“If you like sausage and respect the law, you should watch neither being made; and to some degree that is true
of our production ramp.”
– Elon Musk,
sort of quoting Winston Churchill
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Snowshoe lesson at Gardiner Library
There was an old woman who lived in a snowshoe…errrr, shoe. But while we’re on the topic, check this out! Offer your family another reason to get outside this winter at “Learn How to Snowshoe” this Friday, February 16 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Gardiner Library. Participants will get hands-on practice using the bindings and walking in the snowshoes, followed by a nature walk on the Rail Trail behind the library. The workshop is free and open to all ages, but preregistration is required.
The Gardiner Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike in Gardiner. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-1255 or visit http://gardinerlibrary.org.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Presidential celebrations
Our area’s own FDR believed, “We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions – bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality. Whoever seeks to set one nationality against another, seeks to degrade all nationalities.” Here are some interesting, educational and fun Presidents’ Day events for families of all ages:
- Washington’s Birthday Celebration at the New Windsor Cantonment, February 17 and 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Continental Army activities; musket and cannon firings throughout the day. Free. 374 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor; (845) 561-1765; http://on.ny.gov/2suYCwH.
- George Washington’s Birthday Celebration, February 17, 18 and 19, noon to 4 p.m. Music, military demonstrations, historical presentations, crafts and birthday cake, as well as Washington “himself”! 84 Liberty Street, Newburgh; (845) 562-1195; www.facebook.com/washingtonsheadquarters.
- Presidential Autographs, February 17, 3 to 5 p.m. FDR’s fascinating collection of signatures of other presidents, displayed only once a year. Free. Roosevelt Library Research Room, FDR Presidential Library and Museum, 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park; (845) 486-1142; https://fdrlibrary.org/events-calendar.
- Washington’s Birthday Celebration at Knox’s Headquarters, February 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., scheduled house tours and cannon firings throughout the day. 289 Forge Hill Road in Vails Gate; (845) 561-1765; http://bit.ly/2suvPIQ.
- Inside Franklin D. Roosevelt, February 18, 2 to 3 p.m. A first-person casual chat by “FDR” sharing about his hobbies, dealing with polio, his childhood, favorite quotes, successes and failures. Free. Milstein Auditorium of Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park; (845) 229-5320; http://bit.ly/2ChRFyV.
Oscar-Nominated Shorts at Rosendale Theatre
Too busy to squeeze full-length movies into your schedule, but wish you could get a handle on some aspect of the upcoming Oscars? How about shorts? This Saturday, February 17 at 2 p.m., the Rosendale Theatre presents 2018 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Shorts. Choose your favorite, throw it into casual conversation and see if your pick wins at the Academy Awards on March 4.
The films are: DeKalb Elementary – Reed Van Dyk, USA, 20 minutes; The Silent Child – Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton, UK, 20 minutes; My Nephew Emmett – Kevin Wilson, Jr., USA, 20 minutes; The Eleven O’Clock – Derin Seale and Josh Lawson, Australia, 13 minutes; and Watu Wote/All of Us – Katja Benrath and Tobias Rosen, Germany, 22 minutes. The event lasts about 90 minutes.
The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 658-8989, or visit www.facebook.com/rosendaletheatre or www.rosendaletheatre.org.
Chinese New Year Celebration in Red Hook
“A doggo is a dog. A pupper is a smol doggo. But a big ol pupper is a doggo. A woofer is a big ol doggo. And a smol woofer is, you guessed it, a doggo. A yapper is a smol pupper, and a big ol woofer is a floofer. There’s also a snip snap doggo, which you don’t want to pet,” as illustrated here: http://bit.ly/2CiPcnJ.
Is this a new language to you? Believe me, your kids know it. Have some fun by responding to them in Chinese! Say this: Gong Hey Fat Choy, which means Happy New Year in Cantonese, and bring your worlds together. Make plans for your family to attend the Chinese New Year Lunar Celebration, Year of the Dog, this Saturday, February 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hendrick Hudson Masonic Lodge in Red Hook, hosted by the Red Hook Public Library and the Arts Mid-Hudson Folk Arts Program.
I heard there will be dumplings. Do you have any idea how much I love Chinese dumplings? And doggos? What a dream event. But in addition to dumplings, kids and parents can participate in hands-on crafts and activities, other snacks (more dumplings?) and a colorful indoor parade. This celebration is free and open to the public of all ages. If any of you adults are interested in dumpling-making, register now for a free hands-on workshop, happening the day before at the Red Hook Public Library, on Friday, February 16 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
The Hendrick Hudson Masonic Lodge is located at 9 Graves Street in Red Hook. The Red Hook Public Library is located at 7444 South Broadway in Red Hook. For more information, or for adults registering for the dumpling workshop, call (845) 758-3241 or visit http://redhooklibrary.org. To learn more about Arts Mid-Hudson Folk Arts, visit https://artsmidhudson.org/folk-arts.
McCann Ice Arena offers free ice skating
Did you or your kids catch the Japanese ice skating team’s performance to music from the anime show, Yuri on Ice? You can learn more and watch it here: https://nerdist.com/yuri-on-ice-winter-olympics. Perhaps your crew is inspired to do some ice skating themselves! In celebration of National Skating Month, the McCann Ice Arena offers free ice skating on Saturday, February 17 from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., and the Ice Time Sports Complex on Sunday, February 18 from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. This event includes on-ice instruction, games and figure skating demonstrations. Admission is free, and registration is required.
The McCann Ice Arena is located at 14 Civic Center Plaza in Poughkeepsie, http://bit.ly/2EEul3y; the Ice Time Sports Complex is at 21 Lakeside Road in Newburgh, www.icetimesports.org. For more information or to register, e-mail bridget@midhudsonciviccenter.org with the date of your choice and how many people will be attending. For more information, contact Debra Knauss, ice skating director, at (845) 454-5800, extension 1217, or Mimi McKinnis, US Figure Skating communications, at (719) 635-5200.
And while we’re on the topic of Olympics, how about hearing from a local Gold- and Silver-Medal American Olympian? Water polo athlete Betsey Armstrong will share some of her personal stories at the Starr Library this Saturday, February 17 at 4 p.m. Her talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required if you want to guarantee yourself a seat! The Starr Library is located at 68 West Market Street in Rhinebeck. For more information or to register, call (845) 876-4030 or visit http://starrlibrary.org.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Puzzle Party at Kingston’s African Roots Library
Just as a completed puzzle requires every piece, so too does our community need every member. And being in community means knowing our collective history. Since many of us are missing valuable pieces of that big picture, here’s an event for everyone. The MyKingstonKids Puzzle Party takes place this Sunday, February 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the A. J. Williams-Myers African Roots Library. Through puzzles and games, all ages will be engaged in learning about African-American heroes and contributions to the global community. Lots of built-in fun! This event is free and open to all ages.
The A. J. Williams-Myers African Roots Library is located at 43 Gill Street in Kingston. For more information, e-mail blackhistorymonthkingston@gmail.com or visit http://blackhistorymonthkingston.org.
Folktales & Stories at Hudson Area Library
You’re the default bedtime storyteller every night; how about someone reads to you for a change? Join the new weekly gathering of Folktales & Stories for Children & Families at the Hudson Area Library this Sunday, February 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. with performer Pamela Badila. Sharing culture, tradition and ethics from around the world, this just might become the highlight of your week!
Folktales & Stories for Children & Families is free and open to the public of all ages. The Hudson Area Library is located at 51 North Fifth Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 828-1792 or visit http://bit.ly/2o7AieS.
Family Hamantash Bake at Adams in Wappinger
Purim is coming up, which means that it’s time for some latke/hamantash debates! Bring on the hamantash you say? Get the entire family involved in this annual celebration by learning how to make this traditional pastry shaped like evil Haman’s hat and his pointy ears. A Family Hamantash Bake takes place this Sunday, February 18 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Adams Fairacre Farms in Wappinger. Learn this history behind this tasty treat, get some hands-on practice making them, then take them home to enjoy.
This event is free and open to the public of all ages. Adams Fairacre Farms is located at 160 Old Post Road in Wappinger. For more information, call (845) 440-7592 or visit http://bit.ly/2EGOnKG.
Kudos
Congratulations to all of the folks involved in Locker Room Talk, produced by the TMI Project, Stockade Works, A Call to Men and Kingston High School. What an incredible performance last Friday night. I can’t wait to see the documentary! Special recognition to the Kingston High School coach and football team who shared their personal stories: Coach Jeramie Collins, Kevin, Gabriel, Matthew, Tanner, Hayden, Edward and Chapman. To learn more, visit www.tmiproject.org, www.stockadeworks.org, www.acalltomen.org and www.kingstontigers.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno believes that if your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme; and she wishes upon stars for unlimited wishes. You can reach her at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
