Events in Washington County and beyond, Oct. 20-31

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Be sure to continue to check this list as events are added daily.

Thursday, Oct. 20

Masons to host two events, Oct. 20, 22

The Granville Masons will host their final drive-thru chicken barbecue of the season on Thursday, Oct. 20, rain or shine, starting at 4 p.m. at the Slate Valley Masonic Center at 97 North St. in Granville.

The menu will include a half chicken, baked potato, baked beans, coleslaw, roll and brownie for $13.

And on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 7 to 11 a.m., the Granville Masons will host a benefit breakfast for the Granville Horde trap team at Slate Valley Masonic Center.

The breakfast will be available to eat in or take out. Pre-sale tickets are available by calling Rick Vladyka at 518-744-6379. Cost is $10 per meal.

Friday, Oct. 21

Ghostly encounters at Old Fort House Museum through Oct. 27

Paul Stillman, ghost channeler, is back. His ghost walking tours return to the Old Fort House Museum outdoor campus Tuesday-Sunday evenings at 6:45 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 27, with the exception of Thursday, Oct. 20.

Bring along your device and you may capture a ghostly image or two as you walk on the grounds of the Colonial-era military garrison.

Stillman will guide attendees through this area so rich in 18th-century history from the early 1700s through the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars, where the ghostly echoes remain.

Cost is $15. Tickets are available at the gate of the Old Fort House Museum office, 29 Broadway, Fort Edward, New York, for the one-hour tour.

For more information, visit oldforthousemuseum.com or call 518-260-6153 or 607-590-0337.

October Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club

The Washington County Historical Society’s local history book club will meet at noon on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Rogers Island Visitors Center, 11 Rogers Island Dr., Fort Edward. This change from the usual second Friday of the month schedule is to accommodate the site’s tourist season. Historical Society membership is not required for the book club.

The October meeting will be a discussion of any book about Robert Rogers, 1731-1795, but the focus will be on his activities while on Rogers Island. It was there in 1757, during the French and Indian War, that Rogers forever changed military tactics when he wrote his “Rules of Ranging.” Today’s U.S. Army Rangers consider Rogers Island to be their “spiritual birthplace.”

The group will be able to visit the exhibits following the discussion. A small donation for the site is requested.

For those who wish to read ahead, the meeting on Friday, Nov. 11 will focus on the voyage of Henry Hudson during which he discovered the river that is named for him. Any book on the life of Henry Hudson (c. 1565-1611) can be read in preparation.

Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as some works by local authors. The proposed list includes Benedict Arnold’s building of the first Navy in Whitehall; the life of photographer Mathew Brady, who was born in Warren County; and the impact of Grandma Moses on American Art. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at [email protected].

Performances at the Strand in Hudson Falls Oct. 21-23

On Friday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m., The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls will present an evening of Grateful Dead music by Gratefully Yours, one of the premier Grateful Dead cover bands in the Northeast. Based out of the Hudson Valley, the band comprises an all-star lineup of long-time jam band musicians from the area. Their willingness and ability to improvise, and their openness to spontaneity and the energy of the moment lie at the core of their performances and truly set them apart.

Band members include Alex Mazur on keyboard and vocals, Robert Schiff on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jude DeFalco on drums, Garrin Benfield on lead guitar and vocals, Frank Casciaro on bass and Jessica Barlow on vocals.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the show and are available at the Strand box office for cash or check only or from Brown Paper Tickets online.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m., the Strand will present E.B. Jeb with special guest The Blue Moon Band.

With the combination of four guitars, two drummers and keyboards, southern rock band E.B. Jeb has provided the most authentic southern rock experience in New York for more than 40 years. The group plays top-notch versions of southern and classic rock including the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the Strand Box Office for cash or check only.

And on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 and 7 p.m., Hudson River Music Hall Productions House Theatre and the Caravan Players will present “Under the Porchlights 2: Storytelling at The Strand: Tales Past & Present, Below & Beyond.”

The Caravan Players invite neighbors and friends to come and sit a spell and enjoy an autumn beverage and snack. This program, an HRMHP original series conceived by director René Roberge, is inspired by two popular NPR radio programs, “Selected Shorts” and “The Moth Radio Hour.”

The performance will include stories intended to amuse, perhaps to raise heart rates and to exercise the imagination of the audience.

“Under the Porchlights 2” will include six storytellers for each presentation. Storytellers are Nick Buttino, Jillian Casey, Jennifer Madison, Lauren Newell, Mick O’Dalaigh, Mark Rabin, Mary Pat Rabin, Pamela Roberge, Norah Segur, Lisa Holstein-Wells, Emily Whipple and Liz Winge.

The 12 stories will include humorous entries, scary narratives told by two elementary school students, eerie tales and several more stories capturing the spirit of the Halloween season written by classic horror writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, two Irish Gothic writers, and a sci-fi thriller by a local North Country writer.

For just one admission price of $12, cash or check only, audience members will be able to attend the two performances, one at 2 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m. No reservations are necessary. Seating is open. Present CDC health guidelines will be respected.

For more information or to make reservations, call 518-832-3484.

The Strand Theatre is located at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls, New York.

Glens Falls to host 2022 Special Olympics Oct. 21-22

The Special Olympics 2022 state fall games will be held in and around Glens Falls Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22. The games will bring 1,300 athletes and coaches to the Capital Region – nearly three times as many participants as last year’s event.

The games will kick off with a signature Special Olympics New York opening ceremony in City Park on Friday night, Oct. 21, in City Park. Competition will take place all day Saturday, Oct. 22, in seven sports, including bocce, cross-country running, cycling, golf, equestrian, soccer and softball.

Special Olympics New York president & CEO Stacey Hengsterman and Glens Fall Mayor Bill Collins joined local athletes at a press conference this afternoon, where they put out a call for volunteers to support the Games. Athletes and leaders seek to fill 350 volunteer jobs, which include event setup and breakdown, registration, scorekeepers, timers, photographers, golf caddies, and more. No experience is necessary. Volunteer registration can be completed online here.

“State Games is the competition that our athletes prepare for all year,” said Special Olympics New York president and CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “We are so grateful to the Glens Fall community for welcoming us back as we celebrate the achievements of our athletes and the unwavering support of people with intellectual disabilities that Glens Falls exemplifies so well.”

“The return of State Games to Glens Falls will be a highlight of my time as mayor,” said Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins. “I have known these athletes for many years, and I assure the Glens Falls community that the games will be nothing short of spectacular. I encourage everyone to come out and volunteer; there are jobs for individuals, families, and groups.”

“I can’t wait to go for the gold at State Fall Games in my hometown of Glens Falls,” said Special Olympics New York softball player Bryce Reynolds. “I’m excited to have my friends from all over the state here to compete and have fun.”

Area venues hosting state fall games are Glens Falls City Park (opening and closing ceremonies), Adirondack Sports Complex (bocce), Cole’s Woods (cross-country running), SUNY Adirondack (cycling), Skidmore College (equestrian), Brookhaven Golf Course (golf) and Morse Athletic Complex (soccer and softball).

Sponsors of the 2022 State Fall Games include Warren County Board of Supervisors, New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID), Open the Lid, Albany Medical Center, Taste of NY, Queensbury Hotel, Harris Beach, Highmark, Arrow Financial, Equitable Advisors, Behan Communications, Marshall and Sterling, NY Able, Miller Mechanical, Glens Falls Cooperative Board, and Quick Response.

To support the games either by volunteering or making a donation, visit: https://www.specialolympics-ny.org/community/2022-fall-games/.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Haunted Barn in Fort Edward

Little Theater on the Farm will present its 15th annual haunted barn, touted to be the scariest in the area, at Little Theater on the Farm, 27 Plum Road, Fort Edward, beginning Saturday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. Additional dates will be Oct. 23, 29 and 30.

This year’s theme is “CarnEvil” and is produced by Jim Austin and Lauren Whiting.

Cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12 and free those younger than 4.

For more information, visit littletheater27.org or call 518-747-3421.

Interested in volunteering? Call us at 932-6985 or 683-3656.

Open house at Pember Nature Center Oct. 22, 29

Visit the Pember’s Nature Center to meet its new naturalist Katie and explore the preserve. There will be activities, games, refreshments and prizes.

This event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The Pember Nature Preserve is located at Porter Schoolhouse on State Route 22, south of Granville, New York.

Fall fun in East Hebron Oct. 22

Debi Craig and Dorothea Craig Casey are retired music teachers (and sisters) who want to bring the joy of reading, music and movement to children in the Hebron area.

A new story time will be offered for 3-5-year-old children on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. A parent must stay with their child. The sisters encourage parents to join in on the fun as participants read and sing about leaves and apples and other fall fun. The interactive program will last approximately 40 minutes.

Fall Fun is free and open to the public. The event will be held at the Hebron East United Presbyterian Church fellowship hall at the rear of the building at 6559 State Route 22 in Hebron, about halfway between Salem and Granville.

This event is presented as a community mission of Hebron United Presbyterian Church.

An afternoon of SoulCollage Oct. 22

Join members of the Greenwich community and beyond for a relaxing afternoon of meaningful card making, using collage as the medium on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community Room at Greenwich Free Library.

SoulCollage® workshops are interactive, reflective and very “hands-on.” There will be an overview of the process, along with opportunities to create and dialogue with the cards. Anyone can make these cards – it does not require any artistic talent or training. The tools are simple: images from a variety of sources, scissors, glue sticks and pre-cut card stock.  All materials will be provided by the facilitator.

SoulCollage cards are small collages, created on 5”x 8” card stock. Each unique card reflects back to the artist the energies and influences present in the artist’s life, and can be used for writing prompts, meditation or divination just like any other deck of intuitive cards.

The difference, of course, is that each person’s deck is unlike any other deck, and uniquely in sync with the images that resonate for that person. Making the cards and working with them is a lot like “awake dream work.” The process blends creativity, insight and spirituality.

SoulCollage was developed in the 1980s by Seena Frost, a family therapist and artist. Over time, the SoulCollage community has grown worldwide, and there are facilitators on almost every continent.

Judith Prest trained in 2008 as a SoulCollage facilitator and has been doing workshops and retreats on this process ever since. Prest also is a poet, photographer, mixed media artist and creativity coach. She has been giving workshops, classes, and retreats on creativity and healing, creative writing, poetry, and expressive arts locally and around the country since 1999.

This free workshop is intended for those 16 and older and limited to 14 participants. All materials will be provided by the facilitator. Pre-registration is required. To register, email [email protected], call the library at 518-692-7157 or visit greenwichfreelibrary.org to reserve a spot.  October, 22nd, From 6 pm-9 pm Little Theater on The Farm presents its 15th Annual Haunted Barn, touted to be the scariest in the area, at Little Theater on the Farm, 27 Plum Road, Fort Edward. This year’s theme is called “CarnEvil” Produced by Jim Austin & Lauren Whiting. Interested in volunteering? Call us at 932-6985 or 683-3656. Adults $8, $5 children aged 4-12, under 4 yrs. Free. See our website for details. www.littletheater27.org. Or call us at 518-747-3421

Wilton vendor and craft show Oct. 22

Wilton/General Schuyler Rescue Squad will host a vendor and craft show on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilton/General Schuyler Rescue Squad Emergency Building on Route 29 outside of Schuylerville.

The day will include raffles and concessions with many vendors

For further information and an application to rent a table, contact Jennie McReynolds at 518-338-2709 or by email at [email protected]

Roast beef dinner in SGF Oct. 22

South Glens Falls United Methodist Church will host a roast beef dinner on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the church located at 15 Maplewood Parkway, South Glens Falls, New York.

The menu will include French onion soup, roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable and homemade desserts for $12.

Pre-orders are required for pick-up and delivery of dinners. Pre-order by calling 518-793-1152.

Sunday, Oct. 23

Music from Salem to perform Oct. 23

Music from Salem will perform a poetry and music collaboration, “Climb Back Singing” on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. at Hubbard Hall in Cambridge. Tickets are $25.

Text and music will augment each other in surprising and thrilling ways, as a challenge to the gloom and uncertainty of the Covid years. The performance will present actor and former Hubbard Hall theater director John Hadden, poet Margaret Lloyd, pianist Judith Gordon and violist Lila Brown in a program that includes music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ernest Bloch, Johannes Brahms, Rebecca Clarke, John Harbison, Jessie Montgomery, Robert Schumann and Tan Dun and poetry by Raymond Carver, Jack Gilbert, Louise Gluck, Linda Gregg, Krysten Hill, Margaret Lloyd, Rainer Maria Rilke, and William Shakespeare.

For tickets, call 518- 677-2495 or visit hubbardhall.org.

Hubbard Hall is located at 25 E. Main St., Cambridge, New York.

Country dance in Schuylerville Oct. 23

The Country Round and Square Dance Association will host a dance on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Old Saratoga American Legion Post at 6 Clancy St. in Schuylerville with music by Ole Time Country.

All are welcome; casual wear is encouraged.

Cost is $7 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-17 and free for those younger than 6.

For more information, call Linda at 518-812-8752 or Jean at 518-747-9186.

Thursday, Oct. 27

Drive-thru chicken and biscuits Oct. 27

United Church of Granville will host a drive-thru chicken and biscuit supper on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 4 p.m. until dinners are sold out at 18 Church St., across from King’s Funeral Home.

The menu will include chicken with gravy, biscuits, real mashed potatoes, vegetable, cranberry sauce, coleslaw and a brownie for $13 per dinner.

‘Whispering Bones’ returns for 12th season

“Whispering Bones” is a mix of classic, creepy and comic ghost stories performed by a talented troupe of performers.

This year Dr. Betterov-Underhill and friends will present a new mix of stories, including campfire ghost stories, comic songs and compelling works by lesser-known masters of the art, such as Vincent O’Sullivan, and will feature a performance of “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe.

Dr. Erastus Betterov-Underhill will be on hand to promote his fine line of Dead People Products, such as his world-renowned Crème de Menthe Embalming Fluid.

This year “Whispering Bones” will be performed at venues throughout the region, including the Argyle Brewery in the Train Depot in Cambridge, Fort Salem Theater in Salem and Bennington Performing Arts Center.

“Some of the best ghost stories touch on social issues,” said “Whispering Bones” producer Kelvin Keraga. “But they also touch us on a deep and personal level. We witness people who encounter the unexpected and unexplainable, and respond with horror, greed, jealousy, sorrow, anger, or love. Some stories are simply dances in the graveyard, with laughter and singing to remind us not to start digging our graves – at least not yet!”

“Whispering Bones” will be performed on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at Argyle Brewery in the Train Depot at 6 Broad St, Cambridge, New York. Tickets are $18 for adults and $8 for children ages 10-18. For tickets, visit whispering.brownpapertickets.com.

On Friday, Oct. 28, Fort Salem Theater at 11 E. Broadway will host “Whispering Bones.” Tickets are $18 for adults and $8 for children ages 10-18. For tickets, call the theater’s box office at 518-854-9200.

And on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., head to the Bennington Performing Arts Center, 331 Main St. in Bennington, for another performance. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 8-18. For tickets, call 802-447-0564 or visit bpacvt.org/tickets

“Whispering Bones” will also be performed at First Congregational Church in Ashfield, Massachusetts, and at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, New York.

For more information email [email protected] or call 518-424-1726.

Soil health workshop Oct. 27

Join the Agricultural Stewardship Association for a day-long workshop at Otter Creek Farm, located at 189 Otter Creek Rd., Johnsonville, New York, on Thursday, Oct. 27, with Dr. Allen Williams of Understanding Ag.

Williams and his colleagues have been leaders in working with farmers and ranchers across the United States and around the world to increase their understanding of soil health practices and how they can make any farming operation more successful.

This workshop is for any farmer looking for tools and information to improve soil health, reduce input costs and increase profitability. The program will cover the six principles of soil health and the three rules of adaptive stewardship to optimize the ecosystem processes of epigenetics, emerging opportunities and soil testing).

Cost for the full day, including lunch, is $60 per person. Registration is required by Tuesday, Oct. 25. Register online at agstewardship.org/events. Scholarships are available. To apply for a scholarship, call Janet Britt at the ASA office. There are a limited number of full scholarships funded by a mini grant from New York State Soil Health.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Organ concert Oct. 29

United Church of Granville invites the community to a special concert celebrating the restoration of its Esty Opus 2600 pipe organ on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. at Peniel Presbyterian Church, located at 4 Quaker St. in Granville.

The concert will be presented by two accomplished organists, David and Permelia Sears, recently retired ministers of music at First Congregational Church in Milford, New Hampshire.

The concert will include a half hour of classical organ pieces, including “Fantasia in G minor” by Johann Pachelbel and “Now Thank We All Our God” by Sigfrid Karg-Elert. These classical pieces will demonstrate some of the special features of the organ. After a brief intermission, audience members will be invited to choose their favorite hymns for a half-hour hymn sing. A reception will follow the concert.

The pipe organ was built and installed in the Peniel Presbyterian Church building in 1927. After nearly a century of faithful service, the pneumatic action organ needed some significant repairs. Thanks to some generous donations, the congregation has been able to make these repairs.

Singing is an important part of the worship life of the congregation, a gift from the Welsh immigrants who brought their love of music to the Granville community. The Peniel pipe organ has helped lead Sunday singing and traditional Welsh hymn sings. The church’s congregation is excited to have the organ returned to its full capacity. This concert, led by two exceptional organists, will be an opportunity to enjoy the music of this great pipe organ.

Halloween trick-or-treat drive-thru Oct. 29

The American Legion Family in Hudson Falls will host its third annual Halloween trick-or-treat drive-thru event on Saturday, Oct. 29. from 4 to 7 p.m.

All are invited to set up a tent and have some fun. This event has been a huge success for the past two years and continues to grow.

“A Haunting Drive on Pearl Street” will invite parents or guardians to walk or drive their ghouls for tricks or treat through the haunted parking lot at 72 Pearl St., Hudson Falls.

For more information, contact Dan Lancette at 518-260-1581. This is a free event. Donations always are welcome and appreciated.

Monday, Oct. 31

Animal photo contest deadline Oct. 31

In observation of National Pet Wellness Month, Clear the Air in the Southern Adirondacks (CASA), a program of Adirondack Health Institute, has launched a photo contest as part of its campaign to support tobacco-free policies to protect the health of pets and farm animals.

All residents of Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties are invited to submit any cute and fun photos of their pets and/or farm animals by Monday, Oct. 31, to show their support of smoke-free environments for their pes.

Smoke-free outdoors and smoke-free housing policies significantly reduce the risk of exposure to both second-hand smoke and tobacco litter to animals.

Smoke-free homes prevent nicotine poisoning, which can result from both inhaling second- and third-hand smoke, and from ingesting third-hand smoke particles that fall into pets’ coats, particularly those who frequently self-groom like cats and birds. During the fall season, when the popularity of farm stands and festivals increases, farm animals also are at risk of consuming tobacco-product litter.

“At recent events throughout the region, we’ve heard strong support from community members for tobacco-free and smoke-free businesses, municipalities and multi-unit housing,” said community engagement specialist Christopher Bradley. “In addition to protecting animals from inhaling carcinogens, these policies can also safeguard them from ingesting cigarette or cigar butts, chewing on vape devices or chewing on nicotine refill canisters.”

Washington County has the highest adult smoking rate in New York State. According to Bradley, adult smoking rates in the region are at or above the New York State average of 12.8%. Warren County’s adult smoking rate is 19.1%, Saratoga County’s is 12.8%, and Washington County’s adult smoking rate is 25.3%, the highest rate in New York State.

It’s estimated that about half of New York households include pets, putting scores of animals at risk for smoking-related harm, Bradley added.

Dominick Visco, a volunteer and former employee of the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, said: “Our local animals face many health challenges. Pets and wild animals should not be exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke and tobacco litter.”

Photos of domestic pets and farm animals who support smoke-free homes and grounds can be submitted to CASA at [email protected] and will be featured on CASA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/CASASWW/.

Local youth participants of the Reality Check program, a NYS-supported youth-led movement that empowers young people to become leaders in their communities, will vote for the contest winners. The winners will be featured on CASA’s Facebook page and potentially other promotional material to support the campaign.