Friday April 19, 2024 
Winterlight on the Hudson
Sunset and firelight in Castleton-on-Hudson! All are invited to an outdoor community gathering on Saturday, January 21, 4:00 – 6:00 PM.
Dress for the weather and bring a chair and blanket. We will provide hot cocoa and light refreshments. Meet Us on Main and Scott. Hosted by the Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association (COHMSA). Updates: www.castletonmainstreet.org and Facebook: @COHMSA
First Annual SHAC Center Formal Gown Boutique
The SHAC Boutique is coming in February!
This annual event is a great way to:
• recycle your family’s lightly used, current-style dresses
• find a new dress for the upcoming semi-formal and formal season
• help save the environment by keeping fast fashion out of landfills
Donate new or lightly used dresses, shoes, and/or jewelry directly to the Sky High
Adventure Center, 27 Lake Ave., Averill Park, NY during the following times:
Friday, January 20th from 4-6pm
Saturday, January 21st from 9am-12pm
(or email eberical@nullgmail.com to make other arrangements)
The Boutique will be held on February 17th-19th. All dresses and accessories are no-cost, although donations are strongly encouraged! All proceeds benefit the SHAC and Doors of Hope.
Free Original Praise Music Shared at Benefit Concert for Buffalo, NY
St Paul’s church in Castleton is hosting a benefit concert 2/2 @6:30pm and we would love for you to be there! It will be all new music that the St Paul’s Praise Band has written. They want to share the music with churches looking for new songs to play during service either with their own bands or via YouTube. We are working on recording the music and will let interested persons/groups know when the songs are released.
Any monetary donations collected 2/2 during the concert will benefit Buffalo NY relief- filling their food pantries and initial aide through United Methodist upper New York Conference. All donations go to the cause. A lot is going on Feb 2nd! Hope to see you there! 1583 Carney Rd Castleton NY @stpaulscastleton Facebook/Instagram
Rensselaer High School Craft Fair
Rensselaer High School’s class of 2024 and the Alumni Association are having a craft fair on March 25 at the high school from 9-2 pm.
If you would like to be a vendor, please email us, and we will send you a contract so you can participate. People who sell Tupperware, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, etc., are allowed to participate. Spots are filling up, so be sure to get your space reserved. Please email us at alumniassociation@nullrcsd.k12.ny.us. Thank you!
Grafton Lakes State Park to Host 38th Annual Winter Festival
Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 38th Annual Winter Festival on Jan 21st. The Winter Fest will feature outdoor events along with indoor exhibits, food vendors, and family-friendly recreational activities. The event is free of charge and runs from 11:30AM – 3PM.
The Polar Plunge, benefitting Our Lady of the Snow Parish’s food pantry, kicks off the main events at 11:30AM. As always, the Plunge includes a playful prize for the silliest costume offered by the Friends of GLSP, so start planning your beach attire! To pre-register, call the Polar Plunge organizer, Ray Dozois, for more information at 518-663-5648.
This year’s hike schedule is as follows, call the park to register at 518-279-1155. Day of registration is dependent on availability:
Mindful Walk, 10am-12pm: Let yourself be guided on a slow walk through the woods, with senses fully opened, aware of the present moment. Led by the RPA. Ages 8 and older.
Animal Signs, 11:30am-1:30pm: Join Dyken Pond for a 2-mile hike exploring the shoreline of Shaver Pond for animal signs and other season items of interest. Ages 5 and older.
Snowshoe Walks, 12pm-1pm, 1:30pm-2:30pm, 3pm-4pm: Led by LLBean, these snowshoe walks are great for the whole family. Snowshoes provided. Trails taken will depend on the ability level present.
Snowshoe Hike, 12:30pm-2:30pm: Join the THC on a snowshoe hike around Shaver Pond including a side trip to see the West Family cemetery. About 2.5 miles. Snowshoes/traction devices required. Ages 8 and older.
Kids Scavenger Hunt, 1pm-2pm: The forest may look still, but come play, explore, and get to know who’s moving, what’s growing, and where life is flowing with the RYO.
Nature Hike, 2pm-4pm: Explore the outdoors with the RLT, looking for signs of wildlife, identifying different kinds of trees, and talking about nature in winter. Ages 8 and up.
Note, the Ice Fishing Contest is being held on the weekend after, Saturday, Jan 28th.
Bingo is Returning to the Brunswick Elks Lodge #2556 in Troy !!!
Finally !!! Bingo is returning to the Brunswick Elks #2556 in Troy on Sunday, March 5th, 2023 @ 1:30 PM ! We normally would be starting on this Bingo one month earlier, as hoped, but a little snag in the licensing process through the state has moved that back until March 5th, tentatively, as we have to get licensing also through the Town of Brunswick before starting up.
We are confident that the new date of March 5th, 2023 will be a bonafide date to let everyone know about.
If you have any questions about this endeavor, please call Jeff Keegan at 518-728-1795 or Mary Beth Keegan at 518-312-7291.
Please remember that the earlier date of February 5th, 2023 cannot be feasible and the new date of March 5th, 2023 is more firm.
You are urged to let all of your bingo friends know about this new date, as we will be calling all contacts when the license has been firmed up.
We thank you for your attention to this matter, and if all goes as planned, Bingo will indeed start on Sunday, March 5th, 2023 …
We also thank you for your patience while we work these things through; we are working diligently to make this Bingo a reality !!!
Rensselaer Plateau Alliance Presents January Nature Book Club
You are warmly invited to RPA’s Nature Book Club, with Rama Hamarneh, PhD. One evening a month, we will meet on Zoom to discuss a book we have read, and the work’s relationship to nature. We will explore multiple aspects of nature in literature – represented through multiple genres and authors from around the globe.
January’s meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 31 at 7pm on Zoom. The Zoom link for each meeting will be sent out to the book club email list a few days before the meeting. The book club is free to attend, and all are welcome.
For January 2023, we’ll read All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot. All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot’s first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants—both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot’s deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine as we laugh, cry, and delight in the portraits of his many varied animal patients and their equally varied owners.
This book is available through the Upper Hudson Library System in physical format, on Hoopla via the library as an ebook and audiobook, at Market Block Books, and through other book sellers. Head to rensselaerplateau.org/rpa-book-club for more information.
HVCC Announces Voices: A Library Lecture Series for Spring 2023
Each semester, Hudson Valley Community College’s Dwight Marvin Library presents Voices: A Library Lecture Series to broaden and enhance educational offerings for students with guest speakers who discuss timely and enduring issues. The lectures are open free to the public and are held in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium on the Troy campus.
Dr. Brenda Robinson, HVCC graduate and founder of the Black Nurses Coalition, presents “Injustice in Healthcare: The Power of One, The Power of Many” on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 11 to 11:50 a.m. Dr. Robinson has dedicated her life to helping those in underserved communities. She will discuss needed changes in healthcare to create health equity. The event is the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture.
Tony Iadicicco, curator of #CapitalWalls, presents “Public Art Inspires Conversation” on Thursday, March 23 from noon to 12:50 p.m. He will discuss the murals that highlight the vision of artists who create public art. Find out who painted some of the murals on garages, ramps, and bridges in Albany.
Michael Saccocio, executive director and CEO of City Mission of Schenectady, will present “From Poverty to Sustainability: Building Lives, Leaders and Communities” on Tuesday, April 4 from 1 to 1:50 p.m. Saccocio, who has 33 years of experience working with homeless and underserved men, women and children, will discuss strategies for converting divisive social situations into partnerships that create opportunities and build community.
Madeline Levin, program manager at Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, presents “Rescuing Racehorses, Healing Humans” on Wednesday, April 19 from noon to 12:50 p.m. Levin, who has worked with horses for more than 10 years, will discuss fostering the horse-human connection. A sanctuary for retired racehorses, THS offers equine-assisted therapy opportunities for people to interact with these amazing animals to promote wellness.
For more information about Voices: A Library Lecture
Johnny Rabbs Big Band
On Saturday Feb. 4 2023 The Sons of The American Legion will be hosting Johnny Rabbs Big Band with special guests The Tichy Boys and Blue Hand Luke,performing all your rockin’ favorites.
This is our largest fundraiser event of the year and as part of The Legion Family our main goal is to raise funds aimed at improving the quality of life for our nations children and veterans.Advance tickets are available at The American Legion,111 Main Ave. Wynantskill for $ 15.00 ea.reserved seating is available with a 4 ticket minimum purchase.
Doors open @ 6:00 pm, band starts at 7:00.Supporters can enjoy food and drink specials ( by Giuliano’s Catering ) outside food and drink prohibited, This event has sold out quickly the past 9 years,so reserve early, tickets are limited. For more info call Bill 518-441-0013.