Canajoharie

Oct. 6, 3 p.m. — The Blessing of the Animals will take place at Arkell Hall Gardens, 55 Montgomery St. House pets only. Animals are to be leashed or crated. For any questions contact Jeanne DeValve at (518) 673-3737. Rain date is Oct. 7.\

Oct. 6, 5-9 p.m. — A Harvest Festival will be held at the VanAlstyne Homestead, 42 Moyer St. There will be homemade soups, breads and cookies by Pizzeria Mercato, The Table, Gino’s, Dome49, the Elephant Bistro, Lisa’s Family Restaurant, Canajoharie Country Club, Ayres House and chef Michael Lapi. Music will be provided by Dick Solberg, the Sun Mountain Fiddler. There will also be a silent auction. Advanced tickets are $12. Tickets at the door will be $15. Call (518) 673-3066 for sale tickets or stop by Picture Perfect, 5 Erie Blvd, Canajoharie.

Oct. 17 — The Canajoharie Senior Citizens will hold a fall foliage bus and train trip to North Creek for lunch and visit the “Railroads on Parade” exhibit in North Creek. Cost for members is $46 and $51 for non-members. Contact Dorothy Frasier at (518) 673-5588 for information.

Oct. 26, 7 p.m. — A spooky Halloween Recital will be held at former Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Cliff St. The evening will feature scary organ and vocal works for All Hallows Eve. The event is free and open to all. For more information about the venue, visit: www.upstatechapel.com.

Arkell Center

Daily activities taking place at Arkell Center during the month of September 2012 will be as follows:

Monday through Friday — Noon meals are provided by the Meals of Montgomery Program (M.O.M.). Reservations are required by noon of the previous day. Call (518) 673-2000 or (518) 843-2300. Suggested donation is $3 for those 60 years of age or older.

Wednesday, 3-4 p.m. — Gentle Yoga for seniors will be held, with instructor, Gloria W. or Patty P.

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2-4 p.m. — Second Time Around Big Band practice will be held.

• Special Events

Sept. 28, 1 p.m. — A senior citizens club meeting will take place. Following the meeting at 1:30 p.m., the Attorney General’s Office will present a program on identity theft.

• Meetings

Sept. 27, 2-3 p.m. — The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group meeting will be held with Lisa Hubbard. This service is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY.

Sept. 28, 1 p.m. — The Canajoharie Senior Citizens meeting will be held, with programs to follow.

Fort Plain

Sept. 29, Noon-4 p.m. — AMVETS Post 2000 will be holding its 11th annual pork barbecue. Lunch will be served at noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. will be the pork barbecue. Ticket cost is $17 per person. New AMVETS members and children’s tickets are half price. The event will be held rain or shine. Activities will take place all day. The AMVETS Post 2000 is located on 990 State Highway 163, Fort Plain. This event is open to members and the public. For more information, call (518) 993-3676.

Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m. — The Band Anastazja will perform at Our Lady of Hope Church, 115 Reid St. Refreshments will be served during intermission. Ranging in age from 2-15, the children of The Band Anastazja thrive on their love of music. As a family, they have put together a wholesome musical experience with beautiful harmony and instruments such as the banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, ukelele and upright bass. Their show consists of bluegrass, folk, and traditional American music.

Weekly Events

Mondays, 7-8 p.m. — AA meeting will be held at the Fort Plain Senior Center. Call (518) 993-2031 for details.

Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m. — Fort Plain’s Mayor Guy Barton will hold a weekly “Meet With The Mayor” session at the Village Hall, 168 Canal St. During the weekly gathering, which members of the public are encouraged to attend, Mayor Barton will discuss the future of Fort Plain. He will also answer questions pertaining to the village.

Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. — The Lotus Center for Wellness and Self Care will be offering yoga sessions at 9 Center St. Call (518) 993-9904 for more information. The center is open Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. — The Lotus Center for Wellness and Self Care will be offering aerobic classes at 9 Center St. Call (518) 993-9904 for more information.

Tuesdays — The Fort Plain Senior Center will hold a Pitch Tournament. For more details call (518) 993-3432.

Tuesdays — AA group will once again be meeting at The Reformed Church in the Fellowship Hall at 7 p.m.

Every other Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. — The Fort Plain Senior Center holds a pinochle tournament with prizes, sandwiches, cake and ice cream. For those of you who do not know the game of pinochle, come in any week day morning and lessons will be available. More players are always welcome. The game is easy and fun. Call (518) 993-3432 for details.

Thursdays — The Fort Plain Senior Center will hold a Poker Tournament. For more details call (518) 993-3432.

Thursdays — The Fort Plain Senior Center will hold bingo and a soup and sandwich lunch. For more details call (518) 993-3432.

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. — Veteran employment representative at VFW Earl Stock Memorial Post 3275.

Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. — TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) Fast Track Support Group is now meeting at a new location which is the Reformed Church, 165 Canal St. For more information, please call Geri Raymond, (518) 673-2318 or Margaret Miller, (518) 673-5979.

2nd Thursday of each month the Fort Plain Community Activity Council will meet at the Village Hall at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

3rd Wednesday of each month the Fort Plain Autism Support Group will meet at the Fort Plain United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. For more information call (518) 993-4353.

Every Monday Thursday and Friday is baked goods, Fort Plain Fulmont Community Action Agency, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Please bring your own bags. People may sign up for Child Health Plus with Vicki Morgan every other Friday at the center by appointment only. Please call Vicki at 773-5419 for an appointment.

The Fort Plain Village Planning Board will hold its regular meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. — Preschool Story Hours at the Fort Plain Library. No registration is required for this free, drop-in event. For further information, please call the Fort Plain Free Library at (518) 993-4646 during regular library hours.

Saturdays/Sundays, 5 p.m. — Manna Meals served free of charge at Reformed Church, 165 Canal St. All welcome.

Saturdays — The Fort Plain Senior Center will hold art classes. The instructor will be A. Williams. Call (518) 993-3432 to sign up.

Nelliston

Weekly Events

Second Mondays, 7 p.m. — Nelliston Activities Council meeting at village office. All welcome.

St. Johnsville

Sept. 27, 1-6 p.m. — The Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District will host a Red Cross Blood Drive in the school gymnasium. The public is encouraged to participate. Contact Cheryl Brown at (518) 568-2014, Ext. 112, to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Sept. 29, 7-10 p.m. — A free colonial barn dance will be held at Fort Klock to celebrate the 50th year of being open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to wear period clothing or regular clothing. Music will be provided by Liaisons Plaisantes. Gary Aney will be the caller for this country dance, in a style similar to a square dance. For more information, call Fort Klock at (518) 568-7779.

Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. — A Defensive Driving Course will be held at the Community House located on 16 Washington St., St. Johnsville. The cost of the course is $17 for AARP members and $19 for non-members. If anyone is interested in attending contact Michael Weiner, instructor, at (315) 823-2423.

Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m. — Morris J. Edwards American Legion Post #168, St. Johnsville, will be holding their next regular meeting. Legion members should note the new start time. There will not be a September meeting. Anyone wishing further information is invited to contact Anthony Susi, commander, at (518) 568-3464.

Nov. 24 — The St. Johnsville Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a bus trip to the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. Trip includes bus transportation, tickets to show and time to shop or sight-see. Cost of the trip is $110. For further information call Carmen at (518) 727-6024 or Gail at (518) 706-0736.

Sept. 29, 10 a.m. — Local Author, newspaper columnist and radio personality Bob Cudmore, will speak at Margaret Reaney Memorial Library, St. Johnsville. Cudmore’s latest book titled “Stories from the Mohawk Valley: the Painted Rocks, the Good Benedict Arnold and More.” Included are tales about actor Kirk Douglas’s early life in Amsterdam, local railroads, the carpet and glove industries and mill town ethnic groups. Cudmore hosts the morning radio show on Lite 104.7 FM/1570 AM WVTL in Amsterdam and previously was the long tenured host of the “Contact” talk show on WGY radio in Albany. Anyone desiring further information is invited to contact library Director Dawn Lamphere at (518) 568-7822.

Weekly Events

Third Thursdays, 2-3 p.m. — A Caregiver Support Group will meet in the rehab kitchen at the St. Johnsville Rehab and Nursing Center, 7 Timmerman Ave., St. Johnsville. Contact Lisa Hubbard at (518) 568-5037, Ext. 226 for more information or e-mail lhubbard@stjrnc.com.

Stone Arabia

Oct. 7, 2 p.m. — The Valley Choralaires will perform the first concert of the season at the Stone Church on Route 10 north of Palatine Bridge in Stone Arabia. This concert is sponsored by the Stone Arabia Preservation Society. The Choralaires will share the stage with the Revisions Barbershop Quartet. Admission is free and The Preservation Society will furnish free home made refreshments. A free will offering will be accepted.