Joe Donahue

The Battenkill Chorale, founded in 1995, is a dedicated group of amateur singers that has become a cultural jewel of the North Country and the Capital Region.

For 30 years, the Music Haven Concert Series has presented an amazing array of global sounds in Schenectady’s Central Park during the summer. But now, in the winter and Spring we can visit locales like Puerto Rico, Louisiana, Haiti, Mali and Bosnia-Herzegovina without ever having to leave their seats.

Acclaimed historian Julien Zelizer offers a deep examination of the role of partisanship in American Democracy in his new book “In Defense of Partisanship.”

Dr. Linda Eckert, author of "Enough: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer," is a recognized expert in immunizations and cervical cancer prevention having worked as a consultant with the World Health Organization on global cancer prevention for the last fifteen years, facilitating policy development for the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening.

Dennis Mahoney is the author of the new novel, "Our Winter Monster," set in a ski village in Upstate New York. Seeking a fun getaway, a couple in a troubled relationship loses their way driving in a snowstorm. A Troy-based horror writer, Mahoney will be speaking at an upcoming NYSWI event later this month.

“Discovering Uncertainty” is the theme of Vassar College’s 23rd annual MODfest, featuring music and dance that reflect elements of the quantum theory described by physicists in the early decades of the 20th century. MODfest opens January 31st and runs through February 9th.

This week's Book Picks come from Cheryl McKeon from the Book House in Albany, NY & Market Block Books in Troy, NY and Jess Hunsicker from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, NY and Manchester Center, VT.

Pico Iyer is the acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen books translated into twenty-three languages, most recently “The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise” and “The Art of Stillness.” His latest, “Aflame,” is an exploration of the abiding clarity and calm to be found in quiet retreat.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are communications expert and Founder/President of Stanhope Partners Bob Bellafiore, public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Senior Fellow, Bard Center for Civic Engagement Jim Ketterer, and Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick.

Author Meryl Gordon’s new biography “The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess” delves into the life of Perle Mesta, a prominent socialite, political hostess, activist, and U.S. envoy to Luxembourg.