Briefs for March 15, 2022 | Local Announcements

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, presents Landscape Design I 5:30-8 p.m. March 15. This design course will introduce students to the design process—the systematic way designers approach a site and client. The course, taught by landscape architect and fine artist David Dew Bruner, will include a series of simple projects that will end with a garden designed by the students. Learn design principles such as form, balance, repetition, line, texture, color, and spatial relationships. Additionally, students will be introduced to landscape history and how it helps the designer resolve and inspire garden design. As the adage goes, we cannot escape our history so we have to understand where we came from. The cost of six classes is non-members $350 and $310 for members. For more information, http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events; call 413-298-3926; or email [email protected].

COPAKE — The Roeliff Jansen Community Library Board of Trustees will meet at 6 p.m. March 15 via Zoom. The Roe Jan Community Library Board of Trustees normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month. All meetings are open to members of the public. If you would like to attend this meeting, please email Tamara Gaskell at [email protected] for the Zoom login information.

NORTH CHATHAM — The North Chatham Free Library, 4287 Route 203, North Chatham, is hosting Know Before You Grow 10 a.m.-noon March 16 via Zoom. If you garden, spend time outside in your yard, or just enjoy nature you will not want to miss this program with Hannah Coppola, Invasive Species Outreach Educator of the Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (CR PRISM), which is hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension and funded by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Learn about the benefits of native plants in our changing climate and the plants and insects that have become invasive in our area. Once an infestation has become established, these species can damage forests, destroy wildlife habitat and take over fields and wetlands. They can also cause human health problems by providing an increase in deer tick population.

Registration is required by 5 p.m. March 15. To register, email [email protected] for the Zoom link. If COVID infection rates are low this program will be held in-person at the Malden Bridge Community Center instead of Zoom. For more information, call the NCFL at 518-766-3211.

HILLSDALE — The Roe Jan Community Library will host the Ajna Dance Company celebrating the Hindu color festival, Holi, 6-7 p.m. March 16 via Zoom. This is a fun, interactive, virtual event great for all ages. This interactive video presentation will explain the significance of the festival and will include a dance performance and then an interactive Bollywood and Bhangra dance workshop for all ages and levels. One of the dance company members will be available for questions at the end. So come learn about this cultural tradition and pick up a few dance moves. Email [email protected] to register and receive the Zoom link.

HUDSON — Dr. Rebecca Pinder, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, will be leading an “amphibian monitoring” night at the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Siuslaw Model Forest at 5:30 p.m. March 16. Participants will receive a brief training about research protocol and then head into the woods to search for amphibians. For information, and to register for the program, visit https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Salamanders2022_210.

VALATIE — The Valatie Free Library, 1036 Kinderhook St., Valatie, will host Narcan/FTS Training at 6 p.m. March 16. Al White, Dual Recovery Coordinator for Columbia County at the Columbia County Mental Health Department, will provide a group training workshop for those in the Community who think that having a Narcan kit in their house or business could be important. After the training which will take approximately 30 minutes, each person attending will receive a nasal Narcan kit. There is no cost for this training or for the Narcan kits. Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS) will also be available at no cost. White will show interested attendees how to use them and give them a free package of 10 FTS. There will be no charge for this service either.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, presents Updates and Outlook: Insect Pests of Trees and Shrubs online 3-4 p.m. March 16. Insects and their relatives always garner much attention in our managed landscapes and natural areas. This presentation will cover quick updates for the need-to-know invasives (ex. spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer, etc.) and others. Keep an eye out for some potential newcomers, box tree moth included. Accurately identifying insects is the first step in determining proper management strategies, also to be mentioned. Non-members, $20; members, $15. For more information, http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events; call 413-298-3926; or email [email protected].

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, presents Container Garden Design 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 16. Acquire knowledge of the skills required for beautiful and successful container gardens with Jenna O’Brien, owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design. Get to know the plants that thrive in containers and how to care for them. This class will cover practical aspects of gardening in containers with style throughout the New England garden season. Consider container selection, siting, planting, growing, controlling pests and maintaining moveable gardens. The cost for three classes is $185 for non-members and $165 for members. For more information, http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events; call 413-298-3926; or email [email protected].

STUYVESANT — Stuyvesant Fire presents pizza, wings and sub night 4:30-7 p.m. March 18 at the firehouse, 194 County Route 26A, Stuyvesant. Eat in or take out. An 18 inch cheese pizza is $11. Toppings include meatballs, pepperoni, sausage; extra cheese, $2; onions, peppers, mushrooms, $1. 12 chicken wings, $11, sauces are hot, medium, mild, plain, barbecue and garlic parm. A meatball or pepperoni sub is $8. For information and to order, call 518-758-6713.

GERMANTOWN — The Germantown Garden Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. March 19 in the Hover Room at the Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Road, Germantown. This month’s program will feature a presentation on “Photographing Nature” by Lori Adams. Adams is a professional photographer who specializes in plant photography. She has taught at SUNY Dutchess and has exhibited her photos widely in our area. Nature photography covers shooting plants, flowers, and animals, photographed in their environments. She will explain the challenges of photographing a wide variety of subjects such as sweeping natural scenes or close-ups of flowers and vegetables. Question and answers will follow. Refreshments will be served. The meeting is open to the public. For information, call Fran Bufi, 518-537-4868.

COPAKE — Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church will hold a pancake breakfast to support Maci Cayea, a five-year-old from Copake Lake who has been diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. The breakfast will be held 8 a.m.-1 p.m. March 19 at Our Lady of Hope, 8074 Route 22, Copake. The breakfast will include all-you-can-eat portions of blueberry or chocolate-chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, home fries, sausage, juice and coffee. The cost is $10. For information, call Mary at 518-755-9763. Maci and her family have a long battle ahead of them and they need support from the local community.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, presents Spring Pruning of Woody Ornamental Plants 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 19. Spring is a great time to assess woody shrubs for shape, structure and winter damage. This workshop will focus on learning by doing. Ron Yaple, owner of Race Mountain Tree Services in Sheffield, Mass, will demonstrate how to renovate, rejuvenate, and shape shrubs and small ornamental trees for structure, health and optimal growth. Plants covered will include viburnums, lilacs, witch hazels, deciduous azaleas, sweetshrubs, crabapples and ornamental cherries. Participants should dress for the weather, bring pruners, work gloves and a bag lunch. Non-members, $45; members, $35. For more information, http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events; call 413-298-3926; or email [email protected].

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, presents Horticultural Therapy: The People-Plant Partnership noon-3 p.m. March 19. Horticultural Therapy uses the cultivation of plants and plant-related programs to heal, rehabilitate and improve the overall well-being of the population it serves. Often referred to as “the new health care tool,” horticultural therapy is effective in achieving therapeutic, rehabilitative and vocational outcomes. Registered Horticultural Therapist, and licensed social worker, Anne Meore will lead participants through experiential activities that will deepen the participant’s understanding of this therapeutic modality and enhance perspective on the benefits of our relationship with plants and the natural environment. Non-members, $75; members, $65. For more information, http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events; call 413-298-3926; or email [email protected].

HUDSON — Hendrick Hudson DAR Speaker Series continues with Restoring History: Revolutionary War Veterans in New Lebanon’s Cemetery of the Evergreens with Elizabeth Sheffer-Winig, New Lebanon Town Historian and Doris Harrington, Chapter Historian at 2:30 p.m. March 21 via Zoom. Register in advance at hudson-dar.org/. Admission is free. More than 30 mostly forgotten headstones of Revolutionary War veterans are being documented, restored and honored under a joint project of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter, NSDAR, the Cemetery of the Evergreens, the Town of New Lebanon and others. Learn about this timely effort leading up to our nation’s 2025 celebration of the 250-year anniversary of the onset of patriot fighting for independence.