Community Calendar

Thursday, May 16

Blood Drive at the Altamont Village Hall, 115 Main St., from 1 to 6 p.m. Contact 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment.

Albany County’s Historic Hilltowns, illustrated with vintage photographs, will be John Elberfeld and Jane McLean’s program at the Guilderland Historical Society’s meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Mynderse-Frederick House, 451 Route 146, Guilderland Center. Parking is available next door at the church. Refreshments and a social hour will follow the program, and all are invited.

Greenville Meet the BOE Candidates: The Greenville PTA and PTSA is committed to helping parents make informed decisions about issues affecting their children. With that goal, we are sponsoring a “Meet the Board of Education Candidates Night,” from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Greenville High School auditorium. The event will consist of a moderated discussion with all candidates having the opportunity to answer questions. While most of the questions will be pre-selected, the public will be able to submit questions for consideration.

Bethlehem Historical Association Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Cedar Hill Schoolhouse, 1003 River Road, Selkirk. The topic is “Fire Engines, Mastadon, and Batteau; My Career at the New York State Museum.” Presented by John Anson.

Friday, May 17

The Little Foxes: Theater Voices culminates its 25th season celebration with a new production of its inaugural show, The Little Foxes, Hellman’s 1939 drama about greed, selfishness, and violence, and the women who are trapped by them. Set in the early 20th Century American South, the play portrays the Hubbard family — exemplified by the glamorous Regina — and their attempts to become wealthy at the expense of their relationships with one another. The play will be performed on Friday, at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m., at the Steamer No. 10 Theatre, 500 Western Ave. Free admission.

Mainstream Level Square Dance: The Schoharie Valley Hayshakers will hold a Hawaiian night covered-dish dinner and western square dance at the Middleburgh Elementary School cafeteria; dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and dancing will begin at 7:30 p.m. the callers are Chuck and Gerry Hardy and the cuer is Dolores Randall. Please wear soft-soled shoes.

School House Rock: The students of the Young Actors Guild spring session present the 70’s hit, Schoolhouse Rock Live, May 17 and 18, at 7:30 p.m., and May 19, at 2 p.m., at the RPI Playhouse, 15th St., Troy. Call 276-6505 for tickets. Reserved tickets are $10; tickets are $12 at the door.

Saturday, May 18

Pancake Breakfast: All-you-can-eat breakfast at the Onesquethaw Reformed Church, 11 Groesbeck Road, Feura Bush, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The menu includes regular and blueberry pancakes, sausage, homemade sausage gravy, biscuits, eggs, applesauce, juice, coffee, tea, and milk. The cost is a donation. All proceeds will benefit the Senior Youth Group Mission Trip to Blue Knob, Penn., and the Camp Fowler Scholarship Fund.

Seventh Annual Lupine Fest — Living History: The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center will host the seventh annual Lupine Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to celebrating the wild blue lupine and its importance to the endangered Karner blue butterfly, this year’s theme celebrates the Pine Bush’s history and the 25th anniversary of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. A full day of programs is planned, including presentations, demonstrations, music, games, face painting, crafts, guided hikes, food vendors, and more. The festival is free and will be held rain or shine.

Walk in the Woods at Five Rivers: A family-oriented investigation of forests and forest ecology will be conducted at 10 a.m. at 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. In celebration of National Walk in the Woods Day, Five Rivers naturalists will conduct an introductory study of different kinds of trees and the animals that depend upon them. Staff will lead participants on a short outdoor “tour de forest” to gather some interesting objects related to trees. Afterwards, participants will do an indoor craft project to learn more about these giants of the plant world. The program is open to the public free of charge, but space is limited; call 475-0291 to register.

Beef Producers Field Day with Cornell Cooperative Extension: The morning session of this field day, at Westendlock Farm, 515 West End Road, Hillsdale, at 10 a.m., will provide in-depth training for the Beef Quality Assurance Program. The Beef Quality Assurance Program is a national program that provides training for beef cattle producers in food safety, proper cattle handling, injection sites, record keeping, and the proper handling of animal health products. Each producer will work through a chute site training where they will learn how to give an injection using the proper techniques. Each person who completes the full training and submits the written test will receive their official BQA certificate. During the afternoon session there will be a clinic on how to body condition score and grade cattle. The afternoon will wrap up with a discussion on how to choose the right bull for your farm and the use of a new season long worming product. The cost of this program is $15 per person, which includes lunch. If you wish to receive your BQA certification you must order a manual in advance for $10. Only one manual is required per farm. To register and order your manual, call 765-3500.

Grand Garage Sale at the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church, 2291 Western Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s back, the one you look forward to all year. Everything you expect and more! Approximately 94,671 great treasures. Clothes, jewelry, CDs, toys, games, small appliances, housewares, crafts, Christmas decorations, house plants, books, puzzles, electronics, sporting goods, etc.

Bird-watching Walk: Meet at the Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, at 8 a.m. Leader Neal Reilly is an expert birder and can spot most any bird around, tell a lot about it, and draw most any bird to a closer view. Bird fanciers will enjoy meeting Neal and exchanging bird lore with him. We invite you to this enjoyable and informative event. Bring cameras and binoculars.

Donation Baked Ham Dinner: There will be a donation baked ham dinner at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Route 143, Coeymans Hollow, serving from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Take-outs will be available. The menu will include baked ham, potatoes, green beans, Harvard beets, rolls, beverages and cake. This is a free-will offering dinner. Call 756-2629 for more information.

Garden Education Day/Plant Sale/Garage Sale: Join us rain or shine for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County Master Garderners’ annual plant sale, featuring perennials dug from their gardens and vegetable transplants grown by Master Gardeners to offer the public the best disease resistant varieties. In addition, there will be annuals from a local grower, herbs, trees and shrubs for sale. This event will include a huge garage sale, refreshments and homemade baked goods, as well as tours of the Memorial Garden. There is a special event offer of one free soil test for pH per family with a $3 charge for each additional test.

Waterfalls and Wildflowers on the Indian Ladder Trail: Spring is dramatic and picturesque on the trail below the cliff, with cascading waterfalls and blooming woodland wildflowers. Learn about the fascinating geology of the escarpment and look for flowering trillium, Dutchman’s breeches, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild ginger, and other spring bloomers. Meet at the Thacher Nature Center at 10 a.m.; call 872-0800.

Woodcarving Show: The Mohawk Valley Art and Woodcarving Association will hold it’s annual carving show at the Horace Inman Senior Center, 53 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show features some of the best woodcarvers in the northeast, including Walter Le Clair, of Altamont, exhibiting some of their finest works. Carving-related items will be for sale. There will be a live auction at 1 p.m. Food and beverages will be available all day. Admission is $2 for adults, and children under 12 are free.

Rensselaerville Volunteer Fire Department Village-wide Garage Sale: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at the firehouse on Route 85. Sale maps, bake sale, coffee, beverages, and food.

23rd Annual Boyd Hilton VFW 7062 Loyalty Day: All friends and neighbors are invited to attend Loyalty Day, at 2 p.m. at 11 Mill St., to help us honor friends from the community and our veterans. We also have an essay contest from the Altamont Elementary School; the theme is about our Vietnam veterans and we will present the winners and hear the winning essay. Refreshments will be served following the program. Call 470-7310 for more information.

Sunday, May 19

Let’s Play Cards: Play cards at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center in New Salem from 2 to 4 p.m. Play canasta, pinochle, blink, gin rummy, cribbage, and whist. Prizes to be awarded. Free and open to the public. The exhibit “Entertainment Before 1950 and TV” will also be open for viewing.

Monday, May 20

Clearwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its May meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany Ramada Plaza Hotel, 3 Watervliet Avenue Extension, Albany. The guest speaker will be Tyler Atkins from Orvis with a presentation of “Carp on the Fly.” A guest fly tier will also start at 6:30 p.m. Admission to our meetings is free and the public is always invited.

Tuesday, May 21

Soup and Sandwich Luncheon at the Berne Reformed Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A variety of homemade soups, sandwiches, and cookies will be available. Eat-in or take-out. Call 872-0297 for more information.

BKW Bulldog Pride Budget Vote and Chicken BBQ in front of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo school. Take-out only from 3:30 p.m. until the chicken is gone. A $9 dinner includes half a chicken, a baked potato, coleslaw, a roll, and dessert. Pre-orders are strongly suggested.

Capital Region Volunteer of the Year Award Presentation: Chris Lehman has won the Capital Region Volunteer of the Year Award, which consists of a $1,000 cash award and a donation of $5,000 to ATRC. A special event honoring Chris Lehman will be Held at Indian Ladder Farms from 6 to 7 p.m. Representatives from Direct Energy and the Gazette will be on-hand to present Chris the award.

Wednesday, May 22

Local Lift: Local First of the Capital Region is looking for a few good businesses to join its ranks at the upcoming Local Lift event, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART Facility in Malta. Local Lift is an all-day training and networking event for small and independent businesses, with a focus on providing the unique skills and services they need to succeed. The day will include training seminars, workshops, and one-on-one consulting services, designed around member needs. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door, and $10 for students. Lunch included.

Thursday, May 23

Almost Full Moon Hike: Enjoy the Pine Bush at night with an hour-long hike under the almost full moon. We will walk approximately one-mile over rolling topography, stopping intermittently for night vision and sound observations. Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather. Meet at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, at 7:30 p.m. The fee is $3 per person or $5 per family and registration is required; call 456-0655.

Saturday, May 25

Wildlife Presentation at Thacher Nature Center: Meet some neighbors up close and personal and learn about where and how they live. Wildlife rehabilitator Kelly Martin will introduce some of the bird and other animals in her care. Learn about what to do if you find an abandoned or injured animal and how we can all help prevent wildlife emergencies. Meet at Thacher Nature Center at 10 a.m.; call 872-0800 for more information.

Community Carnival at Mountainview Free Church, 71 State Farm Road, Voorheesville, from 1 to 4 p.m. Fun, games, and live music for the whole family!

chembo-07-1 Wilson “Chembo” Corniel and his Grupo Chaworo will play Latin jazz arrangements of the music of Thelonius Monk and Mongo Santamaria on May 25 at 8 p.m. at Emerson Auditorium, Union College, Schenectady. Admission is $15 with a $5 discount for Union College faculty and staff, students, and seniors. For tickets and more information, call 466-9990 or go online to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Teacher Workshop at Five Rivers: A teacher workshop for early childhood educators, on the award-winning curriculum-enhancement program Project Learning Tree, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, at 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. At this interactive workshop, Five Rivers staff will lead a participatory training in PLT’s environmental experiences for Early Childhood, forest-themed instructional activities, geared toward ages 3 to 6, which integrate nature-based exploration, art, literature, math, music, and movement. Participants will receive a free PLT Environmental Experiences Activity Guide full of stimulating forest-oriented activities correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards and the Head Start Domains. The workshop is open to teachers and youth leaders free of charge. Call 475-0291 to register for the workshop.

Five Rivers Marks World Turtle Day: A family-oriented program on the natural history of turtles will be conducted at 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar, at 2 p.m. At this indoor/outdoor study, local reptile specialist Dee Strnisa will provide an overview of turtle ecology and the conservation challenges which turtles face today, feature live (captive) specimens. Afterward, Five Rivers staff will lead participants outdoors along gentle center trails to search the ponds for turtles basking in the sun and foraging in the shallows. The program is open to the public free of charge. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. In the event of inclement weather, the outdoor portion of the program will be canceled. Please call 475-0291 for more information.

Karner Blue Walk: Don’t miss this chance to join the Albany Pine Bush staff on a hike in the Pine Bush Preserve to see the Karner blue butterfly. Once common in the glacial Lake Albany sand belt, the Karner blue has plummeted in numbers over the past 40 years and is now listed as a federally endangered species. Come learn about the natural history of the Karner blue and what efforts are underway to rescue this species from the brink of extinction. Bring along your camera, sturdy walking shoes, and drinking water. Please register early as this program fills up quickly. Meet at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, at 1 p.m. The fee is $3 per person and $5 per family and registration is required; call 456-0655 to register.

Rensselaerville Grist Mill Opening and Bake Sale: The season opening of the Grist Mill will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the bridge in the hamlet of Rensselaerville. A bake sale and free mill tours will be featured. Donations of baked goods would be appreciated. Call 239-4507 to arrange pickup. Proceeds will benefit projects of the Rensselaerville Historical Society.

Sunday, May 26

Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic at 3 p.m. at the Old Songs Community Center, 37 South Main St., Voorheesville, at 3 p.m. Featuring Jill Crammond; hosted by Dennis Sullivan, Mike Burke, and Edie Abrams. Call 469-0202 for more information.

Thursday, May 30

lorraine lotzof abramson -web Lorraine Lotzof Abramson will present her memoir, My Race: A Jewish Girl Growing Up Under Apartheid in South Africa, the story of a gifted Jewish athlete growing up under the apartheid system of South Africa. The lecture and lunch will be held Thursday, May 30, at 11 a.m. in the Albany Jewish Community Center auditorium at 340 Whitehall Road. Abramson’s grandparents left Eastern Europe to escape oppression, only to find themselves in another oppressive society. This time, they were on the same side as the oppressors, by virtue of their white skin. She learns that the real race — the marathon that is a long and eventful human life — is a journey toward compassion. A book sale and signing follows the kosher lunch. This program is open to the community. Cost for the lecture-lunch is $13 for a JCC member, $14 for a guest. Prepaid reservations are required in the Albany JCC’s senior adult office, 438-6651, ext.112, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .