RENSSELAERVILLE — The Helderberg Brewery is offering a series of brewing and fermentation workshops through the end of the year. The series, Funky Fermentation, will be led by Helderberg Brewery’s brewer, Jamie Caligure, and will highlight how brewers can source local ingredients and brew seasonal beverages in their own homes.

RENSSELAERVILLE — An unusual book club at the Carey Institute for Global Good wants to to get community members together to encourage dialogue about social issues like climate change and prison reform.

EAST BERNE — George and Genevieve Ward of East Berne announce the birth of their first child, George Andrew Ward V.

George was born on July 14 at 12:13 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

BERNE — The Empire Orienteering Club has been conducting a summer orienteering sprint series across the Capital District and the next one will be held at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District’s track in Berne on Thursday, Aug. 22.

EAST BERNE — Lieutenant Commander Nathan Stempel of East Berne has been recalled to active duty from his Naval Reserve unit. He will be serving a nine-month deployment to Djibouti, Africa.

HILLTOWNS — Amanda (née Hellwig) Vallejos, lyric soprano and Berne-Knox-Westerlo alumna, will perform at the Octagon Barn in Knox today, Aug. 1.

RENSSELAERVILLE — The Carey Institute for Global Good’s Helderberg Brewery has partnered with Discover Albany to offer an agritourism series called “Hilltowns Alive,” with several events slated through Columbus Day.