Saturday April 20, 2024 
HVCC Offers Free Screening of STEP AFRIKA!’s “Stono”
TROY – Hudson Valley Community College’s Cultural Affairs program offers an extended screening opportunity of STEP AFRIKA!’s “Stono” free to the public from Feb. 1 through 14. Information to gain free access to the 33-minute film is available at www.hvcc.edu/culture.
“Stono” is Step AFRIKA!’s interpretation of the 1739 insurrection of 20 enslaved Africans, who marched south toward a promised freedom in Spanish Florida, waving flags, beating drums, and shouting “liberty!” This brave act of rebellion against British rule in Colonial America predates the Boston Tea Party. The Stono Rebellion was suppressed and slaves lost the right to use their drums under The Negro Act of 1740, but they began to use their bodies as percussive instruments. Those who practiced this new mode of survival and activism earned the name of “Drumfolk.” Their percussive movement gave rise to some of Black culture’s most distinctive art forms, including stepping, tap, hambone and the ring shout.
STEP AFRIKA! combines African and modern dance to perpetuate the style known as stepping – a high-energy art form, punctuated with claps, kicks, stomps and chants. Based in Washington D.C., STEP AFRIKA! tours extensively with its vast repertoire and arts-in-education programs. STEP AFRIKA! performed at the Hudson Valley in 2013 and 2017, and is returning (virtually) due to popular demand.
Visit www.hvcc.edu/culture for a full schedule of all Spring 2021 cultural events. Please email d.gardner@nullhvcc.edu for more information.
Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 80 associate degree and certificate programs in three schools: Business and Liberal Arts, Health Sciences, and Science, Engineering, Technology and Math, and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. It is one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. The college has more than 80,000 alumni.
Sand Lake Historical Society Presents The Story of Adam Blake, Jr.
SAND LAKE – On Tuesday, February 9, the Sand Lake Historical Society will present the story of Adam Blake, Jr. virtually at the Sand Lake Town Hall in Averill Park. Adam Blake, Jr was the adopted son of a former slave who was in the employ of Stephen Van Rensselaer. Adam Blake, Jr, despite little formal education, went on to become one of most successful businessmen and entrepreneurs of any race in 1800s Albany. Perhaps best known for his Albany Kenmore Hotel. While Kenmore was being built, Mr Blake managed the newly reopened Averill Park Hotel in the Town of Sand Lake!
Blake will be portrayed by Donald Hyman, Albany educator and writer who is well-known for his many performances in the Capital District acting community.
Due to COVID, the performance will be telecast on Spectrum Cable TV channel 1303 at 7 pm. and live streamed online (available later for playback) via https://townhallstreams.com/towns/sand_lake_ny . We hope to offer seating if possible. As the date draws nearer; please call 518 527-9926 for additional information. COVID precautions will be followed. Like us on Facebook or at Sandlakehistory.org.
Earth Uprising Troy Virtual Book Reading
TROY – Earth Uprising Troy is having a virtual reading party on February 13 at 2 PM Earth Uprising Troy invites all kids to this reading party! We will be reading and discussing environmental issues that impact our everyday lives. Email or DM us to register! earthuprising.troy@nullgmail.com. @earthuprising.troy
Floodwater Management Options on the Rensselaer Plateau
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Part of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance’s (RPA) Lecture Series, with Russell Urban-Mead, via Zoom. February 18, 2021, 7pm. Russell Urban-Mead is a Senior Principal and Vice President for Environmental Services at The Chazen Companies. He will describe their work for RPA to identify storm water management opportunities. He will also describe some of the recommended projects, and outline steps which communities can take now to protect themselves from future flood damage across Grafton, Poestenkill, Brunswick, and the City of Troy. Pre-registration is required; visit www.rensselaerplateau.org to register.
Survival & Wilderness Skills Workshop
EAST NASSAU – Saturday, February 20, 10am-1pm at Rensselaer Plateau Alliance’s Albert Family Community Forest, 120 Hayes Road, East Nassau. Join Fred McCagg for an introduction to the fundamentals of wilderness survival, appropriate for all skill levels. For beginners, it’s an opportunity to learn about the backcountry and how to deal with wilderness emergencies. For those more experienced in the outdoors, this is a great chance to refresh important skills with an experienced instructor. Each participant receives a free fire starting kit! Dress appropriately for the cold, keeping in mind there may be be periods of inactivity. Depending on snow and ice conditions, proper footwear and snowshoes or microspikes may be needed. Bring extra layers for warmth, hot drinks, and hand and feet warmers. Masks are required. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited, so please register early at www.rensselaerplateau.org.
New Art Show at Sand Lake Center for the Arts
SAND LAKE – Sand Lake Center for the Arts will be presenting Found Object Assemblages by Alan Opresko and paintings by Leslie Berlinsky – through February 27. Free and open to the public every Saturday from 12 to 3.
The Kiwanis Club of Sand Lake Fundraising Drive
SAND LAKE – The Kiwanis Club of Sand Lake is supporting a charity fundraising drive within the Averill Park Central School District to benefit the Capital Region’s Ronald Mc Donald House. The fundraising drive has been extended until February 28th since schools have not been in session for over four months. The goal remains to collect enough pull tabs from soda, beer, soups and pet food cans to fill a school bus!
We ask that parents of our school children and other interested citizens join this effort by removing and collecting as many pull tabs as possible during the months ahead and while schools remain closed take them to the Town Clerk’s office at Sand Lake Town Hall. When schools reopen all collected pull tabs may again be dropped off at the office of one of our three elementary schools, the Algonquin Middle School’s office or to the office at the Averill Park High School.
Please join us to help the Ronald McDonald House as it continues to offer a haven of comfort, love, hope and support – free of charge – for critically ill children and their families. Thank you.