Arts and leisure digest

Trace your family’s military history New Windsor — As part of New York Heritage Weekend, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor will hold a workshop On Saturday May 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. to help people find the ways and means to research their family’s military history and then preserve those memories once they find the information. Michelle Phillips, paper conservator from NYSOPRHP Resource Center, will talk about how to care for the paper collection one may have at home. Christopher Zarr, education specialist for the National Archives, will help teach people how to find their ancestor’s records. and how to keep that information preserved for years to come. To learn more, call 561-1765. Free 'Gardening on the Rocks’ program is April 30 Greenwood Lake — The “Green Thumb” garden series at the Greenwood Lake Public Library presents begins its free spring gardening programs with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County master gardeners beginning Saturday, April 30. The program, “Gardening on the Rocks,” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cornell’s Master Gardeners will show participants how to incorporate rocks from the yard into garden as well as highlight the basics for building stone walls. Registration is required by calling 477-8377. Lions to host UFO fest in Pine Bush on April 30 Pine Bush — The Lions Club will sponsor the Pine Bush Area UFO Festival and Parade on Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Rain or shine.) The event will include “Alfie” the Alien Hide and Seek, music in the Main St. bandstand, children’s activities in several locations town wide, a costume/theme parade at 3 p.m. and a student art show display. Local ufologists will speak on the rich history of the area and related topics. Relay for Life will introduce their “Alfie” logo in support of the American Cancer Society. For more information visit www.UFOPineBushFestival.com or email questions to ufopinebush@yahoo.com. Amity Arts Pottery Workshop’s annual spring sale is April 30 Florida — The Amity Arts Pottery Workshop annual spring sale takes place on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is a cooperative effort of 12 clay artists who have either studied with Judy Duboff or work out of the studio. They will display their work in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and textures. Amity Arts Pottery Workshop is located at 480 Route 17A. Call 651-1170 for more information. Jazz ensemble to perform at college MIDDLETOWN — The SUNY Orange Jazz Ensemble will showcase an evening of quartet and small combo jazz classics during its annual Spring Concert slated for 8 p.m., on Saturday, April 30, in the college’s Orange Hall Theatre. The evening program includes: “Four on Six” by Wes Montgomery, “Chitlins Con Carne” by Kenny Burrell, “Bag’s Groove” by Milt Jackson, “So What” and “Swing Spring” by Miles Davis, “Song For My Father” by Horace Silver, “Watermellon Man” by Herbie Hancock, “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan, “Autumn Leaves” by Joseph Kosma and Johnny Mercer, and “A Night in Tunisia” by Dizzy Gillespie. The jazz ensemble is under the direction of Dave Miele. Musicians include Sascha Cortes (tenor saxophone), Samantha Mulé (alto saxophone), Darius Molfetas (guitar), Marquis Camper (guitar), Michael Sutton (bass), Matt Barnes (bass), Dylan Ruiz (bass), Junotte Odom (piano), Pierre Dorcely (piano) and Joshua Word (drums). Admission is free. For more information call 341-4787. Last chamber music concert will be held Sunday Montgomery — The Grand Montgomery Chamber Music Series concludes its 23rd season on Sunday, May 1, at 3 p.m. at the senior center on Bridge Street in Montgomery with a free program presented by the Idlewild Chamber Players. The trio consists of John Paul Thomas, trumpet, Emily Faxon, violin, Ruthanne Schempf, piano. The program will consist of music by Frescobaldi, Beethoven and Copeland. Call 457-9867 to learn more.