Upcoming calendar

COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO MOURN: A six-week non-denominational Christian grief support group for anyone grieving the death of a loved one will run Wednesdays from 4:30p.m. – 6 p.m. starting March 6at St. Lukes on the Hill, 40McBride Road, Mechanicville. Sessions are facilitated by The Rev. Lynne Curtis, LCSW and Pat Greenhall, widow. All those interested are invited to stay for Eucharist at 6p.m. and potluck dinner at 6:30p.m. after each session. To register, or for more information, please call 518-664-4834or email stlukesonthehill@biznycap. rr.com.

SPRING QUILT SHOW:

A spring quilt show sponsored by Quilters United in Learning Together of Delmar (Q.U.I.L.T. Inc.) with over 200quilts will be held on Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. – 5p.m. and Sunday, April 7, from 10a.m. – 4p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on Hoosick Street, Troy. There will be thirteen vendors, four Guild speakers, a display of suffrage blocks honoring Susan B. Anthony, a Guild-sponsored mini-mart, raffles, demonstrations and Gift Gallery. Admission is $8for one day, $12for both days. The Hilton is handicapped accessible; there is extensive free parking and valet service. For more information visit www. quiltinc.org.

LITTLE ITALY NIGHT: Little Italy Night on Sunday, February 17, at Colonie Elks Lodge #2192includes a live Italian band, a “Build Your Own” pasta bar including dessert, and beverages available for purchase. 2 p.m. – 6p.m., 11Elks Lane, Latham. $20per person. Advance tickets required by February 9. Call 518-7853557for more information. BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Bethel Baptist Church, 2165 5th Avenue, Troy, hosts special Black History Month activities on February 18-22 from noon – 3p.m. Call 518-274-4303for more information.

TROOP 45SPAGHETTI DINNER: Boy Scout Troop 45hosts an all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatball dinner from 5p.m. – 7:30p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Shenendehowa United Methodist Church, located on Route 146in Clifton Park, across the street from the entrance to the Shenendehowa School District Campus. A Silent Auction will be held during the event. Adults $10, seniors and children ages 4-10$8, children under 3free. Families of up to six people $30; $5 for each additional family member. Proceeds benefit Troop 45in the procurement and providing financial assistance for summer camp and trips. For more information, please email cquail76@ gmail.com.

EASTERN NY FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE: Registration is open for the 2019Eastern NY Fruit & Vegetable Conference, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program on February 19-21at the Desmond Conference Center, 660Albany-Shaker Road, Albany. The event features more than 50vendors at the trade show. DEC credits are available for multiple sessions over the course of the event. Pre-registration and discounted rate available until February 11. To register, or for more information, visit enych.cce.cornell.edu. FREE EMT TRAINING: Mohawk Ambulance Service is now accepting applications for its free EMT Training Course. The five-month course is offered free of charge to qualified applicants, making it possible for a candidate to become certified without a large personal investment. Two classes will be offered simultaneously; one meets mostly on Mondays from February 18– June 20; the other runs Fridays from February 22– July 18. All sessions are held at Mohawk’s training facility, 570 Central Avenue. Applicant interviews are being scheduled through February 4. Interested parties are asked to submit an application to www.mohawkambulanceservice.com/careers. RENSSELAER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: New exhibits for 2019at the Rensselaer County Historical Society include “Bridging Rensselaer County: Two Centuries of Crossing the Hudson,” opening February 22, and “From County Drives to the Grand Tour: Travels To and From Rensselaer County,” opening March 20. By popular demand, “The Amazing Miniature World of Buttons” has been held over through April. RCHS inaugurates a new 1st Thursday History Talk series with Jill Witbeck Knapp’s lecture, “1869AntiRent War Murder of Sheriff Griggs” on February 7.An exciting year of historic house and walking tours includes 2nd Saturday Hart-Cluett House Tours from Spring to Fall and Saturday Walking Tours in May, June, September and October. RCHS is located at 57Second Street, Downtown Troy. For more information and the latest news, visit https://www. rchsonline.org. WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY SYMPOSIUM: The Fort Plain Museum’s first George Washington’s Birthday Symposium takes place on Saturday, February 16. Five renowned historians/authors will give presentations: Edward G. Lengel on “Setting the Example: George Washington’s Military Leadership;” Bruce Chadwick on “George & Martha;” William Larry Kidder on “George Washington’s Ten Crucial Days;” Norman J. Bollen on “George Washington and the Mohawk Frontier;” and William M. Fowler,

Jr., “George Washington and the Newburgh Conspiracy.” 8:15a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Fulton-Montgomery Community College, 2805 NY-67,Johnstown. Advance registration $25, $40at the door; students $20. Fee includes a lunch sandwich buffet and refreshment breaks. To register, email your name, phone number, email address, city and state to fortplainmuseum@ yahoo.com. Credit cards can be accepted by phone at 518-774-5669. Checks can be made out to The Fort Plain Museum, and sent to PO Box 324, Fort Plain NY 13339(add Attn: GW BDAY). Visit www.fortplainmuseum. com for more details. FREELANCE WRITING COURSE: Discover the step-by-step process for establishing yourself in the highly desirable field of freelance writing in a two-session course, “You Can Be a Freelance Writer,” held on February 20and 27 from 12:30p.m. – 2:30p.m. at the Albany JCC’s Massry Senior Center, 182Washington Avenue Extension, Albany. Instructor Pauline Bartel is an award-winning writer with more than 40 years of experience in the competitive freelance marketplace. Tuition is $39for JCC members and $49for the general public. A materials fee of $15is payable to the instructor at the first class. Register by calling 518-438-6651ext. 112. For more information visit www. paulinebartel.com. SPEIGLE ELDERS: The Speigle Elders have scheduled a meeting for 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, with a complimentary lunch featuring sub sandwiches and holiday cookies to celebrate the new year and Valentine’s Day. The monthly charity collection will be held and yearly dues will be collected. Plans for the February 27Soup and Bread luncheon will be finalized at this meeting. DAFFODIL BRUNCH: Starting February 1, The Friends of Oakwood will take phone reservations for their popular Daffodil Brunch on Sunday, April 14, in the ornate Gardner Earl Chapel. Seatings will take place at 10a.m. and noon, limited to 100people per seating. $20 per person; children under 5 free. Make your reservation by calling 518-328-0090 with your seating choice, name, phone number and the number of people in your part, including children. Don’t leave a credit card number; you’ll receive a call back for more details. Mail checks or stop in to Oakwood, 50101st Street, Troy NY 12180. Payment must be received in full within 10days of your reservation call. For cancellations, a full refund will be made only if you call before 4p.m. on April 10.

SPAC WINTER BALL: Tickets are now on sale for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s Junior Committee’s Winter Ball, “Into the Pines,” to be held on Saturday, March 9, from 7 p.m. – 11p.m. The Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs will be transformed into a wooded wonderland inspired by the sweeping Saratoga Spa State Park in which the Hall resides. The festivities include live music by Grand Central Station, catering by Mazzone Hospitality, an open bar, raffle prizes and a complimentary coat check. You must be 21years old or over to attend. General admission $100. For more information, contact Seth Buono at 518-584-9330or sbuono@spac.org. ROARKE CENTER ARTISTS: “We the People,” the new show by the Roarke Center Artists, will be on exhibit at the Chapel + Cultural Center, 2125Burdett Avenue, Troy from February 1– March 30. An Artist Reception with artwork for sale will be held on Thursday, March 21, at 6:30p.m. This project is made possible with funds from Catholic Charities TriCounty Services.

OPEN MIND SCHOLARSHIP: Northshire Bookstore of Saratoga, the Capital District’s largest family-owned independent bookseller, is accepting submissions for the 2019 Open Mind scholarship. The scholarship honors the diversity of thought, feelings, information and perspectives found in books, as well as their power to change people’s lives. Northshire awards $1,000each year to help two college-bound high school seniors, one from New York and one from Vermont, to help pay for college. Entrants need to write up to one page on how a book exposed them to something new and how that impacted their life. Submissions are due by March 1and should include name, email address and state. Email your submission to contest@northshire.com. PRESIDENTS’ DAY LUNCHEON: Van Rensselaer Star Chapter #256, Order of the Eastern Star, hosts a Presidents’ Day luncheon on Monday, February 18, from 11:30a.m. – 1:30p.m. at the East Greenbush Masonic Temple, 710Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Chapter’s 16th annual scholarship fund, which provides an award to a graduating senior girl from Columbia High School, Maple Hill High School and Rensselaer High School. The menu includes baked meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and all the trimmings.The cost is $12for adults. Reservations should be made by calling Emily at 518-438-6707by February 14.

WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES: The Northeast Health Foundation and the Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program for Rensselaer County host the 12th annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence” at Riverfront Park in Downtown Troy on April 27. To sign up or become a sponsor, or for more information, visit www.WalkAMileSPHP. org.

HUDSON-ATHENS LIGHTHOUSE: Built in 1874to guide ships safely around the Middle Ground Flats, the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse is listed on the National Historic Register and continues to be an active aid for navigation on the