Friday April 19, 2024 
Integration: A Space to Reflect, Learn, and Apply
RENSSELAER COUNTY – This is the final talk of the Fall 2021 Guest Speaker Series with Rensselaer Plateau Alliance on BIPOC and anti-racist views of the outdoors and conservation. Thursday, Dec 2, 7 pm on Zoom. Join Celia Kutz, Rensselaer Youth Outdoors coordinator and skilled facilitator, for a workshop designed for you to reflect on what you’ve learned, ask questions, clarify information and strategize next steps. This evening will create space to support all of our abilities to grow and change. Heather Bruegl, Keith Hirokawa, and Chaya Harris and Benita Law-Diao gave us a lot to reflect on during the fall guest lecture series. Whether you attended one, some, or none of the previous lectures, please come to learn about what was shared – and if you did attend, bring questions and reflections. Our time together will be interactive and generative, and together we’ll debrief and strategize for how we want to apply what we learned to increase access and inclusivity on the Rensselaer Plateau. Please pre-register at www.rensselaerplateau.org/guest-speakers.
Capital Region Social Happenings December Event and Concert Series
CAPITAL DISTRICT – https://www.facebook.com/CapitalRegionSocial – CapRegSocialHappenings@nullgmail.com. Friday Night Events at 7 pm – Picnic at noon at 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Building) at “Hill” door entrance. Open to the public. Inside seating is limited. $12 pp and that includes beverages and snacks. Plenty of free parking. Handicap accessible.CDC & COVID compliant. Masks required on everyone. Be prepared to show your vaccination card as well as provide your phone number for contact tracing. Our inside seating is limited. Call 518-452-6883 for more information.
Friday Night – December 3 at 5:30pm: SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE EVENT FOR ALL — The event starts at 5:30 pm with finger foods and meet the Board in our newly renovated Community Room and Stage. DON “THE SOUL MAN” HYMAN returns to our stage to entertain us with music and stories at 7 pm. This will be a whole new show. This is a FREE EVENT that includes finger foods, beverages and snacks. Friday Night – December 3 @ 7 pm: Don (The Soul Man) Hyman Concert at 7 pm. (see above)
Friday Night – December 17 at 7:00 pm: Joe Sinatra returns to our stage and will be performing a new Holiday Concert for the audience. You’ll hear holiday favorites that represent the Rat Pack. This event is sure to put you in the holiday mood.
Friday Night – December 31: We starting with an early 6:00 pm New Year’s Eve Party for those that would like to be home early to watch the ball drop! Bring a finger food to share and be prepared for a few delightful surprises. This event won’t break your bank! $4 with finger food and $10 without. Non-alcoholic sparking toast included.
Highlight Acting Troupe Presents Christmas Quarrels
BRUNSWICK – Call now for reservations to see Highlight Acting Troupe’s presentation of Christmas Quarrels, written and directed by Paula Hoffay, co-directed by Mindy Huerter, accompanied by the amazing and talented Marietta Mitchell.
Why is Marci ignoring her friends and spending time with the new girl? Why have they been sneaking off at odd times? Are they up to no good?
For reservations, call Ethel at 518-237-6936. Performances are December 3rd and 4th at 7:30 PM and December 5th at 2:00 PM, at the Brunswick Grange, off of Hoosick Street in Brunswick.
Masks must be worn. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours of attendance are required to be admitted.
Sand Lake Holiday Parade
SAND LAKE – The Town of Sand Lake Holiday Parade will be held on December 3, 2021 starting at 7:00 pm. This parade promises to be a good time! The parade will start at Miller Hill School and end at Butler Park. There will be cookies, hot dogs, and cocoa for children at Butler Park. Santa will also be there! If you have any questions, please contact Andy Bulmer at abulmer@nullsand-lake.us
Kevin McKrell and Brian Melick in Concert this Friday at Sand Lake Center for the Arts
SAND LAKE – These 2 area musical icons will be performing this Friday, Dec. 3rd at SLCA, bringing 3 decades of musical experience to our stage with their mix of Irish/Celtic/Folk/Pop and a collection of holiday favorites. This combination won’t be anything short of spectacular! Become a part of this memorable evening and support programming at SLCA at the same time. Tickets are $18. Get yours today at slca-ctp.org.
SHAC Center Holiday Fair and Strategic Planning Info
AVERILL PARK – The Sky High Adventure Community Center (SHAC) at 27 Lake Avenue in Averill Park has been hard at work getting the Center ready for everyone in our community! Come join us on December 4th from 9:00-3:00 for our Holiday Craft and Vendor Sale hosted by the Girl Scouts and the SHAC Center! Shop local, find some treasures, and get a tour of the new Community Center! We still have some spots for vendors and crafter left.
Interested community members are also welcome to join us at the SHAC Center to share ideas and participate in our strategic planning! We will be holding our 4th Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00pm at the SHAC Center. We are looking for volunteers to help with facilities, programs and the following committees: Programming and Services, Communications, Finance, Membership, Board Recruitment, and Facilities.
Find us on the web at: www.SHACcenter.org / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SKYHIGHadventureCENTER, or email us at SKYHIGHadventures@nullgmail.com
If you are interested in DONATING to the SHAC Center before the end of the year, we are accepting tax deductible donations on our website.
Bring the Christmas Season to Light!
NORTH GREENBUSH – Join us as we celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on Saturday, December 4 beginning at 3 pm at the Blooming Grove Reformed Church off Rte. 4 in North Greenbush. Holiday treats will be given out to all the children, stories will be told, songs will be sung and the Christmas lights on the parsonage front lawn will be lit! And it is rumored that Sinterklaas, better known as old Saint Nick himself will be stopping by to say hi! To keep our celebration COVID compliant, we ask that you drive into the main parking lot of the church to receive a treat for the children and park either in the church parking lot or across the street in the CDTA parking lot.
Covid Booster Clinic
STEPHENTOWN – The Stephentown Seniors will sponsor a COVID Booster Clinic on Saturday, December 4 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Stephentown Town Hall. The Clinic will be coordinated by Hannaford Pharmacy. Dr. Heather Govel PharmD, registered pharmacist and certified immunizing pharmacist will be the primary contact for all scheduling needs.
All three COVID vaccines will be available. Appointments only. Services provided by Hannaford Pharmacy. The Clinic is open to the public and recipients do not have to be Stephentown residents.
To register and for information, contact Dr. Govel at stephentownclinics@nullgmail.com or by phone or text at 518-281-4030. (Text preferred; calls may be accepted but response time will be longer.)
Church of the Covenant Christmas Bazaar
AVERILL PARK – The Church of the Covenant UM in Averill Park will host our annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 4. Come visit the more than a dozen handcraft, gift and food shops designed for all of your holiday shopping. You will notice some changes this year in keeping with COVID safety measures. We respectfully request that only fully vaccinated persons (excluding boosters) attend the event. Masks will be required for ages 3 and up and we will maximize distancing throughout the bazaar. Masks for adults and children will be available.
On the main level, visit The Doll Boutique, the Pet Corner, Collectibles, the Country Store, Handcrafts & Decorations, Holiday Greenery and Religious Items. The COC Cafe will offer a variety of food items to eat in or take out. Satisfy your sweet tooth with goodies from the Sweet Shoppe. Downstairs will be entirely devoted to the Kids Only store where children can shop for gifts for family and friends. The Church of the Covenant, also known as “The Round Church,” is located at 3055 NY 43 in the center of Averill Park.
Holiday Bazaar at the The North Chatham United Methodist Church
NORTH CHATHAM – On December 4th The North Chatham United Methodist Church will host a Holiday Bazaar from 10 AM to 3 PM, sponsored by the United Methodist Women of the North Chatham and Grace (Nassau) churches. The church is located at 4274 Route 203 in the hamlet of North Chatham. There will be a nice variety of vendors and this is a great chance to do some Christmas shopping locally! Quarts of soup and a bake sale will be available and all proceeds will go to Mission Projects. For more information on the North Chatham UMC, please call 518-766-3535 or visit their website (northchathammethodistchurch.org). For more information on the Grace UMC, please call 518-766-9628 or e-mail Pastor Marquit at revberdan@nullaol.com. Thanks, and we hope to see you on December 4th!
Jack and Steve Zucchini in Concert at Sand Lake Center for the Arts this Saturday
SAND LAKE – Jack and Steve Zucchini, formerly of the Zucchini Brothers, are bringing their 100% Healthy 100% Fun Music For Kids of All Ages to SLCA on Saturday, Dec. 4th. Jack and Steve are well-renowned for their concerts in schools, theaters and festivals throughout the country. You never know just what these three zany guys will do. But one thing’s for sure, once you’ve seen ‘em – you won’t forget ‘em! Tickets are $10. Get yours today at slca-ctp.org.
4th Annual East Greenbush Town and Emergency Services Holiday Parade!
EAST GREENBUSH – Hosted by: The Town of East Greenbush, Bruen Rescue Squad, Becker’s Farm, Best Luther Fire Department, Clinton Heights Fire Department, East Greenbush Fire Department, East Greenbush Police. Saturday December 4, 2021 at 5:30 PM. Parade route: Start at Wyatt Circle on Phillips Road, traveling north on Phillips, left onto Columbia Turnpike and ending at Becker’s Farm for an outdoor meet and greet with SANTA, followed by a Fireworks display by Santore’s Fireworks!
Giant Model Train Show
ALBANY – December 5th: “Great Train Extravaganza™.” The original and largest model train event in the Capital Region. Empire State Convention Center. 10AM – 4PM. $7 adults, children under 12 free. Operating layouts most scales. 300+ tables: model trains, parts, train sets, buildings, craftsman kits, accessories, electronics, scenery, books, DVDs, prints, railroad memorabilia. Educational and NMRA displays. Switching puzzle. Roaming Railroad and giant Legos layout for the kids and grandkids. Door prizes. www.gtealbany.com, (518) 727-2009, trains@nullgtealbany.com.
Tax Town Hall Will Answer Questions About Income Tax Issues and Free Tax Services
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York is holding a virtual Town Hall on December 9, 2021 from 2 – 3pm. Members of the public can call in to listen to the Town Hall by phone or attend via the LASNNY Facebook page or Zoom. There is no cost to attend and pre-registration is not required.
Staff attorneys from the Clinic will answer questions about income tax issues such as stimulus payments, the new Child Tax Credit, notices from the IRS, and what you can do if you have a tax bill you cannot afford to pay. Representatives from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Taxpayer Advocate Service will also join the Town Hall. Speakers will discuss how taxpayers can get free assistance with income tax issues including free tax preparation and e-filing services.
Attendees are invited to submit their questions about income tax issues. Questions can be left in a message at 518-462-6765 ext. 416 or emailed to townhall@nulllasnny.org before the Town Hall.
The call-in number for the Income Tax Town Hall is (646) 876-9923 then enter Webinar ID: 865 7405 6065 to join by phone. To attend by Zoom, go to www.bit.ly/LASNNYtax-dec2021. To attend by Facebook Live, go to www.facebook.com/LASNNY.
If you have questions about this or other income tax issues, the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) may be able to help. The Clinic’s services are free of charge. You can call the LASNNY Legal Line at (833) 628-0087 and ask for our LITC. The Clinic does not generally provide tax preparation services.
Grafton Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club Landowner Appreciation Dinner
AVERILL PARK – Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 6 p.m. Lakeview Restaurant, Averill Park, NY -All Landowners and their families are invited free of charge. There will be a cocktail hour at 6 with a brief meeting of the club to update everyone. Dinner served at 7 p.m. (Buffet) There will be prizes given, $100.00 cash and gift baskets donated by the club. Please RSVP via Facebook or call our treasurer; Samantha Robitaille at 518-258-8311 All club members are also invited to attend the cost pp is $30.00 RSVP by December 6. Without our landowners, we would not have trails beyond the State parks. THANKYOU!
North Greenbush Christmas Parade
NORTH GREENBUSH – Santa and his helpers are coming to the Town of North Greenbush and you’re invited! Our annual Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 6pm. The parade kicks off from St. Jude’s Church, proceeding down Brookside Ave to Main Ave to Town Hall where the streets will be lined with excited children and families to see the magic of the season come alive. This will be our biggest and brightest Christmas Parade ever. After the parade, we will start a new tradition with the lighting of our first Starry Night Memorial Christmas Trees. Come meet Santa and enjoy an evening filled with magic and memories. If you have a business that would be interested in participating in having a float in the parade, please contact the Town Supervisor’s office at (518) 283-5313, Ext 5. Hope to see you there.
Grafton Holiday Cookie Contest & Yankee Doodle Band Concert
GRAFTON – Article by Betsy Colvin – The Yankee Doodle Band an American Legion Band comes to Grafton NY December 11, 2021.
Please join us for Grafton’s first Holiday Cookie Contest! There will be great music by the Yankee Doodle band with your favorite guess singer Courtney Shane Karl. Ms. Karl will be performing some of your favorite Holiday songs including “Merry Christmas Darling”. Ms. Karl is well known for her Patsy Cline show and more recently her Tribute to the Carpenter’s.
The YD Band will be playing some of your favorite holiday songs including a mash up of Stars & Stripes interwoven with well-known Christmas songs. It’s sure to get your feet stomping one moment and you singing along to one of your favorite carols the next!
We hope to see you at our free concert Saturday December 11, 2021 from 2 -4 PM at Roxborough Holdings (former Grafton Elementary School) Rte. 2 & Babcock Lake Road, Grafton, NY. Bring 12 of your favorite homemade Holiday cookies and maybe you’ll win a special holiday prize! Come enjoy the music, sample the holiday cookies and feel free to sing along or get up & dance. We hope to see you December 11!
North Greenbush Starry Night Memorial Christmas Trees
NORTH GREENBUSH – The Town of North Greenbush is starting a new tradition called the “Starry Night” Memorial Christmas Trees. Remember your loved one by ordering a Starry Night Tree. The field next to town hall will be filled with beautiful fresh cut Christmas trees supplied by the town. Purchase a tree for $50 which includes the tree, electricity and sign and you will provide your own LED lights and decorations in memory of your loved one. On Saturday, December 11, 2021 the trees will be lit following our town Christmas Parade. Checks made payable to the Town of North Greenbush to reserve your tree and is open to North Greenbush residents first. Please contact Deputy Town Supervisor Kelly Hoffman at khoffman@nullnorthgreenbush.org for additional information or by calling her at (518) 283-5313, Ext 5. Because this is our first year, we are starting out with a limited amount of trees and hope to see this grow over the years, so please order yours today.
Annual Yule Log Celebration
Grafton –On Sunday, December 12th from 1-3:30PM, the story of the Yule Log and the Winter Solstice will be shared at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, followed by a search for the hidden Yule Log. We start the afternoon by sharing the traditional story of the Yule Log and the science of the Winter Solstice. Folks will be given a few hints before searching for the hidden Yule Log. Once found, it will be carried back and enjoyed at the outdoor campfire. Holiday greens will be available to make and take home. People of all ages are encouraged to come out to this free, informal program. Hot chocolate and light snacks will be provided. For more information, please contact the Center at dykenpond@nullgmail.com or (518) 658-2055.
Yuletide Carols
ALBANY – Yuletide Carols being sung by Festival Celebration CHOIR. Sunday, December 12, 2021 3:00pm at First Lutheran Church, 181 Western Avenue, Albany NY.Admission FREE. Donations VERY welcome.
Toy Collection in the Town of Nassau
NASSAU – As the Holidays approach, the Town and Village Youth Committees will once again be collecting new, unwrapped toys for distribution to the Nassau Resource Center. This year, donation boxes will be located at the Nassau Free Library (Mon.-Fri., noon-6 pm; Wed. 10am-6pm; Sat. 10am-noon); Village Hall (Mon.-Fri., 8am-noon); Town Hall (Mon.-Fri., 9am-noon); Town Transfer Station (Tues. and Fri., 10am-6pm and Sat., 8am-4pm); Daisy’s Café, located at 3531 US Rt. 20, Eleanor Square (call 518-931-4106 for hours of operation.)
The toy drive began November 26th and will end December 15th. Toys and gifts are needed for infants through teenagers. Please help make Christmas bright for our children. For more information email judyz_05262@nullyahoo.com.
Brunswick Church to Host Live Nativity & Open House
BRUNSWICK – As the world busily prepares for Christmas, Brunswick Church invites you to take a break and truly imagine that first Christmas. Feel the night air, see the young couple in search of a place to stay, the young mother ready to welcome her first son. Smell the straw of the stable and pet the unsuspecting witnesses to the unfolding miracle, the humble animals. Feel the peace and the hope of this historic event that is the center of the season.
After visiting the nativity, we welcome all to come in out of the cold for a hot cocoa and a cookie, and to enjoy some family friendly activities of your choice – hear a story, make an ornament or a family craft. And choose a cupcake and toppings to take with you to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
On December 19th, let the spirit of the season come alive this year. Come, let your hearts be filled with hope and peace.