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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2024

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Calendar.

This Week’s Events:   Dec. 13-19

Friday,
December 13

Annual Mitten Tree

Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs | Warm Hands and hearts. Our mitten tree is in need of donations of new and handmade hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, socks and winter wear. All items hung on our tree will be donated to local charitable organizations for distribution to those who need a little help staying warm this winter. Donations will be accepted through January 4, 2025.

Tea and Talk: Historic Holidays 

Galway Public Library, 2112 East Street, Galway | 3 p.m. An adult program presented by Charlene DuBuque, Education Director of Brookside Museum.  Come hear about ways that Saratoga County residents have celebrated holidays in the past.  Participants are encouraged to share their own memories of holidays that are important to them.  Tea and light refreshments will be served.  Registration is requested, but not required, at 518-882-6385.  

Saturday, December 14

Breakfast & Photos with Santa

Curtis Lumber, 885 State Route 67, Ballston Spa | 8 – 11 a.m. You and your family are invited to join us for a festive and fun breakfast with Santa and his elves! For a suggested donation of $5 per person, you can be a part of spreading joy and supporting a great cause – the News Radio 810 & 103.1 WGY Christmas Wish that benefits local ill and homeless children in Upstate, NY.  Plus….don’t miss out on WGY’s Joe Gallagher, broadcasting LIVE from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.! Breakfast provided by Crafted Catering and Events.  Every breakfast purchase contributes to making the holiday season brighter for those in need in our community. No reservations required!  For more information, visit curtislumber.com or call 518-885-5311.

32nd Annual Holiday Cookie Sale

Galway United Methodist Church, Corner of Rte. 147 and CR45, Village of Galway | 10 a.m. This is the oldest and only continuously held sale in the area. Sale will continue until sold out. Come early for the best selection. Contact Sharyn Kalinkewicz at 518-928-0179 for information. 

3rd Annual Santa Paws Pet Photo Event

The Car Shoppe Malta, 2215 US 9, Mechanicville | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. All pets welcome, reservations not required. $5 donation to benefit H.O.P.E. Animal Shelter. The Car Shoppe is committed to giving back to our local communities — including to the furry members in shelters — to help keep everyone safe and healthy. If you wish to bring in a toy for the TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE instead, we will give a $5 donation to H.O.P.E on your behalf! 

Christmas Pop-up Shop

Greenfield Community Center, 25 Wilton Road, Greenfield Center | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event is free and is open to the public. The Greenfield Lions will be selling fresh baked goods, homemade soups/chili and coffee and the Lions Cookbook. The public is invited to pick up some Christmas Gifts from local vendors and crafters. This will also be a food drive for the food pantry.

Free Lunch

Malta Ridge Methodist Church, 729 Malta Ave. Ext., Malta Ridge | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch will be served at no charge. All are welcome. For additional information or directions, please call the church at 518-581-0210. 

Santa, Mini Horses & Holiday Cheer

Saratoga Honda, Route 9/Crescent Ave., Saratoga Springs | 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Adorable holiday photos with Santa and Mini Horses. Free to attend, with a suggested donation of $10 for a photo with Santa. Show proof of your donation and get a free carwash at Saratoga Honda. All proceeds go to Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. Stop by for cookies, light refreshments, raffles, and special guests Kramer and Kremepuff.  

Ballston Area Seniors Monthly Dance

310 Northline Rd., Ballston Spa | 7 – 10 p.m. The dance is open to the public. There is ample free parking. There will be a donation of $7 per person. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Dance to the music of River Road Boys. Adults only. For more information call 518-490-2851. 

Sunday,
December 15

All You Can Eat Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Clause

The Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Department, 1870 Route 32N, Gansevoort | 8 – 11 a.m. Have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Clause along with Horse drawn wagon rides at the Gansevoort Firehouse. Menu includes eggs cooked to order, omelets, pancakes, hash, French toast, home fries, biscuits and sausage gravy, orange juice, milk and coffee. Donations: $12 Adults, Seniors 55+ $10, Military and 1st Responders $10, children (6 to 12) $8, kids under 6 free. 

Celebrate the Season

Saratoga United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs| 3 p.m. Saratoga Chamber Players celebrates the season with dazzling string sextet arrangements of Mozart’s Symphonie Concertante in Eb Major, K364 and Strauss’ Metamorphosen, TrV 290.  Purchase tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-season-of-sextets-tickets-950934620047?aff=oddtdtcreator For more information and musician bios visit https://www.saratogachamberplayers.org/

Monday, December 16

Holiday Hints for Caregivers: Managing the Busy Holiday Season

Saratoga Senior Center, 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs | 9:30 a.m. Presented by Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY. The holidays are a time for family togetherness and memories but can also be a time filled with stress and sadness for the person living with dementia and his or her caregiver. This program will help caregivers understand how cognitive changes impact the holiday season, as well as provide tips on how to modify activities and traditions. You’ll even leave with a few gift ideas! This program is supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

Saratoga Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting

Saratoga Senior Center, 290 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs |2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Join us for a chat and some holiday cheer. All are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact us with any questions: Leader Gordon Blyth 

gordonsblyth@gmail.com 917-887-7980 or Co-Leader Marie Thorne softballmom300@yahoo.com 518-810-8483. 

Bingo for Books

Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 3 p.m. This holiday season we are in the spirit of games and giving. We’ll play several rounds of bingo where the grand prizes are books. We have many brand-new copies to give away to the lucky winners. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Tuesday, December 17

Pierogi Sale 

Christ the Savior Church, 349 Eastline Rd., Ballston Lake | Pick up 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. As usual we will have potato/cheese, kraut, and farmer’s cheese pierogies.  All pierogi orders are $12/dozen. We will have stuffed clams as well (6 for $10).  Please call 518-363-0001 to place your order ahead of time.

Wednesday, December 18

Astronomy Club

Galway Public Library, Community Room, 2112 East St., Galway | 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. This month Steve Clark will present “What’s Out There? Different things you can see through a telescope.” Anyone interested in astronomy, regardless of their level of experience, is encouraged to attend these relaxed and friendly gatherings. This group is open to adults and teens (middle school and older).  Registration is requested, but not required, by calling 518-882-6385. If the weather is nice, we will also set up some telescopes for viewing. For more information contact: Maria Goldsmith at mgoldsmith@sals.edu.

Roast Beef Dinner

Saratoga Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. for curbside pickup only. Call Monday and Tuesday between 10 a.m. and noon to place an order at 518-584-2585. Menu: Roast beef, roasted redskin potatoes, vegetable, salad, roll, gravy. Dinner for $15 (cash only). 

When Klezmer Meets Hanukah Concert

Congregation Beth Shalom, 688 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park | 7 p.m. Please join us for a soulful and “fraylich” uplift to an in-vogue holiday happening.  The program will also be available on Zoom. Led by Rabbi Zoe B. Zak, Rabbi at Temple Israel of Catskill, and accompanied by Margot Leverett, and Studio Stu.  Advance registration is required for both in person attendance and for streaming on Zoom.  To register, go to https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/ycV06dV/KlezmerChanukah. A $10 donation is requested at the door.  Zoom participants may make a donation to Temple Sinai, 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

Thursday, December 19

Books and Tea

Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs | 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Books and Tea meets to discuss North Woods by Daniel Mason. Books and Tea is an ongoing reading group that meets the third Thursday of each month. Copies of the book may be obtained in the Reading Group Choices collection or by placing holds on the online public catalog. Stop by at the Information Desk for any assistance. Come on down and join us for good conversations around books! No registration required.

Staying Healthy During the Holidays: Tips for a Balanced Season

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Families Today.

Dumbbells, Christmas tree branches, gingerbread man cookies, candy canes decorations, decor pendant ornaments. Gym workout holiday season composition. Sport training flat lay. Cheat day temptation vs sticking to the diet.


Dr. Matt Smith, DC

The holiday season is often a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence. However, it can also bring about challenges related to health and wellness. With the influx of rich foods, festive drinks, and a busy schedule, it’s easy to stray from healthy habits. Here are some effective strategies to help you maintain your health during this festive period.

1. Mindful Eating

One of the keys to enjoying holiday foods without overindulging is practicing mindful eating. Here’s how to do it:

Slow Down: Take your time when eating. Enjoy the flavors and textures of your food rather than rushing through meals.

Portion Control: Serve smaller portions or use a smaller plate to help control your food intake.

Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to hunger cues. Eat until you’re satisfied, not stuffed.

2. Stay Active

The holiday season can disrupt regular workout routines, but it’s important to prioritize physical activity. Consider the following:

Incorporate Movement: Engage in short workouts or even 10-minute activity bursts throughout the day—this can include taking the stairs, going for walks, or dancing to your favorite holiday songs.

Plan Active Gatherings: Suggest fun, active outings with family and friends, such as hiking, skating, or playing holiday-themed games.

3. Balance Indulgence with Healthy Choices

While it’s okay to enjoy holiday treats, balance is key. Consider these tips:

Healthier Alternatives: Offer healthier options at gatherings, such as vegetable platters with dip, fruit salads, or whole grain snacks.

Limit Alcohol: If you choose to drink, set limits on the number of drinks you consume. Opt for lower-calorie beverages and alternate alcoholic drinks with water.

4. Manage Stress

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can lead to increased stress, which impacts both mental and physical health. Incorporate stress-reducing practices into your routine:

Mindfulness and Meditation: Take a few moments each day for deep breathing or meditation. This can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety.

Stay Organized: Create a checklist to manage your tasks efficiently, from grocery shopping to gift wrapping, which can help alleviate last-minute stress.

5. Stay Hydrated

It’s easy to forget to drink water amidst holiday celebrations, yet staying hydrated is essential for overall health:

Set Reminders: Carry a reusable water bottle and set reminders on your phone to ensure you’re drinking enough.

Infuse Water: Add slices of fruits or herbs to your water for a festive touch that encourages hydration.

6. Prioritize Sleep

With all the festivities, sleep can often take a backseat. Lack of sleep can impact your mood, appetite, and energy levels:

Establish a Sleep Routine: Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even during the holidays.

Create a Relaxing Environment: Make your sleep space as comfortable as possible. Consider using blackout curtains and white noise machines to improve sleep quality.

The holiday season should be a time of joy without sacrificing your health. By implementing these strategies, you can maintain a balance between enjoying festive treats and staying healthy. Remember that it’s about enjoying the moments, the company of loved ones, and creating lasting memories—healthy habits can help ensure you feel your best while doing so. Happy holidays!

Dr. Matt Smith has been a Chiropractor in Saratoga Springs for the past 37 years. He and his daughter Dr. Kevy Smith Minogue can be reached at www. mysaratogachiropractor. com or call 518-587-2064.

Potential Impacts of Policy Proposals in the Next Trump Administration

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Families Today.

by Stephen Kyne, CFP
Sterling Manor Financial

Where are you on a scale of jubilant to despondent? Hopeful? Trepidatious? Regardless of your desired outcome, the election is over, and we’re all on the same bus now. It’s time to take measure of where we are so that we can try to understand where we may be headed. 

Understand that this article is only intended to view the outcome from a purely economic perspective, and is not intended to be political in any way.

Campaigns are filled with rhetoric and bluster. The first order of business for markets and their observers will be to try to understand which policy proposals were bluster, and which will actually go on to become governing priorities for the new Trump administration. Let’s review a few and how they could impact your wallet.

Tariffs have been a buzzword for much of the last year, with many people not fully understanding much about how they work. Tariffs are simply a tax on imports, which are always passed on to the consumer, leading to higher prices. 

One proposal has been to repeal the income tax and fund the government entirely through tariffs. There are a few major reasons this is a non-starter. 

First, it would be hugely regressive. Half of workers pay no federal income tax (not to be confused with Medicare and FICA). Because tariffs are effectively a tax on consumption, and because lower-paid workers spend a higher proportion of their income, and rely more heavily on inexpensive imports, their tax rate would effectively increase from zero to whatever their average tariff is (20-35% as proposed).  Conversely, someone making a million dollars annually may only spend half of that, of which only a portion is on imports, so they may see their effective tax rate actually decrease to less than 10%.

Second, the US imports roughly $3.8T worth of goods and services. The Federal budget for 2024 is nearly $6T. Funding the budget would require a158% average tariff, meaning that prices on imports would need to go up by 158% on average. An increase of that magnitude would dramatically reduce consumption which, in turn, would require even higher tariffs to fund the gap, which would drive consumptions even lower; you can see that this death spiral becomes untenable. Repealing the income tax is almost certainly a non-starter. 

The latest proposal is for a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 35% tariff on imports from China. These three countries account for nearly 45% of goods and services imported to the United States. 

Tariffs of any kind will increase prices, so consider that everything you purchase from these countries will go up in price by 20-35%. 

By providing inexpensive imports, Wal-Mart made it possible for working-class families to live a middle-class lifestyle, and it’ll be those families that will experience the worst of the inflation. I’m old enough to remember two years ago when the dollar store raised its prices a few nickels and it was the end of all things. Imagine what will happen when families that are already stretched thin see their cost of living go up again.

Moving on to immigration. It’s fair to say that the US’s immigration system needs to be improved, but the wholesale collection and deportation of undocumented workers will not only be expensive in its own right, but would have inflationary impacts across the economy. 

Imagine what happens to the price of food when you remove the one-in-eight agricultural workers who is undocumented. Imagine what happens to the price of housing when you remove the nearly one-in-six construction workers who is undocumented. Imagine what happens to the cost of dining or your next hotel stay without the scores of undocumented workers who cook meals, wash dishes, and clean rooms in the hospitality industry. 

Some will say that removing undocumented workers will create jobs for Americans, but with an economy at nearly full-employment there simply aren’t enough American workers to fill those vacancies. That means an increase in wages to attract them from other sectors, which will be passed on to the consumer, or a degradation in available services.

Then there’s RFK Jr., who would like to eliminate seed oils, and replace them entirely with beef tallow. Never mind that a sizeable chunk of the population does not consume beef due to dietary or religious constraints, eliminating seed oils would drastically increase the price of much of the food we consume. 

Cows are far more expensive to cultivate than canola or sunflowers, and those costs would be passed on to the consumer which will have the greatest impact on low and middle-income families. The US cattle herd is already smaller than it’s been since 1961, and shorter supplies also mean higher prices

These domestic policies could be fairly easily reversed by this or the next administration, or by Congress. Of greater concern, to us, are the foreign policy priorities which could have more long-standing impacts.

The writing is on the wall that the US’s support of Ukraine will be waning. How that support is withdrawn could have serious consequences. If the US pulls support overnight, and cedes the Ukraine to Russia, then that may imply weakened resolve to China vis a vis its conquest of Taiwan. In the event China invades Taiwan, as it has signaled it would, expect that the Taiwanese will not go down without a fight. 

Among other things, Taiwan currently produces 60% of the world’s semiconductors, and more than 90% of the world’s most complex semiconductors. Recall four years ago the disruption that was caused when the world couldn’t get semiconductors simply because these factories were shut down due to the pandemic. Now, imagine what will happen when those factories are reduced to rubble. The impact on global trade would be immediate and, you guessed it, wildly inflationary. 

An isolationist America would almost certainly embolden China, Russia, and other adversaries, which could force our allies around the world to divert more resources toward their defense sectors, and away from other areas of their economies. This would result in lower output and higher prices.  

With inflation running a very cool 2.6%, unemployment at an enviable 4.3%, GDP an impressive 3%+/-, and US stock indices at all-time highs, the US economy is very much the envy of the world. That isn’t to say things are perfect but, with the exception of a much needed reduction in government spending, status quo may be the best policy. Otherwise we may find prices soaring, the world on its ear, and a whole lot of uncertainty on the horizon. 

More will become clear as governing priorities emerge and markets adjust. Be sure to work closely with your Certified Financial Planner® professional to help navigate the waters ahead.

Stephen Kyne CFP® is a Partner at Sterling Manor Financial, LLC in Saratoga Springs. This article contains forward-looking statements based on information available at the time of writing, and which are subject to change and not guaranteed.   

Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sterling Manor Financial, LLC, or Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., SEC registered investment advisors. Sterling Manor Financial and Cadaret, Grant are separate entities. 18 Division St, Ste 202, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-583-4040

Everyday Trash to Christmas Treasure

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Families Today.


by Kate Morna Towne

I was looking through some of my old columns and thought, with less than two weeks left until Christmas, that this one from ten years ago might be helpful to some of you! This is still one of my favorite ideas. I wrote this when my older six were 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 8 months.

I know you all probably let your kids make crafts and inventions out of things they find around the house, which is really really great, but I just have to say: I am not one of those moms. 

For one thing, it makes a mess. Keeping a clean house is enough of a challenge for me with its normal day-to-day messes without adding to it through craft time and Play-Doh and cooking with kids and all those other things patient energetic parents do. 

For another, where is this craftiness supposed to happen? Cleaning off a cluttered table is sometimes just beyond my energy level. Leaving it to the children to find an appropriate spot is risky with such little ones in the house — what might be forgotten at the end of craft time that the baby might put in his mouth in the fraction of a second I’m not looking? 

Finally, what materials might be needed for all this creativity? I’m determined to always have pencils, crayons, and paper available to them (and sometimes scissors and tape when I’m up to supervising), but no glue, no glitter, not even markers, and definitely no paint (for my family, those are things that are used only at school or someone else’s house). 

My boys make do. They’re constantly drawing and writing, and they get excited when they’re allowed time for cutting and taping, and you’d be amazed by the things they’ve constructed out of just what they’re allowed. It is true that they’re always clamoring for this empty box or that empty toilet paper tube, and while I’m okay with the toilet paper tubes, since they’re easy and ubiquitous and don’t require cleaning out, I dig my heels in about most other things for various reasons but mostly because I don’t want garbage all over my house.

There was one exception to this, though, and it happened three Christmases ago. One of my sons in particular has always had a tendency to see great things in every little piece of garbage. That year, he was deep in a phase where he was bugging me all the time to be able to keep the garbage. Empty boxes, lids and bottle caps, bottles, canisters — basically anything we wanted to throw away was something he needed for his inventions. Finding garbage all over the house, even as part of the Next Great Invention, was really wearing on me. So I cracked down and said, “No more.” For my sanity, even if it meant stifling his creativity, no longer would I let my son have our garbage.

Or so I told him. I think it was late summer when I issued that decree, but already I had Christmas in mind. For the next couple of months, I squirreled away in an old cardboard diaper box bits of garbage that I knew my son would love. There were plastic toothpick jars and spice jars with their screw-off caps, orange juice bottle lids and lids from peanut butter and jelly jars, long tubes from aluminum foil rolls, egg cartons, those three-pronged white things that keep the pizza box top from touching the pizza, empty snack boxes, empty bread crumb and oatmeal canisters, those squarish plastic things that keep the bread bags closed, salvaged wrapping paper folded up neatly, pieces of cardboard from packaging materials, and bits of string that had tied up bakery boxes and ribbons that had decorated baked Christmas goodies received in the weeks beforehand from friends. I bought some new things to put in there too — a package each of pipe cleaners, drinking straws, and Popsicle sticks, as well as some new Scotch tape and a book about recycling garbage into new crafty things.

“A box of garbage” was not, of course, something my son would have ever thought to put on his Christmas list, so I knew this was a little risky. Santa is generous but restrained in our house and has a pretty strict limit about how many gifts each person is given; having a box of garbage take the place of a much-hoped-for, asked-for gift could have been a disaster. But the biggest risks can yield the biggest rewards, and I was pretty confident about how well I knew my boy. When Christmas morning dawned, I was excited to see his reaction.

Before he opened his wrapped diaper box-shaped gift, we explained to him that Santa had needed our help to put this gift together, which just increased our coolness in his eyes (Mom and Dad can talk to Santa!). And when he opened it — oh my. My little crafty inventor was agog at all the new materials he had to work with, and not only that, but also having Mom and Dad’s blessing (since we helped Santa put this gift together after all) to build and create and make a masterful creative mess to his heart’s content. And he did: non-mechanical robots, simple machines, abstract sculptures and other 3D pieces of art were displayed all over the house for months afterward.

That box of garbage remains in all our memories as one of the crowning glories of Christmas presents in our family’s history. My other boys said for months afterward that they too wanted a box of garbage the next Christmas, and I just saw the other day that one of them has put it on his list to Santa this year. So if any of you are out of ideas for a child in your life who is creative and inventive and whose mom is stingy about letting him or her use household items in their quest to become a famous artist or inventor, use these weeks until Christmas wisely: start hoarding your garbage. Merry Christmas!

Kate and her husband have seven sons ages 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, and 6. Email her at kmtowne23@gmail.com.

When Klezmer Meets Hanukah Concert: In Person, and Streaming Dec. 18

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

CLIFTON PARK — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents When Klezmer Meets Chanukah, led by Rabbi Zoe B. Zak and accompanied by Margot Leverett and Studio Stu.  The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Congregation Beth Shalom, 688 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park.

The program will also be available on Zoom.

Zoe B. Zak is the Rabbi at Temple Israel of Catskill.  She recently co-authored The Cook and The Rabbi (published by Norton Books) with author Susan Simon.  As a performer, composer and producer, she has more than 30 CDs to her credit.  

Margot Leverett is one of the foremost clarinetists of the klezmer revival.  She was a founding member in 1985 of The Klezmatics, a Grammy-award winning musical group, before moving on to a solo career.  

Studio Stu, with his state-of-the-art “Studivarious,” a single string bass, is a one string wonder, combining a traditional folk instrument and a classic jazz form.  

Advance registration for When Klezmer Meets Chanukah is required for both in person attendance and for streaming on Zoom.  To register, go to https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/ycV06dV/KlezmerChanukah. 

A $10 donation is requested at the door.  Zoom participants may make a donation to Temple Sinai, 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Registrants will receive a playbill and Zoom link a few days before the program, and a reminder shortly before the program.

The Nutcracker: Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet Performances Dec. 21 -22

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.


Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet presents the Nutcracker. Photo: Susan Blackburn.

ALBANY — Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet presents the Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.

Featuring over 120 local dancers, ages 5-18, and special guests i Sarah MacGregor and Jethro Paine courtesy of Boulder Ballet; and Andre Malo Robles as Herr Drosselmeyer. 

Tickets available at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ssyballet/the-nutcracker-2030394712. General Admission: $35; seniors and students: $28; children under 3: free. All ticket proceeds directly support the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet, a nonprofit organization providing quality professional dance training to pre-professional students throughout the Great Saratoga region. For more information, visit http://www.saratogaspringsyouthballet.org. 

The Performing Arts Center at the University at Albany is located at 1400 Washington Ave. in Albany. N.Y. 

Arts Grants Totaling $90K Awarded to Support 2025 Programming at Tang Museum, Zankel Music Center & Skidmore Jazz Institute 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College’s Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, Arthur Zankel Music Center, and Skidmore Jazz Institute are the recipients of 2025 grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, reflecting Skidmore’s important contributions to creativity, arts, and culture in New York state.  

The NYSCA funding will support a wide variety of programming offered by the Tang Teaching Museum, Arthur Zankel Music Center, and Skidmore Jazz Institute in 2025. 

The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, which has been awarded $40,000, has distinguished itself as an internationally recognized art museum and a vital part of Skidmore’s liberal arts mission. Since opening in 2000, the Tang has welcomed nearly 900,000 visitors, including K-12 students and teachers; community groups, including from under-resourced rural and urban areas; residents from throughout the region; and artists, scholars, and tourists from across the country and the world. To help remove barriers to participation, the Museum offers free admission to its galleries and all public programs. 

Arthur Zankel Music Center, the recipient of $20,000, is home to Skidmore’s Music Department and the state-of-the-art Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall. It offers a robust schedule of public programming that includes faculty and student recitals; performances by world-renowned guest artists who engage with Skidmore’s curriculum, often accompanied by master classes and talks; and a culturally diverse series of curated artistic events prioritizing BIPOC performers.  

The Office of Special Programs’ Skidmore Jazz Institute, also awarded $20,000, is a celebrated two-week summer program designed to educate young musicians from around the country in the technique and history of jazz through master classes, rehearsals, private lessons, recording and music production seminars, and concerts with a faculty of top jazz practitioners and guest artists.  

In addition to the three Support for Organization grants, NYSCA has awarded Distinguished Writer-in-Residence Greg Hrbek, in Skidmore’s English Department, a $10,000 Support for Artist literature grant to support a novel he’ll be working on next year.  

Through the state’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded grants to 509 artists and 1,497 organizations across the state, totaling $84 million for fiscal year 2025 so far.

Warren Miller Ski Movie Benefit Raises More Than $7,000

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.


Double H Ranch Adaptive Winter Sports Program, and to Saratoga Springs High School Alpine Ski Team each received checks for $3,529. Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nearly 800 people attended the Warren Miller ski movie benefit event 75, held at Trombley Auditorium at Saratoga Springs Middle School last month.  

Hosted by Alpine Sport Shop, the event brought together the local ski community and raised $7,058. 

All profits were donated to Double H Ranch Adaptive Winter Sports Program, and to Saratoga Springs High School Alpine Ski Team. Each received $3,529. 

In The New Year: True Crime Tour to Visit Universal Preservation Hall May 3

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Psychology of a Murderer – hosted by renowned forensic psychologist and criminal expert Dr. Rachel Toles, will visit more than 40 U.S. cities in 2025 including Saratoga Springs’ Universal Preservation Hall for one show only on Saturday, May 3.

Toles, who has has cultivated nearly 250,000 social media followers with her true crime content, will take audiences on an illuminating and disturbing journey into the darkest corners of a killer’s psyche including the twisted minds and motives of infamous killers Jeffrey Dahmer, Aaron Hernandez, Chris Watts, Aileen Wuornos, the Menendez Brothers, and more. 

Toles will examine what lies behind the decision to commit murder. What are the escalation points? Do some people snap, while others make a clear and conscious decision? “This show is unique in that we’ll be exploring the root causes, uncovering the childhood experiences, the family dynamics, and the critical breaking points that can lead to these later tragedies,” says Toles. During intermission, audience members will have the chance to submit questions to Dr. Toles for a highly anticipated live Q&A session. 

Tickets are on sale to the public through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at (518) 346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online by visiting atuph.org. Groups of 10 or more can get tickets by calling (518) 382-3884 x 139. 

Empire State University Student Helps Airdrop Resources Into Gaza

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Chloe Hite, a business administration student at Empire State University, joined the Air National Guard in 2022 and was deployed in 2024 to Jordan, where she was among the first units to airdrop resources into Gaza during the ongoing war. 

“Helping people get food and blankets to stay warm was important because at that point they had no structures, they were just living on the sides of the road,” Hite said in a news release. 

Hite said the flexibility offered through Empire State University helped her balance her responsibilities within the Air National Guard. After graduation, Hite said she plans to continue her military career by becoming a supervisor and inspiring others to join.

“I want people to be able to find their purpose of why they joined and also see the world as I did,” Hite said.

Hite hopes to earn a master’s degree in teaching so that she can teach business to middle and high school-aged students. Hite said her goal to teach came from her teaching experience within the Air National Guard, where she trains and instructs air crew members.

“There are so many life lessons the military has taught me that so many younger generations could also learn,” Hite said. “I want to be there for people who need help and listen to their problems or their accomplishments. I think a lot of students need that person.”