GLENS FALLS, NY- Malcolm Richard Brill 92, passed away peacefully January 24, 2026, with his daughter and niece by his side. He was a loving husband and a caring father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle. Burial with Military Honors was February 5, at Saratoga National Cemetery. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Scott J. Sacala passed away January 19, 2026. A service was held on January 31, 2026 at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY. Calling hours were held prior to the service at the funeral home. Online condolences visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Mary Teresa Ryan (Rafferty), 83, passed away peacefully January 31, 2026. Calling hours are 4 – 7 pm, February 6 at Burke Funeral Homes. Mass is 11 am, February 7 at St. Peter’s Church followed by burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Refreshments after at: The Divot Bar and Grille. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Hal (Harold Tilden) Bigelow, born October 10, 1952, and raised in Gainesville, Florida, passed away January 29, 2026 after a brief illness. A highly skilled and accomplished cabinetmaker, Hal brought beauty, originality, and craftsmanship to his projects. His work can be found in many local homes and businesses.
A devoted father and grandfather, Hal is survived by his wife Marian of 46 years, their two sons, and five grandchildren. Beyond his work, he was an avid bridge player and teacher, sharing his knowledge and love of the game with many. Hal found joy in fishing, listening to and creating music and many forms of art, including crafting his whimsical whirligigs. He found meaning and community in his UU congregation. Hal will be remembered for his generosity, creativity, dedication to family and community, and will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of life will be scheduled for May.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Georgiann “Georgie” M. Pelkowski, 95, of Schuylerville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs. She is now reunited with her husband, three sisters (whom she missed terribly), and many lifelong friends.
Originally from Flushing, NY, she was born to Monica (Bowe) Mathe and Herman “Pete” Mathe, the second child of a family of six. Georgie and her husband of almost 50 years, Alfred “Buddy” Pelkowski, lived in the same house on East Adams Street in East Islip for nearly 49 years and raised their two boys there before moving Upstate to be with Georgie’s sister, Marilyn Vallone in 1998.
Georgie was the original “Martha Stewart.” An amazing homemaker in the truest sense, she cooked three meals a day, baked from scratch daily, and loved to decorate her home (complete with hand-sewn curtains, tablecloths and pillows to match her new color scheme!)
Georgie was a woman who loved to entertain. Upon hearing so-and-so was at the door, she would say, “The more around the table the merrier, throw another potato in the pot!” She had such a tight circle of friends and even though they lived in different states, still had a “bestie” in “Apple Alice.”
An accomplished seamstress, Georgie made most of the clothing she wore herself. She was quite proud of the fact that she was the FIRST woman in her circle of friends to be seen in a pants suit – at a bowling banquet! Georgie was an excellent bowler and was very proud of her 300 Pin (signifying she had bowled a perfect game!). Georgie took up quilting after her two boys graduated from school and moved out of the house and was STILL quilting well into her 90s!
Georgie was an inspiration! She was an artist, a talented illustrator, and a painter who loved exchanging handwritten correspondence with her nieces, friends, and the writing club she was a member of. An avid reader, she also loved the challenge of completing her daily crossword puzzle. Fondly known as “The Cookie Lady” by all who knew her, Georgie brought bags of homemade cookies to her neighbors and to every appointment she went to!
Georgie moved upstate with her husband Buddy, in 1998, but sadly lost him on 9/9/99. In 2011, Georgie and Marilyn were joined Upstate by their sister, Dee. Georgie’s and Buddy’s son, Bruce lives in Plattsburgh, and their younger son, Glenn, lives in Pennsylvania. Even with all she achieved in her life, Georgie always believed her two boys were her greatest accomplishment.
Georgie was quite the character, and she will be missed by all who knew her, especially her niece, Chris Bushee, who was her constant companion from summers on Long Island through her final years.
Georgie is survived by her two sons: Bruce Pelkowski, Glenn (Lori) Pelkowski, three grandsons, and two great granddaughters.
A spring memorial service will be held at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga Springs, NY.
In celebration of World Cancer Day on Feb. 4, 2026, SLICFiber officially launched #FiberofHope ™, a new community-focused initiative that will support local cancer charities across the communities it serves.
The launch was marked by the first-ever installation of custom-created pink fiber-optic cable, known as the “Pink Drop,” which took place at the Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce in Upstate New York, the first customer to receive this pink fiber-optic cable.
“The City of Mechanicville is proud to be the very first place to participate in #FiberOfHope,” Mike Butler, Mayor of Mechanicville said, “ We have communicated closely with SLICFiber for the past several years as they’ve built industry-leading fiber infrastructure throughout our community. We appreciate that SLIC comes here and gets to know us, gives us input into how the project should be done, and will support our community long after their network is built. You don’t always see that. It’s important. This project is also a win for our taxpayers. It has cost the City nothing, and when SLIC’s infrastructure is added to the tax rolls it will increase our tax base and provide relief to existing taxpayers.”
Through #FiberofHope, $25 from every new SLICFiber installation beginning Feb. 4, 2026, will be donated to a local cancer charity in each community within SLICFiber’s growing service footprint. The initiative is designed to keep charitable dollars local while raising awareness and showing solidarity with individuals and families affected by cancer.
The Pink Drop fiber-optic cable was custom engineered by Sterlite Technologies Inc. (STI), a U.S. subsidiary of STL, in collaboration with SLICFiber. The bright pink color serves as a visible symbol of awareness and support and delivers the same all-fiber optic service as a traditionally colored cable. The fiber optic drop cable has a specially developed pink outer jacket. The product meets the same stringent quality, durability, and reliability standards required for outdoor network deployments as STL’s typical black fiber drop cables.
“At SLICFiber, our network is about more than speed and reliability—it’s about the communities we serve every day,” Kevin Lynch, CEO of SLICFiber said. “#FiberOfHope Pink Drop cable allows us to combine world-class connectivity with a meaningful message of awareness, solidarity, and support for cancer research and patient programs. As SLICFiber continues to expand across Upstate New York and into Massachusetts, each new community we serve will help extend the reach of this initiative and its local impact. SLICFiber is dedicated to the communities we serve.”
Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby today announced the creation of a new Appeals Bureau within the District Attorney’s Office, a strategic move that will significantly reduce costs to taxpayers while strengthening the office’s ability to protect convictions and deliver justice for crime victims.
By handling appeals in-house rather than relying on outside counsel, the new Appeals Bureau is expected to save Saratoga County taxpayers six figures annually. In addition to the financial benefits, the bureau will ensure that appeals are handled by experienced prosecutors who work closely with trial attorneys from the earliest stages of a case through final resolution.
“This new Appeals Bureau is both fiscally responsible and justice-driven,” District Attorney Eby said. “By keeping appeals work within our office, we are saving taxpayers a substantial amount of money while ensuring continuity, accountability, and the highest level of advocacy for the people of Saratoga County.” The Appeals Bureau will be led by Jesse Ashdown, a veteran prosecutor with more than 20 years of experience in the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. Ashdown previously served as a Principal Court Attorney at the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.
Under the new structure, seasoned appellate prosecutors will collaborate directly with trial attorneys to defend hard-fought convictions on appeal, strengthening the office’s overall prosecution strategy and ensuring that victims receive lasting justice.
“Our victims deserve more than just a conviction, they deserve to know that the result will be defended at every level,” Eby said. “Having experienced appellate attorneys working hand-in-hand with our trial team gives us a significant advantage in protecting those outcomes.”
District Attorney Eby said Ashdown’s background made him the clear choice to lead the new bureau.
“Jesse Ashdown’s experience as a prosecutor, his strong leadership within this office, and his time working at the Court of Appeals make him the natural fit to lead our Appeals Bureau,” Eby said. “He understands how cases are built, how they are reviewed, and how to successfully defend them at the highest levels of the judicial system.”
“I’m honored to take on this role,” said Chief Ashdown. “This unit will strengthen our ability to defend convictions and ensure that the work done on behalf of victims and the community is preserved on appeal. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in this new capacity.”
At its recent board meeting, Franklin Community Center (FCC) proudly voted to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors. For more than 40 years, FCC has been an active force in Saratoga County, dedicated to helping to improve the quality of life in our community and to bridge gaps in community needs by providing support, services, and resources that ensure core needs are met.
FCC is pleased to welcome Cliff VanWagner, a long-time volunteer and dedicated community member. Cliff spent his professional career at The Wesley Community, where he served as a licensed pharmacist and later advanced to Director of Pharmacy, a role he held until his retirement in spring 2025.
Among his many accomplishments, Cliff led the design and implementation of a drug distribution system serving more than 350 residents. Beyond his professional work, Cliff remains deeply engaged in the community, supporting fundraising efforts for the Saratoga Springs Police Department Canine Unit, Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation, and Leadership Saratoga.
“After spending the last 10 years working with FCC to assist with the food pantry expansion and fundraising for the new building, I am honored and humbled to join the Board,” said VanWagner. “My goal is to help further FCC’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring its continued success.”
FCC also warmly welcomes Christine Hogan Barton to the Board of Directors. An Associate Real Estate Broker at Roohan Realty, Christine has long been involved in the Saratoga Springs community through her support of events such as the North Country Festival of Trees, Touch-A-Truck, and recreational sports programs within the Saratoga Springs School District. “My board membership is deeply meaningful because it allows me to be part of a collaborative team making a difference where it matters most—right here in our local community,” said Hogan Barton. “It is a privilege I truly value.”
In addition, FCC extends heartfelt gratitude to Zackary Manz, recent past president, whose 10-year term concluded at the November 2025 board meeting. Zack’s leadership, thoughtful approach to complex conversations, and strategic vision left a lasting impact on the organization. While his contributions will be greatly missed, his warmth and positivity will be remembered most fondly. The staff and board wish Zack all the best and hope he enjoys time with his family—while keeping the door open for a future return.
The Maple Avenue Musical Club put on a dress rehearsal this week in preparation for its upcoming production of “Frozen,” which will be performed on Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 6, and Feb. 7 at Maple Avenue Middle School’s Trombley Auditorium. The musical features a cast and crew of 66 students. Tickets can be purchased at gofan.co/app/school/NY82277. Photo by Rob Spring.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs’ new poet laureate Jay Rogoff will have a busy weekend after announcing two free poetry-related events both scheduled to take place on Sunday, Feb. 1.
At Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, three nationally-known poets will read their work at 3 p.m.: Chase Twichell, April Bernard, and Peg Boyers. The award-winning authors all live in the Spa City. The reading, which will occur in the museum’s Payne Room, is free and open to the public.
Twichell has published eight collections of poetry, with her ninth due later this year from Copper Canyon Press. Her 2010 book of new and selected poems, “Horses Where the Answers Should Have Been,” won the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and the Balcones Poetry Prize. She has also received grants from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the Artists Foundation, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, among others. Her most recent book is “Things as It Is.”
Bernard won the Academy of American Poets’ Walt Whitman Award for her debut book, “Blackbird Bye Bye.” Since then, she has published five poetry collections with W. W. Norton, most recently “The World Behind the World.” She has also published two novels and frequently contributes criticism to The New York Review of Books, Book Post, and elsewhere. Also a former Guggenheim Fellow, Bernard teaches at Skidmore College and is currently assembling a volume of new and selected poems.
Boyers’ four books include “Hard Bread,” “Honey and Tobacco,” “To Forget Venice,” and “The Album,” whose poems appear beside reproductions of the paintings that inspired them. She teaches poetry writing and translation at Skidmore, as well as at Columbia University and the New York State Summer Writers Institute. She is also the longtime executive editor of Salmagundi magazine.
“It’s rare to have three poets of such talent and variety at a single event,” Rogoff said. “This should be a must for anyone curious about how poetry moves us.”
The reading will include a question-and-answer session, followed by a book signing by the poets and a reception.
Earlier on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rogoff will meet with writers at his second Poetry Repair Café at the Northshire Bookstore. Poets can drop by to discuss how to bring their poems closer to what they wish them to accomplish.
Rogoff will be conducting his Poetry Repair Café the first Sunday of every month, except for Easter.
