Early Watercraft in the Northeast on Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 12:10–12:40 pm at The New York State Museum in the Huxley Theater. Boatbuilding and water-borne travel have a long history in the Americas, pre-dating the arrival of European explorers by millennia. Seafaring and travel along inland waterways likely played a key role in the earliest settlement and dispersal of human groups throughout the Western Hemisphere. Join archaeologist Dr. Daria Merwin for a look at the archaeological and historical evidence of early watercraft in the Northeast. Free

"The Big Bang Theory"  Dr. Vivek Jain will discuss the big bang theory. There is overwhelming evidence that our universe started as a point and has been expanding ever since. Meet and mingle at 12:30 and Program at 1:15 in Room 224 of the Albany Sage Colleges Campus. Presented by The Capital District Humanist Society.Admission: Free

The Schoharie Valley Hayshakers will hold a mainstream level western square dance  at the Middleburgh Elementary School cafeteria on Friday, Nov.9, from 7:30 pm until 10 p.m. The caller is Ray Taylor,  Please wear soft sole shoes. 518-827-4894.

Esmeralda Santiago, a founding mother of Nuyorican literature, will visit the University at Albany for a conversation with WAMC's Joe Donahue. Free and open to the public, the event will be held 7 p.m. at the University at Albany Campus Center Ballroom on the Uptown Campus. For more information, (518) 442-3997 or

The Helderview Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 6:45 pm at the Albany County Cooperative Extension located on Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY.

Senior Science at miSci on Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the Museum of Innovation and Science, 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308. Today's topic: What's Next for NASA- Future Mission Plans The Dudley Observatory at miSci is committed to lifelong learning and has created programming specifically designed for adults! Come explore the museum on a quiet afternoon, then join the Dudley Observatory for an exciting astronomy lesson presented by our Outreach Astronomer, Dr. Valerie Rapson.

The Westmere Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will hold the 5th annual Craft and Vendor Sale on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at the firehouse,  1741 Western Avenue. Raffle of items donated by venders. Lunch and refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information call Tammy at 518.588.5716.

‘Nature’s Creepy’ Mystery Trail at Thacher Nature Center on Saturday, October 27, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Take a walk on the Nature Center Trail and discover cool and creepy natural objects and oddities along the way. Use the clues to complete the challenge and win a prize! Wear your Halloween costume if you like. Make Halloween crafts and enjoy warm cider and donuts. This fun (not scary) program is appropriate for all ages. Please call 518-872-0800 for more information.

Talk: Preservation in the Netherlands with André Hoek​. Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 pm at Mabee Farm at 1100 Main Street, Rotterdam Junction, NY 12150. Dutch restoration architect, André Hoek will deliver an illustrated lecture on the preservation of Dutch Architecture - "A Dutch Approach to Historic Preservation"

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.