ALBANY — The Palace Performing Arts Center announced on Dec. 19 that Michele Desrosiers has joined the Palace Theatre as its new managing director.
According to her LinkedIn page, Desrosiers was the chief marketing officer at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) from Oct. 2017 until Sept. 2019.
In her new role, Desrosiers will work closely with Executive Director Kevin Johnson to strengthen marketing and fundraising initiatives, expand audience engagement, and deepen partnerships with community organizations across the Capital Region, the Palace Theatre said in a news release. Desrosiers will focus on elevating the Palace’s visibility, enhancing donor and sponsor relationships, and broadening the theatre’s reach throughout the region.
Desrosiers’ background spans performing arts leadership, nonprofit management, strategic communications, and brand strategy. She has led large-scale marketing campaigns, driven organizational rebrands, and guided audience growth strategies. Her regional arts experience includes leadership roles at both the Capital Repertory Theatre and SPAC, complemented by corporate marketing work across technology, finance, and professional services sectors.
“Michele’s marketing experience and strong understanding of the arts community will be tremendous assets as we continue to strengthen our team and grow our presence in the Capital Region,” said Johnson. “Her collaborative approach aligns well with our long-term goals for engagement and community partnership.”
“The Palace is a historic and cherished cultural institution,” Desrosiers said. “I’m excited to work with Kevin and the team to grow our audiences, cultivate community relationships, and support the theatre’s continued growth and impact.”
The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum is hosting a Winter Food Drive to benefit LifeWorks Community Action. As the temperatures turn colder, SCHC seeks to support our community by raising funds and gathering food items to support those facing food insecurity. Please join us in generosity this holiday season. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off during museum hours. Most needed items include canned fruit and vegetables, pasta, rice, oatmeal, mac and cheese, canned tuna, canned chicken, and peanut butter.
4-H Party for a Cause
The Winter’s Edge Party for a Cause fundraiser will be held on January 17, from 6 – 10 p.m. at The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Course. Tickets for this event are $20 and include music by Electric Rodeo, 5 Raffle tickets & Light Refreshments (veggies, cheese, crackers, pepperoni). There will be a Silent Auction, Raffle Baskets, and a whole lot of fun. We will also have an open cash bar and a limited menu for additional purchases. Additional raffle tickets will be available as well. Many thanks to Harmony Veterinary Center for being our signature sponsor. For tickets, visit https://cce.sc4h.org/party/ If you have any questions, contact Greg Stevens at the 4-H office at 518-885-8995 or grs9@cornell.edu.
Beginner Maple Syrup Course
Have you ever wanted to make your own Maple Syrup? Join the Milton Grange and Corell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County on January 24 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Located at the 4-H Training Center, 556 Middle Line Rd., Ballston Spa, NY 12020. We will be teaching the basics on how to make maple syrup on a small scale geared toward beginners. This hands-on class will cover identifying trees to tap, how and when to tap a tree your trees, a basic at home set up, syrup grades and products, including a taste test.
Class size is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Total cost is $30, $45 for two people, which includes a pancake lunch with your choice of meat and beverage along with a sample size bottle of syrup to go home with you. Contact Jessica Luse at jmh452@cornell.edu for more information or questions. Registration is due on January 16.
Monthly Indoor Craft and Garage Sale
Sunday, January 25, from 11 – 3 p.m. the popular Saratoga Wilton Elks Indoor Craft and Garage Sale will be held at the Lodge at 1 Elk Lane, Saratoga Springs. Admission is free with over 40 vendors, great parking and lunch available too. Just about anything you can imagine might be offered. There are lightly used children’s toys available and craft items too; as well as anything garage sale. It’s a fun activity the entire family enjoys. All proceeds go to the Elks Scholarship Fund. An 8’ table with chairs is $15. Email Debbie @ deborahozolins@gmail.com or call 518-226-5595 for information or to sign up for a table(s). Applications are available in the Elks Lobby after 3 pm Monday through Saturday. Next sale is February 22, 2026, March 15, 2026, and April 26, 2026.
Sow You Want to Be an Ecological Gardener?!
Join us for this free workshop and leave with the tools to plant your own native plant garden come spring. Thursday, January 29, 5 – 7 p.m. Come by any time between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Skidmore College Center for Integrated Sciences. Plant seeds this winter and have seedlings to plant or pot on in spring. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and guide you in winter sowing best practices. To register: https://forms.gle/aTT2CD632AufXcX4A. Visit, https://sustainablesaratoga.org/event/community-winter-sowing-workshop/
Call for Local Folk or Irish Performers
Come audition for an opportunity to showcase your talent during “Café Malta”, an intimate coffee
house at the Malta Community Center on Friday evening, March 13. It’s lucky Friday the
13th right before St. Patrick’s Day! We are looking for talented musicians, vocalists, and small acoustic
bands, storytellers and/or dancers. Each acoustic act selected will play a short 10–15-minute set.
Auditions are by appointment only. Contact Elyse Young, Artistic Director, at 518-899-4411 x 305 or
theater@townofmalta.gov for more details or to schedule an audition.
Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs | 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Continuing his eternal search for a group of truly scrumptious Good Kids, Mr. Wonka combines active, full-audience participation with real magic, original music, bubble-play, eye-popping puppetry, goofy props and inspired slapstick antics in this heart-warming showing positively delicious show. Suggested for ages 4 and up with a caregiver. Registration is not required, but space is limited based on room capacity. www.sspl.org.
Saturday, January 3
Ballston Spa Lions Club Food Drive
Hannaford, 3 Via Rossi Way, Ballston Spa | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. All Proceeds to Benefit Local Food Pantries. Non-Perishable food items are greatly appreciated.
Full Moon Hike
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 90 Scout Rd., Gansevoort | 5 – 6 p.m. Are you interested in seeing the Preserve at night? View nature in a new light, as we walk the trails in moonlight. An unforgettable experience for all ages! Registration is required at least one business day in advance. To register, please visit www.wiltonpreserve.org or call the office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org.
Sunday, January 4
Snowshoe and Cross-Country Ski Rentals
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 90 Scout Rd., Gansevoort | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Come get your rentals from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Welcome Cabin in Parking Lot #1. We will be open every Saturday and Sunday from January 3 to March 28. Rentals will be weather dependent, but the Welcome Cabin will always be open during these times. Additional days for rentals include Monday, January 19 and the school vacation week of February 16-20. All rentals must be returned by 4 p.m., last call is at 3 p.m. Don’t hibernate all winter! Get outside and explore the trails during the winter at Camp Saratoga! Rentals may be used only at Camp Saratoga. Rentals are $10/adults and $5/children and students. No registration required.
Monday, January 5
Two Vanished Villages
Galway Town Hall, 5910 Sacandaga Road, Galway | 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Galway Preservation Society Program, Jack and Jan McEneny will present ‘Two Vanished Villages’, the story of their personal searches for the villages where their respective ancestors lived. Both families emerged from the Irish famine in County Mayo and immigrated to new homes at the “Glass Factory Village” near Lake Desolation in Saratoga County. Jack spent 19 years in the New York State Assembly and is currently Historian for Albany County. Our programs are always open to the public, free of charge. If you choose, annual family or household memberships are available for $10 per year. Please join us for some fun and to learn more about our history.
Tuesday, January 6
Film Casablanca Panel Discussion
ZOOM, 7 p.m. A 1940s classic that would come to be hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, Casablanca featured what in retrospect would be viewed as an all-star cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet. While Casablanca has no battle scenes and a small body count, it remains one of the most powerful war films of all time – driven by the values needed to confront totalitarianism. Its impact is deepened by a supporting cast of real-life European refugees who didn’t have to act to show their hatred of the Nazis. Registration: Pre-registration is required. To register, enter the URL in your browser:
Academy for Lifelong Learning Winter Storyteller Series
Prestwick Chase at Saratoga, 100 Saratoga Boulevard, Saratoga Springs | 12 noon – 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. No reservations required. Sponsored by Prestwick Chase. Storyteller Clair Nolan presents Guiding Us Home. Different storytellers will offer their tales every Wednesday through February 11. If Saratoga Springs city schools are closed due to weather, that presentation will be postponed until February 18. For more information on the Academy for Lifelong Learning, to register for winter courses, or for a complete lineup of storytellers, visit www.allsaratoga.org or contact Academy Executive Director, Jeff Shinaman at jeff@allsaratoga.org or call 518-290-6988.
Chicken and Biscuit 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: Chicken and Biscuits, mashed potatoes, vegetable, salad. Dinner $15 (cash only).
Thursday, January 8
Saratoga RV Show
Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 2 – 8 p.m. Alpin Haus’ annual Saratoga RV Show; showcasing a variety of campers and motorhomes for families to tour. Exclusive raffles, giveaways, and local campground representatives will be featured as well! Raffles and giveaways are all outdoors and camping related, and the local campgrounds will be providing info on camping stays at their facilities. We’ll have a range of campers, from lightweight trailers to luxury motorhomes, all available to walk through.
Cinema Club: Life of Pi (2012)
Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 6:30 p.m. A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a Bengal tiger. In English. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org.
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is inviting its youngest adventurers to dive into the magic of winter during January’s Preschool Nature Time, held on Friday, January 9, at 10:00 a.m. This month’s theme, “Animal Tracks,” will teach children all about winter animals, their adaptations, and the tracks they leave behind in the snow!
Led by volunteer Lisa Cohen and a Wilton Wildlife environmental educator, preschoolers will embark on a brief stroll through Camp Saratoga, keeping their eyes out for tracks. After the walk, children and their caregivers will gather for a cozy lineup of animal-themed stories, hands-on activities, and a creative craft designed especially for ages 3-6.
This program is primarily held outdoors to celebrate the season, though activities will be moved indoors if the weather calls for it. An adult must accompany each child. Families can also look forward to upcoming Preschool Nature Time themes throughout the winter and early spring:
• February 13 – Owls
• March 13 – Getting Ready for Spring
Registration is required at least one day in advance, as space is limited. 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.
Get ready for a day of outdoor adventure and cozy fun! Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park invites community members of all ages to join them for a bonfire on Monday, January 19, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Town of Wilton’s Camp Saratoga. This event is perfect for parents looking for enriching winter activities for their kids, or individuals just looking to get outside!
A drop-in event: participants are invited to stop by the fire circle located next to the bathrooms at Camp Saratoga for hot cocoa and s’mores around the fire.
Looking to hit the trails?
In addition to the bonfire, there will be a scavenger hunt that can be completed while walking, snowshoeing, or skiing the trails. Scavenger hunt sheets will be available at the Welcome Cabin located in Parking Lot #1 (90 Scout Road, Wilton) between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Return your sheet by 4:00 PM for a small prize!
Winter rentals will also be available at the Welcome Cabin from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with all rented equipment needing to be returned by 3:30 p.m. Rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis. Adult and child sizes are available. Rentals are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and students. Members of Wilton Wildlife have access to rental equipment at no cost. Additional Winter Fun Days will be held on Saturday, February 7, and Monday, February 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
No registration is required. 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.
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.
Porter Corners, NY- Cathy R. White, 70, passed December 23, 2025, following an extended illness. Calling hours are 1-3 pm, January 13 at Burke Funeral Home, followed by a funeral home service at 3 pm. Memorial donations to Scholarship Fund of Saratoga County Teen Council, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Porter Corners, NY – William E. Lloyd Jr., 72, passed unexpectedly, December 19, 2025. Calling hours are 3-6 pm, Friday, January 2, at Burke Funeral Home. Burial is 10:00 am, January 3, at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Greenfield Fire District #2 (P.O. Box 41 Porter Corners, NY 12859). Visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – James P. Morrissey, 93, passed away on December 12, 2025. Visitation was on Thursday December 18 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Ave. followed by a funeral service and burial in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd. please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
This year’s theme is Dr. King’s quote, “Love is the greatest force in the universe; it is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos.”
This sentiment reflects Dr. King’s belief that unconditional, active love is the most powerful force for justice and human transformation. He taught that this transcendent love is not sentimental or weak, but a strong, practical, world-changing power capable of breaking cycles of hatred and turning enemies into friends.
The line comes from a note he once wrote explaining the meaning of love, echoing themes from his 1963 book of sermons: Strength to Love, where he frames love as the foundation of nonviolent resistance. Ultimately, King saw love as the moral center of the universe and the essential path to a just and humane world.
Friday night, 1/16:
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. MLK Saratoga and Skidmore College Present: The Inaugural MLK Weekend Celebration Student Arts Showcase. Dr. King-themed artwork from students in the Saratoga Area will be shown and performed live at Skidmore College’s Case Center. Will also feature crafts, face-painting, music and refreshments. All are welcome!
Saturday, 1/17:
• 11a.m.-12:30 p.m. Love is the Greatest Force: The Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Resistance. Local activists will present a workshop to demonstrate, teach and discuss non-violent resistance and protest. Will be held at the historic Frederick Allen Lodge on Beekman Street in Saratoga. The lodge was chartered in 1925 by Frederick Joseph Allen, the first Black employee in Saratoga’s Public Works Department.
• 2:00 p.m. The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College will hold a special Dr. King-themed Family Saturday, an event that helps foster multigenerational creative cooperation through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engaging in a hands-on art activity.
• 8:00 p.m. Free concert at Caffè Lena: Hubby Jenkins of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Jenkins is celebrated for his riveting performances that honor and illuminate the African American roots of old-time American music.
Sunday, 1/18
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. “Moral Cosmos” Morning Gospel Service at AME Zion Church in Saratoga Springs featuring the music of the Heavenly Echoes: a prominent, long-running Southern-style gospel group from the Capital District.
• 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Civil Minds Think Alike: Workshop led by Saratoga Springs High School students at the Frederick Allen Lodge in Saratoga Springs, exploring Dr. King’s values and how they connect with and inspire today’s youth.
Monday, 1/19
• 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Dr. King Day of Service. Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” Honor Dr. King by participating at service projects ranging from collecting non-perishable food items to help those in our community facing food insecurity; blanket making and food collections for pets in local shelters; the Mooncatcher project to make renewable menstrual management kits for girls worldwide; repairing gently used books for donation to local children and schools, and more. Local community organizations will also be there sharing their stories and missions. Light lunch catered by Jackson Soul Catering following the service projects at 12 noon. At the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church.
• 1 p.m.-2p.m. Dr. King Weekend Community Celebration. The highlight and culmination of our weekend. Featuring opening music by Soulist Garland Nelson, local speakers, and a keynote address by Minister Steven Boxley.
Please visit the weekend website at https://www.mlksaratoga.org/2026-dr-king-celebration-weekend for event details and updates.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — With the support of a record 125 Saratoga County businesses, Toys for Toga donated an estimated 5,500 toys to three Saratoga County nonprofit human services organizations on Dec. 17.
Included in this year’s donation was $18,000 in gifts and technology specifically designated for teenagers—an age group that often has the greatest unmet needs during the holiday season. These donations were made possible through sponsor support and the community fundraising efforts that have been the foundation of Toys for Toga since its inception. Items included video game consoles, tablets, headphones, scooters, bikes, clothing, and other wish-list items requested for specific children.
Toys for Toga donations are split evenly between the Franklin Community Center, CAPTAIN Community Human Services, and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center.
The donations were delivered to beneficiary organizations following a press conference held at DeCrescente Distributing Company in Mechanicville.
According to the recipient organizations, an estimated 1,700 children across Saratoga County will benefit from this year’s donations.
Toys were collected at local restaurants, hotels, bars, retail stores, schools, clubs, and other community locations from Nov. 3 through Dec. 13.
“Toys for Toga was founded on community partnership and a common goal of making the holidays special for the kids in need right here in our community,” said Toys for Toga Founder Max Oswald. “We really saw that spirit come to life this year, with the most toys we’ve ever collected at a time when they are needed the most. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s program a huge success.”
Other fundraising efforts in this year’s Toys for Toga campaign included:
• Death Wish Coffee gave away free coffee for toys at their downtown Saratoga Springs offices.
• Druthers Brewing Company made four packs and kegs of its Toys for Toga Winter Ale, distributed by DeCrescente Distributing Company, that benefited the program.
• Sponsors DeCrescente Distributing Company, Death Wish Coffee, Sun Cruiser Iced Tea Vodka, Saratoga Water, Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs, and more, returned this year.
• New supporters Green River Distillery and New Country Toyota.
• Fundraising/toy collection events at Saratoga Tattoo Company, Cantina Restaurant, Kings Tavern, the Victorian Street Walk, Quick Response Restoration and more.
Founded in 2013, Toys for Toga is a locally-run community partnership and fundraiser that collects toys and raises money to give local kids happy holidays.
