Category: PPL Informational Series

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PPL teams up with Institute in Autism Awareness Initiative  

 April is Autism Awareness Month and in recognition a new partnership between the Potsdam Public Library and the Institute for Learning Centered Education is aimed at providing tools to the community in addressing the needs of children with autism.

The partnership, a result of a March program at the library led by Institute for Learning Centered Education Director Don E. Mesibov, where he read from his new book, Mesibov, Schopler, and TEACCH: Changing the World for Parents, and People with Autism; From Refrigerator Mothers to Treating Parents as Partners. 

“The challenge is that there are people on school staff and community organizations who interact daily with people with autism and yet have not the slightest bit of training,” Mr. Mesibov said. “Our Institute has developed a two hour ‘Discussion Session’ that can acquaint people with basic understandings about autism that can be the difference between interacting successfully with people with autism or creating distrust at the first meeting.”

Potsdam Public Library Program Coordinator William T. Eckert said he was impressed with the work Mr. Mesibov was doing and offered the library as a resource in anyway Mr. Mesibov and the institute could use it in furthering their mission.

In launching the new partnership, the library will be releasing a series of videos of Mr. Mesibov explaining the institute’s 18 Tips for School Staff, Parents, and Others, for Addressing the Needs of Children with Autism. They will be posted on the library’s YouTube channel and social media pages. Such tips include understanding how people with autism think, to be cautious using metaphors around people with autism, to understand that their behavior is communicating, and to “create C.A.L.M.: Comfort, Affirm, Love, Model.

“As a library, we are here for all of the community,” Mr. Eckert said. “After attending Mr. Mesibov’s March program and listening to a community member with autism and their family members, as well as area educators, what I took away from that meeting was there is an urgent need to educate the public about autism. We are now pleased to be able to assist Mr. Mesibov and the Institute for Learning Centered Education in this mission.”

Events will be posted to the PPL website as they are developed at https://potsdamlibrary.org/upcoming-events/

For further information contact Don Mesibov at demesibov@gmail.com

or William Eckert at weckert@potsdamlibrary.org

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Finding Financial Wellness at PPL

Financial Wellness is something that everyone can benefit from, whether it is finding out regardless of income, saving is still possible, learning how to build a credit score, or how to become a homeowner. That’s why, starting this Thursday, PPL will begin hosting a series of discussions led by our newest partner, Key Bank’s Personal Banker Alene Dishman.

At 3:30PM, Thursday, May 12, in the PPL mezzanine classroom, Ms. Dishman and Key Bank Branch Manager Richard Gum will facilitate Introduction to Financial Wellness, and hour-long, free discussion group that will address the question, what is financial wellness, and outline the importance and impact it has on individuals and all aspects and members of their lives.

Registration is free and can be done at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-financial-wellness-with-alene-dishman-tickets-333037172147

This discussion will be focused on defining financial wellness for the everyday individual no matter where they find themselves personally, professionally or financially, as well as sharing and developing some best practices and methods of thinking. For this discussion Alene will come prepared with information on Key Bank’s checking, savings and credit products as these are typically the foundational products to developing financial wellbeing.

Since starting at the Potsdam branch of Key Bank, located at 17 Elm Street, Alene said she has been driven to get the word out about Key Bank’s mission to help communities develop Financial Wellbeing and to teach the practices and skills that can make this possible for every individual. 

“The most common objective I face from clients on a daily basis is ‘I don’t make enough money to save,’” Alene said. “This simply is not the case. I want to help open the door to the possibility of financial stability for all members of our community but also to the understanding that financial wellness is based on consistent decisions rather than flow or amount of income.”

Thursday’s discussion group is going to be a platform to continue bringing community members together to discuss other aspects of financial wellbeing. Alene said the range of potential future discussion groups is wide, but that she wants to allow it to be created by the needs of community members. She is currently developing future talks on:

  • Credit and How to Build It, 
  • Banking Products (Checking, Savings, CD’s, Lines of Credit, Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Mortgages, HELOCS, Auto Loans, etc.) their uses, the environment currently surrounding them, and how to know the right product for you, 
  • Fraud Prevention, and
  • Steps to Becoming a Homeowner.

“I want to help simplify it and make it understandable, less intimidating and more manageable for the everyday person, no matter what their financial situation is,” she said. “I’ve always had a deep passion for inspiring and empowering individuals to do and be more, whatever that means for them.

“My experience with clients has taught that I am far from the only adult in our geographical area that was unprepared for the unforgiving nature of the long term commitments we can be lured into entering adulthood,” she added. “I have this knowledge now of the financial industry and if it can help someone I just want to be proactive in sharing it.”

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Information is key

Hello again, everyone,

A few weeks back, one of our wonderful PPL trustees, David Bradford, reached out with some programming ideas that we all agreed could be beneficial to the public.

David is both the volunteer Energy Navigator with Cornell Cooperative Extension as well as a New York State of Health certified navigator with the St. Lawrence Health Initiative.

On April 7, PPL hosted an “Insure New York” virtual conversation and presentation with David, in his capacity with the St. Lawrence Health Initiative, about affordable health insurance in a time where insurance has seen mandated changes due to Covid 19. Watch that presentation below.

David also talked about the increased financial assistance available with President Biden’s March 11 signing of the American Rescue Plan signed into law, making health insurance more affordable for both those that still need health insurance and those who already have plans.

More information can be found at www.gethealthyslc.org, https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or by calling toll-free at 855-355-5777. David can be reached at (315)261-2338 or at david@gethealthyslc.org

Insure NY, with David Bradford

PPL hosted a second talk with David on April 21 in his capacity as Energy Navigator. During that presentation, David promoted ways folks can make energy efficiency and cost-saving improvements to their homes, leading to ways homeowners can participate in incentive programs through NYSERDA, and potentially get a free “energy audit”.

That presentation, which can be viewed below, resulted in some questions, including whether non-profit organizations’ buildings are able to receive an energy audit?

Energy Navigator’s Informational Series, with David Bradford

Nick Hamilton-Honey, the CCE of SLC Natural Resources & Energy Educator covering St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, said community energy advisors vary depending on your county. Jefferson and Lewis counties are covered by Katie Ripstein at CCE of Jefferson County; Clinton, Essex, and Hamilton counties are covered by Annie Arnold at ANCA. More information, including contact info, can be found at Smart Energy Choices North Country https://smartenergychoices-northcountry.com/.

Throughout the presentation, Nick provided links in the chat that can help with finding energy-efficient products (https://www.nysegsmartsolutions.com/, and https://uny.home.marketplace.nationalgridus.com/), as well as where folks can find locally-produced hydropower through Northern Power & Light at https://www.npandl.com/local-gens.