Visions of Italy – Art Show and Sale at American Italian Heritage Museum at 1227 Central Ave. Albany, NY from Feb. 4 – March 31. Art show and sale by the Schenectady Art Society. Original paintings of Italy and Italian culture. Many artists, styles, and mediums. A portion of sales benefits the Museum. Open during Museum hours - Fridays from 11 am - 2 pm and Saturdays from 1 - 4 pm or by appointment.

Black History Month celebration. 12 p.m. in the Cahill room, 112 State Street in Albany for a discussion on the critical roles African American soldiers had and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.

2018 New York Farm Show: It’s the farmer’s mega-mall. New York Farm Show, set for February 22, 23 and 24 at the State Fairground in Syracuse has the latest in new crop and livestock tech. This year’s free ag-smart seminars tackle beef, industrial hemp and woodlot management issues. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. Free tickets are available from Northeast equipment dealers, or by writing to: New York Farm Show, P.O. Box 3470, Syracuse, NY 13220. Adult admission at the door is $5 per person; youths under 18 are free.

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy launches its 26th year of conservation in the Capital Region with the Annual Awards Dinner featuring guest speaker Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Guests will experience views of the glistening Mohawk River during a late-winter sunset from Schenectady’s beautiful historic River Stone Manor while enjoying cocktails and a buffet dinner.

Animal Track & Sign with Ondatra Adventures on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 am - 1 pm at the Bozen Kill Preserve, Altamont, NY. We’re kicking off our popular series of naturalist events with Ondatra Adventures this year with a free winter animal tracking workshop!

The many talents of the region’s Jewish community will be on display at B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation’s 12th Bet Kafeh (“Coffeehouse”) on Saturday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. at the synagogue, 420 Whitehall Road, Albany, New York.

Snowshoeing in the Barrens on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. Have you tried snowshoeing? The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport. Join us for a 0.9-mile hike on snowshoes. We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and learn the basics of snowshoeing. Snowshoes will be provided to program participants. If there is not enough snow on the ground, we will hike without snowshoes. Ages 6+. Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family.

Owl Pellet Dissection on Friday, Feb. 23 from 1 – 2:00 pm. Curious about owls? Join us to learn about the owls that live in the Pine Bush Preserve and the signs they leave behind. We will start with a short presentation and then dissect owl pellets, a sign that owls are active in the area. Ages 6+. Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required. Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events.

Semi-Annual HUGE Winter Book Sale. Escape from the winter doldrums with a good book. The Book Nook at Grace United Methodist Church in Ravena is holding its semi-annual HUGE Winter Book Sale on Thursday, Feb. 22 and Friday, Feb. 23 from 9 am to noon and 6 - 8 pm, and Saturday, Feb. 24 from 9 am to noon. There’s something for everyone. Hardcovers and paperbacks. Novels and non-fiction. Tens of thousands of books to choose from—along with a mini-rummage sale. Book prices: hardcovers $1.00 each, paperbacks 50 cents each, both buy 5 get one free.

Build a Birdhouse on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. Did you ever wonder where birds live? What kind of houses do they have? Different bird species each require different sizes, shapes, and habitats for their home. Join us as we learn about a few bird species that live in the Pine Bush Preserve, what they may need for their homes, and then build your own birdhouse. Ages 8+.  Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY.  Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family. Registration required.