Keeping Resolutions (Athens Library) Saturday, January 26, 2019 10:00 am - 11:30 am D. R. Evarts Library (80 Second Street Athens, NY 12015) Did you make some New Year’s resolutions?  How are you doing with keeping them?  More than half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions but less than 10 percent follow through on them. This free program will provide some tips on how to keep them and have a better chance of success.  We’ll look at what goes in to making resolutions realistic, reasonable and relevant so you can feel good about achieving the goals that you’ve set for yourself.Registration deadline: January 24To pre-register: online at: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/resolution2019_210 or by calling the library at 518-945-1417Presented by: Theresa Mayhew, Resource Educator Free Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Beginning Beekeeper Workshop Saturday, January 26, 2019 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Agroforestry Resource Center (6055 Route 23 Acra, New York 12405) Do you think you would like to be a beekeeper?   This is the opportunity you have been waiting for!Whether you are just thinking about it or already have a hive or two and want to learn more about over-wintering, pest control, honey harvesting, selling and using hive products, this short course is made for you.  We will cover necessary equipment, how to order bees, the cost, how to maintain a hive, and learn to identify problems. Winter is the perfect time to begin thinking about your beekeeping future, which could start this spring with your first hive. The planet needs more beekeepers like you and the honeybee is in trouble. The honeybee is essential to agriculture and is an important part of the environment.  This course will have something for everyone (including a honey tasting) no matter what your level. We will have plenty of time for questions, discussion and demonstrations.  Become familiar with the Catskill Mountain Beekeepers Club which started in 1996 with a handful of dedicated and experienced people and who now has over 100 member families who raise bees, teach others about beekeeping, and sell their hive products.Registration deadline: January 19Register on line https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Beekeeper2019_210 or call 518-622-9820 x100Presented by: Richard Ronconi, Catskill Mountain Beekeepers Club $10.00 per person Eileen Simpson, es693@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ext. 100 ========================================= Keeping Resolutions (Nassau Library) Monday, January 28, 2019 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Nassau Free Library (18 Church Street Nassau, NY 12123) Did you make some New Year’s resolutions? How are you doing with keeping them? More than half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions but less than 10 percent follow through on them. This free program will provide some tips on how to keep them and have a better chance of success. We’ll look at what goes in to making resolutions realistic, reasonable and relevant so you can feel good about achieving the goals that you’ve set for yourself.Registration deadline: January 26To pre-register: online at: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2resolution19_210 or by calling the library at 518-766-2715Presented by Theresa Mayhew, Resource Educator free Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Saturday, February 2, 2019 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Extension Education Center (479 Route 66 Hudson, New York 12534) Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training is designed to keep youth up to date on content related to industry standards and government regulation. Youth will explore the importance of bio security, animal well-being, food safety, and life skills. Youth will become certified through classroom and hands-on instructional settings. Our 4-H Livestock Fund will cover the cost for currently enrolled 4-H members as well as provide lunch for all youth who participate.If your child is not enrolled in 4-H, 4-H the cost is $10.00 per youth. This is a first-come, first-serve class that will only be accepting the first 25 youth ages 8 to 21so be sure to sign up quickly.  This class will be taught by Jennifer Schwab who is a certified trainer for YQCA.To learn more, visit http://yqca.org/.  To register and pay online, go to https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/YQCAtraining_210 or contact Emily at 518-828-3346 x209 or ew387@cornell.edu.  For more information, please contact Margaret M. Smith at 518-828-3346 x211 or mms426@cornell.edu.Registration deadline: January 20Ages: 8-21Snow day: Saturday, February 9 Free for enrolled 4-H members; $10.00 for non-4-H enrolled youth Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Identity Theft Prevention: Safeguarding Your Personal Information Saturday, February 9, 2019 10:00 am - 11:30 am D. R. Evarts Library (80 Second Street Athens, NY 12015) Identity thieves steal someone’s personal information in this country every 17 seconds.  Identity theft can cost you time, money, destroy your credit and ruin your good name.  Learn what you can do to protect yourself and your family from this pervasive and insidious crime.  This free workshop will cover how ID theft happens and what you can do to deter, detect and defend against it.  The program will also provide information on how to protect children from having their personal information stolen. Registration deadline: February 7To pre-register: online at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/IDTheftPrev19_210 or by calling the library at 518-945-1417Presented by: Theresa Mayhew, Resource Educator free Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Money Smart for Older Adults Monday, February 11, 2019 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Nassau Free Library (18 Church Street Nassau, NY 12123) The Money Smart for Older Adults Program raises awareness among older adults and their caregivers on how to prevent elder financial exploitation (frauds and scams) and encourages advance planning and informed financial decision-making. Money Smart for Older Adults was developed jointly by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Attendees will receive a Money Smart for Older Adults Resource Guide (one per household).Registration deadline: February 9To pre-register: online at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Moneysmart_210 or by calling the library at 518-766-2715Presenter: Theresa Mayhew, Cornell Cooperative Extension Resource Educator free Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Safe Sitter Program for Adolescents Tuesday, February 19, 2019 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Extension Education Center (479 Route 66 Hudson, New York 12534) The Safe Sitter Program gives young adolescents the skills to provide safe, nurturing care for children and to respond appropriately to medical emergencies. It also teaches introductory employment skills and important life skills. Topics that are covered include Babysitting as a Business, Success on the Job, Child Care Essentials, Safety for the Sitter, Injury Management, Preventing Problem Behavior, Care of Choking Infant and Care of Choking Child. Participants will also have hands-on mannequin practice of rescue skills and participate in small group interactive learning, role-playing and games to enhance the discussion topics.Those wishing to participate should register early as there are limited spots. *When the fee is received, a registration form and student contract will be sent to the participant to complete and bring to the session. The fee is all inclusive but the participants should bring a bag lunch and snacks. Contact Emily at 518-828-3346 x209 or ew387@cornell.edu with questions.To register: Register online and pay by credit card at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/safesitterFebruary2019_210or send a check payable to CCE (or drop off cash) to the Extension Education Center, 479 Rt. 66, Hudson, NY 12534. Include the name, address, phone number and age of the participant. Registration Deadline: February 13 $60.00 Prepayment required Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= 2019 Farming our Future Conference Saturday, February 23, 2019 8:00 am - 1:30 pm Taconic Hills Performing Arts Center/ Taconic Hills Central School (73 County Route 11A Craryville, New York 12521) The 2019 Farming Our Future Conference theme, “Enhancing Agricultural Literacy in the Community,” will address the importance of knowing where our food comes from, emphasize sustainability, best management practices, community engagement, land use and farming techniques. While Columbia County, Greene County and the Mid-Hudson Valley have a rich farming heritage, it is incumbent upon all of us to do what we can to preserve and strengthen our agricultural landscape so it’s here for generations to come.Jessica Ziehm, Executive Director of the New York Agriculture Animal Coalition, is the keynote speaker. Attendees will be able to attend a concurrent workshop session, visit with a variety of agriculture-related vendors and network with other participants. The conference is designed to attract a diverse audience from the community including established farmers, beginning farmers, interested non-farmers, suppliers, educators, community officials, industry leaders, and students. A nominal registration fee will cover the cost of providing breakfast, lunch and refreshments. For more information on the conference, contact steering committee members Steve Hadcock at seh11@cornell.edu or Sandra Gardner at sgardner@taconichills.k12.ny.us. $25.00 per person ========================================= 4-H Advanced Vet Science Club (5 sessions) Monday, March 4, 2019 5:45 pm - 9:00 pm Extension Education Center (479 Route 66 Hudson, New York 12534) This program will introduce you to the importance of animal health in a wide variety of species. You will get to hear from experts in the vet science field as well as engage in hands-on activities and learning.Our program will be held at the Extension Education Center, 479 Rt. 66, Hudson, NY, as well as the Rensselaer CCE Office in Troy, NY. Transportation will be provided. This is a first-come, first-served class.Youth will only be accepted who participated in Vet Science #1 OR youth 13-19. This class will only be open to 12 youth. The registration and payment of $20.00 is due by February 25.Mondays * except where notedMarch 4─Rensselaer County─Orientation, types of shots, skills test TPRs (leave Hudson at 5:50 pm)March 18─Necropsy (class starts at 6:30 pm in Hudson)March 25─ Rensselaer County─Vet/Farm Visit (leave Hudson at 5:50 pm)April 1st─Nutrition (class starts at 6:30 pm in Hudson)*Saturday, April 6─Cornell Vet School Open House, Cornell University, Ithaca (leaves Hudson at 5:30 am) $20.00 Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Seed Starting Workshop (Acra) Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Agroforestry Resource Center (6055 Route 23 Acra, New York 12405) This hands-on workshop will teach home gardeners to not only save money but also to grow a greater variety of plants for their gardens by starting seeds indoors.Topics covered will include techniques for starting seeds indoors, proper care, lighting and watering, and how to prepare your seedlings for transplant into your garden.Participants will receive a $5.00 coupon toward Spring Gardening Day on April 6, 2019 at Columbia-Greene Community College.Registration Deadline: March 7Register online or call 518-622-9820 x100. Presented by: Master Gardener Volunteers $20.00 per person (includes the materials) Eileen Simpson, es693@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ext. 100 ========================================= Seed Starting Workshop (Hudson) Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Extension Education Center (479 Route 66 Hudson, New York 12534) This hands-on workshop will teach home gardeners to not only save money but also to grow a greater variety of plants for their gardens by starting seeds indoors.Topics covered will include techniques for starting seeds indoors, proper care, lighting and watering, and how to prepare your seedlings for transplant into your garden.Participants will receive a $5.00 coupon toward Spring Gardening Day on April 6, 2019 at Columbia-Greene Community College.Registration Deadline: March 7On line registration: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/seedsstart2019_210 or call 518-828-3346 x 209 Presented by: Master Gardener Volunteers $20.00 per person (includes the materials) Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 ========================================= Maple Fest: Celebrating the Wonderful World of Maple Syrup Saturday, March 23, 2019 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Agroforestry Resource Center (6055 Route 23 Acra, New York 12405) Experience a taste of the “sweet world of maple sugaring” as part of the New York Maple weekend at CCE’s Agroforestry Resource Center.  The event will provide an opportunity to learn about sugar mapling procedures, including demonstrations in our own sugar shack, fun “maple syrup” taste testing, and displays of antique maple sugaring equipment.  There will be an opportunity to buy maple sugar products from several diligent local maple producers.  Delicious pancakes with pure maple syrup will also be available for sale in case you get hungry. For further information: Call 518-622-9820 x100 free Eileen Simpson, es693@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ext. 100 ========================================= Save the Date! Spring Gardening Day Saturday, April 6, 2019 8:30 am - 1:00 pm Columbia-Greene Community College (Student Center (cafeteria) 4400 Rt 23 Hudson, NY 12534) The Master Gardener Volunteers of CCE of Columbia and Greene Counties will be sponsoring their annual Spring Gardening Day on Saturday, April 6 at Columbia-Greene Community College. This year's event will include keynote speaker, Margaret Roach. Margaret is an author, and well-known, avid gardener and consultant residing in Columbia County. She was the first garden editor for Martha Stewart Living magazine and has authored two books on gardening. You can visit her website at AWaytoGarden.com .The day will also include a participant’s choice of a class topic in three different sessions relating to aspects of gardening. Some of the topics include: Reinventing Perennials, Designing Your Front Yard, Creating a Cutting Garden, Vegetable Gardening and many more.New this year, there will be a number of vendors selling their specialized garden items.Registration and fee for this annual event will be posted on our website page at the beginning of February www.ccecolumbiagreene.org/gardening. There will be a discounted rate for early registration. Space will be limited. variable Donna Peterson, dmp234@cornell.edu, 518-828-3346 ext.106 ========================================= 4-H Tractor Safety Program (3 classes) Monday, April 22, 2019 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Washington County Fairgrounds (392 Old Schuylerville Road Greenwich, New York 12834) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties 4-H would like to welcome all area youth (4-H and non 4-H) who are 14 years old and older to participate in the 2019 Capital District 4-H/HOSTA Tractor Safety Program at the Washington County Fairgrounds. This program is a great opportunity for youth who currently work on farms or around machinery, those who will be seeking employment on a farm, or anyone who would just like to learn more about farm and machinery safety. There is a mandatory meeting for parents and teens on Monday, March 25 at 5:30 PM at the Extension Education Center in Hudson.  For more information, contact Maggie at (518) 828-3346 x211.Open to all youth ages 14 and above. Register by March 15 online at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2019Tractor_210 or mail or drop off a check (made payable to CCE) or cash to the Extension Education Center, 479 Rt 66 Hudson NY 12534. $30 for 4-H members, $35 for non 4-H members Emily Warrington, ew387@cornell.edu, (518) 828-3346 ext. 209 =========================================