Remembering family and friends

A roundup of notices and services. Look for additional obituaries on this newspaper’s website.

FARM FILM FEST: Farm Film Fest 11seeks entries for the annual film festival on March 24at the Crandell Theatre in Chatham. The deadline for submission is March 1. Films should be submitted in DVD or digital format and may run from 5to 20minutes in length. DVDs may be sent to: Farm Film Fest 11, c/o The Crandell Theatre, PO Box 305, Chatham, NY, 12037. Digital links may be sent to mgbiebel@gmail.com. Submission requirements and forms are available at farmfilmfest.org. For more information, call 518-9294692.

6- CENT REDEMPTION CENTER: If your holiday celebrations left you with an overload of returnable bottles, use them to help the Friends of the North Greenbush Public Library. The 6-Cent Redemption Center at 461Main Avenue, Wynantskill, will donate your bottle deposits to the library. Please note that containers must be redeemed at the redemption center; the library cannot accept empty bottles or cans. The library is adding many mystery, romance, suspense and literary novels to its collection in the coming months. Visit http:// northgreenbushlibrary.org/ newbooks for more information.

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY: A nine-week course starts January 17 at 6:30p.m. at Brunswick Public Library, 4118State Highway 2, Troy. Please call 518-279-4023to register. UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE: The next Understanding Shakespeare workshop at the Troy Public Library covers the comedy “Twelfth Night,” starting with a discussion of Act 1 on Thursday, January 10 from 6:30–p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Over the following four weeks you’ll discuss the play one act at a time while workshop leader Tom Bulger helps participants place it in a variety of contexts, including its relationship to Shakespeare’s other works and to the modern existential world. Copies of “Twelfth Night” will be available at the circulation desk. This workshop is free and open to the public, but registration is necessary. To register, or for more information, call 5418-274-7071 or visit www.thetroylibrary. org. The library is located at 100Second Street, downtown Troy. ALBANY-TULA ALLIANCE ESSAY CONTEST: The Albany-Tula Alliance invites Capital Region students from high school to firstyear college to research and write an essay expanding on Nelson Madela’s quote, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, it goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Students are asked to expand on that quote’s relevance to the U.S. and Russia when it comes to culture, language, travel, jobs etc. Essays must contain at least 1,500 words and a bibliography. The deadline for entries is Feburary 28. The first prize winning essay writer will receive $1,000; second place is $500and third place is $250. For complete rules and more information on the essay contest, visit www. albanytula.org/essay. CLOTHING SHED DONATIONS: The Latham-Colonie Council #3394Knights of Columbus, the Columbiettes and the Columbian Corporation are partnering with St. Pauly Textile to raise needed funds for the Council home and the charitable programs supported by the K of C by collecting textile products that will be sold all over the world instead of going to the landfill. The K of C will earn a percentage per pound of the donated items. You can drop off used clothing, shoes and sneakers, belts and linens as well as pillowcases, blankets, curtains and stuffed animals at 328 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham. For more information, contact the K of C at 518-783-0572. BACKYARD BIRDS: Fluff up your feathers and come to Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center on Sunday, January 13, to create your own bird feeder from recycled materials. By putting a feeder in your yard you can experience the birds of winter right outside your window. You’ll also learn about common backyard birds, feeding tips and ways to attract birds to your property, and take a stroll along the trail in search of birds. Noon – 1:30 p.m., 1024State Route 66, Ghent. This event is free, but registration is required. Please contact Pamela Price at 518-267-3313by January 10at 1p.m.

CALL FOR SINGERS: Capital Community Voices Inc., an SATB volunteer nonaudition choral group, seeks singers in all voice parts for their May concert, “At the Hop with CCV.” Rehearsals will be held Tuesdays at 7p.m. starting January 8in East Greenbush. Call 518-370-5434for more information.

DINING WITH DIABETES: Learn about diabetes and its relationship to nutrition and physical activity, sample healthy recipes prepared with healthy cooking techniques and talk with others who live with diabetes during a series of three public health and nutrition classes on January 3, 10and 24 from 11:30a.m. – 1p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24Martin Road, Voorheesville. Cost $10per person. Pre-registration required. To register, contact Karen Roberts Mort, MS at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County at kem18@cornell.edu or

518-765-3552. SHORTCUT TO A MIR

ACLE: During an 8-week class beginning January 8, students will learn to use Science of Mind principles on a regular and consistent basis to develop a pattern of thinking and living in which demonstrations of good things are regular and normal. Tuesdays, 6:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adventures at Woodlawn Commons, 156 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs. Suggested donation: $20per class session. To sign up, call 518-3669918. For more information visit www.newthoughtnewyork.org.

SOUTHERN SARATOGA ART SOCIETY: Artists and members of the Southern Saratoga Art Society will be exhibiting during January –February 2019at venues throughout the area. The works of watercolorist Jean Skanes will be featured at the Mechanicville Public Library, 190N. Main Street. The Halfmoon branch of Catskill-Hudson Bank hosts works by Jane Morrison, while the Malta branch hosts works by Allison Croote. Clifton Park artist Frank Coletta will be featured at two venues: Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6Clifton Common Court in January and Zion Lutheran Church, 153Nott Terrace Schenectady, in January and February. Enjoy the work of local artists and support art in Southern Saratoga County. SPEIGLE ELDERS 2019: Due to winter weather conditions, the Speigle Elders seniors group will not hold meetings in January . The first meeting of the new year will be held on Wednesday, February 13. The Speigle Elders bowling league welcomes new members; attend a meeting or contact members for more information.

WILLIAMS COLLEGE I/O FEST: The Williams College Department of Music presents I/O Fest ‘19, a four-day festival of new music on January 10-13in various venues in Williamstown MA. I/O Fest 2019offers an immersive tour through a world of new sounds and adventurous music, with a focus on cutting edge composition and unconventional modes of performance. All events are free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. For more information visit http://music.williams.edu.

WINTER GREEN-UP: Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Capital Area Ag & Hort Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County announce the 11th Annual Winter Green up on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 8a.m. – 4p.m. at The Century House, 997 New Loudon Road, Latham. Featured speakers include Ridge Shinn, CEO of Big Picture Beef; Marc Cesario of Meeting Place Pastures; and Greg Brann or Resource Regeeration Services. The $75registration fee includes alle vents and lunch. Register online at https://tinyurl. com/ WGUregistration. For more information, contact Tove Ford at 518-765-3518 or cce-caahp@cornell.edu. To reserve a room at The Century House on January 25and 26, call 518-7850931.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE: Annie’s Project is a national program dedicated to ‘empowering farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information.” A six-session Annie’s Project course offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Capital Area Agricultural and Horticultural Program and CCE-Albany County is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 8. The $100fee includes a workbook with fact sheets, hands-on activities, presentations and a discussion on resources available to farm businesses. Each Tuesday evening session starts at 6 p.m. following a light dinner at 5:30p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24Martin Road, Voorheesville. Course size is limited, so register soon at https://tinyurl.com/ AnniesProj, or by contacting Tove Ford at 518-765-3518 or cce-caahp@cornell.edu. GROWING INDUSTRIAL HEMP: Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County and the Capital Area Agriculture & Horticulture Program present “Growing Industrial Hemp – An Update and Growers’ Experiences” on Thursday, January 17, from 6:30p.m. – 9p.m. at the CCE Albany office, 24Martin Road, Voorheesville. The meeting is open to anyone interested in industrial hemp. Pre-registration is required at $10 per person by January 15. Register online at https:// tinyurl.com/GrowIndustrialHemp, or call 518-765-3518 or email caahp-cce@cornell. edu for assistance. WATERFOWL COUNT: The New York State Ornithological Association’s annual statewide waterfowl count is scheduled for Sunday, has reopened with a new exhibit. “History Lost, History Preserved” features four aspects of Town of New Scotland history: dairy farms, hotels,the Helderberg Ski Club and vintage post cards (or “Early Tweets”). The museum is located in the Wyman Osterhout Community Center, 7the Old Road, Voorheesville. Hours are Sundays 2p.m. – 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information visit newscotlandhistoricalassociation.org.

FOR FREEDOMS: A selection of signs created for “For Freedoms: 50State Initiative” highlighting participating artists’ definitions of freedoms is on exhibit in the Learning Commons of Schaffer Library on the Union College campus through March 21, 2019. For more information about For Freedoms please visit https://www.forfreedoms. org/.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY: Frozen Assets, a women’s ice hockey team based in Troy, is looking for new players and a goalie. The team has players that are novice hockey players (some skating experience is required) and others who played competitive hockey. The team practices Sunday evenings and competes regularly with other local teams at the Recreational and D-Levels. If you are looking to play a fun sport and meet some great people, contact CathleenBU@gmail.com. Practices begin September 30at Hudson Valley Community College ice arena. BACKPACKS WANTED: Catholic Charities Tri-County Services runs five school supply programs throughout our communities and needs *new* backpacks for elementary and middle school aged children. Donations

can be dropped off at the office at 50Herrick Street in Rensselaer, or call Justine Carroll at 518-512-3577 x115to arrange a pickup of larger quantity donations. You, your business, church or group can arrange a collection of new backpacks or donate funds for Catholic Charities to purchase them. If you prefer to make a monetary donation you can donate online at https:// rcda.thankyou4caring. org/ccrcda/cc-tri-countyservices.

THEATER VOICES: Theater Voices has announced its program for 2018-19, the 31st anniversary season of free professional staged readings Directed by Jacqueline Donnaruma, “Circle Mirror Transfor-

mation” by Annie Baker runs from February 15-17, 2019. “The Subject Was Roses” by Frank D. Gilroy, directed by Brian Sheldon, runs from April 12-14. The season will close out with “Chapatti” by Christian O’Reilly, directed by Patricia Bunce, on May 17-19. All shows will be presented at Steamer No. 10Theater, 500Western Avenue, Albany, with performance times of Fridays at 8p.m.; Saturdays at 3p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3p.m. For more information, visit www.theatervoices.org or look up Theater Voices on Facebook.

HISTORIC STEPHENTOWN PHOTOS: Photographs of Stephentown from 1907and 1908are now on display at the Stephentown Post Office. These scenes have been printed from glass plate

negatives that were donated to the Stephentown Historical Society by the Lebanon Valley Historical Society. The views include the Kinderhook Creek and Atwater Village section of Garfield. These historic images will also be part of a Spring 2019exhibit of local photography at the Stephentown Heritage Center. Photographers should plan to take their own interesting views and visions of Stephentown throughout the coming year with this exhibit in mind.

FREE ENGLISH CLASSES: Do you want to improve your English? Are you new to the United States? Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County has free English Literacy Civics classes where you can improve your English language skills while learning about life in the United States. Each class

meets two times per week. Classes for beginning learners meet in Albany. Classes for intermediate learners meet in Troy. For more information, contact Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County at 518-244-4650 or visit www.lvorc.org. ERIE CANAL EXHIBIT: “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal” will be on display through October 20, 2019. The exhibition honors the bicentennial an-

niversary 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 222Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30a.m. to 5p.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 518474-5877or visiting the Museum website at www. nysm.nysed.gov.