Friday April 26, 2024 
Sand Lake Town Beach opening date
The Sand Lake Town Beach will open on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Hours are from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM every day. The cost for residents is free. Passes can only be issued at the Town Clerk’s office during regular hours starting on Friday, June 21, 2019. Non-residents may not use the beach. For more information, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 518-674-2026 ext. 122.
Senior Domino Group Seeks More Players
The Town of East Greenbush Senior Domino Group meets each Wednesday from 12-3 PM in the Town Hall Community Room.
Join in the fun by stopping by any Wednesday to check it out! You do not need to be an experienced player. They will teach you. For questions call 518-477-4194.
Share the gift of camp!
Our Hope 7 Traveling Summer Camp brings 60 children daily, ages 5-13, to our beautiful state parks for physical activity, swimming, arts & crafts, social skill building, emotional learning, and good, old-fashioned summer fun. Our programs are designed to build children up – mind, body, and spirit. A nourishing lunch and snack are provided at no charge to fuel them for the adventures of the day.
The need for quality childcare for the long summer hours is so vital, but the cost is difficult for parents to bear. In light of this, Hope 7 has maintained low family rates despite rising program costs to ensure a quality program is available to those who need it, but the need is far greater than we can handle alone. We need your help!
Our sponsorship program is designed to cover part or all of the cost of camp. The cost per week for one child is $170. Last year, 40 children were able to attend camp with the help of sponsors like you!
If you would like to sponsor a child for camp who is in need of financial assistance, please contact Samantha Adkisson at hope7.samantha@nullgmail.com or 518-272-8029 or send a check to Hope 7 at 596 Pawling Ave, Troy.
Oakwood’s Chapel Tours Scheduled for Troy Night Out Dates
Get an early start to your Troy Night Out with a stop at the “castle on the hill” the Gardner Earl Chapel. The Friends of Oakwood will offer tours at 2pm and 3pm on the last Friday of the month, June 28 and July 26.
Just $10. pp, children under 12 free. No registration required. Pay cash on arrival. Rain or shine. Groups of 8 or more, please call Heidi 518-221-7941. Sorry, no dogs. GPS: 186 Oakwood Avenue (route 40 just off Hoosick Street)
Come see this ornate Victorian chapel before you head downtown for the rest of Troy’s festivities. The National Historic Landmark is a popular site for weddings and special events as well as funerals. We may even take a peek into one of the old cremation retorts!
Hiking, Naturalist, & Children’s Programs
Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance are partnering to bring our communities unique opportunities to get outside this summer! More information and registration at www.renstrust.org
June 29 • 9 a.m.:
Taconic Crest in One Year: Petersburg Pass to Berlin Mountain and on to Southeast Hollow in Berlin, 7.3 miles.
Some steep ascents on the way to the summit of Berlin Mountain, at 2,818 feet New York’s tallest peak outside of the Adirondacks and Catskills. Co-sponsored with Taconic Hiking Club.
June 29 • 10 a.m.:
Connecting Children to Nature: Alphabet of the Trees
Calling all young naturalists to discover the trees and water of RLT’s Staalesen Preserve using their five senses. We’ll go for a short hike and get to know trees up close and personal through sensory activities, and each child will have a chance to record their studies through bark rubbings and poetry. For children ages six and up. Meet at John B. Staalesen Preserve, Troy, NY.
Upcoming Programs at Grafton Lakes State Park
(Cropseyville, NY) – Join us for our upcoming June programs:
Saturday, June 29th– Go Fish! Free Fishing Clinic 9am-1pm. On free fishing weekend, no license is required. Educators from DEC’s I Fish NY program will be on hand to show you how to fish, who’s in the lake, and they even provide poles to use! Ages 6 & up. Clinic is free, but gate fee of $8/vehicle still applies. Gate fee is refundable if leaving directly after program.
Saturday, June 29th—Busy Beavers at 1pm. Learn about all the great things these forest workers do to create a healthy habitat for themselves and many other creatures. Weather permitting, we will take a 25-minute walk to a beaver habitat to see the lodges that beavers at Grafton build! Please call to pre-register (518) 279-1155.
Gardening Tips from the Sand Lake Garden Club
As we celebrate 25 years in the Town of Sand Lake, we hope that you too will be celebrating your beautiful healthy gardens. Enjoy these tips as you spend your time in the garden.
– Have your Soil tested. You do not need more than a half cup of dirt that should be thoroughly dry. Take samples from wherever you are planting such as a vegetable area or your perianal gardens. The test will give you the Ph for your soil and help you determine if your soil needs additional nutrients. Your Cooperative Extension in Troy will do this for a nominal amount.
– Keep weeds out of your garden. The earlier you start pulling weeds, the fewer you will have during the growing season.
June Events at Dyken Pond EEC
Grafton – The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering the following events in June:
Finding Fish: Saturday, June 29th: 9am-11am
Find out who lives in Dyken Pond and how best to catch them. Fishing poles and tackle provided. For beginner youth. Pre-Registration required. Cost $3.
Capital Dist. Chapter of the Embroider’s Guild of America
Do you enjoy needlework? Would you like to stitch with others that have similar interests? Whether you are a beginner or have experience, come join us. The NY Capital District Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America meets in various locations and at various times. The Day Group meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at Blooming Grove Reformed Church in Defreetsville. Evening meetings are offered in two locations: The Community Room at The Terrace at Beverwyck in Slingerlands from 7p-9p on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month and from 6:30p-9p in the Fellowship Hall of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Clifton Park on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. In addition, there are specialty interest groups that also meet. For more information, check out our website at http://www.nycapega.org or on facebook.com/nydcega. Come Join Us!
Riders Mills Historical Association Paper
Making and the Peaslee Mills program
Riders Mills Historical Association is proud to present Paper Making and the Peaslee Mills in the 19th Century, at Riders Mills Schoolhouse at the junction of Riders Mills Road and Drowne Road at 1PM on Saturday, June 29, 2019.
In 1845-1846 Horace White Peaslee decided to build the mill, in Malden Bridge, New York. It was a brick and granite building eventually employing 40 plus people. At its peak the Peaslee Mill turned out six tons of paper every 24 hours, neatly cut into 40 inches. His distribution went as far as San Francisco.
His machinery was of his and other patents. This meant he could make continuous reams of paper driven by water which would roll the rye straw into a continuous roll of paper, a marvel for that time. He later purchased the Livingston Iron Mill in Ancram, quadrupling the size of the mill. Paper was produced from both mills.
Learn how paper was made in the 19th century and the genius of Horace White Peaslee.
Presented by John Doyle, Riders Mills Historical Society Historian.
Senior Center Grafton Groups
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, has 3 groups that meet on a regular basis. Groups include the Scrapbooking Group, the Quilting Club and the Stitching Chicks Knit and Crochet group.
Residents 60 and older have a good time, sharing ideas, patterns, and fellowship.
For more information on the groups, call 518-279-3413.
Yarn Donations Needed
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Rd, Grafton, is happy to accept any donation of yarn. Many of our center members enjoy knitting and crocheting. They make afghans and lap covers for other seniors, as well as some home bound senior residents and to use as raffle items to help support the activities of the center. We also have members that make hats and mittens to be given at the schools when a child is in need. If you would like to make a donation of yarn, please drop it off at the senior center M-F from 9:00 to 3:00, or call to make arrangements for pickup. Any donation, large or small is appreciated.
DEC Launches Second Phase Of “WomenHuntFishNY” Photo Contest
Following the success of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s DEC) statewide photo contest for women hunters, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the second phase of the “WomenHuntFishNY” contest to celebrate women anglers in the state. The contest officially opens on Monday, June 17, and continues through July 8, 2019.
Women who fish in New York State are encouraged to share their photos by emailing womenhuntfishny@nulldec.ny.gov. DEC welcomes photos of all aspects of safe, legal, and ethical fishing. Contest categories include:
*Freshwater fishing
*Saltwater Fishing
*Ice Fishing
*Youth (girls) fishing
*Mothers and Children/Multi-Generational
*Action shots (Casting, reeling, or landing the big one!)
To be considered in the contest, photos must depict women fishing in New York State. Fishing photos entered in DEC’s fall WomenHuntFishNY hunting photo contest will automatically be entered for consideration. Participants are strongly encouraged to include a sentence to describe their image or experience.
The deadline for contest entries is Monday, July 8. All submissions will become property of DEC to be used in promotions and outreach. Winning entries will be featured on DEC’s website, social media posts, marketing campaigns, print products, and future outreach to inspire future generations of female anglers.
Calendar for Everett Wagar Senior Center
2 Roxborough Rd, Grafton NY
July 1 10:00 Chair Yoga
12:00 Congregate Lunch (Chicken Patty)
1:00 Cards and Games
July 2 Reiki by Appt
9:30 Aerobic Swimming
12:00 Congregate Lunch ( Pollock Fillet)
1:00 Cards and Games
July 3 10:00 Chair Yoga
12:00 Congregate Lunch (Cold Roast Beef platter)
1:00 Card and Games
July 4 – Center CLOSED
July 5 9:45 Chair Yoga
11:00 Eastern Membership Mtg
12:00 Congregate Lunch (Sausage & Peppers)
1:00 Cards and Games
Stephentown Heritage Center increases visiting hours
The Stephentown Historical Society has announced that the Stephentown Heritage Center will welcome visitors on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., beginning on July 6, in addition to the regular weekly Friday hours of 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. These weekend open hours will allow more Stephentown residents and visitors the opportunity to explore what the society offers in genealogy research and local history. The other Saturdays are August 3, September 7, October 5 and November 2. The center is closed during the month of December. The Heritage Center is the former Stephentown Methodist Church at 4 Staples Road at the corner of Garfield Road. It is free and handicapped accessible.
Grafton Merry Makers
The July meeting of the Grafton merrymakers will take place on July 12th at 5:30 pm at the Everett Wager Senior Center, Grafton, NY.
The evening will start with a covered dish at 5:30 pm followed by our monthly meeting at 6:15 pm. We will play bingo after the meeting. If you are interested in this senior group or are planning on joining the Merrymakers please come to our meetings. Any questions please call Betty Jean at 518-272-8624.
Lansingburgh Historical Society
Lansingburgh Historical Society will open the Melville House, 2 114th St., Troy, NY, on July 13, 2019 from 10 am to 2 pm. Our guest “Artist of the Month” will be Kathleen DeRosa. Kathleen is a graduate of Russell Sage College and has traveled extensively even living in a kibbutz! Kay is also the beloved photographer posting her pictures, old and new to the “We Were Burghers Once and Young” Face Book Page. Her book “Lansingburgh Through My Lens” is a compilation of her photos lovingly taken throughout Lansingburgh. She will give a brief talk, have books available for purchase and autographing that day. For further information, please call John or Mary Ellen Ward at 518-885-4295. A $5 donation is always appreciated.
Free Fishing Clinic at Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton Lakes State Park will offer “Go Fish!” a fishing clinic led by DEC’s Fisheries Educators, on Saturday, June 29th, from 9am-1pm. This program is an opportunity to go fishing without a license as part of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Free Fishing Weekend.
This drop-in fishing clinic meets by the boathouse on Long Pond in Grafton Lakes State Park. Children and parents will learn the basics of fishing and identification. Fishing poles will be provided by DEC for this free class. Many children catch their first sunfish during this program each year, so come try your luck!
For more information about our other summer program offerings, please contact the environmental educator at 518-279-1155, ext. 2, or visit our website at www.nysparks.com/parks.
Schodack Island 5th Annual Fishing Derby
Schodack Island 5th Annual Hudson River Fishing Derby Saturday, June 29th, 7:00 AM– 12:00 PM.
Valuable prizes in three age categories for accumulative weight of fish. Anyone under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Free Fishing Weekend– no license needed, but all NYS DEC rules apply. Shoreline Fishing encouraged!
Schodack Island State Park, 1 Schodack Island Way (Route 9J), Schodack Landing, NY 12156. For more information, call (518) 732-0187.
Co-sponsored by Hudson River Bait & Tackle.
Poestenkill Youth Summer Camp
Poestenkill Summer Camp will be held July 8th-August 2nd at Poestenkill Elementary School from 9am-4pm. Each week will be filled with field trips to a variety of locations around the Capital Region including Grafton, Billy Beez, Fun Plex, Liberty Ridge Farm, Valley Cats, Zoom Flume, etc, art projects, STEM challenges, physical activities, water activities and visitors to camp. Swim lessons will be offered at Grafton. Registration information can be found at www.bit.ly/PoestenkillYouth
Contact Town Office at 518-283-5100 with any questions. Submitted by: Tiffany Buker, Camp Director, Town of Poestenkill
Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County Announces Irish Night for Literacy with Triskele
On Thursday, July 11, Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County will host the first-ever Irish Night for Literacy with music by Triskele at the Hangar on the Hudson, 675 River Street, Troy, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:00. Triskele [Tris-kay-lee] is an all-female Celtic band from Albany, N.Y. Known for their stunning harmonies and Irish wit, they sing in the Gaelic language, performing traditional, original and some modern Celtic/Irish music. There will be a special performance by the An Clár School of Irish Dance. All proceeds will benefit LVORC’s literacy services and programs for adults and children in Rensselaer County and nearby communities. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Visit www.lvorc.org or call (518) 244-4650.
Rensselaer Senior Center Community Service Volunteers Needed
Looking For Dedicated Seniors To Help With our Community Service Program Every Thursday After Lunch. Making Afghans and Lap Robes For People in Nursing Homes, Stuffed Animals For The Pediatric Departments in hospitals and emergency rooms, Heart Pillows for Heart and Lung Surgery patients. This Is a Very Rewarding Program and we are Needing A Few More Angels to keep this program in place, or if you are homebound and willing to Crochet or knit from home to help us out, then please call us if interested.
We Are Open Monday thru Friday, 9am-3pm. We are Located in Rensselaer on East and Herrick Streets. Call for Further Info. 518-463-2166.
We Are Taking Empty Clear Pill Bottles; Must Be See Thru.
Nassau Village Historian hosting local history presentations
Nassau Village Historian Kurt Vincent will be hosting three “encore performances” of local history presentations at The Nassau Free Library in July and August. Beat the heat in the cool Community Room as the illustrated slideshow “Nassau at 200” traces this history and development of Nassau Village and the surrounding areas in our bicentennial year. Originally presented in March for the Esquatak Historical Society, the Library shows will take place on Monday, July 15 and repeated on Tuesday, August 13, both at 6:30 pm. On Tuesday, July 30, also at 6:30 pm, “Trolleys Across the Hudson” will trace how Southern Rensselaer County once was home to the first intermodal light rail system in America. Through period photos, personal recollections and even a few sound effects, take a ride on the trolley from downtown Albany all the way to beautiful Nassau. This show was first presented at the 2018 Nassau Local History Fair. All presentations are free. The Library is located at 18 Church Street (US Route 20) in Nassau Village.
Rensselaer County’s Second Annual Farm Day Out!
When: August 18th 12pm-3pm Where: Kinderhook Creek Farm (5168 S Stephentown Rd, Stephentown, NY 12168)
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County and The Eckhardt Family at Kinderhook Creek Farm from 12-3pm on Sunday, August 18th, for Rensselaer County’s Second Annual Farm Day Out! Kinderhook Creek Farm is an 1150+ acre field crop and vegetable farm that has been owned and operated by the Eckhardt’s since 1959. Once parked, a hay wagon ride will take you through some of the fields at Kinderhook Creek Farm. Through interactive demonstrations you will learn about the different crops (such as hay, grain, sweet corn, and the many vegetables) grown on this farm. You will also see how their farm products get to market and eventually to your family’s table. Also, be sure to visit exhibits set up by local organizations & businesses, experience the equipment used on the farm by the farmers and see the 4-H Club sponsored petting zoo. Food, corn on the cob, ice cold watermelon and other farm fresh foods will be available to purchase for your enjoyment. Admission and parking for this event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you Sunday, August 18th!!! If you are interested in being a volunteer, a sponsor, or have any questions please reach out to Kayela in the CCE office at (518)272-4210.
France Magnifique
La Fédération Franco-Américaine du NY is sponsoring a trip to France, featuring the 75th Anniversary of D-Day & Normandy, April 23 – May 7, 2020. Rates include round trip air from New York, air taxes and fees/surcharges, hotel transfers, and 20 meals. Highlights of the trip: Paris, River Seine cruise, Normandy, Omaha Beach, Le Mont St. Michel, Loire Valley, 2-night Chateau stay, winery tour, Lyon, Les Halles de Lyon, Paul Boscuse Market, Avignon, Creme Brûlée Cooking demonstration, Nice, Monaco. Plenty of time to explore on your own. For more information, pricing or a brochure, call Lisa at Plaza Travel at 518-785-3338 or lisa@nullplazatravel.net.
Tree Identification Book
The Arbor Day Foundation has a book that helps people identify trees in a simple, step-by-step process. The book, What Tree Is That?, is available for a $5 donation to the nonprofit tree-planting organization.
What Tree Is That? is a fun, easy-to-use tree identification guide that features hand-drawn botanical illustrations highlighting the distinctive characteristics of many tree species.
Its beautiful, full-color illustrations are in precise detail and depict natural colors, shapes and textures so users can make a positive species identification in a few steps.
The Arbor Day Foundation offers this book to help people identify trees throughout the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. What Tree Is That? uses a unique step-by-step approach for identifying the species of each tree, explaining what to look for in the shape and arrangement of the leaves, differences in the leafstalks and specific characteristics of fruits, flowers, buds and bark.
What Tree is That? is also available as an online interactive version at arborday.org.
To obtain a tree identification guide in full color, visit arborday.org or send your name, address, and $5 for each guide to:
Arbor Day Foundation
What Tree Is That?
100 Arbor Ave.
Nebraska City, NE 68410.
Church of The Redeemer
Sunday service at Church of the Redeemer is at 9:00 followed by coffee hour in the Hearth Room.
There will be CRAFTING on Wednesday at 10:00. We invite you to join us for making items for family and loved ones. Now is the time to start those homemade Christmas gifts and decorations. There is yarn available and we share patterns for your creative needs.
BIBLE STUDY continues at 6:00 on Wednesday. Travel to the land of the prophets of the Old Testament as we learn from the teachings of historian and educator Ray Vander Laan. Come at 5:30 for pizza.
The Church of the Redeemer is located on CDTA bus route #214 at the corner of Third and Catherine Streets. There is handicapped parking and a ramp in front, and a parking lot in the rear. Email RedeemerRensselaer@nullgmail.com or call 518-650-8181. Our website is www. RedeemerRensselaer.com.
Watervliet Senior Center Bingo
WATERVLIET – The Watervliet Senior Center offers bingo on Thursdays at 12:45 and also after some of our monthly dinners; the third Wednesday of every month. If you or someone you know loves bingo, we at the senior center are here to help beginners and pros. It can be an excellent way to promote mental, emotional, and physical health. Call 518-273-4422 for more information.
B-I-N-G-O! Bingo is more than a game. Many people laugh at the image of older people playing bingo, but it has benefits that folks are not aware of. Reflexes and coordination decline naturally as seniors age, but bingo requires players identify numbers as they are called and mark their cards accordingly at a quick clip. Studies show that bingo can significantly improve the hand-eye coordination of many seniors. As the game requires a great deal of mental flexibility and alertness to grasp, identify, and remember specific information, bingo may also help improve your loved one’s cognitive acuity and short-term memory.
Bingo events typically involve a lot of laughter and excitement. As laughter triggers a number of physical changes in the body that can boost the immune system, relieve stress, and even diminish pain, bingo can actually promote your loved one’s general health. Players make friends and become more social, as well.