Monday March 27, 2023 
Sand Lake Holiday Parade
SAND LAKE – The Town of Sand Lake will be holding its annual Holiday Parade on Friday, December 4th. More information will follow over the next few weeks. If you have questions or wish to participate in this fun event, please contact Town Council member Andy Bulmer at abulmer@nullsand-lake.us.
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.
Good ‘Ol St. Nick is Coming to Town
DEFREESTVILLE – Good ‘Ol St. Nick is coming to town on Dec. 5th. St Nicholas himself is coming to The Blooming Grove Reformed Church parking lot on Dec. 5th at 3:00 pm. 706 Bloominggrove Drive, Defreestville across from CDTA Park and Ride lot. We will have a present for everyone, sing some of your favorite carols, light our 20 ft. Christmas Tree for the first time. Enjoy all of this from the comfort of your car (we will broadcast all things over your FM Radio) Come and kick off the Holiday Season with this visit from St. Nick.
East Greenbush Emergency Services Holiday Parade
EAST GREENBUSH – Please join us for the East Greenbush Emergency Services Holiday Parade on Saturday December 5, 2020. The parade units will step-off at 5:30 PM from Martin Electric/OCFS (old Big Lots/K-Mart) parking lot, heading east on the Turnpike to Miller Road. For best viewing, we recommend that you park on the Hannaford/Beckers/Stewarts side of the Turnpike. Please observe Covid safe behaviors – 6 ft apart, masks on, hands sanitized! Like W. F. Bruen Rescue Squad’s Facebook page for any updates.
Winter Fair
TROY – Cornell Cooperative Extension along with the Capital District YMCA is excited to be a part of the Victorian Stroll, a tradition that takes place on the first December in Troy. This year the Victorian Stroll will be December 6th through the 20th, to find out more information visit: https://www.victorianstroll.com/attractions
On December 6th from 11am-2pm, Rensselaer County 4-H, along with the Capital District YMCA-Troy Branch and EFNEP Program will be hosting a Winter Fair for youth in the CCE parking lot: 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180.
Two 4-H clubs, including the Green Earthlings and Clover Kids and Critters will be handing out hands-on activities in a bag, the Capital District YMCA will be distributing grab and go, take home STEM kits- to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics! And Brenna from Cornell Cooperative Extension in Albany EFNEP Program is preparing bags to provide cooking and nutrition activities.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County 4-H has provided youth experiences in ever growing and changing project areas. Our mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development is to unleash the power of youth and adults through diverse opportunities that meet community needs. The Capital District YMCA is helping all children reach their full potential by supporting their unique youth development journeys. EFNEP helps participants improve food and physical activity behaviors, food resource management, food safety, and food security.
Please come and visit us on December 6th from 11am-2pm. plenty of parking is available, as we will be set up in our three-tiered parking lot. Everyone will be required to wear a mask and keep 6 feet in-between families.
For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County:518-272-4210.
Toy Drive
NASSAU – The Town and Village of Nassau Youth committees are sponsoring a toy drive for the Nassau Resource Center. We are looking for donations of new, unwrapped toys which will be collected through Friday, December 11th. The toys can be dropped off at the following locations: Village Hall (open M-F, 8:00 – Noon); Nassau Free Library (open M-F, 2:00 – 6:00); Nassau Town Hall (open M-F 9:00 – Noon); Transfer Station (open Tues 10:00 – 6:00, Fri 10:00 – 6:00, Sat 8:00 – 4:00); and the Chandler Young Veteran’s Association (call 518-766-3577). In particular we are seeking gifts suitable for children newborn – 2 years, and for teenagers (jewelry, hats and gloves, electronics such as phone accessories, headphones and personal care items). Stocking stuffers are always welcome (card games, coloring books, crayons, markers, play doh, hats and gloves, scrunchies, hair clips).
The Capital District Humanist Society Presents: End of Life Issues
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The Right to Die Movement dates back about 50 years. Eleanor Aronstein, of the Final Exit Network, will talk about the organizations that are active today, the documents people need to prepare, and steps people can take so that their wishes are carried out.
Eleanor Aronstein has BS and MS degrees in Education from Russell Sage, a BA in History from Marist College, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
She has been Coordinator of Education at the Dutchess County Jail; taught social studies and Spanish in Hyde Park, NY, and history at Marist College; and supervised student teachers for SUNY New Paltz, Marist, and St. Rose.
This program will take place online, via Zoom, on Sunday, December 13th, at 1 PM. Current paid CDHS members will automatically receive an invite to the meeting via e mail.
Any one who is not a current paid member of cdhs can request an invite to the virtual meeting by sending an e mail request to: Webmaster@nullhumansitsociety.org.
The Capital District Humanist Society provides a supportive community for exchanging ideas, heightening our knowledge of the world and ourselves, fostering moral and ethical growth, and promoting the principles of secular humanism. CDHS is a member organization for people with humanist values. Our values include commitment to free inquiry, rational thought, life-long education, democracy, social concern, and fellowship.
www,humanistsociety.net – https://www.meetup.com/Capital-District-Humanist-Society/
A Clown’s Christmas Carol at Sand Lake Center for the Arts!
SAND LAKE – Sand Lake Center for the Arts is proud to welcome Seano of Circus Theatricks and his merry clowns for a one-of-a-kind telling of a Dickens classic. This timeless tale is perfect for the entire family and is sure to tickle your fancy while putting you in the Christmas spirit. December 18th at 7pm; December 19th at 2:30 & 7pm; December 20th at 2:30pm. $15. Seating is extremely limited, get your tickets now! https://slca-ctp.org
Capital District Fly Fishers Fly Tying Classes
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The Capital District Fly Fishers is having their annual fly tying class. 8 Sessions Various Wednesdays 7:00/9:00 pm – Jan. 13th, 27th, Feb. 3rd, 10th, 24th March 3rd, 10th, 24th. March 31st Makeup Session. Come learn the art tying flies. During the 8 session course that runs over 3 months, you will learn the tools needed, receive 14 kits with materials to tie 5 flies in each kit. You will also receive a host of handouts and there are free raffles of materials. Space is limited.
For information about the class contact Paul at (518) 885-8257, Rodney Priddle (518) 421-6762 or cdflyfishers@nullnycap.rr.com.
To Register go to https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/cliftonpark select adult classes or call (518) 371-6651.
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.