The snow leaves amazing traces of the animals who have passed by!

Join CLC to learn more about winter tracking with Dan Yacobellis of Tamakoce Wilderness Programs for a guided exploration of the Taghkanic Community Forest. The specific land we’ll be trekking is considered a “pinch point,” meaning that animals searching for undisturbed land often travel through this area. In the past, signs of bears, otters, and bobcats have been found here!

The Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History, in collaboration with the Hudson Area Library, hosts this in-person presentation with Professor Rosenblatt on the Zenger trial. The landmark 1735 trial of New York printer John Peter Zenger, which acquitted him for seditious libel in publishing articles critical of New York’s colonial governor, established the power of a jury to function as a check on government power and inspired the movement for freedom of the press later enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Its importance today is as great as it was in the eighteenth century.

January 24, 2026, from 10:30 am until 12:00 pm at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting in Hudson, NY: Weird Science with Professor Sparks! All activities are open to the public and will be indoors. Free admission to the Museum will also be offered to all who attend this special event. Reservations are not required for this event. Visit our website for more information.

A winter walk with the Preserve's new Stewardship Coordinator, Abigail Higgins. Abby is a forest ecologist with a deep connection to the forests of our region. Come learn from her about the trees that make up our beautiful forests.

Turn out on Thursday, January 29 at 7pm Upstairs at the Avalon Lounge for the next edition of “Breaking the Algorithm IRL"! This month’s event features a discussion with Kingston-based musician Ginger Winn and a DJ set by Red Swan of "Grandmaster Star Radio." Entry by donation. See you there!

"Breaking the Algorithm IRL" is a monthly series presented by Wave Farm’s WGXC 90.7-FM as part of our Local Waves initiative and the show "Local Waves in Conversation." Part conversation led by Mike Amari of Chosen Family and part DJ set by a WGXC volunteer, the series highlights local artists, musicians, venue owners and bookers, and record label owners.

Teen Intro to Stage Acting is an eight-week theatre and improv class for ages 13–17 at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill. Designed for beginners and the creatively curious alike, the class introduces students to theatre games, improvisation, ensemble work, and foundational acting skills in a fun, low-pressure environment.Taught by Timothy Dunn, Associate Artistic Director of Bridge Street Theatre, the class emphasizes confidence, collaboration, and creative risk-taking. Students will explore storytelling, character, listening, and physical expression while learning how actors work together to build scenes and performances.

The focus is not on auditions or competition, but on play, curiosity, and discovering the joy of working as part of a creative ensemble. Runs Saturdays from January 31 through March 21, 10:30 am–1:30 pm.

More information and registration at https://bridgestreettheatre.thundertix.com/orders/new?performance_id=3207345

Winter fun for the whole family! Festivities include an artisan market, educational demonstrations, s’more making, snowshoeing, and sledding (weather permitting).

Artist Maryna Bilak and her husband (and sous chef!) Maurice Haughton host this Ukrainian cooking demonstration, where they will be making traditional Varenyky and Vinegret Salad for all to taste! Varenyky are traditional Ukrainian stuffed dumplings, similar to Polish pierogi, made from dough, filled with potatoes, boiled until they float, and served with cheese sauce and fried onions. They are a beloved comfort food, considered a national dish, often prepared for special occasions and holidays. Vinegret is one of the most popular salads in Ukraine, made from diced, cooked root vegetables mixed with sauerkraut, dressed simply with sunflower oil. Despite its name, which comes from the French “vinaigrette,” it’s typically dressed with oil rather than vinegar. This vibrant, earthy salad is a staple in Slavic cuisine, served as a side dish or appetizer, especially during holidays. Hudson Area Library Community Room.

Shaker Museum hosts an evening presentation on the life of Mother Ann Lee, founder of American Shakerism. While women held little stature in 18th-century England, a young woman named Ann Lee came to prominence as a spiritual leader in a movement that came to be known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, more commonly called Shakers. Using the recent film The Testament of Ann Lee as a starting point, Collections Manager Sharon Duane Koomler will provide a short, illustrated presentation and show several objects from the collection connected with Mother Ann.

It’s time for the Great Backyard Bird Count! CLC and the Alan Devoe Bird Club host a morning of learning new birding skills and contributing to community science.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online community science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Now, more than 160,000 people worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.

Amelia C. Williams' celebrates their latest immersive installation "flowers." with an afternoon of art, music, beauty, and wine at FACE Stockholm in Hudson, NY on February 14, 1–5 PM.

"flowers." turns FACE into a mini 'flower' shop within the space, featuring a curated selection of art available for purchase — including an in-store-only collaborative makeup bag with FACE Stockholm, along with gift items such as hand-painted wrapping paper and matchbooks, transportable paintings, mixed-media works, one-of-a-kind fashion, and special event-only pieces.

FACE Stockholm will host a *complimentary* shimmer bar to give you a touch of sparkle with their eye dust and galaxy glitter. Enhance the immersive experience with a guided sensory tasting hosted by Shattered Wines. Each tasting begins at the top of the hour, creating a relaxed, approachable experience that remains informative and thoughtfully complementing the artwork.

A pop-up photographic installation will also be on view, offering guests a moment to directly engage with the space and document the experience.

Actually, it's not so secret! Animals communicate through a variety of sights, sounds and smells with all their neighbors. Aside from that, they leave unintentional signs of their presence everywhere you turn. Dan is a level 3 certified tracker who has spent over three decades learning to understand much of this hidden language. Come see what the tracker sees when walking through the woods. You'll be surprised how many "secrets" you can learn and take home with you on a simple 3 hour walk. And it's lots of fun too! Tracking is a slow moving activity. We will be stopping frequently to question and talk about what we are seeing. Recommended dress: layers for a typical, 3 hour casual walk then add 2 layers. Hand and feet warmers are excellent to take the sting off of cold toes and finger tips.

Rapidly warming temperatures mean that native species will move hundreds of miles in the coming decades just to support their environment. Our gardens can help native species shift their ranges and adapt to climate change. Plants that grow in a new environment can also develop invasive characteristics. Insect and plant life can make our current plant life vulnerable as they are not adapted to the invading species. Native plantings today seed ecosystems of the future.Registration: To register and receive each Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com

As an integral part of Maryna Balik’s exhibition “Wildflower Riviera: Celebrating the Hudson Valley’s Flora” she will host two hands-on painting workshops, demonstrating the oldest known painting technique – fresco. Participants will learn how to create their own artwork inspired by the wild plants of the Hudson Valley. Fresco methods incorporate organic ingredients such as sand, limestone, and pigments sourced from the environment. All materials provided.

Dates/Times:
Wednesdays, February 18, 5:30 – 7:30pm and
Wednesday, February 25, 5:30 – 7:30pm

Each of these workshops is a separate, stand-alone opportunity. Registrants may participate in only one or the other.

Location: Hudson Area Library Community Room

Registration: Email programs@hudsonarealibrary.org or call 518-828-1792 x101

Community Conversations is an opportunity to join local experts and community members virtually. This program series addresses important issues, from affordable farmland to building a community forest, and explores how they connect to conservation. One-hour Zoom sessions will include brief presentations, time for questions and answers, and the opportunity to connect with others.

This month, we will explore how communities and conservation organizations can work together to care for land.

WGXC 15th Birthday Party!
Celebrate 15 years of community FM radio with us and our neighbors in the Village of Catskill

Catskill Extravaganza Itinerary:
5pm-7pm: Soup Night at Left Bank Ciders, with DJ sets by Michael Hams (host of The Birthday Show, Balance Check) and Maria Manhattan (host of The Hudson Café), and the Thursday Afternoon Show live with Selha G and Tommy D
7pm-9pm: Breaking the Algorithm IRL at the Avalon Lounge, DJ set by Neva Wartell (host of Music for the Masses) and taping of Local Waves in Conversation with guest Galen Joseph-Hunter
9pm: Live Broadcast/Performance at the WGXC Catskill Studio
10pm: Nightcap at Hemlock, with specialty radio cocktail