“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chainsaw handling for women
This time of year, my newsfeed is filling up with questions about best sources of heating and firewood for the upcoming cold weather. Have any of you ladies considered learning how to use a chainsaw and harvesting your own wood supply? If so, then keep reading!
“Game of Logging Level 1: Women Only” takes place on Friday, October 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Ghent through the Columbia Land Conservancy. Participants will cover safety equipment, handling the saw to reduce fatigue, reactive forces of running a chainsaw and mechanics and physics of hinge wood. The cost is $50 for the session, and registration is required. For more information or to register, call (518) 622-9820 or visit https://clctrust.org/events.
Parents & Caregivers’ Expo at Rosendale Rec Center
Our family has just begun to dip its toe into eldercare for our loved ones in the Hudson Valley, which, on top of my own recent cancer diagnosis, is a little overwhelming. We are shocked by how much we don’t know about what kind of local support is available for the elderly.
If you’re in the same boat, mark your calendars for next Saturday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Parents and Caregivers’ Expo at the Rosendale Recreation Center. Guest speakers, children’s activities and Ulster County agencies are part of the expo, as well as two panel discussions: “Agency Representatives on Parenting” takes place from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. and “Agency Representatives on Elder Care” from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
The Rosendale Recreation Center is located at 1055 Route 32 in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 340-3990, extension 345 or 343, or e-mail aar66@cornell.edu or jmp394@cornell.edu.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Roosevelt Cinemas in Hyde Park host autism-friendly screening of Home
Got kids with sensory issues or autism? Reserve your seats for next weekend’s free movie! On Saturday, September 26 at 10 a.m. at the Roosevelt Cinemas in Hyde Park, a special showing of the movie Home will take place with adjusted lighting and sound to make it more comfortable for kids with sensory issues. The movie is free to children with autism or sensory needs, their families and support agencies, but reservations are required.
The Roosevelt Cinemas are located at 4060 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park. For more information or to reserve your seats, call (845) 486-2000.
Bardavon hosts Reel Expressions Youth Film Festival
Where can you see 18 awesome youth films this weekend? Round up your kids and head over to Spark Media Project’s Reel Expressions Youth Film Festival at the Bardavon Opera House this Saturday, September 26, beginning with a reception at 5 p.m. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. My daughter and I love this event!
People under 19 years of age get in free if you reserve your tickets in advance, and adult tickets cost $10 each. The Bardavon Opera House is located at 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie. For free youth tickets or more information, call (845) 485-4480 or visit https://sparkmediaproject.org.
Free museum admissions online from Smithsonian
Looking for a free museum deal for your family this weekend? You’re in luck! Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live takes place on Saturday, September 26, and I’ve got three area prospects for you to check out. All you have to do is get your tickets from www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday and bring them to the museum when you visit on Saturday.
Local organizations participating in Museum Day include the Hudson River Maritime Museum, about all things related to the Hudson River, located at 50 Rondout Landing in Kingston, www.hrmm.org; John Burroughs’ Slabsides, which is the naturalist’s personal retreat surrounded by great hiking trails, at 261 Floyd Ackert Road in West Park, www.johnburroughsassociation.org; and the Museum at Bethel Woods, featuring history about the original Woodstock Festival, at 200 Hurd Road in Bethel, www.bethelwoodscenter.org/the-museum. Enjoy!
Family Day at Constitution Island
Here’s an event that includes a boat ride! This Saturday, September 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., all are invited to Family Day at Constitution Island at West Point. Highlights include lots of live animals, including miniature horses, a kangaroo, turtles, snakes, skinks and raptors; history tours; amazing storyteller Jonathan Kruk; and remember to bring a stuffed animal to display during the Teddy Bear parade.
Suggested donations for admission are $10 for adults, $7.50 each person for school groups, $9 for seniors, $9 for ages 6 to 16 and free for children under 6 as well as cadets, active-duty military and Department of Defense personnel. Boats depart from the West Point South Dock, and vans shuttle from the Cold Spring Metro-North train station. Photo identification is required. Constitution Island is located in Philipstown. For reservations or more information, visit www.constitutionisland.org.
Join the family! 
