All About Animal Adaptations at Thacher Nature Center.  Join us to explore how our wild animal neighbors are able to live where they do, survive and thrive! We will be examining a variety of skins, skulls, feathers and bones to gain an understanding of their unique adaptations. 10:00a.m at Thacher Nature Center, 87 Stan Levine Dr, Voorheesville, 12186

English Country Dance. Called and taught by Dorothy Cummings. Live Music by Early Music Ensemble. Admission: $12, $10 members. Introductory workshop starts at 1:30 p.m. at Channing Hall at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 405 Washington Avenue, Albany, 12206

Annual LaBefana Visit. Children learn about the LaBefana tradition and participate in crafts and a treasure hunt.  LaBefana will make a small gift to each child. Help us keep this beautiful tradition alive.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. A social follows. Reservations by 1/2 please. Starts at 3 p.m. at American Italian Heritage Association and Museum, 1227 Central Avenue, Albany, 12205

The Westmere Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary Brooks Chicken Barbecue Sunday. Assorted homemade sides. Complete dinner $11; half chicken only $8. Eat in or take out. 12 to 5 p.m. (or sold out) at the firehouse, 1741 Western Ave. Albany, 12203.

First Monday Free Spaghetti Dinner. Join us for dinner in the ARC Fellowship Hall. the On the menu: spaghetti with meatballs (or meatless sauce), bread, salad, and dessert. 5 to 7 p.m. at  Altamont Reformed Church, 129 Lincoln Avenue, Altamont. Questions? Call 861-8711,

15th- and 16th-Century Iroquoian Agriculture. Dr. John Hart will discuss Iroquoian agricultural practices in New York and southern Ontario and how those practices maintained soil fertility and crop productivity for decades, producing enough food for village populations in the hundreds to thousands of people. A 20-minute talk at The State Museum, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m., in the Huxley Theater, 222 Madison Avenue Albany, 12230.

Practice Your Italian. Use it or lose it!  Free and open to the public. Starts at 1 p.m. on Jan 7 and Jan 21 at  American Italian Heritage Association and Museum, 1227 Central Avenue, Albany, 12205

Pine Bush Pups: Neat Feet.  We will practice identifying animals by their tracks, read a book, play a game, create our own tracks and go on a short walk! Reservations required; 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events. Jan 7 and 8 , 10-11 a.m. at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Farmer Discussion Group Meeting. With speakers: Dayton Maxwell, newly hired CAAHP Farm Business Management Educator and Aaron Gabriel, CAAHP Agronomy Educator. 5 p.m. at Knox Town Hall, 2192 Berne-Altamont Rd., Knox,12009.

Winter’s Eve Nature Journaling. This program will spend time appreciating living and once-living objects and photographs of the Pine Bush Preserve while we exercise our creativity through nature journaling. Reservations required; 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events. From 6 to 8 p.m. at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY