SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arts has announced the grantees for the 2023 Community Arts Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA).

The organization’s annual Community Arts Celebration will take place 10 a.m. –Noon on Saturday, April 22, at Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway.

A total of 64 grants have been awarded supporting community-based arts and culture programs taking place in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties throughout 2023. 

The program supports artists, non-profit organizations, and local municipalities in Saratoga, Fulton, and Montgomery Counties, in partnership with qualifying organizations and artists, to present innovative arts and cultural programs in local communities.

The largest funded local Community Arts Grantees include: Saratoga Springs Arts District, Inc. (Beekman St. Arts District – $5,000); Ballston Spa Community Band ($4,000); Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs, Inc. ($3,500), and Discover Saratoga ($3,500).    

SCOTIA — The Logan Strong Foundation (LSF), a locally-based childhood cancer non-profit, presents ‘The Gold Gala’, Friday, May 19 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Armory Studios in Schenectady.

The catered event features a spirits’ tasting, silent auction, DJ, dancing, photo booth and open bar. 

Proceeds from past events have been used for Amazon Wish List items, gas and grocery gift cards, cleaning services and individual fundraiser items and services. Recent donations to the Ronald McDonald House and Albany Medical Center are included in the work of LSF. 

Event organizers hope ‘The Gold Gala” will provide enough resources to serve up to 100+ families by the end of the year.

“My husband and I decided to create LSF in honor of our son”, said Jennifer Hendricks-Fogg, Founder and President, in a statement. “We know and understand what it’s like to feel your world crash down, and to live in the hospital for extended periods of time.”

Armory Studios, site of the inaugural event, is located at 125 Washington Ave., Schenectady and features over 90,000 square feet of production and studio spaces. 

Tickets are on sale now through May 1 and are limited to 250 attendees. Choose $125 per person or levels at $250 and higher to include a ticket donation to an area family whose lives are affected by the disease.  Sponsorships and silent auction donations are also invited up until the final ticket sale deadline. Visit: loganstrongfoundation.org/events/gold-gala. Learn about LSF and follow event updates on facebook.com/loganstrongfoundation

BALLSTON SPA — A lottery scratch-off game sold in Ballston Spa has returned a $1 million prize.  

The top prize on the New York Lottery’s Multiplier Money scratch-off game was claimed by Jeffrey Duval of Branford, CT, according to NY Lottery.  

The ticket was purchased at Cumberland Farms located at 527 Route 67 in Ballston Spa. 

Duval received his prize as a single lump sum payment of $546,840 after required withholdings.

New York Lottery scratch-off games generated $4,517,682,111 in total sales during fiscal year 2021-2022. School districts throughout Saratoga County received $36,848,322 in Lottery Aid to Education funds during the same period.

Additionally, New York Lottery reported on March 28 that the Ballston Spa-based 1102023 Trust had claimed a $3,000,000 Mega Millions Megaplier prize, after matching the first five numbers in the Jan. 10 drawing. The Megaplier feature, when purchased, can multiply non-jackpot prizes up to five times. The winning numbers for that evening’s drawing were 07 13 14 15 18 Mega Ball 09. The Trust received a single lump sum payment totaling $3,001,500 after required withholdings. The winning Megaplier ticket was purchased at Smokes 4 Less located at 59 North Plank Rd. in Newburgh.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Bridges, in collaboration with the Upstate New York Autism Alliance, will host the 11th Annual Autism Expo & Art Exhibit presented by Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC.  This FREE event will be held on Sunday, April 23 from 12-3 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center, located at 522 Broadway. 

This collaborative effort has been increasingly successful over its 10-year history and expects to draw over 1,000 attendees. The event provides individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families with a wide variety of essential resources in one venue. There will be more than 70 exhibitors/vendors including recreational programs, camps, technological apps, academic programs which include pre-kindergarten through post-secondary school options, and therapeutic opportunities. 

Fun for the whole family, the event features an exhibit showcasing artists with disabilities from the Capital District and beyond, a Children’s Activity’s Zone with games and arts & crafts run by students from the Skidmore College Psychology Department, a Sensory Room hosted by the Sensory tOT Spot, and the Saratoga Springs Mounted Police providing an opportunity for children to experience interaction with a horse.  

The sponsors for the event are The Law Offices of Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC, Access Therapy, Midas, Precision Environmental Services, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, Saratoga Today, and Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. 

For more information and event details contact Julie Marks at jmarks@saratogabridges.org or visit www.saratogabridges.org/ge/autismexpo

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville Public Library will distribute free Bear Oak seedlings starting in mid-April to raise awareness of reforestation and to celebrate Earth Day, which occurs annually on April 22.

Between now and April 22 (or until supplies last), area residents can register to receive a free Bear Oak seedling kit either by visiting the Schuylerville Public Library website (www.schuylervillelibrary.sals.edu), calling 518-695-6641, or by stopping by in-person. 

Kits will include seedlings, instructions for planting, and a plant marker. Seedlings are provided by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs. 

According to Earthday.org, reforestation can provide numerous benefits including removing carbon dioxide from the air, providing habitat to animals, stabilizing land from erosion, and providing economic development for nearby communities.

The Schuylerville Public Library is in the Village of Schuylerville on 52 Ferry St. To learn more, visit  www.schuylervillelibrary.sals.edu.