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.

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Make a Difference in the New Year: Be a Literacy Volunteer in Rensselaer or Albany County - Would you like to help someone learn to read, write, or speak English? Would you like to become a more engaged member of your own community? We can train you! Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County (LVORC) is actively seeking volunteers. Please join us to find out more at our next Volunteer Opportunities Information Session, Tuesday, January 5, 12:00-1:00p.m. via Zoom. We are looking for tutors to be paired with adult English Language and Basic Literacy learners, as well as math and computer tutors. As a volunteer you can develop new skills, make friends, and see how your efforts make a difference in your community. To register for the information session, contact mhellerlvorc@aol.com. To learn more about LVORC, visit www.lvorc.org or call 518244-4650.

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.

NEW TROY 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. 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. FARMERS MARKET: The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market (TWFM) is holding its Winter markets from 9 a.m. to 2p.m. on Saturdays indoors at the former Lansingburgh Price Chopper, More than 60vendors will participate. For the previous 18years, the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market held its winter market downtown in the Troy Atrium, which the organization leased from the owner. This winter will be the first time since its inception that the market will have a presence in Lansingburgh, Troy’s northernmost district. In accordance with New York State’s current COVID-19-guidelines, the Lansingburgh store will have a capacity of 200at any one time. After counting the vendors and staff, the space will be able to safely accommodate approx. 120customers at a time with ample room for social distancing. Customers can arrive any time during market hours. When the market reaches capacity, arriving customers will be asked to wait in line outside the store. Shopping from 9a.m. to 9:30a.m. will be prioritized for seniors age 60+ and the immunocompromised. The market will publish the full list of vendors and safety protocols on its website www. troymarket.org.

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 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:

New Yorkbased 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 270-3815for more information or visit https:// www.watervliet.com/city/monuments-heroes.htm.