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Author: Saratoga TODAY

DEC Proposes Changes to Cool Water Sportfish Regulations

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the release of proposed changes to cool water sportfish regulations that will help protect fish while spawning, increase the reproductive capacity of walleye in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin, and eliminate unnecessary special regulations.

“The proposed regulation changes for walleye, pike, pickerel, and tiger musky reflect DEC’s commitment to adaptively manage New York’s fisheries resources and to simplify regulations wherever possible,” said Commissioner Lefton. “We encourage the public to review the proposal and provide feedback.”

Highlights of the proposed regulations include:

• Changing the closing date for walleye, northern pike, chain pickerel, and tiger musky from March 15 to March 1 for both statewide and special regulations; 

• Changing the start date of fishing-prohibited regulations to protect spawning walleye on sections of select streams from March 16 to March 2; 

• Eliminating unnecessary special harvest regulations for walleye in 33 waters; and 

• Changing the size limit and daily creel limit for walleye in Jefferson County waters of Lake Ontario to two fish per day with no more than one longer than 24 inches.

The proposed regulations are responsive to fisheries managers’ and anglers’ concerns that the current fishing season closing date may not adequately protect spawning walleye and northern pike into the future, as a warming climate changes water temperatures and shifts spawning times. Establishing an earlier fishing season closure will help ensure that spawning aggregations of these species are protected.

There are also several walleye waters currently managed under special harvest regulation (18-inch minimum size limit, three-per-day possession limit) to help establish, restore, or improve walleye fisheries. A subset of those waters does not meet that objective, and the draft regulations propose to convert back to statewide regulations and a 15-inch minimum size, five-per-day possession limit.

In addition, the walleye fishery in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin (Jefferson County) has declined, and DEC is proposing a more protective harvest regulation intended to increase spawning stock biomass and increase the capacity for natural reproduction.

The full text and a summary of the proposed regulatory changes are available on DEC’s website. 

DEC is interested in anglers’ viewpoints and encourages public feedback on these proposals. Comments will be accepted through April 13, 2026, and should be emailed to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov with the subject line “Coolwater Sportfish Regulations,” or sent by standard mail to:

Inland Fisheries Section

NYSDEC

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233-4753

Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Saratoga Announces Black Belt Promotions

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

 Photo provided. 

WILTON — On Jan. 31, Professors Dan Ladd and Harrison Hatton, both instructors at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Saratoga, received their black belts from third degree black belts Professors James and Jesse Bruchac at Alliance Saratoga headquarters in Wilton Mall. 

Dan Ladd, a former All-American Schuylerville wrestler and former #1 ranked amateur MMA fighter, has made a name for himself in jiu-jitsu, winning many international events, as well as capturing bronze in the 2023 IBJJF Master Worlds in Vegas. 

Professor Harrison Hatton, also a judo black belt, has competed and won in multiple local and international jiu-jitsu events, recently capturing open class gold at the 2025 IBJJF Tampa International Open.

Local Legislators Honor Championship Soccer Team

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

Photo provided.

ALBANY — Senator Jim Tedisco (R, C-Ballston Lake) and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) honored the New York State Class C champion Stillwater High School girl’s varsity soccer team on Feb. 5 by presenting them with legislative resolutions at the State Capitol.

The team, led by Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya, won their final game in a 1-0 shutout to secure the title on Nov. 16. The victory improved the squad’s overall record to 22-1.

The team has won four sectional titles and three state titles since 2018.

Albany Pro Musica and Mostly Modern Festival Announce Three-Year Collaboration

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Albany Pro Musica (APM) and the Mostly Modern Festival (MMF) announced on Tuesday a new, three-year artistic collaboration that will unite the choral ensemble with the summer music festival hosted in the Spa City.

Beginning in June 2026, APM will serve as chorus-in-residence for MMF’s annual June festival in Saratoga Springs, appearing in one major festival concert each year in 2026, 2027, and 2028 at the Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College. 

The partnership also deepens the creative exchange between the organizations. MMF Artistic Director Robert Paterson will serve as APM’s composer-in-residence during the collaboration, with APM programming and/or commissioning new works by Paterson across multiple seasons.

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo, APM’s Opalka Family Artistic Director, will be a featured guest conductor with the Mostly Modern Festival during the collaboration.

“This collaboration feels like a natural next step for both organizations,” said Flores-Caraballo. “Mostly Modern has built a festival that’s adventurous and welcoming, and Albany Pro Musica brings a chorus that can do anything, from luminous classics to new sounds that surprise you. We’re excited to make concerts that feel alive, accessible, and genuinely fun for audiences.”

Robert Paterson added, “Having Albany Pro Musica in residence for three consecutive festivals creates continuity, and it gives us room to take creative risks while staying audience-friendly. And with new works being programmed and commissioned, we’re not just presenting contemporary music, we’re making it here, for this community, with musicians and singers who bring their own perspective and brilliance to the process.”

Irish Music Festival Arrives Next Month

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Photo of Socks in the Frying Pan provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Parting Glass is hosting an Irish Music Festival on Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m. 

The event’s headliner is Socks in the Frying Pan, an award-winning trio coming all the way from County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, which is considered a hub of traditional Irish music. The trio combines fiddle, accordion, and guitar with a modern, electrifying edge.

Other acts performing at the festival include local singer-songwriter Caity Gallagher, The Farrell School of Irish Dance, and Irish Don Kelly.

For tickets and additional event info, visit www.tickpick.com/organizer/event/socks-in-the-frying-pan-irish-music-festival-51418420.

Rarely-Performed Baroque Opera Coming to Saratoga

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Image provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Musicians of Ma’alwyck and Excelsior Vocal Ensemble recently announced a collaboration to present “Dido and Aeneas,” an opera by Henry Purcell that is rarely performed in the Capital Region.

The opera will be presented in conjunction with John Blow’s “Ode on the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell.”

“Dido and Aeneas,” based on The Aeneid, is one the earliest English operas. This semi-staged performance directed by Sharon Greene will feature acclaimed soloists and premiere dance interludes. John Blow’s ode, scored for chamber orchestra and two tenors, was written as a tribute to Blow’s student after his death.

There will be two performances: Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs, and Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. For tickets, visit secure.qgiv.com/for/concertticketing/event/dido/.

Sounds in Winter Chamber Music Concert Series Continues Feb. 14 & 21

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Image provided by the Brookside Museum.

BALLSTON SPA — Two concerts are coming up for the Sounds in Winter chamber music series at Ballston Spa’s Brookside Museum. Both concerts start at 3 p.m. and are free to attend. Tea and cookies will be served. Registration is requested at www.brooksidemuseum.org.

On Feb. 14: The “A Touch of Woodwinds” quintet of flute, clarinet, oboe, horn, and bassoon will perform. The group is composed of performing members of the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra. The quintet’s repertoire utilizes music from the renaissance (ie. Morley), baroque (ie. Bach), classical (ie. Mozart), romantic (ie. Grieg), impressionistic (ie. Debussy), contemporary (ie. Hindemith), and pops era (ie. Mancini).

On Feb. 21: The Eribeth Trio—made up of local musicians Elizabeth Silver on violin, Erica Pickhardt on cello, and Kristen Tuttman on the piano—will perform. Founding members Silver and Pickhardt are members of the Albany Symphony and have performed chamber music together for more than 30 years.

February 13 – February 19, 2026

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Local Briefs.

Upcoming Events

Annual Chili Dinner Fundraiser

Hosted by The Friends of Moreau Lake on Friday, February 20, 6 p.m. at the Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Dept., 1870 Rt. 32N, Gansevoort. Donation: $10/member; $12/non-member; kids 10 and under free.  

RSVP Required: call Park office 518-793-0511. Volunteers needed- chili chefs needed! (bring in slow cookers), also sides, desserts.  Call the office to sign up 518-793-0511.   Please check our website for more information: friendsofmoreaulake.org Guest Speaker will be – Maria Brown, MS, PWS, GISP Have You Thanked a Bat Today?  Maria brings audiences behind the scenes of real bat research.  Engaging, visually rich presentation!

February Break Drama Camp with Elyse Young 

Town of Malta Parks and Recreation will hold a Drama Camp Tuesday through Friday of the February school break for ages 8-14. The camp will run from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day. Activities will include acting exercises, theater games, improvisation, vocal techniques, creative movement and dance, character analysis, arts projects and more! Each camper will also rehearse and present a short performance at the end of the last day of camp, Friday, February 20. Our show will have costumes, set pieces, props, lights, sound and will be performed on the Malta Community Center Stage for invited guests! For additional information please call 899-4411 or visit maltaparksrec.com.

Repair Cafe’

On February 21, from 1 – 4 p.m., the Innovation Center at Saratoga, 16 Stonebreak Rd., Malta, invites our community to a free Repair Café. Volunteer repair coaches will help you mend everything from electronics and jewelry to textiles and small appliances, no reservation needed! Fix It, Don’t Trash It! Reduce waste and give your items a second life. Learn repair skills from local experts. Connect with fellow DIY enthusiasts and creatives in the community. 

February 13 – February 19, 2026

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Calendar.

This Week’s Events:   

Friday, February 13

38th Annual Flurry Festival

Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs | The 2026 lineup brings together an incredible variety of styles, including contra, swing, blues, square dancing, Cajun, Zydeco, English country, and international traditions like Balkan, Scandinavian, Latin, Scottish, and tango. Beyond the dance floor, you can dive into fusion, balfolk, African, and Appalachian rhythms, or join in on instrument workshops, storytelling, family-friendly activities, group singing, and late-night jams. Whether you are a seasoned pro or stepping onto the floor for the first time, the Flurry offers a joyful connection to music and movement from across the globe and our own backyards. Find full schedule details and grab your tickets at www.flurryfestival.org.

Ensemble Connect Performance 

Skidmore College, Arthur Zankel Music Center, located at 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 7:30 p.m. Ensemble Connect, a group of the finest young professional classical musicians based out of Carnegie Hall, celebrates its 19th year at Skidmore! 

GEORGE LEWIS | Broke (World Premiere, commissioned by Carnegie Hall)

VALERIE COLEMAN | Portraits of Langston

BARBER | Adagio for Strings

IVES | String Quartet No. 1, “From the Salvation Army” Suite

JOPLIN | The Entertainer, arr. Franz Beyer

JOPLIN | Paragon Rag, arr. William Zinn

This event is free and open to the public; tickets are required. https://www.purplepass.com/events/341637-ensemble-connect-feb-13th-2026. Call 518-580-5321 or email: zankel@skidmore.edu. 

Saturday, February 14

Valentine’s Day on the Rails

Corinth Station, 9 Railroad Place, Corinth | 3 p.m. Enjoy a romantic, southern Adirondacks 1.5-hour train ride with Fossil Stone Vineyards wine (cash bar) & free Saratoga Candy Co. chocolat. Cozy up in our heated cars or hit the open-air car and enjoy the crisp winter breeze. Perfect for couples or friends! Visit Corinthtrain.com to learn more and purchase tickets.

Sounds in Winter: A Touch of Woodwinds

Brookside Museum, The Long Room, 21 Fairground Ave., Ballston Spa | 3 – 4 p.m. Tune in for the third and final edition of the third season of the Sounds in Winter concert series. Brookside welcomes A Touch of Woodwinds, who will play music for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy the performance of this classical group within the wonderful acoustics of our historic Long Room. These concerts are sponsored jointly by The Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts, and The Saratoga County History Center with funding provided by The American Federation of Musicians Music Performance Trust Fund and a grant from Saratoga Arts.

Your support powers everything we do. All donations are welcome and enable us to continue offering the highest quality programming.

Spring Opening Reception

Tang Museum, Skidmore College Campus, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 5 p.m. Public conversation between Kathy Butterly and Dayton Director Ian Berry, followed by a reception.

Annual Sweetheart Dinner Dance

Saratoga Wilton Elks Lodge #161, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs 5:30 – 11 p.m. The popular band Skippy and the Pistons will be our entertainment for the night. Cocktails from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and entertainment from 8 – 11 p.m. There will be raffle baskets. Entrée choices are prime rib, baked salmon, or eggplant parmesan, served with herb roasted potatoes, tossed salad, roll, and veggies. A cupcake tower with a variety of flavors will be offered for dessert. Cost is $60 per person. Reservations first come first serve. RSVP to Barb Ash at 518-955-4588 with entrée choice, number of guests and payment. Reservations are due February 6.

Ballston Area Seniors Monthly Dance

Milton Community Center, 310 Northline Rd. Ballston Spa | 7 – 10 p.m. The dance is open to the public and there is free ample parking. There will be a donation of $7 per person. Snack and refreshment will be provided. Dance to the music of the DJ Mark Hersh (Adults Only). For more information call 518-490-2851.

Sunday, February 15

All You Can Eat Country Breakfast

Gansevoort Fire House, 1870 Route 32N, Gansevoort | 8 – 11 a.m. Menu includes: eggs cooked to order, omelets, pancakes, hash, French toast, home fries, biscuits with sausage gravy, orange juice, milk and coffee. Donation: $12 adults, $10 Seniors 55+ and Military and 1st Responders, $10. children 6-12, children under 6yrs. free.

Monday, February 16

Teen Take-and-Make: Watercolor Hoops

Saratoga Springs Public Library, Teen Room, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs | 3 – 4 p.m. 

Relax over February break with some watercolors! Teens in grades 7-12, stop by the Teen Room during open hours and pick up a kit to turn an ordinary embroidery hoop into a wild watercolor creation. 

While supplies last. No registration required.

Tuesday, February 17

Birding Walk

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 80 Scout Rd., Gansevoort | 8 – 9 a.m. Join us on a morning walk through the Saratoga Sand Plains to see which birds stay around for the winter! Registration is required at least one business day in advance. Visit wiltonpreserve.org, email info@wiltonpreserve.org, or call 518-450-0321. Winter programs may be cancelled due to unsuitable weather/trail conditions.

Town of Greenfield Historical Society Meeting

Community Center, 25 Wilton Road, Greenfield Center | 7 p.m.  The speaker, Chris Carola, will share a Civil War presentation on the 77th Regiment, mustered in Saratoga Springs in late 1861, fought all the way through to Appomattox. Soldiers were from Saratoga, Fulton and Essex counties, including towns of Galway, Charlton, Gloversville, etc. Admission is free. All are welcome.

Wednesday, February 18

Pickin’s

Milton Community Center, 310 Northline Rd., Ballston Spa | 1 – 3 p.m. All acoustic musicians who enjoy playing country/western, folk, gospel & bluegrass are welcome to participate. If you don’t play, become part of the audience and enjoy the music. Bring a snack to share. Beverages provided. Open to the public, free admission and ample free parking. Call Earll 518-348-9922 with questions.

Meatloaf Dinner

Saratoga Wilton Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Curbside pickup only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order. 518-584-2585. Menu: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetable, salad, roll, gravy. Dinner $15 (cash only).

Free Community Meal

Maplewood Parkway Methodist Church, 15 Maplewood Parkway, S. Glens Falls | 5 – 6 p.m. Come join us for food and fellowship. This month we are serving grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, pasta salad and chocolate cake. 

The Astronomy Club 

Galway Public Library, 2112 East Street, Galway | 6:30 p.m. The presentation by Steve Clark will be Can Planets Collide?  The Club is open to adults and teens (middle school and older).  Registration is requested, but not required, by calling 518-882-6385.  New members are welcome.

Thursday, February 19

 All Abilities Chair-Based Movement Workshop 

Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 2:30 p.m. This four-week low-impact program combines gentle stretching, adaptive movement, and familiar music to make it fun and enjoyable for all abilities. Movements are repetitive and easy to follow, which helps participants build confidence and develop muscle memory. Each Thursday including February 26, and March 5, 12. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Wilton Wildlife Leads Winter Walk at Ballston Creek Preserve

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, in partnership with Saratoga PLAN, will offer a guided winter walk at the Ballston Creek Preserve on Tuesday, March 10, at 10:00 a.m.

Led by a Wilton Wildlife environmental educator, the walk will introduce participants to the history of the preserve and its ecological transformation from former agricultural fields into a diverse forest of mixed conifer and hardwood trees, including several mature trees.

If there is snow, the walk will take place on snowshoes. Free snowshoe rentals are available to program participants thanks to the generous support of Brookfield Renewable N.A. If there is no snow, the program will be a trail walk. 

Registration is required at least one business day in advance. To register, please visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org. For more information, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org. Winter programs may be cancelled due to inclement weather or unfavorable trail conditions.