UPCOMING CALENDAR

LITERACY 5K RUN/ WALK: The Literacy 5K Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, May 1st at The Crossings Park, 580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville, N.Y. 12211. The Youth Mile will begin at 9:30, and the 5K will start at 10:00 a.m. All proceeds from this event benefit free literacy programs for adults and children. To register, go to https://www.zippy-reg.com. Since 1968, Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County has provided free literacy services to adults and children. LVORC’s service area includes Rensselaer County and Albany County. For more information, call 518 244-4650 or visit www. lvorc.org.

HAIKU HIGHWAY: Join us for this series, Tuesdays, May 3, 6-7:30pm (May 3, 17, & 31, June 14, July 12, & August 9), and learn the art of Haiku! This is a workshop in the practice and history of Haiku poetry. Local Haiku poet, John Stevenson will mentor participants in their journey into learning this unique art form. Please bring a notepad and pencil to the first session. John Stevenson is a former president of the Haiku Society of America and former editor of their literary journal, Frogpond. Since 2008, he has been managing editor of The Heron’s Nest, a leading journal of English-language Haiku. Since 2007, he has judged the English sections of a student haiku contest sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. This in-person event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. To register call the library at 518274-7071 or online at www. thetroylibrary.org Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy.

BINGO: Rensselaer Elks Lodge #2073, located at 683 Columbia Turnpike, hosts Bingo every Thursday evening and the general public is welcome to attend. Doors open at 5 PM for players age 18+. Play starts at 7 PM. $1,300 in prizes. Food and refreshments sold.

CRAFTERS & VENDORS WANTED: St. Nicholas Church will host a craft and flea market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 at 1077 New Loudon Road in Latham, (Route 9 and Boght Corners) Next to Guptills Arena. Crafters and vendors wanted. Spaces are still available for one of the largest Flea Market in the Capital Region. Spaces are 20×20 for $75 For more information please contact the church at 518-235-7355. You can visit the church website or email saintnicholasfleamarket@gmail.com to obtain the forms and register on line through tithe. ly is also available to reserve your space. Check the Church out also on Facebook. Last day to register online will be May 5. There will also be ethnic food available at the event too, along with a bake sale. Proceeds will and always do go to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Cohoes.

ART EXHIBITS: Artists and members of Southern Saratoga Art Society are exhibiting throughout the area. The Town of Clifton Park Lobby, 1 Town Hall Plaza, Tel.#: 518-371-6651, Ext. 240, will be showing the works of artist Renee Wheelock during May. The Clifton Park Senior Community Center Gallery, 6 Clifton Common Blvd., Tel.#:518-383-1343, is hosting “A Photography Show” featuring photographers Rebecca Jenkins, Mede Rigatti, Anup Sood, Brian Skanes and Bill Staudinger during April and May. The Mechanicville Library, 190 N. Main Street, Tel.#:518664-4646, will feature 6 artists during May and June, Karen Zimmers, Cheryl Birmingham, Carol Winterton, Anup Sood, Cheryl Jenks and Frank Coletta. During May and June, Cupola Coffee, 227 Kingsley Rd., Tel.#: 518-280-0079 will be showing the works of nine artists, William Daisak, Barbara Hurley, Cheryl Jenks, Carol Winterton, Frank Coletta, Karen Zimmers, Jack Morgan, Rita Helie and Anup Sood. Stop in, visit these venues and view some of the fabulous artists in Southern Saratoga County.

USS SLATER: USS SLATER, the last Destroyer Escort afloat in America is open to the public for her 25th season in Albany! No reservations are required, and guided tours start every 30 minutes. Admission is charged. Adults: $10, Seniors & Veterans: $9, Children under 18: $8, and children under 5 years old are admitted for free. We are currently booking Group Tours, for 10 or more people, for Spring and Summer, call the Ship’s Store to schedule your visit! The ship will be closed for Easter Sunday. USS SLATER will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Nov. 27, 2022. The ship is located in Downtown Albany on the Hudson River at the intersection of Broadway and Quay Street. USS SLATER is owned, maintained, and operated by the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, a private, non-profit, charitable organization that receives no regular government support. More information is available online at ussslater.org.

RESEARCH STUDY: Do you have Pre-Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes and wantto imporve your health and get paid $50? Volunteer for an exciting 8-week research study at Skidmore College. Study participants must be pre-diabetic or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and between the ages of 30 — 65 years old. Participants will receive free state of the art body fat analysis using the BODPod technology, Blood HbA1c, lipid, and sugar (glucose) analysis, physical activity monitoring and dietary analysis and a comprehensive analysis of all results at the completion of the study. Contact Dr. Karen Arciero at karciero@skidmore.edu or Dr. Paul Arciero at parciero@ skidmore.edu.

UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE: Join us at the Troy Public Library on Thursdays, April 7 — May 5, from 6:30PM — 7:30PM for our Understanding Shakespeare workshop. This will be a five-session program on how to understand Shakespeare’s plays. We will start our discussion with Act 1 of Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Then in the following four weeks we will discuss the play one act at a time. This program will allow the participants to put the play in a variety of contexts, such as its relationship to his other works and to the modern existential world. Tom Bulger, Shakespeare Scholar and retired professor from Siena College will lead this workshop. This program is free and open to the public. This is a hybrid program, participants may attend in person or through zoom according to preference. Registration is required. For more information and to register, call the library at 274-7071 or online at www.thetroylibrary.org. The Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: The Beryl H. Moul Memorial Grange Scholarship was established in 1958 by West Sand Lake Grange #949 in memory of prominent Grange Member Beryl H. Moul. Applicants must be Rensselaer County residents (for at least 4 years) and must be accepted in an accredited 2 or 4-year college program in New York State and pursuing a career in Agriculture, Home Economics (Human Ecology), Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Education. Preference will be given to Agriculture, Home Economics (Human Ecology), Forestry, or Veterinary Medicine. Second preference will be given to those in Education. The application deadline which includes an official High School transcript is May 1st. The application and instructions can be found at any Rensselaer County High School Guidance Office or at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County website at http://ccerensselaer.org/4-h-youth/scholarships. For questions, please contact the CCE office of Rensselaer County at 272-4210. HIRING EVENT: Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier discount retail chain with 147 store locations across the Northeast, will host an in-person chainwide hiring event at each of its stores on April 22nd and 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No reservations are required; those interested can apply at their local store. OSJL will offer on-the-spot interviews for all positions during the event. Candidates can learn more about career opportunities at one of the fastest-growing retailers in the Northeast. Perks include part-time and full-time benefits, 30% associate store discount, cash bonus referral program and opportunities for store leadership, supervisory, full-time and part-time store positions. OSJL takes the safety and well-being of all associates and customers seriously. OSJL follows all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines to ensure team members and customers are safe while shopping and working in the store. OSJL encourages applicants from community-based organizations. Candidates who cannot attend the event but are interested in part-time, full-time and seasonal positions may visit oceanstatejoblot.com/ careers to apply. OSJL offers a competitive pay and benefits package, including flexible hours; medical, vision and dental insurance, if eligible; profit participation; service awards; paid time off; 401K; store discount and more. Additionally, OSJL is committed to offering career opportunities for all our interested associates. In 2021, nearly 40% of the open store key and leadership positions were filled through internal promotions.

K9 EASTER EGG HUNT: Easter is going to the dogs at Hudson Crossing Park! The park is hosting a K9 Easter Egg Hunt April 16 and 17, 2022. During the weekend, visitors are invited to bring their four-legged friends to Hudson Crossing Park for an Easter Egg Hunt just for dogs. Plastic eggs filled with treats from Lazy Dog Cookie Company will be “hidden” throughout the park, just waiting for curious pups to find them! Eggs will be replenished by park volunteers throughout the Easter weekend and primarily hidden in the park’s play garden area and along the Sensory Trail, providing humans scenic views of the Hudson River as their dogs look for eggs. Suggested donation is $10 per dog via Hudson Crossing Park’s website. Please remember to respect fellow dogs and owners, as well as local leash laws.

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING: The Academy for Lifelong Learning is offering 37 spring courses in two, five -week sessions starting the week of April 11 and the week of May 16. Most courses are offered in-person and some by Zoom. Registration is now open. Brochures are available at www.esc.edu/all or at local libraries and by request. Email jeff.shinaman@esc. edu or call (518) 587-2100 x2390l. Registrations will be accepted by mail right up until the start of classes for session one, the week of April 11 and for session two, the week of May 16. Some classes will sell out so sign up soon. Annual membership is $75 and goes through June 30, 2022. Five-week courses are $50 each. Topics include Introduction to Classical Music, Spring Birding, Italian Language, Music, Local History, Italian Novels, Journal Writing, Painting, Hiking, Immigration, Downton Abbey, Speaker Series, Fly Casting, Crocheting, Sewing, Senior Moving, Ancient Game of Go, Book Repair, Local Farm Tours, History of Military Medicine, Genealogy, Confucius, Mars, Wildflowers, iPhone Photography, Poetry, Indigenous Beliefs and more. The Academy is a nonprofit, membership organization whose members share a love of learning. A self-funded entity, A.L.L. is hosted by SUNY Empire State College. Designed to offer lifelong learning and comradery among seniors, A.L.L. also offers Special Interest Groups, (SIGs) and special events that are held throughout the year. If you would like to support the Academy by becoming a member or for more information, contact the Academy office at (518) 587-2100 ext. 2390 or go to www.esc. edu/all.

ONLINE DIABETES CLASSES: Dining with Diabetes, a program for people with diabetes or prediabetes and their family members, is being offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County. Wednesdays, March 30, April 6, 13, 20 at 1 pm. Fee: $15, financial assistance available upon request. To register call 518-885-8995. Presented by Diane Whitten, Cornell Cooperative Extension. Participants will learn how to fit carbohydrates into a healthy menu, effectively use food labels, choose meals at a restaurant and adopt other healthy habits to help manage diabetes through healthy eating. Recipe ideas provided. Time provided for Q&A. For program details email Diane at dwhitten@ cornell.edu.

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County (LVORC) welcomes all kinds of volunteers, from tutors to administrative helpers and event planners. As a volunteer you can develop new skills, make friends, and see how your efforts make a difference in Rensselaer County and Albany County. Would you like to help someone to read, write, or speak and understand English? We can train you. For more information, visit https:// www.lvorc.org.

LIVING LIFE IN BALANCE: Creating the life you desire class — 9 Tuesdays, beginning March 22, 6:30-8 p.m. This 9-week class in practical spirituality explores how to create balance in nine different life areas so that you can live the life you desire. Through experiential exercises, reading, meditation, prayer, and discussion, participants explore the power of focused attention in manifesting, abundance, love, health, and peace, among other topics. This class is based on the book Being in Balance: 9 Principles for Creating Habits to Match Your Desires by Wayne Dyer. Free student workbook provided; students must supply their own textbook. Suggested donation: $20 per class session. For more information, visit our meetup. com group Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adventures, call (518) 366-9918, or visit www.newthoughtnewyork. org.

PHOTOGRAPHY CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the call for submissions for the fourth annual juried photography exhibition. The Museum is now accepting entries for consideration from both amateur and professional photographers of scenes depicting thoroughbred racing in America for our fourth annual exhibition, which will open in November. Photographers are encouraged to submit images that document the entire racing experience, from the farm to the backstretch to the winner’s circle and everything in between; it is up to the photographer to interpret the theme and be as creative as possible. New for 2022: only one photograph per photographer can be submitted for consideration, and all entrants are encouraged to include a brief statement of significance (200 words or less) describing their submitted entry. All submissions must be received by May 30. A panel of judges representing both the racing and arts communities will select the photographs for the exhibition. Application forms will be available at the Museum’s Visitor Services desk and can be downloaded from the Museum’s website at https://racingmuseum.org/photo-finish. If you have any questions, please contact Curator Victoria Reisman at VReisman@racingmuseum.net or (518) 5840400 ext. 113. The online exhibition will be available on the Museum website through October and can be accessed here: https:// www.racingmuseum.org/ exhibits/photo-finish-juried-photography-exhibition.

SQUASH HUNGER: Capital Roots’ Squash Hunger program is a food donation initiative that collects and distributes more than 40 tons of fresh produce to our region’s food pantries and shelters each year. Since 2004 Capital Roots has involved thousands of community members in our effort to increase the presence of fresh food on communal tables. We rely on generous gardeners, farmers and grocery shoppers to donate fresh produce to our collection bins and on volunteers to deliver it to food pantries and shelters, some of which feed more than 100 people three meals a day, every day. Our Squash Hunger donation bins are located at markets and grocery stores throughout the region, so it’s convenient for you to make a food donation while you shop. We rely on a broad network of volunteers to collect and deliver donations to pantries and shelters in their communities. If you are a volunteer, shelter, pantry or store manager who would like to participate, please contact us at 518-274-8685 or squashhunger@capitalroots.org. More information about the Squash Hunger program, including a full list of donation locations, is available online at https://www.capitalroots.org/squash-hunger/.

URBAN GREENING: Urban greening refers to public landscaping and urban forestry projects that create mutually beneficial relationships between city dwellers and their environments. Since the creation of its Urban Greening program in 1989, Capital Roots has planted thousands of trees and implemented many public landscaping projects throughout New York’s Capital Region. Every spring and fall we involve dozens of volunteers, many of whom are high school students, in city-wide tree planting projects. Committed community members take pride in caring for the trees as they continue to grow in our region’s neighborhoods. Vibrant green spaces improve aesthetic appeal, increase property value and decrease energy consumption. Our Urban Greening projects are grant funded. This makes it possible for Capital Roots to provide property owners with trees at no cost. If you are a property owner interested in having a tree planted on your land contact 518-2748685 or Tara at gardens1@capitalroots.org.

COMMUNITY GARDENS: Community Gardens by local nonprofit Capital Roots offer plots around the Capital Region to anyone interested in growing their own produce. Gardeners receive nutritional, recreational, social and physical benefits from tending plots. Get the space, sunshine and support you need to grow your own food. More information about how to sign up for a community garden plot is available online at https://www.capitalroots.org/community-gardens/ or by calling 518-274-8685. Orientations are held throughout March and into April for new participants at various locations throughout the Capital Region. In order to register for a garden plot, attendance at orientation is required. Orientation sessions are being held via conference calls this year. There is a suggested $30 donation to sign up for a plot. Donations are greatly appreciated and help support this program. The average cost to operate each plot is over $200 per year. If you have expendable income and garden with us, please consider giving more to support the continuation of the program for everyone. We take into consideration personal financial experience and will not turn anyone away from getting a plot due to a lack of funds. If paying the full suggested donation causes you to be less secure in meeting your basic needs, we will work with you.

SNOW EMERGENCY PLAN: Mayor Patrick Madden is reminding Collar City residents and families to review the city’s Snow Emergency policies and procedures ahead of the winter season. The plan includes street-level parking restrictions and expanded off-street parking options, and is designed to assist city crews in clearing snow and ice from roads across Troy during and after heavy snowfall events. Under a snow emergency, normal parking rules and regulations are temporarily suspended on designated snow emergency streets only. To review the city’s Snow Emergency plan, and to view a full list of designated streets, visit www.troyny.gov/snow-emergency

SINGLES OUTREACH SERVICES: Bringing people together to enjoy a common experience of performances and more in the Capital Region of New York, Capital Region Social Happenings is a registered name of Singles Outreach Services, Inc. and is a New York state non-profit organization. More information about the group and its upcoming events is available online at www.facebook.com/CapitalRegionSocial/.

ROCHMON RECORD CLUB: Join us at an upcoming Rochmon event for an evening of music and community. Each show our host Rochmon Chuck Vosganian takes the room on a high fidelity journey through classic albums spanning many genres and decades. More information about this series, including a schedule of upcoming events, is available online at www.rochmon.com.

REALITY CHECK: Reality Check is a youth-led movement in New York State that empowers youth to become leaders in their communities in exposing what they see as the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. The organization’s members produce change in their communities through grassroots mobilization and education. More information about Reality check and how to join the movement can be found online at www.realitycheckofny.com or www.facebook.com/realitycheckofny.

DROP IN TECH HELP: One-on-one assistance with technology is available through the Troy Public Library’s “Drop-In Tech Help” program. An ongoing program, TPL librarians will be on-hand to help with laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other common devices brought in by patrons. Librarians will also explain and help navigate common apps, such as Gmail and Instagram, and

library resources like OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla. Assistance will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. This program is provided weekly on Thursdays from 10AM to 11AM, in the first-floor Troy Room of the Main Library. This program is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. For more information, call the library at 274-7071. The Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy.

RAISE A PSALM: Festival Celebration Choir invites you to sing with us this spring. Our Spring concert, RAISE A PSALM, features a variety of biblical Psalms set to music by classical and contemporary composers and arrangers. Rehearsals are Mondays from 7:00 pm to 8:15pm at First Lutheran Church, 181 Western Avenue, Albany beginning Monday, January 24th, 2022. Vaccinations and masks are required. The Spring concert will take place at 3:00pm on May 15, 2022 at First Lutheran Church, Albany. Email Albert Yasus at contact@festivalcelebrationchoir.org or Julie Panke, Director at kirkechor@earthlink.net for more information or visit our website (festivalcelebrationchoir.org) to download order/registration form.

APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITY: The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for Tri-City Electricians, Local Union #236, will conduct a recruitment from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 for 60 Electrician apprentices. Applications are available online at any time, during the recruitment period, at www.tricityjatc.org. Applicants can visit Tri-City Electricians JATC, Local Union #236 at 428 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY, for assistance with completing applications. A computer is available at the union’s office lobby for applicants who do not have access to a computer. Applicants may also be able to access computers at their local library. Please note that the 60 openings listed for apprentices represent the total number for four recruitment regions — the Capital District, Mohawk and North Country regions of the state. For further information, applicants should contact TriCity Electricians JATC at (518) 785-5167. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers).

COHOES ROTARY ORNAMENT & MUG SALE: In 2004 The Rotary Club of Cohoes started a collectible series of Christmas ornaments featuring historic landmarks in the City of Cohoes. This year’s ornament depicts St. Agnes Church. A portion of the proceeds for the sale of the 2021 ornament will go to support the programs at the Connect Center for Youth, currently operating in the former St. Agnes Church. 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; 2015the former Cohoes Movie Theatre; 2016-Carlson’s Ice Rink; 2017-Erie Canal Locks; 2018 Cohoes Armory; 2019-Matton Shipyard; 2020-Cohoes 150th Anniversary logo. Coffee mugs with the St. Agnes 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, 217 Remsen Street, Cohoes.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE SUPPORT GROUP: The “Further Along Survivors of Suicide” Monthly Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The group is structured to meet the needs of people who have lost a loved one to suicide and who are approximately 18-24 months past the date of their loss. It is not designed for someone who is recently bereaved. Facilitators are peers who have attended AFSP’s (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — AFSP.org) “Facilitating a Suicide Bereavement Support Group” training. There is no charge, but we encourage people to bring a treat to share or a book that would help someone else on their healing journey that we can include in our lending library. For more information, please email David Grapka at Furtheralongsos@gmail.com. For more information on AFSP, please visit AFSP. org or contact Sandra Goldmeer Sandra Goldmeer, Area Director, Capital Region New York at sgoldmeer@afsp.org or 518.791.1544.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP: Albany Med’s Division of General Pediatrics will host a weekly Postpartum Depression Support Group for mothers and fathers struggling emotionally following the birth of a child. The group is open to mothers who have given birth within the past year and fathers with a child less than one year old who have no additional support. A virtual session via Zoom will be held Mondays from noon to 12:45 p.m. In-person sessions will be held each Tuesday from 4:15 to 5 p.m. at 391 Myrtle Ave., third floor, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics conference room, Albany. Babies are welcome. No pre-registration is required. For more information or to receive information about a Zoom invite, please contact Selina Grant at (518) 262-6221 or grants3@amc.edu.