Stop 22 Walk-a-thon on Saturday, Oct 20, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm 3:30 p.m. at the department of NY fall conference located at the Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205. To increase awareness of 22 veterans committing suicide every day. For info call (716) 753-3757.

2018 Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair. Community Advocates for Sustainable Energy will hold its third annualRenewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair at Doane Stuart School (199 Washington Ave, Rensselaer, NY) on Saturday, October 20, from 10 am – 4 pm. It is the largest event of its kind in the Capital District and beyond. This event is free and open to the public with free parking.

Invasive Species Education and Work Day on Saturday, October 20; from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Eldridge Research Center at 284 Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY.  Christopher Williams of Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) will be sharing research on invasive species, teaching invasive species identification, and encouraging citizen science through the use of iMap Invasives.

Snowmobile safety course. Earn safety certification. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch included. Knox Town Hall, 2192 Berne Altamont Rd. Pre-registration required at http://bit.ly/snowmobilesafety2018 or 518-657-1047.

Farmland Protection Plan Open House. What: The Albany County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board will be holding an open house to review the county’s updated Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. When: October 18, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Where: Cornell Cooperative Extension, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186

Jumpstart Your Italian Genealogy on Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center at 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205. People often ask themselves, “I know my ancestors existed but how do I find them?” What do you do if you never asked your grandparents where they were born? Instructor John Capano will provide information on internet resources to find these lost ancestors and new, living relatives you never knew existed. Bring your own laptop or tablet device. Reservations by October 14th a must. Call (518) 435-1979.

Octagon Barn Star Party and Lecture on Friday, October 12, 7 pm. Knox Octagon Barn, 588 Middle Rd, Delanson, NY 12053, Albany County. Tonight’s lecture:  Ralf Schauer, Schenectady County Community College “From Viking to Curiosity, 40 Years of Robotic and Rover Exploration of the Red Planet Mars”

B’nai Sholom will host a “Memoir Writing Workshop” with award-winning PJ Library and children’s author Linda Elovitz Marshall on Thursday, Oct. 11, 1-3 p.m. at the synagogue, 420 Whitehall Road, Albany.

On Saturday, Sept. 29 -- America's Best Food Writers Panel @UAlbany! Free and open to the public.

Meet Francis Lam, "the voice of American food culture" (The Washington Post), host of “The Splendid Table” broadcast on more than 400 public radio stations across America, and editor of Random House cookbook imprint Clarkson Potter.

Hosted by Steve Barnes of the Times Union Table Hopping blog, the 11 am food panel will also feature:

• Mark Kurlansky, major bestselling author of food history books, including Salt and Cod, with his new book, Milk!

Annual Columbus Day Celebration on Monday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.at the American Italian Heritage Museum and Cultural Center on 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205. Please join us in celebrating the man who made the New World known to the Old World changing these Worlds forever!  Political, ethnic, civic and cultural leaders will speak. Please help us save Columbus Day by attending. Please bring dessert for the reception that follows.  Free and open to the public.