UPCOMING CALENDAR

SKATE PARK MEETING: Mayor Patrick Madden announced the City of Troy is exploring the possibility of commissioning a brand-new cast-in-place concrete skate park beneath the Hoosick Street Bridge. City officials will hold a public meeting at the River Street Market (433 River Street) on Wednesday, May 18th, at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposed skate park and collect feedback from residents and local skaters. The meeting will be in person and streamed online via Zoom. The meeting link is available at https://tinyurl.com/Troy-Community-Meeting. Masks are strongly encouraged for inperson attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Grindline Skateparks—the company selected to design the park—will present an overview of the project during the meeting. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide feedback to help shape the final design of the proposed park. An online survey is also available for residents to submit information on the proposed project. Construction of a skate park beneath the Hoosick Street Bridge was identified as one of several projects and streetscape enhancements in the Hoosick-Hillside Study to improve quality of life, and create a safe, welcoming environment that provides residents of the Hillside North and South, Downtown, and North Central neighborhoods a place to gather for community events & activities. The area beneath the Hoosick Street Bridge is also the site of The Uniting Line, the largest public mural project in the City’s history. Additional phases of The Uniting Line include lighting and placemaking to help encourage more pedestrian traffic and activities that take place at the adjacent basketball courts, waterfront, and other open spaces.

APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITY: The North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund (formerly known as New England Carpenters Apprenticeship Fund and Northeast Carpenters Apprenticeship Fund) will conduct a recruitment from June 7, 2022 through June 6, 2023 for two Carpenter (Pile Driver/Dockbuilder) apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today. Applications are available online at https://www.nectf.org/ during the recruitment period. Applicants who do not have internet access may visit their local library or nearest New York State Department of Labor Career Center (dol.ny.gov/career-centers) when open. Interested candidates must attend an in-person information session prior to submitting an electronic application. Inperson information sessions are given the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m., excluding legal holidays, during the recruitment period at NASCTF, 16 Corporate Circle, Albany NY 12203. If the first Monday falls on a holiday, the information session will occur at the second Monday of that month at 6:00 p.m. Please note, spaces are limited, and filled on a firstcome, first-served basis. At the conclusion of the information session, a passcode will be given which is required to complete an online application. If any assistance is needed for completing the online application, please contact the NASCTF at (518) 438-0901 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during the application process, each applicant must wear an appropriate face covering, and respect and maintain a proper social distance while standing in line, both inside and outside the building, as well as while completing the actual application for apprenticeship. For further information, applicants should contact North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund at (518) 438-0901. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center.

APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITY: The North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund (formerly known as New England Carpenters Apprenticeship Fund and Northeast Carpenters Apprenticeship Fund) will conduct a recruitment from June 6, 2022 through June 5, 2023 for five Linoleum, Resilient Tile and Carpet Layer apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today. Applications are available online at the North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund (NASCTF) website (https://www.nasctf.org/) during the recruitment period. Applicants who do not have internet access may visit their local library or nearest New York State Department of Labor Career Center (dol.ny.gov/career-centers) when open. Interested candidates must attend an in-person information session prior to submitting an electronic application. Applications are also available at the information sessions. In-person information sessions are given the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m., excluding legal holidays, during the recruitment period at Albany — 16 Corporate Cir, Albany, NY 12203. If the first Monday falls on a holiday, the information session will occur at the second Monday of that month at 6:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. in Jamestown). Please note, spaces are limited, and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. At the conclusion of the information session, a passcode will be given which is required to complete an online application. If any assistance is needed for completing the online application, please visit the NASCTF listed above between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Please contact the NASCTF at (585) 436-1110 for information session in additional locations and obtaining applications in-person if needed. In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during the application process each applicant must wear an appropriate face covering, and respect and maintain a proper social distance while standing in line, both inside and outside the building, as well as while completing the actual application for apprenticeship. All applications must be received by no later than 12 a.m. (Midnight) on June 5, 2023. For further information, applicants should contact North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund at (585) 437-1110.

TROY CYO WILLIAM PASCARELL PERSON OF THE YEAR EVENT: Troy Youth Association Inc. (Troy CYO) will be honoring Hon. Patrick Madden Mayor, Michael Kennedy Member of the Year, Joesph Pasinella, Past CYO Member and devoted volunteer, ICC Soup Kitchen Volunteers, Community Involvement and CRAB Club Garrison 1954 for their Community Involvement. The awards will be presented at the William J. Pascarell 16 th Annual Person (s) Year celebration on Thursday, June 9th from 6:00-8:00PM at the Italian Community Center. The public is invited to attend the function which benefits the Agency’s youth programs. Tickets for the reception can be purchased at the door and also from the Troy CYO Office, (2742630) 237 4 th Street, or email rpisci2426@aol.com for $60 per person or $90 a couple and table of eight for $285.

ART EXHIBITION OPENING: The Arts Center of the Capital Region invites you to visit Esmé’s Stories: A Magical Journey. The show will run through June 4 in our Wallace & Foyer Galleries. When offered the chance for a Make-A-Wish, 11 year-old Esmé Savoie expressed her desire to create an “Esmé Museum” where she could share her stories and bring people together to experience them in new ways. Since its inception nearly 35 years ago, Make-A-Wish® Northeast New York has granted more than 2,000 wishes — each one conceived by a child’s imagination. And, as you will see, Esmé’s wish is certainly imaginative! The Arts Center agreed to transform our Wallace Gallery into a visual interpretation of Esmé’s most recent creative storytelling. Artists, Royal Brown, Toast Halasz, and Shanelle Carter-Maddox created the magical artwork that brought Esmé’s stories to life with contributions from, Jing Agunzo, Isabella Burnett, Cynthia Fiorini, Benj Gleeksman, Charlie Gleeksman, and Kim Tateo. Esmé lives with significant medical complexity that inhibits her ability to speak, walk, and eat. She is also a storyteller who uses an Eyegaze-driven communication device to share her knowledge, intelligence, and humor as well as her vision of the world. Esmé’s stories, and indeed her life, are filled with creative magic, inspired by her experiences visiting MASS MOCA, the Frida Kahlo exhibit in Brooklyn, and Disney Animation Studios, but also by the connections she has formed with the people (and the occasional Muppet) who she has pulled into her orbit. More information about The Arts Center of the Capital Region, located on Monument Square in downtown Troy, is available at artscenteronline.org.

UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE: Join us at the Troy Public Library on Thursdays, May 19-June 16, from 6:30PM — 7:30PM for our Understanding Shakespeare workshop. This will be a five-session program on how to understand Shakespeare’s play, Timon of Athens. In each of the five weeks we will discuss this 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 world. Tom Bulger, Shakespeare Scholar and former professor at Siena College will lead this workshop. Copies of Timon of Athens will be available at the circulation desk. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is necessary. This is a hybrid program, with the option of zoom or in-person attendance. 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.

THERAPY DOGS READY FOR DUTY: Alliance of Therapy Dogs teams are ready for duty in the Capital Region. The certified therapy dogs are available to serve at schools, colleges, libraries, nursing homes, hospitals, airports and special events. The ATD teams can also help first responders, police officers, military personnel and veterans deal with trauma. All ATD canines meet health and vaccination standards. For information on making arrangements for visit, contact Chris Bourgeois of Ballston Lake, at (518) 331-5781 or chrisbee4154@gmail.com. Bourgeois also is a coordinator for the Red Cross’ Paws for a Cause, which specializes in providing therapy dogs for military deployments and redeployments, therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder combat veterans, military family support groups, military events and disasters.

COMPUTER BASICS BOOTCAMP: Join us this is a 4-session, Basic Digital Literacy training series, presented by Delia Hubbard, Digital Literacy Educator and certified Microsoft Office expert on Fridays, 10am-12pm, May 6 — 27. Participants should bring their own devices. The instructor will have several laptops available for anyone who doesn’t have a device to bring. May 6: Device Basics, 10am-11am Laptop Basics, 11am-12pm Tablet/Cell Phone Basics) (Choose one or both sessions) — Participants can bring their own laptop, cell phone, or tablet (or use CCE provided laptops) to learn about how to log in, get online, and perform basic navigation tasks. May 13: Finding Reliable Information Online, 10am-Noon — Participants will learn how to use search engines, like Google, to find information online and evaluate its reliability. This session includes discussion on search tips, clickbait, pop-up windows and more. Participants will also search for information on topics of interest to them. May 20: Staying Safe Online, 10am-Noon — Participants will how to create a long, strong password they can remember, how to avoid falling for malicious emails (specifically phishing), and how to identify a reliable, encrypted website for online shopping. Discussion will include web payment services such as PayPal and Venmo. May 27: EMail Basics, 10am-Noon Participants will create an email account with G-Mail if they do not already have an email account, and learn how to send, read, respond to, and delete email messages. This in-person event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. To register, call the library at 518-274-7071 or online at www.thetroylibrary.org Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy.

HAIKU HIGHWAY: Join us for this series, Tuesdays, 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.

SEEKING LOCAL ARTISTS: Saratoga-based nonprofit Beyond My Battle is seeking local artists with medical conditions or serving as caregivers for its upcoming “Art with Heart & Hope” show, which aims to provides a voice and venue for those using art to cope with medical challenges. If you are an artist living with

or caring for someone living with a rare disease, illness, or disability, this is a great opportunity to share your art. Beyond My Battle is holding its fourth annual “Art with Heart & Hope” showcasing the ways art can help manage the many stressors of living as a patient or caregiver. The deadline to submit artwork is July 1, 2022. All art must be able to be displayed on a wall or easel. Artists must have lived with, or cared for someone living with, a physical illness, disease, or disability; be at least 18 years old; and live in the Capital Region. Artists should submit their information and work at beyondmybattle.org/art-show-2022 by July 1st. Artists have the option to price their artwork and donate a portion of the sale to Beyond My Battle or not price their artwork at all. “Art with Heart & Hope” is an annual pop-up exhibition celebrating the healing power of art for those living with life-altering medical conditions and their caregivers. Works are displayed alongside written statements from the artists who share the many ways art helps them cope. It is an evening full of inspiration, awareness, and community partnered with refreshments and live music. This year’s show will take place on September 8, 2022 at Universal Preservation Hall from 5:30 — 8:30 PM. Tickets will be available to purchase starting July 15, 2022 at beyondmybattle.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To become a sponsor of this year’s show, please email art@beyondmybattle.org. To learn more about BMB, visit beyondmybattle.org.

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.#: 518280-0079 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. For more information visit our website southernsaratogaartist.com.