Thursday April 18, 2024 
Community Caregivers Lunchtime Chats
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Come join our community of seniors for a phone in presentation and discussion with some of the most interesting people in the Capital District! Topics range from history lessons to important information for seniors. Talks are every Tuesday and Friday from 1-2pm. Simply call our free conference line: 518-992-6661. Open to everyone – no access code required. If you would prefer to receive a call at 1pm instead of dialing in yourself, contact Community Caregivers at 518-456-2898 or email: info@nullcommunitycaregivers.org
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!
The Puppet People Present A Christmas Carol at Sand Lake Center for the Arts
SAND LAKE – Join us in welcoming the Puppet People for this fun, family-friendly presentation on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 3pm. Tickets are $5. Reserve yours today at slca-ctp.org.
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.
The Capital District Humanist Society Presents: Positive Humanism: A Primer
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Positive Humanism is based on the scientific findings of positive psychology – ideas that lead to increased well-being. Positive Humanism s a secular humanistic philosophy founded on reason and critical thinking; it does not appeal to the supernatural, the magical, or the mystical. It is science-based, meaning it is void of the unsupported or exaggerated claims and the constant confusion of correlation with causality often found in the self-help genre.
Bo Bennett, who holds a PhD in social psychology, is devoted to improving the lives of others. His personal motto is “Expose an irrational belief; keep a person rational for a day. Expose irrational thinking; keep a person rational for a lifetime.”
His books include: The Concept: A Critical and Honest Look at God and Religion, Logically Fallacious, Uncomfortable Ideas; Rules of Reason: Making and Evaluating Claims, How To Sift Through Media Bullsh*t; and Positive Humanism: A Primer. His blog about critical thinking is “Relationship with Reason.” His secular humanistic philosophy is detailed at PositiveHumanism.com. He is the creator and host of The Dr. Bo Show.
This program will take place online, via Zoom, on Sunday, December 12th, 2021 at 1 PM ET. Current paid CDHS members will automatically receive an invite to the meeting via e mail.
Any One Who Is Not a Paid Member Can Attend. Simply log onto our Meetup Page, https://www.meetup.com/Capital-District-Humanist-Society/ and use the RSVP function. The link to the meeting will then be available to you.
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.
Community Caregivers December 2021 Volunteer Orientation Sessions
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Can you spare an hour or two a month to help your community? Our volunteers make friendly phone calls & visits, grocery shop and drive our neighbors* to medical appointments.
Orientation is a first step in volunteering with us. Please allow 45 minutes. Please register at the email below or by calling 518-456-2898. Individual sessions are available upon request by emailing Meredith Osta at: meredith@nullcommunitycaregivers.org
December 14th, 12 p.m. via Zoom Link to be sent via email prior to the session. We look forward to meeting you!
*Serving Albany & Rensselaer Counties Community Caregivers is a non-profit agency supported by community donations, and grants from The Albany County Department for Aging, the NYS Department of Health and Office for the Aging & the U.S. Administration on Aging. www.communitycaregivers.org
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.
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 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.
Averill Park Community Orchestra Winter Concert
AVERILL PARK – Come out and join the Averill Park Community Orchestra musicians who are performing in small ensembles to present holiday favorites and other festive tunes! The performance is on Saturday, December 18 at 4:00 PM at the Algonquin Middle School, with a snow cancellation date of 12/19, also at 4:00. There is no admission fee, but any donations to help offset our costs is greatly appreciated. Our brass, string, wind, and percussion ensembles look forward to the opportunity to share joyous music with you as we celebrate the winter holidays. For Covid spread prevention, distanced seating between groups in the auditorium is appreciated, and audience members are asked to be free of Covid symptoms and to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth. Any questions can be directed to Christina Desmond at 518-948-0565 or cdmusic600@nullgmail.com.
Drive-Thru Live Nativity & Christmas Eve Worship
CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON – Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! There is so much to do and prepare for. We invite you to take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the meaning of Christmas with us at Emmanuel Reformed Church. On Saturday, December 18 from 4:30 – 6:00 pm you can drive through our live nativity with narration and song to remember the true meaning of who Christmas is all about. We also will celebrate the birth of Jesus on Friday, December 24 at 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm We are located at 1150 Maple Hill Road adjacent to the Maple Hill High School. Check out our website www.EncounterERC.com or call 518-732-7766 for more information.
Nuts & Crackers Family Clown Show at Sand Lake Center for the Arts
SAND LAKE – Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of the audience for this new and exciting one-man show starring the area’s most decorated clown! The amazing Seano has been educating and performing in the Capital Region for over 25 years and is bringing this clown show for the whole family to our stage on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 3pm. Tickets are $5. Get yours today at slca-ctp.org.
Lights in Sand Lake 2021 Christmas Eve Luminaire Display
SAND LAKE – The Sand Lake Historic District creates Christmas Eve magic in Sand Lake!
The neighbors on Routes 66 & 43 and our friends on Shumann Rd. will have our annual luminary display on Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24th. Lighting of the luminary candles begins around 7:00pm and continues as weather permits or until the candles burn out.
Participate by placing luminaries along the road by your property or just drive by and enjoy. For more information, please contract Dawn or Bruce at 518.674.5210 or by email at knivad@nullyahoo.com.
Power Lunch Reading Mentors Needed at School 14
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Do you enjoy reading? Do you have an hour a week to spare? Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County needs a few more reading mentors for the Everybody WINS! Power Lunch program at School 14 on Wednesdays.
Everybody Wins! is an innovative reading and mentoring program that increases children’s prospects for success in school and in life. Power Lunch pairs elementary school children one-to-one with volunteers from nearby businesses, colleges and the community. Once a week, reading partners enjoy conversation together at the school, and the adult reads a book aloud to the child while he/she eats lunch. Reading mentors will be required to wear a mask while in the school and while reading. The children will not be masked while eating lunch.
A one-hour required training will be held on Tuesday, December 28th, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the LVORC Office, 71 First Street, 3rd floor (Hart Hall). To register or for more information, call (518) 244-4650 or email litvoldirector@nullaol.com