The following programs will be offered during the week of January 19-25. Details and registration information for each program can be found at www.cphlibrary.org or by calling 518-371-8622. 

Please Note: The Library will be closed January 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Preschool Story Time & Craft – Wednesday, January 21 at 10:30 am (Ages 3-5, with an adult. Registration required.) 

Sensory Story Time – Wednesday, January 21 at 4 pm (Ages 5-10, with an adult. Registration required.) 

Music & Motion – Friday, January 16 at 10 am (Ages 0-6, with an adult.) 

Saturday Story Time – Saturday, January 17 at 10 am 

ZOOM: Virtual Author Talk with Julia Hotz – Tuesday, January 20 at 2 pm 

Journalist and author Julia Hotz will discuss her book The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. Science shows that social prescribing is effective for treating symptoms of the modern world’s most common ailments. By integrating age-old medicines like art, nature, movement, and volunteer service into patients’ daily lives, social prescriptions are radically changing health and healthcare in more than 30 countries. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Therapy Dogs for Adults – Wednesday, January 21 at 10 am 

De-stress and pet a therapy dog! All participants will be assigned a time slot for their visit. Please meet in the Cafe Area near the Circulation Desk to be assigned a time. For adults only. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Radiant Morning Yoga – Wednesdays at 10 am: January 21-February 11 

Get up and get moving with this refreshing and relaxing morning yoga class with certified yoga instructor Miki Vysohlid. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Read Digital Newspapers for Free – Thursday, January 22 at 1 pm 

Learn how to use library resources to access free newspaper articles from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Daily Gazette, NY Post, and more. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Therapy Dogs for Teens – Thursday, January 22 at 4:30 pm 

De-stress and pet a therapy dog. Drop by the Teen Place to hang out with our furry friend, Sophie. Come alone or with a friend. For teens in grades 6-12 only. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Silent Book Club (at MochaLisa’s Caffé, Clifton Park) – Thursday, January 22 at 6 pm 

Want to join a book club, but pick your own book? Then this book club is for you—come talk about your favorite books and read quietly in a group setting. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Teen Nutrition: Healthy Smoothies – Friday, January 23 at 2 pm 

Have fun making your own smoothies with Brenna Kavakos from Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Grades 6-12. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

FOL Used Book Sale – 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org 

Preview for Friends Members 

Friday, January 23: 11:45 am-12:45 pm 

General Public 

Friday, January 23: 1-5 pm 

Saturday, January 24: 10 am-4 pm 

Sunday, January 25: 12:15-4 pm 

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. 

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.

HVCC North, located in the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park (STEP) in Malta, NY, has been designated an official branch campus of Hudson Valley Community College by the New York State Education Department.

Consisting of two state-of-the-art buildings: TEC-SMART and the STEM Education Center, HVCC North will continue to offer students access to educational opportunities in the highly growing fields of healthcare, STEM and skilled trades in Saratoga County and throughout the North Country.

The branch campus will offer five complete degree programs on site as well as a variety of individual courses, non-credit study and student resources.

Coursework in the following programs can now be completed entirely at HVCC North:

• Clean Energy Management A.A.S.

• Electrical Engineering Technology – Electronics A.A.S.

• Electrical Construction and Maintenance A.O.S.

• Engineering Science A.S.

• Health Sciences Certificate

“The designation of HVCC North as a branch campus marks a very exciting chapter in our institution’s history,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Michael Brophy. “By extending our academic reach and offering select degree programs in full in Malta, NY, we are increasing access and creating new opportunities for learning in high-demand fields.”

Don’t hibernate all winter! Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are great ways to explore the trails during the snowy season. Starting on January 3, cross-country skis, snowshoes, and micro-spikes will be available to rent every Wednesday through Sunday, the last day being March 15, weather permitting. Rentals will also be available on Monday, January 19, and for the full February school vacation week, from February 16 to 20. Adult and child sizes are available, meaning the whole family can enjoy the winter trails at Wilton Wildlife!

The rentals will be located at the Welcome Cabin at Camp Saratoga, located in Parking Lot #1 at 90 Scout Road in the Town of Wilton. Rentals are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids/students. Members of Wilton Wildlife have access to rental equipment at no cost. Rentals are available between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, with all rented equipment needing to be returned by 3:30 pm. Rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis.

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, visit the Wilton Wildlife website at wiltonpreserve.org or follow us 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.

School districts across the county are celebrating successes on and off the field as the list of scholar athlete teams was announced. 

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced its list of scholar-athlete teams Dec. 11. To qualify for the list, 75% of a team roster must have a 90.0% average or higher across all their classes for the designated marking period. 

Across the 12 school districts and private high schools in Saratoga County, 114 teams met this threshold — equating to 1,305 student athletes. 

The Saratoga Springs High School had the most athletes with 219 student athletes scoring a 90 or above average across the 13 teams it fielded. Shenendehowa wasn’t far behind with 216 student athletes across 13 teams. 

“The Scholar-Athlete program remains one of the most meaningful recognitions we provide as an Association,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “The dedication shown by these student-athletes, balancing rigorous academic responsibilities with their commitments to interscholastic athletics, is truly remarkable.” 

School Breakdown 

Ballston Spa- 137 athletes across 11 teams 

Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake- 172 athletes across 12 teams

Corinth- 62 athletes across 9 teams

Galway- 50 athletes across 5 teams

Mechanicville- 85 athletes across 8 teams

Saratoga Catholic- 50 athletes across 7 teams

Saratoga Springs- 219 athletes across 13 teams 

Schuylerville- 96 athletes across 9 teams. 

Shen- 216 athletes across 13 teams

South Glens Falls- 125 athletes across 12 teams

Stillwater- 51 athletes across 7 teams 

Waterford- 42 athletes across 8 teams 

WSWHE BOCES will host CTE Works! on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Saratoga Springs City Center. The one day interactive career exploration event will welcome students in grades eight through 12 from school districts across the WSWHE BOCES service area.

CTE Works! is designed to expose students to the world of work in the local region and highlight the wide range of career opportunities available close to home. Students will have the chance to explore high-demand industries, learn about career pathways and connect directly with employers and education partners.

Local employers will be on site to share information about their industries, demonstrate hands-on activities and discuss career pathways and workplace expectations.

“CTE Works! gives students the opportunity to explore real careers, talk directly with employers and begin to visualize their own future in the workforce,” said Michelle Maddalla, Principal for Innovative Programs. “This event helps bridge the gap between education and industry while showing students just how many opportunities exist right here in our region.”

Sponsors for the event include Albany Medical Health Systems, CSArch, DA Collins, Hollingsworth & Vose, Home of the Good Shepherd, Munter Enterprises Inc., Saratoga Honda, SEDC and TCT Federal Credit Union.

These sponsors, along with additional business partners, local colleges, career and technical education programs and educational pathway partners, will be in attendance representing a wide range of industries. Each organization will share information about career opportunities and employment pathways with students.

The snow date for the event is Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.