CAPITAL REGION GIVES

Payton Rundell, a seventh grade student at Sand Creek Middle School and high scorer in this season’s Northeastern Fine Jewelry Shooting Stars contest, decide to donate the $240 gift card she won during the preliminary round to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project. The Shooting Stars competition, sponsored by Northeastern Fine Jewelry and Simon G., was held during each Siena College men’s basketball regular season home game at MVP Arena.

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County ,in partnership with the West Hill Refugee Welcome Center, is providing highquality, learner-centered English language instruction at no cost to adult learners at the RWC in Albany. Six leveled groups meet for two sessions weekly, some with child care provided. The organizations’ intention is to remove barriers to attendance by meeting learners in the neighborhood where they live and providing child care on site. For more information, visit www.lvorc.org.

▪ After a three-year-long pause due to the pandemic, Shaken & Stirred is returning to benefit Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. Businesses team up to compete against each other, bartending for the most tips. The team that raises the most during their shift wins. This year’s event will be 5:30 to 9 p.m. May 18 at the Saratoga National Golf Course. Details at universalpreservationhall.org.

▪ The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation and city of Schenectady present the 9th year of the Hometown Heroes Banner Program to recognize active-duty service members and military veterans (living or deceased). A Hometown Heroes Nomination Form at https://downtownschenectady.org/ must be completed and submitted by March 15.