Tuesday April 30, 2024 
Capital Region Social Happenings© June Concert Series Announced
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Friday Night Events at 7 pm at 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts) at “Hill” door entrance. Weather permitting these events will be held outside. Open to the public at large. Mailing address: P. O. Box 12511, Albany NY 12212. Location: 435 New Karner Road (Hill Door Entrance), Albany (Colonie), NY 12205. Office Phone: 518-452-6883. Capital Region Social Happenings is a registered name of Singles Outreach Services, Inc. and is a NYS non-profit organization.
Friday Night – June 25th – Donna Lee will entertain us with a variety popular songs. She is also a Janis Joplin Tribute Artist and will allow you to experience that era all over again. This event is held in Colonie, We comply with all CDC and NYS Covid requirements for safety. Masks are not required if you have proof of vaccination. $12 pp and that includes beverages and snacks. Hanover Square Bldg. at 435 New Karner Road (Hill Door entrance if inside). If the weather is great, the performance will be held outdoors at the rear performance area.
Saturday June 26 at 2 pm – The Colonie Village Singers will entertain us with a variety of songs and there are many that you can sing-along with. You can even get up and dance to the music. This group has appeared at many venues and have delighted many residents of senior centers. This event is held in Colonie, We comply with all CDC and NYS Covid requirements for safety. Masks are not required if you have proof of vaccination. $12 pp and that includes beverages and snacks. Hanover Square Bldg. at 435 New Karner Road (Hill Door entrance if inside). If the weather is great, the performance will be held outdoors at the rear performance area.
July 4th Extravaganza is scheduled for Sunday, July 4th. The event starts at noon with a lunch (and grill) starting at 1 pm. At 2:30 pm we will be entertained by Miss Carla Page to get the party started. There will be a designated dance area. Also available will be card and board games as well as some outdoor games. “Leftovers” will be served to start off the evening with a campfire and stories. Hanover Square Bldg. at 435 New Karner Road (Hill Door entrance if inside).R.S.V.P by June 25th. $14 covers the entire day’s activities. Bring a folding chair for a spot to relax.
Troy Amateur Radio Association Field Day
WATERVLIET – The Troy Amateur Radio Association (TARA) will be setting up and hosting the annual ARRL Field Day in Watervliet at the Hudson Shores Park, Exit off 23rd Street from 787 on June 26th and June 27th from 2:00pm Saturday until 2:00pm on Sunday.
Field Day is the rapid deployment of radio communications in the event of an emergency.
It is one of the largest, single emergency preparedness exercises in the country.
This will be open to the public.
You can visit our website at https://www.n2ty.org/fd_page/fd.html for more info.
Arts Letters and Numbers Workshops
AVERILL PARK – Arts Letters and Numbers (a non-profit arts residency and education organization celebrating its tenth anniversary) is sponsoring workshops in preparation for a virtual exhibition, “Constructed World on the Wynantskill.” Saturday, June 26, at 1:30, will be a presentation of maps and videos inspired by the first workshop “The Water”, and a group effort at identifying images of historic buildings, and placing them in the context of historic maps. We will start with identifying the buildings represented in Joseph Hidley’s 1866 painting of Glass Lake (now available as a jigsaw puzzle through the Hart-Cluett Museum). Please bring to share any photographs, or postcard images, you have of buildings of interest (present and past) in the Wynantskill Watershed. The Faith Mills building 1548 Burden Lake Road, ground floor door marked ALN. For more information, Robert Dalton Harris (founding president of the Sand Lake Historical Society) & Diane DeBlois (publishers of Robert J. Lilly’s The Wynants Kill: a small stream, but mighty). 518-674-2979.
Fun for a Good Cause Fundraiser for Local Family
AVERILL PARK – The Averill Park Transportation Department is hosting a fundraiser this Sunday, June 27, 2021, from 12:30-4:00 P.M. at Butler Park in Averill Park across from the High School. The Kiwanis Club will be selling Hamburgers and Hotdogs. Additional food and refreshments will be available at no cost. T-Shirts will be for sale. They will be raffling off gift baskets. For entertainment there will be a band playing music for all to enjoy. There will be a bounce house and magician for the children to enjoy. All proceeds will be benefitting a local family who lost their home and vehicle in a fire.
Music In The Park – Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center Proudly Presents 2021 Summer Concert Series
RENSSELAER – June 28th Winchester And Young. Sponsored By Rich Siek in Memory of Andrea Siek; July 5th Hands of Time, Sponsored By Walter S Pratt and Sons Inc.; July 12th The Lustre Kings. Sponsored By Millienia Housing Management Ltd; July 19th Joes Boys. Sponsored By Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center; July 26th Gone Grey. Sponsored By Clear Captions FREE Captioning Phone; August 2nd Donny Elvis. Sponsored By CDPHP; August 9th Kyle Bourgault Acoustic Live. Sponsored By Rensselaer County Legislator Chair and City of Rensselaer Mayor Michael Stammel … From 6 PM to 8 PM, Riverfront Park Rensselaer NY. Rain Date Is The Following Night
We would like to thank all of our sponsors. Without you this series wouldn’t be happening. Call 518-463-2166 For More Info.
The Schodack Town Park Presents “Music In the Park” Summer Series
SCHODACK – FREE CONCERTS, Tuesdays from 6-8 pm. 518-477-7918. Tuesday, June 29th: Yankee Doodle Band. Rain-date Wednesday, June 30th. Traditional repertoire, blending Sousa marches with Broadway show tunes, Popular hit songs, and music from the movies
Sand Lake Summer Concert Series at Sand Lake’s Butler Park
SAND LAKE – The Town of Sand Lake is sponsoring a free Summer Concert Series every other Thursday through September 16. It is free for all to attend! Concerts start at 6:30 and end at 9:00. They include:
July 8: Gone Grey Guys
July 22: Acoustic Rye (sponsored by the Sand Lake Business Association)
August 5: Schmooze
August 19: Diva & Dirty Boys
August 26: Beating the Odds
September 2: Double D Trio
September 16: Refrigerators
Bring your lawn chairs and join the fun! Food vendors will be on site. Social distancing will be in effect. Alcohol is not permitted.
Butler Park is located on Gettle Road, in the hamlet of Averill Park.
Vendors will be available. Bring your lawn chairs. Social distancing will be in effect. No alcohol, please.
June 2021 Meeting for the Capital District Genealogical Society
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Online Zoom Meeting, Saturday, 26 June 2021 at 1:00 PM. CDGS meetings are presently held on Zoom. Registration is free and will open to the public on 16 June 2021. See www.capitaldistrictgenealogicalsociety .org under meetings and events. There is a 100 person limit.
Topic: Introduction to Forensic Genealogy by Kelvin L. Meyers. Our speaker will give an overview of forensic genealogy and the role of the genealogist in such cases. He will discuss some of the types of cases in which a forensic genealogist may be involved such as guardianship, oil and gas, unidentified and unclaimed persons and probate. The role of a forensic genealogist will also be discussed.
Stephentown Historical Society to Hold Strawberry Festival
STEPHENTOWN – Strawberry shortcake will star once again at the Thirty-Ninth Annual Strawberry Festival to be held this year on Sunday, June 27th at Gardner’s Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, located at 15879 NY Route 22 in Stephentown (just south of the traffic light at the intersection with Route 43). This fund-raiser for the Stephentown Historical Society will run from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Fresh strawberries will be served on sponge cake or home-baked biscuits with whipped cream, or you can add ice cream for a sundae (“the works”!). Strawberry rhubarb pie a la mode and whole strawberry rhubarb pies will also be available for purchase, as will books, t-shirts and other Historical Society memorabilia. For additional information, please call (732) 841-3457 or (518) 733-5923.
The Stephentown Strawberry Festival began in 1982 when the Historical Society was in its infancy and was preparing for the town’s 1984 bicentennial celebration. Over the years, volunteers from the society have prepared and dished up over 8000 servings of this summer favorite. Hope to see you there!
AP All-Sports Camp
AVERILL PARK – Chris Anderson and Mike Cavotta are proud to announce the return of AP All-Sports Camp, a non-competitive games camp for children ages 6 and up. It will take place from June 28 – July 1, 9 AM to noon, at Algonquin Middle School. The cost is just $100 dollars for 4 days of fun and discounts are available! You can find more information and register for camp by visiting apallsportscamp.com.
Grafton Lakes State Park to Celebrate 50th Anniversary
GRAFTON – Admission Reduced to Original 25 Cent Fee From 1971. (Entrance is first come first serve until capacity is reached).
Grafton Lakes State Park, in partnership with the Grafton Historical Society, will celebrate its 50th anniversary with community programming on Thursday, July 1. In honor of the event, park entry will be reduced to its original 1971 opening day fare of 25 cents. A lunch will be held to commemorate the anniversary. No charge to attend the commemoration, $5 to obtain a lunch ticket. All other activities and programs will be free of charge.
“Grafton Lakes State Park’s breathtaking ponds and miles of trails are just some of the features that make this site a jewel of the State Park system that has drawn many visitors over the decades. This celebration will join past accolades with the next generation of park visitors who appreciate all this special place has to offer,” said NYS Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid.
Anniversary Programming:
• Art Gallery: 9am-4pm- Art pieces inspired by Grafton’s natural beauty.
• Commemoration Lunch: 12pm- No charge to attend the commemoration and Meet-the-Artists discussion. Pre-registration required to obtain a lunch ticket- $5 per person. Call 518-279-1155.
• Historic Talks and Walks: 10am and 1:30pm- Join in on a cemetery walk or look back at photos with Grafton historian Anne Kiely.
• Fire Tower Chat: Linda Laveway, granddaughter of fire tower observer, Helen Ellett, will offer stories and recollections of her grandmother.
• “Remember When”: 7pm- An informal gathering for community members to share their memories and stories of Grafton’s history.
• Oral History Movie: 9pm- Hear tales from staff, visitors, and those who used to own land at the park in this oral history of the park.
All aspects of the event will follow current COVID-19 protocols with masks and social distancing. Entry into the park will be based on a first come first serve basis.
July Meeting of the Ch. 60 Korean War Veterans Association
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The July meeting for the Ch. 60 Korean War Veterans Assoc., will be held at 1:00 p.m on Thurs. July 1st, at the VFW home. Veterans who served anywhere during the Korean War, in Korea at any time, spouses, widows, friends and relatives are all invited to attend. The VFW is located at the end of Veterans’ Way, off the arterial just North of Saratoga Springs. New members are always welcome. For further information or an application to join the organization, please contact Comm. Paul O’Keefe at 518-603-4186.
Grafton Summer Music Festival Hosts Yankee Doodle Band
GRAFTON – Article by Betsy Colvin – The Yankee Doodle Band an American Legion Band comes to Grafton NY July 10, 2021.
The Yankee Doodle Band of the Fort Crailo Post 471 of the American Legion in Rensselaer N.Y was formed in 1927. The band originally was a drum & bugle corps then in 1936 the bugle corps became the band as we know it today with a full complement of instruments. The band has members who are Legionnaires and members who have had family members who served in the Armed Forces. The Yankee Doodle Band has a concert band and a marching band. Many of the members participate in both.
The first bandmaster to conduct and lead the band was Robert F. Winters. He immigrated to this country from Scotland where he had been bandmaster of the Queen’s Guard of Edinburgh.
Our next bandmaster was James J. Layden from the Capital District. During WW II he was an instructor at the Navy School of Music in San Diego. His tenure with the band ended in 1972.
Fast forward to today we are proud to have Owen “Smokie” Johnson, a former music teacher, as our musical director since 1974.
The band plays local concerts and parades. The marching band travels the United States playing for the American Legion National Conventions each year. We enjoy what we do and always look forward to our concerts and parades. We play a variety of music. Patriotic music of course. Broadway show tunes. TV theme music like Hogan’s Heroes & the Theme from Jag. Foot stopping tunes like Beer Barrel Polka.
We hope to see you at our free concert Saturday July 10, 2021 from 2 -4 PM at Roxborough Holdings (former Grafton Elementary School) Rte. 2 & Babcock Lake Road, Grafton, NY. Sit inside or bring a chair & sit outside. Dolan Dogs Food Truck and Mr. Ding-A-Ling Ice Cream will be there. Come enjoy the music, the food and feel free to sing along or get up dance. We hope to see you July 10!
Grafton Merrymakers Meeting
GRAFTON – A Grafton Merrymakers will be meeting on July 14 at 5:15 at the Everett Wagar senior center with dinner followed by our meeting at 6:15 PM. Subs will be provided for dinner – please bring your own utensils (plastic ware plates cups) and your own beverage. If you would like to join the Merrymakers there is a membership fee of $3 a year and is open to all residents of Rensselaer County 55 and older. If you would like more information please call Betty Jean at 518-272-8624.
Grafton Summer Festival
GRAFTON – After taking the year off due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the original Grafton Summer Festival is back and hopes to be bigger and better than ever before.
The Festival is again scheduled to be held in the historic Grafton Town Park on Saturday, July 17, 2021. The park is located on NYS Route 2, one mile east of the State Park entrance.
For more than 30 years, the Grafton Summer Festival has been a tradition enjoyed by all the residents of Grafton, the surrounding towns and visitors to the area.
This year we are again featuring Civil War reenactors known as the Crenshaw Battery. There will be soldiers in authentic uniforms including weapons and equipment. At past festivals this has been a very popular exhibit. The people of Grafton have many ancestors who served in the Union Army during the Civil War and we’re very proud of that heritage.
Sister Kennan McGowan’s Memorial Giant Raffle will have close to 100 prizes with a growing monetary grand prize. Tickets are available from most parishioners of Our Lady of the Snow Mission and Our Lady of Victory Church. Tickets will also be sold all day on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
There will be a chicken BBQ to be served from 12:00 noon until 2pm, or when the meals are sold out. The dinners consist of ½ chicken, baked potato, coleslaw and dessert and can be enjoyed on site or for take-out. It is suggested that tickets for the dinner be obtained ahead of time and reserved by calling 518- 421-5070 or 518-953-0363.
The local Boy Scouts will be providing hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage and peppers and cold soft drinks. In the morning, coffee, donuts and other breakfast items will be available.
There will again be music and singing in the gazebo.
Since the inception of the Grafton Festival over 35 years ago, we have had a craft fair and flea market with vendors selling a large selection of crafts and exotic items, including antiques, collectibles, handcrafted jewelry and wood-working items. It is anticipated that 50 or more vendors will be participating.
The Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society will have booths, as will several other community organizations.
Our Lady of the Snow will offer homemade baked goods, including “mini” pies, cupcakes and numerous other sweets.
The festival provides the people and friends of Grafton the opportunity to meet their neighbors and the people who serve them in various volunteer capacities.
To join in the festivities, call 518-466-8555 for more information and registration forms as a vendor or participant.
31st Annual American Legion Post 1489 Golf Outing
WYNANTSKILL – Sat.July 31 2021,Pioneer Hills Golf Course,Price $100.00 ea.-Includes,18 hole shotgun scramble w/cart,Lunch at the course at 11:00 (hot dogs,hamburgs,mac salad). Tee off at 12:00,Beverages will be available on the course,2 domestic beer chips included per person.Barbeque dinner following golf back at The Legion w/ 1Hr.Draft beer and soda.Prizes,raffles, auction and plenty of laughs.Sign up at The Legion 111 Main Ave. Wynantskill or call Bill McGuirk at 518-441-0013. If you don’t have a foursome,sign up and we will match you up.Proceeds to benefit Sons of The Legion charities.
Malta Veterans Appreciation Program 5th Annual Charity Golf Outing
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Save The Date! Monday, August 30, 2021. To Benefit Our LOCAL VETERAN “Hometown Heroes” Register now. $150 per person/$560 per foursome. Saratoga Lake Golf Club. Call Renee Farley (518) 577-8863 or Jim Peterman at 203-257-1893.