by Bea Peterson
“It was inspirational,” said HAYC3 volunteers and staff of the Volunteer Days crew that helped at the Armory on Saturday and Sunday, January 12 and 13. “People came with cleaning supplies, brooms, food, cookies,” said Jason Jensen. The volunteers were all ages, from kids to Seniors. “Whole families came,” Jensen added. Between the work crews from the Rensselaer County Jail and the 70 plus weekend volunteers, the building is being transformed.
[private]On the lower level The Hoosiclay Studio is shaping up nicely. There are rooms for the kilns, a room for free thrown clay objects and another for those thrown on a wheel. According to Jensen, who will operate the Studio, one of the kilns was donated by a teacher who upgraded her home kiln.
The men’s room has fresh paint, and a lovely painting graces one of the walls.
Another room, already in operation, is set up for the study of Gnosticism. Jensen said about 15 people have been attending the sessions. The biggest open area in this lower level is being set up for a food co-op. Response to this has been excellent, said Jensen. That is why it has been allocated the largest space.
Boy Scout Kyle McCune has taken on upgrading the Armory kitchen as his Eagle Scout project. His Scout Troop and members of the All Saints Church in Hoosick will be working with him. That way, said Jensen, caterers can set up and prepare food downstairs for receptions and parties upstairs.
The adjoining room with the large bar is going to be turned into a Café. The former bowling alley portion of the lower level will become two art galleries. The first show is scheduled for March 1. While the show is open, there will be music in the new café, with food and soft drinks available.
One of the most notable changes on the main floor is the doorway, with doors, built to close off the large gym type room from the office area. Previously the doors, which were seldom closed, were in the middle of the building, leaving the Assessor and Building Inspector’s offices exposed to the temperatures in the large room. Now all the offices are on the other side of the doors. Jensen proudly noted that HAYC3 has purchased its own tables and chairs for events. They no longer have to borrow them from a nearby church. A tall box has been built and painted to store the tables and chairs when not in use. Jensen plans to decorate it to make it attractive for receptions. He said they frequently receive requests from people wanting to rent the hall. A banquet for the football team is scheduled there for Sunday.
Jensen mentioned that folks are still welcome to walk in the Armory on wintery days.
On the second floor, where the National Guard formerly had its offices, a conference room has been set up. Other space has yet to be utilized.
There is still a great deal of work to be done and two more volunteer days are scheduled for February 16 and 23, starting at 9 am.
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