On Monday, December 10, CSSC will sponsor a complimentary evening outing to Capital Holiday Lights in the Park, a spectacular show with over 125 light displays and scenes shown throughout historic Washington Park in Albany. After we drive through the park, we will stop by the Lake House to enjoy all sorts of crafts, costumed characters, refreshments, and even Santa himself. The underwriting of this excursion is made possible by a grant secured by Albany County Legislator Peter Crouse. (Thank you Legislator Crouse!) CSSC shuttle buses will leave from The Beltrone Living Center at 5:30 p.m., returning at approximately 7:30 p.m. [...]

On Tuesday, December 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., please join CSSC staff for a cooking demonstration that will feature and celebrate the Christmas holiday. Christmas as we know it today is a Victorian invention of the 1860s. Probably the most celebrated holiday in the world, our modern Christmas is a product of hundreds of years of both secular and religious traditions. This cooking demonstration will discuss the origins of Christmas traditions from around the globe while sampling the delicious contributions of many cultures. The class will take place at King Thiel Senior Community, 17 Elks Lane, with a $5 [...]

The journey continues on Tuesday, December 18, as we visit another sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in downtown Albany. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church has served as an active center of worship for over three hundred years. A member of the Diocese of Albany, St. Peter’s existed before the formation of the Episcopal Church after the American Revolution. The Rev. Thomas Barclay came to Albany in 1704 with his primary ministry directed to the Iroquois tribes and the British garrison. Rev. Barclay soon oversaw the building of the first Anglican church in Albany and [...]

Do you have the Best Pet in the World? Enter CSSC’s Best Pet Contest and win a prize for your cherished pet. While we realize many people have special or unique pets, our contest is limited to dogs and cats. Pets play an important role in many people’s lives, especially older adults. Pets provide companionship, unconditional love, purpose to one’s life, security, and opportunities for social contact to name just a few benefits of pet ownership. Tell us why your pet is the Best Pet in the World. Pets will be judged in four categories and prizes will be awarded to [...]

Joe Anastasio, born in Sicily, gives us a pictorial reflection of his native island like no other. Using multimedia materials, his body of work shows a tremendous love and understanding of his island. Almost all of his works are painted on ceramic tiles, illustrating scenes of Sicily with its beautiful landscapes, its people, its villages, and most of all, the sea and the unforgettable sunsets. On Thursday, January 3, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., an opening reception of his exhibit will take place at The Beltrone Living Center. The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome [...]

The Pig is the twelfth of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. A pig represents luck, overall good fortune, wealth, honesty, general prosperity, symbolizing a hardworking, a peace-loving person, a truthful, generous, indulgent, patient, reliable, trusting, sincere, giving, sociable person with a large sense of humor and understanding. In celebration of Chinese New Year 2019, the Year of the Pig, on Friday January 11, 2019, please join Hui Zhou for a cooking demonstration on a Chinese dish, Sweet and Sour Shrimp (菠萝咕噜虾). Hui is a visiting scholar from China currently studying [...]

The journey continues on Thursday, January 17, as we visit another area sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in downtown Watervliet. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church is a magnificent church building established in 1906. It displays the Romanesque style of architecture designed by noted architects Bernhardt and Noack. Located at the junction of 4th Avenue and 24th Street, the church has a stunning architecture and speaks only of grandeur. The splendid design and intricate details are proof of the golden era to which it belonged. The CSSC shuttle bus will leave The Beltrone [...]

Please join us on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, for a hands-on art class 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 class will take place at King Thiel Senior Community, 17 Elks Lane, in Latham, with a fee of $5. To make a reservation, call Sharon Herald at 518-459-2857 ext. 302.

Colonie Senior Service Centers will be teaming up with Nexamp, a veteran-founded solar company, with their soon-to-open solar farm in Troy. CSSC’s share of the farm is small but will demonstrate our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and carbon footprint. Mark Your Calendar: Coffee, Cookies & Community Solar: Please join us on Tuesday, February 5, at 10 a.m., in The Beltrone Living Center’s Café for a talk on community-shared solar. Kelsey Fiori of Nexamp will give a brief presentation about their program. Community solar is an alternative to rooftop solar that homeowners and renters alike are eligible to participate in. [...]

There are only so many kinds of food people treasure. “Craved, savored and given as a symbol of one's love. Yet, so common it can be purchased for 50 cents. This treasured, as well as commonplace item is chocolate” (CNN, 1997). Americans eat up to twelve pounds of chocolate every year, but we are not the winners by far when it comes to chocolate consumption—that honor goes to the Swiss, who wolf down twenty-two pounds a year. It is hard to think of a Valentine's Day plan that does not involve food, specifically, dessert, even more specifically, a chocolate dessert. Join CSSC staff on Tuesday, February 12, from [...]

The journey continues on Wednesday, February 20, as we visit another area sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to St. Joseph Church in South Troy. St. Joseph Church, once referred to as the "Ironworker's Church," was founded May 2, 1847, by Fr. Peter Havermans. In 1848 the Church, serving a mostly Irish-American Community in South Troy, came under the care of Jesuits. The church building is Gothic, cruciform in shape, and erected in the basic style of the 13th century architecture. The Main Altar was built of purest statuary marble and onyx, upon which DeVinci’s Last Supper is carved in Italian Carrara marble. The Stations were imported from [...]

Roger Dames, CSSC’s Driver Fitness Coordinator, will conduct a Defensive Driving Class at The Beltrone Living Center on Thursday, February 28, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Cost is $25 per person, due before day of class. To reserve your seat, call 518-459-2857 ext. 303.

Eggs are laid by female animals of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and fish, and have been eaten by humans for thousands of years. The most commonly consumed eggs are chicken eggs. Egg yolks and whole eggs store significant amounts of protein and choline and are widely used in cookery. In fact, due to their protein content, the United States Department of Agriculture categorizes eggs as Meat. Join “self-taught chef” Joe LaCivita and Annie Metzger, proprietor of Laughing Earth Farm, on Thursday, February 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., as they explore the many ways to enjoy [...]

Summer and salads are a match made in culinary heaven. Summer salads—including pasta, potato, and fruit salad recipes filled with fresh ingredients such as bright berries, leafy greens, and creamy goat cheese—will be standouts at your backyard barbecues and warm-weather get-togethers. The recipes that will be presented at the class are so good, your guests will be coming back for a second serving! Just in time for the beginning of the season, on Thursday, May 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., come learn the art of summer salad making as we walk through the process by offering a variety of recipes and samples. [...]

Roger Dames, CSSC’s Driver Fitness Coordinator, will conduct a Defensive Driving Class at The Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany, as follows: Wednesday, June 5, 2019, and Thursday, June 6, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. NOTE: This is a two-part class; must attend both days from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost is $25 per person, due before day of class. To reserve your seat, call 518-459-2857 ext. 303.

Although it is often overshadowed by Independence Day, Flag Day is still an important part of our history. It serves as a symbol of independence and national unity. On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14. The day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. It is a day to get together with others and celebrate the American flag, its designers and the designers of our country. Please join us on Friday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we [...]

Please join us on Tuesday, June 18, as local multi-media artist Marjorie Ward offers a Handmade Greeting Card workshop. All supplies will be included (card stock, envelopes, decorative papers, embellishments, glue sticks, stickers and markers) so all you need to bring is your imagination. You can create as many cards as you want and even take home some extra supplies. A fee of $10 will be charged. The classes will be held in the Art Room of The Beltrone Living Center. We will be offering two separate sessions, the first from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The second from 12:30 p.m. [...]

The journey continues on Wednesday, June 19, as we visit another sacred space. Join Diane Conroy-LaCivita as she travels to America’s first Shaker settlement, which is located in the Town of Colonie near the Albany International Airport. The well-being of this significant historical site is overseen by the Shaker Heritage Society, a local non-profit. Preservation of the Church Family site and the remaining property within the Historic District is a primary objective of the Society. The Church Family site is the heart of the 770-acre Historic District. The property includes nine remaining Shaker buildings, herb garden, open fields, apple orchard, Ann [...]

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, June 20, 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.

Barbecue or barbeque is a cooking method, a style of food, and a name for a meal or gathering at which this style of food is cooked and served. Barbecuing is usually done outdoors by smoking the meat over wood or charcoal. Barbecue is practiced in many areas of the world. Barbecuing techniques include smoking, roasting,  baking, and grilling. The technique for which it is named involves cooking using smoke at low temperatures and long cooking times (several hours). Baking uses an oven to convection cook with moderate temperatures for an average cooking time of about an hour. Grilling is done over [...]

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is an American private college and culinary school specializing in culinary, baking, and pastry arts education. As part of a recently awarded grant, CSSC will be visiting the CIA in Hyde Park on Friday, June 28, for a guided tour followed by an optional lunch at Ristorante Caterina de’Medici. Space is limited. Through the grant, CSSC will cover the cost of transportation. To cover the cost of the tour, lunch, and tip for the driver, a fee of $55 will be charged to the attendees. The bus will be leaving The Beltrone Living Center at [...]

Libby Lee was a career art instructor and beloved teacher at Shaker High School. After she retired in 1983, she spent time volunteering at the Shaker Heritage Society and for the Friends of Pruyn House. The founder of the Friends of Pruyn House often asked Libby to help by sketching one of the buildings at the Pruyn House site. Libby’s sketches have been used over the past thirty-six years in letterhead, illustrations, as note paper, and in promotional materials. Her work mainly encompasses the use of watercolor. Libby was born and raised in Colonie, graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree [...]

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, July 11, 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.

Your list of top things to do in the Hudson Valley has to include a sightseeing cruise on the Hudson River! Enjoy clear views of historic Hudson River lighthouses, waterfront mansions, and other notable sites. Attendees will see some of this region’s most unique and fascinating locations on the Hudson River waterfront including: • The Rondout Lighthouse and the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse • The Wyndcliff Mansion • The Dinsmore • Wilderstein • The Vanderbilt Mansion • The Col. Oliver Hazard Payne Mansion • The Rosemont • Staatsburg Other highlights of the cruise include the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, the Esopus Meadows, and Mt. [...]

Eating local in New York can mean a lot of things—locally baked bread, locally grown produce, locally brewed beer. July is the perfect time of year to sample local and there is no better place than your local farmers’ market to purchase these delicacies. For example, you can find amazing produce that is tastier and healthier than anything found in a supermarket. You can meet the individuals who created the product and/or grew the produce. And you normally can experience the best “dog watching” around. Please join us on Wednesday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we cook and assemble [...]