‘Critters of the Night’ Hike at Thacher Nature Center on Friday, Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Under the cover of darkness, the forest comes alive with sounds of animals and insects adapted to night-life! Join us for a sensory hike through the fields and forests surrounding the Nature Center, as we search for elusive critters of the night. Learn to identify some common night sounds and give your best owl call a shot! This program is appropriate for adults and children age 8 and older. Please call 518-872-0800 to register.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County presents a free parent education program, The Magic Years: Setting Routines for parents/caregivers of children 0 – 4-years-old. When: Thursday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required by contacting the library at 518.456.2400 Where: Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave., Guilderland.

The next meeting of the Albany Men’s Garden Club will be on Thursday, Oct. 25 in the Lakeside Room at the Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Colonie. The program, which will start at 7:30 pm, will explore the mysteries of the 300 year old Maybee Farmstead in Rotterdam.

On Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 1 - 3 pm, "Making Friends & Influencing Lawmakers" Bethlehem (Delmar) Public Library at 451 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY, New York lawmakers will be asked to decide where they stand on legislation that would authorize medical aid in dying. Beyond signing a petition or joining a Lobby Day in support of the Medical Aid in Dying Act, what more can you do? What can you do to become an "influencer"--someone your lawmaker will listen to?

Sujatha Gidla, memoirist and NYC subway conductor, will visit the NYS Writers Institute at the University at Albany on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Gidla, author of Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India, the story of a family's attempts to achieve a better life against all odds, and one of the most talked-about books of 2017, will speak at 4:15 p.m. in the Standish Room, Science Library, on the university's Uptown Campus, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany. Later that same day, Gidla will be featured in a Conversation/Q&A at 7:30 p.m.

"Saving Buried History One Piece at a Time" is the feature for the Berne Historical Society meeting 7 p.m. at the Berne Public Library. Bill Finch, Metal Detectorist, shares many historic treasures he has found with his trusty metal detector. Get a close-up look at the bounty of history buried in our land. Refreshments will be served.

Geology of the Blue Trail at Thacher Park at 2:00 p.m. The blue trail in the southern portion of the park is a hidden gem and doesn’t necessarily get explored too often. Along this trail, you’ll pass a series of cliffs and some fields full of grikes. Wear appropriate footwear for walking on and off trail to view the geology. Meet at the Paint Mine parking lot. Pre-register for this program by calling the park office at 518-872-1237. Park entrance fee is $6 per vehicle.

Schoharie County Historical Society will host a conversation lecture and workshop led by Master Furniture Conservator David Bayne. 1 p.m. at the Badgley Museum Annex at the Old Stone Fort Museum Complex. 145 Fort Road in Schoharie.

Geology, Landscape and the Iroquois Homeland presented by Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten, Geologist, New York State Museum. At 7 PM. Bethlehem Historical Association at the Cedar Hill Schoolhouse Museum 1003 River Road, Selkirk 12158.

"Albany's Deutschtum Before and After the Great War" will be Christopher White's program at the Guilderland Historical Society's meeting at 7:30 pm at the Mynderse-Frederick House, 451 Route 146, Guilderland Center for the program and social hour following. Call 518 861-8582 for information.