Friday April 19, 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
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.
Transfiguration Parish Book Nook News
SPEIGLETOWN – The Book Nook at Transfiguration Parish in Speigletown is open on Saturday, December 18 from 9:00 am until noon. Last chance to pick up some wonderful books for Christmas gifts. The December half-priced specials are on authors Clive Cussler and Nora Roberts. The children’s books are 6/$1, as are the historical novels and biographies. The inventory keeps changing, with new donations arriving each day. Come shop for great gifts and see what the Book Nook is all about. Thanks for your continued support and see you at the Book Nook!
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
Grafton Lakes State Park to Host Cabin Fever
GRAFTON – Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host a Cabin Fever event on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Due to COVID-19, many of the indoor exhibits will be offering hikes and scavenger hunts outside throughout the day. The event will include a polar plunge, food vendors, and family-friendly recreational activities. The event is free of charge and runs from 11:30 AM-3:00 PM.
Cabin Fever will include activities such as its popular snow bowling hill, snowshoe races and a snowball toss, as well as guided snowshoe outings. Other outdoor offerings this year include free snowmobile rides, sensory walks, and an ice dive demonstration. Registration for the hikes will open in January.
The Polar Plunge kicks off the main events at 11:30AM (registration from 11-11:30am). As always, the Plunge includes a playful prize for the silliest costume offered by the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park, so start planning your January beach attire! To pre-register for the Plunge, please call Ray Dozois for more information at 518-663-5648, or call the park office at 518-279-1155.
For visitors who need to warm up there will be many large fires outside by the Welcome Center and the beach. Live animals will also be present at the festival in the welcome center. Visitors will not be disappointed with the refreshments available both inside the welcome center and outside by the main parking lot.
Note that this year’s Ice Fishing contest is being held on the weekend before, on Saturday, January 15th. Registration will take place the morning of the 15th. There is no pre-registration. Please call the park for more information:
518-279-1155.
Grafton Lakes State Park is located off of Route 2, twelve miles east of Troy, New York. Please use the park’s main entrance on Grafton Lakes State Park Way for this event. There is no entrance fee for this event. For more information, please call the park at 518-279-1155.