June is National Safety Month and the Stephentown Memorial Library is offering three programs to help the community increase its safety awareness. SML is partnering with The Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program (SACVAP) for Rensselaer County for these programs. SACVAP is committed to reducing the trauma of sexual assault, crime and violence as well as providing community education for its prevention. More information can be found at the website: http://www.nehealth.com/Medical_Care/SAM/Sexual_Assault_Center/.
• Bullying/Cyber Bullying/Bystander Intervention for Children – Tuesday, June 4, at 6:30 pm. School age children are invited to join us for this informative program about bullying. This session defines what bullying/cyber bullying behavior is and the idea of bystander intervention. Additionally, this program will offer information to help your child deal with bullying behavior, how your child may help somebody being bullied and what a bully can do to change his or her behavior.
• Parental Information on Bullying/Cyber Bullying – Monday, June 10, at 6:30 pm. This presentation discusses bullying/cyber bullying behavior from a parent’s viewpoint and outlines what to do if your child is being bullied or is a bully, as well as suggestions to provide to your child if they see someone being bullied. All parent, caregivers, and other adults who work with children are welcome to this program.
• Safety for Seniors – Protect Yourself – Tuesday, June 11, at 2 pm. This program provides personal safety information for adults over the age of 60 who may be targeted because of age and/or vulnerability and includes crimes at home, on the street and on the internet as well as frauds and scams targeting seniors. The program also shows how to avoid becoming a victim of financial exploitation. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Registration is not required but is appreciated for these programs.
• Social Security Online Services – Informational Program. On Wednesday, June 5, at 1 pm the Library welcomes Michael Dinneen from the Social Security Administration. He will be explaining the new online My Social Security program which allows access to social security benefit information online. He will help individuals set up an online account. Please join us for this informative program.
For more information on any of these programs or to register for programs, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750 or stop by during our Library hours. Also check our website, www.stephentownlibrary.org for regular updates.
Wildlife Conservation Program At The New Lebanon Library
Conservationist Peter Zahler will present “The Last of the Wild: Wildlife Conservation Across Temperate Asia” on Wednesday, June 5, at 6:30 pm at the New Lebanon Library. The program, which is free and open to the public, is appropriate for patrons of all ages. “Temperate Asia” extends from the frigid Siberian Arctic through the great expanses of Central Asia and China and down into the conflict-afflicted high mountains of Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. Huge open spaces, such as Mongolia’s Eastern Steppe, the Russian Far East, the Tibetan Plateau and the Afghan Pamirs still hold some of the last great wild spectacles in Asia, from over a million migrating Mongolian gazelle to wild yak, Siberian tiger, Marco Polo sheep and snow leopard. Zahler will give a multimedia presentation on conservation programs that are working to save wildlife and wild places in this mysterious and little known expanse of earth’s landscape justifiably called “the last of the wild.”
Peter Zahler is the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Deputy Director for Asia and manages conservation programs and projects across temperate Asia. He has worked on wildlife conservation for over 30 years, from the Alaskan tundra to the Peruvian Amazon to the Pakistan Himalayas, but he is now happy to call East Chatham home.
The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
Next HFCS PTA Meeting
The last business meeting of the HFCS PTA for the current school year will take place on Thursday, June 6, in the Elementary School Library beginning at 6 pm.
As always, members and non-members are encouraged to join meetings to find out what the PTA is doing for our children and to share ideas for special programs and events to benefit the children and families of our School District.
If you’d like to become a member or to learn more about PTA and its programs, please attend this meeting or contact Membership Chair Paula Kamperman at 518-686-5344.
Grafton VFD And Ladies Auxiliary Breakfast
The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department along with the Grafton Ladies Auxiliary will be holding an All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast on Saturday, June 29, from 8 to 11 am at the Grafton VFW – Fire Hall on South Road (County Route 85).
Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, eggs (made to order), sausage gravy & biscuits, bacon, sausage, home fries, toast, orange juice, coffee and milk are on the menu. The cost is $9 per adult, $4 for kids 12 and under and free for kids five and under.
We look forward to serving you.
Horseback Riding In Stephentown
submitted by Cassidy Chamberlain, Cinch’em Up Stables
Come be a cowboy or cowgirl for the day at Cinch ‘em Up Stables’ grand opening on June 1 and 2. There will be door prizes and giveaways. Take a horseback ride up on the mountain trails which have amazing views of the surrounding mountain ranges and on most days the beautiful Catskills Mountains can be seen. Or take a ride through the tall grassy fields and ride along the Kinderhook Creek.
[Read more…] about Horseback Riding In Stephentown
A Hooked Buttercup Blooms
Dyken Pond June Programs
• Saturday, June 8, Dragonfly and Damselfly Workshop – 9 am-4 pm. Dragonflies and damselflies are some of nature’s most fascinating, beautiful and speedy creatures. Erin White, zoologist with the New York Natural Heritage Program, will lead this workshop. [Read more…] about Dyken Pond June Programs
Volunteers Needed For National Trails Day
National Trails Day is the perfect opportunity to help clean up local parks. On Saturday, June 1, the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park and Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center will be hosting the 20th Annual National Trails Day – the nation’s annual celebration of trails. Both parks invite volunteers of all ages to help clean up and improve trails on Saturday morning and indulge in the trail activities they enjoy most in the afternoon.
Registration will begin at 9 am. at both parks; refreshments and snacks will be available. Cleanup and improvement of both trail systems will take place between 9:30 am and 12 noon and will be followed by a complimentary barbecue picnic for all volunteers. After the barbecue, participants are encouraged to enjoy the trails and parks. Reservations must be made in advance for the barbecue by calling the Grafton Lakes State Park Office or Dyken Pond Office no later than May 30.
For more information about this event, please contact Grafton Lakes State Park at 518-279-1155 or Dyken Pond Center at 518-658-2055.
13th Annual Cambridge Balloon Festival
The Cambridge community is gearing up for the 13th Annual Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival which is set for Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9. An outpouring of support from community businesses and organizations is again responsible for bringing this fantastic event to Cambridge.
The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the event, is putting the final touches on the schedule of events and the commemorative program. Latest information is available on the Chamber website at www.cambridgenychamber.com.
The Festival will again feature ten hot air balloon pilots flying up to 15 different balloons over the hills of Cambridge, Jackson and White Creek – weather permitting.
Traditionally, pilots carry a bottle of champagne in the balloon basket to present to the owner of the property where they land after a flight. Champagne for this year’s festival is being sponsored by Black Dog Wines & Spirits. The Opening Ceremony on Friday evening will feature music by the Washington County Band and the introduction of all pilots and their sponsors. The ceremony is sponsored by Hoosick Tire.
Throughout the weekend, many events will be held to entertain crowds between the launches and to showcase the Cambridge community. For additional information on the Festival, visit www.cambridgenychamber.com or call 518-677-0887.
June Events In Local State Parks
• Saturday, June 1 – National Trails Day. (See page 16)
• Saturday, June 8 – Jump, Slither and Swim from 1 to 3 pm. Join reptile and frog enthusiast Jorel to meet some local critters up close! This free program at GLSP will meet at the program tent by Long Pond beach.
• Saturday, June 8 – The War and Women, 11 am at the Bennington Battlefield. Take a trip back in time, and we will explore the different tasks that women took on during the war, how they dressed and how their status affected how they lived. Pre-registration is required by calling 279-1155.
• Thursday, June 20 – Summer Solstice Eve Hike at 7 pm. Celebrate these longest days of 2013 with a hike in the great outdoors. The sun’s staying up late so you can too! We’ll walk the Long Pond trail and time it to see the sunset at trail’s end. Pre-register by calling 279-1155.
• Friday, June 28 – Star Watch at Grafton Lakes State Park at 9:30 pm. Join with members of the Albany Area Astronomers and come explore the night sky. The group meets at the Deerfield pavilion. The rain date is Saturday, June 29. Call 658-9144 to confirm.
• Saturday, June 29 – Free Fishing Clinic from 11 am to 1 pm with DEC Fisheries Educators.
The clinic meets at Long Pond dam at GLSP, near the boathouse. As part of free fishing weekend, no license is required, but kids can always fish freely if under 16.
• Saturday and Sunday, June 29 and 30 – Free Fishing Weekend. Enjoy fishing without a license in NYS at both Cherry Plain and Grafton Lakes State Parks.