Lifestyle & Entertainment

Fun Run with a serious goal

Race geared towards kids raises money for local pediatric care

As a Saratoga Springs business owner, Ames felt she had a tool to help give back to the community, and in 2008 put together the first Cantina Kids Fun Run, a run designed from start to finish with kids in mind.

Trash to treasure

Guilderland students helping to expand Pine Bush habitat

Students from Farnsworth Middle School are helping to monitor an area near the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Guilderland seventh-grade students were brought just past the City of Albany’s Rapp Road Landfill, where they looked for signs of life native to the Pine Bush at restored portions of land.

[Photo Gallery] Honoring the Fallen

A cloudy day didn’t stop bagpipes, a firing party and laying of wreaths Wednesday, May 22, at The Crossings of Colonie.

Roots of knowledge

Delmar resident launches project to cultivate awareness of native plant species

Loretta Fontaine Castagna has held an interest in native plant life since she was a young girl.

A brief history of the natural world [photo gallery]

Environmental Fair at Five Rivers explores the present and past

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center hosted more than 600 students from around 10 Capital District elementary schools during the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s three-day Environmental Fair.

Fighting insect hinges on knowledge

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week focuses on invasive insect’s threat, precautions

New York is recognizing Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week this year from Sunday, May 19, to Saturday, May 25. Residents and visitors are being encouraged to become more aware about the invasive insect and its destructive potential towards ash trees.

60 years strong, 80 years young

Albany Memorial honors longtime nurse Esther Rappold for decades of service

Friends, family and coworkers gathered at Albany Memorial Hospital to celebrate 80-year-old Esther Rappold's 60 years of service at the facility.

Park lovers give back

Volunteers pitch in to help Thacher Park for 'I Love My Park Day'

More than 50 people turned out to lend Mother Nature a helping hand at John Boyd Thacher State Park for New York state's second "I Love My Park Day" on Saturday, May 4.

Chalk it up to Albany

Central Avenue BID, Equinox hold sidewalk art contest to coincide with Tulip Fest

Each spring, thousands of tulips take over downtown Albany. The appearance of the flowers mark the beginning of spring in the city and have a way of bringing a feeling of renewal to Albany each year.

Students get a taste of SPAC

'Classical Kids' stops in North Colonie to introduce youngsters to world of dance

Siobhan Dunham and two other professional dancers spent the morning of Friday, May 3, at Shaker High School with the entire district’s fifth-grade students for the arts education series “Classical Kids.” The school-based program is sponsored by SPAC and Union College, and was created in 1993 to help provide an interactive approach for children to learn about classical music and dance.

Of loss and young love

Shaker High grad Dana Lee Hom releasing first album, “Almost Gone”

It took love, heartbreak and a bout of emotional numbness for Dana Lee Hom to put together her first full-length album. Now that she’s ready to release those songs to the public, she feels like the burden of some of her troubles is disappearing.

Walkers step up in heart disease fight

Annual Capital Region Heart Walk this Saturday at Crossings

The 2013 Capital Region Heart Walk at The Crossings of Colonie will begin with breakfast and last-minute registration at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 and walkers will take either a 1- or 3-mile stroll. Participants raise money for the American Heart Association, and the donations go directly to funding research and education to fight heart disease and stroke. This year, the goal is set for $570,000.

Remembrance effort still strong

Delmar man continues event commemorating D-Day veterans

As what has been called the Greatest Generation ages, finding World War II veterans is getting harder. Tougher still is locating survivors of a single action, even one as momentous and enormous as D-Day.

Let's get ready to read

Albany Children’s Book Festival connects young readers with authors

The fifth annual Albany Children’s Book Festival, hosted by The Albany Academies, allows people of all ages to meet some of their favorite authors and illustrators. There will also be magicians, a children’s concert, clowns and other activities around the theme of reading.

Growing green habits

Family-friendly Go Green Day to feature recycling, demos, good eats

Go Green Day 2013 will be held Saturday, April 27, at Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland. Several area groups worked together to create the educational event and recycling drop off, along with opportunities to donate a variety of items to local causes and organizations.

Colonie Spotlight