Rensselaer County calendar.(Capital Region)(Calendar)

TODAY

BENEFITS & GALAS

Artists on Fire, St. James Roman Catholic Church, Route 66, Chatham When: Reception, 7 p.m.; concert, 8 p.m. Cost: $35 Contact: 392-4614; e-mail: eddypond@fairpoint.net Notes: Professional musicians, who reside in the Chatham area and New York City, will perform to help raise funds for an updated and centralized fire station for the Tri-Village Volunteer Fire Company.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Open studio for young artists, Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren St., Hudson When: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Contact: 822-1438 or http://www.hud

sonoperahouse.org Notes: Young artists, age 10 and older, can paint, draw, do pottery or other art projects with resident artists.

COMMUNITY SALES

Book and rummage sale, Grace United Methodist Church, 42 Church St., Nassau When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact: 731-8076 Indoor yard sale, Church of the Covenant, Route 43, Averill Park When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact: 674-3664 Notes: Tools, books, toys, small appliances, dishes, glassware, games, collectibles and more.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

St. Basil's Greek Festival, St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River St., Troy When: 5-10 p.m. Cost: Free Contact: 273-8923 Notes: Bazaar, food and homemade pastries, youth dancers, children's activities, $10,000 raffle, live music; rain or shine. Also, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

FARMERS MARKETS

Stuyvesant Farmers Market, Stuyvesant Railroad Station, Riverview Street (off Route 9J), Stuyvesant When: 4-7 p.m. Contact: 758-6474 or http://www.stuyvesantfarmers

market.org

GAMES & HOBBIES

Adult scrapbooking, Castleton Public Library, 85 S. Main St., Castleton When: 7-11 p.m. Contact: 732-0879 Notes: Trade ideas, try new techniques.

Stargazing, Hirsch Observatory, Rensselaer Poly technic Institute, 110 Eighth St., Troy When: 8-10 p.m. Contact: 276-6000 or http://www.rpi.

edu/dept/phys/observatory Notes: Members of the community are invited to view planets, stars and galaxies with the observatory's 16-inch telescope.

HEALTH

Blood drive, Hoosick Falls Fire Department, 190 Main St., Hoosick Falls When: 1-6 p.m. Contact: American Red Cross, (800) 448-3543

Blood drive, Berlin Jr./Sr. High School, 17400 Route 22, Cherry Plain When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: Bill Fisher, 658-2515

SIGN-UPS

Flea market and craft fair, Powers Park, Second Avenue and 111th Street, Lansingburgh When: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $15-$25 per space Contact: 272-4666 or http://www.troy

ny.gov Notes: Needed: Vendors for event Saturday.

SATURDAY

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

North American Devon Association field day, Harrier Fields Farm, 4116 County Route 21, Schodack Landing When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact: 828-4385, Ext. 105, or http://www.nyrcd.org/

hudsonmohawk Notes: For farmers interested in learning how to improve production quality and produce more beef through genetics.

Red Cross baby-sitting course, Conference rooms A&B, St. Mary's Hospital, 1300 Massachusetts Ave., Troy When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $48 Contact: 268-5505 or http://www.seton

health.org Notes: Must be at least 11 years old.

The Safe Sitter Program, Morris Memorial, 21 Park Row, Chatham When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $35 Contact: 828-3346; e-mail: Columbia@cornell.edu Notes: A Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County-sponsored class that gives young adolescents ages 11-14 the skills to provide safe, nurturing care for children and to respond appropriately to medical emergencies.

Wild Edible Plant, Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $14-$20 Contact: 658-2055; e-mail: dyken

pond@fairpoint.net Notes: Sean Rowe will teach the basics of the art of backyard foraging and wild, edible food preparation. Registration required.

COMMUNITY

National Trails Day, Grafton Lakes State Park, Route 2, Grafton When: 9 a.m. Contact: 279-1155 Notes: Includes trail work in the morning, a complimentary barbecue at noon, followed by an afternoon enjoying Grafton's trails. Registration required.

Relay for Life, Dolan's Lake Park, Hunter When: 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Contact: (800) 227-2345 Notes: The overnight, community celebration has individuals and teams walk or run around a local track relay-style to raise funds to support cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services in the community.

Scleroderma Walkathon, Hudson Riverfront Park, Hudson When: 9 a.m. registration; 10 a.m. walk Contact: (800) 867-0885 Notes: An event that includes music, food, clowns, a magician, raffles, a silent auction and free blood pressure screenings. Raises funds to help fight the autoimmune disease.

Third Annual Market Reunion, Italian Community Center of Troy, 1450 Fifth Ave., Troy When: 4 p.m. Cost: $25 Contact: 274-0508; e-mail:

gerdebo@yahoo.com Notes: Cocktails, music and dinner in celebration of the bygone era of the market.

COMMUNITY FARE

All-you-can-eat breakfast, Poestenkill Christian Church, 721 Snyder's Corners Road, Poestenkill When: 8-11 a.m. Cost: $5; children younger than 10, $2.50 Contact: 286-2773

Baked ham dinner, Brunswick Grange Hall, routes 142 and 7, Brunswick When: 4-7 p.m. Cost: $9; children, $4.50 Contact: 767-3342 Notes: Take-outs available.

Chicken barbecue, DeFreestville Fire Department, 480 North Greenbush Road, Defreestville When: 4:30-6 p.m. Cost: $9 Contact: 286-3612 or http://www.defreestvillefire.org

Swiss steak supper, Tomhannock United Methodist Church, 97 Tomhannock Road, Valley Falls When: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Cost: Adults, $10; children, $5 Contact: 753-6321

COMMUNITY SALES

Bake sale, Johnsonville Volunteer Ambulance, 4 River Road, Johnsonville When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Book and rummage sale, Grace United Methodist Church, 42 Church St., Nassau When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact: 731-8076

Flea market and craft fair, Powers Park, Second Avenue and 111th Street, Lansingburgh When: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact: 272-4666 or http://www.troyny.gov Notes: Sponsored by St. Patrick's Church of Troy.

Indoor yard sale, Church of the Covenant, Route 43, Averill Park When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact: 674-3664 Notes: Tools, books, toys, small appliances, dishes, glassware, games, collectibles and more.

Townwide tag sale, Berlin When: 9 a.m. Cost: Map placement, $5; vendor space at the Berlin Firehouse on Community Avenue, $20 Contact: 658-2294 Notes: Sponsored by the Berlin Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Mission Possible Fair, North Chatham United Methodist Church, Route 203, North Chatham When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact: 851-3313 Notes: With craft vendors, live and silent auctions, music, books, a bake sale and food.

FARMERS MARKETS

Hudson, Corner of Columbia and Sixth Street, downtown Hudson, When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Contact: http://www.hudsonfar

mersmarketny.com

Troy Waterfront, Hedley Park Place, 433 River St., Troy When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Contact: troyfarmersmarket@yahoo.com, 321-5749 or http://www.troy

market.org Notes: Fresh produce, poultry and dairy products; prepared foods, hand-craft artisans and more.

PET EVENTS

Rabies clinic, Knickerbacker Ice Rink, 103 Eighth Ave., Troy When: Cats and ferrets 10-11 a.m., dogs 11 a.m.-noon Contact: County Health Department, 270-2655 Notes: Bring most recent immunization record. All pets must be secured.

RECREATION

Kayak/canoe paddle, Rudd Pond, Taconic State Park, off Route 22, Millerton When: 2-3:30 p.m. Cost: Free Contact: 329-3993 or http://www.nys

parks.com Notes: Bring your kayak or canoe (or rent one of theirs) to enjoy a quiet paddle.

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

TIMES UNION ARCHIVE ST. BASIL'S GREEK FESTIVAL will be held from 5 to 10 tonight, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the church, 909 River St., Troy.