Author: Saratoga TODAY

The Academy for Lifelong Learning has been selected to benefit from the Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good fundraiser in February. 

For every specially marked Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet purchased any day in February at the 95 Weibel Avenue location in Saratoga Springs, Hannaford is donating $1 to the Academy.

Founded in 1992, the Academy is a nonprofit membership organization whose members share a love of learning. A self-funded entity, A.L.L. is designed to offer lifelong learning and comradery among seniors. A.L.L. offers spring, fall and winter courses, Special Interest Groups, (SIGs) and special events that are held throughout the year. Winter courses start the week of January 26. 

If you would like to register for courses, support the Academy by becoming a member, or get more information, contact the Academy at (518) 290-6988, email jeff@allsaratoga,org, or go to www.allsaratoga.org. 

To learn more about this Hannaford program, please visit Hannaford.2givelocal.com. 

Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents its twelfth annual Matthew M. Neugroschel Jewish Storytelling Program, with a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and the sponsorship of Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, on Tuesday, February 10 at 7 pm at Temple Sinai in Saratoga Springs and on Zoom.

A Beloved Tradition

Remember the little song when you were a child: Tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story, and then I’ll go to bed. You promised me, you said you would, you got to give in, ‘cause I’ve been good. Tell me a story, then I’ll go to bed. Here’s your chance to re-live that feeling! Everyone loves a story, not just the little children but rather children of all ages.

For the Jewish people, storytelling has been a means of defining the Jewish identity, their ethnic distinctiveness as Jews. In fact, almost every culture has storytelling in its long-ago history. It was the way, long before books were available, that custom, culture, and morality passed from one generation to the next. Listening to stories connects us to our history, to each other, to deeper parts of ourselves, and to the vast possibilities that life can hold.

Today, with readily available books, movies, podcasts and other media, storytelling is still a popular genre. Storytelling events are popular throughout the country and are geared to every age group, from the incredibly young to the most senior, in person and online.

Annually, Saratoga Jewish Community Arts brings together a group of talented storytellers who make us smile and touch our hearts. There is a captivating gift for storytelling. It is an enthusiastic interpretation of a tale so that the listeners are transported through time and to places they have never been. The love for storytelling is what storytellers have in common.

This year’s storytellers include some long-time favorites, including Sylvia Bloom, Beth Sabo Novik, Sandy Schuman, Rabbi Ilana Symons, and Martina Zobel, as well as some new voices.

Remembering Matthew M. Neugroschel

SJCA’s popular Annual Storytelling program was renamed in 2021 in memory of Matthew M. Neugroschel, a frequent contributor to Saratoga Jewish Community Arts and the Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival, and a remarkable storyteller, whose life was cut short in 2020 at the age of 49.

“Matthew was knowledgeable in so many areas,” says Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of SJCA. “Even today, I will be working on a project and say almost out loud, ‘Let me call Matthew and talk to him about this.’ However, it cannot be, as sadly, he departed from life almost six years ago.”

Matthew loved to try new things and was a long-time follower of the SJCA Storytelling program. In 2020, already quite ill, Matthew nonetheless committed to trying his hand in our annual, staged storytelling program. He had been working on a story that came from his dad’s childhood in the Bronx, and he passionately wanted to present it. He chose a Bronx version of A Golem’s Tale.

Matthew was unsteady on his feet, so in place of a cane, he brought an old-fashioned walking stick, adding to the imagery of his narration. His tale was witty, thoughtful, and extraordinarily well received. Audience members who grew up in the Bronx were thrilled with the fond memories of locations, street names, and substance; experienced storytellers embraced their new fellow bard. “The offering of this story was very important to Matthew,” says Wang. “It was a way to honor his father, whom he had tried to protect from his failing health.” 

Matthew held degrees in literature, fine art and law, and concentrated on the American Civil Rights Movement. He worked in the fields of Domestic Violence Advocacy and Family Law. He principally taught at SUNY Albany in the fields of American History and American Studies, and instructed in such fields as culture and diversity, literature, art, law and business.

We are pleased to announce that SJCA has published Matthew’s story in a hard-covered edition called The Golem of Davidson Avenue. The book will be for sale at our Annual Storytelling event on Feb. 10.

Join us on February 10. Doors will open at 6:30 pm for a dessert reception, followed by the evening’s selection of stories to fill the heart and soul. Zoom access will also be available.

A $10 donation per person is requested at the door, or by mail to Temple Sinai, 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Pre-registration is required. Click the URL address below or enter it in your browser:

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga (CMAS) will mark a major milestone this month with the arrival of its first ever traveling exhibit , welcoming an immersive, storybook-inspired literacy experience on loan from the Minnesota Children’s Museum. The exhibit arrived Sunday, and is viewable this week. 

The approximately 500-square-foot exhibit represents a new chapter for CMAS, expanding how the museum brings fresh, engaging learning opportunities to families in the Capital Region. Designed to immerse children and caregivers in the worlds of classic children’s literature, the exhibit features environments inspired by The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, and Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill. 

Through hands-on exploration and shared discovery, the exhibit encourages children to experience stories beyond the page. The spaces are intentionally designed to spark curiosity, conversation, and play—reinforcing that literacy develops through meaningful interactions long before formal reading begins. 

“This exhibit is incredibly special for us, not only because of its focus on early literacy, but because it represents the first time we’ve brought a traveling exhibit to the Children’s Museum at Saratoga,” said Sarah Smith, Executive Director of CMAS. “As we continue to listen to our community and respond to how families use and experience the museum, we’re committed to keeping our exhibits dynamic. That means growing our permanent exhibits while also exploring new traveling opportunities like this one, which allow us to introduce new themes, perspectives, and experiences for our visitors.” 

The exhibit’s arrival also coincides with the Children’s Museum at Saratoga’s partnership with United Way of the Greater Capital Region, the official local program partner for Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Together, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment to expanding access to books and reinforcing the importance of early literacy both inside and outside the museum’s walls. 

While the traveling exhibit invites families to experience stories through immersive play, the Imagination Library ensures that children can continue building that connection to reading at home, further strengthening the role of families and caregivers in a child’s literacy journey. 

The traveling exhibit reflects CMAS’s evolving approach to growth, balancing long-term investments in permanent installations with flexible, rotating exhibits that keep repeat visits engaging and relevant. It also opens the door for future partnerships with museums nationwide, expanding what CMAS can offer to the community it serves. 

The exhibit is currently open and viewable any time the Museum is open. 

For admission details, memberships, and hours, visit https://cmssny.org/ or stop by the Museum at 65 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park invites community members of all ages to experience the beauty of nature after dark during its upcoming series of Full Moon Hikes. The next hike will take place on Saturday, January 31, at 5:00 p.m., offering participants a rare opportunity to explore the park’s serene winter landscape under the glow of the full moon.

Led by a knowledgeable environmental educator, each guided walk provides participants with insights into the unique habitats and wildlife that make Wilton Wildlife a regional treasure. The hikes will be held on the scenic trails of Camp Saratoga, located on Scout Road in the Town of Wilton.

These evening adventures offer a memorable and family-friendly way to appreciate the natural world in a peaceful, moonlit setting. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly and prepare for winter outdoor conditions.

Depending on weather conditions, the program will be conducted on snowshoes if snow is present; otherwise, attendees will enjoy a traditional trail walk. Free snowshoe rentals are available thanks to the generous support of Brookfield Renewable N.A. An additional Full Moon Hike is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 6:00 p.m.

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.

 For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Wilton Wildlife website at wiltonpreserve.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram @wiltonpreserve. Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park’s mission is to provide environmental education and opportunities for outdoor recreation while supporting conservation of ecological systems and natural settings.

Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services has sponsorships available for residents ages 15 to 17 years old who would like to become lifeguards. The sponsorships will provide eligible residents with the opportunity to take the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training.

 Applications are available on the Saratoga County website at www.saratogacountyny.gov/DAYS.

 Those interested must participate in a pre-requisite swim at the Saratoga Springs YMCA (290 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs) on February 1st from 1-3pm. This requirement will take approximately two hours. Participants will take part in swimming 300 to 500 yards continuously (depending on pool or waterfront certification), treading water hands-free, and retrieving a weight, both under time limits. 

Participants will be eligible to apply for sponsorship upon completion of these components. The deadline for singing up for the pre-requisite swim is through January 30th.

 Classes for the water skills portion of the Lifeguard Training will take place from February through April. 

 Students will be certified in American Red Cross CPR, First Aid, AED and Water Rescue Skills. These classes will provide pool certification. Waterfront certification is available upon request and requires additional skills.

 The program is provided through funding from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

 For more information, please contact the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services at 518-884-4101 or visit www.saratogacountyny.gov/DAYS.