BALLSTON SPA — Flautist Melanie Chirignan and Harpist Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher will be performing in the Long Room at The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.
In August of 2017, an ambitious flautist emailed a highly recommended harpist, and inquired if she might want to play some duets together – and, thus, Stringwynde was born. The artists each hold graduate degrees in music and perform in a variety of musical genres. As individual performers, their appearances have included solo recitals, chamber ensembles, symphonies, and many private events. As versatile educators, they have taught countless private music students as well as working in both public and private school classrooms
The musicians specialize in music of the Celtic tradition. For more information, go to: www.brooksidemuseum.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Joinery, a woodworking makerspace at 69 Caroline St., invites the community to Rooted in Community: Open House and Mural Painting event, 10a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Guests can expect shop tours, live woodworking demonstrations, make-and-take toy build stations for kids, raffle drawings and refreshments.
Saratoga Joinery, which opened in March, has been bringing people together through woodcraft, offering more than 40 woodworking classes on projects like cutting boards, picture frames, resin river charcuterie boards, hand cut joinery and kumiko.
Over 80 community members have joined the community woodshop for access to tools, fellowship, and training
Learn more about this event and Saratoga Joinery at www.saratogajoinery.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Arts Board of Directors has announced Amy Bloom as the new Executive Director.
Bloom is an experienced leader in strategy, operations, marketing, and fundraising, and a long-time resident of Saratoga Springs. She has worked regionally as an Executive at Planned Parenthood, Hudson Headwaters Health Network, and Alliance for Better Health, and in 2020 co-founded and grew a local primary care organization, and led it towards acquisition by a national health care company.
Founded in 1986 by and for artists and audiences, Saratoga Arts’ mission is to enrich the region by cultivating a vibrant arts community and by ensuring that the arts are accessible to all. For more information about Saratoga Arts, visit www.saratoga-arts.org. Saratoga Arts is located at 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
Molly Burt-Westvig – Installation view, “To Trace a Sunbeam,” video projection on salvaged automotive mirrors, 2024. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Molly Burt-Westvig is Skidmore College’s 2024 resident for the competitive Work+Space program, which allows the Skidmore Art Department to bring an emerging artist to campus for three weeks.
During the residency, Burt-Westvig will operate from a studio in Saisselin Art Building and engage with students through artist talks, one-and-one critiques, and more. The residency will also culminate in a public exhibition at Schick Art Gallery.
The exhibition will open on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and run through Friday, Dec. 8, in Schick Art Gallery, on the second floor of Saisselin Art Building. An opening reception and gallery talk will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. (talk begins at 5:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, Nov. 19. All Schick Art Gallery exhibits and events are free and open to the public; visit the Schick Art Gallery website to learn more.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. There is so much to do to gear up for the holiday season. It is time to start the preparations of items needed to create your fabulous feast. At Compliments to the Chef, we have some gadgets which can make your Thanksgiving prep and serve a little easier. Good tools are essential to good cooking just like good tools are helpful to a carpenter building a house. One tool I think a lot of foodies don’t have or know how to use is the thermometer. It is one of my must haves in a kitchen. Undercooked Turkey is a recipe for Salmonellosis! Your turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees for 15 seconds. You should check the temperature in at least two places and in the thickest part of the turkey. Do not discount how much this tool means to not just you but your whole family. Our recommendation is a simple Bi-Metallic stemmed thermometer. There are others, such as digital but this is the simplest, easiest and most cost-effective choice. It’s easy to calibrate and if you stop in, I’ll personally teach you how. One of our favorite instant-read thermometers is the Thermo Pop by Thermo Works.
The second recommendation for a must have is a Flavor injector and there are many types. Adding some flavor can really set your Turkey apart from Mom’s recipe.
Our third recommendation is either an open roaster or a roaster with a lid. Roast meat, poultry, and vegetables to perfection with a large roaster. Open roasters can hold up to a 20-lb. turkey. The heavy-duty stainless-steel roasting pan features tall, straight sides, which help prevent splatters and spills, while its upright handles ensure a secure hold when transporting the pan to and from the oven, even when wearing thick oven mitts. The open roaster comes with a V-shaped nonstick roasting rack that elevates large cuts of meat to promote even cooking.
Another cool tool for your feast is a gravy/fat separator. There are various sizes and styles of gravy separators. Among the types is a 1 ¾ cup gravy separator that is made of FDA-approved, BPA-free polycarbonate and plastic. This gravy separator strains out fat, seasonings, and lumps for flavorful gravy, broth, soup stock, au jus, and sauce with lower fat and calories. The BPA-free polycarbonate and plastic structure resists breakage and is heat-safe to 248-degrees Fahrenheit. It has a large handle that allows for a safe grip The pierced lid strains out lumps and larger food bits with a low-set spout that pours flavorful liquids without the fat; drip-free spout for easy, mess-free pouring. The fat separator also has a wide-mouth opening and markings in milliliters and cups (from ½-cup) makes straining and measuring easy; microwave safe for easy reheats. The fat separator is easy to use and is great for everyday or holiday meals and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
Also, have your knives sharpened so you do not end up hacking away at your roast. Remember, we have knife sharpening services at Compliments to the Chef.
These are just a small list of what can help you this season. Getting ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be a struggle. Cherish your moments together. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place. Let us assist you with your holiday culinary needs. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.
Whether you make your own desserts, or prefer to pick up pre-made, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is bursting with ingredients and baked items ready to serve your guests. Here are two delicious, seasonal desserts to consider adding to your menu.
The Saratoga Farmer’s Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Wilton Mall in the food court area November 2nd through April 26th. Find us online a www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.
Public domain photo of two U.S. Army Air Force North American AT-6C-NT Texan trainers via the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
BALLSTON SPA — On the morning of Friday, November 8, a formation of World War II-era T-6 Texan aircraft soared over local schools in celebration of Veterans Day. The planes could be seen above Ballston Spa High School, Caroline Street Elementary School, and Maple Avenue Middle School.
The spectacle was arranged by the Prescott Foundation, along with local warbird operator Mark Murphy. The aircraft flew in a circular route that began at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School around 9:30 a.m. and ended at Galway Central School District about an hour later.
According to the National Museum of World War II aviation, the T-6 Texan is an American single-engine aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and United States Navy during World War II and into the 1970s.
The last known military use of the Texan was by the South Africa Air Force as a trainer in 1995, which gives it a working history of 60 years, a figure virtually unrivaled by any other WWII-period aircraft. Today, the T-6 remains a popular warbird aircraft used for airshow demonstrations and static displays.
The Ballston Spa Public Library will be adding a new reading room and local history room. Photo via the library.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Public Library will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, November 17 at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate the start of construction of a reading room and local history room. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own shovels. Light refreshments will be served. The library is located at 21 Milton Avenue in downtown Ballston Spa.
Danielle Emeny, an Empire State University student, appears at the White House for the National Partnership for Student Success. Photo via Empire State University.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Danielle Emeny, a student in Empire State University’s Doctor of Education program, was recently invited to the White House by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to celebrate the National Partnership for Student Success and paint the way forward for educational equity across the country.
The National Partnership for Student Success is a public-private partnership led by the U.S. Department of Education, AmeriCorps, and Johns Hopkins University, that focuses on evidence-based student support. The partnership connects school districts with local, state, and federal agencies and resources while connecting students to community and service-oriented activities. Emeny helped pilot the program at SUNY Upstate as a member of their professional staff, in collaboration with staff at SUNY Onondaga Community College and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Educational equity is at the center of Emeny’s personal, professional, and academic goals. At Empire State University, Emeny is working toward a Doctor of Education degree and focusing on research surrounding graduate students with disabilities in higher education. This is a personal mission for Emeny, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2022 shortly before her studies began.
“This changed how my brain processed data as well as nearly obliterated my ability to read printed text,” Emeny said in a statement. “Fortunately, I can read for short periods of time on a computer if the text is inverted white on a black background, but this sudden shift in my adult life made me realize that accessible does not necessarily mean equal. I wish to focus on this topic to make sure that other students who need support services can get services that are useful in a timely fashion and to make accessibility mean access.”
As this work continues, Emeny said she hopes to bring the program to other campuses and bring financial resources to other students that could help keep them in school.
Photo provided by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Captain James Diefenderfer, Commanding Officer of the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, spoke to attendees of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Business Council Annual Breakfast on October 28 in Saratoga Springs.
According to the Naval Sea Systems Command, Captain Diefenderfer’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service awards.
Captain Diefenderfer’s shipboard assignments include: USS Chosin (CG 65) as First Lieutenant; USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as Reactor Mechanical Division Officer; USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) as Operations Officer; USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as Reactor Training Assistant; and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) as Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer.
While in Command of USS The Sullivans, his ship earned the Battle E twice, won the Battenberg Cup, deployed independently to 5th and 6th Fleets, and with the HMS Queen Elizabeth Strike Group to 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleets.
Ashore, he served as Shift Engineer at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa at the S8G/AFR Prototype, on the Navy Staff in the Navy Warfare Group (OPNAV N515), and on the U.S. Northern Command Staff as a Missile Defense Officer and as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander.
