Wishing all a peaceful Memorial Day as we remember and reflect on those who have so gallantly served and sacrificed for our country. I hope to see folks out for the parades in Albany and in Bethlehem this Monday. Below are some good events coming up this weekend and next week! Enjoy the holiday!

Note on Wadsworth Labs Location. I was glad to share last week the findings of the Deloitte report about the potential location for the new Wadsworth facility. While there are certainly a multitude of opinions on the issue, I agree with Deloitte that the facilities’ continued presence in Albany is best for the overall development of the region.

New Turning Lane in Front of Guilderland Library. A pavement marking crew completed work in Guilderland yesterday adding a new turn lane in front of the Guilderland Library and changed a passing zone to no passing just east of French’s Mill Road on Route 20 in the vicinity of the Guilderland Town Hall. I was glad to advocate for this work to be completed, having heard from many constituent about the unsafe driving conditions in front of the library during rush hour.

Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade. Join me on Monday May 28th for the annual Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade. The parade begins at 10:30 at the American Legion at 16 Poplar Drive, and ends at 12:00 with a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park. There will also be an unveiling of a new mural along the Mohawk-Hudson Rail Trail during the ceremony!

Albany Memorial Day Parade. I’ll also be joining the Albany Memorial Day Parade, which will begin at 10 am on Central Avenue between Partridge Street and the NYS Education Building. This event is hosted by the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans.

League of Women Voters Hosts “How to Talk, How to Listen.” From impasses in Congress to conversations in everyday life, strong and passionate viewpoints have created an atmosphere of distrust, anger, and strife. How did we get here? What are the factors perpetuating this divisiveness? Are there ways we can improve the situation? Join the League of Women Voters of Albany County and an all-star panel for “How to Talk. How to Listen: Fractured Conversations in a Polarized Society” on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Town Hall, 445 Delaware Ave., Delmar. The panel will include the Times Union’s Casey Seiler,

Annual Pine Bush Lupine Festival. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission rejoices in the arrival of spring with their 14th annual Lupine Fest for the local community, held at the site of the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road in the City of Albany on Saturday, June 2, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wild blue lupine is a beautiful native wildflower that blooms in May and June, and is the only food source for the caterpillar of the state and federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. Through interactive programs that showcase the globally rare, nationally significant and locally distinct Albany Pine Bush, the festival celebrates the wild blue lupine and the inland pitch pine- scrub oak barrens. Visitors can also enjoy nature walks, hands-on activities with community partners, music with the Whipper Snappers and B95.5, games, crafts, food, vendors and more.

McKownville Fire Department Turns 100. On Saturday, June 9th, please join the community’s celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the McKownville Fire Department. The festivities start at Noon with a parade along part of the UAlbany ring road, Western Avenue, Elmwood Street, and Fuller Road. The parade will be followed by a picnic and play area for children near the Dutch Quad parking lot. Please join your fellow residents in recognizing the Department’s century of service. Walking and an early arrival are strongly encouraged

Guilderland Center Banner Program. The Town of Guilderland is full of history, dating back to the late 1700’s. What we know now as Route 146 used to be Schoharie Plank Road, which was travelled by stage coaches and wagons. Guilderland Center has many historic buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historical Places, including the Mynderse-Frederick House, Helderberg Reformed Dutch Church, Freeman House, School House #6 and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (Now Centrepointe Community Church). The Town of Guilderland is initiating a new banner program for historic Guilderland Center (similar to the banners that now hang in Altamont). Banners will include photos of the Frederick House, Cobblestone School House, Freeman House, Village Queen Fire Engine, Centrepointe Community Church, French’s Hollow Bridge, and Dutchmen Field at Roger Keenholts Park. Individuals, families, businesses or organizations may sponsor one or multiple banners at a cost of $125 per banner (includes the price of the brackets, which are approx. $80 each).

Archives Partnership Trust Survey. What is your interest in history and heritage? I’m proud to serve on the board of the Archives Partnership Trust, whose mission is to support education, preservation, and outreach programs not funded by New York State in order to make accessible the archives from 350 years of New York’s colonial and state governments. The Archives Partnership Trust invites you to take 10 minutes to participate in their short survey. Your opinions will aid them in developing future programming statewide. Thank you for helping the Trust learn about how they can better serve New York residents.

Sharing A Personal Note. This past week has been a very emotional one for me and as a mom I feel as if I blinked and suddenly my children are grown: my son, Brendan Bequette, graduated from Ithaca College in Cinematography, my mentee and son’s best friend, Musa Kanneh, graduated from SUNY Delhi in Architecture, and my daughter, Eileen Bequette, qualified for the NCAA Division 3 Track & Field Nationals in the Heptathlon! All are recent graduates of Albany High and my husband, Wayne Bequette, and I could not be prouder and happier this week!

As always, for the latest news or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note, or give us a call at (518) 455-4178.

Pat