SARATOGA SPRINGS —Angela Marie Buckley (née Felice) died on January 27, 2025. A memorial service for Angela and her husband Daniel was held on March 10 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Philip (Dave) Stacey passed peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025. He was born February 7, 1943, in Ossining, NY to Philip H Stacey and Ruth Stacey.
Dave attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where he earned a BA degree in Biochemistry in 1967. He owned several successful businesses and worked for the Vt State Dept. of Health before joining State Farm Insurance Companies in 1981 as an agent in Montpelier, VT. After 1 ½ years, State Farm recognized his potential and recruited him to join the agency management team. He found his niche in developing others and helping them start and succeed in their independent agencies. He was fortunate to qualify and travel all over the world. His favorite places to travel were Playa del Carmen, Mexico and sailing in the Virgin Islands.
He enjoyed fishing, especially with the guys on their annual trip to Bradford Camps in Ashland, ME, golfing with the Tuesday morning Methodist league at Windy Hills, relaxing on the beach in the sun reading. He had a passion for history (especially Winston Churchill) and Genealogy. After retiring from State Farm in 2005, one of his favorite pastimes was researching everyone’s ancestry. And of course, he enjoyed a good meal, fine wine and a good Manhattan.
He married Judy Brown in 1971, and they had two daughters, Kathleen and Sarah, whom he was very proud of. In his many trips to the hospital in the last few years, first thing he would do, was tell everyone that his daughter, Sarah was a Nurse Practitioner and that would start the conversation.
Later in his life, he married Sherry Hoffman, which grew his family to what he called “The Brady Brunch”. He considered her children, Joseph, Clinton and Adriane as his own.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Sherry Hoffman, his daughters, Kathleen (Andrew) Fyfe of Albany, NY, and Sarah Stacey of Gansevoort, NY, his stepchildren, Dr. Joseph (Diana) Juracka of Greenfield Center, NY, Clinton (Gabriella) Juracka of Latham, NY and Adriane (Maxwell) Lienau of Ballston Lake, NY. He was known as PaPa to Joy and Stian Lofstad, and Opa to Amelia, Carolyn and Isla Juracka. He will be missed by a younger brother, Timothy (Deborah) Stacey of Willis, Texas and the many friends and colleagues he made over the years – his executive assistant Donna Noel, the Grillos, the Doughtys, the Noels, Robin Thurston, the Bairds, the Varys, the Hedricks, the Mulveys and many, many more.
The family would like to express their gratitude for the care and love provided by the Shahbazes and Nurses at House 14 in the Eddy Village Green in Cohoes.
We invite you to join us as we celebrate Dave on Sunday, March 23, at the Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs. There will be time to share with the family beginning at 2:00 p.m., followed by a reflection service starting at 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Davis Phinney Foundation, PO Box 270948 Louisville, CO 80027, which provides support to people and families affected by Parkinson’s or to the Summer Lunch Program at First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa NY 12020, where he was a member and volunteered for many summers.
For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com
WILTON — Marie G. Farone, 88, of Northern Pines Rd., passed away at Saratoga Hospital Tuesday morning, March 4, 2025 after battling Alzheimer’s Disease.
Born on October 21, 1936, in Saratoga Springs, she was the daughter of the late Gennaro and Margaret (Scuderi) Sansiveri. She was a 1954 graduate of Saratoga High School and Miss Saratoga 1954. She attended Albany Business College.
She married Anthony P. Farone on November 6, 1955, at the Church of St. Peter, Saratoga Springs. Anthony passed away on October 26, 2009. Together, they shared 54 years of marriage.
Marie owned and operated the Spirit of ’76 store in Wilton for several years. She was a dealer and collector of antiques.
She enjoyed playing golf, her flower gardens, and hosting numerous family gatherings. In later years, Marie and Anthony enjoyed spending winters in South Fort Myers, FL.
She was a past member of MacGregor Links Country Club where she had been past club champion and had a hole in one on number 18. She was a volunteer for the Saratoga Hospital Guild. She was the first woman assistant little league coach in Saratoga Springs and assisted Coach Joe Vernon with the Saratoga Youth Hockey Mites. She had also served for 24 years on the Town of Wilton Assessment Review Board.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Anthony P. Farone, Sr.; a brother, Anthony Sansiveri; two sons-in-law, Donald Scavone and Bill Gagnon and a grandson, Marc Faulhammer.
Survivors include her seven children: Denise (Kurt) Faulhammer of Wilton, Catherine Gagnon of Saratoga Springs, Gina Scavone of Saratoga Springs, Alfred J. Farone III of Greenfield Center, Anthony P. Farone, Jr. of Wilton, Christian (Shelley) Farone of Porter Corners and Marcus (Jaime) Farone of Saratoga Springs; grandchildren: Lisa (Michael) Theocharis, Kurt (Allyson) Faulhammer, Monika (Charlie) Faulhammer, Noah (Leighann) Gagnon, Nathan (Kelly) Gagnon, Niles (Sarah) Gagnon, Lucas Scavone, Clayton (Angelica) Scavone, Gennaro (Aisha) Farone, Allie Farone; sisters: Carmella Mayette of Saratoga Springs, Margaret Farone of Saratoga Springs; 7 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and her kind and loving caregiver, Crystel Hontz.
Funeral services were held privately.
Burial was in St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Contributions in Marie’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org
To express online condolences, please visit www.brewermillerfuneralhomes.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s time for spring planting. If you love to garden but don’t have your own space join the Wesley campus community gardens.
Rent is $50 for a raised 4×8 foot box. For an application, contact: Susanbokan@gmail.com.
WILTON — Twice a year, equal hours of daytime and nighttime occur. After the spring equinox, the days get longer and longer until the summer solstice, the longest day of the year!
From 10 – 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will host a Spring Equinox Walk, where participants will learn about the celestial movements that impact the natural world. The walk will take place at Camp Saratoga on Scout Road in Wilton and will cover about one mile on a trail that meanders through the forest and meadow.
Registration is required at least one business day in advance. To register visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321, or email info@wiltonpreserve.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Spring Street Gallery invites the artists to apply for Immersion, a professional visual artist development program. The Immersion program is designed to provide emerging and mid-career visual artists with professional opportunities for open dialogue and critical conversations with peers, regional curators, and gallery owners.
The combination of critiques, gallery/residency visits, and professional development enhances learning. Critiques focus on individual improvement, while group experiences and professional development provide exposure, contextual understanding, and valuable tools. Together, they create a comprehensive framework for artistic growth.
Applicants must apply to the program and will be selected by a jury of arts administrators. Eight artists will be chosen to participate in this eight-month program. Deadline for submissions is March 20.
The program will take place from April through December of 2025 and consist of seven monthly critiques, a tour of various arts institutions, three professional development programs, and a group exhibition. This is not an introductory program.
A 50-mile radius is suggested for Capital Region Artists. Applicants must be able to provide their travel to Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs and Collar Works in Troy, for the program meetings. Immersion is a program of The Art Sheet, co-sponsored and produced in equal partnership with Collar Works and Spring Street Gallery.
For more information and to apply, go to the program’s website at https://theartsheet.org/immersion/
This is a story about growing up on the West Side of Saratoga Springs as a member of the post-World War II “Baby Boom” generation. Which side was the East Side or the West Side of Saratoga Springs was determined by the railroad tracks until the late 1950s, but today Broadway is considered the dividing line.
Our neighborhood was centered on the intersection of Waterbury and Lawrence Streets and was very similar to other neighborhoods in Saratoga Springs. Kids were everywhere. The west end of Waterbury Street was the site of The G.F. Harvey Company, maker of Saratoga Ointment. Every household in town had a jar of the ointment. The 15 households around the intersection were home to 45 children born between 1946 and 1962.
During our growing up years Lawrence Street was a dead-end street, terminating at what we called the “Oval” or the Woodlawn Oval, a reference to the trotting track on the Hilton Estate. Our Oval was an “in the woods” type of playground for all the children living on or near that section of town, This section of town was referred to as “the rocks” due to granite bedrock’s proximity to the surface, in some areas mere inches below ground. Primary features of “The Oval” were a “Big Pond” and a “Little Pond” each pond 18 inches, or so, deep, and two “Ash Roads” (The First and Second). The First Ash Road connected Clinton Street with Waterbury, the Second Ash Road connected Clinton with Greenfield Avenue.
A large field, of five or more acres, was also part of the Oval, and miraculously the hay and straw were mowed a couple of times each summer! The Oval was the edge of town in those days and contained wildlife and was a wonderful area to explore, build “forts”, play hide and seek and just have adventures. The Oval is now home to the Embury Complex.
As we got older (7 or 8) we dared to wander a bit farther. We didn’t have restrictions placed on our movements, just be home for supper! The vast Woodlawn (Hilton) Estate and what remained of the Woodlawn Mansion were close by. Following the old Adirondack Railroad tracks north parallel to Seward Street there was a freshwater spring bubbling out of the rock. “Hobo Springs” was a resting spot where a drink of fresh, cold water was available.
Ash Grove Farms was next to the Crusher property (The Crusher may in fact have been part of Ash Grove Farms) and the farm had plenty of cows and horses for us to annoy. The grounds of The Saratoga Golf and Polo Club were and still are near the Ash Grove fields. Many of us received our initial taste of golf at “The Little Club” either via caddying or “jumping on” and playing without permission or paying.
The grounds of “The Little Club” were also a mecca for sleds and toboggans in the winter months. Many winter weekends were spent flying down the various hills of the golf course, then, taking turns, hauling the toboggan back up to do it again. Adjacent to “The Little Club” was the estate of Warren Wright owner of the Calumet Stable and Kentucky horse farm. Between the Wright property and the railroad tracks were the grounds of The Iceland Hotel, which always seemed vacant. The “Hotel” was large, empty, and could be very scary. The hotel burned to the ground sometime in the 1970s and is now Birch Run development.
Around the time we reached the fourth grade, we became fascinated with the Soapbox Derby. The Clinton Street Hill was a perfect spot to “test” our creations for the derby. The parts for our “racer” were either scavenged from neighborhood backyards or “purchased” from “Pop” Ballou. “Pop Blu” was a junk dealer who circulated the streets with his horse and wagon picking up discarded items.We refined our “racers” designs to the point they didn’t fall apart but failed to advance to actually enter The Soap Box Derby.
Beyond the bottom of the Clinton Street hill, on the Woodlawn Estate, was the “Vly”. The Vly was a lake surrounded by woods and was full of fish. A wonderful spot for skinny dipping, fishing, catching frogs, enjoying wilderness. The Vly contained mostly bullheads and the area in and around the Vly had a large population of snakes of many sizes and varieties. It was drained and excavated for the railroad when the tracks were relocated out of downtown Saratoga Springs in the late 1950s.
We continued to expand the horizons of our world, roving on Daniels Road. In our day the roads beginning with Clinton Street hill and beyond, were dirt roads. Daniels Road paralleled the Adirondack Railroad tracks past Locust Grove Road to route 9N. There was a large brick farmhouse at the intersection of Braim Road and Daniels. Still there. This farm grew some amazing “disappearing “sweet corn”. The farmer would get quite upset (I am sure he did not aim at us, but he did discharge his shotgun) over his vanishing sweet corn, brandishing his shotgun to scare us off.
Near this juncture was a bridge over what we called “The Third Brook”. We thought of this as the third of what we believed were three separate brooks. “First Brook” crossed Denton Road, and “Second Brook” was lost in the woods of Ash Grove farm fields. From Braim’s farm, Mr. Braim paid us for our “irregular help” in his greenhouse and fields with tomato or pepper plants. Many sunfish were caught and released, since none of us wanted to eat the sunfish we caught in Braim’s Pond.
Our bicycles opened new vistas for our exploration, but that’s another story.
WILTON — Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is seeking submissions for their 10th Annual Earth Day Essay Contest in celebration of Earth Day and the environmental movement.
Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 since 1970, brings environmental awareness to the forefront. Earth Day promotes increased environmental consciousness, community participation, and protection of the planet worldwide. The mission of Wilton Wildlife includes environmental education as a priority, and for the past decade, the Essay Contest has given school-aged children in the community a chance to express their views, do research, and engage in ecological topics related to the climate crisis.
The theme for 2025 from the International Earth Day organization is Our Power, Our Planet. We invite students to write their essays on the theme of renewable energy. For more information on the theme, visit www.earthday.org.
A panel of judges from Wilton Wildlife will review the essays and select winners in lower elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school levels to receive a cash prize and recognition for their writing. Runner-up and judges’ choice categories will also be chosen. High school entries must be no longer than 650 words; middle school entries must be no longer than 500 words; and elementary school entries must be at least 10 sentences. Accompanying illustrations are also encouraged. The contest winner from each of the four grade categories will receive a $50 cash prize.
The deadline for entries is Friday, April 25. Winners will be announced in May and prizes will be awarded at the Annual Wildlife Festival on Sunday, June 1st. Submissions may be mailed to Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park at 80 Scout Road, Wilton, NY 12831, or emailed to allyson@wiltonpreserve.org by the deadline. Please include the student’s name, the name of the school, the student’s grade, and the teacher’s name. Make sure that there is an email and a phone number with each student’s entry.
For more information, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org.
GANSEVOORT — The following events will take place at Moreau Lake State Park.
Fridays: March 7, 14, 21, and 28 – Wiggly Wanderers 9:30 am. Wiggly Wanderers is a casual and fun program that is offered to walking toddlers, carriable babies and their caregivers. This will be a beginner’s hike/wander series with not too much distance for toddlers who are ready to move and caregivers who are willing and able to baby wear and/or carry their toddler if their legs get too tired. Strollers will not work for these programs. We meet at the nature center parking lot. $1 per child. Registration is not required for this program.
Saturday, March 8- Learning About Old Growth Forests 11 am. Join a Nature Center educator for a lesson on the benefits of supporting old growth forests- forests with trees 150+ years old. Free and geared toward 13+. Please reserve your spot in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Wednesday, March 12 – Full Moon Hike at Big Bend 7pm. Join a park educator on a beginner hike and if the clouds cooperate, enjoy the splendor of the full “Worm Moon” rising above the mountains. This hike is free, is family friendly and well-behaved dogs on a 6 foot or shorter leash are welcome. This hike will not go the full 3.5 miles, we will be going closer to 2.5 miles on flat terrain. Snowshoes to rent $5 per person if needed. To reserve your spot call 518-793-0511.
Thursday, March 13 – Mud Pond Hike 1 pm. Join an Educator on a beginner 2.1-mile hike from Nature Trail to Mud Pond where we will see some beaver lodges, maybe some water fowl, and lots of Hemlock trees. Please wear the appropriate attire for the weather and water-resistant hiking shoes. Bring a snack and plenty of water. This is free and can be for all ages, but be aware of the distance, the up and down terrain and weather. Please reserve your spot 24 hours in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Saturday, March 15 – St. Patty’s Day Needle Felting 11 am – 1 pm. Leprechauns, fairies, and gnomes oh my! Choose your favorite folktale character and create your own St. Patty’s Day plush. Return next week to build them a home. Supplies will be provided. This program is free and geared toward 6+. Please reserve your spot in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Moreau Lake State Park is located at 605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort. For more information, call 518-793-0511, or visit: parks.ny.gov.
CLIFTON PARK — The following programs will be offered during the week of March 10-16. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library 475 Moe Road.
Family Story Time – Monday, March 10 and Thursday, March 13 at 10 am. Nurture your child’s love of reading with stories, songs, and other fun activities. For all ages, with an adult.
Intro to Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Monday, March 10 at 3:30 pm. Curious about AI? Learn the basics of ChatGPT, how AI is used today, what its current limitations are, and how it will shape the future. Registration required.
Guided Nature Walk: Squirrel Ecology – Tuesday, March 11 at noon. Join us for a guided nature walk at Ushers Road State Forest. Addison Kubik of the Cornell Cooperative Extension will discuss squirrel ecology as we explore the trail. Registration required.
Exploring & Downloading Apps – Tuesday, March 11 at 1:30 pm. There’s an app for that! Come learn how to search for and download apps to your smartphone. Registration required.
Birthday Book Club: Author Kate DiCamillo – Tuesday, March 11 at 4 pm. Be part of the celebration of a well-known children’s book author every month. This month we’re celebrating Kate DiCamillo, author of Mercy Watson and many other titles. For grades 1-4. Registration required.
Read With Pride Book Group at MochaLisa’s Caffé, Clifton Park: Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan – Tuesday, March 11 at 6 pm. A soul-stirring novel about what we choose to keep from our past, and what we choose to leave behind. All are welcome, including new participants.
Family LEGO Build! – Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 pm. LEGO builders are challenged to work as a family to create a project of your own design. All LEGOs will be provided. Registration required.
ZOOM: PJ Story Time – Tuesday, March 11 at 7 pm. Get comfy in your favorite PJs, grab a blanket, and tune in for a special story time with Miss Chrissie.
Preschool Story Time & Craft – Wednesday, March 12 at 10:30 am. Nurture your preschooler’s love of reading with stories, songs, and a fun craft activity. For ages 3-5, with an adult. Registration required.
All Abilities Art Club – Wednesday, March 12 at 11 am. Join us for an open studio-style hour of art making and community. Adults of all ages and abilities are welcome to come together to create. A new material and theme will be offered each month.
ZOOM: Virtual Author Talk with Dan Heath – Wednesday, March 12 at 2 pm. Are you ready for a revolutionary guide to fixing what’s not working—in systems and processes, organizations and companies, and even in our daily lives? Join us for an enlightening conversation with bestselling author Dan Heath as he talks with us about his newest book, Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working. Registration required.
ZOOM: Design with AI – Tools for Digital Storytelling – Wednesday, March 12 at 3 pm
This session will give you practical techniques to elevate your storytelling using Napkin.ai, Google Earth Studio, and Fontjoy.com to craft visuals, animations, and font pairings. Registration required.
Therapy Dogs for Teens – Thursday, March 13 at 4:30 pm. De-stress and pet a therapy dog. Drop by the Teen Place to hang out with our furry friend, Zuzu. Come alone or with a friend. For teens in grades 6-12 only.
Silent Book Club at MochaLisa’s Caffé, Clifton Park – Thursday, March 13 at 6 pm. Come talk about your favorite books and read quietly in a group setting. Bring your own book, borrow one from the Library, or purchase one from MochaLisa’s. We’ll break off into small groups after reading to talk about what we read or one of our all-time favorite books.
World Cinema: Persepolis (2007) – Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 pm. A precocious and outspoken Iranian girl grows up during the Islamic Revolution. This film will be presented as a companion program to our Banned Book Club reading of the graphic novel the movie is based on. All are welcome to join the discussion or just come and enjoy the film. In French/English subtitles. Rated PG-13; 96 min.
Details and registration information for each program can be found at www.cphlibrary.org or by calling 518-371-8622.
