When you hear a reporter talking about Congress and immigration what comes to your mind? My first thought is the story I have told before about the family from Poland that St. Lucy’s Church sponsored to come to the United States.

If you recall the father, who had been in the U.S. for about six months, was asked why he worked two jobs. His answer was simple and direct, “When I was in Poland I worked about 80 hours a week and could not buy my family shoes. Here I work 80 hours and can buy them anything they want!”

Many immigrants to our country have been waiting years on a list to qualify for immigration status. In a recent publication by the Times Union they printed a story about a man who grew up in Rwanda. “In college he studied economics and worked in the Department of Planning, that was before the civil war and genocide began, leaving millions of people slaughtered. He fled to Tanzania and lived among 400,000 other refugees in a camp until he found clearance to come here.”

 “It was in the refugee camp that he learned that his father had been killed four years earlier.” “Every family lost at least one person,” he said. “And of course there were people who I can say their whole family was killed.” “I tell people who never experienced war in their country that it is a radical change. When you are running from your country without anything, you leave everything. You cannot go back to your house.”

This should give you a little insight into people’s desire to immigrate to the U.S. Some want to be here because they can get a job and provide for their family better than they could in their native country. Others want to come here because it is safer here than in their home.

Watching the news a few days ago, the reporter was talking about the shelling of a town and describing another broken promise for a cease fire. I could not believe my eyes. As the reporter was talking about the devastation, deaths, and warfare, one of the city’s residents was sitting at a table, surrounded by damaged buildings and other rubble, sipping what looked like a cup of coffee while reading a newspaper. Are you kidding me? Can we get so conditioned to mayhem that it just becomes another daily activity? I know I could not be so blasé about such horrific events.

My husband, Jim, often talks about some of the events that have been part of his upbringing that give me some insight into what some of the concerns are for a family immigrating to the United States. He was brought up in a neighborhood comprised primarily of first and second-generation immigrants from Italy, Poland, and Czechoslovakia.

One of his fondest memories is about the food served in their neighborhood. Most of the homes had a summer and winter kitchen. The winter kitchen was the one in the home. It was also the warmest room in the house during the winter and a great family gathering place. The summer kitchen was built in back of the house outside the cellar door.  This allowed baking and other cooking even during the hot summer days.

Jim remembers days when he and one of his friends could have lunch at his house and then repeat with lunch at his friend’s house.

Perhaps one of the most subtle influences immigration has on an area show up in the diversity of restaurants and foods available. There was a time when you could get a good Italian dinner, your choice of steak, chicken, hamburgers, and other home cooked style food in a local restaurant. Then burger and fries, chicken and wings, and sandwiches showed up all over town. Now you can find Chinese, Mexican, Greek, Italian, Indonesian, Peruvian, Turkish, Indian and Central American cuisine in many areas around our capital district. Whether you want good seafood, a sandwich, or hot soup your choice will be easy to find.

Language is often a barrier for immigrants, but there are other problems they must face in order to integrate into our society. Without English they need to locate a resettlement agency to help find a teacher. The resettlement agency can also help with housing, a job, and getting settled. They may need donations of books, computers, shoes, clothes, pots and pans, and other household and personal items. One of the most critical areas of help will be getting any children settled and accepted in a school.

Last week the Scottish Games were held at the Altamont Fair Grounds. A few weeks ago a Greek Festival was enjoyed by many in Albany and an Italian Festival was held in Schenectady. Other Asian, Polish, Eastern, Irish, German, and South American festivals (to name just a few) have been conducted throughout the capital district.

What does this tell us?  It tells us that we are really lucky to live in such a diverse community. We are able to enjoy the different food, music, art, dance, and ideologies of other countries from all over the world. We should embrace all of the good things brought to us from all over the world just as we have in the past. That is the wonderful benefit of living in a free country. Now all we have to do is show love and eradicate hate.

Dates to remember

 On Friday, Sept.12, Brooks BBQ sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Altamont Fire Department will be from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.  Drive through service at the fire hall only on Main St. in Altamont.

On Sunday, Sept. 14, Giffy's BBQ sponsored by Helderberg Reformed Church to be held at the Guilderland Center Fire Department from 3 to 5 p.m. Eat-in or take out service will be available.  As of this date, tickets are $11 for the dinner.  The advance sale ticket price was through Sept. 10.

Gold tournament

St.Lucy/St. Bernadette's annual golf tournament will be held on Monday, Sept. 15, at the Pinehaven Country Club. Registration forms are available in the Gathering Space at the church on Grand St. in Altamont.

For additional information call Lou De Maris at 861-1230. 

Women’s weekend

    Are you a Little Notch woman past, present, or future? Would you like to be part of a strong and caring community? All women are invited to participate in group activities such as canoeing, yoga, crafts, hiking, and more at the Women's Weekend from Sept. 19 through 21.

This weekend is for adult women. Alcohol free living spaces will be available providing all women with a relaxing, restorative space.

Women attending will arrive on Friday, Sept. 19, at 3 p.m., and depart on Sunday, Sept. 21, at  3 p.m. The cost is $30.  Children ages six to 16 are $15 per day and children five and under are free. Childcare is not provided. The above-mentioned fees include food.

Planning to attend the annual 38th Hot Air Balloon Festival near by Glens Falls?  This would be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy both activities.

For further information or to register, go to www.camplittle nothch.org or call 793-9700 or e-mail campdirector@camplittlenotch.org. 

Library

The Guilderland Public Library located on Western Ave. in Guilderland has announced their new hours. The library will now be open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Pyrimad Lake

Members and friends of St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church will be off to Pyramid Lake Center the weekend of Sept. 20-21,  where they will enjoy boating, hiking, fishing, or just plain  having the opportunity  of relaxing.

Last minute reservations can be made with Valerie at 895-5346 or Monica at 861-6948. Those already registered are reminded that checks should be made payable to Pyramid Lake Center and given to the above mentioned ladies.

ACT registration

Guilderland high school seniors are reminded that the registration for the Oct. 25 ACT test is Sept. 19. To register, students should go on line to www.actstudent.org.

Monthly meeting

St. Andrew's Society will meet on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Celtic Hall on Karner Rd. in Colonie at 7:30 p.m.

Senior citizen’s trip

On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Guilderland seniors will travel to Lake George to enjoy Lake effect a comedy and drama.  This is a luncheon show. Departure will be at 10 a.m., and will return around 4:30 p.m.

Anniversary

Happy-anniversary wishes are extended to Kelly and Jack Pickering who will celebrate their special day on Sept. 18.

Birthdays

Happy-birthday wishes are extended to:

— Amy Houck, Mary Hillmann, Christopher Usher, and Christopher James Young on Sept. 12;

— Richard Lehnert and Betty Strever on Sept. 13;

— Bev Haviland and R. J. Sanderson on Sept. 14;

— Chris Jones, Judy Stevens, and Andrew West on Sept. 15;

— Patti Farrand, Gregory Peck, and Andrew Ramo, on Sept.  17; and
— Mary Becker, Jamie  Hessner, Sam Levin, Stephanie Peck, Betty Spadaro, and Donna Williams on Sept. 18.