Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, with a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and the sponsorship of Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, presents a panel discussion on Zoom of the ground-breaking film A Raisin in the Sun. The panel discussion, part of SJCA’s Social Justice series, will take place on Zoom on Thursday, October 9 at 7 pm.

The film is available to rent or buy from Amazon Prime Video. 

The film A Raisin in the Sun is based on a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. It was the first play by a black woman to be performed on Broadway.

“In the late 1950’s, it was a risky investment to launch a show in which all the characters but one were black,” says SJCA Coordinator Phyllis Wang. “It took some eighteen months for the producer, Philip Rose, to raise enough money to commence production.”  

The 1961 film version was directed by Daniel Petrie and stars Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Louis Gossett, Jr. It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

The film examines generational conflict and housing discrimination and captures the high stakes, shifting currents, and varieties of experience within black life in midcentury America.  

In a cramped and decaying apartment situated in Chicago’s South Side, the Younger family grapples with financial pressures. As the narrative unfolds, the Youngers also are reeling from the recent loss of their patriarch.

Tensions escalate between Mama’s values, deeply rooted in faith, and a son’s material ambitions as the family debates how to divide an expected life insurance payout. The story ends with a stark reminder that true freedom is only attainable through collective bravery, unwavering resolve, and an embrace of family values.  

Our discussion panel will share their insights on how relevant the film remains for America’s racial climate today – and for all families facing similar challenges.  Pre-registration is required.

To register enter the URL in your browser: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/uvTaVZu/Raisin

If you love the outdoors and have a passion for writing, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park invites you to immerse yourself in both on Wednesdays, October 1, 8, & 15, and Saturdays, October 25 & November 1, at 1:00 p.m. 

This workshop will explore how keen observation of the natural world can inspire writing, from non-fiction to poetry. Michael Steven Marx, Professor of English at Skidmore College, aided by a Wilton Wildlife environmental Educator, will lead a 90-minute workshop, discussing the elements of good writing and short samples of work by some of the best nature writers followed by a short walk through the preserve, sharpening observation skills, and exploring its unique habitat, ending with a free-write session by participants inspired by their outdoor experience. Participants will be encouraged to share their writing with others for discussion.

 This program will be suitable for ages 10 years old and up. All supplies will be provided. Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

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. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, visit the website 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 Central Catholic School is excited to announce the addition of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program for students enrolled in our accounting classes. Led by new faculty member Mr. George Hannah, this brand-new initiative brings incredible real-world experience right into the classroom and serves as an amazing resume builder for our business students.

Through the VITA Program, Accounting students will have the opportunity to complete tax returns for community members under IRS guidelines. Participation in VITA is a major component of the accounting course at SCC, and students will begin in-class training in the coming months. In January, students will take both a tax law exam and an ethics exam, and an IRS-certified VITA trainer will join the class to support their preparation.

Saratoga Central Catholic is proud to be one of just 25 high schools in New York State — and only 121 nationwide — according to the IRS to participate in this program. 

Stay tuned to our social media pages as we document the amazing things happening in class this year!

Women who are providing the primary source of financial support for their families while pursuing their education are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist “Live Your Dream” award. 

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, a volunteer organization for business and professional women, is offering grants up to $5,000 for any costs related to pursuing an education. The first-place award recipient is also eligible for additional awards at the regional and international Soroptimist levels. 

Eligible applicants must:

· Demonstrate financial need

· Be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational skills training program

· Live in or near Saratoga County  

Applications must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2025. For more information and a link to the online application go to: https://www.soroptimist.org/our-work/live-your-dream-awards/apply-for-the-live-your-dream-awards.html.  

For assistance with the application process, e-mail liveyourdreamsaratoga@gmail.com with questions or to request a mentor.

Research on the impact of the “Live Your Dream” Award has shown that investing in educational opportunities for women results in a “multiplier” effect for their families and communities. Not only does this program enable women to secure higher paying employment and a raised standard of living, it increases the likelihood that their children will obtain an education and secure a future of economic independence and success. 

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is part of an international volunteer women’s organization with 72,000 members in 121 countries and territories. The group provides both hands-on and financial support for programs and people in keeping with the Soroptimist mission to empower and improve the lives of women, girls and the community, locally and globally. Soroptimist uses its international voice and official status with the United Nations to advocate on behalf of women’s issues. For more information: www.soroptimistsaratoga.org.

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

Brookside Explorers Club: School Days 

When Exotic Plant Hunters Roamed the World 

Sunday, September 28, 2-3:30PM 

A presentation on a time when exotic plant hunters roamed the world. Meet the brave and adventurous souls whose unquenchable thirst for exotic plants took them at great personal risk to remote areas in Asia, Africa, South America, and beyond. Their spellbinding stories changed landscapes forever. The dedication of the James Mann Victorian Shade Garden will follow. In tandem with the day’s festivities, a daylily plant sale and Porch sale will be held on the front porch. Daylilies will be sold for $8.00 each or 3 for $20.00. Cash is preferred. Refreshments included and all are welcome. 

Fourth Annual Public History Awards 

Tuesday, September 30, 6-8PM 

The Saratoga County History Center Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the winners of the fourth annual Saratoga County Public History Awards. The award recognizes individuals that have made a significant contribution to extending knowledge and understanding of the history of Saratoga County. A celebratory event will be held with a reception on the front porch of Brookside Museum. The 2025 recipients of the award are Anne Clothier, Assistant to the Saratoga County Historian, and Russ Van Dervoort, Waterford Town Historian. 

Greenridge Cemetery Tour 

Wednesday, October 1, 1-2:30PM 

Greenridge Cemetery, Lincoln Avenue, Saratoga Springs 

The Saratoga County History Center has announced an additional walking tour to conclude our 2025 season. Experienced tour guide Gloria Marceau will lead a fall walkabout of the Greenridge Cemetery on Lincoln Avenue in Saratoga Springs. This tour is focused on Civil War veterans and their stories and will include a ghostly tale appropriate for the season. Attendees will meet at the Lincoln Avenue gate. Registration is required. 

Second Mechanicville Walking Tour – Hudson View Cemetery 

October 15, 1-2:30PM 

Hudson View Cemetery, South Street, Mechanicville 

Due to popular demand, local history buffs Tom Salvadore and Bob Murphy will lead a second walk through the historic cemetery, made even more beautiful by the fall colors. Beginning at the gravesite of Civil War hero Elmer Elsworth, they will tell stories of community leaders in the glory days of the city during the industrial age. Parking is available through the entrance to the cemetery on South Street. This tour is sponsored by the Saratoga County History Center. Registration is required.

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is offering a wide range of educational resources and programming throughout the 2025-26 academic year. 

From on-site field trips to in-person classroom visits to digital courses, the Museum has numerous learning and engagement opportunities at all grade levels for schools and teachers throughout the Capital Region and beyond. 

Health, History, and Horses Tours now available for more grade levels

The Museum’s Health, History, and Horses tour is now open and available for grades 3-12 and college classes. This excursion takes students to Saratoga Race Course’s historic Oklahoma Training Track to learn about the rich history of thoroughbred racing. Students get the chance to see live racehorses in action as they go through morning workouts. After the tour, visit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for a special private screening of our signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame.

Tour dates: Available through Oct. 31. The program will then resume May 1, 2026. Click here for more information or to book at tour for your group: https://racingmuseum.org/education/health-history-and-horses

Field trip experiences across subjects

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame offers structured field trip experiences covering a number of engaging topics. From history to science to the arts, our Museum has the resources to make your day extra special. Our experienced educators can customize programming that fits your educational needs and goals. Every visit to the Museum includes a private screening of our signature film. We also offer the Horsing Around tour, made just for young learners, with hands-on activities that engage and educate.

Click here for more information or to book at tour for your group: 

Health, History, and Horses | National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Digital learning courses

The Museum offers a growing library of digital learning packets, completely free, for teachers to use in their classrooms. Current course offerings include:

• On Track to Change: How 20th Century America Shaped Thoroughbred Racing

• From Track to Trench: Civil War on the Turf

These courses take the form of downloadable PDF packets containing structured lesson plans and in-classroom activities, designed to integrate seamlessly into established curriculum. To see our digital courses, or to download the packets for your classroom, head to this page on our website: Digital Learning Courses | National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Readers Up returns with new books!

The Museum’s Readers Up program, sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, is back for the 2025-26 academic year. Choose from one of six exciting stories, and we’ll send you enough copies of that book for your whole class to read and enjoy. Then, when you’re ready, Museum educators will visit your classroom or perform an online Zoom program with authentic Museum items and artifacts that tie into the book you just read. This program is completely free to all schools and educational organizations. 

In addition to our usual slate of books, this year, we’ve added two new tales to enjoy:

• Get a sneak peek into farm life with Pony Parade, a Sky View Farm Adventure, by Angelina Natale, with illustrations by Jess Bircham.

• Meet a baby foal named Polly in Polly and the Birth Day, by D.H. Anderson, with illustrations by Steven Lester.

Returning books include: 

• The Long Shot, by Chris Carpenter, with illustrations by Dave Papa

• Abella and the Almost Racehorse, by Zane Carson Carruth

• Jim Dandy: A Dark Horse on a Dark Day, by Maddy Zanetti, with illustrations by Gretchen Louise Tisch

• The Jockey and Her Horse, a novel, by Sarah Maslin Nir and Raymond White, Jr. 

Reservations are now available for every book in the Readers Up program. Books are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in participating in the Readers Up program, check out this page on our website: Readers Up! | National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

This October, Pitney Meadows Community Farm, in partnership with the Ndakinna Education Center, will host a special evening lecture that brings language, culture, and history to life. On Thursday, October 2nd, from 6:00–7:00pm, renowned storyteller, musician, and language scholar Jesse Bruchac will lead “Art of Remembering: Indigenous Language Reclamation & Regional History” at Pitney Meadows Community Farm. Sign up now!

This event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the leading voices in the revitalization of Algonquian languages. For more than four decades, Bruchac has worked to reclaim and strengthen Indigenous languages, teaching and preserving knowledge that spans generations. His journey has taken him from communities across the Northeast to projects across the U.S. and Canada, and into the world of fi lm and television, where he has served as a language consultant for acclaimed productions such as Turn and Jamestown.

At Pitney Meadows, Bruchac will weave together personal stories, historical insight, and reflections from his lifelong work in education and cultural preservation. His lecture will explore how language is more than a tool of communication—it is a vessel of memory, identity, and resilience. Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of the ties between Indigenous language reclamation and regional history, and how these connections shape both the past and present.

“Jesse Bruchac’s work reminds us that the land holds memory—that every plant, every word, every song is part of a living history,” says Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm. “It’s a privilege to partner with the Ndakinna Education Center to bring these off erings to our community, and to learn from Jesse’s knowledge, creativity, and deep-rooted connection to this place.”

Bruchac, a citizen of the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation, is the founder and director of the The Abenaki Language School at Middlebury College and the Assistant Director of the Ndakinna Education Center. He has dedicated his life to teaching, sharing, and creating spaces for Indigenous knowledge systems to thrive. His work bridges generations and disciplines, whether through the classroom, the stage, or the screen, bringing both urgency and hope to the eff ort of cultural reclamation.

“Language reclamation is not just about the past, it is about the future,” says Jesse Bruchac. “By revitalizing these words, we ensure that generations to come can inherit not only a language, but the worldview, values, and knowledge that it carries.”

This lecture is free and open to the public. Community members of all ages are welcome to attend. The revitalization of language is the revitalization of culture, identity, and spirit. On September 18th, Jesse Bruchac will remind us that what is remembered can never be lost—and what we carry forward has the power to shape generations to come. Sign up now!

Supported with funding from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) and New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. The NYSCPP is administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in coordination with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.