter in “Clear and Present Danger” and “Patriot Games”.

You may also run into Keith Carradine whose TV, Broadway and film credits go back as some 35 years and has starred recently on “Complete Savages” and episodes of “Deadwood”.

According to the Internet Move Database

Barbara Hoffman (Birch) is a University of Wisconsin science student. She is a part-time employee at a local massage parlor. She is also a killer. Now all Detective Lulling (Carradine) has to do is prove it.

As a courtesy to film makers I won’t divulge the exact locations so keep your eyes open.