Upcoming and ongoing
Upcoming
4-H GAMING SERIES: Rensselaer County 4-H is hosting a new 4-H Gaming series starting October 16, running every Monday for 6 weeks from 6:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 61 State Street, Troy. This opportunity is available to all Rensselaer County youth ages 8-19. Youth will learn computer and game coding using Bloxels, Scratch Programming, and Makey-Makey. No prior knowledge needed, just come and use your artistic side to design your own game and game controllers, while learning simple coding. Please RSVP to Cornell Cooperative Extension at 518-272-4210, and indicate whether any special accommodations will be needed. BOTANICAL DRAWING WORKSHOP: The Troy Public Library, 100 Second Street, is hosting a botanical drawing workshop with Monica Bill Hughes on Saturdays from October 28 - November 11 from 10 a.m. - noon. Learn how to draw from careful observation, capture various textures and details and set up a palette that helps you capture a wide variety of colors. Express your own creativity as you gain additional skills with color and paint application. Students will have the option of exploring watercolor and colored pencil application to add to incredible colors found in nature to the detailed drawings they create. Please feel free to bring plants from your own garden if you’d like. For more information, call the library at 518-274-7071. VOLUNTEER FOR TRUNK OR TREAT: Volunteers are needed to help St. Peter’s Health Partners’ 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat event on October 27 be a success! SPHP staff members, their friends, and even their children (ages 13 and up) are encouraged to come help out for an hour or longer. The event runs from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Volunteers are needed starting at 1:45 p.m. Tasks may include handing out candy, directing foot traffic, or manning tables. Hot food and drinks are provided for all volunteers. Email Colleen. Roche@sphp.com to sign up. HURRICANE RELIEF DRIVE:
Facilities in the Centers Health Care family located in the Adirondacks and Capital Region have organized a hurricane drive to collect supplies for shipment to families faced with catastrophic situations from this year’s hurricanes, from Puerto Rico to Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Centers is looking to collect the following items for those affected in Puerto Rico: Food/water; Medical Kits; Batteries; Blankets/Clothing. The drive runs through November 6. Contact Will Wohltjen for more information at 802-430-8096 or Wwohltjen@centershealthcare.org . STEAMER NO. 10 THEATER:
“Robin Hood and the Good (& Bad) Fairies of Nottingham,” a not quite classic tale of mismatched animosity and love, human and fairy, written by Steamer No.10’s Ric Chesser and directed by Eleah Peal. The characters are performed by Steamer No.10’s students from the Theatre Arts School - Creative Arts at Steamer Ten
(C.A.S.T.). October 20 at 7 p.m., October 21, 22, 28, 29, November 4-5 at 3 p.m. November 10 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. General admission $15. Steamer No.10 Theatre – 500 Western Ave. Albany. For more information call 518-438-5503, email info@steamer10theatre.org or visit http://www.steamer10theatre.org/category/robin-hood. SCHENECTADY CIVIC PLAYERS: “Fifth of July” by Lanford Wilson. Directed by Joseph Fava. October 13, 14, 15 and 18 thru 22. Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Schenectady Civic Players, 12 S. Church St., Schenectady. $20. Call 518-382-2081 or visit www.civicplayers.org for more information. BOO-JOLAIS VAMPIRE BALL:
The Alliance for Positive Health is thrilled to invite you to the BOO-jolais Vampire Ball on Friday, October 27. This year’s event will descend upon the new Albany Capital Center for an evening of unmatched mystery, fun and fright. Set four nights before All Hallows’Eve, the BOO-jolais Vampire Ball will inspire both celebration and superstition. Complete with food tastings, wine samplings, live entertainment by Funk Evolution, and a fabulous silent auction, this is an event you don’t want to miss. Proceeds from this event support the Alliance for Positive Health’s local services to people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious medical and social conditions. Reserve your entry at https://aidscouncilneny. ejoinme.org/BOO2017. For more information, please visit: www. allianceforpositivehealth.org/ news-events/boo-jolais/ or call 518-434-4686. COHOES COMPASSIONATE CARE AWARDS: The City of Cohoes and Counseling Care and Services have announced the 2017 recipients of the Care Awards. The Distinguished Service Award goes to Mr.Clifford Bird, the Principal of Abram Lansing Elementary School, for his many accomplishments of service and care to the Cohoes community and surrounding areas. The Compassionate Care Award goes to Mary’s Corner, an organization which has shown compassion and care in their efforts to provide assistance to those in need in our community. The Care Awards 2017 Presentation and Reception will be Friday, November 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the UkrainianAmerican Citizen’s Club, 1 Pulaski Street, Cohoes. Please contact 518-237-4263 to make reservations no later than
October 27.
CANADIAN ROCKIES TRIP: La Fédération Franco-Américaine du NY is sponsoring a trip to The Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park from August 25 to September 2, 2018. Rates includes round trip airfare from Albany, 8 nights hotel and 11 meals. Exciting highlights include unforgettable Icefields Parkway and Glacier National Park. Ride aboard an open air Jammer touring car, visit “Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump”, choose your dinner location from one of Banff’s great restaurants. Enjoy a true western BBQ with live entertainment at a dude ranch and more! For details call Lisa at Plaza Travel, (518) 785-3338 or email lisa@ plazatravel.net. FLASH FICTION SCARY
STORY CONTEST: The Troy Public Library is holding a contest challenging patrons to write their own scary story in 100 words or less. The Contest opens October 1. Entries will be accepted through Sunday, October 22. From October 2330 all entries will be on display in the library and patrons will be encouraged to vote for their favorite story. The story with the most votes will be declared the contest winner on Halloween. The contest winner will win a $10 gift card to the River Street Beat Shop. Interested participants can download the contest guidelines and entry form the www.thetroylibrary. org or pick up a copy at the Main Library, 100 Second Street. This program is free and open to the public. For more information call the library at 518-274-7071 or online at www.thetroylibrary. org. SPEIGLE ELDERS OCTOBER EVENTS: Barbara Coleman will host a theater luncheon at the Georgian Hotel in Lake George on October 18, with ETD from the church parking lot at 10:15 a.m. A buffet lunch featuring Chicken Delmonico, Beef with Bernaise Sauce, accompanying dishes, coffee, tea, soda and Chef’s choice of dessert will be served from noon - 1 p.m. Laura Roth, Comedienne and Mimic will provide the entertainment following the luncheon. Contact Carol Smolen for reservations; payments are due at the September 27 meeting. On October 24, an Oktoberfest trip is planned at the Log Cabin in Massachusetts, including a Welcoming Platter of Hors d’oeuvres, a complimentary glass of wine or beer, a family style dinner with a typical German menu, Apple Strudel for dessert and the “Swingiest Ger-
man Band in the Land.” Contact Bert Lattimore for reservations; payments due September 27. HYDE & SHRIEK: Hyde Hall in Cooperstown hosts Hyde & Shriek Candlelight Ghost Tours on October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29 at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. These one hour tours leave from the Kent Center and visit many of the places in the mansion where ghostly manifestations have been reported over 150 years. Tickets $20 per person. Reservations are required – call 607547-5098 Ext 6; if no reply, leave your name and number and your call will be returned. SCHENECTADY CIVIC PLAYERS: “Fifth of July” by Lanford Wilson. Directed by Joseph Fava. October 13, 14, 15 and 18 thru 22. Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Schenectady Civic Players, 12 S. Church St., Schenectady. Tickets $20. Call 518-382-2081 or visit www.civicplayers.org for more information. YADDO GHOST TOURS: Experience the spirit(s) of the garden. Feel the energy and creativity of the forces of the earth. Share in the spiritual intrigue from Native Americans, Edgar Allen Poe, the Trask Family and other contemporary visitors. Tours are held in the garden only (not the Mansion) Friday and Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. through October 29. Docent led tours begin at the Yaddo parking lot and last approximately one hour. Cost $10/person (children 12 and under free). Private docent led ghost tours may be arranged at a date convenient to your group. Contact Yaddo at 518584-0746 or www.yaddo.org for more information. OCTOBER TURKEY DINNER:
Reservations are now being taken for Zion United Church of Christ’s Turkey dinner, held on October 15 in their new Fellowship Hall at 744 Taborton Road in Sand Lake, over looking Little Bowman Pond. Seating times are at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a “Family Style” all-you-careto-eat Roast Turkey dinner with dressing mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, green beans, rolls/ butter and a slice of pie for desert , plus a choice of drinks for beverage. The cost is $14 for adults, $6 for children (ages 5-12) and under 5 years no charge. For reservations call Diane Hoffman at 518674-2746, or leave your name & number on the answering machine and you’ll be called back in time. You may also email your reservation to Tabortonturkeydinner@
verizon.net; please indicate if you want to sit with another guest that is attending for seating. CIRCLE THEATRE PLAYERS:
Sand Lake Center for the ArtsCircle Theatre Players is proud to present the regional premiere of “John Ball’s In the Heat of the Night” adapted by Matt Pelfrey from Schenectady native John Ball’s novel, the source material for the Academy Award winner for Best Picture (celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year) and the 1980’s television series starring Carroll O’Connor. Performance dates are October 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 at 8 p.m. and October 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $18. Adults, $10. under 18. Prepaid reservations can be made at www.slca-ctp.org or call 518674-2007. SLCA is located at 2880 NY 43, Averill Park, is fully handicapped accessible, with free parking. HAND-HOOKED RUG RAFFLE:
The Stephentown Historical Society is conducting a raffle for a hand-hooked rug created by the late Barbara T. Peterson, an expert at the craft and a nationally known teacher of the art. Peterson’s family has donated one of her rugs to benefit the society. This rug is a floral design, “Mary,” by Jane McGown Flynn. It is 24 by 36 inches and is worked in handdyed wool in shades of wood rose and greens on a soft colonial blue background. The roses and other flowers exhibit the fine shading effects that Peterson achieved by careful gradation of her handdyed wools. The drawing will be held at the December 3 Historical Society meeting. Chances are $5 each and may be purchased at the Stephentown Heritage Center, 4 Staples Road, Stephentown, at Gardner’s Coffee Shop in Stephentown and at the September 23 Craft and Tag Sale at Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock MA. Call 518733-6070 or visit SHS@fairpoint. net for more information. PHILADELPHIA BUS TRIP: On Saturday November 4, the Fort Plain Museum is holding a fundraising bus trip to the new Museum of the American Revolution and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The cost is $95. Please
register ASAP by October 6. The bus will leave approximately at 5:30 a.m. from Amsterdam. There will be two additional pick-up locations, one in Albany (Crossgates Mall) and one in the Lower Hudson Valley. This fundraiser will support the construction of the museum’s new research library. To register or for more information, email brianm248420@ hotmail.com, call 518-774-5669, visit www.fortplainmuseum.com or visit the Fort Plain Museum Facebook page.
ERIE CANAL EXHIBIT: “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal” will be on display through October 20, 2019. The exhibition honors the bicentennial anniversary of the Erie Canal’s construction and features artifacts, images, posters, and documents from the collections of the State Museum, State Archives, State Library, and cultural institutions from across the state. The first phase of the exhibition explores the circumstances leading up to building the canal, the construction, and the famous “wedding of the waters” that marked the opening of the completed canal in 1825. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling 518-474-5877 or visiting the Museum website at www.nysm. nysed.gov. BARRETT MEMORIAL RUN:
Registration is now open for the 5th annual Barrett Memorial Run for students in grades K-8, which will take place on Saturday, October 21, at Columbia High School. The 2.7 mile course begins on the athletic fields before going up into the woods surrounding the school. Once on the trail, you will encounter hills, creeks, bridges and fields. The race will conclude on the track where everyone can watch you complete your run. A youth t-shirt will be included with entry while supplies last (register by October 6 to guarantee a shirt). Medals will be awarded by grade
level.The race fee costs $20 if you register by October 10 ($25 on day of race). Proceeds will go toward the Barrett Scholarship given to two graduating seniors on the Columbia Cross Country team. For more information and a registration form, please visit http://egcsd.org/2017/09/12/5th-annualbarrett-memorial-run/. WRITING FAMILY STORIES:
Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls will host three Writing Family Stories Workshops on October 14, 21 and 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. Writer Susannah Risley will guide participants in memory exercises and the use of vivid language to get their stories on the page. The workshops are fun, non-judgmentall and supportive. They provide a way to get started in writing and direction to keep going. The workshops funded by Poets & Writers, Inc. are free and welcome both new and seasoned writers. Please call 518-6869401 to register. BERKSHIRE SCENIC RAILWAY:
As the leaves begin show hints of color in the Hoosac Valley, Berkshire Scenic Railway is gearing up for a busy fall foliage season. Foliage train rides begin September 30 and will run every Saturday and Sunday through the end of October. Also, new for this year, Berkshire Scenic Railway will be hosting two evening Spirit Trains in October featuring professional psychic-medium, Julie MacDonald. For those who are looking for a more intimate experience with the spirit world, Julie will also be hosting a small-group spiritual seance on October 29 at the restored railroad station in Lenox, MA. For more information visit www.hoosacvalleytrainride.com. ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE:
Third Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., October through April at Christ Church United Methodist, 35 State St.,Troy. Escape the frenzy of the 21st century and experience the beauty of 18th century dancing, moving slowly and gracefully in sync with beautiful classical music. If you’ve seen a Jane Austen film, you’ve had a glimpse of this elegant dance form in many of her novels, including “Pride and Prejudice”.
Dances taught and called by professional callers. Enjoy live music by the Heartsease band. Beginners welcome, no partners needed. Please wear clean, flat, soft-soled shoes. More info: danceflurry.org/recd. CALL FOR ARTISTS: The Valley Falls United Methodist Church is seeking artists to exhibit their work in the 2nd Annual Fine Art Show on Saturday, November 11. Visit www.valleyfallsunitedmethodist.com or email the show committee at vfumfinearts@ gmail.com, or contact Jocelyn Cole at 518-753-2035, for an application form, show rules and information. Application deadline is October 14. CHENEY LIBRARY PRESCHOOL
STORY TIME: School will be back in session soon, so it’s time to think about Preschool Story Time at Cheney Library. It starts on September 12 and meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. through November 14. Bring your preschool child for stories, songs, finger plays, crafts, and snacks. The children have a wonderful time playing in the Children’s Room before and after story time, and have a great time meeting friends new and old. It will be a fun time for you and your child. MANDEVILLE GALLERY: New
exhibits this fall include “Laini Nemett:When We Lived Here,” August 26 - December 3, with an opening reception on September 27, and “Stories: Sophie Rosen,” September 2 - November 27, with an opening reception on October 10. Both receptions are free and open to the public. The Mandeville Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Nott Memorial, Union College, Schenectady. For more information on the new exhibits visit https://muse. union.edu/mandeville/project/ laini-nemett-when-we-livedhere/ and https://muse.union. edu/mandeville/project/storiessophie-rosen/. VICTORIAN ABSTRACTION
EXHIBIT: Carmen’s Cafe, located at 198 First Street in Troy, is exhibiting “Victorian Abstraction,” lyric paintings by San Francisco transplant Virginia Bryant, through October 15. Curated by Jim Lewis, the exhibition features 17 paintings and works on paper executed from 2009 to 2017. This is the first public exhibition in Troy for Bryant, whose paintings are collected internationally & have garnered awards and press attention nationally. Carmen’s is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, on Saturday and Sunday only. For reservations call 326-2064.