Please check out the district’s community page for local events, workshops, and activities below.
If you have a local community program/event/activity to share, please send your flyer to rturetsky@berlincentral.org.

Community Event!
Where: Petersburgh Veteran’s Memorial Hall
When: Wednesday, Feb 18th, 1 pm – 3 pm
Grades K-5
RSVP: jbuzerak@icloud.com
Also, sign up at the Petersburgh Library

Notice from BCSD Student Assistance Counselor/Rensselaer County Mental Health Prevention Services, Ms. Davner: Please find a flyer below regarding a SNAP Informational Session on February 19th. More details are on the attached flyer.

Noteworthy Resources’ January 2026 Newsletter

“We are high school seniors hoping to build connections with seniors in our community, helping them with yard care and miscellaneous tasks, and most importantly, bridging generations to create strong connections between Mountaineer students and senior citizens in our community.” -BHS Seniors For Seniors

Berlin High School Senior Mountaineers Valentina Popov, Norah Smerdon, MacKenzie Lowell, and Emma Duncan are excited to announce a senior community service initiative called Seniors for Seniors.

Recently, the Seniors for Seniors group met with Superintendent Mr. Rizzo, retired BCSD teacher and senior citizen advocate Mrs. DeMagistris, and active community volunteer, retired teacher and senior citizen Mrs. Hovland to discuss their ideas and receive feedback on their new initiative, with the hope of sustaining it for years to come.

Mr. Rizzo, Mrs. DeMagistris, and Mrs. Hovland were very impressed by the Seniors for Seniors organization and focus and look forward to partnering with the students to make the program a success.

BHS Seniors for Seniors announced their program and handed out flyers at the Grafton Senior Center recently during their holiday music performance.

BHS Seniors for Seniors is looking for your support to spread the word. If you have questions or are interested in being part of this new initiative, please reach out to berlinseniors4seniors@gmail.com.

Thank you to BHS Social Studies teacher Mr. Viner for helping to engage and inspire Mountaineer seniors in the community, which is part of the Civic Seal of Readiness Pathway.

Notice from the BMHS Counseling Department:
Monday Parent and Caregiver Open Support Groups
Charlie Health Family Programming invites you to our free open Family Support Groups.
Free and open to the public.
Please use the QR code on the flyer below to register for groups.

Notice from the BMHS Counseling Office: Virtual Group Program for Parents of Infants and Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

An Early Start Denver Model-based virtual group program is being offered at no cost through the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany. This group program provides parents with training and tools to promote their very young children’s social and
communicative development. The program includes small-group
instruction to help parents learn real-world skills that will help them
interact with their infants/toddlers in a way that has been shown to
elicit social and communicative behaviors. Participants are asked to
complete pre/post assessments in order for us to evaluate the
effectiveness of this program.
If interested in being a part of this program, please complete this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RX3ZLLP

News & Events from our Local Libraries

Berlin Free Town Library:

https://www.bftl.org/

Library Hours
Monday 10 am – 2 pm
Tuesday 2 pm – 6 pm
Wednesday 1 pm – 5 pm
Thursday 2 pm – 6 pm
Friday 1 pm – 5 pm
Saturday- Temporarily Closed
Sunday- Closed

Grafton Community Library:

https://www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org/

Library Hours
Monday- Tuesday: 1 pm – 6 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 1 pm
Thursday, Friday: 1 pm – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 1 pm
Sunday: Closed

Petersburgh Library:

https://www.petersburghpubliclibrary.org/

Library Hours:
Monday 2 pm – 6 pm
Tuesday 2 pm – 6 pm
Wednesday 2 pm – 7 pm
Thursday 2 pm – 6 pm
Friday 2 pm – 6 pm
Saturday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Sunday Closed

Poestenkill Library

https://www.poestenkilllibrary.org/

Library Hours
Monday – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Tuesday – 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday – 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday – 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Saturday – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Stephentown Memorial Library:

https://www.stephentownlibrary.org/

Library Hours
Monday – Thursday 12-6 pm
Friday 12-5 pm
Saturday 10-2 pm
Sunday (Closed)

Cornell Cooperative Extension Presents Social Media & Mental Health in Youth at St. Catherine’s Connections to Care Family Opportunity Center.
Lunch will be provided! Please see flyer below and attached.
Registration: mkd59@cornell.edu | 518-598 -9937

Caregiver Coaching through Bright Start Connect

Notice from the BMHS Counseling Staff – Youth Drop-In Support Groups

The Fox Hollow Music & Art Café

Doors 5:30PM, show 6:00pm

$5.00 Admission, Minors FREE

We are excited to welcome Aura Shards to the FHC for the first time! Aura Shards is a world fusion project based in Brattleboro VT, exploring the enchanting sound of the hand pan accompanied by world percussion and drones. With all original compositions, Aura Shards weaves a big sound that is harmonically and rhythmically intriguing, while at the same time soothing and meditative. The duo consists of Anders Burrows (hand pan, didgeridoo, djembe) and Jed Blume (hand pan, tabla, djembe, jaw harp).

You can find Aura Shards on Facebook or listen to their YouTube channel! Aura Shards has released a self-titled EP and full length album entitled: “Rhythm in Tonality” available wherever you download or stream music.

As usual, this is our monthly community potluck night. A dish is not required for admittance, but a little contribution goes a long way towards filling everyone’s bellies! If you do not have time to cook something even a bag of chips, fruit, or a small dessert helps. You can bring your own alcoholic beverages if you are 21+. Please bring cash for refreshments ($1.00 each) and the 50/50 Cash Raffle ($1.00 per ticket or $10.00 for 15 tickets, and you get to keep HALF of the cash if you win!). Activities available for youth in our “Kids’ Corner.” A big thanks to Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match Grant for sponsoring our youth to attend for free!

Are you interested in being a performer or vendor during one of our 3rd Saturday events?

Email foxhollowcafe@gmail.com

or call your hosts Siobhan & Lee at:

(430) 305-2017

Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center

Events

475 Dyken Pond, Cropseyville, NY 12052

Pre-registration required for all programs at

(518) 658-2055 or jp844@cornell.edu.

Your registration is not complete until you receive confirmation from the Center.

Dyken Pond EEC website

GRAFTON LAKES STATE PARK

https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/grafton-lakes-state-park#events

Call (518) 279-1155 to register. Registration is required for all event unless otherwise noted.

Park hours: 8AM – sunset
Welcome Center: Wed. – Mon. 9AM – 4PM

Entrance Fee: Free until May*

Upcoming Events at Grafton Lakes State Park

“Hudson Taconic Lands (HTL) (formerly Rensselaer Plateau Alliance/ Rensselaer Land Trust) invites your involvement in the Wolf Creek Community Forest Committee!
In 2024, HTL conserved a 385-acre parcel in the Town of Berlin on Route 22. This property, now named Wolf Creek Community Forest, will be led by a committee made up of Hudson Taconic Lands members and active volunteers. Join us in managing this new recreation resource!
The Community Forest Model at Hudson Taconic Lands
A community forest is a public nature area run by and for the community.
For each new community forest, HTL invites interested volunteers to join a community forest committee. The committee helps create a land management plan, set guidelines for recreation and public use of the preserve, and plan projects on the land. Each community forest has a Committee Chair who organizes meetings and activities, and a Steward who visits the land regularly to keep an eye on the trails and lead work projects.
Through this innovative model, we’ve seen an inspiring level of involvement and effort, leading to long-term care and love for the land. Our existing community forests offer miles of trails for passive recreation. The forests are frequented by hikers, birders, hunters, school groups, volunteer groups, researchers, and many others. They also serve as host sites for our annual Forest Conservation Corps program for teens.
Wolf Creek will be our sixth community forest and we look forward to serving your community through conservation.
Have questions? Reach out to our Stewardship Manager Andrew Schwitzgebel at andrew@rensselaerplateau.org“

Events
Scroll down to see all events.
Click here to fill out our Participant Waiver.

Find more RPA events here

https://www.rensselaerplateau.org/events

Working cooperatively with the community, RPA listens, inspires, leads and gets results.

RPA | About (rensselaerplateau.org)

RPA NEWSLETTER

SHAC Center-Adventure Community Center

Programs open to Berlin CSD Students and Families
The SHAC Center-Adventure Community Center is here to facilitate and support the development of healthy, active lifestyles for people of all ages in Averill Park and surrounding communities. Our Vision: To create a connected community and provide opportunities for healthy, active living and recreation in a safe, inclusive environment.

Sky High Adventure Center Inc.

PO Box 236

Sand Lake, NY 12153

See All Program Offerings + Registration

FULL SCHEDULE:

MONDAYS

Strength Training, Treadmill & Spinning (9-11am)*

Needlecrafts (10am-12pm)*

Albany Aikido (12pm)

Bridge (Alternating Mon 1-3pm. Starts 9/15)*

Archery (6:30-7:30pm Starting Nov 3)

TUESDAYS

Albany Aikido (7:30am)

Cooking Class (10am-12pm)*

Chair Yoga (5:30-6:15pm Starting Oct 14)

Paint & Drip Art Café (6-8pm Alternate Tues)

WEDNESDAYS

Strength Training, Treadmill & Spinning (9-11am)*

Mexican Train Dominoes (10am-12pm)*

Pickleball at Butler Park (10am-12pm)*

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support & Memory Café for People with Symptoms

(11am-12:30pm Wed Nov 19 & Dec 17)*

Mahjong Club (1-3pm)*

Parent-Child Foam Ball (5:45-6:45pm)*

THURSDAYS

Albany Aikido (7:30am)

Outdoor Cycling (9 am Start)* (Meets at Nassau Post Office/ Empire Trail)

TOAST – Thursday Open Art Studio Time (1-4pm)*

Story Writing (1-3pm)*

Community Ping Pong (6:00-7:30pm)*

Introduction to Vegetable Fermentation (6-8pm, Oct 29)

FRIDAYS

Strength Training, Treadmill & Spinning (9-11am)*

Foam Ball Tennis (Blue Room) (10am-11am)*

Tablet & Smartphone Tech Help (10-12pm) (By Appointment Email: Maggie@SHACcenter.org)*

SATURDAYS

Women’s Self Defense (10am-12pm, Nov 29)

SUNDAYS

Albany Aikido (10am)

Noteworthy Center of Albany

Notice from BMHS Counselor Mr. Shaw:
Noteworthy Resources’ December 2025 Newsletter Supporting Mental Health Together!
We connect individuals to therapy, peer support, and resources—because everyone deserves access to healing and community.
Please find some of Noteworthy’s event on the flyer below and their December 2025 Newsletter here https://www.nwralbany.org/campaigns/view-email/Y1a3OKWdSG9v1mmgaYtyJKh0lS9cvpZ0Ikf9MFFY7qRCUzO_6SPwmSynM2o2RHFPDKrhdt_l7qyKkm4YhOp-FL2OJJMKZWT7ISFxHNhiyUnfQTN1dAGzZLemPg7AA00zjchfr_xATg5K_4WKg71bToZ_kDxmw1Sf6RfghA==?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=6929e0c2ca17fe13210a6c05&ss_email_id=692d8df04b01e2046e565925&ss_campaign_name=Stay+Connected+This+December%3A+Support+Groups%2C+Resources+%26+Community+Events&ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-12-01T12%3A46%3A10Z

Volunteer some hours, learn bike repair, get a bike of your own.

https://troybikerescue.mayfirst.org/

Connect Center

The Connect Center is primarily a safe space for youth to be after school. Once students’ basic needs for safety have been met, the organization uses mentorship and youth development programs to allow students to explore their passions, talents, and eventually, a career path.

Connect After School is a youth program filled with workshops focused on student exploration in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Students in the Capital Region grades 6-12 can participate in the program at no cost!

Program Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 3:00-5:00pm. Snack included!