SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Builders Association (SBA) is excited to present a new record donation totaling $78,000 from the 2021 Saratoga Showcase of Homes to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. The Saratoga Builders Association has contributed a total of over $1.4 million dollars to our local charities from this area’s premiere new home tour event.

The 2021 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes featured 11 award-winning builders presenting 12 homes – BDC Group, Beechwood Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, Bonacio Construction, Caruso Builders, Kodiak Construction, Kohler Homes, McPadden Builders, R & M Homes and Witt Construction. This year’s tour attracted about 4,000 visitors (a new attendance record) to these beautiful new homes, which were on display over two weekends. In what has become an autumn tradition in our area, the Saratoga Builders Association is dedicated to this long running show being an integral part of the fabric in our fall season.

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The 2021 Saratoga Showcase of Homes “People’s Choice” award winners voted on by the public were also announced. Congratulations to Matt McPadden of McPadden Builders for the Executive Home category and Erik Kohler of Kohler Builders for the Luxury Home category.

About the Showcase of Homes: This annual community event is made possible only with the generous support of over 75 corporate and media sponsors. The 2021 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, celebrating 25 years of exceptional homes, was held on October 9,10,11 and 16,17. All the homes were located throughout Saratoga County and the proceeds benefited two local charities – Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. For more details on the homes, builders, award winners, and virtual tours of every home, please visit the interactive website at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Soroptimist International of Saratoga County (SISC) is accepting applications for the 2021 Young Women Making a Difference Award. This award was formerly called the Violet Richardson Award, named after the first Soroptimist club’s founding president.  It honors young women between the ages of 14 and 18 for their volunteer activity in fields such as promoting equity, cleaning up the environment, and mentoring younger students. Volunteer actions that benefit women and girls are especially valued.

Applicants who have demonstrated initiative in both identifying a problem and trying to solve it as well as achieving significant and noteworthy accomplishments as volunteers are encouraged to apply.  Application submissions are due to SISC by Dec. 15.

The online application can be found at Young Women Making a Difference 2021 Application.  Winners are eligible to receive cash awards for themselves and the charitable organization of their choice.  The 2021-2022 award is $500 to the award winner and $500 to the volunteer organization. 

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is part of an international women’s organization with 72,000 members in 121 countries and territories. SISC has supported individuals and a variety of local service projects since its inception in 1979. Many reflect a special commitment to the needs and concerns for woman and girls.  For more information, visit soroptimistsaratoga.org, the Soroptimist International website at soroptimist.org, or send an email: makeadifferencesaratoga@gmail.org.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) is once again encouraging all businesses in the village’s downtown area to deck the halls. 

For the past few years, the BSBPA has recognized businesses whose window decorations and displays have enhanced the Village of Ballston Spa during the holiday season.  Businesses with decorated windows whose lights are on the evening of Nov. 30 will be judged and the winners will be announced in time for the festivities on Dec. 3, including the Holiday Parade, village Christmas tree lighting and First Friday.  Winners will be presented with specially designated “contest winner” signs to display in their businesses for the holiday season and photos of the windows will be featured on social media (Facebook, Instagram) and the website, ballston.org.   

The Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association, established in 1983, is a non-profit organization committed to making the Village of Ballston Spa a great place to live, work and visit. To learn more, visit www.ballston.org.

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Office for the Aging has been selected by local Hannaford store leadership in Ballston Spa as the benefiting organization in the Fight Hunger Bag Program for the month
of November. 

Reduce single-use plastic in the environment and give back to those in need in the local community, all while running routine weekly errands at the local Hannaford.

Donations made through this program to the Saratoga County Office for the Aging will directly benefit the office’s Senior Nutrition Program, which provides healthy meals to participating seniors throughout Saratoga County.

The Senior Nutrition Program helps Saratoga County seniors remain independent while providing those individuals with daily nutritious meals. In-house Dining gives seniors the opportunity to socialize with others in their community while Home Delivered Meals serves those who are primarily homebound. 

The Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program is an easy way for shoppers to give back to the local community and the environment as part of the regular shopping routine. Every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag purchased sends a $1 donation to an organization local to the Hannaford in which it was purchased. During the month of November, the Saratoga County Office for the Aging Senior Meals Program will receive $1 for every Fight Hunger Bag purchased at the Ballston Spa Hannaford location.

As part of this ongoing program, every month at every Hannaford location a different local non-profit is selected to benefit from the sale of the reusable Fight Hunger Bag. 

For more information about the Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program, please visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com. For more information about the Saratoga County Office for the Aging Senior Nutrition Program, please visit www.saratogacountyny.gov.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Over 100 vehicles from area businesses, civic organizations and Emergency Services agencies are expected to travel from Ballston Spa Middle School/High School Campus to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (Route 50) starting at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday Nov. 7, as part of a convoy to help generate new, unwrapped toys for immediate distribution by Capital Region Toys for Tots this holiday season. 

Prior to the departure of the Convoy, a drive through toy drop off will be held on the campus of the Ballston Spa Middle School/High School (220 Ballston Ave., Ballston Spa) for members of the public who would like to donate from 9 a.m. 10:30. 

People are encouraged to view the Convoy along Route 50. For the 3rd year, World War II veteran Sir Ken Bailey will serve as the Grand Marshal. 

Convoy for Tots is held annually to support the mission of Capital Region Toys for Tots who serves over 160,000 children annually in the Capital Region. The seven previous convoys have yielded over 100,000 toys donated for distribution in the Capital Region.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, AIM Services, Inc., one of the area’s largest providers of services and support for individuals with disabilities, will receive $50K from the Business for Good Foundation to solidify plans for a “Career Center” to support its Employment Services program. In addition, the two organizations will pair up to create employment opportunities for people with diverse abilities within the BFG Owned network of businesses.

This partnership not only offers the necessary financial support to invest in AIM’s hope for a “Career Center,” which will further enhance access to training and technology, but it will also provide accessibility to jobs for the candidates within AIM’s Employment Services program by expanding their network of business partners. 

The funds will be used to purchase laptops and other office equipment that many of the job candidates may not have access to in their homes. It will also allow the program to invest in other partnerships that could further enhance career skills for those with specialized interests, like coding and graphic design. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 1st Annual Livestrong Golf Scramble was a success this past weekend, with over 80 golfers participating in the tournament and approximately 60 dinner guests. 

The tournament and dinner which took place on Friday, Oct. 15 at the Saratoga Lake Golf Club benefitted the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s LIVESTRONG program – a 12-week training program for cancer survivors with certified personal trainers. 

Kelli Prestigiacomo, a cancer survivor and LIVESTRONG program graduate, and her husband Andy chaired the golf event. Shannon VanHall, a LIVESTRONG coach, and Rilla Schulte, a past participant, chaired the dinner event. 

To hear more about Kelli’s story and the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program, head over to the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s YouTube Channel and watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kKKdoZyX4g. Or contact the Saratoga Regional YMCA Developmental Office at 518-583-9622 ext. 138, email shannon.vanhall@srymca.org. 

Week One: October 15-21:
“Lake Desolation”
Photo by Catherine Carr

Week Two: October 22-28:
“Saratoga Apple, 10.17.21”
Photo by Tina Marie DeVincenzo

Week Three: October 29-November 4:
“Mushrooms”
Photo by Bernie Fabry

Week Four: November 5 – November 11:
“Hudson River Blues”
Photo by Sheri Welch

Week Five: November 12 – November 18:
Photo by Sue Clark 

Contest is closed.

SARATOGA — Women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist “Live Your Dream” Award. 

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women, is offering grants up to $5,000 to be used for expenses related to education. In addition to being the primary wage earner, applicants must: Demonstrate financial need; Be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational skills training program; Be a resident of any of the locations where there is a Soroptimist Club, and Not have previously been a recipient of this award.

If you meet these criteria and wish to apply for this grant, go to www.soroptimistsaratoga.org. Under “Awards” select “Live Your Dream.” This will take you to the on-line application. Applications must be completed by Nov. 15. Soroptimist members and their immediate family are ineligible.

The Saratoga County Chapter provides grants up to $5,000 per award winner. Our first-place award recipient is also eligible for additional monetary awards at the regional and international Soroptimist levels. These funds can be used for tuition, books, childcare, transportation expense or any other education-related expense.

For individual assistance with the application process, contact the Saratoga County Soroptimist Club by e-mailing liveyourdreamsaratoga@gmail.com to request a mentor.

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is part of an international women’s organization with 72,000 members in 121 countries and territories. For more information, visit our website at www.soroptimistsaratoga.org or the international website at www.soroptimist.org 

GLENS FALLS — Nearly $10,000 was raised to benefit the newly-established Edward M. Bartholomew, Jr. Memorial Fund following a disc golf tournament Sept. 17 at Crandall Park.

The event was staged by EDC Warren County and the family of Edward Bartholomew, and the fund will benefit internships at Warren County nonprofits and small businesses.

The winners of the tournament for the men’s and women’s divisions were Tyler Calazada (shot a 44) and Karly Daly (shot a 58). Par for this course is 55. Calazada said, “this is my personal best at this course.”

The Edward M. Bartholomew, Jr. Memorial Fund, informally called “The Ed,” was established in 2021 by EDC Warren County and the Bartholomew family to honor the EDC’s former President and Glens Falls’ former Mayor, carrying forth his legacy of dedication to public service, his passion for the community, and his enthusiasm for economic development by investing in the next generation of leadership. 

The Ed provides funding for paid internships for students, veterans and people with differing abilities at Warren County nonprofits and small businesses, matching interns with internship locations twice yearly. 

The fund is held under the umbrella of the Glens Falls Foundation, overseen by EDC Warren County and the Bartholomew family along with an independent appointee from the community.