Friday March 31, 2023 
Seabee Swarm (Veterans Breakfast)
BRUNSWICK – Seabee swarm (all Veterans) Every Third Saturday of each month muster time 0900, Country View Diner 855 Hoosick road, Brunswick NY. Pay your own meal. POC: Gary Washock seabeebuilder42@nullhotmail.com (518) 698-5011.
Guest Speaker on Estate and Medicaid Planning Essentials
GRAFTON – Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Rd, Grafton, will host Louis Pierro, Esq, of Pierro, Connor and Strauss, LLC, as our monthly guest speaker on Friday, March 6th at 12:40. Learn how you or your loved one can take control of your estate and ‘age in place’ with step-by-steps instructions. Mr. Pierro will speak on how to preserve your retirement assets, minimize your taxes, prepare for long-term care, obtain home care that you can afford if needed, avoid moving into the nursing home, and much more. You never know what your future will hold. You don’t want to end up incapacitated, nor do you want to end up with your assets at risk and facing potential losses due to high nursing home costs. You also don’t want to be without money in retirement, or leave your family in a bad financial position if you pass away unexpectedly. This free presentation should be attended by all residents 60 and over. Call to sign up for lunch at 518-279-3413.
7th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert – A Night of the Beatles
TROY – Join us for a night of Beatles music to benefit suicide prevention and mental health intervention services. Saturday, March 7, 6-11pm at Brown’s Revolution Hall, 425 River Street, Troy. $20 minimum suggested donation at the door.
Bands Soul Sky, Across the Pond and Super 400 are donating their time and talent to fill the night with all of our favorite Beatles songs, With a Little Help From [our] Friends who will be sitting in throughout the night as special guest musicians. There will also be a 50/50 raffle at the event.
Proceeds from this year’s Memorial Concert will support three organizations — the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Rensselaer County mental health and emergency assistance programs through Catholic Charities CONSERNS-U program— all in memory of Dustin.
In 2013, the world lost a bright light. Dustin was kind-hearted, happy and a joy to be around. He was full of positive energy and always encouraging others. Proof that anyone can be lost to suicide in an instant.
We still believe that with advocating for suicide prevention programs that help erase the stigma of depression and making proper mental health care more easily available, lives can be saved.
For more information on the Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert, visit our Facebook page: Dustin Mele Memorial.
The Fresh Air Fund to Bring Summer to The Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market This Winter
TROY – The Fresh Air Fund’s Albany, Ny Volunteers Will Attend The Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market Held In The Troy Atrium. 49 4th Street, Troy, NY 12181.
The Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market has returned for its 20th season in downtown Troy, NY, where the community is able to shop and browse over 100 local, producer-only vendors every Saturday from November to April, from 9 am – 2 pm. The market takes pride in creating and maintaining a sense of community, as it provides opportunities for community outreach and education. On Saturday, March 7, 2020, and Saturday, March 21, 2020, the Albany, NY Friendly Towns volunteers will have a community table, where they will be available to answer questions about volunteering as a Fresh Air Fund Host Family and share their experiences.
Attendees: Cynthia Mangione, Local Volunteer Fund Representative. Local host families from The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program.
East Greenbush Kiwanis hosts 11th Annual Comedy Night
EAST GREENBUSH – The Kiwanis Club of East Greenbush is hosting their 11th annual Comedy Night on Saturday, March 7th! This year, due to popularity of the event, we have moved to a larger facility: the Melvin Roads American Legion Post, 200 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush. Headlining this year’s event will be Howie Mason, a nationally recognized comedian and up and comer comedian Cody Montanye will open for him.
Showtime is 8:00 PM; however, doors will open at 6:30 PM. There will be a cash bar, snacks, Chinese Auction and 50/50 raffle, so come early! This is our club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and allows us to both support community programs and fund our own events that benefit at-risk youth in the southern Rensselaer County area.
The event is usually a sell-out, so don’t wait! Easily order your tickets online at: egkiwanis.weebly.com, or pick-up in person at Gettysburg Flag Works, 715 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, M-F, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, or call Vinny Catelotti at 518-331-3798. Advance tickets are $25.00; at the door, $30.00.
We hope to see many of you there, and thanks in advance!
Extension Holds “Spring Garden Day” March 7
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Spring starts March 7 with “Spring Garden Day,” a program of gardening classes and fun for gardeners, held at Tamarac High School in Brunswick. Attendees can choose from ten classes covering pollinator gardens, perennials, vegetable growing in small spaces, hydrangeas, container gardening, birding basics, creating garden art, flowering trees and shrubs, avoiding ticks, making a cutting garden and more. Lorraine Ballato will encourage re-thinking garden maintenance in her keynote presentation, “Smarter Gardening: Let’s Talk!” A plant sale, garden book sale, Pick-A-Prize Auction, and fabulous door prizes are other highlights. Participants also receive a delicious homemade lunch featuring soups, Stromboli and desserts. Program fee is $30 per person and pre-registration is required. Pre-register early as this event always sells out. Call Cornell Cooperative Extension at (518) 272-4210 and ask for Marcie, or visit www.ccerensselaer.org for details.
Transfiguration Parish Book Nook News
SPEIGLETOWN – The Book Nook at Transfiguration Parish on Hillview Drive in Speigletown is open on Saturday morning, March 7 and 21, from 9:00 am until noon. March half-priced specials are on some of your top authors. Debbie Macomber, James Patterson and Danielle Steel. All biographies, historical, religious, cookbooks, self-help and large print books are $1 each. Children and young adult books are 6/$1. Our inventory keeps getting better with all the new donations! Please stop by and check us out. Thanks for your continued support. See you at the Book Nook!
Donny Elvis Romines at American Legion
WYNANTSKILL – Put on your blue shade shoes and join the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary at 111 Main Ave, Wynantskill on Saturday March 7. Doors open at 6, show will be 7-9pm. Advanced tickets are available at the bar for $10 and $12 at the door. Reserved seating is available with the purchase of 8 tickets. There will be a cash bar and 50/50 raffle. Our kitchen is now open and will be available for guests to purchase food. Outside food or beverages will not be permitted. Proceeds from this show will be used to support our Veterans and Community projects. Please call or text 518-265-6967 or email us at ladiesauxiliary1489@nullgmail.com if you have any questions. Check us out on facebook “American Legion Auxiliary Post 1489”
Famous Ladies’ Tea
TROY – Celebrate women’s history month and support literacy programs in Rensselaer County at the annual Famous Ladies’ Tea, Sunday, March 8, 1:00-4:00p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 235 Hoosick Street, Troy. While guests enjoy tea, coffee and gourmet sandwiches, local actresses will visit each table, depicting historical women. This year, the Famous Ladies will include Julia Child, Dr. Emmeline Moore, and Aloha Wanderwell. Tickets are $45 (or $315 for a reserved table of eight). Advanced payment is required and tickets can be purchased from Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County, 65 First Street, Troy, N.Y., 518-244-4650, or soon online at www.lvorc.org. All proceeds from this event will benefit Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County’s programs.
Sand Lake Full Moon Dog Walk
SAND LAKE – Sand Lake Dog Park News – Celebrate the Full Moon & Daylight Savings on March 8th with a lantern lit walk with your best friends! The Sand Lake Dog Park Committee continues our capital campaign for a fence in 2020. As we develop a strong canine community we would like to invite you to a Full Moon meet up at the Sand Lake Walking Trails (and future site of the Dog Park) on Eastern Union Turnpike at 6:30pm. We will enjoy warm beverages and treats for dogs and humans. Donations encouraged!
Nassau & Schodack Cemetery Association Annual Meeting
NASSAU – The Nassau & Schodack Cemetery Association will be holding their annual meeting on Monday, March 9th 6:00PM at the Thomas P. Mooney Funeral Home, 11 Elm St. Nassau, NY 12123.
Half Moon Button Club Monthly Meeting
DELMAR – The Half Moon Button Club will meet on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at the Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054. The social time starts at 10:00 a.m. followed by the business meeting at 11:00 followed by the program. Bring a bag lunch. Dessert will be provided. For more information call Kirsti at 518-869-8125. Everyone is welcome!
Ch. 60, Korean War Veterans Association Luncheon
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The March luncheon for Ch. 60, Korean War Vet. Assoc., will be held at noon, Thurs., March 12th, at The Parting Glass Restaurant, Saratoga Springs, The restaurant is located at 40 Lake Ave., (Rt. 29) one block below Broadway. Hosts are Jean and Paul Nolan. For reservations, please call the Nolans at 518-893-3379 by March 10th or sign up at the meeting. Veterans who served anywhere during the Korean War, in Korea at any time, spouses, widows, friends and relatives are all invited to attend. For further information or an application to join the organization, please contact Charles Walters at 518-884-0396.
Society of American Magicians Meeting
CAPITAL DISTRICT -All persons, 16 and older, interested in the various aspects of the hobby of magic are invited to attend the monthly meeting of The Society of American Magicians – Assembly #24. We will be meeting promptly at 7:30pm, Tuesday, March 10 at: St. Luke’s on the Hill Church, 40 McBride Road, Mechanicville, NY. For more detailed information visit our web site: www.sam24.synthasite.com.
HVCC Announces “Voices” Lectures for March
TROY – Voices: A Library Lecture Series is offered each semester at Hudson Valley Community College to broaden and enrich the scope of studies at the college by presenting speakers on timely and enduring issues, and sharing these lectures and discussions with the community. All lectures are held in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium on the Troy campus. The public is welcome to attend; admission is free.
• Shining the Light on Government – Your Right to Know
Tuesday, March 10 from 11 to 11:50 p.m.
Our founders envisioned and created a government that would serve its citizens. Mark Mahoney, editorial page editor for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady and winner of a 2009 Pulitzer Prize for his editorials against government secrecy, returns to campus to discuss the ways government keeps information from the public. Audience members will learn what they can do to protect their right to know.
• The Birth of Baseball’s Grand Slam
Thursday, March 26 from noon to 12:50 p.m.
The first grand slam in Major League Baseball history was hit on Sept. 10, 1881 in a game between Troy and Worcester. Discover the twists and turns of how one of baseball’s greatest games ended up on the banks of the Hudson River in Rensselaer. Matt Malette, local sports historian, gives a play-by-play of how he corrected baseball history.
The college’s full Cultural Events Calendar is available at www.hvcc.edu/culture. Please call 518-629-8071 or email d.gardner@nullhvcc.edu for more information.
Grafton Merrymakers Meeting
GRAFTON – The first meeting of the 2020 Grafton Merrymakers will meet on Wednesday, March 11th at the Everett Wager Senior center in Grafton, NY. We will have a covered dish dinner at 5:30 pm followed by our meeting at 6:15 pm. The merrymakers is open to all seniors in Rensselaer County. If you’re interested in joining membership fee is $3 year. If you have any questions please call Betty Jean at 518-272-8624.
Senior Chair Yoga
EAST GREENBUSH – The Town of East Greenbush Community & Recreation Department is happy to announce that the Senior Chair Yoga program will begin on Wednesday, March 11th and run through the end of May. To sign up today please contact Lisa O’Brien at 518-477-4775 or by email lobrien@nulleastgreenbush.org. Seating is limited, so please reserve your seat today.
Castleton-on-Hudson Farmers & Artisans Market Spring Fest
CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON – We got approval from the groundhog, so the Castleton-on-Hudson Farmers & Artisans Market (COHFAM) will hold Spring Fest on Friday, March 13, 2020 from 4:30 to 7:30 PM at the Castleton Fire Department, 11 Green Avenue. Repair Café and many of the winter and summer vendors are returning. Space is still available for new vendors, email cindytimlovemoore3@nullgmail.com or gina.giuliano@nullgmail.com for an application or private message the COHFAM Facebook page for details. Come to COHFAM and shop local for St. Patrick’s Day!
Repair Cafe
CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON – What do you do with a broken lamp? Or a sweater with a hole? Toss it? No way! The next Repair Café in the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson will be Friday, March 13, 2020 from 4:30-7:30 PM during the Castleton-on-Hudson Farmers and Artisans Market Spring Fest at the Castleton Fire Department, 11 Green Avenue. People visiting the Repair Café bring along their broken but beloved items. Volunteers try their best to make repairs, and it’s free of charge! Services include electrical, sewing, and “jack-of-all-trades!” Do you like to fix things and want to volunteer? Contact us via email at gina.giuliano@nullgmail.com or stop by Repair Café. For more information about global Repair Café, visit Repaircafe.org.
Fiddler on the Roof JR. Playing at the Columbia High School Auditorium
EAST GREENBUSH – Fiddler on the Roof JR. is playing at Columbia High School on Friday, March 13th at 7pm & Saturday, March 14th at 2 pm & 7pm.
Fiddler on the Roof JR. is a student version of the musical Fiddler on the Roof which features music by Jerry Bock, a book by Joseph Stein and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and is based on Sholem Aleichem’s stories by special permission of Arnold Per.
Performances of Fiddler on the Roof JR. are open to the public. Admission is Adults $10 – Students/Seniors $8.
Rensselaer County Home Bureau
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Our Spring Luncheon will be Tuesday, March 24 at Pittstown United Methodist Hall, with deadline of March 13. Please check your newsletter for further info. There is also a website: Newyorkfederationofhomebureaus.com
1970s Themed Mystery Event
TROY – Beth Tephilah Synagogue, located at 82 River Street in Troy New York, will be having a mystery event at 8:30 on Saturday night March 14th. The setting of this mystery event will be in the 1970s in Troy with all the lingo and all the special clothing that goes with it
Experience a night of fun grooving with a 1970s themed mystery. Feel all the thrills and adventure as you Dig in this unsolved cold case that has puzzled the minds and smokies of many. Be careful what you uncover for danger doesn’t lurk far and remember to bring your far- out keen detective skills and expose the phonies. So, we will catch you on the flip side, and don’t forget to bring your boogie.
The case involves a robbed bank an antique gone missing, no signs of forced entry whatsoever and all that is left is a single 100-dollar bill. The police are puzzled and consider it a freaky-deaky case, and before anyone can react the station is robbed, and the bank is hit again. The suspects are many and the pressure is on to find the culprit before another crime takes place. Can you uncover the truth before it is too late?
Admission is five dollars and this event is for 12 yours of age and older. Light Refreshments will be served, please RSVP 518-894-3490.
St. Henry’s Irish Night
AVERILL PARK – St. Henry’s Church in Averil Park will be holding an Irish Night on Saturday, March 14th at the Wynantskill American Legion Post, 111 Main Avenue, Wynantskill. Doors will open at 6:30 PM, with Irish entertainment featuring “Who’s Your Paddy” from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. Tickets are only $10 per person, which covers soda, snacks, entertainment and door prizes. Beer, wine and refreshments will be available at reasonable prices. Due to State regulations no outside alcoholic beverages can be brought into the event. Tickets can be purchased by calling the parish offices at 518-674-3818.
The Transcontinental Railroad
EAST GREENBUSH – Join the Greenbush Historical Society on March 15, 2 PM, when Michael Barrett will present The Transcontinental Railroad, the largest infrastructure project in American history that turned the United States into a true continental power and opened the development of the “Wild West.” Barrett, Executive Director of the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, is a noted historian and an engaging speaker. His talk will introduce many of the personalities who were prime movers in the project and who had ties to the Capital Region. Our extensive local industrial base in the nineteenth century provided a number of necessary parts that contributed to the Transcontinental Railroad and its completion in 1869. The project was a 1,912-mile continuous railroad line that connected the eastern U.S. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. The program is free but seating is limited. Please register by calling the East Greenbush Public Library at 518-477-7476.
Dr. James Franchini to Discuss APCSD 2020-2021 School Budget and Future Capital Improvements
AVERILL PARK – The Poestenkill Business Association welcomes Dr. James Franchini, Superintendent of the Averill Park Central School District, on Monday night March 16, 2020 at the Sullivan-Jones VFW Post on Main St. in Poestenkill to discuss the reasons behind the Capital Building & Program Improvement Proposals scheduled to be included in the 2020 – 2021 Averill Park School Budget and beyond. A. P. District Residents are strongly encouraged to attend this presentation by Dr. Franchini in which he will detail proposed building modification plans and Educational Program improvements throughout the School District ahead of the upcoming School Budget Vote in May. Following the presentation, the audience will be permitted to ask Dr. Franchini questions to further their understanding of these proposals. The discussion will begin at 7:00 PM and the doors will open at 6:30 PM. Light refreshments will be available. The Poestenkill Business Association is proud to offer this information exchange session to all residents of the Averill Park Central School District. Thank you for your interest and see you Monday night March 16th.
2020 Events at Cohoes Music Hall
COHOES – World Premiere of Jerry Lee Lewis vs Jerry Lee Lewis (Now – Sunday, March 8) / Capital Region Premiere of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (Thursday, February 27 – Sunday, March 15) / In the Presence of Proof with Intuitive Medium Deborah Hanlon (Wednesday, March 8 at 7pm) / Melvin Seals & JGB (Thursday, March 19 at 8pm) / Women’s History Month Celebration featuring female songwriters of the Capital Region (Saturday, March 21 at 8pm) / Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi – Afterparty with The Dire Wolf Experience (Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm) – – – > Buy Tickets at www.thecohoesmusichall.org
4-H Tractor Safety Program (HOSTA)
RENSSELAER COUNTY – April 14-16 2020 – Open To Youth 14 Years and Older as of April 14th. Do you want to learn essential safety skills, gain hands on experience with a variety of agriculture equipment (such as tractors, skid steers, and ATVs), and earn your HOSTA safety certification? Then the 4-H Tractor Safety Program is just for you! Rensselaer County 4-H would like to welcome all area youth 4-H and non, 14 years old and older to participate in the 2020 Capital District 4-H HOSTA/Tractor Safety Program. This program is a great opportunity for youth who currently work on farms or around machinery, those who will be seeking employment on a farm, or anyone who would just like to learn more about farm and machinery safety. The classes will be held at various Agribusinesses in the Capital District.
Cost of the program is $35 and will be due on the first day of class. There is also a mandatory orientation on March 17th at our office (61 State Street Troy, NY 12180) from 6:30-7:30. You must call the CCE office to pre-register at 518-272-4210.
Ireland: Songs of Hope, Freedom and Longing
NASSAU – Tis the season to wear green, share a slice of soda bread and speak of the many Irish descendants who have called our area their home. The Esquatak Historical Society invites you to an evening of song and story presented by local Irish-American entertainer Don Kelly. Mr. Kelly will share some of his family stories as well as performing “Ireland: Songs of Hope, Freedom and Longing” his very well received tribute to popular Irish folk and rebel songs telling the stories that inspired them. As an added treat, audience sing-a-long is encouraged.
The presentation will be Friday, March 20th, starting at 7 pm at the Grace United Methodist Church located at 42 Church Street (U.S. Route 20) in Nassau Village. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. For more information on your local Schodack and Nassau historical society please visit www.esquatak.com.
St. Patrick’s Day Coffee House
EAST GREENBUSH – The First United Methodist Church located at 1 Gilligan Rd. E. Greenbush will be having our fabulous St Patrick’s Day Coffee House on March 20. Celebrate with us at 7:00 o’clock in the Fellowship Hall…singers, poets, minstrels, storytellers, dancers abound. The snack table will be laden with delicious morsels and the audience is plentiful and lively! Our donated proceeds go to local families in need of food, medicine and other necessities of life.Phone: 518-477-9693 Email: office@nullfumceg.org Website: www.fumceg.org
French Film
CAPITAL DISTRICT – “Belle Et Sebastien”, March 21, 2020 1pm, Troy Public Library, 100 Second Street, Troy, NY, free, presented by La Fédération Franco-Américaine du New York. Taken place in the French Alps during World War II, a quiet little boy meets a stray dog and begins a friendship. The boy and his dog prove to be heroes when they help defend their village from the Nazis. For additional information, call the Troy Public Library at 518-274-7071. Follow La Fédération Franco-Américaine du New York at www.albanyareafrenchclub.com and Facebook.
Eco-Fair
EAST GREENBUSH – The First United Methodist Church located at 1 Gilligan Rd., E. Greenbush will be having an Eco-Fair on March 22 from 10:45am – noon. There will be a representative from Common Energy, the community solar provider selected for the church, and displays by church members on a number of topics, including: How to estimate and reduce your carbon footprint. Change your Diet – Recipes to try on Meatless Mondays. Where do I recycle this? (Resources for all kinds of items). Solar Panels on your Roof. The Future Solution -Carbon Capture. Impact of global warming. Community solar: why and how to sign up for it.Home energy audit: why and how to sign up for one. Perils of plastics and how to reduce my use of them. Electrify your Drive: Full Electric or Plug-in Hybrid. Keep Your Clothes On: Waste in the Textile Industry.
Fourth Sunday Ballroom Dance
CAPITAL DISTRICT – March 22, 2020. Polish Community Center, Washington Ave. Ext., Albany.Open To The Public. Dance lesson – TBD 6:30 pm. Showcase Dance TBD. Open Dancing. DJ – Joe Sweeney. Great Dance Mixers and Lady’s Choice. Cash Bar – Snack Table. Raffle. $14 pp – $12 S.O.S. members. Facebook page for Updates.
Bus to Quilt Show in Danbury, CT
Ride the East Side Quilters’ bus to Northern Star’s XLI Quilt Show in Danbury, CT, Saturday, May 2nd. The show will have on display more than 300 quilts, 30+ vendors and demonstrations. www.northernstarquilters.com $45 includes cost of bus, driver’s tip and admission to the show.
DeLoa Jones (deloasquiltshop.com) is this year’s free lecturer. From the Show’s brochure: … Jones has carried her traditional quilting background into her machine quilting. She has quilted over 3,500 customers’ quilts and was voted 2011 Machine quilting teacher of the Year at MQX East 2012
The invitational exhibit is the works of Leni Wiener. ( Leniwiener.com) a figurative fabric collage artist and the author of four books on making art quilts from photos, modern quilts and thread painting. Images of her work can be found on www.YouTube.com
To get on the bus, contact Pat Piniazek, patpen1018@nullgmail.com, (518) 577-0491. Checks must be received by March 27th.
Hudson Valley Writers Guild Showcases Prose Writers
ALBANY – (hvwg.org) – The Hudson Valley Writers Guild will present a reading to showcase local prose writers. Reading and presenting at this second event in the series will be Moriah Hampton (stories), Keith Willis (romance/fantasy), and Richard Matturro (stories.)
Each of the writers will take 20 to 30 minutes to read from and discuss their work. Members of the Guild and the general public are invited and encouraged to attend to hear these varied works. Light refreshments will be provided.
This event will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2020 between 1:30 and 3:00 pm. It will be at the Washington Avenue main branch of the Albany Public Library in the Community Room on the second floor.
Note: this event is rescheduled from a previous date.
Gilead’s Body & Soul Pantry New Dates for 2020
CENTER BRUNSWICK – I know 2019 was confusing as far as what date we would have pantry and the dinner. As of January 2020 and through April of 2020, we will return to the old schedule of the last Thursday of each month. The hours will be the usual 3:00-6:00 pm.
Last year many of you enjoyed a delicious Chicken Parmesan and Ziti Dinner in February. You are in for a treat because last year’s guest chefs have agreed to recreate the same meal for you this January. Should there be questions about being open due to inclement weather please call 518-279-3576.
In case you have not visited us before, we are located in the Fellowship Hall of Gilead Lutheran Church. The church is at the intersection of Routes 7 and 278 in Center Brunswick and is handicapped accessible.
HVCC’s Teaching Gallery Presents Landscape Exhibition
TROY – The Teaching Gallery at Hudson Valley Community College announces The Production of Place, a two-person exhibition featuring landscapes by Leah Beeferman and Jen Hitchings that was organized by Thomas Lail, a professor in the college’s Fine Arts Department, on view through March 7.
Lail will moderate a conversation with the artists from 3 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 6 in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium, followed by an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. in The Teaching Gallery, located in the Administration Building on the Troy campus. All events are free and open to the public.
Leah Beeferman is a New York City-based artist, using digital image-making, photography, text, sound and video to explore relationships between observation and abstraction, natural and digital, physical and experiential. A Brooklyn-based artist and curator, Jen Hitchings received a Queens Council on the Arts’ New Works Grant in 2018. She’s had solo exhibitions at MEN Gallery in New York City, and PROTO in Hoboken, NJ.
Exhibitions in The Teaching Gallery are installed and assisted by students enrolled in Gallery Management courses and supported by the Department of Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and Digital Media, the Cultural Affairs Program and the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation. Associate Professor Tara Fracalossi is gallery director. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, Feb. 26. Directions and more information: www.hvcc.edu/teachinggallery
Volunteer Fire Company of Center Brunswick Bus Trip
CENTER BRUNSWICK – The Volunteer Fire Company of Center Brunswick, Inc. is sponsoring a bus trip to the Tanger Outlets and Foxwoods Casino. The bus will leave the firehouse at 1045 Hoosick Road on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. and will arrive at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. The bus will be departing Foxwoods at 8:00 p.m. returning to the firehouse at approximately 11:30 p.m. The cost of the trip is $40 per seat, which includes $15 Slot Play and a $10 Food Voucher or Free Buffet. There is something to do for everyone – Shop in the Tanger Outlets, play in the casino or take the shuttle to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum (additional cost but worth it). There are no refunds for cancellations. To make reservations or for more information, contact Jenn Simmons at (518) 858-7285 or email jennsimmons@nullcenterbrunswickfire.com.
Basic Poultry Management
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Are you interested in raising chickens? Join us to learn more about basic poultry information to help you get started. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County will be hosting a Basic Poultry Management program on Thursday, March 26th at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office in Troy (61 State Street Troy, NY) at 6:30PM. Topics will include: hatching egg care, breeds, animal care and handling, housing, and health management. Admission is $5. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. If you would like to register or have questions, please contact Kayela at 518-272-4210 or kls342@nullcornell.edu.
Cornell High Tech Citizen Science Nature Kit Training
Grafton –Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County and the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center are offering a free training for all educators looking to engage youth in environmental science at the Grafton Lakes State Park Welcome Center. Friday, March 27: 8am-4pm. Don’t miss this chance to help youth connect to the natural world using modern technology.
What do iPads, binoculars, trail cams, and wind meters have in common? They’re all part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s new High Tech Nature Kit. Join our March workshop and learn how to use these tools to inspire kids in grades K-12 to participate in citizen-science projects, and conduct their own outdoor investigations. You’ll get hands on experience with all the tech in the kits, and discuss how to create inquiry investigations, and discover how to facilitate authentic science experiences inside and outside the classroom. Kits are available for loan to participants and include 5 iPad minis, 10 pairs of binoculars, 3 Garmin GPS units, 2 StealthCam trail cameras, a Kestrel wind meter, bird ID resources, and a citizen science and inquiry-based curriculum. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as part of this free training. Minimum number of participants 10. Maximum 20. Preregistration required at (518) 658-2055 or jp844@nullcornell.edu.
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Call for more information and a complete schedule of our winter events or visit www.dykenpond.org .
For the Love of Bags & Bling Couch Party | St. Paul’s Center
RENSSELAER – Support homeless families at our online For the Love of Bags & Bling Couch Party. Shop for new and gently loved purses, scarves, and jewelry from the comfort of your own home! All proceeds will benefit St. Paul’s Center a local nonprofit serving Rensselaer County families experiencing homelessness. Tuesday, March 31st. Time: 7-9PM. Your couch! Join us online here: https://www.facebook.com/events/484257078927638/
We will post pictures of each item for sale on our Facebook page from 7-9PM. Pick up your items from our Center in Rensselaer, or have them shipped to you for a flat rate of $10.
Adult Tractor Safety Workshop
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County is excited to offer a Tractor and Farm Safety Course on Saturday, April 4th at White’s Farm Supply in Schaghticoke (1205 State Route 40 Schaghticoke, NY 121544). This program is geared for adult audiences. Statistics show that farming and operating equipment is a hazardous and dangerous endeavor. Help yourself reduce the risks of an accident and attend this informative morning session. The program will begin at 10:00 A.M with a presentation from the New York Center of for Agriculture Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) followed by an opportunity to give your newly learned skills a try. This program is perfect for farmers old and new as well as any adult who currently works with machinery on the job, in their backyard, or plans to in the future. To register, please call CCE office at 518-272-4210. There is a registration fee of $5 payable at the class. If you have special needs that need to be met in order to participate, please let us know at the time of registration. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity employer and programmer.
The Rensselaer Alumni Association Hall of Fame Induction Dinner
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Rensselaer Alumni Association will hold its Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on April 4, 2020 ~ 5-9pm ~ Birch Hill, 1 Celebration Way, Castleton, NY 12033. Inductees this year: Rikki Allert ‘95; Jon Badi ‘62, Jay Corcoran ‘66; Carol Davis ‘72; Philip Foust ‘76; Frances Harrison Faculty, posthumous; Edward “Eddie Angel” Heeran ‘71; Bryan Leahey ‘74; Jacklyn Nixon, staff; and Ret. Capt. Grant Staats ‘77.
Cocktail hour 5-6pm ~ hors d’oeuvres & cash bar; followed by dinner & induction ceremony 6-9pm.
Send names, # of attendees, meal choice and check made out to “Rensselaer Alumni Association” for $45/pp for adults or $15/pp for children under 12 to 25 Van Rensselaer Dr., Rensselaer, NY 12144. Meal choices:
Slow-Roasted Prime Rib of Beef or Fresh Tilapia stuffed with Crab and Shrimp served with a Lemon Beurre-Blanc or Cavatelli pasta with grape tomatoes, spinach, and roasted garlic, tossed with olive oil. Child’s meal: Chicken fingers & fries. Salad, potato, vegetable, beverage and dessert. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED/NO WALK-INS ~NO REFUNDS.
Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York 2020 Caregiver’s Conference
CAPITAL DISTRICT – April 14, 2020. 8:00AM to 3:30PM. 189 Wolf Road. Albany Marriott, Albany NY. The 2020 Caregiver’s Conference features a Keynote Speaker, a motivational Closing Speaker, Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., MPH, Vice President of Scientific Engagement for the National Alzheimer’s Association. David E. Hart, M.D., FAAN, attending physician at the Alzheimer’s Center at Albany Medical College will also speak at the conference. There will be an array of educational workshops on various Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related topics, specifically geared towards the needs of caregivers. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from local experts and visit more than 50 exhibitors, including home health care agencies, assisted living communities, memory care options, elder care attorneys, financial advisors, and many other community supportive services.
For more information or help registering, call 518.867.4999 ext. 1693, or visit www.alz.org/northeasternny/events
Visitation to the Sick, Elderly and Homebound: Formation & Skill Building Workshops
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Pastoral Care Ministry will offer skill building and formation workshops this Spring for those of any faith interested in volunteering as a visitor to the sick, elderly, and homebound.
The workshops will take place Mondays, April 20, 27 and May 4, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturday May 9 from 8:30 AM-3 PM at St. Edward the Confessor Church, Clifton Park, NY.
Information includes topics on pastoral visitation, communication, illness issues, spiritual assessment, grief, loss, suffering, faith, death, dying, ritual, sacraments, theology of pastoral care and care giving issues.
$60, includes book/materials. Registration required, space limited. Registration deadline: April 13, 2020. All faith traditions welcome. Registration: https://www.rcda.org/PastoralCareTraining; email: Maria.Schollenberger@nullrcda.org or (518) 641-6818.
Get a Heads-Up on This Year’s Trout Season! Fly Fishing 101, A Fly Fishing Mini-Course
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Have you always wanted to learn to fly fish? Need a little tune-up? Here’s your chance with a fly fishing mini-course offered by Clearwater Trout Unlimited. The course will cover all the basics: equipment, knot tying, casting, presentation, and reading the water. we will have equipment available or bring your own.
Day one will be held at St. Joseph’s Parish Center: 45 Mac Arthur Drive, Scotia. An optional day two will be held on the water at one of our local streams or ponds. (probably Cobleskill Holding Pond)
Here’s your chance to catch your first fish on a fly.
Saturday, April 25, 2020 (classroom) and Sunday, April 26, 2020 (optional). Saturday 9:00am — 5:00pm (lunch provided); Sunday 12 noon. Cost: $15 members, $35 non-members (includes a 1 year tu membership). For more information or to register for the class contact: john morrette jmorette@nullnycap.rr.com – home 518-393-6443 cell 518-275-9288 or Mike Walchko – mwalchko@nullnycap.rr.com – home 518-234-4192 cell 518-231-3276.
Capital District Genealogy Society Conference
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The Capital District Genealogical Society (CDGS) will hold a one-day Conference “Improving Your Skills: What Do You Need?” on May 30, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY, the Saturday after Memorial Day. Are you looking to take that first step into the genealogy world? Perhaps you are an avid genealogist who has published your own family history. Maybe you have been involved in the field for awhile and want to improve your skills. Have you received a genealogy DNA kit and want to understand what it means? Join us for an educational day of six sessions with nationally known speakers. Our Keynote is Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, JD, CG, CGL; with co-presenters Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNG, author of the textbooks Mastering Genealogical Proof and Mastering Genealogical Documentation; and Meryl Schumacker, CG.
Sessions include: “After The Courthouse Burns: Rekindling Family History through DNA,” and “Don’t Forget the Ladies: A Genealogist’s Guide to Women and the Law” presented by Judy Russell; “The Jones Jinx: Tracing Common Surnames” and “Out-of-State Workarounds for In-State Record Shortages” presented by Thomas Jones; and “Let’s Make Trying New Things in Genealogy Less Scary” and “Strategies for Urban Research” presented by Meryl Schumacker. Your registration includes lunch, morning and afternoon breaks with refreshments. Registration closes May 20, 2020. Visit https://www.capitaldistrictgenealogicalsociety.org for details and to register. Questions may be sent to cdgsconference@nullgmail.com.
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 drive will run from now until October 31st with the goal 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 taking them to 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.