The journey continues on Thursday, July 18, as we visit another sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to Siena College in Loudonville. Named after Bernardino of Siena, a 15th-century Italian Franciscan friar and preacher, Siena College was founded by the Order of Friars Minor in 1937. St. Bernardine of Siena Friary, which is located on campus, is home to twenty-three Franciscan friars many of whom serve as professors, administrators, and staff members. The Grotto at Siena College is modeled after the famous shrine in Lourdes, France, where, in the 19th century, the Blessed Mother appeared to a peasant 14-year-old girl who would [...]

We hope you have a big appetite. Sure, it's July. It is hot and humid. Cooking up a pan of lasagna would make the kitchen a lot hotter. However, the smell will waft. Your mouth will begin to water and when mealtime arrives, you will have a huge appetite for a big piece of lasagna. Lasagna is a favorite Italian dish. In between multiple layers of lasagna pasta are generous amounts of tomato sauce, cheeses, and sometimes hamburger and/or Italian sausage and/or possibly a variety of vegetables. It is the favorite Italian dish enjoyed by millions of Americans. It is best [...]

On Tuesday, August 6, Tom Gallagher from Cornell Cooperative Extension will be leading an outing for CSSC to Stanton’s Dairy Farm located in Coeymans Hollow (Albany County). Stanton’s Farm is a sixth generation family operated dairy farm. The Stantons milk 900 cows and raise 700 replacement heifers. Stanton’s Farm sells an average of 22 million pounds of milk a year (that’s 2,558,140 gallons of milk!) and farms about 2,600 acres total. The dairy uses technologically advanced modern techniques to keep cows comfortable and to produce high quality milk products. The Stantons consistently work to improve their land, the health and happiness [...]

The journey continues on Tuesday, August 13, as we visit another sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the mother church of the Diocese of Albany, which is located in the Mansion District of downtown Albany adjacent to the Empire State Plaza. A young Irish architect, Patrick Charles Keely (1816-1896), who emigrated to New York in 1842 at the age of 26, was tasked with designing and building Albany’s Cathedral. Built during the period of 1848 to 1852, the Catholic Church campaigned throughout the United States and the world to raise funds to [...]

Please join CSSC as we travel to the Rivers Casino in Schenectady for a Young at Heart 55+ Monday on Monday, August 19. This trip is open to individuals 55 years of age and older and will include: $25 worth of gaming tokens, a $10 lunch voucher for the “All You Can Eat Soup and Salad at Dukes,” musical entertainment at Van Slyck’s (starting at 2 p.m.), complimentary regular coffee or fountain drink at Villa Italia, and roundtrip transportation from The Beltrone Living Center in Colonie to Rivers Casino in Schenectady. The Premier Transportation bus will leave The Beltrone Living Center [...]

On June 10, CSSC hosted our very first Chefs in Motion: Culinary Tasting and Competition The Beltrone Living Center. Ten area restaurants/chefs participated and Field Notes, a pop-up farm-to-table restaurant located at Lansing’s Farm in Colonie, came away the judges’ favorite. Chefs Kyle MacPherson and Joan Porambo have agreed to do a cooking demonstration for the public at King Thiel Senior Community instructing attendees to better understand what goes into growing the produce we use every day, by not only cooking with it, but also by being a part of the process from beginning to end. Please join us on Wednesday, [...]

Roger Dames, CSSC’s Driver Fitness Coordinator, will conduct a Defensive Driving Class at The Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany, as follows: Thursday, August 22, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person, due before day of class. To reserve your seat, call 518-459-2857 ext. 303.

Join Colonie Senior Service Centers on Thursday, August 22, as we visit the Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs for a guided tour of the immaculate grounds and hear the history of the family and their home. The gardens are situated on lower and upper terraces divided by a pergola. The lower part is more formal and reflects Italian and French Renaissance influences. The upper part is a woodland rock garden, a style that came into fashion in the late nineteenth century. Presently, Yaddo is a retreat—a space for artists to stay and create. This trip will include a fair amount of [...]

Please join CSSC on Thursday, August 29, as we venture down to the Catskill Region of New York State to experience two historic sites, the historic homes of landscape painters, Thomas Cole and Frederick Church, in addition to a wonderful winery and a new bridge walkway across the Hudson River. Attendees will experience the same iconic views of the Hudson River Valley that inspired the landscape painters of Hudson River School, a 19th century American art movement. Their famous paintings typically depicted the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding area, including the Catskill, Adirondack, and White Mountains. Premiere Transportation will be [...]

From freshly made Chèvre to ripened Camembert-style cheeses and aged Cheddar, the annual Washington County Cheese Tour will delight palates and enthrall cheese lovers of every age. On Sunday, September 8, several creative farmstead cheese makers in Washington County will open their farms to the public. Participants will be driven through lush, rolling hills and bucolic countryside. The only prerequisite is an appetite and interest in learning about and sampling award-winning local cheeses and enjoying the changing colors of our famed maple trees. At each farm, (Argyle Cheese Farmer, Consider Bardwell Farm, Dancing Ewe Farm, and Moxie Ridge Farm), guests will sample [...]

Please join us on Tuesday, September 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., when Chef Kizzy Williams, owner of Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen on Clinton Avenue in Albany, will demonstrate some of the wonderful southern-style soul food dishes she is known for. Established in 2014, Allie B's is named for the late Allie Bee Bethea, native of South Carolina. In the 1960s, Allie Bee brought her unique recipes and style to Manhattan and began catering and selling food on the streets of Harlem. Her daughter, Kizzy, has transplanted both her mother's recipes and her unmatched customer service and business style to the Capital [...]

The journey continues on Thursday, September 12, as we visit another sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to the Albany Sarang Fellowship Korean Methodist Church. Located on 23rd Street in Watervliet, the congregation purchased the building, which was the former Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in the city’s old Italian neighborhood, from the Catholic diocese in 2010. The group will be meeting with English Pastor Joshua Kim and will be provided a tour of the repurposed church. Please wear comfortable shoes. The CSSC shuttle bus will leave from The Beltrone Living Center at 10 a.m. and return at approximately [...]

CarFit is a free educational program designed to help mature drivers learn how well they “fit” with their vehicles. A CarFit screening is performed by two trained technicians, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes to go over the vehicle with the driver and performed with the driver behind the wheel. A CarFit event will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at The Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany. Appointments are required. Please call 518-459-2857 ext. 303 to schedule an appointment. Event participation is free and all information is confidential.    

Please join us on Tuesday, September 17, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., for a hands-on art workshop instructed by local multi-media artist Marjorie Ward who will introduce attendees to the medium of alcohol inks. Alcohol inks are an acid-free, highly-pigmented, and fast drying medium used on non-porous surfaces. Mixing colors can create a vibrant marbled effect and the possibilities are limited only by what one is willing to try. The workshop will be held at The Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany, with a non-refundable fee of $10. Space is limited. To make a reservation, please call Sharon Herald at [...]

Lovin’ Mama farm is a certified organic, no-till farm located in the Hudson Valley region. They grow 250 varieties of specialty vegetables, herbs, and flowers on 1.5 acres, plus a greenhouse full of microgreens. Their intensive style allows them to produce high yields on a small space. They offer floral design service in the Capital Region and beyond using their farm-grown flowers. They are committed to feeding our community nutrient-dense, delicious, and beautiful food and flowers while tending the land in an ecologically responsible way. Please join us on Wednesday, September 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., as Proprietor Corine [...]

On Wednesday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m., Colonie Senior Service Centers will be teaming up with Chefs Kyle MacPherson and Joan Porambo of Field Notes for a small intimate fundraiser at their pop-up restaurant located at Lansing’s Farm on Lisha Kill Road in Colonie. Attendees will be tantalized with an incredible three-course meal featuring local produce and product as well as local wine and beer accompaniment. The majority of their ingredients are grown where you will be dining, on Lansing's Farm. Each course of the dinner will be served and explained by one of the two chefs. Proceeds from this evening [...]

Friday, September 27, 2019 11:30 a.m. – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrate the newly renovated first floor public space of The Beltrone Living Center. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. – Lunchtime Panel Discussion “Celebrating CSSC’s Centenarians” Enjoy lunch and a panel discussion with our centenarians, Janet Covais, Louis A. Dobek, Marion Ferraro, Grace Freer, and Winifred Sheehan, hosted by Paul Grondahl. Hear their views on the changes they have seen, the historical events they have witnessed, perhaps even their secret to a long life. 1 p.m. – Entertainment, Wine and Cheese Reception Tours of the newly renovated space will be available and [...]

Originally from Troy, Pat has called King Thiel Senior Community her home for the last year. Her medium is photography, which she thoroughly enjoys because she is “making memories for other people.” Prior to being a hobby, Pat spent fifteen years as a wedding photographer. Her favorite subjects to photograph are horses and children. Some of her photos will be available for sale. On Thursday, October 3, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., an opening reception of Pat’s exhibit will take place at The Beltrone Living Center. The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to see [...]

October became known as Pork Month because it marked the time of year when hogs were traditionally marketed. Today, it serves as a celebration to thank pork producers and share their stories with consumers. Pork is the world’s most widely eaten meat representing 42 percent of the meat consumed, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Some 81 percent of the population consumes pork in-home at least once in an average two-week period. The top five most popular pork products include ham, sausage, bacon, lunchmeat (excluding ham) and pork chops. Join Evan Taylor proprietor of Meadow Rise Farm on Tuesday, October 8, [...]

On Wednesday, October 9, please join Diane Conroy-LaCivita for a special breakfast outing to Field Notes, a pop-up farm-to-table restaurant located at Lansing’s Farm in Colonie. Attendees will be able to order à la carte items from their fabulous breakfast menu. This is a meal you do not want to miss. CSSC Transportation Services will provide transportation from Sheehy Manor, King Thiel Senior Community, and The Beltrone Living Center. To reserve a ride, please call Transportation Services at 518-459-6064. The bus will leave The Beltrone Living Center at 9 a.m. and will return at approximately 11 a.m. Please call Sharon Herald at [...]

Roger Dames, CSSC’s Driver Fitness Coordinator, will conduct a Defensive Driving Class as follows: Thursday, October 10, 2019 Class will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany, NY. Cost is $25 per person, due before day of class. To reserve your seat, call 518-459-2857, ext. 303.    

CSSC will host a Fall RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) Volunteer Opportunity Fair at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady on Thursday, October 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is not necessary to be a Schenectady resident to volunteer. Join us to learn about participating in RSVP and meet face-to-face with Capital Region non-profits to discuss volunteer opportunities and how you can use your time and talents to help the community. Admission is free and food trucks will be on hand. For more information, contact Marisa Geraghty at 518-459-2857 ext. 308 or mgeraghty@colonieseniors.org.

Anyone in the business of serving pizza probably does not need to be reminded that October is National Pizza Month in the United States. While the contribution of the first pizzerias in this country cannot be ignored, it was really the returning American soldiers who fought in Italy during World War II that brought a hunger for pizza home with them and pushed its popularity over the top. America's love of pizza continued to grow and now October is the official National Pizza Month across most of North America. People do not really need a special month for pizza in a [...]