The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops during September:  

• September 3 at 10AM & September 4 at 10:30AM: Resume Development – This workshop presents the basics of a powerful and effective cover letter including formatting, tailoring to the job, and getting through the online application process to land an interview. Please have a rough draft of your resume with you. Facilitated by Rensselaer, Columbia-Greene and Schenectady. 

• September 4 at 11AM & September 18 at 1:30PM: Transferable Skills – Transferable skills are qualities you have already acquired which can be used in a different job. Make it easy for employers to see the connection between your qualities and the skillset needed to do the job and market yourself as the solution to an employer’s problem. Learn ways to research the employer’s needs then identify and show them that you have these skills. Facilitated by Warren, Washington and Schenectady.  

• September 15 at 10AM: Broadview Financial Well-Being – Your budget is a key that opens doors, guiding you to your money goals. Get ready to take control of your finances and your future! Find out how to organize what you make, spend, and save; set goals to save up, spend down, look ahead; harness the power of mindful spending; and identify budget tactics that work best for you. Facilitated by Broadview and Schenectady. 

• September 9 at 10:30AM: Interview Preparation – Learn how to articulate your strengths, what questions to expect, how to address difficult topics, and ace the interviewing process. Facilitated by Schenectady.  

• September 10 at 10AM & September 23 at 1:30PM: Goal Setting – Goals are what take us forward in life. They are the first step in every journey we take. In this workshop we will explain how goal setting works, why goals are important, and take home more helpful resources to get you started. Remember: “if you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” Find out how to reach your dreams. Facilitated by Washington, Albany, and Schenectady.  

• September 10 at 10:30AM: Civil Service – Join us for a workshop on navigating the civil service system in local governments! This session will cover essential steps to secure a civil service job, focusing on the hiring process. Participants will learn about competitive examinations, local government positions, and how to prepare for them. Facilitated by Schenectady.  

• September 12 at 11AM & September 16 at 10:30AM: Completing Job Applications – Statistics show approximately 50% of mid-sized companies and almost all large corporations use an applicant tracking system to screen candidates for job opportunities. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers. Facilitated by Schenectady.  Facilitated by Warren and Washington.  

• September 19 at 10:30AM & September 24 at 10:30AM: Networking – Networking is your strategic tool for cultivating lasting relationships, fostering professional growth, and unlocking opportunities. Join us for an approachable journey to understanding networking. Facilitated by Warren, Albany, and Schenectady.  

• September 23 at 11AM: Overcoming Barriers – Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. Whether you’re facing transportation needs, childcare needs, prior justice system involvement, inexperience, health concerns or more, this workshop will provide you with resources and strategies to help you meet your goals. Facilitated by Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie.  

• September 25 at 1:30PM: Social Media – Your social media presence can make or break your ability to find a job. Learn how to use social media to your advantage in searching for a job and marketing yourself to land the job or career you’ve always wanted. Facilitated by Schenectady.  

Registration is required for all workshops. Visit www.saratogacountyny.gov/workforce to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at (518) 884-4170 for more information. The workshops are offered as part of the Saratoga County Career Center’s WorkPays! workforce education campaign.  

While summer may be coming to a close, the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa isn’t .

Here is a rundown of the upcoming events at the museum for the month of September. 

All events take place at Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Ave Ballston Spa, NY 12020, unless noted. For more information check www.brooksidemuseum.org

Sounds of Summer Concert II: Dennis Searles and the Jazz Ambassadors (Moved to Rain Date) 

Sunday, August 31, 5pm 

Join Dennis Searles and the Jazz Ambassadors for an evening of music and fun on the front lawn of Brookside Museum. This event is free and all are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and a picnic dinner to enjoy. This event is sponsored by Brookside Museum, Saratoga Arts, the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians and the Village of Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts. 

Seneca Ray Stoddard and Jesse Wooley: Kindred Spirits 

Monday, September 8th, 7pm 

Dr. Way, retired primary care physician from Glens Falls, and Stoddard’s great great nephew, will, through many examples of their photographs, discuss the careers of the well-known, Saratoga County born photographers, Stoddard and Wooley, and examine what little is known about the connections between them. Copies of Dr. Way’s books will also be available to purchase. 

Reservations are recommended. 

Miller’s Backyard Barbecue 

Friday, September 5, 3-6PM 

Include Brookside Museum in your dinner plans for Monday, September 5th; order some delicious Millers Backyard Barbecue and pick it up from Brookside Museum. Chicken and pulled pork dinners are available for $15.00 and beef brisket dinners for $20.00 (beef brisket by pre-order only). All dinners include baked potato, coleslaw and corn bread. An 8 oz. serving of mac & cheese is also available for $5.00. And also, first time being offered here, there is a 16oz serving of chili, available for $10.00. Drive-thru pickup/take out only. There will be some additional meals available without pre-ordering (but not brisket). 

From the Ground Up: How Responsible Metal Detecting Connects Us to Local History 

Thursday, September 25, 7-8:30PM 

Join us for an engaging and informative talk that delves into the fascinating world of metal detecting, a hobby that connects us directly to the past. Over the last 8 years, local detectorist Brandon Dingeman has traversed Saratoga County and beyond, bringing to light incredible stories through relics hidden just beneath our feet. In this session, you will learn the fundamentals of responsible metal detecting, including the “golden rules” for ethical detecting, essential equipment and site strategy. We’ll explore the critical role of historical research and the use of digital tools to find sites of interest and record crucial situational context of items found.

The Saratoga Springs History Museum is proud to announce a special reading and celebration of Saratoga ABCs: The Alphabet Book of Saratoga Springs, written and illustrated by local artist Lauren Magina, on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00 AM in the High Stakes Room of the historic Canfield Casino in Congress Park.

Saratoga ABCs is a beautifully illustrated children’s board book that takes young readers, and Saratoga enthusiasts of all ages, on an alphabetical journey through the rich history and beloved landmarks of Saratoga Springs. From A is for Adelphi to R is for Racetrack, the book shines a spotlight on the unique people, places, and icons that define the city’s charm and legacy.

In addition to a live reading by the author, the event will feature a presentation by Museum Executive Director James Parillo, who will offer deeper historical context behind the sites and stories featured in the book.

To welcome the community, the History Museum will waive admission fees from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the day of the event. The reading is free and open to the public, no reservations required. Copies of Saratoga ABCs will be available for purchase, with opportunities to meet the author and have books signed.

Lauren Magina, who moved to Saratoga Springs in 2016, owns a graphic design and advertising business but has become known locally for her detailed illustrations of Saratoga’s architecture and equestrian culture. Her work has been featured in Saratoga Living and is sold in several downtown stores. Saratoga ABCs is her debut children’s book.

“Saratoga has such a vibrant history, it was a joy to bring that to life for kids and families in a playful, educational way,” said Magina. “It’s an honor to celebrate its launch at the Canfield Casino, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.”

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced the creation of “Students to the Starting Gate”, an initiative tied to the donation of 500 backpacks containing essential school supplies to community-based organizations serving families in Queens, Nassau and Saratoga Counties. 

On Tuesday, August 26, NYRA staff and the Saratoga Race Course mascot, Gallop, visited the Saratoga City Center to help distribute backpacks and school supplies to students at the 2025 Salvation Army Back to School Expo. 

 “Young people deserve the tools to succeed in school, and we hope these contributions will generate excitement for the upcoming school year,” said Robert Hines, NYRA Community Affairs Manager. “NYRA would like to thank the non-profits and community organizations who partnered with us in launching Students to the Starting Gate.” 

 Downstate, NYRA provided students in the Elmont Union Free School District in Elmont, NY, with backpacks during an event on August 9 organized by the Jamaica Square Improvement League. 

 “New backpacks can help children feel confident, especially when they pick it out themselves, which they do,” said Claudine Hall, President of the Jamaica Square Improvement League. “This program is helping to make a difference in the lives of a lot of students and their families.”

 In addition to the Salvation Army, NYRA is donating backpacks to communities and non-profit organizations including: 

• Showing Hearts Foundation (Queens County) 

• Corinth Central School District (Saratoga County) 

• Mechanicville Area Community Services Center (Saratoga County)

• Gateway Youth Outreach, Inc. (Nassau County)

• Franklin Community Center (Saratoga County)

• Universal Interactions (Nassau County)

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga (CMAS) capped off a record-breaking summer of feeding minds and bellies with a Summer Bash on August 21, to celebrate the success of the Summer Meals Collaborative and a landmark two-year commitment from GlobalFoundries to fund STEM education for underserved children. 

Since early July, more than 700 visitors have joined CMAS on site through the Summer Meals Collaborative. In addition to nutritious lunches for children, each visit offered hands-on STEM and art activities designed to inspire curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity. 

GlobalFoundries’ two-year funding ensures these science activities and take-home kits will continue next summer and throughout the school year, reaching children across the Capital Region who might not otherwise have access to these opportunities. 

“We believe that learning should be nourishing in every sense of the word,” said Sarah Smith, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. “With the help of GlobalFoundries’ support, we’re giving kids the fuel they need in healthy food and inspiring, hands-on science to imagine, explore, and see themselves as the innovators of tomorrow.” 

This fall, CMAS and GlobalFoundries will launch an expanded outreach program, bringing interactive lessons on light and color, size, and coding to schools and community events throughout the Capital Region. The initiative aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by making STEM accessible, engaging, and fun for all children, regardless of background. 

“Investing in STEM education is an investment in our future workforce and in the communities where we live and work,” said Hui Peng Koh, senior vice president and general manager, GF Malta. “By partnering with CMAS, we’re helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to discover their potential, whether they’re building a robot, exploring the science of color, or coding their first program.” 

The Summer Meals Collaborative is a partnership with United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR) and Hunger Solutions New York, and local community partners across the Capital Region, including the Saratoga Springs City School District who provides the summer meals at the Children’s Museum site.

The Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library will hold its annual Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election on Thursday, September 11 at the Library, between 7 am and 9 pm.  Registered voters, both renters and property owners, living in the library district are eligible to vote. 

Voters must be registered at least 30 days prior to the vote. Residents of Clifton Park will also vote on three open trustee positions, and Halfmoon residents will vote for one open trustee position.

Incumbents Suzanne Dugan and Cornelia Mogor, and newcomers Rose-Robin Lamb and George Berry of Clifton Park have submitted their petitions and declared their intentions to run for the three Clifton Park trustee positions. Incumbent Jennifer Schlegel of Halfmoon has also declared her intention to run for the open Halfmoon trustee position.

Those who are unable to vote in person on September 11, can find an Absentee Ballot application online at www.cphlibrary.org or at the Library. In order for ballots to be mailed, applications must be received by the Library no later than the close of business on Tuesday, September 2.

The Library Board consists of 11 trustees: 7 representing Clifton Park and 4 representing Halfmoon.  Trustees serve a five-year term, attend monthly board meetings, serve on assigned committees, and contribute their expertise to benefit the library and the served community. 

What do you do with a broken radio? Or with a lamp that won’t work? Or with a favorite shirt that is ripped? Toss it? No way! Schuylerville Public Library is organizing a Repair Café on Saturday, September 20th from 10am until 12pm. 

At Schuylerville Public Library (52 Ferry Street) on Saturday September 20 everything centers on making repairs. Starting at 10am and ending at 12pm, various volunteer repair experts will be available to help make all possible repairs free of charge. Most tools and materials will also be on hand. People visiting the Repair Café will bring along their broken items from home. Limit of two items per person. Small appliances, lamps, hair dryers, radios, clothes, toys… anything that is broken and small enough to carry is welcome and can more than likely be repaired. The Repair Café specialists almost always have the know-how. 

By promoting repairs, the library wants to help reduce mountains of waste. According to Library Director Caitlin Johnson, “By repairing instead of tossing, we lessen the strain on our environment.” 

Interested in volunteering for this event, as a repairer? Simply contact Caitlin Johnson at cjohnson@sals.edu or 518-695-6641. Schuylerville Public Library wishes to organize a Repair Café on a regular basis. News about dates of up-and-coming editions will follow as soon as possible! 

Repair Café Foundation 

The Repair Café concept arose in the Netherlands, in 2009, and was formulated by Martine Postma, at the time an Amsterdam-based journalist/publicist. In 2010, she started the Repair Café Foundation (see Repaircafe.org). This foundation provides support to local groups around the world wishing to start their own Repair Café. The foundation also supports the Repair Café in the Schuylerville Public Library.

Schuylerville is the latest Saratoga County School District to adopt a state mandated phone ban in schools. 

The policy was adopted on Aug. 18 and details both how students are supposed to store their devices and the potential consequences for violating the policy. 

Under the policy, students in elementary school are required to store their devices in their lockers if they bring them to school.  While the lockers don’t have locks built in, students can bring their own personal locks under the condition that they submit the key or combination to the school. 

In addition to phones, students are barred from bringing in smartwatches, tablets and all headphones and earbuds — both wired, and Bluetooth enabled devices. 

Students in middle and high school have a similar policy. Students are required to keep their phones off and in their lockers during the school day. Under the policy, students aren’t allowed to use their phones during rest period including lunch, study halls and in the hallways in between classes. 

Students who need to contact their parents can do so in the main offices of their respective schools. Parents can also contact the school and request to speak to their student. 

The policy also laid out the consequences of violation. 

• 1st Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office where it is held until the end of the day.

• 2nd Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office where it is held until a parent/guardian can pick it up.

• 3rd Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office where it is held until a parent/guardian can pick it up, student is assigned a detention.

• 4th Offense: Student or teacher brings phone to office until parent/guardian can pick it up, further consequences are provided at the discretion of the administration.

Saratoga Springs, NY – On Sunday, August 24 at 10:30AM, join the Foundation’s Executive Director, Samantha Bosshart, for “Horsin’ Around North Broadway.” This engaging stroll explores the deep ties between Saratoga Springs’ famed North Broadway and the city’s rich horse racing heritage. Discover the connection between prominent racing families—like the Jeffords, Chenery, and Phipps—and the grand summer cottages of this historic neighborhood. As racing season enters the final stretch, it’s the perfect time to explore Saratoga Springs’ blend of health, history, and horses. Take the tour in the morning, then head to the Saratoga Race Course to see racing history be made. The tour meets at the northwest corner of North Broadway and Van Dam Street, in front of Witt Construction. 

Next Sunday, August 31, at 10:30AM, George DeMers leads the season’s final Summer Sunday Stroll, “Historic West Side.” Explore the diverse historic West Side neighborhood where Saratoga Springs’ Irish and Italian immigrants and Black community lived. The tour will highlight the settlement of this neighborhood, its rebirth as an arts district, and the rehabilitations that took place in the early 2000s. In addition to highlighting the historic architecture of this area, George will discuss the history of its residents, restaurants, stores, and clubs as well as the impacts of Urban Renewal and revitalization efforts.  The tour meets at the entrance of Gideon Putnam Burying Ground, located on South Franklin Street.

 The Foundation is grateful for the generous support of the 2025 Summer Series Sponsors: Druthers Brewing Company, and Stewart’s Shops. All Sunday morning tours last approximately 90 minutes and require walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours are limited to 30 participants. The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members. Foundation members with stroll passes need to contact the Foundation’s office to book their Sunday Summer Stroll before the date they choose.

With the start of classes just around the corner, Ballston Spa Central School District is the latest school district to enact a state-mandated man on cell phones and other personal electronic devices. 

Under the policy, students in middle and high school are expected to keep their mobile devices turned off and, in their lockers, while students in elementary school will be required to keep the devices in their backpacks. 

Students who need to contact their parents though out the day can use a phone in the main office of each building while parents can reach out to their specific child’s school if they need to contact them. 

The policy also outlines specific exceptions: 

• Where necessary for the management of students’ healthcare after approval by building administration;

• If authorized by a teacher, principal, district, or BOCES for a specific educational purpose;

• For translation purposes;

• On a case-by-case basis, upon review and determination by the building administration, for student caregiver who is routinely responsible for the care and wellbeing of a family member; or

• In the event of an emergency, with approval of the building administration;

• Where required by law;

• If a student’s IEP or 504 plan deems it necessary.

In addition, when students are on field trips, whether students have their phones out will be left to the discretion of the teacher in charge of the trip.