Amelia Rose reads at Inquiring Minds in New Paltz
Q: What does a camel drink?
A: Camel-mile (“chamomile”).
This Sunday, April 12 becomes the new hump day with SUNY-New Paltz professor Amelia Rose’s reading of her book, The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Backpack, illustrated by the excellent Matt Maley. The reading takes place at 4 p.m. at Inquiring Minds Bookstore in New Paltz, and it’s also a benefit for the Pencil Project, which provides school supplies to children around the world.
Inquiring Minds is located at 6 Church Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-8300 or visit www.inquiringbooks.com. To learn more about the Pencil Project, visit www.thepencilproject.com.
YMCA Organic Farm Project cleanup day
Be a part of Mitzvah Day this Sunday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., organized by the Jewish Federation of Ulster County. All ages are welcome for the task of cleaning up the YMCA Organic Farm Project. Wear old work clothes and rain boots.
The YMCA Organic Farm Project is located on Susan Street, off Pine Grove in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 332-2927 or visit www.kingstonymcafarmproject.org.
West Point’s Eisenhower Hall stages Peter and the Starcatcher
For an enchanting and amusing prequel for your Peter Pan-loving crew, get tickets to see Peter and the Starcatcher this Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. at West Point’s Eisenhower Hall Theatre. Tickets are $40 and $38. Eisenhower Hall Theatre is located at 655 Pitcher Road in West Point. For tickets or more information, call (845) 938-4159 or visit www.ikehall.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
Fiberflame Studio in Saugerties hosts Sheri Winston’s Wholistic Sexuality Teachings
Forget all of the noise about 50 Shades. This Wednesday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m., relax in a safe, nurturing environment to honor and celebrate female sexuality with Sheri Winston’s Wholistic Sexuality Teachings at Fiberflame Studio. This talk and PowerPoint presentation is open to both women and men. Tickets cost $50 in advance, $60 at the door.
Fiberflame Studio is located at 1776 Route 212 in Saugerties. For tickets or more information, call (845) 679-6132 or visit www.fiberflamestudio.com.
Weekly sailing class with Beacon Sloop Club
Here’s how I remember the difference between port and starboard: Port has four letters, like left, which is what it means. Whether you or one of your kids is looking forward to getting out on the Hudson River and exploring sailing this year, here’s one way to get started: The Beacon Sloop Club hosts a weekly sailing class on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. from April 15 to June 3. The cost of $50 includes the book.
The Beacon Sloop Clubhouse is located at 2 Flynn Drive in Beacon. To register or for more information, call (845) 497-3658 or visit www.beaconsloopclub.org.
Taconic Innovations in Wappingers Falls offers autism support group
Looking for a parent support group around autism? Check out the Taconic Innovations Child Development Center’s gathering this Wednesday, April 15 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. The Center is located at 877 Route 376 in Wappingers Falls. For more information, call (845) 849-3447 or visit www.taconicinnovations.com.
Coming up
Pine Box Derby at Hudson’s Museum of Firefighting
Put a firetruck and Pine Box Derby event together, and you’re going to get some blissed-out kids. So save the date and register now for the FASNY Museum of Firefighting’s Firetruck Pine Box Derby taking place on Saturday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m. Children ages 5 and up will enjoy learning about different styles of vehicles in the Wheel of Firetrucks game show, then choose a truck to build, decorate, race down the track, and keep to take home!
Supplies are limited. Register by April 16 to be sure that your child has a racer to build. Admission costs $7 for adults, $5 for children age 5 and older and $20 for a family of two adults and two children. With proof of residency, Columbia County residents get in free for this event! The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is located at 117 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson. For reservations or more information, call (518) 822-1875, extension 10, or visit www.fasnyfiremuseum.com.
Karaoke contest fundraiser call for entries
Here’s a chance for area 13-to-18-year-old singers to shine while supporting the work of an excellent local charity! Dutchess Outreach invites teens to submit a video to its karaoke contest by Monday, April 20 to outreachphotosubmit@yahoo.com. Those selected to advance to Round 2 will be uploaded for public voting, and the singers with the most votes will continue to Round 3. Round 3 is a live performance on Saturday, May 16, when the first- and second-place winners will be determined by celebrity judges.
In addition to winning cash prizes, the winner will perform a karaoke song and the National Anthem at the July 24 Hudson Valley Renegades baseball game, and everyone who sings on May 16 will sing “God Bless America” at that game. For more information and a complete list of rules, visit www.dutchessoutreach.org/hudson-valley-sings.
Erica Chase-Salerno is still pilfering Easter candy in New Paltz, where she lives with her husband, Mike, and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
