Canajoharie

Nov. 24, 10 a.m. — The 10th Annual Turkey Trot will be held at the Canajoharie Fitness Center, located in the Canajoharie High School. The event will feature a 1.5 or 3 mile run/walk. The person who accurately guesses their own time wins a pot of money. The other half will be donated to the Canajoharie Community Youth Center, Ayres Animal Shelter and Girls on the Run. There is a $10 entry fee. Registration takes place between 8-9:45 a.m., and the run will begin at 10 a.m. There will be free refreshments and raffle items to bid on.

Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — The annual Holiday Tea and Fine Craft Fair will be held at the Van Alstyne Homestead, 42 Moyer St. There will be tea seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tea seating tickets are $12 for members, $15 for non-members. It will feature teas, coffees, homemade sandwiches, sweets and savories. The Fine Craft Fair, featuring timeless and seasonal works by regional artisans, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Call (518) 673-3066 for more information.

Dec. 2, 2-6 p.m. — St. John’s-St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 143 Church St., Canajoharie will hold a fundraising spaghetti supper. Served will be spaghetti and meatballs (with sauce and meatballs made by Ripepi’s Restaurant, St. Johnsville), salad, roll, drink and dessert. Take out is available. Tickets are $8. The proceeds of the event will be put toward St. john’s-St. Mark’s Medical Mission to Guatemala. The event will also feature a special performance by Stone Soup. Admission just to see Stone Soup (which does not include dinner) is $5.

Dec. 7, 4:30 p.m. — The Canajoharie Palatine Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Elves Night out celebration takes place. The popular annual event will usher in the holiday season in Canajoharie and Palatine Bridge, featuring a visit by Santa Claus, horse drawn carriage rides and caroling in the village green. The streets will also be overrun with elves. At 4:30 p.m., Santa will arrive at the Canajoharie Post Office to receive letters from children. The event will also feature the new “Ringing of the Bells for the Elves”, wherein many of the historic buildings and churches in the area will participate in a synchronized chiming of their bells and carillons.  

Starting with a proclamation by Canajoharie Central School District Superintendent Deborah Grimshaw and Eric Trahan at 5:30 p.m. the sound of bells will begin at the Village Park Christmas Tree, with the chiming moving from one church or building to the next along both sides of the river. A different bell will be heard every 30 seconds for about 10 minutes during this part of the evening.

Dec. 9, 3 p.m. — The Valley Choralaires, under the direction of Alison Wallace, will be presenting their annual Christmas concert at the United Methodist Church, East Main St., Canajoharie. They will be accompanied by Janet Shuster on the piano. There will be no charge for admission or refreshments, but a free will offering will be accepted. Convenient parking is available in the parking lot on East Main St. across from the church.

Arkell Center

Daily activities taking place at Arkell Center during the month of November 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.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:15-11 a.m. — Senior’s Exercise Program will take place with Bob Smith.

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

• Special Events

Nov. 27, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — A blood pressure clinic will be held with Home Health Care Partners Corp. co-sponsored by St. Mary’s Hospital and Nathan Littauer Hospital. In addition to conducting the blood pressure clinic, the Home Health Care Partners Corp., also provides health and wellness information.

• Meetings

Nov. 29, 2-3 p.m. — The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group meeting will take place with Lisa Hubbard. This service is sponsored by the Alzheimers Assoc. of Northeastern NY.

Nov. 30, 1 p.m. — The Canajoharie Senior Citizens meeting will take place.

Fort Plain

Dec. 1, 4-8 p.m. — Fort Plain Museum will hold a holiday celebration. The event will feature live colonial music, artisans, crafters, and sutlers, along with an assortment of food and drinks. The Liaisons Plaisantes will provide Live Colonial Christmas Music, and have copies of their Christmas CD for sale. Authors Wayne Lenig and Joyce Berry will be signing copies of their local history books, and both will share stories. R.J. Butternut Sutlers will provide 18 century civilian and military reproductions, accoutrements, clothes and weaponry and Pumpkin Hill Hand Crafts will provide tin ware and handmade quilted items. New items have also been added to the gift shop, including the just released book “Reporting the Revolution”.

Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m. — The Fort Plain Community Activity Council will host the annual visit from Santa Claus. The event will begin with caroling in Haslett Park, where Santa will arrive on a Fort Plain Volunteer Fire Department truck. From there, Santa will travel to the United Methodist Church, where refreshments and gifts will be provided.

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, 8:30 a.m. — Fort Plain Central School District Superintendent Douglas C. Burton will hold a coffee hour in the district office throughout the school year. Residents will be able to ask questions or find out more about the district. For more information, please call the district office at (518) 993-4000.

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

Nov. 28, 7 p.m. — The Valley Alliance Church, State Highway 5 east of Nelliston, will hold a Healing Service. Pastor Dave Prahst will be speaking on “Healing and Salvation”. Individual prayer healing will be offered.

Weekly Events

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

Palatine Bridge

Nov. 23-Dec. 10 — Visit Ace Hardware in Palatine Bridge to see Canajoharie and Palatine Bridge depicted in a gingerbread house display. Business owners will be creating sweet replicas of their businesses and buildings, which will be set up in an accurate representation of the layout of the villages. The Christmas village will be on display beginning on Black Friday, November 23 and will remain at Ace Hardware through December 10.

St. Johnsville

Nov. 22 — 12 Noon-3 p.m. — The Flander Family will host their annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the H.C. Smith Benefit Club, Crum Creek Road, St. Johnsville. The event is held in memory of Flander family matriarch Kathy Flander, who started it many years ago at the Fort Plain Senior Center. The free dinner is served family style. Deliveries are available. If you, or anybody you know, would like a home-cooked meal delivered, contact Patrick Flander at (518) 332-3019, and provide him a name, address, and how many meals you need.

Nov. 23, 6-10 p.m. — Cosmos Bar and Grill, 17 West Main St., will be hosting a Black Friday celebration with dinner, music and dancing. Linda Terricola, with Eclectic Songs, will be the master of ceremonies and disc jockey spinning your favorite tunes from the 60’s through today’s top billboard hits. For further information, or any questions, contact Linda Terricola at 883-3911 or visit www.eclecticsongs.com.

Nov. 30, 5 p.m. — The St. Johnsville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Christmas raffle and tickets will be sold at NBT Bank. On Nov. 30, at 5 p.m. the American Legion will be sponsoring a chili dinner. The menu will consist of varieties of chili, tossed salad and bread for $3. Raffle tickets will be sold at this event and the winners will be announced after dinner.

Dec. 2, Noon-3:30 p.m. — St. Nicholas Day will be held at Fort Klock, St. Johnsville. This tradition was brought to America by the early Dutch and Palatine German settlers. It is a prelude to the holiday season and a special day for children. Bundle up your family and come to celebrate this rich heritage with St. Nicholas. There will be warm fires, spiced cider, hot chocolate, cookies and gingerbread, along with a storyteller, colonial music and militia drills. St. Nicholas will have a wooden ornament for each child. Contact Fort Klock at (518) 568-7779 for more information.

Dec. 2, 5 p.m. — The St. Johnsville Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the village tree lighting. This event will take place in the lot next to the American Legion. There will be wagon rides, a bon fire, S’mores, Christmas carols and Santa. Dawn Lamphere, St. Johnsville librarian, will be telling a Christmas story. Refreshments will be served at the American Legion.

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.