“And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is’.”
– Kurt Vonnegut
Saturday Arts Lab at SUNY-New Paltz
The Saturday Arts Lab at SUNY-New Paltz kicks off the fall term this weekend, and this eight-week-long series is definitely worth checking out if you have kids: terrific music and art classes for every grade level, kindergarten through 12th grade, right at the college campus. And that means that you can spend some time at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art to see some great current exhibits, such as “Transforming Metal into Art: Dick Polich.”
Courses include Adventures in Art, Digital Arts Workshop, Piano for Beginners, Experimental Music, Music Composition and more. Tuition costs $112 for a one-hour class and $224 for two hours, and a limited number of scholarships are available. Registration ends this Friday, September 27 and classes begin on Saturday, September 28.
SUNY-New Paltz is located at 1 Hawk Drive in New Paltz. For more information or to register, call (845) 257-3850 or visit www.newpaltz.edu/sal.
The NAMI Basics Program
NAMI Mid-Hudson (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) presents the NAMI Basics Program, a free three-session program for parents and caregivers of adolescents and children who have behavioral issues, undiagnosed emotional issues, ADHD, ODD, OCD, DMDD or mental illness. Topics include: the impact of illness on family; biology; treatment options; overview of systems available; communication and problem-solving skills; crisis planning; latest research and more. Participants are required to attend all three sessions for the class.
In Dutchess County, classes are scheduled at Dover High School, located at 2368 Route 22 in Dover Plains, on Saturdays, October 4, 11 and 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and at Arlington High School, located at 1157 Route 55 in Lagrangeville, on Saturdays, November 1, 8 and 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Ulster County, classes are scheduled at the Mental Health Association, located at 2 Tuytenbridge Road in Lake Katrine.
For more information or to register for this free program, call (845) 832-6368 or e-mail programs@namimidhudson.org. To learn more about the program, visit https://nami.org/basics.
Diwali crafts workshops in New Paltz
Save the date of October 25 for the Diwali celebration, the Festival of Lights from India, taking place at the Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz. In the meantime, put down your paneer and mark your calendar for October 3, 8 and 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. for Diwali crafting. Participants will learn how to make paper flowers, garlands, lanterns and clay diyas (candleholders), which will all be used in the celebration. Volunteers are needed, and all ages are welcome.
The Elting Memorial Library is located at 93 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-5030, extension 2, or visit www.facebook.com/diwalinewpaltz.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Rhinebeck Arts Festival at Dutchess Fairgrounds
The Rhinebeck Arts Festival takes place this weekend and is full of activities for the whole family, including Todd Crowley’s Musical Petting Zoo with a chance to try your hand at a variety of real instruments; or making a handpainted silk scarf with Patricia Disantis; watching art demos; seeing dance performances; hands-on art experiences with Fiberflame Studio and Art Bus; and much more!
The Rhinebeck Arts Festival runs rain or shine on Friday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $10 general, $9 for seniors age 65 and older, $4 for kids age 6 through 16 and free for children under 6 years old. Remember to visit the website for your code to get a $1 discount off your admission.
The Rhinebeck Arts Festival takes place at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, located at 6550 Spring Brook Avenue in Rhinebeck. For more information, visit www.artrider.com/rhi14.html.
Join the family! 
