Upcoming calendar

ART CONTEST: The New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) is hosting an artwork contest for the design of the 4th Annual New York State Pint Days Glass. Entries will be accepted until June 18th before being narrowed down by NYSBA to the top 2-3 designs. At that point, a public vote will take place to determine the winning design. The winner will receive $500 and recognition as the 2023 Pint Days Artist. If applicable, the affiliated brewery of the artist will receive recognition and 72 complimentary Pint Days glasses. Contest details, artwork specs, and submission form can be found at: https:// thinknydrinkny.com/pintdays-contest/. Additional information about Pint Days is at: https://thinknydrinkny. com/nys-pint-days/.

ART EXHIBIT: Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson. A new exhibition by Hudson Valleybased furniture maker and designer Peter Superti and painter and printmaker David Konigsberg showcases furniture and paintings largely created within the past year and is on view until July 23. hudsonhall.org or (518) 822-1438 for more information.

CREATE YOUTH ART EXPOSITION: CREATE Council on the Arts is thrilled to announce the 40th year of its annual youth exhibition “Outside The Lines,” featuring artwork by pre-K through Grade 12 students invited from Greene, Columbia and Schoharie County public and homeschools. “Outside the Lines” 2023 will be on view June 2nd to July 2nd. This collection is the culmination of a year of study in which area youth learn and develop life skills such as concentration, problem solving, understanding and working with materials, translating ideas into art, and aesthetic appreciation. CREATE’s extraordinary annual exhibit is made possible by the participation of numerous teachers, administrators, students and their families. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 3rd from 2-4pm. Gallery@ CREATE is located at 398 Main Street in Catskill and is open Fridays, 4pm-7pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-6pm. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, visit: www.CREATEcouncil.org.

BLACK FILM FESTIVAL: The Palace Theatre in Albany announces its first annual Renaissance Black Film Festival, June 22—25 at the historic Palace Theatre and the opulent Renaissance Hotel, both within walking distance from one another. RBFF will show films from a plethora of Black filmmakers across the country, with awards and cash prizes going to Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best First Project. The festival’s curators are accepting submissions up until June 7. For more on the Renaissance Black Film Festival, including show and event schedules, volunteer opportunities, and, most importantly, how filmmakers can submit their work for viewing, please visit palacealbany.org and filmfreeway.com/blackfilmfestny.

DANCE LESSONS: Capital Region Social Happenings & Singles Outreach Services Events. 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Building) at “Hill” door entrance. Wednesdays, 7 pm. $10 for all. Public welcome. Call 518-452-6883 for information.

PHOTO EXHIBIT: PHOTO EXHIBIT: Amateur Photographers are invited to take some photos and submit them to the Photography Exhibit at the Schuylerville Garden Club’s Annual Standard Flower Show. The show entitled “Road Trip, New York” will be held on July 22 and July 23 at the Town Hall in Schuylerville, NY. The photography section is entitled “Oh, What a View”. The classes are as follows: Class 1 “Make Memories” —My favorite place to visit in NYS; Class 2 “Discovering Nature” — Showing a natural wonder in NYS; Class 3 “Inside Looking Out” — Seen through the window in NYS. All photos should be the work of the exhibitor and be scenes of New York State in keeping with the flower show theme. Photos should be 8 x 10 inches with a white 11×14 inch mat. Photos must be preregistered. For details and an entry form, visit www. schuylervillegardenclub.org or call Nancy Derway, Photography Consultant at 518796-4797 campderway@yahoo.com.

ART SHOW: D’Arcy Simpson Art Works, 409 Warren Street, Hudson. “Megacosm” by Joseph Stabilito on display June 3-July 19. Museum hours: noon to 5 pm every Thursday- Monday.

ESYO AUDITIONS: Auditions for the Empire State Youth Orchestra are open until June 9. Solo recordings from as early as January 1, 2023 can be used for your upcoming ESYO audition. If you are preparing for a recital or a state solo and ensemble festival, capture/ record a video and save it for your ESYO audition. Visit https://esyo.org/join for full details.

EARLY ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT & EDUCATION: EASE is an eight-week interactive learning program for people with early stage memory loss and their care partners. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as current research and treatment plans. Other topics covered during the 8 weeks include legal and financial preparation, communication and compensatory strategies, home safety, and community resources. A support group is also offered at the end of each session. The program will be hosted every Monday April 17 to June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York Chapter Office at 1003 New Loudon Rd. in Colonie. This program is free but registration is required. Please call or email Tony Rivera at 518.675.7214 or tarivera@alz.org, so he can connect you with your local dementia care specialist for a pre-screening.

USS SLATER: USS SLATER, the last Destroyer Escort afloat in America, is open to the public for her 26th 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: $8.00, 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! USS SLATER is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through 26 November 2023. 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.

KNIT & CROCHET GROUP: Join the Troy Public Library for a bi-weekly stitching group from 10 to 11 a.m. every first and third Friday of the month. Whether you have experience knitting or crocheting or you want to start learning a new skill, this group is for you! Participants will work together to stitch blankets and other needed items to donate to local homeless shelters and outreach groups. Participants are also welcome to work on their own personal projects. Bring your own knitting needles and crochet hooks or use what we have available. This in-person event is free and open to the public. No registration required. The Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy.

TUTORS NEEDED: Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County helps more than 160 adults each year to gain the skills they need to be employed, participate in community life, and become U.S. citizens. LVORC needs volunteer tutors to do this work, and you can help! As a tutor you can develop new skills, make friends, and see how your efforts make a difference in your community. Would you like to help someone to read and write, or to speak English as a new language? We can train you. Contact mhellerlvorc@aol.com to register. Visit the website for more information: www.lvorc.org.

READING MENTORS NEEDED: Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County needs volunteer reading mentors for the Everybody WINS! Power Lunch program at School 14 in Troy. Power Lunch increases children’s chances for success in school and in life through positive reading experiences with caring adults. Elementary school children are paired one-to-one with volunteer mentors from local businesses, colleges and the community. Volunteers read aloud to their reading partner once a week during lunchtime. Everybody WINS! mentors meet with students at School 14 and School 2 in Troy, and at Van Rensselaer Elementary in Rensselaer. For more information about EW Power Lunch! and LVORC’s other programs and services, visit www.lvorc.org or call (518) 244-4650.

THE CIRCLE OF MOTHERS: Do you have a teen who is struggling? Come find peace and support with other mothers. What is said in the circle stays in the circle. Email us for details: TheCircleOfMothers@ gmail.com.

STORYTIME LEARN & PLAY: Thursdays at 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at the Troy Public Library, located at 100 Second St., Troy. We will share stories, songs, movements and more! Masks are optional but are not required. For children ages 0-5 with a caregiver. Registration is not necessary.

STORYTIME LEARN & PLAY: Fridays at 9 a.m. at the Lansingburgh Branch of the Troy Public Library, located at 27 114th St., Troy. We will share stories, songs, movements and more! Masks are optional but are not required. For children ages 0-5 with a caregiver. Registration is not necessary. Please note: this program occurs before the library opens for the day. Please enter through the side door on 4th Avenue.

COMMUNITY MEAL: YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc., located at 21 First St. in Troy, serves a weekly community meal from 5 to 6 p.m. each Tuesday. It is a free-of-charge, to-go dinner provided for YWCA residents as well as anyone in the community. All are welcome to join us each week for a free, nutritious cooked meal. Meals are prepared by a variety of volunteers including but not limited to YWCA-GCR staff, residents, community members and students. Residents are encouraged to participate in preparation of the meals and will be assisted by staff in menu planning, shopping and time management. We serve an average of 75 people per week. The YWCAGCR also partners with community organizations to set up booths at weekly Community Meal to advertise, promote and engage guests in services. Residents and community members can call the YWCA-GCR at (518) 274-7100 to find out Tuesday’s menu. More information about this program is available online at www.ywca-gcr.org.

ITALIAN COOKING SCHOOL: Travel with the Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) to an Italian Cooking School Have you dreamed of living in a 17th century palazzo nestled on a hilltop village in the romantic Italian countryside? ALL is sponsoring a gourmet retreat and cooking school November 11-18, 2023. We will tour a historic or culinary attraction each day and begin cooking late afternoons under the guidance of a professional chef before enjoying a four-course dinner with local wines each evening. This small group experience includes all meals and six nights in a beautifully restored historic palazzo. For more details contact goedventures@gmail.com.

SYCAWAY SENIORS: Need a diversion in your life? Food, fun and friends await you. Bring a friend or neighbor to the Sycaway Seniors group. Members live all over Rensselaer County not just Sycaway. We meet the first and third Mondays each month at 18 Keyes Lane, at the Brunswick Community Center from noon to 3 p.m. Bring your own lunch. We supply dessert and drinks. Nancy McCloskey of Brunswick is our President. She can be reached at 518 2790847. Dues are $10 yearly. Stop in for a visit, all are welcome. Bingo and 50/50 are held at each meeting. Cards are only three for $2. Hope to see you there.

OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET: The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market heads outdoors to the streets of downtown Troy. The summer market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features over 100 vendors. Free parking is available in the City’s 5th Street Parking Garage, Riverfront Park, the Green Island Bridge lots and on city streets. For updates follow the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market on social media or visit www.troymarket.org.

SARATOGA NIGHT MARKET: The Saratoga Night Market is opening to the public this spring with a focus on female-developed products and businesses. Shoppers can visit the market on scheduled Friday and Saturday nights at the Palette Saratoga co-working space in the lower level of The Collamer Building, at 480 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.Each market will vary, with rotating vendors. The Saratoga Night Market will be open on April 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29; May 5, 6, 19, 20 and 27; June 2, 3, 9, 10, 23 and 24; as well as July 7, 8, 21, 22, 28 and 29. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays. Vendor spots are sold out for April, with limited spaces available for May, June and beyond. Ares creators, makers or entrepreneurs that would like to grow their local audience, network with other makers, and sell directly to the community, can register as a vendor online at https://www. caffeine-queens.com/collections/palette-night-market. ADULT BIBLE STUDY: The Boys and Girls Club of Albany is hosting an Adult Bible Study each Thursday at 6:00 P.M. The address is 21 Delaware Avenue. For further info please call 518-8853149.

CORNER SHOPPE: The Corner Shoppe at Cornerstone Community Church, located at 570 Third Ave. in Troy has a large selection of warm winter coats and apparel for the entire family. Other items include jewelry, books, DVDs, housewares and furniture all at affordable prices. Open Thursdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Annual Holiday items available.

GRETA THE READING DOG: Practice your reading skills on Greta, our special story-loving dog! Every Saturday at 11:00 am at Troy Public Library’s main branch, located at 100 Second St. in Troy. Free and all ages. More information is available online at www. thetroylibrary.org or by calling 518-274-7071.

STUDENT DISCOUNT PROGRAM: The Downtown Troy Business Improvement District and members of our business community have joined together to offer discounts to students when they visit Downtown Troy! Simply show your valid college / school ID anywhere you see the Student Incentive Program decal and receive a discount on your purchases. It’s as easy as that. More information is available online at www.downtowntroy.org/for-students.

RAISE PLANT GROW: Each year the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District plants approximately 10 trees in downtown Troy. With the assistance of Constable Tree Service, the organization removes old tree stumps, prep the ground for planting, plant, water and maintain these trees. Did you know that each new tree costs about $500? That’s where you come in! As we grow our urban tree canopy, you can help us plant even more! For more information, or to make a donation to the Raise Plant Grow initiative, visit www.downtowntroy. org/trees.