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Galway Senior High School’s NHS Chapter Wins National Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

For its exemplary record of leadership, service and efforts to improve the school and community, the National Honor Society NHS awarded Galway High School the Chapter of Distinction award.

NHS is supported by its parent organization, the National Principals Association (NPA), which also oversees the National Association of Student Councils.

The Galway National Honor Society chapter works closely with school and community partners to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The chapter supports the school’s Backpack Program, which provided food to 51 families last year. The members help prep backpacks and run an ongoing fundraiser which donates its profits to the program. The chapter also partners with Things of My Very Own, a nonprofit organization that provides intervention services to children. 

Each year, members participate in a chapter-wide service trip during the holiday season. The chapter has also partnered with the Galway Public Library to develop activities for the community.

“The NHS Chapter of Distinction Award celebrates chapters that truly embody what the National Honor Society stands for—students who don’t just excel academically but actively strengthen their communities,” said NPA CEO Ronn Nozoe. “The Galway chapter demonstrates how powerful it can be when young leaders channel their talents toward meaningful service and positive change.”

Chapter president Andrew Miller is excited about the recognition and sees it as a motivator for this year. At the chapter’s first meeting, he told members: “We want to build on our chapter of distinction and use our large group to do things that have an impact on something greater than us.”

The NHS Chapters of Distinction is a national recognition program created by NHS to honor chapters that demonstrate strong leadership, sound operations and a deep commitment to the pillars of the Honor Society. This distinction recognizes chapters that meet all Essential Standards and excel in key areas such as student governance and leadership development.

The 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Kicks off this Weekend!

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business, Featured.

The 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is celebrating 30 years of exceptional homes and will be presented over two fall weekends this year on October 3-4 and October 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and this year’s edition has 13 locations from 12 award-winning builders in Saratoga County on display.

Showcase tickets are available now online at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com or at Adirondack Trust branches, Arrow Bank on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury, Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs, Rebuilding Together ReShop in Ballston Spa and Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Fort Edward. Showcase tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours. 

As in previous years, each showcase ticket holder will receive a free commemorative shoe/tote bag at the first home visited, while supplies last!

Participating builders in this year’s event; Amedore Homes, Barbera Homes, Belmonte Builders, BT Land Development, Homes by Malta Development, Kodiak Construction, Kohler Homes, Spa City Builders, Talarico Construction, Trojanski Builders, Urvalek Builders and Witt Construction.

This year’s showcase will also be featuring a “Boards to Blooms” build exhibition on Saturday, October 3rd from 10 a.m. to noon at the Trojanski Builders Showcase home #12. Local school students will be building wooden box planters led by Whitbeck Construction. It’s all part of spotlighting work in the trades by the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition. In addition, a CTE Construction Trades/BOCES Victorian inspired “Greenhouse” will be on display all four days of the event at the Homes by Malta Development Showcase home #5.

This annual community event has contributed $1.8 million dollars to local charities. Proceeds from the Saratoga Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. For more details on the 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Check out Saratoga Showcase of Homes on Facebook and Instagram for all the updates on this year’s event!

Unemployment Insurance Services Unavailable During System Upgrade Period

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) announced that on Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m., the department will begin the upgrade of its system for processing unemployment insurance claims, known as Unemployment Services. The process is expected to take 9 to 12 days.

The upgraded system will replace the 50-year-old system and will provide greater efficiency by allowing customers to be able to file and certify claims from any device, including smartphones.

To support a secure transition from the current system to the upgraded platform during the upgrade period, all online and phone-based unemployment insurance services will be temporarily unavailable. Individuals and businesses should be aware of the following: 

• Customers will not be able to file new unemployment insurance claims, certify for weekly benefits, or access or update account information. The deadline to file a claim or certify is 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026. 

• Individuals will experience delays in payments; however, customers will receive all benefit payments to which they are entitled once the upgrade is complete, and they file or certify for benefits in the upgraded system.  

• Customers should continue to complete and record work search activities during the upgrade period. Remember: To stay eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, individuals must complete and record at least three work search activities each week. During the upgrade period, Career Centers will be available virtually by appointment for job search assistance, dol.ny.gov/workforce-scheduler.

• NYSDOL will notify all customers when the upgraded system is available. 

• The Unemployment Services upgrade will not affect electronic filing for NYS-1 and NYS-45 through the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance (TAX). Businesses will continue to file NYS-1 and NYS-45 through TAX once Unemployment Services is available.

Week of October 2 – October 8, 2026

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

BALLSTON

Michaels Group Homes LLC sold property at 26 Mackenna Ct to Christopher Goodemote for $812,185

Ronald Simmons sold property at 121 Lakehill Rd to Ridgevale Capital LLC for $440,000

Thomas Robinson sold property at 9 Evergreen Court to Michael Downing for $615,000

Ryszaed Lesiak sold property at 17 Appleton St to Charles French for $719,000

Carolyn Hannah sold property at 72 East High St to Randy Elliott for $725,000

MIVI Holdings LLC sold property at 101 West High St to Lenore Bacek for $130,000

CHARLTON

Andrew Bodden sold property at 488 Charlton Rd to Nicholas Rosetti for $1,440,000

CORINTH

David Kircher sold property at 324 First St to Lorna Moffre for $175,000

GALWAY

Edward Woolley sold property at 5671 Parkis Mills Rd to Nicole Holick for $430,000

Michael Thompson sold property at 3043 E Southshore Dr to Richard Vanderwood for $970,000

GREENFIELD

Robert Dungerow sold property at 521 North Creek Rd to Kaitlyn Gerace for $370,000

Scott Root sold property at 116 Sand Hill Rd to Daniel Martuscello for $275,000

MALTA

Lori Foradori sold property at 11 Clark Ave to Catherine Saracco for $260,000

Kathleen Freese sold property at 68 Wineberry Lane to Paige Hercamp for $410,000

Jeffrey Zelka sold property at 29 Plum Poppy South to Jasmin Earnest for $705,000

Michaels Group Homes LLC sold property at 7 Anson Court to Kristine Uhrich for $606,910

Steven Lasek sold property at 37 Thimbleberry Rd to Steven Schultheis for $296,398

MILTON

Benjamin Miles sold property at 710 Rock City Rd to Samantha Guilfoyle for $560,000

Michael Wojtowecz sold property at 144 Rowland St to Nicholas Arnold for $350,000

Andrew Almquist sold property at 332 Stone Church Rd to Joaquina Gutierrez for $273,980

SARATOGA

Andre Hahn sold property at 45 Pearl St to Christopher Abraham for $321,000

Adam Hayes sold property at 34 B?C Spring St to Ruby Horn for $295.000

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Andrew Wilson sold property at 14 Curt Blvd to John McKnight for $300.000

Robert Parkeharrison sold property at 6 Whistler Court to Colby Hunter for $715,000

Jean Samyn sold property at 12 Lakewood Dr to Ryan Swinggruber for $619,995

Stephen Rucinski sold property at 16 Jaipur Lane to Sullivan Crotty for $369,000

Ryan Mustain sold property at 25 Clubhouse Dr to John OReilly for $405,000

WILTON

Saratoga Group Wilton LLC sold property at 9 Brookhaven Ct to Pigliavento Associates LLC for $124,000

Saratoga Group Wilton LLC sold property at 15 Brookhaven Ct to Pigliavento Associates LLC for $124,000

Peter Sipperly sold property at 12 Andover Ave to Rural Housing Service for $279,303

Pigliavento Associates LLC sold property at 15 Brookhaven Court to Nicholas Liverio for $861,010

Wellspring to Host The Wrong Questions Project Exhibit in Malta on October 10

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

What were you wearing? Why didn’t you tell someone? Why didn’t you just leave?

On Saturday, October 10, Wellspring will host The Wrong Questions Project, an immersive exhibit that asks visitors to consider what those questions miss and how they can shift attention away from the person responsible for violence.

The exhibit brings together clothing, photographs, testimony, audio, video and other records. Some of the stories may be familiar. Others have unfolded much closer to home.

Denise Huskins Quinn, whose experience with her husband, Aaron Quinn, was featured in Netflix’s American Nightmare, will attend. The exhibit also includes Gabby Petito’s story; the Gabby Petito Foundation, established by her family, is a co-sponsor.

Bevin Llanes, the mother of Meghan Kiefer, will join the event. Kiefer was killed in a domestic violence homicide on Long Island in 2021 by an abuser from Albany.

Helen Travis will bring the story of her daughter, Brianna Craig, into the exhibit for the first time. Craig was a young mother murdered in Saratoga Springs in 2024.

“These stories are different, but each asks us to look more closely at the questions we ask survivors, victims and their families and what can happen when we ask the wrong ones,” said Maggie Fronk, CEO at Wellspring.

Founded by Mary Simmerling, Ph.D., The Wrong Questions Project is a survivor-led documentary exhibit that examines victim-blaming and the failures that can follow when survivors and families are asked to explain violence they did not cause. Simmerling and other members of the project’s curatorial team are helping bring the exhibit to Wellspring.

The exhibit will be open at Wellspring, 2816 U.S. Route 9 in Malta, on Saturday, October 10, with admission slots from 1–3 p.m. and 3–5 p.m. Visitors may arrive at any point during their registered slot. Admission is free, but registration is required, and space is limited. Details and registration are available at www.wellspringcares.org/events

Mechanicville Fire Department Awarded $160,000 FEMA Grant to Equip 28 Firefighters

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.

The Mechanicville Fire Department has been awarded $160,000 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fiscal Year 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Combined with an $8,000 local contribution, the award provides $168,000 to purchase 28 complete sets of structural firefighting protective equipment.

Each set will provide a firefighter with a protective coat and pants, helmet, boots, gloves and two hoods. The new equipment will replace aging gear and help protect members during fires and other hazardous responses. FEMA approved a cost of $6,000 per set, reflecting the specialized materials, protective construction and fitting required for equipment firefighters depend on in dangerous conditions.

The AFG program helps fire departments and other emergency response organizations obtain critical equipment, protective gear, vehicles, and training. Its purpose is to improve the safety of firefighters and the communities they serve. For Mechanicville, the award makes a major equipment replacement possible while limiting the local contribution to $8,000.

“Protecting our community begins with protecting the firefighters who answer its calls,” said Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Dunn. “This award will allow us to equip 28 members with the gear they need to work safely and effectively. It is a substantial investment in our department’s readiness, in our volunteers and in the people of Mechanicville who rely on us.”

“This grant is a tremendous return for our taxpayers,” said City of Mechanicville Council. “An $8,000 local match brought in $168,000 of life-saving equipment for our firefighters. That is exactly the kind of outside funding the city should keep pursuing — it protects our residents and our volunteers without adding to the burden on local taxpayers.”

The Mechanicville Fire Department serves the City of Mechanicville in Saratoga County and provides mutual aid to neighboring communities.

The department extends its sincerest thanks to U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and his staff for their support and for helping bring attention to its application. It also thanks FEMA’s AFG program and its representatives for their assistance and commitment to firefighter safety.

The grant application was written by Julie Burline of MJ Burben, Inc., on behalf of the Mechanicville Fire Department.

Artists Spotlight: · Cindy Lassonde ·   

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Painting Memories: 

Halfmoon Artist Turns Photographs Into Art

The Cabin, Northwest US
Cape Cod
Holiday Candles
Grandmother and Grandddaughter Sailing

A photograph of a beloved dog, a favorite vacation view, or a meaningful moment from one’s life can become the starting point for one of Cindy Lassonde’s unique oil paintings. Trained at the Alexander School of Art, Cindy accepts commissions, with a particular interest in painting pets and creating personalized scenes from vacations or everyday life. Her clients receive a beautiful original oil painting that captures a meaningful memory to display on the wall in their homes.A Halfmoon resident, Lassonde lives with her husband and enjoys time with her family. She also enjoys yoga and gardening. A retired professor at SUNY Oneonta, she now has more time to devote to her artwork.After a career in education, Cindy is enjoying a new chapter close to home, sharing her talent through artwork that brings treasured memories to life on canvas.

Contact Cindy!

cindylassonde1957@gmail.com

Paris Street in 1880s (done in art school)

Photo of the Week

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.


October is Spooky Season. Favorite Spooky Photo!

Photo of Mackenzie B, a scary Witch Walk SOSA witch performing at Artisanal Brew Works Oktoberfest.
Photo by Michael Ladd
Facebook: Michael Ladd Photography

Theme for Next Week: Favorite Jack-o’-lantern Photo!

Meet Beau!! 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Poor Beau has been through it! He was brought to a rescue in 2023 and was an absolute mess. He had an upper respiratory infection, needed eye surgery as well as dental care and tested positive for FIV. He was nursed back to health and his intake file says “sweet as pie”. Beau was adopted in 2023 and was recently surrendered to HOPE because although his owner loved him very much, she could no longer care for him. He is still sweet as pie and has been enjoying his time at our cat adoption center. He is a talker and loves attention. Beau is almost 8 years old and his FIV just means that his immune system is not as strong but cats with this condition can live long, healthy lives. He deserves a home where he can be the only pet and receive lots of attention and love. He recently had bloodwork done and all of his levels came back perfect. The veterinarian gave him a clean bill of health. He is microchipped, neutered and FeLV negative. Come visit Beau and see how special he is.

The HOPE Cat Adoption Center is located in the Wilton Mall and is open to the public Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 11-4 or by appointment. Online adoption applications may be found on our website at www.hopeanimalrescue.org. For any questions give us a call at 518-450-7013.

Kris-jon Klopstock 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Kris-jon Klopstock, known to many as K-j, and to a special few as Gramps, passed away Thursday August 6, 2026.There will be a private gathering to celebrate K-j’s life, held at a later date. Memorial donations to H.O.P.E:  https://hopeanimalrescue.org/donate/ or Operation at Ease: https://operationatease.org/ways-to-support/. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.