Drive-by to donate food today
HUDSON—The Salvation Army Food Pantry conducts a Contactless Food Drive Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. to noon at 40 South Third Street.
Tables will be set up in front of the building. Donors can just drive by and drop off non-perishable food items. Call 518-822-1602 with any questions.
AnimalKind needs auction donations
HUDSON—AnimalKind, 721 Warren Street, seeks items for its upcoming virtual auction, “Raise a Paw.” The event date has not yet been set.
AnimalKind plans an online auction to raise money for its rescue mission. They hope people will donate: services, art, vacation rentals, gift certificates, jewelry, antiques or any item that AnimalKind can sell at its auction. Contact: Loni.animalkindny@gmail.com for donations and questions.
Email AnimalKind at: info@animalkindny.org visit www.animalkindny.org or write to: AnimalKind, P.O. Box 902, Hudson 12534.
Freedom Ride postponed till fall
GREENPORT—The motorcycle run and chicken barbecue fundraiser to support veterans planned by Our Community Cares, Inc., for Saturday, May 9, has been postponed until fall.
Our Community Cares, Inc. is an approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by current IRS regulations. The mission of Our Community Cares, Inc. is to provide financial and emotional support to residents of Columbia County who are facing a hardship in their life or the life of a family member.
Find out more at http://ourcommunitycarescc.org/
St. Paul’s Strawberry Fest canceled
KINDERHOOK—St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sylvester Street, has canceled its Strawberry Festival scheduled in June due to the uncertainty of the Covid-19 crisis. After careful consideration, the organizing committee felt there was no simple way to follow safe social distancing guidelines at a festival like this one.
“The most important thing is the health and safety of our parishioners and the guests who attend the festival. We are praying that we will be back next year,” the church said in a press release.
Virtual Forestry Camp now in session
CLAVERACK—Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties’ 4H Youth Development Program takes youth into the forest in May.
Join youth from across New York State for five Saturday evening Zoom events. Youth ages 10+ can learn much about the forests that surround them. Sessions include a variety of learning opportunities including videos, scavenger hunts and live discussion with local environmental educators.
Youth who complete the entire series of activities, including the online polls and chats receive a free natural-resources related gift. There is no fee for this program.
Schedule: May 9, Introduction, 6:30 p.m.; May 16, Tree Identification, 6:30 p.m.; May 23, Map and Compass, 6:30 p.m.; May 30, Invasive Species and Pests, 6:30 p.m.; June 6, Forest Ecology, 6:30 p.m.
Youth ages 14+ who are interested trying out for a spot on the New York State Forestry Team, to compete at the National 4H Forestry Invitational, will be asked to complete more challenging learning tasks and to join their local 4H club program.
This is a perfect time of year for youth who live in and close to forested areas, including the Catskill, Berkshire and Green mountains, to learn more about the renewable resources of the forest environment such as forest products, water, outdoor recreation, wildlife, and selected grazing. They will come to understand the techniques of managing forested land that they or their family may own. Although they may never be forest landowners, as future adults, youth will learn to weigh and understand renewable resource management needs.
To register for one or several of the sessions contact Anna Harrod-McGrew, 4H natural environment educator, at ash252@cornell.edu.
To find out more about 4H and youth programs in Columbia and Greene counties contact 518-828-3346 or columbiagreene@cornell.edu or visit www.ccecolumbiagreene.org.
4H clubs continue community service tradition
CLAVERACK—National Volunteer Week, April 19 to 25, was the perfect time to recognize the good that young people do for their local communities.
Members of the 30 4H clubs throughout Columbia and Greene counties learned what it means to be good citizens, and they demonstrated what they learned via a variety of community service projects.
Community Bank (previously Kinderhook Bank) continued in 2019 as the sponsor of the annual 4H Club Community Service Award. The bank provides a monetary award to the top three 4H clubs. These awards were presented during 4H Achievement Night held this past winter.
The third place 4H Club was the Mountain Rangers in the East Chatham area. Its 12 members participated in a variety of service projects that reached out to animals and others in their community. They baked animal treats and crafted pet toys that were donated to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society. Cookies were baked for the Canaan Senior Center. Finally they sewed fleece hats that were donated to “Hatsgiving”.
The second place 4H Club is the Teen Ambassadors 4H Club. This club consists of 11 teens from throughout Columbia and Greene counties. Each December the club members bake cookies and create holiday decorations to give to the local Salvation Army soup kitchen. In the spring they clean their adopted road and help pack boxes at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY. Finally, they are joining with the Rocks 315 Project to paint collected rocks with inspiring pictures and words that are being hidden “in plain sight.” They can be picked up and kept or re-distributed by anyone who needs words of encouragement or support.
The first place 4H Club is the Bananas 4H Club centered in the Greenville area. This club’s eight members are active in their local community. The local meals-on-wheels and senior center were recipients of Indian corn pins and magnets. The local animal shelter received catnip mice a member sewed. Members continued to use their artistic skills by providing free face-painting at community events.
The 4H club program strives to support the growth of the whole young person. By involvement in club business meetings, as club officers, as teen leaders and other opportunities, youth grow to become actively involved in their own communities.
To find out more about 4H programs in Columbia and Greene Counties contact 518-828-3346 or Columbiagreene@cornell.edu or visit www.ccecolumbiagreene.org.
