NEWS

NORTH BLENHEIM—The New York Power Authority’s  (NYPA) Winter Break Series returns once again to North Blenheim  from February 21-23 with a fun-packed, three-day program of family activities at the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project’s admission-free visitors center. The schedule for each of the planned programs will run from 10 a.m. to noon, as follows:

Tuesday, February 21:—Children and parents alike can enjoy an enlightening and educational science presentation with “The Magic of Magnets.” This informative session, presented by Aaron Sorensen of the well-known Oneonta World of Learning (OWL), will explain the fascinating properties of magnets and all of their many ingenious uses.

Wednesday, February 22:—Ashley Drum, Education Coordinator at  Minekill State Park ,will be offering sage advice to visitors with her presentation on “Lost in the Woods,” a program that will focus on what to do—and not do—should wandering tikes ever find themselves lost in the woods. It is an entertaining yet practical session on park safety. Children will be invited to make their own survival kits.

Thursday, February 23:—The Winter Break Series concludes with the delightful and informative “Bird Beak Buffet.” This session will feature a host of fun-filled activities, including a program of song, music and arts & crafts—all centered on how bird beaks function. Participating kids can busy themselves by making environmentally-friendly bird feeders to take home.
All craft materials will be provided free of charge, however, reservations are advised due to space limitations. For reservations, call: 800-724-0309.

A major regional attraction, the visitors center at NYPA‘s Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project has accommodated more than 125,000 guests since 2009. The facility, located at 1378 State Route 30 in North Blenheim, is situated approximately 17 miles south of Middleburgh, 5 miles north of Grand Gorge and about 50 miles west of Albany. Refurbished and housed in a 19th century barn, the center features numerous interactive exhibits for the whole family to enjoy. The emphasis is on themes such as the production and use of electricity, information on energy-efficiency, the local environment and operations at the project.

NYPA’s popular visitors center is open daily from 10a.m. to 5p.m., except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. A partial list of programs and activities to follow the Winter Break Series include:  the World Travelogue Series, March 4, 11, 18, & 25; Photos with the Easter Bunny, April 1; Earth Day Weekend, April 28 & 29; the annual Quilt Show Weekend, June 2 & 3; the annual Antiques and Vintage Car Show, July 15 and a Spooky Halloween Event set for October 27.

■The New York Power Authority uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives.■It is the nation's largest state public power organization, with 17 generating facilities in various parts of New York State and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. ■Approximately 80 percent of the electricity it produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state.■For more information, www.nypa.gov