Saturday April 20, 2024 
Free Yoga Fridays
Join us for gentle and relaxing yoga every Friday at the Presbyterian United Church of Schaghticoke from 7-8pm. The Church is located at 16 Main St., Schaghticoke. For more information, visit presbychurchmouse@yahoo. com.
Baseball Umpires Needed
The Capital District Baseball Umpires Association is looking for new members for the 2019 season. Training classes meet weekly in February and March. Introductory meeting is Thursday, January 31, 7:00 p.m. at Shaker Junior High. Go to cdbua.com or, call Bob at 518-986-5987, for more info”
~Bob Umholtz-President, CDBUA
Dyken Pond Family Snowshoe Program
Join us on Friday, December 28th, from 1-3pm. Youth, families and adults can congregate in a beautiful natural setting while learning the fundamentals of snowshoeing. After a brief introduction, we will snowshoe for about 2 hours, looking for signs of animals and enjoying a winter day outdoors. Preregistration is required at (518) 658-2055 or dykenpond@nullgmail.com. Cost is $5 and includes individual snowshoe rental.
Please check the website or call (518) 658-2055 for possible program cancellations.
Snowshoe at Poestenkill Community Forest
Celebrate the New Year on the land! On Sunday, December 30th, from 10 am to noon, join Fred DeMay as he leads a snowshoe at the Poestenkill Community Forest. We might wander onto some new lands that were just protected by, expanding the Community Forest! For more info or to register, e-mail Francille Egbert at fran.egbert@nullgmail.com. Co-sponsored by The Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance. $5 donation collected the day of the event.
Free Tai Chi Classes
The Presbyterian United Church is hosting free Tai Chi classes at 10am on Saturdays. All levels- Chair and standing…try Tai Chi. Please share with anyone you might consider interested.
The Church is located at 165 Main Street in Schaghticoke.
Renss. Co. 4-H Horse Program Year-End Recognition event
Year-End Award highlights were presented in addition to year-end completion certificates to all members and appreciation favors sponsored by our 4-H Teen Council to all our 4-H Leaders.
4-H High Point – Novice Lily Franklin and Reserve Olivia Laurin; Junior High Point Lindsey Oswald and Reserve Lily Czub; Senior High Point Morgan Bechand and Reserve Maeve Corcoran and Taylor Hansen.
Bronze Horse Shoe Awards – Beibhinn Corcoran, Nicole Tilley, Alyssa Jacon, Madeline Bechand, Kendra Roberts, Erin Goodermote, Kira Colarossi, Mikayla Malenfant, Taylor Hansen, Nathan Goodermote, James Czub, Morgan Bechand, Abbi Reeves, Kylin Hemmings, Abigail Trinkle, Lily Czub, Grace Huffam and Amanda Thrasher.
Silver Horse Shoe Awards Junior – Ava Severance; Intermediate – Olivia Harrington and Senior – Maeve Corcoran.
Golden Horse Shoe Awards Junior – Lindsey Oswald; Intermediate – Nessa Corcoran and Senior – Brigham Logue.
Exceptional Horse Records – Shawn Malenfant, Alyssa Jacon, Molly Czub, Abbi Reeves, Brigham Logue, Taylor Hansen, Amanda Thrasher, Teigan Catlin, Kendra Roberts, Abigail Trinkle, Mikayla Malenfant, Annika Silver, Madeline Bechand, Madison Conde, Kira Colarossi, Julia Neet, Alicia Minkler, Clara Corbin, Karissa Scheeren, Carlo Colarossi, Thomas Colarossi, Kiley Howes, Sophie Neet and Beihbinn Corcoran.
Schaghticoke Fair Herdsmanship – First Blue to Jogging Juniors, blues to Equitation Unlimited, Cantering Cowpokes, Boots and Bridles, Trail Blazers, Barn Bums and green Stablemates.
For more information about 4-H in your area, please contact your respective Cornell Cooperative Extension office.
Grafton Lakes State Park to hold 24th Annual Winter Festival
Join us on Saturday, January 26th. There will be outdoor events along with indoor exhibits, food vendors, and family-friendly recreational activities. The event is free of charge and runs from 10-4pm.
Join in a guided snowshoe or cross-country ski outing or borrow snowshoes for a free demo around the park. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, a morning walk for dogs, as well as a K-9 Unit demonstration. For the kids; snow bowling hill, snowshoe races and a snowball toss, as well as sled rides with the charming Northland Newfoundlands. Also enjoy free snowmobile rides, snow fort building, and an ice dive demonstration.
The Polar Plunge, kicks off the main events at 10:30AM. 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.
Note that this year’s Ice Fishing contest is being held on the weekend before, Saturday, January 19th. Please call the park for more info; 518-279-1155.
Dec Encourages Anglers to Put Safety First When Ice Fishing
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encouraged anglers to put safety first when ice fishing. Four inches of solid ice is usually safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. However, ice thickness can vary on waterbodies and even within the same waterbody. Anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup. The presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions. DEC strongly encourages individuals to check ice conditions and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk. Testing the thickness of ice can easily be done with an auger or ice spud at various spots.
“Ice fishing is a popular sport in New York State and with the temperatures dropping around the region, anglers are looking forward to an early start to the season this year,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The rush to get out onto the ice can lead to tragedy unless anglers remain vigilant about the condition of the ice. Anglers should heed DEC’s recommendation of at least four inches of solid clear ice before venturing out on the ice.”
Ice fishing continues to increase in popularity in New York State. Unlike the open water season, when an angler usually needs a boat to access good fishing locations, no boat is required to access these locations once a water is covered with safe ice. It’s also a great sport for families, as they can mix in skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or other activities during an ice fishing trip.
As part of Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting initiative February 16-17, 2019, has been designated as a free fishing weekend. The requirement for a fishing license is waived during this period. This is a great opportunity to try ice fishing for the first time or for experienced anglers to take friends ice fishing for the first time.
Anglers are reminded to take these important steps when using baitfish while ice fishing:
Follow the bait fish regulations to prevent the spread of harmful fish diseases and invasive species (please see: Special Regulations by County):
Use only certified disease-free bait fish purchased at a local tackle store or use only personally collected bait fish for use in the same water body in which they were caught. Do not reuse baitfish in another waterbody if you have replaced the water they were purchased in; and
Dump unused baitfish and water in an appropriate location on dry land.
Anglers are reminded to make sure that they have a valid fishing license before heading out on the ice. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.
Reiki for Seniors
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, NY – Our center is offering Reiki appointments. Reiki is a healing technique where a therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch to activate the natural healing process of the body and restore physical and emotional well-being. We have a Reiki Master available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is non- evasive and very relaxing.
For more information, or if you are interested in making an appointment, please call 518-279-3413.