SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Pride Festival is back in High Rock Park this year, and takes place 2 – 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, with an after party to follow.
For more details about the event, go to: www.saratogapride.com.
Matt Veitch, at left, Saratoga Springs City Historian Mary Ann Fitzgerald (front, center) at Gideon Putnam Burying Ground. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Matt Veitch was joined by the Saratoga Springs Historian and representatives from Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Saratoga Springs DPW, Saratoga Springs History Museum, and TR Signs to unveil the restored Gideon Putnam Burying Ground Historic Marker.
Veitch, who represents Saratoga Springs at the county level of government, secured funding in the County’s 2023 budget to dedicate to various projects in Saratoga Springs.
Veitch spearheaded an initiative to restore multiple historic markers and signs throughout the city, including: Bryan Home (Olde Bryan Inn), NYS County Highway Superintendents Association Founding site, Walworth Estate (Pine Grove), The ‘Gut’ or the ‘Valley’ commemoration of Jewish Contributions to the City, Solomon Northup Memorial, and Dublin Neighborhood marker.
The Gideon Putnam Burying Ground is located on South Franklin Street in Saratoga Springs. Named for the founding father of Saratoga Springs, Gideon Putnam, the cemetery contains more than 150 graves of early and mid-19th century, mostly working-class residents of the city. In 1835, the Putnams gave their family burial land to the village of Saratoga Springs to be used as a public burial plot. In 1812, Gideon Putnam became the first to be buried here.
In 1811, Gideon began construction of Congress Hall just north of Congress Spring but was seriously injured when a section of scaffolding at the hotel collapsed. He died in 1812 at the age of 49 as a result of his injuries.
BALLSTON SPA — The Annual Memorial Day Parade in Ballston Spa will be held Saturday, May 25.
The Grand Marshal will be escorted by “Ballston’s Finest” along Doubleday Avenue beginning at 9 o’clock across from Carousel Village and continue with a pause for a ceremony held for Navy veterans at the Kayderosseras Creek bridge then continue along Milton Avenue to Front Street where the parade proceeds to the Civil War Monument, turning onto Low Street to Veterans Park.
Hosted by the Village of Ballston Spa, Henry Cornell American Legion Post #234 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #358, the schedule of events includes the Placing of Wreaths, a rifle salute by the combined veterans’ Honor Guard Rifle Squad, Invocation by Chaplain, Memorial Day address by our Officer Of the Day (OOD), Remarks from Grand Marshal, a reading of the Gettysburg Address by local Scouts of Troop 1, Flag Raising at Veterans Park, TAPS, Closing Benediction, followed by a reception in Wiswall Park.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes will take place Oct. 5-6 and Oct. 12-13
Sponsorship opportunities are available at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com, under the sponsorship tab.
Last year $70,000 was raised and over the past 27 years, the community event has contributed over $1.5 million dollars to the organization’s two favored local charities – Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
For more details on the 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, visit: www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.
WILTON — On Mondays May 6 and May 20 at 10:30 a.m., Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be holding its bi-weekly Nature on the Move walks.
These walks are led by one of Wilton Wildlife’s Environmental Educators and will take place at the Town of Wilton’s Neilmann Trailhead on May 6 and NYS DEC’s Camp Saratoga on May 20.
They are geared towards gentle exercise and are appropriate for adults at basic fitness levels. The group usually covers about 1.5 miles of trail. Nature on the Move happens every other week, year-round.
Registration is required at least one business day in advance. 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.
Saratoga Springs — The Saratoga Builders Association (SBA) and Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association (CRBRA) were thrilled to invite industry professionals, local leaders, legislators, and community members as we celebrate the launch of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition (NCTWC) at their joint mixer.
This event took place on April 10TH at the Hilton Garden Inn in Clifton Park. The 200 attendees included professionals from diverse business segments, and special guests Saratoga Springs Mayor, John Safford; Assemblywoman, Carrie Woerner; Assemblywoman, Mary Beth Walsh; and Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, Phil Barrett showing their support for this important initiative.
Attendees enjoyed an evening filled with valuable networking opportunities, updates on the Coalition’s progress in furthering the agenda to promote careers in the trades with local schools.
“It was a great event and helped me understand the many programs this Coalition is offering students to educate them about career opportunities in the trades. Our kids need this,” expressed one attendee.
“We are excited to bring together stakeholders from across the region to celebrate the launch of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition,” said Doug Ford, President of NCTWC. “By collaborating with local schools, leaders, and legislators, we aim to promote the trades as a viable and rewarding career option for the next generation.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sustainable Saratoga announces NO MOW MAY, joining the nation-wide effort to encourage all homeowners, farmers, municipalities, highway departments and businesses to rest their lawnmowers through the end of May to help our highly at-risk pollinators.
Populations of pollinators and insects are being impacted the globe. Pesticides and habitat loss are the primary killers of these vital insects who pollinate 70 of 100 USA major crops. In 2021, 45% of bee colonies in the US were lost. Since 1998, 88% of Monarch Butterflies disappeared in the Eastern US and 95% of Monarchs have perished in the Western U.S.
NO MOW MAY is a fundamental assist for the Bees enabled by not cutting the pollen portals of the Clover, Violets, and Dandelions in May.
Letting lawns go natural through the end of May will allow the bees, moths, butterflies, and other pollinators to safely exit their winter ground homes and find the only nectar nourishment available during late April and early May.
Sustainable Saratoga has NO MOW MAY lawn signs available for people to place on their yard announcing support of the effort. Signs come with a $10 requested donation and will be available at pick-up locations in Saratoga Springs and Stillwater. Signs can be purchased online by following this link https://checkout.square.site/merchant/C7QAGAQH1KW5M/checkout/KNMAPSQLCY2DNBMNBUPA3ZL4 or by emailing pollinators@sustainablesaratoga.org. Pick up only; signs cannot be shipped
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The inaugural Healthy Saratoga Weekend takes place this weekend.
Discover Saratoga is presenting the event, showcasing the abundance of health and wellness offerings throughout Saratoga County.
Healthy Saratoga Weekend features rejuvenating spa experiences to invigorating outdoor activities, farm-to-table cuisine, and everything in-between.
“This event truly embodies our community’s unwavering dedication to health and wellness. We invite everyone to join us in exploring the diverse array of health and wellness offerings in our vibrant county by visiting participating businesses,” said Discover Saratoga President, Darryl Leggieri in a statement.
The weekend event features the Mind Body Soul Market 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at 37 High Rock Ave. – located on the bottom level of the City Center parking garage and Flat Rock Park next to the garage. Free events will be presented with local artisans featuring health, wellness & holistic modalities, crystals, food, live music, workshops and more.
On Sunday, April 21 the Mind Body Soul Expo takes place 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center, located at 522 Broadway. The event is open to the public and features free admission to the wellness, health and holistic expo.
For more information about Healthy Saratoga Weekend and to see a complete list of participants, visit www.discoversaratoga.org/events/healthy-saratoga-weekend/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In recognition of SaratogaREADS! 20th Anniversary, Saratoga Springs Public Library asked the community to reach into the archives and vote to revisit one the previous community read selections.
By popular vote, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot was chosen. Through SaratogaREADS! programming, the library delved into a variety of the book’s themes over the last month – sexism, racism, classism, poverty, inequality, ethics, medicine, and more.
For this year’s capstone event, SaratogaREADS! and Skidmore College welcome two members of Henrietta Lacks’ family to Saratoga Springs, streaming to an in-person audience at Skidmore’s Gannett Auditorium, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20 (rescheduled from March 23).
Lacks’ great-grandaughter, Victoria Baptiste and daughter-in-law, Shirley Lacks will participate in a conversation about Henrietta’s legacy. This event does not require tickets or pre-registration, is open to all, and refreshments will be served.
For more information about SaratogaREADS!, please visit www.saratogareads.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and the Saratoga Joinery host “On this Spot: 69 Caroline Street” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18.
Join Carol Godette at 69 Caroline Street where she will discuss the various uses of the 1880s brick duplex, from its early functions to its newest iteration as Saratoga Joinery, a community woodworking space, with a presentation and behind-the-scenes tour.
Originally, 69 Caroline Street was a multi-unit apartment building. Over time, it was adapted to serve different community needs as a holistic care center, a boardinghouse, a French restaurant, and a medical practice. Most recently, it was the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, cementing itself into the memories of countless children and families over two decades.
After the museum moved to the Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Joinery reimagined the space as a community woodworking shop.
Saratoga Joinery is a community woodworking shop with a mission to make woodworking accessible to all. Their shop at 69 Caroline Street is fully equipped with high-quality machines and tools and provides 8,500 square feet of bright, clean workspace to the community. More information can be found at www.saratogajoinery.org.
“The lack of skilled tradespeople is a huge concern across the country when it comes to historic preservation. The emergence of a specialized woodworking space like this is truly encouraging. Educating our community about traditional trades, such as woodworking, will greatly benefit our community,” said Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, in a statement.
This program, benefiting the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and Saratoga Joinery, is limited to 45 people. Tickets cost $20 for members of these organizations or $25 for non-members. Visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call 518-587-5030 for more information.
