Calendar

POETRY NIGHT: On Wednesday, January 8, Caffè Lena will present poetry reading by Rana Bita. An open reading will follow. Doors open for sign-ups at 7pm and the readings will start at 7:30. The host for the event will be Carol Graser and the cost is $5 general, free for students Caffè Lena, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 5830022, www.caffelena.org This event is usually held on the first Wednesday of the month, but because of the New Years Day holiday, it will be on the second Wednesday of the month for this month only. Rana Bitar was born and raised in Damascus, Syria. She is the author of A Loaf of Bread, (Unsolicited Press 2019), a requiem for the loss of her homeland that digs into the depth of anguish to excavate the collective human experience of grieving. Her poetry has appeared in The Deadly Writers Patrol, DoveTales, Earthen Lamp Journal, Pittsburgh Poetry Review, Magnolia Review and El Portal. Bitar studied medicine and immigrated to the United States in 1990. She specializes in hematology and oncology, and is currently practicing in Upstate New York. www. ranabitar.com. Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 IRISH SPEAKER: The Saratoga Ancient Order of Hibernians will present speaker Peter Moloney on January 9, 2020 at 7:30 at The Saratoga - Wilton Elks, 1 Elk Lane, Saratoga Springs. The topic will be BREXIT and Implications on the Peace Process. For more information: wwwsaratogaaoh.com. Friday, Jan. 10, 2020 ISRAEL’S GOLAN HEIGHTS TALK: B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation continues its popular “Synagogue Scholars” series with a presentation by Ed Rosen of Albany on the topography, demography and strategic importance of the Golan Heights. Rosen will present “Riding Through the History of the Golan” immediately following the congregation’s Friday, January 10, Shabbat service that begins at 8 p.m. B’nai Sholom is at 420 Whitehall Road, Albany. The service and program are open to all who wish to worship and learn. The Golan region of Israel has figured prominently in recent news, notably its formal recognition by the United States as a part of Israel. What are the Golan Heights? Why is this territory - not much larger than Rensselaer

County - so strategically important? What is its demography and diplomatic history? How does it differ from the West Bank or Gaza? Rosen studied history of the modern Middle East and international relations at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. He is an active member of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and has traveled the Golan extensively, including hiking and by horseback last winter. Begun in 2004, B’nai Sholom’s “Synagogue Scholars” series spotlights individuals in the Capital Region Jewish community who are recognized scholars in their fields. For more information about the “Synagogue Scholars” series, visit www.bnaisholomalbany.org or contact the B’nai Sholom office: office@ bnaisholom.albany.ny.us or 518-482-5283. FREE YOGA FRIDAY: Join us for Gentle and relaxing yoga every Friday at the Presbyterian United Church of Schaghticoke from 7 pm until 8 pm. The Church is located at 16 Main Street in Schaghticoke. For more information, visit presbychurchmouse@yahoo.com. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 STOP THE BLEED TRAINING: The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is taking preparedness a step further. They are teaming up with the Clifton Park Halfmoon EMS to teach another lifesaving initiative – Stop the Bleed training. The training will begin with Active Shooter training. This training will take place at the Town of Ballston Community Library on Saturday, Jan 11, 2020 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. To register, please call the library at 518-399-8174 or visit toblibrary.sals.edu MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID 101: For Older Adults and Those Dealing with Later Life Issues. Please join us on Saturday, January 11, 2020 for a free presentation entitled “Mental Health First Aid 101: For Older Adults and Those Dealing with Later Life Issues” from 9:00am-Noon at the Pastoral Center, 40 N. Main Ave., Albany and will be broadcast to the following sites for live viewing: Our Lady of the Annunciation/ Queensbury and St. Edward the Confessor/Clifton Park. This presentation by certified instructor Brian Evers will help increase the understanding of mental health issues affecting the older adult population and to equip those who minister to them with the skills to provide stronger support to individual and families To register: https://www. rcda.org/2020Mini-Pres or Maria.Schollenberger@rcda. org, (518) 641-6818. All faith traditions welcome. Sunday, Jan. 12 DHARMA MEDITATION: Dharma meditation at Saratoga Health &Wellness, 538 Maple Ave, Saratoga Springs, Sundays (9:0010:15am). By donation. Drop-ins welcome. One Roof Saratoga: 518-581-3180 Ext. 300, www.oneroofsaratoga.com. CONCERT: A Concert of Opera and Operetta Around the World - As part of the Schenectady Library “Beat the Snow” Winter Concert series, Bienvenida Baez, soprano, Elizabeth Lehmann, contralto, and Michael Clement, piano present a recital of opera and operetta with dramatic, romantic and celebratory selections in English, Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, French and Czechoslovakian January 12, 2:30 pm, in the McChesney Room of the Schenectady Library, 99 Clinton St, Schenectady, NY 12305, (518) 388-4500. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 SARATOGA STRESS REDUCTION PROGRAM: Join us for the Saratoga Stress Reduction Program, an eight-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course taught by Selma Nemer, PhD, and Pierre Zimmerman, MS, in which students learn mindfulnessbased meditation as a practice for growth and healing.

Our credentialed instructors have taught locally, nationally, and internationally for over 10 years. We have taught over 100 classes in Saratoga with over 3000 graduates. Students learn multiple forms of mindfulness meditation as well as the latest neuroscience findings about the impact of mindfulness on the brain and our ability to heal. As our students discover they can experience a deeper sense of peace in the midst of a fast-paced, demanding and stressful life, they learn to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. While the program is very personal and therapeutic, it is also solidly practical and offers concrete approaches to dealing with physical and emotional distress. Benefits include improved breathing and sleep, reduced anxiety, better pain management, increased physical flexibility, changes in negative thought patterns, greater awareness of eating, improved immune system and a sense of inner calm. Classes are offered on Tuesday evenings 5:30pm for our winter Session beginning Jan. 14th. Class size is limited and we accept some insurances. For more information or to register, please call our offices at 581-3180 ext. 300 or 307. You can also visit our website: www.saratogastressreduction.com.