“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.”
– Pema Chödrön
Moms’ night out for crafters at Fiberflame in Saugerties
Have you ever felt the incredibly cathartic and therapeutic effects of needle felting? I experience it as exquisite artful jabbing. This Wednesday, January 15, “Surround yourself with women, make a mess, get those creative juices flowing and emerge with something beautiful!” Jessica Walsh of Illuminated Baby is teaming up with Fiberflame for another “DIRTY” Girls Moms’ night out: “This month we’re getting out the wool roving and creating needle-felted sculptures and embellishments. Make fun creatures for your little ones, patches or embellishments for bags or hats, beads for jewelry…the possibilities are endless.”
Come as you are, crafty or not. All supplies are provided, and no experience is necessary. “This is a night about giving to ourselves, trying something new and being with women of all walks. Come create, chat, snack and have a drink.” $35 covers all your materials and goodies. To reserve your spot or to learn about future events, call or stop in at the Illuminated Baby at 62A Tinker Street in Woodstock, call (845) 684-7024 or visit www.facebook.com/illuminatedbaby. The Moms’ night out takes place at Fiberflame, which is located at 1776 Route 212 in Saugerties: https://fiberflamestudio.com.
Forsyth Nature Center hosts Winter Fest at two Kingston locations
When you were a kid, did you love spending hours outside in the snow? Did that change for you as you became a parent yourself? Perhaps the Forsyth Nature Center’s Winter Fest can help you to reignite that enthusiasm for winter! On Saturday, January 11, families have two special Winter Fest spots featuring great outdoor activities rain, snow or shine, so why not visit both?
The Hasbrouck Park Stone Building will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including guided hourly snowshoe hikes with Steve and Julie Noble in Hasbrouck Forest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The hike is free and includes instruction on how to use snowshoes, the basics of learning the sport, animal tracking, winter survival and fun. Interested participants should register upon arrival to reserve a spot. Snowshoes will be available, or folks can bring their own; and if there is not enough snow, the outing will be a regular hike.
Wish that you had your own snowshoes, or looking for an upgrade from your current pair? You could win a snowshoe prize package, thanks to Kenco Outfitters. The drawing is free and will take place at 1:45 p.m. to see who will go home with Yukon Charlie’s 825 snowshoes, poles and a snowshoe bag. Indoors, visitors can enjoy a bake sale, and free children’s crafts such as pinecone bird-feeders, paper snowflakes and more.
The other Winter Fest location is down at Kingston Point Beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where Mark DeDea will offer facilitated birdwatching with a scope, natural history, behaviors, identification techniques and habitat information. Then, hourly from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mark will lead a guided bird walk over to Kingston Point’s Rotary Park, which will include spotting winter birds of the fields, forests and wetlands. Binoculars will be provided for youth and adults.
Winter Fest is such a terrific, easy way to connect with the outdoors no matter what the weather, and you and your family will likely be inspired for more. Hasbrouck Park is located on Delaware Avenue adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Kingston. Kingston Point Beach is located on Delaware Avenue in East Kingston. Kingston Point Beach is on your left (north side of Delaware Avenue), Rotary Park at Kingston Point is on your right (south side). For more information, call (845) 481-7339 or visit https://forsythnaturecenter.org.
Free winter birding program at Mohonk Preserve
If you feel like these cold temperatures are for the birds, you’re right! On Saturday, January 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., join Kathy Ambrosini, Mohonk Preserve director of education, to explore who’s flying around in the winter woods: “Learn how different birds have adapted to survive the winter, how to use your binoculars and how to use field marks and flight patterns to identify birds.”
Binoculars will be available for use during the program, or participants may bring their own. This primarily indoor program includes a brief outdoor activity, weather permitting, and the event is geared for children ages 5 and above, accompanied by an adult. Admission to this program is free, but reservations are required. For reservations, meeting location and more information, call (845) 255-0919 or visit https://mohonkpreserve.org.
Bill Robinson Wildlife Show visits Saugerties Library
Had enough of reindeer for a while? How about an up-close-and-personal look at some feathery and slithery friends instead? On Saturday, January 11 at 11 a.m., Saugerties Public Library hosts the Bill Robinson Wildlife Show: “Learn how these animals survive in the wild and the role they play in our ecology.” This program is free and open to the public, geared for children ages 5 and up.
The Saugerties Public Library is located at 91 Washington Avenue in Saugerties. For more information, call (845) 246-4317 or visit https://saugertiespubliclibrary.org. To learn more about the presenters, visit www.robinsonswildlifelectures.com.
Downhill deals at Plattekill Mountain & Belleayre
Have you been out to the slopes yet this season? Interested in trying out skiing or snowboarding but concerned about the expense? Here are two great deals to consider, with more to come throughout the season.
How about $15 lift tickets? Wait, what? Yes, you’re reading this right! Lift tickets cost only $15 for the first 50 people to Plattekill Mountain on the following Fridays: January 10, February 7 and March 7. Plattekill Mountain is located at 469 Plattekill Road in Roxbury. For more information, call (607) 326-3500 or visit https://plattekill.com.
Got Scouts? Belleayre Mountain invites Scouts and their immediate family for Scout Days on Sundays, January 12, February 2, March 2 and March 16. With valid Scout identification, lift tickets are discounted to $38; rentals cost $23; and group lessons cost $15. Got a group of 15 or more? Just call ahead to reserve. Belleayre Mountain is located at 181 Galli Curci Road in Highmount. For more information, call (845) 254-5600 or visit www.belleayre.com.
Cornell Street Studios offers spa day to benefit Forsyth Park playground
Saturday mornings might mean basketball practice, softball clinics, travel soccer games, art class, piano lessons, grocery shopping or a chance to renew. On Saturday, January 11 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Get fit, ease stress and beautify” at Renew You 2014, a fundraiser at Cornell Street Studios to benefit Kingston Kinderland II. Admission costs $20 at the door. Spend the morning working out in 25-minute classes such as Zumba, Nia and Pilates and getting pampered by experts in chiropractic, massage, nutrition, life coaching and meditation. Treat yourself to handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing and vintage fashions for sale in the Studios. And learn more about the exciting Kinderland II Project at Forsyth Park!
Please bring non-street sneakers to class to help protect the dance studio floors. Space is limited for each fitness class demonstration. Cornell Street Studios are located at 168 Cornell Street in Kingston. For more information, call the Junior League of Kingston at (845) 481-3534 or visit www.juniorleaguekingston.org.
Join the family! 
