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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival Sweepstakes

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Saratoga Jazz Fest Sweepstakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Freihofer’s and Saratoga Performing Arts Center have teamed up for a sweepstakes for the 46th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival. The lucky grand prize winner will receive a VIP Experience for two, and a one-year supply of bread from Freihofer’s.

The 46th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, featuring 21 musical groups. 

The line-up is headlined by Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny, Angelique Kidjo, Tower of Power, and Chucho Valdes. Additional artists include: Snarky Puppy, Cory Wong, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Hiromi, Cindy Blackman Santana, Samara Joy, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Emmet Cohen. 

From jazz to roots, funk, blues and beyond, the festival will bring its signature blend of top-notch artists and ensembles, solidifying its place as an international destination and a ‘must-stop’ on the 2023 festival trail.

The grand prize winner of the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival sweepstakes will enjoy the ultimate jazz experience with a VIP package for two that includes two amphitheater tickets for each day of the festival, 2-day access to The Pines Terrace, and a gift pack for two, including festival T-shirts, posters and hats.

 Sweepstakes participants can enter at www.SPAC.org/VIPsweepstakes until 5 p.m. on June 9. The sweepstakes is free to enter and open to legal residents of MA/NY/NJ/CT, who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.

 The grand prize winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries on or about June 12.. Five runner-up winners will be selected in another random drawing, on or about June 14 and each will receive a pair of 2-day lawn passes to Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival.

Alive Downtowns! Appreciative of New York State Government’s $5 Million Decision to Support the Arts 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SCHENECTADY — Alive Downtowns!, a coalition of 13 downtown historic performance arts centers across Upstate New York, released a statement May 8 regarding the New York State government’s decision to invest $5 million in their local arts organizations. 

“It is amazing and heartening to have focused support from our legislators and Governor Hochul to keep the performing arts centers of Upstate New York at the heart of the continuing success of upstate’s downtowns,” said Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative. 

The 13 theatres include Bardavon 1896 Opera House (Poughkeepsie), Clemens Center (Elmira), Palace Performing Arts Center (Albany), Proctors Collaborative (Schenectady, Albany, Saratoga), The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts (Jamestown), Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Auditorium Theatre (Rochester), Shea’s Performing Arts Center (Buffalo), The Smith Center for the Arts (Geneva), Stanley Theatre (Utica), State Theatre of Ithaca, Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Ulster Performing Arts Center (Kingston). 

The 13 facilities serve over five million people annually and are cornerstones to the upkeep and improvement of their respective downtowns. Their combined annual economic impact is $900,000,000, according to the statement. 

 More information about Alive Downtowns! can be found at afairgame.net.

The Egg Announces 2023 Concerts 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

ALBANY — The Egg has announced that Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore (Aug. 24), Hot Tuna (Sept. 20) and Albert Cummings (Oct. 19) will perform as part of its 2023 concert series.

Tickets are currently on sale online at www.theegg.org or by telephone at 518-473-1845, or in person at The Egg Box Office Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  

Details of the performances are as follows:

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones and special guests Dead Rock West (Aug. 24, $34.50). Dave Alvin – of the rocking rhythm and roots band The Blasters and Jimmie Dale Gilmore –  of the Americana super group The Flatlanders – will be swapping songs, telling stories, and sharing their life experiences on stage with their band The Guilty Ones.  Dead Rock West will open the show.

Hot Tuna – Electric –  Final Run “Going Fishing” Tour. (Sept. 20, $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50). Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady –  joined by drummer Justin Guip – celebrate over 50 years leading this legendary blues-rock band performing classic tunes and epic improvisations with this, the final Hot Tuna Electric  – “Going Fishing Tour.”

Albert Cummings (Oct. 19, $34.50). New England’s favorite blues man Albert Cummings’ power trio – featuring Scot Sutherland on bass and Warren Grant returns to The Egg bringing a barrage of guitar pyrotechnics –effortlessly shifting from raucous roadhouse raunch to soaring stinging lead lines to subdued stylings as heard on their most recent recording TEN.

Single Tickets on Sale for Adirondack Theatre Festival’s 2023 Season 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

GLENS FALLS — Single tickets are on sale for Adirondack Theatre Festival’s musical season. 

The Last Wide Open previews at the Charles R. Wood Theater on June 28, opens on June 29, and runs through July 8.

The season continues July 14 – 16 with Pump Up the Volume, based on the 1990 cult classic starring Christian Slater and penned by Alan Moyle, and concludes with Tuning In – the biggest show in the 29-year-old company’s history, featuring 13 actors and an orchestra of 10. 

Set in the early 1960’s, the spirited romp transports us to the Harmony Hill Retirement Community, where stars of Cincinnati’s golden age of radio still perform on nostalgia station WLK. Tuning In previews at the Charles R. Wood Theater on Aug. 3, opens on Aug. 4, and runs through Aug. 9.

Single tickets range from $25 for audience members age 18 and under, to $29 for select preview seats on July 28 and August 3, to $49 with no additional ticketing fees. Tickets may be purchased at www.atfestival.org, or by calling the Wood Theater Box Office at 518-480-4878, or in-person at the Box Office at 207 Glen St. 

For more information, visit www.atfestival.org

Family Saturday: Decorating Frames on May 13

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Malick Sidibé, untitled, 1980, Tang Teaching Museum collection, gift in memory of Claude Simard

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Family Saturday programming at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College continues May 13 at 2 p.m. with Family Saturday: Decorating Frames.

After viewing photographs in the Tang collection by artist Malick Sidibé, with painted glass frames by Checkna Touré, participants will take Polaroid pictures and create their own decorative frames. See Sidibé’s work in the Tang collection online. 

Family Saturdays, which are suitable for children 5 and older accompanied by an adult, aim to foster multigenerational creative cooperation through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engaging in a hands-on art-making activity. The programs run from 2 to 3:30 pm and are free and open to the public. No registration required; supplies provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The May 13 Family Saturday is the last of the spring season. Future Family Saturdays will be June, July, and August. For more information, visit the Tang website at https://tang.skidmore.edu or contact the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080.

WMHT Launches Multiplatform Series

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.


WMHT has launched a new series that explores the history of New York state and the nation during the lifespan of noted landscape painter Thomas Cole.

Albany — WMHT Public Media, a multichannel public communications organization serving Eastern New York and Western New England, announced the launch of its latest multiplatform project, “Reframing an Empire,” which explores the history of New York state and the nation during the lifespan of noted landscape painter Thomas Cole.

Founder of the nation’s first major art movement, now known as the Hudson River School of landscape painting, and subject of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, Cole’s life and work coincide with a pivotal period in American history. 

Before Cole’s eyes and on his canvas, the newly formed nation would find a vision of its identity born and its future questioned. American history fixates on 1776 and 1865, but in the period between lies a rich and under-explored territory. Reframing an Empire acknowledges Cole’s paintings as a timeless treasure of the Catskills, and explores the people and context that extends beyond his canvas.  

The 10-part digital and on-air series examines the history and significance of New York state between the Revolutionary War and Civil War – a time that saw the abolition of slavery, the active possession of indigenous lands, major events around women’s suffrage, and the construction of engineering feats such as the Erie Canal. 

Two episodes of Reframing an Empire are now available online. The first looks at the creation of the American identity, specifically New York: The Empire State; the second delves into Cole’s life, exploring the influences behind his work and the lasting impact of his legacy. Additional episodes will premiere through the spring and summer, both on-air and online.

To watch episodes, and for more information on Reframing an Empire, use the hashtag #ReframinganEmpire and visit wmht.org/reframinganempire.

May 12 – May 18, 2023

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Calendar.

Friday, May 12

Famous Brown Bread and Bake Sale ?

Simpson United Methodist Church, 1089 Rock City Road, Rock City Falls | Pick up 4 – 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cost will be $8 per loaf.  Call 518-885-4794 to place your order.  Bake sale on Saturday.  Please leave your name, telephone number and the number loaves you would like to reserve; and if possible, let us know if you will be picking up on Friday or Saturday.  A representative from Simpson will call back to confirm your order.  

Saturday, May 13

You Can Grow Your Food in Containers Easily

Old Stone Church, 159 Stone Church Rd. Ballston Spa | 8:30 a.m. Sue Beebe of Cornell Cooperative Extension will cover the basics to get you started and share grower tips for those with some experience. You will discover that you do not need any experience to be successful and how to provide fresh, quality food for your family. This program is brought to you by the Milton Grange. Bringing “Rural Lifestyle Living” through classes and lectures as a community service. Breakfast will be served, RSVP is recommended. 518 885-6606. Free tomato plants will be distributed as door prizes. 

Defensive Driving Class

Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Save 10% on your base auto insurance for the next three years and receive up to 4 points off your driving record according to New York State Department of Motor Vehicle guidelines. Fee: $35 per person. Bring a friend fee is $30 each. Portion of fee goes to Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church. Registration is required and can be made by calling Ray Frankoski at 518-286-3788. As we are social distancing, a mask is optional. Class size is limit.

Moving Thru Grief – Finding Peace

Movement-Insights, 100 Saratoga Village Blvd, Suite 10, Malta | 9:30 a.m. & Sunday 3 p.m. Are you feeling stuck by a loss of any kind?  At Movement Insights we use facilitated free form movement and dance without judgement. Move through your loss toward peace. Open to all abilities. Come for one session ($30) or all ($100). The series: Walking your loss line; Letting go of what weighs you down; Angel, Artist, Writer, Dancer; Finding your own light. May 13 – June 4. Register at Movement-Insights.com. 518-405-5445. 

East Line Union Cemetery Annual Meeting

Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Dr., Room # 105, Malta | 10 a.m. Election of Officers, changes to by-laws and rules & regulations will be discussed. Meeting is open to lot owners and family members.   A clean-up detail (weather permitting) ongoing before and after the meeting at the Cemetery located on the corner of Round Lake Road and East Line Road, Malta off Exit 11. Donations for repairs and general upkeep can be sent to East Line Union Cemetery, C/O Craig Tolosky, Secretary-Treasurer, 7 Applewood Dr., Ballston Lake NY 12019. For information, email EastLineUnion@Gmail.com or call Craig Tolosky, Sec.-Treas. 518-888-4805.

2023 Historic Homes Tour

Private Residences in Saratoga |10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This highly anticipated event offers the rare opportunity to see the interiors of private historic homes of the East Side neighborhood of Saratoga Springs. Three private residences on Circular Street will be featured as well as a condominium in the Stone Abbey, 125 Circular Street, and Circular Manor Bed & Breakfast at 120 Circular Street. The tour will also include two private residences on Union Avenue and a “Rehabilitation-in-Progress.”  For more information, tickets and join to receive discounted prices, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call 518-587-5030. 

Cat and Dog Adoption Event ?

H.O.P.E. Adoption Center, Wilton Mall at Saratoga, 3065 Route 50, Saratoga Springs | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Come meet the many adoptable pets of H.O.P.E. Saturday, May 13, 2023,  from 11am-3 pm, at the H.O.P.E. Adoption Center located at the Wilton Mall.  Many of the Dogs and Cats listed on our webpage will be available to meet.  Several rescues will be participating. You can start the adoption process today by filling out an adoption application online at hopeanimalrescue.org/forms.

Sheep to Shawl Community Day ?

Saratoga County History Center, 21 Fairground Ave., Ballston Spa| 1 – 4 p.m. Sheep, lambs, farmers, herders, and shearers, including the famous Fred the Shearer, and the Rock Day Spinning Guild will assemble on Brookside Museum’s front lawn to demonstrate every facet of sheep raising, shearing, and spinning to produce the wool clothing that was so ubiquitous in early America.  Sheep to Shawl is a hands-on, family-friendly event.  Young and the young-at-heart will have fun petting the sheep, meeting farmers, and participating in demonstrations.  

Sunday, May 14

Mother’s Day Breakfast Buffet ?

Ballston Spa Elks Lodge #2619, 10 Hamilton Street, Ballston Spa 8 – 11 pm. Enjoy pancakes and sausage, French toast, eggs made to order, world famous omelets, home fries, toast, coffee, and juice. Adults $9 Seniors $8 Kids $5. Join us on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Proceeds support Elks Charities.

Monthly Breakfast?

Fish Creek Rod & Gun Club, 123 NY-32, Schuylerville | 8 – 11 a.m. Bring your mom, all Mothers ½ price

for Mother’s Day.  Menu: choose from pancakes – regular, buckwheat, apple cinnamon and blueberry or French toast. Eggs to order, home fries, bacon or sausage, toast, coffee, and orange juice. $10 adults, $5 children.

What A Surprise

Zoom Presentation | 7 p.m. What A Surprise brings real experiences brought to life by professional actors: joyous moments, deep losses, and everything in between. This program, as others in their repertoire, will be followed by a Q&A session with the performers. The Braid’s new work of theater, What A Surprise, created by the NEXT Emerging Artist Fellowship.  To register and receive Zoom access to The Braid programming, What A Surprise, email sjca.sjcf@gmail.com. Registration will be confirmed with an email, and you will be sent the access code two days before the program. Visit www.saratogasinai.org or www.saratogajewishculturalfestival.org for more information.

Monday, May 15

Saratoga Parkinson’s disease Support Group Meeting

Saratoga Public Library, 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs | 1 p.m.  Judy Taylor Dahoda from Saratoga County Of the Office of the Aging will discuss the services available to help Saratoga Seniors. This meeting is FREE and open to anyone with Parkinson’s Disease,caretakers and friends. For further information contact: Kevin McCullough saratoga.parkinsons@gmail.com 518-222-4247, Marie Thorne softballmom300@yahoo.com (518) 810-8483

Tuesday, May 16

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, sauerkraut, and farmer’s cheese pieroghis. All pierogi orders are $12/dz. Previously, we were asked about uncooked pieroghis. We will accomodate. If you would like it that way. let us know.  Please call 518-363-0001. Stuffed clams available as well.

Support the Saratoga Central Catholic Booster Club

Saratoga Central Catholic Highschool, 247 Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 5 – 6:30 p.m. Pick up is in the cafeteria which is located off the back parking lot at the Hamilton Street entrance.  Take the night off of cooking! Preorder only, cost is $17. Dinner Includes: ½ chicken, baked potato, cole slaw, cookie, water. Order and pay by going to www.saratogacatholic.org/dizzychicken. Please pre-order by May 16. 

Greenfield Historical Society Monthly Meeting

Train Station, 9 Railroad Place, Corinth | 7 p.m. The Town of Greenfield Historical Society will have their monthly meeting on the Train. Speaker will be Hal Raven owner and train conductor of Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway He will bring us up to date on the scenic train line now operating between the Corinth Railway Station and Lamothe Landing in Greenfield Center. Hal will discuss the railway’s involvement and train schedule for our August 12 Caboose Day. We’ll learn about the history of the train and the rail line. All are welcome to the meeting.

Wednesday, May 17

Olde Saratoga Seniors Meeting

Schuylerville Town Hall, Spring St., Schuylerville | Noon. It will be a sandwich luncheon.  Money for Niagara Falls trip is due.  We will have info on next two trips.  Also don’t forget line dancing on Tuesday in Malta and in Schuylerville on Thursday.  Contact Rich for info about line dancing.  We will be having an ice cream social also.  For more info contact Pat at 518-338-2329.  All are welcome.

Heritage Garden Club Luncheon

Saratoga Golf and Polo Club, 301 Church Street, Saratoga.  Special guest speaker, Teddy Foster, Director of UPH, will present a program “From Condemnation to Restoration:  Universal Preservation Hall”. Luncheon selections include cobb salad, a vegetarian choice, or Caesar salad with choice of salmon or chicken, bread, dessert, beverage, $35. includes gratuity, cash bar. The public is invited to attend.  Send check payable to Heritage Garden Club to Anne Hunscher, 209 Daketown Rd. Greenfield Center, 12833.  There will be many gift baskets available.  Guests are welcome!  

Stuffed Chicken Breast Dinner Take-out

Saratoga-Wilton Elks Club, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Take out only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order. 518-584-2585. Menu: Boneless stuffed chicken breast with gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable, cranberry sauce, roll, tossed salad. $15 per dinner. (cash only).  

Monthly Mindfulness ?

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Take a break from life and join us for a relaxing and mindful walk on the preserve. Activities and trails will vary each month. Registration is required. Email info@wiltonpreserve.org or register online at wiltonpreserve.org. 

Board of Trustees Meeting

Galway Public Library, 2112 East St, Galway | 6:30 p.m. The agenda and other documents will be available prior to the meeting on the library website: www.galwaypubliclibrary.org. The public is welcome to attend. More information at 518-882-6385.

The League of Women Voters Meeting 

Virtual Zoom Meeting | 7 p.m. Meeting to plan for future Meetups and events. Members and nonmembers are invited to join the planning session to solicit ideas for topics and presenters for 2023-24. All ideas are welcome at this session. To register for the zoom event. Please go to our website www.lwvsaratoga.org/events 

Thursday, May 18

Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party

Saratoga National Golf Course, 458 Union Ave. Saratoga Springs | 5:30 – 9 p.m. The Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party is an annual fundraiser for Universal Preservation Hall. Local businesses team up to compete against each other, bartending for the most tips. The team that raises the most during their shift wins. All proceeds raised go towards our education programs through the Collaborative School of the Arts, which is an incredibly important aspect of arts for youth in our area. For more information, go to universalpreservationhall.org. There is no cover charge for this event.

Affordable Home Internet  

Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 6 p.m. Learn basic information about signing up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a permanent, government program that helps qualifying low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices. Then, join us to see if you qualify and apply for ACP. Presented in partnership with Senior Planet, a national nonprofit which harnesses technology to change the way older Americans age. Registration required for each program. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Hannah Arendt Virtual Discussion

Zoom Presentation | 7 p.m. Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, with a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY and sponsorship of Temple Sinai Saratoga Springs, presents a Zoom panel discussion of the 2013 film Hannah Arendt, by Margarethe von Trotta. The film is available for free on Kanopy, free to subscribers of Chair Flicks, and for a $3.99 rental from Apple. Arendt coined the phrase “the banality of evil” to describe the ordinariness of the Holocaust’s perpetrators; a thinker and writer, often referred to as a philosopher, considered herself a political theorist. Registration  required: sjca.sjcf@gmail.com. www.saratogasinai.org;  www.saratogajewishculturalfestival.org     

Brandtville Blues

Saratoga Springs History Museum, 1 E. Congress Street, Saratoga Springs | 7 – 8:30 p.m. A discussion filled with rare photos and riveting storytelling, Carol Daggs, author of “Saratoga Soul Brandtville Boogie,” is a fourth-generation Saratogian and descendant of the original residents of Brandtville, a historically African American farming community dating to the 1800s, located near the Spa State Park. An accomplished musician, entertaining speaker, and Board Member at the History Museum, Daggs (and special guests!) will bring Brandtville alive. Free for Museum Members, $10 for the general public; tickets and details at www.saratogahistory.org/events.

May 12 – May 18, 2023

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Local Briefs.

Fish Fry Friday

Knights of Columbus Council #246 will be hosting Fish Fry Friday on May 19, from 5 – 7 p.m. This event will require advance call-in of orders on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week between the hours of noon and 3 p.m.  Call 518-584-8547 to place your order or for more information. A set number of orders will be scheduled for pickup at 5 p.m. and at intervals of every 15 minutes thereafter until sold out, so make sure to schedule early.  As always, thank you for your support and helping us to continue our good works in the community.

Saratoga County: Our Home!

Opens May 20, takes guests on an immersive, artifact-rich journey spanning four centuries of Saratoga life, business, and nature.  From the First Nations who lived here before European settlement to the new tech-centered economy, “Saratoga County: Our Home!” offers guests a rich time-travel experience that will instill awe and respect for the county’s evolution. The exhibit, which will be ongoing, may be visited during the museum’s open hours, daily except Monday, 1 to 5 p.m. Brookside Museum is located at 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa.  Admission is free.
For information telephone 518-885-4000 or visit brooksidemuseum.org.

Spring Fling Festival 

The Spring Fling Festival benefits the Adirondack Vets House, Inc by bringing our area’s businesses together to create a day of fun in the sun! Free admission, open to the public.  There will be pony rides and farm animals, bounce houses, a dunk tank, cornhole tournament, face painting, food trucks, candle making, local vendors, live music, raffle baskets, carnival games and more! The Car Shoppe will be hosting the first Annual Spring Fling Festival on Saturday May 20 from Noon – 5 p.m.  Rain date is May 21, noon – 5 p.m. at 1110 US-9, Queensbury.

UUCSS 12th Annual Plant Fair

Plants and vegetables proven to flourish in Upstate New York— Tomatoes, herbs, lettuce. and much more. Organically grown by members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Also, perennials and house plants from locally grown flowers, ferns and bushes. Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  and Sunday, May 21, noon to 2 p.m. 624 North Broadway in the parking lot of the Unitarian Universalist Church. For information call 518-587-0403 and ask for Bev. 

Team Billy Ride and Walk for Research

The nineteenth annual Team Billy Ride and Walk for Research will take place on Sunday, May 21 at the Farmers’ Market at High Rock Par,Saratoga Springs.  Rides of 50, 25 and 10 miles will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a three mile walk through the historic district at 9 a.m.  The rides follow some of the most beautiful sections of Saratoga County, with the 50-mile bike ride through the Saratoga National Historic Park. On-site registration: 7:30 a.m. All donations tax deductible and made payable to the National Brain Tumor Society. To register, donate or volunteer: www.teambilly.org  Phone: Cherie Grey 518-813-0449, cjgrey1@juno.com.

The Quintessential Quintet and More 

Saratoga Chamber Players under Artistic Direction of Jill Levy welcomes back grammy-nominated pianist Andrius Zlabys on Sunday May 21, 3 p.m., at the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 5th Avenue and Henning Road. Joining Zlabys and violinist Jill Levy are violinist Lily Holgate, violist Lila Brown, and cellist Scott Kluksdahl. Concert program includes Haydn’s Piano Trio in D major, Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, Andante Piano Trio by Ukrainian composer Dimitri Levkovich, and violin duos of Bartok and Ligeti. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com.e/the-quintesential-quintet-more-tickets-394360842897

application. 

7th Annual Swinging for the Arts

A 9-hole golf outing to benefit Saratoga Children’s Theatre. Join us at McGregor Links Country Club, located at 369 Northern Pines Rd. Wilton on Wednesday, June 14. RSVP by June 2. Format is Four Person Scramble 9 holes of golf, mulligans, contest holes, and pink ball contest. Sign-in begins at 4:30 p.m. Shotgun start at 5:30 p.m. Entry fee is $85 per person includes greens fee, cart rental, food, and a goodie bag. To register, visit https://www.saratogachildrenstheatre.org/

Craft Fair – Vendors Wanted

The Saratoga County History Center is seeking vendors of handmade crafts, antiques, and farm products for the annual craft fair at Brookside Museum on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  No mass produced or commercially manufactured products will be permitted.  Spaces are available outdoors, with limited spaces available indoors.  The fair is a rain-or-shine event. Visit https://brooksidemuseum.org/events/2022-craft-fair/ for more information, or contact Beth Silvestri at (518) 885-4000 or bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org.

Free Fishing Days June 25 and 26

Residents and non-residents who are 16 and older* can fish without a freshwater fishing license or recreational marine fishing registration (*Kids under 16 can always fish for free!). The perfect opportunity to try out fishing for the first time, to get back into the sport, or to take a friend or the whole family along to fish! Even though a license is not needed, all other fishing regulations apply. In Saratoga County fishing gear can be borrowed from the Town of Greenfield in Greenfield Center, call 518-893-7432, or from the Waterford Public Library, call 518-237-0891. More information, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/44804.html, or Google – NY DEC Learn to Fish.

The Health, History, & Horses Charity Gala

Presented by Ladies of Charity, Saratoga Chapter. Funds raised are distributed annually to established charities in Saratoga & Warren/Washing counties: Catholic Charities, food kitchens, shelters, and tuition support programs. Thursday, August 17, 6 – 9 p.m. at Saratoga Winery, 462 route 29, Saratoga Springs. Complimentary Beer & Wine the 1st hour, hot and cold food stations, cash bar, live music, silent auction, 4 seasons basket raffle, 50/50 raffle and racetrack t-shirt quilt. Cost is $75 per person payable to Ladies of Charity. Attire: summer festive. Tickets: www.ladiesofcharitysartaoga.com. Contact Yolanda at 518-886-8064.  

Travel with the Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) to an Italian Cooking School 

Have you dreamed of living in a seventeenth century palazzo nestled on a hilltop village in the romantic Italian countryside? ALL is sponsoring a gourmet retreat and cooking school November 11-18, 2023. We will tour a historic or culinary attraction each day and begin cooking late afternoons under the guidance of a professional chef before enjoying a four-course dinner with local wines each evening.   This small group experience includes all meals and six nights in a beautifully restored historic palazzo.  For more details, contact goedventures@gmail.com

Building More Than Birdhouses

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Instructor Ian Hamilton (right) with construction trades students.
Photo provided by WSWHE BOCES.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Building birdhouses can be a fun and rewarding DIY project. Taking that idea one step further on May 9, students in Ian Hamilton’s WSWHE BOCES Career & Technical Education (CTE) construction trades program provided a sneak peek of the 16 feet by 8 feet birdhouse they built as part of the Fifth Annual Ballston Spa Birdhouse Program. The Village of Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi, Curtis Lumber Vice President of Sales Doug Ford, and WSWHE BOCES administrators were in attendance.

Over 1,000 birdhouses have been built by students from Ballston Spa Middle School, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Middle School and Schuylerville Middle School, as well as community members, using kits and supplies donated by Curtis Lumber and the Capital Region Workforce Development Coalition. The coalition seeks to raise awareness of the trades as a viable career option for students. 350 of the 1,000 birdhouses will be mounted onto the large birdhouse as a display of community pride and engagement. 

“The large birdhouse the CTE students built can be seen as a symbol of what is possible through skilled trades, as it requires precision and craftsmanship to construct a functional and aesthetically pleasing structure for our feathered friends,” said Doug Ford, who heads the Capital Region Workforce Development Coalition.

The large bird house was built in two sections. The wood was donated by both Curtis Lumber and the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth. The structure will be transported from F. Donald Myers Education Center on Henning Road during the week of May 15 to Ballston Spa by Curtis Lumber. The Ballston Spa Village DPW staff will install the display in Wiswall Park. Penelope, the giant bird that is seen in the photos, will be carefully placed on the roof of the large bird house. The art installation will be the focal point of the Ballston Spa Birdhouse Festival which takes place on June 11 from 11 to 4 p.m., with a rain date of June 18. Each year an artist creates a new design for the Wiswall Park central display element. 

Wellness Day 2023 in Ballston Spa May 13

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Photo provided by Ballston Spa Central School District.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District’s annual Wellness Day will be held on Saturday, May 13 at the Wood Road Elementary School complex. The day begins with a FREE Kids Color Fun Run which starts at 8:15 a.m. The Scotties Stampede 5k follows at 9:15 a.m. on a brand new course that starts and ends in the Wood Road bus loop. Runners and walkers are all invited and welcome to participate. Race registration for the Kids Color Run and the Scotties Stampede 5k can be found on the district website.

The Wellness Expo is offered from 8:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. in the Wood Road Elementary School cafeteria/gymnasium. The Expo will once again offer information from community organizations, a free bike raffle, live demonstrations and plenty of great giveaways during the event. The goal is to bring the school community together for a fun-filled day and encourage students and families to participate in healthy and active lifestyles.

As in year’s past, proceeds from the event will support the district’s Ballston Spa Partnership for Innovation in Education Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Please call The Office of Community Relations and Program Support at 518-884-7195 x1369 or contact Kelly Delaney-Elliott at kelliott@bscsd.org for more information.