Saturday April 20, 2024 
Troy Lodge of Elks Fall Craft Fair/Flea Market
WYNANTSKILL – Troy Lodge of Elks, Now at the AmericanLegion, 111 Main Ave, Wynantskill. Saturday, October 17, 2020. 9:00am – 3:00pm. Food, Drink Items Available for Sale, Plus Raffles. Social Distancing and Masks Mandatory.
LVORC Announces Fall Festival of Literacy
RENSSELAER COUNTY – LVORC Presents the Fall Festival of Literacy – with Virtual Option – October 17, 2020. This year’s Fall Festival of Literacy will be held in person and live streamed for those who do not wish to attend in person. Join Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County’s students, volunteers, staff and friends at the Hilton Garden Inn, 235 Hoosick Street, Troy on October 17, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for a celebration of the way literacy changes lives. Special guest author, Scott Baker, will speak about his book No One Rises Alone: What Almost Dying Taught Me About Living. Proceeds will benefit literacy programs for adults and children in Rensselaer County and nearby communities. For tickets and more information, call (518) 244-4650 or visit www.lvorc.org.
Winter Raptor Fest 2020 Virtual Event Takes Flight!
CAPITAL DISTRICT – It’s all systems “GO” for Grassland Bird Trust’s (GBT) 10th Annual Winter Raptor Fest (WRF) Virtual Event! Winter Raptor Fest provides an exclusive opportunity to see hawks and falcons in flight and get up close and personal with a wide variety of live birds of prey.
SEE and learn about live owls, hawks and falcons through a new lens! MEET Short- eared owls, American kestrels and other imperiled raptors in the “natural” grassland habitat they depend for their survival. ENCOUNTER night owls, a Lynx, Red fox, porcupine and native hawks on a virtual walk through the woods.
You’ll also see flight demos by master falconers, learn interesting facts about the birds and their environment and find out more about GBT’s work. This professionally designed and directed virtual event is being produced in collaboration with Look Media and Junda Video. Filmed live from the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Each Viewing Pass donation directly supports GBT’s work to permanently protect critical habitat for rapidly vanishing grassland birds. After you make your donation you will receive a link to view the event beginning at 9am on October 18th. You and your family can view as many times as you want through the end of November!
Viewing Passes start at $25 ($20 for GBT Members) for a family. WRF 2020 Special: make a donation of $100 or more and receive a viewing pass, a one-year family membership to GBT and a free Bird Collective t-shirt (or $40 off your Bird Collective order)! Visit www.winterraptorfest.com to learn more or call 518-499-0012. Learn more about GBT’s work at www.grasslandbirdtrust.org
Create Your Own Seasonal Home Sign at Sand Lake Center for the Arts
SAND LAKE – Join us for an afternoon craft workshop to make and take a sign for your home that you can customize throughout the year! Hosted by SLCA Board President Barbara Neu. Saturday, October 24th, from 12 to 4pm. Only $25. Reserve your spots today: https://slcactp.square.site/s/shop
Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents Virtual Retreats
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Saturday October 24, 2020 or Saturday, November 21, 2020. 10:45am-3:00pm. Losing a child under any circumstances is horrendous. Focusing on the spirituality of the grieving process can help tremendously. Just as He comforted His grieving disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus comforts us and we comfort each other in this very special ministry.
Join other Emmaus Parent Companions in a warm and loving place— to think, to talk, to feel, and to pray. Find compassion, rest, and peace… at least for a time.
Donation: Optional Free-Will Offering to cover technical support, retreat materials and shipping costs.
Pre-registration is required. Price: Optional Free-Will Offering to cover technical support, retreat materials and shipping costs.
Internet connection and computer literacy required. You will receive an Emmaus Zoom Meeting ID and Password after you register.
More information & registration link: https://www.rcda.org/offices/pastoral-care-ministry/emmaus-ministry-grieving-parents-retreat. Contact 518-641-6818 for information or to register.
Ultimate New England Shopping Trip to Benefit Hope 7 Community Center’s Food Pantry
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The 2020 Ultimate Shopping Trip to New England departs from Dick’s Sporting Goods, Latham Farms, on Friday, November 6th at 7:15 am and returns, Sunday, November 8th at 9:00 pm.
Stops to include the Vermont Country Store, NH Liquor & Wine Outlet, King Arthur Baking Co., Wine Tasting at Seven Birches Winery, The Christmas Loft, Settlers Green Outlets & Merrimack Premium Outlets
Accommodations provided by Hampton Inn and Suites, North Conway. A complimentary breakfast Is included with your stay.
Cost per person (based on room occupancy) – Double: $395/person or Triple: $345/person.
The fee includes the bus, hotel, driver’s tip, wine tasting and dinner Friday & Saturday night. Limited spaces available.
For more information or to reserve your space, please contact Michelle at 518-590-6781 or mhouser35@nullaol.com.
Science Lecture Series Webinar: The Effects of Prescribed Fire on Ticks in a Pine Barrens Landscape
ALBANY – Thursday, November 19, 2020 7pm – 8pm. Ticks don’t survive the flames of a prescribed fire but do the secondary effects of this restoration tool impact tick populations in other ways? Join us this evening for a lecture by Dr. Michael Gallagher, Research Ecologist in the Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences Unit with the United States Forest Service Northern Research Station, to find what recent research in the New Jersey Pinelands is teaching us about ticks and prescribed fire. This is an online webinar. Make a reservation at 518-456-0655 or www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events and you will be emailed a link to join the webinar on November 19th at 7pm. Suitable for adults.
NYS Youth Snowmobile Safety Course Offered
GRAFTON – On Saturday, December 5, 2020 the Grafton Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club and Grafton Lakes State Park will host a snowmobile safety course for young people ages 10 to 18. Students must be at least 10 years old on the day of the course to attend. Parents are encouraged to stay and participate. The course will be held at the Grafton VFW/Fire Hall at 581 South Road from 8:15am to approximately 4:30pm. The course will be taught by NYS certified volunteer instructor Jim Blessing. Topics covered include NYS laws and regulations, riding skills, trail emergencies, protecting the environment, maintenance and repair, and trailering.
To register, email Grafton Lakes State Park at graftonlakessp@nullparks.ny.gov with the parent and student’s first and last name, student age, and your phone number. Adults are encouraged to attend as well so please let us know if a parent will be accompanying the child. Space is limited, so no walk-ins please. The course is free of charge. Please bring your own bagged lunch and snacks to enjoy. Please note that masks are required for all participants to limit the spread of COVID-19 and symptom screening will take place at program sign-in.
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.