GREENFIELD CENTER — On September the 29, 2023, Andrew Foster, a wonderful fun and loving man, passed away suddenly at his home. A Celebration of Life will be celebrated from 1:30 to 4 p.m., 10/8/2023 at ITAM post 35, 247 Grand Ave, Saratoga Springs. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com
GANSEVOORT — Sharon M. LaBombard died September 27. A private graveside service commemorating Sharon’s life took place at the Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, NY. For condolences, visit compassionatefuneralcare.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Doris Irene Clute died September 27. At the family’s request the services will be announced at a later date. For condolences, visit compassionatefuneralcare.com.
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity boys and girls’ soccer teams each picked up victories in their annual ‘Kickin’ Out Cancer’ fundraiser, with this year’s event held in honor of longtime teacher Dave Mehan.
The Schuylerville girls’ team defeated Scotia-Glenville 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 30, while the Black Horses’ boys team beat South Glens Falls 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Proceeds raised at the games will be donated to the Schuylerville Elementary School Kindness Closet, which the district previously stated would be established in memory of Mehan, who died of cancer in August.
“Dave was such a great part of this community,” said Schuylerville boys head coach David Gauci. “He was an awesome guy. He was part of the soccer program, coaching. It was emotional for a lot of us … Dave would’ve loved it.”
At halftime of the boys’ game, the Schuylerville teams, along with fellow students, district staff, and community members participated in a ‘glowstick walk’ around the track in Mehan’s memory.
The Schuylerville girls team was powered by a hat trick by Anna Armstrong, who scored twice in regulation before netting the game-winner in overtime. Riley Keefer and Peyton DeLisle added assists for the Black Horses.
The lone goal in the Schuylerville boys’ victory was scored by Trevor French, off an assist by Corey Cottrell. Griffin Brophy made six saves in goal to preserve the win.
Tuesday was also the Black Horses’ senior night, honoring eight senior players: Parker Bendon, Griffin Brophy, Corey Cottrell, Trevor French, Sean Klingebiel, Austin Mosher, Alvaro Perez, and Brenden Steinberg.
Gauci said it was “a great win,” adding that it was meaningful to see the community support.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The CJD Foundation is hosting its annual walk to fundraise and bring awareness to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and other prion diseases. This year’s walk is on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Veterans Memorial Park on 10 Adams Rd in Saratoga Springs.
Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the walk around the track beginning at 11 a.m. There will be refreshments, a photo booth, an interactive fire truck, Santa Claus, children’s activities and supportive people to share CJD experiences with.
Each registrant receives five raffle tickets for an opportunity for many prizes, including sports and cultural events tickets and signed photos by well-known athletes. Participants are encouraged to bring framed photos of your loved ones lost to this disease, which has no treatment currently available, a press release states.
The CJD Foundation provides support to affected families, provides funds for research and medical community education, and hosts an annual conference bringing together doctors and researchers annually to hopefully one day have a treatment and cure for this disease.
For more information go to www.CJDFoundation.org or call 800-659-1991. Registration can be done the day of the event. To register online or donate to this cause, go to www.strides4cjd.com and click on the Saratoga Event.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration is going on now for the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department’s winter programs, including programs such as basketball, boxing, curling, ice skating and figure skating lessons, and volleyball.
Visit www.saratogarec.com and click Programs for complete information and a registration link. Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.
Drop-In Sessions at the Saratoga Springs Rec. Center
The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue is currently offering Open Adult (17+) Basketball, Open Gym, and Pickleball sessions. A Drop-In Rec Card is required in order to participate. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com, and click the basketball for the schedule, information, and to sign up for a Drop-In Rec Card.
Drop-In Sessions at the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink
Family Skate, Open Public, Family and Open Stick, Open Adult (17+ and 40+), and Open Figure sessions are offered. A Drop-In Rec Card is required in order to participate in all sessions except Family Skate and Open Public (City residents receive a discount upon sign-up).
Visit www.saratogarec.com, and click the ice skate for the schedule, information, and to sign up for a Drop-In Rec Card.
Get Fit at the Saratoga Springs Rec. Department
The Scott T. Johnson Recreation Center offers exercise equipment including a treadmill, rowing machine, free weights, and more. Participants must sign up for a Drop-In Rec Card prior to their first visit. Visit www.saratogarec.com and click Programs, Rec Center, Drop-In Sessions for complete information.
Racquetball Rentals at the Saratoga Springs Rec. Center
Reservations for court times can be made through Community Pass. Fees are $5 for City residents with a verified Community Pass account and $8 for all others. Reservations and fees are per person/per hour. Participants must sign up for a Drop-In Rec Card prior to their first visit.
Participants must bring their own racquet, racquetballs, and appropriate footwear.
Visit www.saratogarec.com and click Programs, Rec Center Drop-in Sessions for additional information and to reserve a court.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity football team picked up a big win on Friday, celebrating its homecoming night with a 56-0 win over Schenectady.
Jack Rigabar threw three touchdown passes, and Rodell Evans ran for three touchdowns on the ground as the Blue Streaks cruised to their third victory of the season.
Saratoga took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 39-yard touchdown run by Christian Mello and extended the lead to 14-0 on a three-yard run by Evans. A 22-yard pass from Rigabar to Tucker Zeh extended the lead to 21-0, and Rigabar, then found Brady Mills for a six-yard score to make it 28-0. Evans’ second touchdown run gave the Blue Streaks a 35-0 lead entering halftime.
Evans ran in his third touchdown of the game, this one from 12 yards out, in the third quarter to extend the lead to 42-0. Saratoga added another third-quarter score when Rigabar found Zeh for an 18-yard TD pass. David Newell scored the Blue Streaks’ final touchdown on an 18-yard run in the fourth, sending the game to its final score of 56-0.
Rigabar was 19 of 24 passing for 241 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Evans had 85 yards rushing and three TDs on 11 carries, while Newell had 56 yards and a score on seven carries. Mello added a 39-yard TD run and caught seven passes for 105 yards.
Zeh had 58 yards receiving and two TDs on five catches, with Mills adding 55 yards and a touchdown on three catches. Caleb Casey caught two passes for 14 yards, with Josh Simon catching two passes for nine yards, according to stats posted by the team on Hudl.
With the win, Saratoga improves to 3-2 overall (2-1 in Suburban Council Class AA). The Blue Streaks will travel to face Shaker (3-2 overall, 1-2 Suburban) on Friday.
BALLSTON SPA — Opera Saratoga presents an opera-themed pet costume party for pets and their owners from 1:30 – 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.
The fall fundraiser, titled Paw-varotti, will be held on the outside lawn at The Pampered Pooch and Pals, located at 2134 Doubleday Ave. in Ballston Spa.
The festivities will include a costume contest and runway judged by ‘celebrity’ judges who will award prizes for the Best Opera Costume, and best cute and scary costumes, among other.
A Howl-o-ween themed concert of classical music features opera singers Carla Fisk and Maximillian Jansen (the star of Opera Saratoga’s 2023, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) accompanied by pianist Karen Becker. The event will include photo ops, raffle baskets, seasonal bites and drinks.
Each ticket includes an operatic photo op: humans can try on costumes from Opera Saratoga’s stock, and pets receive a special Halloween portrait. Ticketed pets and owners receive entrance into the costume contest and a special ‘red-carpet moment’, where they may strut their stuff on the runway.
All proceeds will go towards Opera Saratoga’s 2024 summer season, which will be announced after the runway, with a special musical presentation. At the announcement, Opera Saratoga will raffle off a “Golden Ticket,” an all-access pass to Opera Saratoga’s Summer Festival (with a value of $450.) Kids 16 & under party for free and tickets are available for adults with and without pets.
Tickets and ticket information, available at www.operasaratoga.org/pawvarotti.
Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera, began with a production of Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre on July 5, 1962, playing to an audience of 230. The Company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually. Opera Saratoga celebrates its 60th Anniversary this season. To date, the company has performed 106 different fully staged works by 66 different composers, including 42 works by American composers and 14 premiere productions. In 2023, the company hired its 10th Artistic and General Director, Mary Birnbaum.
SCHENECTADY —Tickets for Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISÉRABLES, will go on sale 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 for its engagement at the MainStage at Proctors, Schenectady.
Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries, 438 cities and 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly still one of the world’s most popular musicals. To date, LES MISÉRABLES remains the 6th longest-running Broadway production of all time.
The show will play Proctors in Schenectady March 19-24, 2024.
Tickets are available starting Thursday, Oct. 5 through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or online at proctors.org. Groups of 10 or more can get their tickets by calling 518-382-3884 ext. 139.
ALBANY — The UAlbany Performing Arts Center in collaboration with the New York State Writers Institute present multiple events in honor of the 70th anniversary of the publishing of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
Taking place in October and spanning the disciplines of literature, theatre and film, the celebration includes movie screenings, a stage play and complimentary book giveaways.
Kicking things off and taking place at Page Hall on the downtown University at Albany campus will be screenings of both film adaptations of the book. Offered on consecutive Fridays, each showing is free with no reservations being required. The first 25 attendees at each of the following will receive a complimentary copy of the novel.
Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m.: 1966 version. Directed by François Truffaut and starring Julie Christie, Oskar Werner and Cyril Cusack. The film is in color and runs 105 minutes. It is not rated.
Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.: 2018 version. Directed and co-written by Ramin Bahrani and starring Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon. The film is in color and runs 100 minutes. It is rated TV-14.
The following week there will be multiple performances of the Literature to Life stage adaptation of the book. The public performance will take place on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown University at Albany campus. Adapted and directed by the late Wynn Handman, this verbatim stage production is performed by Rich Orlow who tells the story from the perspective of the protagonist and seamlessly transitions between the five other primary characters.
Advance tickets for the public performance are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Tickets purchased on the day of the show are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Individual tickets can be purchased on the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s site at albany.edu/pac.
