Capital District FAMILY NOW - October 2022 Parents Children & Senior Citizens

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Tips to transform your space into something spooky

Everyone deserves a good scare come Halloween. Some people sit down to horror movie marathons, while others page through thrilling books from famed horror writers such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz. How ever, hands-on scares can be just as effective, which probably accounts for the popular ity of haunted hayrides and corn mazes.

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Homeown ers looking to provide their own share of scares to friends and family – or to create a screamworthy tableau for the visiting public to enjoy – can consider some of these haunted house ideas.

Create a spooky ambiance

The fear of the unknown can be a powerful force. In many horror scenes, suspense is built by what audiences can not see. Borrow this idea when creating the mood for your haunted house. Dim lighting by way of red or black outside bulbs will help increase the shadows and camouflage any decorations that may not be

INSIDE: Fall fun in the Capital District.

Picture books with pizzazz

‘Pig the Rebel’

By Aaron Blabey

Pig the pug’s bad behavior has finally caught up with him, and it’s time for obedience school. Can this terrible pug ever be tamed? Not if he can help it... Rich with rhyming text and unforgettable illustrations, this is a laugh-out-loud story that follows the nine previous books in the Pig the Pug series. Scholastic Press

‘Meanwhile, Back on Earth’

By Oliver Jeffers

A father takes his two children on a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure into space and invites them to look back at Earth and the conflicts that have taken place since the beginning of time. This becomes a brief history of the world and a guide to the universe, told with wit and exquisite artwork. A timely story for families everywhere. Philomel

‘Con Pollo’

By Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Lopez; illustrated by Andrea Campo

This bilingual playtime adventure is an engaging and hilarious picture book that serves young readers as an intro duction to basic Spanish vocabulary. Pollo, a friendly little chicken who just wants to play, makes any activity more fun. Why just go to the beach when you could go to la playa con Pollo? You’re in for a busy day with your new friend, Pollo! Feiwel and Friends

‘Busy Betty’

By Reese Witherspoon; illustrated by Xindi Yan

When Betty gives her dog Frank a big hug, she realizes he needs a bath, PRONTO! Her best friend, Mae, is coming over, and Betty can’t have the smelliest dog in the whole world. But giving Frank a bath is harder than she thought and just when everything seems impossible, with Mae’s help, Betty learns she can accomplish anything with perseverance, teamwork, and one great idea. Flamingo Books

picture books

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completely realistic in the light of day. In addition to lighting, create a playlist of creepy sounds. Consider how effective those grandfather clock bell tolls were at evoking fear in season four of “Stranger Things.” Pick your spooky sounds, whether it’s ani mals or something more supernatural.

Narrow down a theme

Decide which type of scenes you’ll want to depict and maintain continuity through out. Graveyards, monstrous realms, insane asylum, or evil fairy tale creatures can serve as inspiration for a theme. Once a theme has been chosen, you can build props, deco rations, lighting and other effects around it.

Enlist some live-action help

Gather a bunch of volunteers who can be on hand to staff your haunted house, particularly if you’re opening up your property to the neighborhood for a night or two, or if you’re hosting a party. Each volunteer should be dressed and acting ac cording to the theme. A mix of stationary decorations with creepy people moving about can really set a haunted house apart.

Create ‘bloody’ candles

Purchase white pillar candles and get one long, red candle as well. Over a protect ed surface, melt the red candle and drizzle “blood” trickles over the white candles from the tops and down the sides. These candles can be placed around your haunted house.

Spooky silhouettes

Back-lit silhouettes made of cardboard or another thick paper can cause haunted house visitors to take a second look. Prop them up in windows or place them at the end of dark hallways to create the feeling that someone is watching. You’ll be sure to get pulses rising.

Gather old dolls

Dolls can be creepy characters, and older dolls may appear even more haunted and spooky. Set up an old baby bassinet with a bunch of worn dolls found at various antique stores or garage sales. Work them into your theme or let them be scary all on their own.

Once your haunted house is complete, set up a clearly marked path so visitors know where to walk. Create different scenes along the path to have a scare around every corner.

the

TOP 5 FALL FRIGHTS

It’s finally fall! Celebrate the spooky season with your family at one of these area venues and make the most of cooler tem peratures combined with stunning foliage and frightening fun

Halloween. Tickets start at $16 for kids and $20 for adults and must be purchased in advance. They are available online at HollowedHarvest. com/altamont-ny.

1.Donyour best lederhosen for a taste of the tropics at Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery’s Ha waiian Oktoberfest at the farm Satur day and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 16.

Cap off a day of apple picking with some live music by The Swin gin’ Palms and Pine Hills Band. The two-day, fun-filled event will also fea ture German-Hawaiian fusion dishes, as well as drinks served in pineapples and Spam cans. The kids will enjoy the farm animals and play area, and everyone is a fan of the cider dough nuts. There is no entry fee. For more information, visit indianladderfarms. com/hawaiianoktoberfest.

views, and forests with colorful foliage on the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad in Milford. The open air car with permanent canopy makes for a perfect view of the colors, rain or shine. Food and beverages are available for sale on the train, and the two and a half hour ride is ideal for all ages. Reserva tions are not required, but definitely encouraged.

3.This

next one is not for the faint of heart. Double M Haunted Hayrides has been creating fear for over 30 years. Double M, located in Ballston Spa, knows how to do Halloween. This year’s walk-through attractions include Brutality, Blood Moon Farm, The Last Inn, Fear All Year and Slaughter Swamp. Each hayride lasts approximately 30-40 minutes, with the ride and walkthrough attractions is roughly one hour. You can also enjoy a midway “Feartainment,” featuring interactive creatures, music, concession stand, souvenir stand and photo booth.

General admission, which includes all attractions, is $39.95. For more information and hours of operation, visit doublemhauntedhay rides.com.

The train runs Sunday and Monday, Oct. 9 and 10; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 16; and Saturday and Sunday Oct. 29 and 30. Tickets cost $20 for children and seniors, and $25 for adults. Children under 3 ride for free. Visit www.lrhs.com/fall-foliage-excursion for more information or to purchase tickets.

5.The

Hollowed Harvest returns to the Altamont Fairgrounds this fall. From dinosaurs to zom bies, sea creatures to medieval castles, all made out of Jack-O’-Lanterns, you won’t believe what you’re going to see! Marvel at more than 7,000 incredible Jack-O’-Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-thanlife displays, some towering as tall as 3 stories, and spanning more than 60 feet in length.

2.The

The Hollowed Harvest will take place throughout October from Thursday -Sunday of each week, with additional dates added the week of

NowFamily

4.Looking for something a little more laid back?

Travel along the tranquil Susquehanna River, through farm fields with beautiful

publisher | John McIntyre

editor | Kristen Roberts

editor-at-large | Michael Hallisey advertising sales | Denice Mau

Pumpkin Glow & Light Show DriveThru Experience at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa is an enchanting Halloween experience that features a pumpkin wonderland with thousands of handcarved illuminated jack o’ lanterns. Guests will be immersed in the magic from the safety and comfort of their own vehicle.

From a single pumpkin carving to larger than life dazzling light displays, master carvers are bring all of the Halloween spirit to life. Ticket packages start at $24.99$54.99. Visit www.ellmsfarms.com/ pumpkin-glow-and-light-show for more information and to purchase tickets.

— Compiled by Kristen Roberts, Capital District Family Now

art director | David Abbott graphic design | Martha Eriksen

Engagement Coordinators | Rachel Dottino, Frank Gillen

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

CAPITAL DISTRICT

Capital District Family Now is a unit of Community Media Group LLC Published monthly. Deadline for advertising and calendar events is the 5th of the month preceding publication. Display advertising rates are available on request. Capital District Family Now reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. We do not guarantee any of the information, services or products published in this or any issue. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this paper. © Copyright Capital District Family Now. No portion of Capital District Family Now may be reproduced without written permission from Community Media Group LLC.

Triple Threat parenting triplets in the Capital District

Hard truth about transplants

Not everyone who needs a new organ is eligible to get one

Growing

up, I learned some things that I thought were absolute truths turned out to be untrue or merely shades of the truth.

Now that I am a mom of three very inquisitive high school freshmen, I am often questioned (interrogated?) about what I present as the truth. Part of this annoys me – a very small part. The rest of the time, the fact that they feel safe asking ques tions and challenging authority is refreshing. All I ask is respect, forgive ness and a chance to learn.

for Organ Sharing) is the clearinghouse for organs and tissue donation. Have you ever watched “ER” or “Grey’s Anatomy”? UNOS is a regular discus sion between the doctors and patients. Rarely is a person denied access to an organ or tissue.

Reality is another story.

I have learned in the last seven years that access to an organ is so much complicated. Obviously, there is a pro cess and organ availability to be considered. There is no doubt that the process is somewhat fictional on television, but it colors how viewers see UNOS.

by Jennifer Steuer

The biggest fallacy that I have had to face is that if someone needs an organ, that person will be on the transplant list. UNOS (United Network

I have never doubted that I would donate my organs and tissues. As parents, Harlan and I talked about donat ing Olivia, Ben and Rebecca’s organs if the unthinkable ever happened. My grandmother donated her body to Al bany Medical College. This was process she started many years before her death,

Continued on Page 5

Harlan Steuer has been suffering from End Stage Renal Disease without a prospect for a transplant. Years of dialysis have taken a toll on him and his family.

Out and About

Film festival opens with music

GLENS FALLS – For the seventh year, Adirondack Theatre Festival (ATF) will produce the Adirondack Film Festi val – again in the hybrid model, which was highly popular last year.

This year’s screenings will take place at the Charles R. Wood Theater and Crandall Library in downtown Glens Falls. The Queensbury Hotel will host an opening night reception on Thursday, Oct. 13, following a new spin on the festival’s opening night screen ing. Instead of the traditional feature movie, this year’s festival will open with an evening of music videos capped by “Blondie: Vivir en la Habana,” a short documentary about a pathbreaking concert in Cuba by iconic new wave band Blondie, and a Q&A with director Rob Roth.

The band’s 2019 concert was part of an official cultural exchange between Havana and New York City. Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry has said that “Playing Cuba was a dream come true.

n Triple Threat

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and she had a card in her wallet she proudly showed me a few times. My mother is an organ donor. Just a few months before Harlan was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) he received his new driver license with “organ donor” on the little card, although now he cannot be a donor. We were a family of potential organ donors and very proud of it.

Raising my three amazing kids hasn’t been easy since Harlan got sick. I’ve seen them go from carefree 7-year-olds to kids who appear to have a heaviness in them. Their father has gone from working full time and being active at home to being mostly ill due to ESRD. Now, at 14, the kids are aware that life is not always fair and sometimes even good people don’t get what they need. My kids love their father and will do almost anything for him. Setting up dialysis supplies, microwaving some oatmeal or just hanging out and watching a car show with him while he is having dialysis are just a few of the ways that they show that they love him.

The pre-requisites for getting an organ are long and involved. Harlan and I sat through the seminar listening in tently to the representative. Candidates

… It was certainly something we’d always wanted to do, so to do it as a cultural exchange made it even better.”

The Adirondack Film Festival will continue October 14 and 15 with screen ings of features, documentaries, shorts, comedies, thrillers, and “Homegrown” Adirondack Region Films. The Festival’s annual “Stage to Screen” series of films by artists who have their roots in theatre will kick off with a screening of Remember This, a new film starring Academy Awardnominee David Strathairn (“Good Night, and Good Luck”) in a tour-de-force solo performance as Jan Karski: a hero of the Polish resistance and witness to Nazi atrocities. David Strathairn is currently performing this role in the stage version of Remember This at Theatre for a New Audience in New York City; Glens Falls audiences will be among the first to see his critically-lauded performance of the role onscreen.

For more information, visit  adkfilmfestival.org.

must have all dental work up to date, no obesity, non-smoker, no diabetes, no HIV, no skin cancer, no congestive heart failure, no high blood pressure and no substance abuse. A candidate also should not have severe neurologi cal deficits or be over 70 years of age. (According to the UNOS website and Johns Hopkins website.) This is not a complete list, obviously.

Harlan is not a suitable candidate for a kidney. His main disqualifiers are multiple abdominal surgeries and blood transfusions.

Living for a long time on dialysis is hard on the body and mind. Harlan often feels trapped by the needles, tubes, wires and machines. We all know so much more about renal diets and what blood marrow is responsible for. The first time I had to tell the kids, “Don’t touch the blood in the refrigerator,” was memorable. I take care of dialysis and monthly blood draws. The kids are not afraid of blood now.

All families have stress. Ours is just a little different. I have hope, faith and friends that help me get through the darkest nights.

Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her hus band, Harlan, and 14-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer.

HalloweeN 2022

Top tips to stay safe this Halloween season

uch like Christmas, Halloween is no longer relegated to a single day. A number of Halloween enthusiasts now begin decorating at the start of October. Hijinks and autumn revelry fill the air as individuals eagerly count down to the end of the month.

Though the lightheartedness of Halloween festivities, such as costumes and candy, garner the bulk of celebrants’ attention, it’s important to take safety into consideration as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as other nights of the year. Cuts and burns also are more common on October 31.

A good Halloween scare should come from costumes, not accidents or injuries. This Halloween, consider these safety measures, courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide, the Mayo Clinic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Make sure you’re visible when trick-or-treating. Reflective tape, glow sticks, flashlights, or camping lanterns can make pedestrians more visible to motorists.

Pedestrians should walk on sidewalks if they are available. When sidewalks are not available, walk facing traffic and do so as far off to the side of the road as you can get.

TRICK OR TREATERS

Stay home if sick

Trick or treat with people you live with Remain 6 feet apart from people not in your household

Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose (even under/over your Halloween mask)

Hand sanitize (with sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) frequently while out, especially during key times like before eating or after coughing/sneezing

HOMEOWNERS

Do not hand out candy if you are sick

Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose

Take the Safe House pledge and register as an official Halloween Safe House

Use duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of home and leading to driveway/front door

Position a distribution table between yourself and trick or treaters

Distribute candy on disinfected table to eliminate direct contact

Wash hands often

• Drivers should be especially alert to pedestrians on Halloween. Drive slowly, as many kids scurry from house to house in search of Halloween candy.

• Pedestrians and drivers should follow the rules of the road, stopping at intersections and crossing in crosswalks.

• Consider alternatives to carving pumpkins, since the risk of being cut while carving is high. If you want to carve, leave the carving to adults. Utilize battery-operated flameless candles or glow sticks to illuminate jack-o’-lanterns.

• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant. Make sure that costumes do not impede your ability to walk or see.

• Test makeup to check for skin irritation before application. Remove it promptly after returning home.

Set up a buddy system so that no one is going it alone. Agree on a specific time children should return home. Adults should chaperone young children.

• While incidences of candy tampering may be minimal, no one should snack on candy until it has been inspected. Inspections also protect against food allergies.

• The candy bounty should be rationed so no one overindulges and feels ill later on.

Halloween season is a fun time of year, but safety should go hand in hand with all the celebrating on this special day.

PARENTS

Stay home if sick

Talk with your children about safety and social distancing guidelines and expectations Guide children to stay on the right side of the road always to ensure distance

Carry a flashlight at night and ensure your children have reflective clothing

Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose

Wash your hands as soon as you return home

Inspect all candy before eating

Enjoy a safE and happy hallowEEn from the staff of:

Education insight for parents Learning Center

Make your conference count

Ask questions to get the most out of limited parent-teacher time

Parent teacher conferences are generally very short and it can be challenging to get a complete picture of how your child is progressing. It’s best to be prepared before you go. This way you can make the most of your one-on-one time with your child’s teacher.

Sylvan Learning, with the help of ex perts and teachers, has put together a list of question to ask at your conference. Don’t be afraid to take a list with you so you don’t forget what you want to ask.

4. Is my child raising their hand and participating in class?

5. Is my child asking for help when they need it?

A few key questions if you’re con cerned about low grades:

by Vanessa Banks

1. What do you think are the most important skills to have in order to suc ceed in this class?

2. Are some assignments weighted more heavily than others?

3. What strengths and weaknesses do you see in my child?

6. Do you think this reflects a lack of effort on my child’s part, or a lack of under standing of the material?

7. What can I do as a parent to provide more support?

To get a clear picture of your child’s social interac tions you can ask:

8. How is my child interacting with their peers?

9. Do you see any problems I should be aware of?

Be sure to inform your child’s teacher about anything going on at home. This may help the teacher guide them and understand any issues, or

successes, in class. You and your child’s teacher are a team and will guide your child’s success this year. Keep the lines of communication open throughout the year.

Vanessa Banks is Co-Founder of Kernel Creative Media and the marketing strategist for Sylvan Learning of Clifton Park and Albany. For more information, visit SylvanLearning.com.

EXCITING CHANGES ARE HERE for Capital District Family Now!

Now appearing in a new format

In an effort to adapt to significant changes in printing and distribution costs Capital District Family Now is now printed in a slightly larger tabloid format, (returning to its original size when we started publishing news about the family 25 years ago). This newer size brings more opportunities to add content and grow.

Even better, Family Now is automatically mailed to 14,000 homes in the Capital District on the first

CAPITAL DISTRICT

Wednesday of every month in addition to 12,000 at pick up locations. We are doing this by including it within our Spotlight News & Spot 518 products. This increase in circulation means even more eyes on our publication for both our advertisers and our readers.

We will continue to showcase family activities and monthly calendar events as we always have, along with our great columns and features.

Ask your child’s teacher if the student is raising their hand and participating in class.

’80s rock movie is nostalgic gold

‘Streets of Fire’ creators never got the box office attention they deserved

Jim Steinman, among other things, was a fascinating songwriter. He possessed an ability to capture young love and lust in a way that was fresh and raw. He’s best known for fueling the fire to Meat Loaf’s ballads in “Bat Out of Hell,” and later, “Bat Out of Hell II.” Not a night goes by without an ambitious singer pulling up “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights” at a local karaoke bar. That’s him. Rock ’n’ roll. But outside of Meat Loaf, he’s tied to an inauspicious project that deserves another look.

advertisement for the movie, was in constant circulation on MTV. Despite that, the movie hardly drew in audiences. It pulled only $8 million from the box office, not even breaking even on the $14.5 million budget.

by Michael Hallisey

Walter Hill’s 1984 neo-noir rock musical “Streets of Fire” was billed as a rock ’n’ roll fable. As it stated on one of the opening cards, it took place at another place and another time. Aesthetically, the fashion and hairstyles were reminiscent of the postwar ’50s. Hill said he was trying to capture all of the cool things from his childhood while mixing in elements from the present day. The video for Dan Hartman’s “I Can Dream About You,” which ran like a four-minute

Hill was no slouch. He had just finished “48 Hrs.,” a box office hit featuring an up-and-coming come dian named Eddie Murphy. For “Streets of Fire,” he pulled more names that now read off like a Who’s Who in pop culture.

Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus states that, “‘Streets of Fire’ may sometimes buckle under the strain of its ambitious fusion of disparate genres, but Walter Hill’s bravura style gives this motorcycle musical fuel to burn.”  It’s not Academy Award-winning material, but there’s something to admire. It’s a 90-minute music video with a storyline jammed into it. With fables, you get caricatures plugged into a familiar plotline — in this case, it’s the hero

Continued on Page 16

Happy Halloween

October 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 9 The 1984 neo-noir rock musical “Streets of Fire” was billed as a rock ’n’ roll fable. Despite the star power, it never amounted to much at the box office.

at

Calendar of events October

October

3 Monday

The Great Give Back

Beginning Oct. 3 through the 21st The library will be collecting new, unopened household clean ing and hygiene supplies for the Bethlehem Food Pantry as part of the Great Give Back. A collection re ceptacle will be set up in the lobby. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

6 Thursday

Bethlehem Garden Club Meet & Greet

Would you like to learn more about gardening from interesting speakers and programs, or from other members who are Master Gardeners? 7-8 p.m Bethlehem YMCA community room, 900 Delaware Ave., Delmar from 7-8 pm. For more information, visit www.bethlehemgardenclubny.org.

Turkey Yoga

Discover the sounds and the beauty of heritage turkeys while enjoying a Vinyasa Flow yoga class taught by Penny Kula, 11 a.m.-noon. For adults at all levels. To participate in this class you must bring your own yoga mat. It is encouraged to bring your own yoga blocks, and straps. Cost is $12 for the general public. Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Road, Albany. For more information, call (518) 456-7890 or visit home. shakerheritage.org.

7 Friday

First Friday: Off the Northway

Stephen Williams, who retired after a 42-year career at the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, will speak about his book “Off the Northway,” 10:30 a.m. Copies will be available to purchase at the event. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

Get to Know Libby

Are you struggling with the transition from the Overdrive app to Libby? Bring your questions and concerns to this virtual session, and learn about how to navigate Libby, 10 a.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For

more information, call 518-4399314 or visit bethlehempublicli brary.org.

American Italian Heritage Museum

Museum Director Philip J. DiNovo will talk about the founding of the museum, as well as its collections and activities, 1 p.m.  Co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518439-9314 or visit bethlehempubli clibrary.org.

8 Saturday Art for All: Drop-In Art Making

Enjoy your visit to the museum, and explore your artistic side with an art project inspired by the museum’s collections, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Price included with gen eral museum admission. Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Ave., Albany. For more information, call (518) 463-4478 or visit www.albanyinstitute.org.

10 Monday

Joe Bruchac: Tales for young and old

Preeminent storyteller, author and Abenaki elder Joe Bruchac returns to the library for two story telling programs. As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed extensively throughout the world. Seating is available on a first-come basis, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518439-9314 or visit bethlehempubli clibrary.org.

11 Tuesday

Resources for Aging in Place

ChoiceConnections NY, a free Senior Housing Advisory Service, which will offer information on services available to seniors who want to remain in their home, as well as other senior housing options, such as supportive senior apartments, assisted living and memory care communities. They will also provide caregivers with an overview of the help available to them in the community and touch on major issues to discuss with their loved ones, such as financial

Pick of the month Oct. 15

Connecting Threads Quilt Group

Informal gathering of those in terested in quilting. Share projects and get inspired by other quilters, 1 p.m. All levels of quilters are welcome. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

WebEx HYBRID: Journaling for Adults

To participate in this class you must bring your own yoga mat. It is encouraged to bring your own yoga blocks, and straps. Cost is $12 for the general public. Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Road, Albany. For more information, call (518) 456-7890 or visit home. shakerheritage.org.

Remembering the American Revolution

Smokey Bear Day

Smokey Bear will be visiting the Pine Bush Discovery Center to teach visitors about prescribed fire and wildfire prevention. There will be games, interactive exhibits, fire trucks and equipment to see and try out and Smokey goody bags for visitors to take home, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This free special event is suitable for all ages. Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road. For more information call (518) 456-0655 or visit www. albanypinebush.org.

planning and end of life decisions, 1 p.m. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

Zoom: PJ Story Time

Get comfy in your favorite PJs, grab a blanket, and tune in for a special story time with Miss Ariana, 7 p.m. We’ll read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

Great Give Back: Card Making

Stop by the library’s Com munity Room to create handcrafted cards with kind and inspiring mes sages to be given to people at local assisted living facilities,  2:30-4 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

Disney’s Aladdin

Through Oct. 23. A thrilling new production filled with unfor gettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle, times

vary. Tickets start at $55. Proctors Theatre, 432 State St., Schenectady. For more information call (518) 346-6204 or visit www.proctors. org.

12 Wednesday

National Fossil Day

Learn about our state fossil, Eu rypterus remipes; see common fossils from New York; and bring fossils from home for identification by the state paleontologist,11 a.m.1 p.m. Limit 5 fossils per person. Free. New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave., Albany. For more information visit www.nysm.nysed. gov or call (518) 474-5877.

Schuyler Family: Coping with Life’s Necessaries

The Schuyler family enjoyed many luxuries as part of their refined lifestyle, but what might their hygiene practices have looked like? Learn more with speaker Ian Mumpton, 6:30 p.m. This series of historical talks is presented through a partnership with the Town of Bethlehem Historical Association. All ages welcome! Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethle hempubliclibrary.org.

Whether it’s in a notebook, blog, or sketchpad, journaling can help you lead a whole and fulfilling life, as well as be a way to keep track of goals, your life activities, and dreams, 6:30 p.m. Attend in person at the Library or from home. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

13 Thursday

Citizen Science: Monarch Larva Monitoring

Join volunteers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in conserving monarchs and advanc ing the understanding of butterfly ecology and migration in general, 1 p.m. Wear long pants and bring a sun hat and water. Space is limited; reservations required. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information call (518) 475-0291 or visit www.dec.ny.gov/educa tion/1835.html.

Outdoors

Afterschool

Join us after school to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, and have fun outdoors. We’ll meet in front of the visitor center to head out on an adventure. Each week will have a different theme and will include time to explore, 4:30 p.m. For children in grades K–5 and their caregivers. Space is limited; reservations required. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information call (518) 475-0291 or visit www.dec.ny.gov/educa tion/1835.html.

Turkey Yoga

Discover the sounds and the beauty of heritage turkeys while enjoying a Vinyasa Flow yoga class taught by Penny Kula, 11 a.m.-noon. For adults at all levels.

Drawn from research for Michael D. Hattem’s forthcoming book, “The Memory of ‘76: The Rev olution in American History,” this talk explores a few key themes in how the memory of the Revolution has developed and what it means for us today, 7 p.m. Free. New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave., Albany. For more information visit www.nysm.nysed.gov or call (518) 474-5877.

Library Nature Walk and Craft

Join Miss Ariana for a walk around the grounds of the library to collect cool things to craft with! For children of all ages, 2 p.m. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

Foreign Film: ‘Leto’

A love triangle emerges around a rock `n’ roll musician, his protégé, and his wife in 1980s Russia. This era encapsulated what it meant to be young, creative, and inspired, 6:30 p.m. In Russian/ English subtitles. Not Rated. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

14 Friday

Donny ‘Elvis’ Romines

Donny “Elvis” Romines will be performing for a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” doors open at 6 p.m., show-time 7pm. Food available for purchase, cash bar, raffles, 50/50 and an auction of Elvis items. Tickets $15 at the door. Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge 161, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs. For more information, call (518) 745-7821.

Q.U.I.L.T., Inc. Monthly Guild Meeting

Q.U.I.L.T., Inc. is a not-for-profit guild of quilters interested in learn ing about the art of making quilts. Members live in the Capital Region and surrounding communities, 9:45 a.m. followed by a Lecture and Trunk Show by Marianne Hatton. All are welcome. Delmar Reformed Church, 386 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, visit www. quiltinc.org.

Paula Poundstone

Appearing on stage with a stool, a microphone, and a can of Diet Pepsi, Paula Poundstone has one of comedy’s most nimble and disarming comic imaginations, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $36.50. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second St., Troy. For more informa tion, visit www.troymusichall.org or call (518) 273-0038.

15 Saturday

Musicians of Ma’alwyck

Music of Barber, Price, Sibelius, Harris and Ippolitov-Ivanov , 6 p.m. Cost is $35 for adults and $10 for student. First Reformed Church, 8 North Church St., Schenectady. For more information, visit musician sofmaalwyck.org.

Craft Fair

Enjoy basket raffles, all handmade items, family-friendly community, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. St. Luke’s on the Hill, 40 McBride Road, Me chanicville. For more information visit www.stlukesonthehill.org.

Celebrate Art in Cohoes

The spotlight is once again shining on Choose Cohoes for Art, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oc tober 15th and from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, October 16.  A Space for Art, 60 Remsen St., Cohoes. For more information, visit www. ChooseCohoesForArt.org or call (518) 441-4447.

Fall Movie: ‘Hocus Pocus’

Join us for this Halloween classic (1993, PG, 95 min.) about three 17th-century witches who are resurrected on Halloween in modern-day Salem by an unsus pecting boy, 2:30 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information,

call 518-439-9314 or visit bethle hempubliclibrary.org.

The Great Give Back

Through Oct. 23. Support our community partners, Stratton VA Medical Center and the Albany VA Fisher House, with a hygiene and necessities drive. All items must be new per VA guidelines. Items needed: personal care products, paper towels, toilet paper, hats, gloves, mittens, underwear and T-shirts (larger sizes for both men and women are needed most). Clif ton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-3718622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

Guided Walk: Seeking Cottontails

Rabbits are one of this area’s most common residents. Long ears, long legs, and super-soft fur are just a few of their wonderful adap tations, 10 a.m. Bring your curiosity and your camera for this explora tion. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information call (518) 475-0291 or visit www. dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html.

Guided Walk: Nature up Close

We’ll go out on Nature’s Accessible Backyard Trail and use our senses to explore and discover what’s happening in the fall at Five Rivers, 2 p.m. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information call (518) 475-0291 or visit www.dec.ny.gov/educa tion/1835.html.

16 Sunday

A Little Sunday Music: Spero Plays Nyro

Christine Spero performs the songs of Laura Nyro, the enigmatic songwriter behind the hits recorded by The Fifth Dimension, Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Barbra Streisand, 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-4399314 or visit bethlehempublicli brary.org.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Join the 27th annual walk sponsored by the American

Pick of the month

Calendar of eventsOctober

Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

19 Wednesday

Trick or Treat Story Stroll

Capitol Hauntings Tours

Take a hike on the nature loop at Elm Avenue Park and enjoy a self-led Halloween story. Library and Parks and Recreation staff will be dressed up along the loop to hand out “treats.” Treat bags provided by The Friends, 4-6 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

beauty of heritage turkeys while enjoying a Vinyasa Flow yoga class taught by Penny Kula, 11 a.m.-noon. For adults at all levels. To participate in this class you must bring your own yoga mat. It is encouraged to bring your own yoga blocks, and straps. Cost is $12 for the general public. Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Road, Albany. For more information, call (518) 456-7890 or visit home. shakerheritage.org.

Teen Mutant Toys

Oct. all month

Which two United States Presi dents visited the Capitol after they died? What happened to the “lost” Capitol murals and their eccentric artist? Does the secret demon carved in stone hold a Capitol curse? Does the night watchman who died in the Capitol Fire of 1911 still make his rounds? Explore these questions and other tales of sightings and strange things on our Special Capitol Hauntings Tour of the New York State Capitol. The tour lasts about an hour, but the chilling tales might haunt you forever. Free. Tours take place Monday-Thursday at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Fridays 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and 6 p.m. Saturdays. New York State Capitol, Washington Avenue and State Street, Albany. For more information or to reserve a tour, visit empirestateplaza. ny.gov/tours/capitol-hauntings-tours or call (518) 474-2418.

Cancer Society, 10 a.m. Washington Park, State and Willet streets, Albany. Free. For more information visit www.makingstrideswalk.org/ albany.

17 Monday

Craft & Color for Adults

Choose between coloring or doing an open-ended craft activity. This program is specifically de signed for adults of all abilities, 11 a.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

18 Tuesday Shaker Cemetery Tours

This special October tour led by Shaker Heritage staff engages visitors to explore the Shaker Cem etery and uncover the stories of this unique religious and social movement, recognized as the most successful communal society in

the U.S. Mother Ann Lee and other Shaker leaders are buried at the cemetery, which was established in 1785. Cost is $10 for the general public. Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Road, Albany. For more information, call (518) 4567890 or visit home.shakerheritage. org.

After School Art: Shaving Cream Marbling

Make colorful marbled paper using shaving cream and food coloring, 4 p.m. For children and tweens. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-4399314 or visit bethlehempublicli brary.org.

Famous Bears Book Club

Join our new book club for ages 2-5. We’ll be reading “The Bear Ate Your Sandwich” by Julia Sarcone-Roach. A craft project will be included, 4 p.m. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon

A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances

It’s never too early to put financial plans in place if you or someone you know is facing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or another chronic illness. Join us to learn tips for managing someone else’s finances, how to prepare for future care costs, and the benefits of early planning, 6:30 p.m. Pre sented by Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern NY. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

HYBRID: Computer and Technology Users Group

Join this informal group as we share information about computer and technology use, 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

20 Thursday

Scrabble and Chess Night

Come out for an evening of word-building fun playing Scrabble with friends and neighbors. If Scrabble isn’t your thing, we’ll have a chess board available too, 6:30 p.m. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

Turkey Yoga

Discover the sounds and the

Give new life to old, unwanted toys by creating mutants, 6:30 p.m. Registration required due to limited supplies. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

Outdoors Afterschool

Join us after school to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, and have fun outdoors. We’ll meet in front of the visitor center to head out on an adventure. Each week will have a different theme and will include time to explore, 4:30 p.m. For children in grades K–5 and their caregivers. Space is limited; reservations required. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information call (518) 475-0291 or visit www.dec.ny.gov/educa tion/1835.html.

Bilingual Family Story Time

Join Senora Gloria, and learn some Spanish while nurturing your child’s love of reading with stories and songs, 10 a.m. Stay for a fun vocabulary lesson. For all ages with an adult. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

21 Friday

Financial Fitness for Older Adults

Join us for a discussion with a representative from the Cornell Cooperative Extension about personal finances as they relate to aging, 1 p.m.   Co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

CLUES ACROSS

22 Saturday

Gnome Home

Visit our art studio and create a colorful gnome home scene with modeling clay, wooden pieces and decorative bits and bobs, 1 p.m. For ages 5 and older. Cost is $16.05. A drop off program perfect afternoon for creativity and play. Register by Oct. 13. The Wonder Room, 896 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake. For more information, visit www.thewonderroomschool.com/ or call (518) 602-0237.

Family Fun: Featured Creatures

We have lots of wildlife at Five Rivers, and in the visitor center, we have some

Submit an event

featured creatures. We provide food for them and clean their enclosures to make sure they are healthy. Join one of our dedicated naturalists to learn more about the animal-care process. Learn about how we feed them, maintain their enclosures, and the special considerations we make for these once wild animals, 10 a.m. Space is limited; reservations required. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information call (518) 475-0291 or visit www.dec. ny.gov/education/1835.html.

Shaker Cemetery Tours

This special October tour led by Shaker Heritage staff engages visitors to explore the Shaker Cemetery and uncover the stories of this unique religious and social movement, recognized as the most successful communal society in the U.S.

Mother Ann Lee and other Shaker leaders are buried at the cemetery, which was established in 1785. Cost is $10 for the general public. Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Road, Albany. For more information, call (518) 456-7890 or visit home.shakerheritage.org.

• To have your event included in our print edition, email the information, including date, time, place, cost and contact information to robertsk@ spotlightnews.com by the 10th of the preceding month. Events run space permitting, and submission does not guarantee publication.

Hounds of Halloween

Ghoulish golden retrievers, devilish dachshunds, and terrify

ing terriers will return to roam the streets of downtown Albany for the BID’s annual dog trick-or-treating event, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dress up your pup for the Costumed Canine Contest and stop by local businesses for unique Halloween treats for pups and people. Proceeds will benefit the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Downtown Albany. For more information, visit www. downtownalbany.org.

23 Sunday Disney Junior Live

This show brings beloved Disney Junior characters and favorite Marvel Super Heroes together live on stage for a jampacked, concert-style show with singing, dancing, acrobatics, and more, 4 p.m. It will feature favorite songs from hit Disney Junior series, as well as new original music. Mickey, Minnie, and their pals are getting ready to throw a huge costume party but mysterious green rain, wind, and smoke keep interrupting the fun.Tickets start at $29.50. Palace Performing Arts Center, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany. For more information, visit www.palacealbany.org or call  (518) 465-3335.

Concert: Lost Radio Rounders

Love gone right, love gone wrong, and love gone hilarious, 2 p.m. Clifton

Calendar of eventsOctober

Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more informa tion, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

24 Monday

Electric Vehicles 101

Capital Districts Clean Communities Coordinator Jacob Beeman will be here to provide information and answers about EV types, charging, government rebates and more, 6 p.m. All ages welcome! Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

25 Tuesday

Family LEGO Build

LEGO builders are challenged to work as a family to build a project of your own design. All LEGOs will be provided, please keep yours at home, 6 p.m. For children of all ages, with an adult. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call 518-371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

26 Wednesday

Trunk or Treat at the park

Drop by Elm Avenue Park for our an

nual Trunk or Treat community-wide event, featuring dozens of creative trick-or-treat ing stations hosted by local groups such as the library Friends, area scout troops, Delmar-Bethlehem first responders, high school clubs and more, 4 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

27 Thursday

Fun Fossil Facts

Dr. Robert Feranec, director of Research and Collections, curator of Pleistocene Vertebrate Paleontology, and curator of Mammalogy at the New York State Museum, will share fascinating facts about fossils, 6:30 p.m. For all ages, with an adult. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more infor mation, call 518-371-8622 or visit www. cphlibrary.org.

31 Monday

Library Trick or Treat

Stop by the Children’s Place and trick or treat in a safe, dry place. Costumes are optional, but fun is not! Treat bags will be provided, 10 a.m.-noon. For ages 0-6 and families. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

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CAPITAL DISTRICT

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Senior centers

Clifton Park Senior Community Center

6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park

(518) 383-1343

For information about cur rent services and programs, please visit cliftonpark.org/index.php/ser vices/senior-services/senior-center.

Membership is available for $20.

Mondays: Game room activities, tap dance, jazz dance, chair yoga, beginner clogging, intermediate clogging, discus sion group, Rummikub, quilt ing group, soul line dancing

Tuesdays: Exercise to tape, game room activities, yoga, dice games, duplicate bridge group, qi-gong and tai chi, scrabble, hand and foot cards, square and round dancing, tai chi for seniors

Wednesdays: Exercise to tape, game room activities, in vestment group, ukulele group, dice games, social bridge, bowl ing, poker, euchre, beginner tai chi for seniors, knitting and crocheting

Thursdays: Exercise to tape, game room activities, chorus, Rummikub, yoga, watercolors, modern dance, pinochle, mahjong

Fridays: Tap dance, ballet, orchestra, woodcarving, game room activities, dominoes, jew elry making class, Bingo, Latin line dancing

LifePath

28 Colvin Ave., Suite 2, Albany www.lifepathny.org;

(518) 465-3322

Supportive services for older adults. To register: www.lifepathny. org/activities; (518) 465-3322

Monday-Friday at 9 a.m.:

POOL CREW

Watervliet Senior Center, 1501 Broadway, Watervliet Mondays at 9:30 a.m.:

SOCIAL HOUR

Come over, come down! We will work on puzzles, color sheets, read, etc.

Westview Homes, 680 Cen

LANE DANCING

Line dancing is proven to create and maintain neural pathways that help our brains stay young. Cohoes Senior Cen ter, 10 Cayuga Plaza Mondays at 1 p.m.:

MAH-JONGG

Play the timeless game Mahjong, a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China. Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza Mondays at 1 p.m.:

PAINT AND SIP

It’s time to laugh a lot, paint a bit and say hello to good times. Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany Tuesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m.: POOL CREW

Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza, Cohoes Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.:

YOUTUBE MORNING STRETCH AND CHAIR EXERCISE

Stretching can help you get ready for the day ahead, keep you calm and set the tone for the day. We will use YouTube videos as a guide and all fitness levels are welcome. Westview

Homes, 680 Central Ave., Albany Tuesdays at 10 a.m.:

KNIT WITS

Come join this lovely group of people who enjoy knitting and crocheting.  All experience levels are welcome.  Come for lunch and stay for the creating!  Please call 518273-4422 for more informa tion.  Watervliet Senior Center, 1501 Broadway, Watervliet Tuesdays from 12:45-1:45 p.m.:

CANNONAIRES

SENIOR CHOIR PRACTICE

Watervliet Senior Center, 1501 Broadway, Watervliet Tuesdays at 1 p.m.: ARTS & CRAFTS

Have a project that you are working on? Come join others to work on your project, we can share ideas, make memo ries and just have fun. Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.:

MAHJONG

Play the timeless game Mah jong, a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China. Watervliet Senior Center, 1501 Broadway, Watervliet

Wednesdays at 10 a.m.:

UFOS – UNFINISHED OBJECTS

This is a group that enjoys working on lap crafts while conversing and enjoying the company of others. Come for the crafting and stay for lunch, call Beth at 518-235-2420 for more information. Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza Wednesdays at noon: THE BEAU-KNITTERS

The Beau-Knitters are a lively group of people who en joy knitting and crocheting.  All experience levels are welcome. Call Beth at 518-235-2420 for more information. Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza Wednesdays at 1 p.m.:

BINGO

Zoom and Watervliet Senior Center, 1501 Broadway Wednesdays at 1 p.m.:

SCRAPBOOKING

Create your own personal ized scrap book of a special moment in time or an event. Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.:

If you would like to showcase special events in our monthly publication, please send them to us by the 10th of the month preceding publication.*

Email to: Kristen Roberts at robertsk@spotlightnews.com

*Based on space availability

CAPITAL DISTRICT

MEN’S GROUP

A men’s group is a healing and en riching place to share your experiences and listen as others share theirs. Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza

Thursdays at 1 p.m.: PICK-AMOVIE

Many movies to select from. Enjoy popcorn and drinks while catching a movie. Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany

Thursdays at 2 p.m.: BINGO

Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany

Fridays at 10 a.m.: BRIDGE CLUB

Watervliet Senior Center, 1501 Broadway, Watervliet

Fridays at 10 a.m.: GAMES AND MORE

Come enjoy playing Mexican train, Uno, Dominoes and more before lunch. No experience needed. Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany

Fridays at 1 p.m.: SEWING, KNIT or CROCHET CLUB

All experience levelscan share our knowledge and expertise, create new memories and enjoy making fun proj ects. Westview Homes Community Room, 680 Central Ave., Albany

Fridays at 1 p.m.: FRIENDLY FILM FRIDAYS WITH THE CO HOES PUBLIC LIBRARY

Future films will be announced at each screening. Call the Cohoes Public Library or Beth at the Cohoes Senior Center at 518-235-2420 for more infor mation. Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza, Cohoes

***

Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m.:

SENIOR LEGAL AID SOCIETY

Get one on one legal advice, Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza

Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m.:

CARD MAKING

Come and make some fun and festive holiday cards. All supplies are included; a $5 donation is appreciated. Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza

Friday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.:

CAPITAL REGION SENIOR EXPO

Quality resources and information to countless aging adults, their caregiv ers and professionals throughout the Capital Region. Join LifePath and pre senting sponsor, CDPHP at Crossgates Mall (lower level) and visit with the vendors, get your flu shot and partici pate in an informative workshops.

Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m.:

CREATE HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS

Cohoes Senior Center, 10 Cayuga Plaza

Senior centers

Niskayuna Senior Center

2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna (518) 372-4969

Additional information along with the calendar will be posted on the Niskayuna Town website at www.niskayuna.org/ senior-center. Call with any questions.

Tuesdays

9 a.m.-noon: Tom’s Computer Class (Oct. 4, 18)

10 a.m.: Tai Chi

10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Open for indoor/out door socialization/coffee service

10 a.m.: Cards, Mahjong and Bridge

11 a.m.: CDPHP Zumba Gold available in House and Zoom (Oct. 11, 18, 25)

Noon: Gershon’s, BYOL and coffee service

1 p.m.: MVP Chair Moves (Oct. 4, 11, 18)

Thursdays

10 a.m.: Tai Chi

10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Open for indoor/out door socialization/coffee service

10 a.m.: Cards, Mahjong, Bridge, 11 a.m.: Bocce and Pickleball

Noon: Gershon’s, BYOL and coffee service

1 p.m.: Eddy Health Alert Chair Yoga (Oct. 13, 27)

Fridays

11 a.m.: Alzheimer’s Support Group (Oct. 7)

Exercise update:

Mondays at 10 a.m.: Qigong, in house (temporarily postponed)

Mondays at 12:30 p.m.: CDPHP Chair Pilates, in house and via Zoom (Oct. 3, 10,24, 31)

Wednesdays at 11 a.m.: Silver Sneakers Zumba Gold via Zoom (Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26)

You can email Edie for registration, dates and times at ecannizzo@niska yuna.org. Pilates, yoga, walks and art are available on YouTube at “Niskayuna Seniors.”

Monthly Activities:

Oct. 4: Yom Kippur discussion; Alco Tunnel ART Project - Clay tiles

Oct. 6: Book Group – “The Yellow bird Sings” by Jennifer Rosner; October birthday celebration

Oct. 11: Italian Heritage discussion/ trivia

Oct. 13: Navy’s birthday discussion/ trivia

Oct. 17, noon-6 p.m.: Red Cross Blood Draw

Oct. 18: Blood Pressure Clinic by St Peter’s Health Partners   Oct. 25: Minnie Pearl Day trivia

St. Sophia & Holy Wisdom Senior Apartments

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saves the captured princess trope.

Diane Lane plays Ellen Aim, a rock star with an Ava Gardner look. She literally runs out into the scene for the movie’s opening number, “Nowhere Fast.” And, just before she sings, a fa miliar sound rings out from the piano. It’s Steinman. The lyrics that quickly follow only confirm it.

Lying in your bed and on a Saturday night

You’re sweatin’ buckets and it’s not even hot

But your brain has got the message

And it’s sending it out

To every nerve and every muscle you’ve got

You’ve got so many dreams

That you don’t know where to put ‘em

So you’d better turn a few of ‘em loose

Your body’s got a feeling that it’s starting to rust

You’d better rev it up and put it to use

Steinman has always been one of those creative minds who, when asked to name celebrities with whom I’d want to have dinner, he was one of them. He’s responsible for a line in the cult classic “Highlander.” Christopher Lambert’s character stops to admire the aroma from a freshly opened bottle of cognac from 1783. The date’s im portant because he proceeds to list off momentous events from that year as if experiencing them all as he takes in the escaped air from that time. Highlander director Russell Mulcahy added that into the script after observing Stein man doing something similar as they had dinner together. His imagination on exhibit.

The movie’s soundtrack is one banger after another, and that’s in large part to Ry Cooder. You hear his slider guitar in the opening score as the cred its roll. He’s listed on one song. Other wise, contributions from other legends remain hidden as they’re performed by the studio group Fire Inc. Holly Sherwood supplies the signing voice for Lane, who lip syncs throughout her on-screen performances. Other legends tied to this soundtrack include Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks and Bob Seger.

Today’s audiences have recently ad mired Willem Dafoe’s work in “Spider Man: No Way Home,” where he re prises his role as the antagonist Green Goblin. The man’s made a career out of portraying mad men, contorting his face into a maniacal look. This may explain why younger moviegoers are going back to “Streets of Fire,” where’s Dafoe portrays Raven, the leader of a motorcycle gang that kidnaps Aim at the start of the movie. Clips from the movie are circulating around social media, revisiting the stage perfor mances, as well as the many one-liners from Dafoe (“Looks like I finally ran into someone that likes to play as rough as I do”) and lead actor Michael Paré’s Tom Cody (“Tom Cody. Nice to meet ya.”). The movie also features Rick Moranis (“Ghostbusters”), Amy Madigan (“Field of Dreams”), Robert Townsend (“Hollywood Shuffle”), and a brief scene with Ed Begley Jr (“St. Elsewhere”).

The movie today is a good nostalgic piece. When considering the masters involved with the film, there’s more substance than what was originally perceived when it was first released. Admiring it as a musical during MTV’s bygone days of nothing but music videos, the subtle accents of the ’80s become more apparent. Crack open the case and have a whiff of what once was: Steinman was a genius.

The writer is editor-at-large of Capi tal District Family Now.

Stephanie

n Recollections continued from Page 9

The movie’s soundtrack is one banger after another, and that’s in large part to Ry Cooder. You hear his slider guitar in the opening score as the credits roll. ... Other legends tied to this soundtrack include Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks and Bob Seger.

Retiring Retirement

Still skiing in his senior years

Hard work and discipline keep water skier competitive

skiing at 79 years of age is not a freak acci dent for Robert Reithner. It’s simply an extension of a life dedicated to hard work, disci pline and passion for a sport he grabbed hold of when he was 14.

Water

“A little later in life,” he said, “we’d get up to the lake Friday night, wake up early, and train on the lake and be done by 10 a.m. because it would get too crowded after that.”

in on the action and under his tutelage learned to water ski. Eventually, they al ternated driving the boat for each other.

For Reithner, the training and practice are the essentials to winning a competition.

by Robert LaCosta

One thing led to another and after his education and career were established, he witnessed his first slalom course and competitive skiing and that changed a hobby into a passion.

“I started training,” he said.

Vacations and time off from his work began to be structured around downhill and water skiing. His wife got

FREEDOM.

TO BE YOU.

“What’s important is the process and doing your best,” Reithner said.

And the last six de cades has brought him to the point where he still gets a rush before a tournament.

“There are few of us that still jump,” he said. “It is the last thing in life that I do that gives me butterflies in my stomach … right be fore a tournament. When I was young er, I was crazy and jumped off cliffs downhill skiing. I don’t do anything like that anymore. I did dislocate a shoulder in my 70s on a water skiing jump, and I was hurting. But no one rehabs harder than I do and I did recover.”

Even so, he recognizes that no one is invincible and squarely describes aging through an athletic example.

“I got up for my 65th birthday and did 65 push-ups that day,” he said. “I’m

nearly 80 years old now and I can only do 20 push-ups. That’s just a fact of life. It doesn’t matter how hard I train. So, you notice the diminishment of your physical capacities – even in my ability to ride my bicycle up a steep hill. When I downhill ski out west, I usually get off the mountain around noon.”

“In terms of my mental capacity,” he jokes, “I can remember what I had for breakfast when I was 12. But as for my short-term memory … I ask myself, ‘Did I brush my teeth last night?’”

Diminishment notwithstanding, Reithner has outlived most of his com petition, and that is a testament to liv ing one day at a time doing the things that you love.

Perhaps there is still something in everyone’s life that should give them butterflies.

Robert J. LaCosta’s daily devotional is available by writing norepcom@gmail. com and his “The Age Sage” podcast is available on Apple and Spotify.

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Robert Reithner says that at age 79, water skiing is one of the few things that still gives him butterflies in his stomach.

Social Security Corner

Guard against elder fraud

re you concerned about protecting your older rela tives and friends from elder abuse? The pandemic high lighted the disproportionate impact of tragedy on underserved communities, including older adults, who face high rates of elder abuse, fraud, and nursing homes deaths.

It’s important to re member that elder abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or financial status.  We are committed to helping and preventing further victimization – especially in underserved communities.

more money to scammers than other groups –an estimated $113.7 billion a year!

Reporting fraud can be difficult and older adults tend to underreport – especially when money is lost. Many older Americans are unsure about the reporting process or feel too embar rassed to report. Understaffed Adult Protective Services offices can also cause long processing times and under reporting.

by Elizabeth Pivonka

A recent Federal Bureau of Investi gation report showed that elder fraud has increased.  Older adults in the United States reported over $1.6 billion in losses in 2021.  This includes victims of COVID-related scams. Older adults in the U.S. also lose nearly 25 times

We work hard to protect beneficiaries from Social Security and government imposter scams.  You can learn more about protecting your loved ones at blog.ssa. gov/slam-the-scam-how-to-spotgovernment-imposters and our Pro tect Yourself from Social Security Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam.

Please share these important re sources with your family and friends.

The writer is with the Social Security Administration in Albany.

Older adults in the U.S. lose nearly 25 times more money to scammers than other groups – an estimated $113.7 billion a year.

Many scams are under reported because the victim may be embarrassed or unsure of the process

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