Saturday April 27, 2024 
VFW Post 7338’s “Night Out at the Club”
The East Greenbush VFW Post 7338, 100 Hays Road.
Is pleased to host: “A Night Out at the Club”, Friday February 10th , 6-9:30 PM, with the musical talent of singer, songwriter and musician: Bobbie Van Pettra
Open to the Public. Light fare available for purchase. $5 Door Charge.
Sand Lake Historical Society Program on Edmonia Lewis
East Greenbush Town Historian Bobbie Reno will present “The Life and Art of Edmonia Lewis” before the Sand Lake Historical Society on Tuesday, February 14th, at 7PM. Her program will discuss what is known (so far) of the life of Edmonia Lewis and feature photographs of some of her more well-known sculptures. Lewis was a noted American sculptor of mixed African American and Native American heritage, born in Greenbush, Rensselaer County, in the early 1840s. Reno successfully championed the effort to have the Postal Service honor Lewis with a Forever stamp, which was issued in 2022. No doubt you’ve seen Edmonia Lewis on a postage stamp, now come hear her story.
A native of East Greenbush, Bobbi Reno has been the town’s historian since 2016. She previously worked in town and state government and has written, illustrated, and published three children’s books. Last August, her program on Edmonia Lewis headlined the Emancipation Day celebration at the Gerritt Smith National Historic Landmark (at the National Abolition Hall of Fame) in Peterboro, NY.
February’s program will be held at the Sand Lake Town Hall Courtroom, 8428 NY 66, Averill Park, beginning at 7PM. SLHS monthly programs are open to the public and are live-streamed on the SLHS website — http://sandlakehistory.org (archived video also will be posted there).
A $5 donation is suggested for non-members. New members are always welcomed. Like us on Facebook. SLHS turns Fifty in 2024!
Mary Edmonia Lewis Presentation
The Esquatak Historical Society invites you to a presentation on “Mary Edmonia Lewis, Locally-Born Sculptress.” Join East Greenbush Town Historian Bobby Reno as she tells the almost forgotten tale of Edmonia Lewis….a woman of color, who faced racial and gender discrimination to become a world-famous sculptor, and Ms. Reno’s effort to bring her unique story the attention it deserves.
The presentation takes place on Friday, February 17, 7 pm at the Castleton Fire House, Green Avenue. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
Gerry Robinson to speak on Freedom Riders at Stephentown Heritage Center
To mark Black History Month, Gerry Robinson will give a talk about the Freedom Riders of the 1960s, on Sunday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m. This Stephentown Historical Society program meeting will be held at the Stephentown Heritage Center, 4 Staples Road, Stephentown, New York. The program is free and the building is handicapped accessible. For directions, telephone (518) 733-0010.
As background Robinson will give his personal take on growing up in Kansas in the 1940s and 50s, a time of a powerful Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow laws and horrific domestic violence in the southern states. Beginning in May 1961 small groups of white and black activists set out on buses bound for southern states to desegregate bus terminals and other public facilities. The late Albert Gordon, of Stephentown, was one of these Freedom Riders.
Robinson, a Stephentown resident, was an organizer for civil rights with the NAACP and the Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus in his home state of Kansas. He retired from a career in health and human services management and was Commissioner for Children and Families in the Massachusetts Department of Social Services. He holds a Masters degree in public health from Yale University and a certificate in Senior Management from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Highlight Acting Troupe Presents C-Rhyme & Punishment
Highlight Acting Troupe will present C-Rhyme @ Punishment a nursery rhyme justice system by Jane & Jim Jeffries. Music & Lyrics by Bill Francoeur. Representing the people are detectives who investigate crime and the magistrates who prosecute defenders. These are there rhymes.
The investigation involves a crime scene where Mister Humpty Dumpty has been found shattered. With lots of puns and plot twists, this Law and Order spoof surprises audiences by the end.
Performances dates are February 3-5 as well as February 10-12 at the Brunswick Grange in Troy, NY. Directed by Christine & Ethel LeVan. Musical Director Chris Morris. For reservations please call 518-237-6936 Ethel LeVan.
Capital Area Beekeepers Open House at East Greenbush Community Library
The Capital Area Beekeepers will host an open house on Wednesday February 8th at the East Greenbush Community Library from 5:45-7:15.
If you’re interested in bees, pollinators or beekeeping this is the perfect event for you. We expect representatives from Better Bee, Bee Hollow Farm, Jeans Greens, Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association (SABA), Columbia County Beekeepers among others.
Learn about beekeeping, meet the local pros and learn about classes and clubs. You may even win a six week beekeeping class.
Skiers Attempt to Ski & Ride 100,000 Vertical Feet in One Day to Benefit STRIDE Adaptive Sports
On February 27th, STRIDE Adaptive Sports is hosting its 8th annual 100k Vertical Challenge at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, an all-day team relay race to raise funds and awareness for adaptive sports programs serving youth and Wounded Warriors with disabilities. Approximately 20 teams of four members will make the attempt, but at its heart, the real competition is in the fundraising! 100,000 vertical feet equals 87 runs per team or 23 runs per person.
Mobility-impaired and visually-impaired skier Heather DeDecko took her first ski lesson with STRIDE Adaptive Sports in 2014, and now is a member of the STRIDE race team. DeDecko and her VI Guide, along with 2 other STRIDE coaches on their team, will participate in the 100K Vertical Challenge, an endurance skiing and snowboarding event. The team call themselves “The Knights of Ni.” Several other teams also include participants with disabilities, including mono-skiers (wheelchair users in sit-skis).
DeDecko, paralyzed from birth, skis using stand outriggers and uses a radio headset between she and her Visual impairment guide, Marcel Chaine, to guide her with voice commands down the mountain. DeDecko plans to ski about 15 runs for her team, and says “STRIDE is near and dear to my heart because I see it helps so many people year after year. I believe experiences in the pool, or on the dance floor, or on the mountain belong to everyone. So for me, the 100K is more like a celebration of all STRIDE does, and I get to hang out with some of my favorite people doing a sport I love!”
STRIDE’s founder and CEO, Mary Ellen Whitney, expressed high hopes for the fundraising event. “This event has typically been our biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year we raised $54,000 to support STRIDE programs. The 2023 goal is $75,000 to support all adaptive ski programs run by STRIDE at 3 resorts. To support DeDecko or any other STRIDE participant with a donation, visit www.stride.org for more information.
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!
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!!!