Saturday April 20, 2024 
Upcoming Programs at Grafton Lakes State Park
(Cropseyville, NY) – Join us for our upcoming spring programs:
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.
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 7:00 PM and ending at about 9:00 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.
Dance Alliance Pat & Sven Peterson Summer Dance Scholarship
The Dance Alliance of the Capital Region is proud to announce the Pat & Sven Peterson Summer Dance Scholarship program for Summer 2019! Dancers in grade 7 though sophomore year in college who are planning on attending a summer dance intensive program are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current student member of the Dance Alliance and for a small fee of $6.00 may join to become a member by going to http://www.dancealliance.org/membership/join/.
The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of the applicant’s past dance experience and potential to make a contribution in dance to the applicant’s local dance community or to the field of dance in general. Preference is given to those who are in the Capital District and those who have not recently received a scholarship from the Dance Alliance. The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 28th, and all scholarship applicants will be notified of their status by Monday, May 20, 2019. To apply go to www.dancealliance.org/scholarship/. For questions contact Tina Baird at 518-581-1791 or tfbtap@nullnycap.rr.com.
Search and Rescue Volunteers Needed
The Tri-State Emergency Team is recruiting volunteers to provide wildland and underwater searches within a 100-mile radius of Waterford, NY. This includes all aspects of field and underwater search. The Tri-State Emergency Team responds when requested by NYS Forest Rangers and other Police Agencies throughout New York State, Western Vermont and Massachesettes.
We are looking for certified scuba divers, experienced boat handlers, and people who enjoy hiking and the outdoors in general who wish to help people in need. The team will provide training and complete support as needed. Our headquarters is located in Waterford. Applicants need not live in Waterford to volunteer. If interested, please call 518-237-6744 or visit our website at www.tri-stateemergencyteam.org
Averill Park Road Runners Track and Field Program
Register now for the Averill Park Road Runners 2019 Track & Field season! The club is for anyone ages 7-14 who enjoys running, jumping, throwing and having FUN! Events include sprints, distance running, hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, turbo javelin and discus. AP School District residency is NOT required. Practices at AP High School Monday & Thursday evenings and some optional Saturday mornings. Several meets throughout the season, from April 8th through the USATF Junior Olympics in July and August.
Registration and more information at www.aproadrunners.com. Registration fee includes a uniform ($65 before 3/18, increasing to $75, 3/18-4/8; and $90, 4/9-5/8; $10 sibling discount). Membership in the U.S. Track and Field Association ($20) is required and provides insurance coverage. Contact tfcoaches@nullaproadrunners.com for help with registration or questions.
We’re a parent-run organization, and parental involvement is required. All abilities and skill levels are welcome. See you at the track!
Berlin Central School 3rd annual 5K Walk/ Run & Wellness Fair
The Berlin Central School 3rd annual 5K Walk/Run & Wellness Fair will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019.
*5K starts at 9am (see details below) *Wellness Fair 10am-3pm *The 5K proceeds will go to the following: 1.) The Berlin SMITH Scholarship – The SMITH Scholarship will go to a graduating Berlin student who demonstrates the following qualities: Service-Merit-Integrity-Truth-Honor in honor of Bob Smith, a Berlin Graduate. 2.) The Sturge Weber Foundation in honor of a current Berlin student, Evan Arena. There will be a Wellness fair following the 5K. We will have a variety of free activities for the young and old, alike. The focus for this event is as follows: Mental Wellness, Financial Wellness, Physical Wellness and Social Wellness/Safety. Starting at 10am at the top of each hour there will be games, presentations, and fun. There will be activities for all ages, food, and many local vendors/businesses sharing their expertise. The race will start in the Berlin Middle/High School parking lot at 9 am (race day registration 8-8:30 am). There is a registration fee for both walkers and runners: Race day registration will be $25.
Contact Ariel Gilbert. 518-258-7274. Agilbert@nullberlincentral.org
Berlin Central Schools, PO Box 259, Berlin, NY 12022 ATTN: Mrs. Gilbert. Checks made payable to: Berlin Middle School Student Council
JDRF Sets One Walk Great Escape for Saturday, May 11
LATHAM, N.Y.— JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Northeastern New York Chapter, the local branch of the national non-profit Organization dedicated to type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, are teaming up again for this year’s One Walk Great Escape.
One of the largest fundraising walks in the northeast, the event will take place at the popular Queensbury theme park on Saturday, May 11, the park’s opening weekend.
“We are thrilled to return to The Great Escape,” said JDRF Development Manager Danielle Unser Slater. “The park is such a fun, family friendly location and an ideal site for our walkers, volunteers and sponsors to gather and fundraise to support critically needed T1D research and create a world without T1D. The Great Escape’s iconic lineup of thrills and entertainment offer tremendous value to our participants and create a fun, memorable day.”
“Last year, 1,600 participants raised $411,000. This year we are hoping to recruit 2,000 walkers who will raise more than $514,000,” she added.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 11 a.m. The route meanders through the park and ends back at the pavilion where lunch is served to all walkers. The festivities include a Kid’s Zone, photo booth station, DJ, jumbotron, magician, and refreshments courtesy of SYSCO Albany.
“In order to maximize funds raised for T1D research, walkers who raise $100 or more will receive free park admission and our commemorative One Walk t-shirt,” explained Unser Slater. “For those who don’t reach that threshold, discount admission coupons will be available to use on walk day. Walkers who opt not to go into the park because they didn’t raise the $100, don’t want to purchase a ticket, or simply choose not to, may return to their car and carry on with their day. We look at going to the park as an added incentive, especially since a ticket to the Great Escape on any other day costs around $60.”
Since the walk will take place on Mother’s Day weekend, JDRF plans to provide a special Moms’ Tent for all mothers of children with T1D. Sponsored by CAP COM Federal Credit Union, the tent will feature massage chairs, delicious mock-tails and a flower for each mom.
Participants who raise $1,000 or more will be assigned V1P status, giving them access to the V1P area, an exclusive V1P lanyard, front-of-the-line ride access, as well as a free go-cart or sky coaster ride!
Event parking is free. A discount room block is also available at Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark. JDRF participants should use code “GES.”
For more information and to register, visit walk.jdrf.org/GreatEscape or call (518) 477-2873.
Sponsors include The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Swagelok, CAP COM Federal Credit Union, Sysco Albany, Hoffman Car Wash & Jiffy Lube, and Exyte.
Intercounty Women’s Golf Assoc. Looking for Members
Join the Intercounty Women’s Golf Association – or, play as a guest at any of the events. Fun competition for all levels. Choose the courses you want to play – or play them all! All handicaps welcome. For approximately $45-50 per tournament: greens fees & cart, continental breakfast & lunch, prizes.
2019 schedule: Burden Lake, Sycamore, Winding Brook, Blackhead, Sunnyhill, Wiltwyck, Catskill, Red Hook, Frear Park, Rip Van Winkle, Windham, Rainbow, Thunderhart, Christman’s, Lazy Swan. $20 annual league fee. E-mail Val Chakedis vchakedis@nullicloud.com for more information.
Sand Lake Town Board Seeking Park/Beach Advisory Committee Members
The Sand Lake Town Board is seeking 7-9 volunteers to serve on a Butler Park/Town Beach Advisory Committee. We are looking for committed, enthusiastic individuals wanting to assist the Town Board in setting priorities for improvements to these recreation areas. While the Committee will set its own meeting schedule and select its own Chairperson, the group should plan to meet twice monthly to review Park/Beach plans, establish development and spending priorities, obtain costs associated with suggested improvements, and make recommendations to the Town Board for consideration in the 2020 Budget.
We want this committee to represent as many demographics in the Town as possible. Prior town government involvement is not a prerequisite; in fact, we sincerely hope people with no prior experience will apply. It is an excellent way to become part of our town’s decision-making process and positively impact two important recreation resources for our town.
You may apply through the “Contact Us” and “Email a Question or Comment” on our Town website. Explain a bit who you are and why you are interested in serving on the committee. We will accept applications through April 19, 2019 and will form the committee shortly thereafter. If you have any questions, please reach out to Supervisor Perry at nperry@nullsand-lake.us or call (518) 674-2026, ext. 112.
~Nancy Perry
Town Supervisor
Senior Golf Partners Wanted
The first nine-week session for two senior golf leagues is looking for duffers, golfers who want to have fun and do not want to keep score. The revitalized Pheasant Hollow Golf Course is reserving Thursday and Monday mornings at eight thirty for these two leagues. Golf clubs to use are available in the Pro Shop.
RENSSELAER SENIOR CENTER GOLF LEAGUE: Starting Thursday, May 2nd. Call the Center for more information (518) 463-2166.
EAST GREENBUSH GOLF LEAGUE: Starting, Monday, May 6th. Call (518) 423-5010.
Grafton Lakes State Park Seeks Volunteers
For I Love My Park Day
(Cropseyville, NY) – Grafton Lakes State Park will be hosting their annual I Love My Park Day event on Saturday, May 4th. Volunteers will join friends of all ages for a morning of service on park trails, shores, and fields. The parks will thank their volunteers with tasty morning refreshments and a free t-shirt! Check-in is at 9am at the Welcome Center, with the event wrapping up at noon. Scout troops, outdoor clubs, families and anyone interested are all welcome.
For more information about park events or to pre-register for I Love My Park Day, please call Grafton’s welcome center at 518-279-1155 or find the online registration site through www.ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day. For future program information you can also visit the “Grafton Lakes State Park” Facebook page.
For more information, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
A New Sport That Will Last A Lifetime
Here’s your opportunity to learn a new sport that will last a lifetime. Fly Fishing!! Home Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be offering clinics and guest speakers at their monthly meetings. The April meeting will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at 6:00 PM at the Grafton Lakes State Park Welcome Center, which is located at the end of the main parking lot. If main gates are closed, please enter via the Winter Entrance at the four corners in Grafton.
Our guest speakers this month will be Elizabeth Mosher and Natalie Ohl who will speak about taxonomy of streams. Elizabeth earned a Bachelor’s of Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Conservation Biology. Her undergraduate honors thesis was focused on comparing the macroinvertebrates assemblage into very distinct central NY lakes. Elizabeth now works as Field and Laboratory Coordinator and Aquatic Arthropod Taxonomists at Watershed Assessment Associates. Elizabeth holds two Society of freshwater Sciences Taxonomy Certifications.
Natalie Ohl earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Ecology, Environment, and Evolution from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her work was on the thermal preference of two species of darters under the threat of predation. She is working to complete her Masters of Water Science from Murray State University studying the re-colonization of macroinvertebrates and Ledbetter embayment on Kentucky Lake. Natalie has been a professional aquatic macroinvertebrates taxonomists for eleven years identifying macroinvertebrates from across the United States and Canada. She currently works at Watershed Assessment Associates as a Senior Taxonomists. Natalie holds five Society of Freshwater Sciences Taxonomy certifications.
A short business meeting immediately following the presentation. All are encouraged and welcome to attend. Mark your calendar and we hope to see you there. Contact us at homewaterstu@nullgmail.com or 518-326-6201 for more information.
Trout Discovery Day at Grafton Lakes State Park
(Cropseyville, NY) – Grafton Lakes State Park will be hosting Discovery Day on Thursday, April 25th, from 1-3pm. Trout find a healthy home in the park’s ponds, and you can release them into the water with us! We’ve been raising them since November and now is your chance to see them swim free. Bring a bucket for your fish friend and be ready for some fun fishy activities too! To find event, enter main park entrance on Route 2 and park where directed in Deerfield Pavilion. Staff will direct you down the hill to Second Pond. $2/person or $5/family. Please pre-register: 518-279-1155.
For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
Spring 4-H Shooting Sports Session for Youth
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County 4-H Youth Development program is holding a four week 4-H Shooting Sports session. This program is for youth ten and older who would like to learn about the safe and responsible use of archery equipment and firearms as well as equipment maintenance and other related topics. In doing so, the 4-H Shooting Sports program provides opportunities for youth to gain valuable skills, practice leadership, and build relationships with non-parent adults. This 4-H Shooting Sports session will meet on Thursdays, May 2, 9, and 16 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. There will be a mandatory safety class on Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm at the CCE office, located at 61 State St., Troy, on the second floor. There is a $40.00 registration fee for 4-H members and $50.00 for non-members. Pre-registration is required, and registration will be limited. To register a youth, or for more information, please contact Eileen DePaula at 518-272-4210 or emd32@nullcornell.edu. No one shall be denied the opportunity to participate or receive information based on their ability to pay. If you have special needs that we can accommodate please let us know at the time of your call.
Burden Lake Junior Ambassadors of Golf
Ron Choquette came up to Burden lake from the Jersey Shore in 1983. For over 30 years, Ron taught Juniors how to play the game of golf. Some Juniors went on to play in College and one became a PGA Professional. Over 2500 kids learned the game of Golf from Ron. This summer, Ron is coming out of retirement to run the Junior Golf Program.
As a kickoff to summer, we are offering an award for two junior golfers as BLCC Ambassadors of Golf. The two ambassadors will get a free membership to Burden Lake Country Club, a set of golf clubs and the chance to meet PGA Professionals at the Traveler’s Championship in Hartford, Connecticut.
To participate for the Junior Ambassador of Golf, you must be between the age of 10 to 17 and a resident of Rensselaer County. We have a questionnaire to fill out on our website, www.burdenlakecountryclub.com. All questionnaires should be filled out and returned by May 20th. We will announce the winners by June 1st.
We plan to make this an annual award to help promote junior golf in the area. Ron made a commitment to Junior Golf a long time ago, and we plan to keep the commitment in the future.
New MS Prevalence Number Inspires People to Join Walk MS
TROY, NY – An estimated 750 people are expected to raise more than $185,000 at Walk MS: Albany on Sunday, May 5th, at Tri-City Valley Cats Stadium. This year, walkers are inspired by a new study conducted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and published in the February 15, 2019, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, which shows more than twice as many people in the U.S. are living with multiple sclerosis than previously thought. The previous studies estimated the prevalence to be 400,000, but this new study shows that number is closer to 1 million.
“Twice as many people need a cure and to know they have a community to support them,” said Cyndi Zagieboylo, President and CEO of the National MS Society. “Nobody should face MS alone, which is why Walk MS is so powerful as the gathering place for the MS movement….”
WHEN: Sunday, May 5, at 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: Tri-City Valley Cats Stadium, 80 Vandenburgh Avenue, Troy, NY 12180
Why Walk MS? Walk MS helps fuel groundbreaking MS research and provide life-changing services to those affected by MS through creating a supportive community of friends, families and loved ones who fundraise and connect.
REGISTER: To find a walk near you, to participate or to volunteer, visit walkMS.org, call 855-372-1331 or email fundraisingsupport@nullnmss.org.
DEC Announces 2018-19 Deer Harvest Estimates
Hunters in New York harvested an estimated 227,787 deer during the 2018-19 hunting seasons, approximately 12 percent more than the previous season, State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced.
“Hunting benefits all New Yorkers by reducing negative impacts of deer on forests, agricultural crops, and communities, while contributing an estimated $690 million to the state’s economy through hunting-related expenses and license purchases, which helps support conservation and resource management efforts at DEC,” said Commissioner Seggos.
The estimated deer take included 114,402 antlerless deer and 113,385 antlered bucks. Statewide, this represents a 20-percent increase in antlerless harvest and a five-percent increase in buck harvest from the last season. The increase in antlerless harvest comes on the heels of a lower-than-desired antlerless harvest in 2017 and will help limit growth in areas with an overpopulation. Regionally, hunters took 28,642 deer in the Northern Zone and 199,145 deer in the Southern Zone. With nearly 60 percent of the adult buck harvest 2.5 years or older, hunters took an estimated 66,697 older bucks, setting another record in the percentage and total number of older bucks in the harvest.
“Whether through organized deer hunting cooperatives or due to personal decisions, it’s exciting to see how the voluntary choice of hunters to Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow is shifting our buck harvest,” Seggos said. “Many hunters desire to see older, large bucks on the landscape, and as hunters choose to pass on shots at young bucks, that change is happening.”
In addition, hunters increased the rate at which they reported their harvest in 2018, for the second year in a row. Although harvest reporting is required by law, the portion of successful hunters who report their harvest has averaged around 45 percent for the past decade. Hunters have increased their reporting rates to 50 percent in 2017, and 51 percent in 2018. Along with DEC’s Take It · Tag It · Report It campaign, the agency has made the process of harvest reporting easier for hunters by providing phone, internet, and mobile app options. Harvest reports are critically important for accurate monitoring of deer harvests, and DEC hopes hunters continue to contribute to the management process by complying with the reporting requirements.
DEC’s 2018 Deer Harvest Summary report (PDF) provides tables, charts, and maps detailing the deer harvest around the state. Past harvest summaries are available on DEC’s website.