Committee 150 Public Launch!

*** MEDIA ADVISORY / PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ***

WHAT: An important announcement regarding an initiative to raise funds for the stabilization of the former St. Joseph's Church.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 31 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: St. Joseph's Park, First & Ten Broeck Streets, Albany
(one block northwest of the Palace Theatre)

More than 90 individuals and organizations have joined Committee 150, a committee with no meetings, no minutes, and no minutiae. A number of Committee 150 members will be at St. Joseph’s Park in Albany’s historic Arbor Hill neighborhood on Wednesday, May 31, to announce the public phase of their campaign to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the former St. Joseph’s Church, and to raise $150,000 to continue stabilization work on the once-endangered building.

The announcement will take place at Historic Albany Foundation’s Annual Meeting and Preservation Merit Awards reception. Awards will be presented to Washington Avenue Armory for adaptive use; Truman Jewelers & Lodge's for downtown housing rehabilitation; and a number of private residences, including two fire-damaged properties on Madison Place.

The program runs from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., and will feature a presentation by Assemblymember Jack McEneny on the history and significance of the former St. Joseph's Church. The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served. There is a suggested donation of $10.

Please call Colleen Ryan at 518-428-9348 (mobile) for more information.

Committee 150 nears 70 members!

When we started talking about Committee 150 in March, I set a goal of having 25 people on our Committee in Formation when we did our major mailing in May. Well, as it turns out, we already have close to 70 commitments for parties or pledges of $1,000.

If your name isn't here, it's not too late to join! Leave a voice mail at 518-462-1900 or send an email to committee150@verizon.net and let us know you'd like to be a member! When you schedule your party, we'll send you a Committee 150 Kit to help you meet your fundraising goal.

It's going to be a great summer!

Committee in Formation

Albany Local Development Corporation
Matt Baumgartner
Erin Tobin Bearden & Roger Bearden
Matthew & Phoebe Bender
Christopher & Diane Betts
Jay W. Bouchard
William Brandow
County Executive Michael Breslin
Senator Neil Breslin
Mark Brogna
Carol Bullard & Worth Gretter
Christopher & Courtney Burke
Nancy Burton & Peter Leue
Jim Campbell & Cindy Shenker
Hon. Dominick Calsolaro
Assemblyman Ron Canestrari
Capital Wine & Spirits
Jim Carr
Jim Cohen
Hon. Richard Conti & Steve Snow
Bartley J. Costello
Marci David
James Davies & Gordon Harris
Elizabeth Griffin & Jim Plastiras
Hartgen Archeological Associates
Sue Herlands
Susan Holland
J. M. Huffman
Mayor Gerald Jennings
Jocelyn Jerry
Brad & Rebecca Junco
Charles Kuhtic
Carolyn & Bill Lemmon
Carolyn & Dr. Appleton Mason
Charles McCaffrey
Virginia McCann
Assemblyman John McEneny
Millis McLaughlin
Felton McLaughlin
John McLennan
George & Kathleen McNamee
Christine Miles & Jake Kelliher
Hon. Shawn Morris & John Wellspeak
Gordon Mowbray
Hon. Tom Nitido & Wendy Saunders
Heather Nowicki
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Older
Alice Oldfather & Jeffrey Gordon
Tony Opalka
Brien & Elizabeth O’Toole
The Palace Theatre
Brian Petraitis & Deborah Benson
Ellen Picotte
Lynda Porter
Ned Pratt
Joseph Rabito
Ken Ragsdale & Lori Hansen
Stephanie Richardson & Tom Clark
Jackaline Ring
Colleen Ryan & Eric Hoppel
Ed & Gerrie Ryan
Nadine & Rob Shadlock
Society of Architectural Historians, Turpin Bannister Chapter
Mary Stoll & Dennis Rapp
Dr. R. Mark Sullivan
Frances Tarlton & Mike Bergan
Doug Townsend
Candace King Weir
Margery & Michael Whiteman

"Fun" for the Roses ... The first Committee 150 Party!

"Fun" for the Roses

Mark, John, Ken and Lori hosted a Kentucky Derby party for Committee 150. Click here to see photos from this great event on Flickr!

St. Joe's Open House - Sunday!

While the early forecasts were calling for rain, it looks like we're going to have a lovely day for the first St. Joseph's Open House of the season!

On Sunday, May 7, from noon - 4 p.m., Historic Albany Foundation will open St. Joseph's Church to the public. Come and see the interior stabilization project, an exhibit about the history of the building and parish, and hear about plans for the future. St. Joseph's is located at Ten Broeck and Second Streets.

After you visit St. Joe's, stop by the 7th Annual Albany History Fair, this Sunday (May 7) from noon to 4 pm. The History Fair is a fun-filled, free afternoon of stories and traditions, music and tours, exhibits and demonstrations at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Quackenbush Square, corner of Broadway and Clinton Avenue in Downtown Albany. Free visitor parking is available off Broadway via Spencer Street.

Just in case none of these addresses sound familiar to you ... You know where the Palace Theatre is, right? If you're facing the Palace Theatre, the Visitors Center is about 1 block behind you (towards the river and 787); and St. Joe's is about 1 block in front of you (go past the Palace on Clinton Avenue, take a your first right on Ten Broeck Street.)

Committee in Formation Nears 40 MEMBERS!

From a mailing to approximately 160 people, we have committments for almost 40 parties or $1,000 contributions!

The Committee in Formation list is as follows, so far:

• Erin Tobin Bearden & Roger Bearden
• Matthew & Phoebe Bender
• William Brandow
• Mark Brogna
• Carol Bullard & Worth Gretter
• Christopher & Courtney Burke
• Nancy Burton & Peter Leue
• Capital Wine & Spirits
• Jim Carr
• Jim Cohen
• Bartley J. Costello
• Marci David
• James Davies & Gordon Harris
• Elizabeth Griffin & Jim Plastiras
• Lori Harris
• Hartgen Archeological Associates
• Susan Holland
• J. M. Huffman
• Mayor Gerald Jennings
• Jocelyn Jerry
• Brad & Rebecca Junco
• Charles Kuhtic
• Virginia McCann
• Assemblyman John McEneny
• Millis McLaughlin
• John McLennan
• Christine Miles and Jake Kelliher
• Gordon Mowbray
• Heather Nowicki
• Alice Oldfather & Jeffrey Gordon
• Tony Opalka
• Ellen Picotte
• Stephanie Richardson & Tom Clark
• Colleen Ryan & Eric Hoppel
• Mary Stoll & Dennis Rapp
• Frances Tarlton & Mike Bergan
• Doug Townsend

If you'll host a party to support the stabilization of the former St. Joseph's Church in Albany's historic Arbor Hill neighborhood, you can join Committee 15o, too! Please let us know by close of business on Monday, May 8, so we can add your name to the Committee in Formation.

Planning the Perfect Party

Committee 150 members are already coming up with great ideas for parties! Some of the proposed themes include:

• A Kentucky Derby Party - Complete with Benedictine, Burgoo, Derby Pie, and, of course, mint juleps
• A Picture Perfect Party - With a professional photographer donating his services to take candids and portraits of attendees, which they can then purchase online
• The "10th Annual Stoopathon" - An open house and brunch on the day of the Freihofer's Run for Women, which runs through Washington Park (ok, that's my party!)

Parties can be fun for the whole family with a small contribution from a large number of guests, or dinner or cocktails for a smaller group with a larger suggested donation. It's really up to you!

You can join Committee 150 by calling our voice mail at 518-462-1900 or sending an e-mail to committee150@verizon.net .