The charm and beauty of our village doesn't go without notice.  Our village streets and public gardens are a tribute to the hard work of Department of Public Works staff and the meticulous work of garden volunteers.  Residents demonstrate great pride in their properties and welcome visitors to share in the beauty of our village — and there are many activities on the docket for the coming months to share!

Altamont Free Library's barbecue takes place tomorrow, June 17, in Orsini Park.  Altamont Community Tradition's Strawberry Social follows on June 21.

For more than a decade, ACT has done much to celebrate our community’s cultural and historic heritage.  The ACT strawberry social is the unofficial beginning of the summer season, an entry to the many village activities planned this summer, just as the St. John’s Lutheran Church's Annual Ice Cream Social punctuates mid-summer, on July 20 this year.

The Altamont Free Library has served the village and surrounding community for 100 years this month. It is hosting a number of celebrations throughout the rest of the summer. There are lots of ways you can participate, from collecting 100 cans of food for the Altamont Food Pantry to pledging to read 100 books in 2016.

One important way to share this milestone is to contribute to the Altamont Free Library Centennial Fund.  Visit the Library's web page (www.altamontfreelibrary.org) to learn more about upcoming centennial events and how to make a contribution.

The village will host the farmers’ market starting in July at the Altamont Free Library train station grounds.  Food stamps are accepted and vouchers coupons are available too.

Starting on July 5, the Altamont Free Library summer concerts kick off with Three Quarter North;  Rusticator will perform on July 12; Jon Ouckama takes the stage on July 19; Marty Wendell and his band appear on July 26; Scotty Mac’s Roadshow will perform on Aug. 2; the Tommy Verrigni Trio will close the season on Aug. 9.

Movies at Dusk are back again! Members of the Altamont Volunteer Fire Department are excited to offer four nights of fun free family movies in Orsini Park, including July 15, July 29, Aug. 5, and Aug. 26. As always, the popcorn is free at the Movies at Dusk.

The Crupe Bozenkill Park Summer Camp will begin on June 27 and continue through Aug. 5  for children between the ages of 6 and 14.  Camp hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon.  Activities will include swimming, games, and sport activities.  Swim lessons are being offered to children ages 3 and up.   More information and registration forms are available on the village website.  There are a few openings in some of the sessions.

Altamont senior-citizen trips are open to all area seniors.  A number of excursions are planned for the local senior citizens over the next few months.

On July 20, lunch at Mariner’s Harbor in Kingston will precede a two-hour narrated river cruise aboard Hudson River Cruises.  On Aug. 20 is the Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour. Besides stopping for pizza and soft drinks at Grimaldi’s and L&B Spumoni Gardens, travelers will be treated to a narrated historical tour of Brooklyn’s famous movie locations, landmarks, and points of interest.

On Sept. 8, a visit to Gavin’s Irish Country Inn will start with a paint ’n’ tea. Visitors will paint martini glasses while enjoying Irish tea and scones. At noon, a feast of steak, shrimp, and clams is offered as lunch. Live music will follow as well as a visit to the new Irish tea shop.

Wade buses are used for all day trips. All trips depart from St. Lucy’s Parish Center. For pricing and reservations, contact Kathy Adams at (618) 861-6258.

Take a local trip to the Altamont Village archives collection when you get a chance.  Learn more about upcoming exhibitions on the Archives Facebook page.  Coming in the fall, there will be a new hallway exhibit, “For the Public Benefit: 100 Years of the Altamont Free Library.”

The exhibition is curated as part of the centennial celebratory activities for the anniversary of the Altamont Free Library and will include not only the history of the establishment of Altamont's library but of the American Library system as well.

A highlight of the exhibition will be a special creation by the Train Station Quilters, which will be on exhibit and then available for auction at the 2017 Library Gala. The exhibition opens on Sunday, Sept. 25, with a public reception in the Community Room from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit continues, in the Village Hallway Gallery, through Nov. 13.

Tobacco-free parks

At its June meeting, the village board of trustees passed a resolution to establish its village parks as tobacco-free. Tobacco-free park policies enjoy overwhelming support of Capital District residents.

A 2013 Community Survey conducted by Siena Research Institute found that 81 percent of Capital District residents favor smoke-free playgrounds, including three out of every  current smokers. Even in outdoor settings, secondhand smoke is especially harmful to children and adults with asthma or other chronic conditions. The new tobacco-free policy will communicate a positive message to the community that tobacco use is not compatible with an active, healthy lifestyle.

New businesses

The Village of Altamont Planning Board has approved a number of new businesses over the last few months.  The Altamont Enterprise has officially moved its publishing offices to 120 Maple Ave., while Altamont Printing and Photo will remain at 123 Maple Ave.

Bella Fleur Flowers and Gifts has moved into its new home at 182 Main St. and shares the storefront with Remedies Wine and Spirits. Bella Fleur is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Remedies Wine and Spirits offers a wide selection of your favorite wines and liquors. Remedies is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Check out their Facebook pages for more information and weekly specials.

Uncle Jimmy’s Market, located at 202 Main St., offers fresh-cut meats and deli products as well as sandwiches and salads. It is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a full listing of village businesses and contact information, visit the community links page at altamontvillage.org

Enjoy the summer and this beautiful village.  Please check our website:  AltamontVillage.org, call our office at (518) 861-8554, ext. 10, or write me a note at if you have questions about our summer activities or village services.