Anticipation

     Good news! Filing your income taxes isn't the only thing you have to look forward to. In this post I'm sharing a few upcoming events that might be of interest. Remember, you can always click on any of the organizations in my 'Web Wash' sidebar to review their calendars. There's also the 'Wash When' list. I try to update it when I hear about something but it's not always timely and certainly not comprehensive. Cows and crops take precedence, with 'Wash Wild' getting a few leftover minutes. Alas, in blogs, as in most things, you get what you pay for.

     The Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show and Sale is a fun annual event at the New York State Museum in Albany. In 2018 it's on February 24 and 25, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm on the 4th floor terrace with $5 admission. For more info call 

518-474-8774.

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     This years Winter Raptor Fest will be on May 19 & 20, a Saturday and Sunday at the Washington County Fairgrounds between Greenwich and Schuylerville. The Friends of the IBA also have outings to the grasslands planned for Saturday, February 17 at 3:00 pm (call 518-677-3350) and Saturday, March 17 at 4:00pm.

     -Also look for early evening owl walks in late winter when the birds are mating. The Pember Museum in Granville, Merck Forest in Rupert, Vermont and the Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Saratoga County usually schedule events this time of year. Check their sites or give them a call for details.

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     The 39th annual Salem April Fools Race fools us by running on Saturday, March 31 this year. The races at Salem were always my incentive to transition from X-C skiing to running as spring approached. I remember the 6.2 mile course as classic Washington County - out past the Evergreen Cemetery, thru farm land, across Black Creek and then back, with just enough hills (or too many if you hadn't trained enough). I like that the April Fools has stayed true to its roots, locally organized and affordable in an era of increasingly commercialized and expensive events. And I still have some of their great T shirts from years past. 10K goes at 9am, 1 mile kids run at 10 and 5K at 10:30 - all from in back of the school.

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     Sugar season is almost here with Maple Open House Weekends scheduled for March 17-18 & 24-25. Check here for details. You can do a dirt road training run for the April Fools Race then reward yourself with pancakes and maple syrup!

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     Barry Targan is showing his works of "Containment" at the 
Valley Artisan's Market in Cambridge until March 13. Barry is an educator, writer and artist with a long connection to the area. In his short story 'The Garden' , set on Christie Road in the Town of Greenwich, you can feel the affection he has for both his characters and the place where they live. Barry's also leading a book discussion group at the Greenwich Library. I believe they were reading Elizabeth Strout's Anything is Possible. Call the library for details.

Screen shot of several artworks by Barry Targan from VAM site

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      SUNY Adirondack has many interesting continuing education courses this spring. For full details you can visit their website. A few with a Washington County/outdoor focus include:

     -  Several courses on using lavender taught at Lavenlair Farm in Whitehall.

     - Courses on beekeeping, composting, orchard work and logging.

     - Summer archaeology field school on Rogers Island with David Starbuck.

Rogers Island Monument

     - A cemetery preservation workshop.

     - R. Paul McCarty speaking on 'Jane  McCrea: Fact, Myth and Legend' Tuesday, May 8 at 10am.

     - Tours to: -Skene Manor, Whitehall on Friday, April 20.

                       -New Skete Monasteries, Cambridge on Friday,   

                         May 11.

                       -Coal silos, feeder canal and Five Combines,

                        Hudson Falls on Wednesday, April 18.

                       -Rogers Island, Fort Edward on Wednesday, 

                        April 25.

                       -Jane McCrea sites in Fort Edward on Wednesday,

                        May 16.

                       

Five Combines

New Skete

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From the Tour of the Battenkill website

     This spring's Tour of the Battenkill bike race will be on Saturday, April 28. Starting from the Washington County Fairgrounds, two  courses - one of 75 miles and one of 40 miles - loop out thru the hills. Maps and more info here.

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     Finally, for the geology obsessed (yeah, my hand is raised) this fall features a special event. The New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference and the New York State Geological Association will be having a joint meeting in Lake George on the weekend of October 5 - 7. Details are sketchy but I believe Castleton University is hosting which probably means Helen Mango and/or Timothy Grover are organizing. These aren't your typical listen to speakers blab, blab, blab all day meetings. Rather, they are three days of wide ranging field trips. Non-stop rocks in Vermont, the Adirondacks and surroundings. It's a rare opportunity to be out there with professional geologists as they expound on their latest research, just inches from the outcrops. The organizers always publish a meeting guidebook but there's nothing like being there. 

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     Hope you find something that sparks anticipation in the listed events. In the meantime here's a link to a Carly Simon song you might enjoy.