Upcoming calendar

EDITOR’S NOTE: This calendar is being regularly updated to reflect all event cancellations and postponements. However, it is recommended that readers contact event organizers before they attend. For the most updated version of the calendar, please visit or troyrecord.com.

STROLL SEASON: Due to COVID-19regulations, the Victorian Stroll will look a little different this year. From December 6through December 20, shop and dine local as you ring in the holiday season! The 38th Annual Troy Victorian Stroll will focus on supporting our vibrant downtown. By spreading holiday cheer and shopping locally this season, you’ll ensure the continued vibrancy of our beautiful Victorian City. Visit and enjoy beautifully decorated storefronts as you shop, sip and stroll your way through downtown. Stay tuned for more details on the 2020 Troy Victorian Stroll at www.victorianstroll.com.

HOLIDAY MARKET: The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market (TWFM) Farmers Holiday Market will be held at the Lansingburgh location on Sunday Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Each Sunday market will feature a revolving roster of vendors, offering locally handmade arts and crafts, specialty foods, wines, spirits and craft beverages. There will also be prepared food vendors offering food to go. Admission to the holiday market is free. More information about the Farmers Holiday Markets will be provided on the TroyMarket.org website and social media channels.

NEWTROY PAY-BYPHONE PARKING APP:

Mayor Patrick Madden today announced the City of Troy has launched a new pay-by-phone mobile app for metered parking in the Collar City. The app provides a simple, easy to use option for drivers to pay for parking in downtown Troy. Drivers will be able to pay for on-street metered parking using the new Passport Parking mobile app beginning January 4, 2021. The Passport Parking application is available for free download on iOS and Android devices, and at www.passportparking.com. Watch a video demonstrating how to use the Passport Parking application: https:// youtu.be/MThHrcDET0o. A map of metered parking zones and instructions on using the Passport Parking app for metered parking in downtown Troy is available at www.troyny.gov/parking. For questions on the City’s parking management system, please contact the City Treasurer’s office at (518) 279-7115.

NEWTROY ONLINE PARKING PERMIT SYSTEM:

The City of Troy recently launched a new online parking permit registration system for spaces in municipally-operated lots and garages. The system will simplify the permit reservation and payment process and allow the City to issue and track parking permits using license plates instead of physical tags. Effective January 2021, monthly parking fees for municipal lots & garages will increase to $75. Drivers are encouraged to renew their current parking permit online at www.troyparkingpermits. rmcpay.com. For questions on the City’s parking management system, please contact the City Treasurer’s office at (518) 279-7115.

TEN BROECK MANSION HOLIDAY HOUSE:

The Ten Broeck Mansion, home of the Albany County Historical Association, announces its Holiday House 2020 schedule. Shimmering lights, festive trees and bright garlands inside and out set the scene at the Ten Broeck Mansion, a historic house museum which welcomes the community as a place to make family memories today. Tours with timed tickets are on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 2:30pm from December 5-20. For the health and safety of all visitors, indoor admission is by timed tickets, advance purchase only. Tickets are available via the ACHA’s website www.tenbroeckmansion.org, Eventbrite, or Facebook. Walk-through tours of groups of 5or less feature docents to share information about holidays in the past, and the history of the Ten Broeck Mansion. Adults $5. Children and ACHA members free. New this year, the ACHA has free take-home ornament kits via its outdoor garden educational kiosk. Children may bring completed ornaments to hang on a community tree on display in the Mansion. The community is invited to bring canned goods or boxed cereal or pasta, which the ACHA will distribute to a local food pantry. Also new this year is a Pop-up Porch Sale, featuring wreaths designed and made by local garden clubs and artisans. All proceeds support the ACHA’s education programming. Locally-made artisanal gifts and ornaments and new historic embroidery kits available. Pop-up Porch Sale hours are Fridays-Sundays, noon-3pm, December 4-20. For more information visit www.tenbroeckmansion.org.

FREE ART KITS: The Troy Public Library is giving away free Art Kits courtesy of the TANG Museum! Kids ages 5-12can pick up a set of art supplies including watercolor pencils, markers, coloring pages, and a sketch pad along with instructions for creating art projects at home. Of course if you need art or craft books we can supply those too! More information is available online at www.thetroylibrary.org.

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS:

Troy City Council meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7p.m. They typically take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 433River St, Troy, but are currently being held virtually via Zoom. Committee meetings are scheduled on a regular basis. Agendas and minutes for meetings are posted on the city’s website. All meetings are open to the public. At monthly regular meetings, Troy residents can discuss any issue related to the City of Troy. The city is currently live-streaming Council meetings on the Troy City Council YouTube page at www.youtube.com/troycitycouncil.

WINTER GREEN-UP: The Capital Area Agriculture & Horticulture Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County are pleased to announce the Thirteenth Annual Winter Green-Up, the Northeast’s original grazing conference. Online via Zoom from 1to 3 p.m. on Jan. 13, 20and 27. Admission for Winter GreenUp 2021is $35for three sessions, $25for two sessions, $15for a single session. Winter Green-Up has a long tradition of presenting speakers with expertise in grazing, meat and food production, and livestock handling. Winter Green-Up 2021is no exception. 2021’s topics and speakers include: Elizabeth Marks, is a Biologist for the USDA NRCS in the Hudson Valley of New York and a certified Holistic Management (HM) educator. She will be discussing Climate Change Trends Over the Last 125Years In the Northeast and What Farmers Can Do to Be Resilient to Them (Jan. 13). Ed Rayburn is an Extension Specialist at West Virginia University, focusing on pasture and forage management and livestock nutrition. He will be speaking about Capturing and Converting Sunlight to Healthy Soil, Meat and Milk – It’s What Plants Do (Jan. 20). Fred Provenza is Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Ecology in the Dept. of Wildland Resources at Utah State University, where he directed an award-winning research group pioneering an understanding of learning’s influence on foraging behavior and how behavior links soil, plants, herbivores, and humans. Fred will be teaching us about Nourishing the Wisdom Body (Jan. 27) To register and pay online: https://tinyurl.com/ WinterGreenUp2021. For questions regarding registration or being a sponsor for this event, or to register by telephone, please contact cce-caahp@cornell.edu or (518)765-3518.

WINTERTIME WONDERLAND:

New holiday attraction Wintertime Wonderland is now open. This holidaythemed, family-friendly attraction, billed as the Capital Region’s largest indoor Christmas event, is located at 195Troy Schenectady Rd. in Colonie, in the former Kmart store next to Vent Fitness. Set at the North Pole, the walkthrough experience features a frosty ice maze, a post office and train station, a life-size snowglobe and gingerbread house, a whimsical light show on Candy Cane Alley, Christmas Village and Santa’s Workshop, where children will have the chance to meet Santa himself. Other characters that visitors will encounter along the way include an ice princess, snowmen, gingerbread men, carolers, reindeer, elves and Mrs. Claus. Attendees will have the option to take photographs with actors either close together or in a socially distanced pose with scenery in the space between. Kids will receive a greeting card, coloring book and letter to Santa with activities for throughout the attraction and at home. After exploring the displays, guests can enjoy refreshments, do some holiday shopping with local vendors, support area nonprofits, enter a raffle for a brand new car, view and purchase photos from the event and pick up a Christmas tree. The event’s COVID-19 protocols include temperature checks upon arrival, occupancy limits, frequent cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing at all times. Tickets, which can be reserved online, are $20 per person. Children age two and younger are free. The wheelchair accessible event’s hours are 3to 9p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 9p.m. on Saturday and 9a.m. to 8p.m. on Sunday, with expanded hours anticipated in the days right before Christmas. More information about Wintertime Wonderland is available online at wintertimewonderland.com.

ONLINE FARMERS MARKET:

In May, the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market implemented TWFM Online, a web-based store and contact-less pickup system in neighboring Green Island. The online order and pickup service will continue this winter in tandem with the indoor market, Ridler said, distributing customers between two locations and providing valuable options to suit the different needs of customers. Shop online at troymarket.localfoodmarketplace.com for contactless drive-thru pickup, order Friday through Thursday, and pick up on Sunday every week at Carioto Produce in Green Island.

CAPITAL HOLIDAY LIGHTS:

The 24th Annual Price Chopper/Market 32 CapitalHoliday Lights in the Park runs through Jan. 3, 2021. Presented by Mayor Kathy Sheehan, the people of the City of Albany and Albany PAL, this year’s show depicts holiday scenes of yesteryear and many new and exciting lighting displays.Hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 6 to 9p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6to 10 p.m. Admission prices are $25per car, $30for 10-18 passenger vehicles, $50for vehicles containing 19-28 passengers, $100for school buses and $125for commercial coaches, with all proceeds benefiting the youth programming of Albany PAL. Credit or debit cards are not accepted for admission at gate.The best part of the 24th Annual Price Chopper/Market 32Capital Holiday Lights in the Park is that all proceeds benefit the juvenile crime prevention programs of the Albany Police Athletic League (PAL)! For more information and the most up-to-date schedule of events at Price Chopper/Market 32Capital Holiday Lights, visit www. albanycapitalholidaylights. com or call Albany PAL at 518-435-0392. DISCOVER THE NIGHT:

The public is invited to a free online event being held by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. During this time of social distancing, Discover the Night is a virtual opportunity to experience nighttime in the globallyrare Albany Pine Bush. The public is invited to visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/ discover-the-night now until December 31, 2020to enjoy preserve staff and special guest videos featuring local wildlife, storytelling, night hiking and more! People can also play interactive games, download fun activities and nature craft instructions. The site includes something for all ages. The event is sponsored by Friends of the Pine Bush Community and content will be on the website through the end of this year. For more information about Discover the Night, trails and other programs visit www.AlbanyPineBush. org or call 518-456-0655.

TROY POLICE CADET PROGRAM SEEKING RECRUITS:

The City of Troy Police Cadet Post #4102 is seeking applicants for their youth training program. The program has 10available vacancies for teenagers and young professionals interested in furthering their knowledge and understanding of law enforcement. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply (instructions below), with interviews scheduled to occur December 2020. Founded in 2011, the mission of the Troy Police Cadet Post is to bring together the youth of the community in an effort to further their knowledge and understanding of law enforcement, improve relations between the youth of the community, and assist the Troy Police Department in carrying out special assigned duties and functions. Cadets will participate in various activities and assignments, including: community service opportunities, educational programs, competitions, as well as gain real-world experience through observation of officers in all aspects of law enforcement activities. The program includes twice-monthly classroom sessions where cadets learn about various aspects of law enforcement – including traffic stops, domestic incidents, street level interviews, evidence collection, and more – through lectures and practical training scenarios. Interested candidates for a Cadet position must: Be between 14(and in the 9th grade) and 20years of age, Be a resident of the Capital District area, Have parental consent (if under 18), Complete a background check and Submit an application for review. An interview with the applicant will then take place (parental participation in the interview is optional). If selected, the Cadet must conform to

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the post’s rules and regulations. For more information, please visit www.facebook. com/ TPDcadetpost or contact cadet recruiter and lead advisor Det. Sergeant Ralph Southworth, Jr., at (518) 270-4772or ralph.southworth@troyny.gov.

FREE UNIFORM CLEANING FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS:

NewYork-based dry cleaning business Best Cleaners offers a free uniform cleaning service to veterans and those who are currently serving in the military. This service has been offered through Best Cleaners since 2018not only at all five of their store locations, but also with their pick up and delivery service as well. While many dry cleaners only offer free military cleaning during the month of May (Military Appreciation Month), Best Cleaners has long offered this service year round. Best Cleaners currently has five locations across the Capital Region including Delmar, Glenville, Latham, Loundonville, and Schenectady. The business offers free pick-up and delivery, dry cleaning, and restoration services. For more information visit bestcleanersny.com.

WATERVLIET HEROES BANNER PROGRAM:

The Watervliet Heroes Banner Program is a tribute to those who are serving or have served in a branch of the United States Armed Forces and who were born, lived or currently reside in the City of Watervliet. Families will purchase their own banner for $175. The banner will feature the serviceman’s/ woman’s picture along with his/her name and branch of service. It is recommended the person be in uniform and there are no additional people in the photograph. Sample banners are available to view at City

Hall. Banners shall be displayed every year for as long as the integrity of the banner lasts (lifespan is approximately three to four years). It will then be the sponsor’s responsibility to replace the banner. Replacement banners cost $135. (this is the price as long as the hardware is functional). Call Chris at 2703815for more information or visit https://www.watervliet. com/ city/ monuments-heroes. htm. RUDOLPH’ S MOVIE EXPERIENCE & PYROTECHNICS SHOW: Ellms Christmas Trees, located at 468Charlton Rd. in Ballston Spa, recently announced a new 2020holiday season event called Rudolph’s Movie Experience and Pyrotechnics Show. Each show will kick off with a Rudolph trivia video, followed by Rudolph’s Movie Experience which is a special, abbreviated 11-minute version of the stop motion animation classic projected onto a giant screen. At the end of the movie experience, guests will enjoy a musical pyrotechnic, special effects and laser show, designed to dazzle and create exciting family traditions and memories. Rudolph’s Movie Experience, an all-ages event will run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 22, with three shows each night. Multiple packages offering holiday-themed food and beverage treats will be available as well, along with the opportunity to purchase Rudolph memorabilia on site. Upon arrival to the 240-acre tree farm, guests will be greeted by the masked Farm Team Elves who will direct guests to park and get ready for the experience to begin. Visitors can stand outside of their vehicles, but must remain at their vehicle the entire time. Masks will be required at all times if attendees are outside of their vehicle. Tickets to Rudolph’s Movie Experience and Pyrotechnics Show are currently on sale on the Ellms Farms website,

www.ellmsfarms.com.

COHOES ROTARY ORNAMENTS CELEBRATE 150 TH:

In 2004The Rotary Club of Cohoes started a collectible series of Christmas ornaments featuring historic landmarks in the City of Cohoes. This year’s ornament celebrates the 150 th Anniversary of the City of Cohoes. Aportion of the proceeds for the sale of the 2020 ornament will go to support the programs at LifePath Cohoes (formerly Cohoes Senior Center). Following are previous ornament designs in the series: 2004-the Cohoes Falls; 2005the Harmony Mills; 2006-the Cohoes Music Hall; 2007-the Cohoes Mastodon; 2008-Cohoes City Hall; 2009-the Half Moon; 2010-Silliman Memorial Church; 2011-the Van Schaick Mansion; 2012-Keveny Memorial Academy; 2013-Cohoes High School; 2014-Cohoes Library; 2015-the former Cohoes Movie Theatre; 2016-Carlson’s Ice Rink; 2017-Erie Canal Locks; 2018Cohoes Armory; 2019-Matton Shipyard. Coffee mugs with the 150th Anniversary design are also available for purchase. Cost for ornaments is $20. Mugs are $10. To purchase ornaments or mugs go to http://www. rotaryclubofcohoes.org for further information. Ornaments and mugs are also available for purchase at Marra’s Pharmacy, 217Remsen Street, Cohoes, or The Local, 159Remsen Street, Cohoes. NORTH CHAT HAM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICES: The North Chatham United Methodist Church is worshiping in our sanctuary on the first and third Sundays of the month, with masks and social distancing required. Worshipers should enter through the back door of the church. On all other Sundays, worship is virtual. All worship services are at 11:00AM and all are available on ZOOM. The ZOOMlogin information is

on our website (northchathammethodistchurch.org). For more information onNorthChatham United Methodist Church, please call 518-766-3535 or visit our website. Thanks andwe hope to see you soon, in person or on ZOOM! SPEIGLE ELDERS: With restrictions still in place due to the current pandemic, this year’s expansive events schedule has been canceled through 2020with the following exception. The club sponsors a non-sanctioned bowling league which is open to members and non-members as well and is held at noon on Mondays at the Green Island Lanes. Fees are $9.00weekly ($6.00for bowling and the balance toward prizes and end of year banquet.) This league will follow all COVID-19protocol while providing exercise and fun on a weekly basis and is currently seeking new and substitute bowlers. Registration takes place every Monday at the lanes or by contacting Mary Riley, 518-469-7782or Lois Kewley, 518-235-3788.

CLOTHINGSHED CLOSED:

The Latham Colonie Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes thank you for your tremendous support of this fundraising activity especially in the past months when our Social Parlor/Council Hall has been closed due to the Covid-19pandemic. Our Clothing Shed has been temporarily closed! It is hoped that this is just a temporary situation and we can reopen the shed quickly. For more information, contact the Kof Cat 518-7830572.

LVORCACCEPTING NEWTUTORSAND STUDENTS:

Since 1968, Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County has helped adults to improve their ability to read, write, speak and understand English. We train volunteers to provide two hours per week of free, confidential tutoring in a public setting. New tutors and learners can join Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County by calling (518) 244-4650or sending an email to LitVolDirector@aol.com. Call (518) 244-4650to register. Visit www.lvorc.org for more information.

FREE ONLINE TUTORING: Flexible Online Tutoring! Online Tutoring is now available in 30minute sessions through the Troy Public Library. Children in grades K-12 can get free virtual homework help from high school volunteers. Just fill out the request form and someone will contact you to set up an appointment. More information is available online at thetroylibrary.org. REUNIONCANCELED: Under the current Covid-19restrictions on gatherings that are in place, we are unable to hold the Clinton Heights Annual Reunion this year. Please mark your calendar for next year’s reunion to be held Friday, September 10th at Melvin Roads American Legion in East Greenbush. TUNES IN YOURFEET: Introduction to Percussive Dance with Nic Gareiss, 7p.m. Four Consecutive Tuesdays - January 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th, online via Zoom. This hands-on workshop for beginning dancers will introduce you to some of these gestures that you can use to make music with your feet. The workshop will be taught on the Zoom internet platform. Instructions for accessing the online course will be sent to you by email when you enroll. More information is available online at caffelena. org.

VIRTUAL HIDDEN GARDEN TOUR:

Troy’s popular Hidden Garden Tour returns as a virtual tour. Now in its 21st year, the tour is a fundraiser to benefit Troy’s Prospect Park. Ordinarily, tour goers pay an admission fee to receive a self-guided map to more than 40private gardens which are open for one night only throughout the Historic Sage, Washington Park and adjoining neighborhoods. In previous years, the rain-or-shine event has attracted more than 1,000 tour goers in one day. This year’s virtual tour features 28 gardens, captured in 360-degree interactive photographs that viewers can explore online with their computer or mobile devices. Twelve gardeners recorded personal video messages, which are embedded in their stop on the virtual tour at HiddenGardenTour.com. While most of the gardens are approximately the same size, about 20feet by 30feet, they vary greatly in style. Some of the gardens feature charming pathways, fountains and pools. Some are filled with flowers, while others have more plants and vegetables — all lovingly tended by gardeners of all skill levels. The online virtual tour is offered at no charge, but donations are welcomed and will benefit ongoing improvement projects in historic Prospect Park, located on Congress Street in Troy. Friends of Prospect Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hopes to provide free event programming in the park in future, when such activities are deemed safe to the public. Donation information is available on the tour’s website. The virtual tour can be accessed through a desktop or laptop computer as well as via tablet or smartphone. Certain gardens have a “play” button that will launch a special video message. The gardens are listed by number and the owners first names in the left hand column and clicking on the circular icon will open that particular garden’s 3Dtour. One upside of the virtual version of the garden tour is that this one is always sunny. It’s also accessible 24hours per day for at least a month. For more information Visit www. hiddengardentour.com on your desktop or laptop computer.