Author: Saratoga TODAY

BALLSTON SPA — The Board of Trustees of the Saratoga County History Center has announced the appointment of Suzanne Maloney as its new Executive Director. 

The History Center has been rebuilding since the COVID-19 pandemic left the position vacant for the past five years.

Maloney brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and program management. For the past decade, she has operated a flower, herb, and vegetable farm, specializing in floral arrangements, supplying herbalists, and providing Community-Supported Agriculture.  In addition, she has served as the operations manager for the Albany Riverfront Collaborative and as a development associate for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

Her extensive background includes serving as Statewide Director of the State Employees Federated Appeal and as Executive Director of several organizations, including the Environmental Business Association of New York State, the New York State Nursery & Landscape Association, and the Invasive Plant Council of New York State.

The Saratoga County History Center, chartered by the New York State Education Department, operates out of Brookside Museum, a historic former hotel dating back to the 1790s in Ballston Spa.  Maloney will lead a team of volunteers and a staff of three, continuing the institution’s tradition of publishing books and articles, curating exhibits, and producing engaging in-person and online programs.

The History Center is partly supported by the New York State Council on the Arts and local municipal governments, including Saratoga County. However, it primarily relies on memberships, donations, and programs to sustain its operations.

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution proclaiming April 2025 “Donate Life Month” in Saratoga County. 

Through the Saratoga County’s membership with the New York State Association of Counties and New York State Association of County Clerks, counties across the state have come together to collectively support “Donate Life Month” in New York. 

Statistically, one person is added to the organ transplant waiting list every eight minutes in the U.S. More than 100,000 men, women and children currently awaiting organ transplants. More than 6,000 people nationally and 400 people in New York State die annually because the organ they need is not donated in time, according to the resolution. 

A single individual’s donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine can save up to eight lives, eye and tissue donation can save and heal the lives of up to 75 others, and a single blood donation can help three people in need. 

The aim of the county resolution is to raise awareness of the need for organ and tissue donations.  Anyone 16 years of age or older can register with the New York State Donate Life Registry. 

In New York State, approximately 8,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant – with more than 1,000 waiting more than five years. In 2024, 3,626 transplants were performed in New York State.

Donate Life New York State, a non-profit comprised of organ and tissue recovery organizations, health professionals, and individuals affected by donation, encourages employees of participating agencies and local governments to wear their official colors on “Blue and Green Day,” held on April 11, in an effort to raise awareness of the need for organ and tissue donations.

The Saratoga resolution encourages county employees to similarly wear blue and green on April 11. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York present, live on Zoom, The Braid’s performance of “Hold Me, Heal Me,” at 2 p.m. April 6, and 7 p.m. April 10. 

“Hold Me, Heal Me” offers stories of the power of kindness to heal. Like other plays in The Braid’s repertoire, “Hold Me, Heal Me” will be performed live on Zoom, followed by a Q&A session with the performers.

Now in its 15th season, The Braid is the go-to Jewish story company and leading non-profit organization creating, curating, producing and preserving stories grounded in Jewish culture and experience. Formerly known as Jewish Women’s Theater, the Braid bases performances on real life experiences, brought to life by professional actors.

To register for “Hold Me, Heal Me” and other upcoming SJCA programs, go to the SJCA Home Page at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/9HjgRFz/SJCAHomePage

CLIFTON PARK – The following events are slated to take place at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, located at 475 Moe Road. Details and registration information for each program can be found at www.cphlibrary.org or by calling 518-371-8622. 

• Teen Paint & Sip – Monday, April 14 at 4 p.m. (grades 6-12); registration required.
• Mushrooms & Me – Tuesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. (grades 2-5); registration required.
• Teen LEGO Mastery Competition! – Tuesday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m. (grades 6-12); registration required.
• Pajamarama Story Time – Wednesday, April 16 at 10 a.m.
• “Saturday Morning” Cartoons – Wednesday, April 16 at 2 p.m. (grades 1-4).
• Game Playtests: Be the First to Play! – Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. (grades 6-12); registration required.
• Wicked Sing-Along – Thursday, April 17 at 1 p.m.
• Middle School Book Club – Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. (grades 6-9); registration required.
• VolunTEEN: Advisory Program (VTAP) – Friday, April 18 at 1 p.m. (grades 6-12); registration required.
• TTOB: Habitat Hunters – Friday, April 18 at 2 p.m. (grades 2-5); registration required.