Thursday April 25, 2024 
Upcoming Programs at Grafton Lakes State Park
(Cropseyville, NY) – Join us for our upcoming spring programs:
Saturday, March 23rd— Busy Beavers, 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! $2/person or $5/family. Pre-register: (518-279-1155)
Thursday, March 28th —Book Club at the Welcome Center, 6:30pm– Join us for a discussion on Frans de Waal’s “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?” Please use the park’s winter entrance off Long Pond Road as the main gate will be closed. New members always welcome!
Saturday, March 30th– Feathered Friends: Watch Out for Your Backyard Birds, 10am. Help keep track of birds nesting around your home. Learn how to take part in NestWatch, a community science program originally launched by Cornell University. Pre-register: (518)-279-1155.
Saturday, April 13th— Spring Scavenger Hunt at the Welcome Center, 10am-3pm. Drop-in anytime between 10am and 3pm at the Welcome Center to participate in the spring scavenger hunt! Start at the front desk, then go outside to enjoy some spring weather and an active challenge around the building or out on the trails! Family friendly and all ages welcome.
Saturday, April 20th– Birds and Bagels at the Welcome Center, 10am. Enjoy a bagel while observing our most active spring friends– the birds! $3 per person. Ages 8+. Program will be held inside. Pre-register: (518)-279-1155 and let us know what kind of bagel you would like.
Thursday, April 25th—Trout Discovery Day, 1-3pm. Come help us release trout into the park’s ponds! Bring a bucket for your fish friend and be ready for some fun fishy activities too! Event meets at the Deerfield Pavilion. $2/person or $5/family. Pre-registration required: (518)-279-1155.
Friday, April 26th—Tree, Tree, Hooray! at the Welcome Center, 1pm. Join us in celebrating Arbor Day by showing your tall forest friends some love! Enjoy a tree-themed craft and an outdoor walk (weather permitting). Family friendly. $2/person or $5/family. Pre-register: 518-279-1155.
Saturday, April 27th—Celebrate Earth Day at Grafton Lakes State Park at the Welcome Center, 1pm. Enjoy the spring weather and learn positive ways that you can make a difference in protecting the place we all call home– the earth! Games, activities, and a short hike (weather permitting) will make for a fun afternoon. Family friendly. $2/person or $5/family. Pre-register: 518-279-1155.
Creatures of the Air Series: April 6th and May 4th: 1-3pm
Grafton – The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering a series focusing on the flying animals of the Rensselaer Plateau. Youth will explore the amazing worlds of Bats (April 6) and Birds (May 4) through these interactive programs. Attend one or both sessions for $3 per session.
Session 1: Bats
Youth will learn about native bats and what makes them special, complete a bat themed craft and play a game to enhance understanding of how bats hunt. Preregistration required.
Session 2: Birds
Youth will learn about the adaptations that make birds unique from all other animals as well as how to identify common local birds by sight and sound. We will cover binocular use before taking a short hike to practice our identification skills and to explore habitat. Binoculars are available for loan to all participants. Preregistration required.
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Preregister for all events by calling (518) 658-2055 or email dykenpond@gmailcom. Call for more information and a complete schedule of our winter events or visit www.dykenpond.org.
Guided Moonlit Walk at Schodack Island State Park
Schodack Landing, NY – Enjoy a free, family-friendly walk guided by Fran Martino at Schodack Island State Park on Friday, April 19, 2019. The program will meet at the Comfort Station, beginning promptly at 7:30 PM and ending at about 9:30 PM. The walk will cover 2 miles of easy terrain at a leisurely pace and will stop to view the illuminated Schodack Creek. Registration is suggested; please call the Park Office at (518) 732-0187. Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring a bottle of water and flashlight for safety. Sweatshirts will be available for purchase at the Park Office before the event.
For more Information about Schodack Island State Park events, please call the Park Office at (518) 732-0187, check out our Facebook Page Schodack Island State Park, or visit www.nysparks.com/parks.
Caraline Wood of Wynantskill, Earns NEWMAC Softball Weekly Honors
WPI senior Caraline Wood and sophomore Katie Martin swept the NEWMAC softball weekly awards, as revealed Monday afternoon. Wood collected her second career athlete of the week nod while Martin earned her first pitcher of the week honor.
Wood hit .442 with 10 extra-base hits, featuring three home runs including a grand slam, 16 RBI and 11 runs scored in the first 12 games of the season. The senior’s week was highlighted by six multi-hit games with four versus Bluffton (HR) and three against St. Joseph’s (ME), Ohio Northern (2 doubles, grand slam) and St. John Fisher (HR).
Martin, the first WPI pitcher to be feted since classmate Nicole Kuberka for the week ending April 29, 2018, went 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA while striking out 28 batters in 26 innings over six appearances, including four starts and a pair of complete games, during the Engineers stay at the Sunkissed Games. After striking out five in her season debut versus Bluffton, Martin set down a career-high 11 against Illinois College. The sophomore then sandwiched a six K performance opposite Muskingum with three in each game with Ohio Northern.
Softball (7-5) is idle until it hosts Westfield State at 3:30pm on Friday, March 22.
Tyler Mack Honored with AP Youth Soccer League Award
The Averill Park Youth Soccer League is proud to announce Tyler Mack as the first winner of the Kelsey Kittleson Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a player who participates on an indoor Winter Soccer Travel Team. He demonstrates good sportsmanship on and off the field, and does community service for his church, school, and teams. Tyler feels that, “I possess many of the same qualities as Kelsey, and I plan on continuing to do these things in order be a good person and to honor her memory.”
Congratulations Tyler on your award.
Arianna Papas, of Castleton, Earns Spot on Assumption Softball Team
WORCESTER, MA) — The Assumption Department of Athletics has announced that Arianna Papas, of Castleton, has earned a roster spot on the 2019 Assumption Softball team. Papas, Class of 2022, will compete during the Greyhounds’ spring season.
“I am honored and humbled to be coaching such a strong group of student-athletes,” said Jon Ladino who is entering his second season as head coach of the Assumption Softball team. “Every day we strive to be better than the day before both on the field and in the classroom. The hard work and effort that this team puts forth every day is unmatched and will contribute to a successful 2019 season. I am excited to see how we perform.”
Coming off an NE-10 Tournament appearance each of the past three seasons, the Assumption Softball team was picked fourth in the NE10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the 2019 season. The team began their season with the annual spring break trip to Florida, where they went 5-5, and returned to Assumption for the home opener on March 16.
For more information on Assumption athletics, visit www.assumptiongreyhounds.com.
Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest to celebrate basketball madness
ALBANY, NY – College basketball fans are invited to enjoy great local food, college pep bands and free family activities during the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest at the Albany Capital Center on Friday, March 29, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Admission to the Fan Fest is free.
The event will be held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional at the Times Union Center, which will include some of the best collegiate women’s basketball teams in the country. The tournament is co-hosted by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Siena College.
The Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest will be highlighted by sampling opportunities of signature dishes from Albany County restaurants, including 677 Prime; Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen; Black and Blue Steak and Crab; Cider Belly Doughnuts; City Beer Hall; Iron Gate Café; Public House 42; Valente’s Restaurant; Vintage House; and Wellington’s.
Guests will also enjoy samples of wine, cider and craft beer selections courtesy of Saratoga Eagle.
Sampling tickets for the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest are available at www.albanyfanfest.com. Fans can save $2 per set of tickets with advance purchase. Tickets purchased in advance are $8 and entitle guests to five tasting dishes. Tasting tickets will also be available at the door for $10 (cash only).
Wine, cider and craft beer tasting tickets will be $5 for three samples and are available exclusively at the event (cash only; must be at least 21 years old with a valid ID).
The Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest will also feature free family-friendly activities and entertainment, including face painting, balloon artists, inflatables, and college pep bands.
The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional will get underway on Friday, March 29 with matchups at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The winners will face each other in the Albany Regional Final on Sunday, March 31 at noon. The winner of the Albany Regional will advance to the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four.
For more information about the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest, visit www.AlbanyFanFest.com.