Hudson Fishing Derby for youth
Calling all girls and boys in Columbia County, ages 4 to 15: It’s time for the 32nd annual Hudson Fishing Derby this Saturday, April 18 from 8 to 10 a.m. To participate, register at the Department of Youth, located at 18 South Third Street in Hudson, or call (518) 828-0017.
Wiyos do two shows at Unison in New Paltz
1920s and ‘30s American folk music complete with harmonica, washboard and kazoo? Yes, please! You can catch the derby-sporting Wiyos performing a matinée show for all ages at the Unison theater this Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for adults, $7 for children aged 12 and under and $2 cheaper per ticket if you order in advance, with more savings for Unison members. Want more? Or looking to ditch the kids and hear the band for date night? Attend the Wiyos’ 8 p.m. full performance at Unison instead!
Unison is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For tickets or more information, call (845) 255-1559 or visit https://unisonarts.org. To learn more about the musicians, visit www.thewiyos.com.
SUNDAY | APRIL 19
Gustafer Yellowgold at Mountaintop School in Saugerties
Here’s a home-run event for your weekend: On Sunday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m., the Mountaintop School presents a free Gustafer Yellowgold performance by Morgan Taylor, followed by fresh bread and outdoor play. What a fantastic way to be introduced to Taylor’s terrific music, and the whole family will have a good time.
The Mountaintop School is located at 68 Band Camp Road in Saugerties. For more information, call (845) 389-7322 or visit www.facebook.com/mountaintopschool.
Family hike at Esopus Bend in Saugerties
The Esopus Creek Conservancy invites you to join its free family hike this Sunday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Esopus Bend Preserve. All you have to do is preregister by contacting nature educator Matt Helffrich at (845) 399-4245 or visiting www.esopuscreekconservancy.org. The Esopus Bend Preserve is located on Kalina Drive in Saugerties. Happy hiking!
WEDNESDAY | APRIL 22
“Saving Your Sight” at Unison in New Paltz
I used to think that stronger eyeglass prescriptions were an inevitable fact of life as I get older, but after hearing Dr. Marc Grossman’s “Saving Your Sight” presentation at Unison last year, I learned that I can strengthen my eye muscles with simple eye exercises and other techniques, as well as some ideas about why we encounter eye deficiencies in the first place. You can hear Marc Grossman, OD, LAc at Unison on Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. Donations are accepted at the door.
The Unison Arts & Learning Center is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-3728 or visit https://drgrossman2020.com.
THURSDAY | APRIL 23
Deaf Deaf World at Red Hook High School
Red Hook High School’s fourth annual Deaf Deaf World takes place on Thursday, April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. This year’s theme is a carnival, with games and carnival foods for you to enjoy, and the entire event is presented in American Sign Language. Fun for both kids and adults, and it’s free!
Red Hook High School is located at 103 West Market Street in Red Hook. For more information, visit Facebook.
FRIDAY | APRIL 24
Kingston’s Forsyth Nature Center hosts Green Friday Fair
Looking for Earth-friendly ideas to practice year-round? Come by the Forsyth Nature Center’s third annual “Green Friday: A Sustainability Fair” on Friday, April 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. Displays include electric and hybrid cars, composting and rain-harvesting demos and giveaways, energy-efficiency and weatherization; take a green infrastructure tour of the facility and learn about local green initiatives. This event will appeal to older youth, but kids will enjoy seeing the animals at the Center, too.
The Forsyth Nature Center is located at 157 Lucas Avenue in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 481-7339.
BioBlitz at Woodstock’s Thorn Preserve
Ready to make some meaningful contributions to science through observation and data-collection? Sounds like you want to do a BioBlitz! On Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, teams of high-school-aged and older volunteers and biologists work together to collect information about the species that live on the 60-acre Thorn Preserve. Participants can sign up for six-hour blocks of time or more. Two or three participants will be assigned to work with each biologist, who will help with recording, photographing, mapping and documenting. No previous experience is necessary – just curiosity and a love of nature!
The Thorn Preserve is located at 55 John Joy Road in Woodstock. For more information or to register, e-mail virginia.wlc@gmail.com.
on the horizon | family events
Kids’ book drive at Poughkidsie
Do some spring cleaning and help local classrooms at the same time! From now until April 30, donate your children’s books, especially for 11-to-13-year-old youth, at Poughkidsie, to help supply classroom libraries. Every donation earns one raffle ticket toward winning a gift certificate to Poughkidsie and an Organic Bloom frame from Surprise Photography. Multiple donation visits means more raffle tickets, and spacious shelves at home for you!
Poughkidsie is located at 50 Springside Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/surprisephotography, https://surprisephotography.com and https://poughkidsie.com.
Award-winning young clarinetist performs at Rhinebeck’s Church of the Messiah
Congratulations to the winners of the Rhinebeck Chamber Music Society Student Competition held in March: violinist Alana Auerbach from Poughkeepsie and clarinetist Mikaela Vojnik from Kingston. On Sunday, April 19, Auerbach is otherwise committed (performing at Carnegie Hall!), but Vojnik performs the first movement of Stravinsky’s Three Pieces for Clarinet with the Enso String Quartet at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Messiah in Rhinebeck. The Church of the Messiah is located at 6436 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. For more information, call (845) 876-2870 or visit https://rhinebeckmusic.org.
Erica Chase-Salerno celebrates Earth Day in New Paltz with her husband, Mike, and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
