Paintings on view beginning Oct. 27

CANAJOHARIE — “From Giverny to the Brooklyn Bridge: American Impressionist Paintings from the Arkell Collections” opens at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie on Oct. 27.

This exhibition features eleven of the twelve paintings recently returned from the Fenimore Art Museum’s exhibition “American Impressionism: Paintings of Light and Life”, along with other treasures from the permanent collection.

Sun-dappled views of France and America by Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, Theodore Robinson, J. Alden Weir, and Edward Redfield are among the notable paintings in this exhibition.

American Impressionist paintings in this exhibition were purchased by Bartlett Arkell during the 1920s-1940s for his personal collection and for the Canajoharie Gallery. Arkell often reserved paintings of European subjects for his personal collection.

The works he collected for the public gallery embodied what Arkell wanted to share with the people of Canajoharie — uplifting and cheerful scenes of America’s unique architecture, people and landscape.

Commission to hold public meeting

CANAJOHARIE — Members of the Montgomery County Charter Commission, a group appointed by the Board of Supervisors to draft the proposed charter, will hold a local public meeting at the Town of Canajoharie Hall, 12 Mitchell St., Canajoharie, on Thursday, October 25, at 7 p.m.

Commission members will explain the history of the charter, the process of drafting it, and the problems they sought to address with it. Following the recitation, the members of the commission will take questions from the audience.

A meeting that took place at Amsterdam City Hall on October 17 has been videotaped, and footage of that meeting is available to view at: http://www.montgomerycountycharter.com/.

Driver education course to be held

CANAJOHARIE — A driver education pre-licensing course will be held at the Canajoharie High School Monday, Nov. 5, from 4 to 9 p.m. Pre-registration is required by sending a check or money order payable to Canajoharie Central School, c/o Pat Van Heusen, Canajoharie Central School, 136 Scholastic Way, Canajoharie, NY 13317.

This course fulfills the New York State law requiring proof of satisfactory completion of five hours of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction prior to the issuing of a license.

All persons enrolled must bring their learner’s permit. The fee for the course is $20.

Health, wellness expo is Oct. 27

CANAJOHARIE — The Canajoharie Health and Wellness Expo will take place Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Canajoharie High School. The event is a fundraiser for the Canajoharie High School Band. Adult admission is $7, $5 for students and seniors, free for kids age 3 and under. $20 family tickets are available.

The event will feature ZUMBA, yoga, dancing, step aerobics, kids dance, kids tumbling, boot camp for kids, circuit training, body fat analysis, blood pressure clinic, 5-minute massage, Herba Life, Chinese auction, 50/50, healthy refreshments, face painting, and a healthy cooking demonstration.

Child care is available.

Halloween recital at former church

CANAJOHARIE — A Halloween Recital will be held at former Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Canajoharie, on Friday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. The one-hour, family friendly recital will feature scary pipe organ music and musical works for All Hallows Eve.

Featured performers include the East Hill Chorus, directed by Sue Crua; Hallows Eve Singers; The Sentimentalists (Mohawk Valley Chorus); Norma Bowley, organ; Caitlin and Jordan Hurd, pianists; The Upper Catskills String Quartet; Mark Hitrick, piano; Naphtali Rothrock, organ; Carol Cechnicki, organ; and Eric M. Stroud, organ.

Attendees are welcomed to dress in costume. Light refreshments will be served. The former Sts. Peter and Paul Church is located at the corner of Cliff St. and Walnut St. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit: www.upstatechapel.com.

Tenth annual turkey trot is Nov. 24

CANAJOHARIE — On Saturday, Nov. 24, the 10th Annual Canajoharie Turkey Trot will be held at the Canajoharie High School.

The event features a 1.5 or 3 mile run/walk. Attendees will guess their finish time, and the person closest to the guessed time will win a cash prize.

Money will also be donated to the Canajoharie Community Youth Center, Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter and Girls on the Run. $10 entry fee.

Registration will be held from 8-9:45 a.m. The race begins at 10 a.m. Free food and raffles.

Sign up for CCE workshops Nov. 1

CANAJOHARIE — Cornell Cooperative Extension, 50 East Main St., master gardeners are gearing up for some informative hands-on workshops.

On Nov. 1, master gardener Jay Ephraim will lead participants through planting two pots of bulbs, learning to force them into bloom in February — just in time to cheer up your house in the middle of winter. Sign up soon because each class is limited to 10 participants.

November 29, master gardeners Mary Ann Charon and Joan Eckler will teach a workshop where participants will learn how to make a balsam fir wreath and a pinecone wreath to take home. This class is limited to 15 participants, but it is a popular class, so don’t wait to sign up.

Go to www.ccefm.com for more details.

Public invited to kick-off program

FORT PLAIN — Thanks to support from BlueShield of Northeastern New York, the Fort Plain Pacers walking program will resume starting with a kick-off event from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1. The event also features the re-opening of the fitness center at the Jr. / Sr. High school.

The kick-off event includes: A BlueShield company van in the parking lot a Jr. / Sr. High school by the gym; An Instructor holding an open house for fitness center; Tables with give-aways and informational packets; A possible raffle; and Tables for people to sign up for the Fitness Center (for $20 a month) and the Pacers program (a $5 one-time fee).

BlueShield also plans to offer a monthly program (which will be available to both members and non-members of the Fort Plain Pacers) including one on proper walking techniques in November and one on nutrition in January.

“The Fort Plain Pacers began in 2007 and unfortunately, we did not have the funding to continue it last year,” said Fort Plain Superintendent Douglas Burton. “We’re very excited we can continue this program with the help of BlueShield and ensure our residents will have options in the community to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

The Pacers — a year-round walking program at Harry Hoag Elementary School — will run from 4:30-7 p.m. each school day through March 30. The goal of the program is to help boost physical activity for local residents and offer safe and affordable walking options during the winter. BlueShield also plans to offer a schedule of wellness programs.

The fitness center at the Jr. / Sr. High School will be open from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on school days. It was opened as part of the district’s recent capital project and features circuit training equipment, free weights, cardiovascular equipment and training.

For details on the Pacers program or the fitness center, please contact the district office at (518) 993-4000.

Halloween stories: Fun, fright Oct. 27

FORT PLAIN — The Fort Plain Free Library and Story Circle Productions will present Halloween Stories: Fun and Fright on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. The event is free, fun for the whole family, and held at the Fort Plain Free Library. The featured storyteller will be Nancy Marie Payne.

Local Halloween event times posted

The Canajoharie Volunteer Fire Department will hold their annual Halloween parade Wednesday, Oct. 31. Parade line up is at 7 p.m. in the NBT Bank parking lot, Mohawk St., weather permitting. The parade will end at the Canajoharie Fire House, where the costume contest will be held upstairs. Refreshments will be served.

Canajoharie and Palatine Bridge Trick or Treat will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

On Oct. 31, beginning at 5:15 p.m., the Fort Plain Fire Department will host a parade starting at the Legion St. parking lot, marching to the fire house on Canal St. The village of Fort Plain will hold Trick or Treat from 6:30 to 8 p.m on Oct. 31.

Also on Oct. 31, beginning at 7 p.m., the St. Johnsville Volunteer Fire Department will hold their annual Halloween Costume Contest at the St. Johnsville Youth Center. Prizes will be awarded.

Trick or Treat in the village of St. Johnsville will take place from 5-7 p.m on Oct. 31.

MRML used book sale through Dec. 1

ST. JOHNSVILLE — Margaret Reaney Memorial Library, 19 Kingsbury Ave., is having a used book sale now through Dec. 1. Books may be purchased during regular library hours; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday and Friday evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

Anyone desiring further information is invited to call (518) 568-7822.

Town board to hold meeting workshop

ST. JOHNSVILLE — The Town of St. Johnsville Board will hold a special meeting and budget workshop on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Town Offices, 7431 State Highway 5, St. Johnsville.