BALLSTON SPA — Sterling Homes Real Estate, located in Ballston Spa, collected more than 3,000 pounds of food during its Holiday Heroes Project Food Drive. 

The company’s food drive project is a movement to address the growing needs of hunger, income loss, and isolationism exacerbated by the current pandemic state, record job loss, and seasonal depression. 

The donations were collected by the Regional Food Bank of NENY. The Regional Foodbank supports 23 counties and over 1,000 different agencies throughout those counties and estimates they serve approximately 400,000 families each month.

For more information on the foodbank, go to: www.regionalfoodbank.net. For more information about Sterling Homes, go to: sterlinghomesrealestate.com. 

 SARATOGA — The 2021 Town of Saratoga calendars featuring pictures from days gone by in the villages of Schuylerville and Victory and in the surrounding areas are now on sale.  Calendar pages are sprinkled with close to 150 historical tidbits. 

The photos include the Schuyler Hose Company in new turnout gear in 1987, the Periard family of Victory Mills, the 1954 champion VFW baseball team, a Knights of Columbus meeting, Schuylerville FFA members in 1964, and seven other pictures from the Town’s past.

You will learn that fire struck the village firehouse in 1947, the gristmill in Grangerville in 1938, the Visitation Church in 1871, the Quaker Springs hotel in 1899, and the Liberty wallpaper plant in 1924. Other tidbits include the date the last cotton mill machines moved south, Saratoga County was formed from Albany County, the General Schuyler Pantry opened, Schuylerville Central School District was formed, and a helicopter crashed and burned in Grangerville.

Calendars may be purchased for $5 in Schuylerville at Byron’s Market, Saratoga Apple, Schuylerville Public Library, Schuylerville Village Clerk’s office and at the Town Clerk’s office or at Old Saratoga Mercantile and Olde Saratoga Home and Garden on Route 29.

The Old Saratoga Historical Association has produced the Town of Saratoga calendar for the past 36 years. Call Pat Peck, 518-584-4129, to arrange to have calendars mailed and to offer photos for the 2022 calendar.

WILTON — The two local Scout Troops for Wilton, 4024B (Boys) and 4024G (Girls) built a new trail bridge at Moreau Lake State Park on Mud Pond Trail.  The project was Jackson Ellnor’s Eagle project, and was supported by the park, both BSA Troops, members of Friends of Moreau Lake State Park, and members of the community. 

Over the course of two weekends in November the bridge went from a plan to a fully functional completed bridge. This is the second Eagle Project completed in conjunction with Moreau Lake State Park in the past two years.  The other was Evan Schmid’s project of rebuilding a lean-to within the park that was completed last year. 

Additionally, both the Boys and Girls Troops did a fall clean-up at Dorothy Nolan Elementary school, and also helped a few seniors in the area with their clean-up earlier this fall. The Boys Troop also collected items from the community for the Adopt-a-Soldier program and helped package the items for soldiers deployed around the world. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Members of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 recently delivered a variety of items to Shelters of Saratoga to help aid the homeless. 

Goods included: six tents, dozens of canisters of propane for outdoor heaters, long thermal underwear, socks, and hand and foot warmer packets. For this project, a $1,000 portion of an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant was used. 

Additionally, and unrelated to the Beacon Grant, the Lodge in late November donated 40 meals for the homeless, which volunteers from the Shelters of Saratoga (SOS / Code Blue) delivered to people locally.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In lieu of the annual Victorian Street Walk, and the city’s First Night Saratoga celebration – both of which have been cancelled due to public health safety concerns – city residents and businesses are encouraging the community to illuminate the exterior of their homes with lights this holiday season.

Saratoga Springs ­—Saratoga’s Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine (CCE Equine) is offering horse shoe decorating kits as a fun family project for the holidays. Each kit includes a story, equine educational materials, a cleaned horse shoe and decorating supplies. 

Kits are $5 each and will be available for pick up during the week of Dec. 14 at the CCE Office, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa. To order, call 518-885-8995 or email Nicolina Foti at Nvf5@cornell.edu. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine (CCE Equine) was established in 2006. They offer equine education in Saratoga County and throughout the Capital Region. To learn more, visit ccesaratoga.org/agriculture/cce-equine.

Saratoga Springs — On Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation will host a virtual Holiday Homes Tour.  Since this year people will not be able to gather together for holiday parties, the Foundation is providing a unique way for people to get into the holiday spirit.  The inspiration for the event is the Candlelight House Tour, a tour of private houses decorated for the holidays that the Foundation hosted for 25 years until 2015. 

The virtual Holiday Homes Tour will feature the architecture and history of two private homes on Union Avenue, the George U. Gates House built in 1868 and the Ashabel & Elizabeth Moody House built in 1873.  The tour will offer a rare peek into the traditional and mid-century inspired interiors of these two historic homes while enjoying holiday music from local musicians the McKrells courtesy of Caffe Lena and singer/songwriter Cassandra Kubinski. 

“We are thrilled to offer cheer during this holiday season by offering an exclusive opportunity to learn about the architecture and history of two beautiful houses while enjoying holiday songs of local musicians.  We encourage people to support their favorite local restaurant by ordering take-out while having a festive cocktail in the comfort and warmth of their homes,” said Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Foundation. 

The program will feature holiday music by The McKrells who are one of the Capital District’s most well-known Irish and bluegrass acts. Lead singer Kevin McKrell has performed in theaters, clubs and on festival stages across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the U.K. and has been the recipient of songwriter and entertainer of the year awards multiple times by publications throughout the northeast. Saratogian Cassandra Kubinski is a singer/songwriter who has performed internationally and collaborated with artists like Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Botti, and 10,000 Maniacs, among others. Her songs have been highlighted on numerous television shows. The Foundation is honored to be joined by these impressive artists during the Holiday Homes Tour.

This virtual program will be presented through Zoom. Tickets are $20 for Foundation members and $25 for non-members. Tickets must be purchased by 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 to receive a link to the live stream program. Visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call 518-587-5050 to purchase your ticket. 

This virtual program is supported, in part, by generous sponsors including Presenting Sponsors: Allerdice Building Supply, Andersen Windows & Doors, Burns Management, Mangino Buick GMC, and Minich MacGregor Wealth Management; and Supporting Sponsor Best Dressed Windows in Town.

Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association, in partnership with Curtis Lumber, honored business owners and residents whose renovation, restoration, and beautification efforts have enhanced the Ballston Spa community over the past year. 

The winners were chosen from nominations submitted by others in the community. In lieu of the awards ceremony this year, the presentations were made by members of the Beautification Awards Committee and members of the BSBPA Board of Directors. 

WINNERS: 

Best Residential New Build:
24 Galleon Drive, Malta Development Co – Patrick Rowan and Christopher Cavanaugh.

Best Residential Redevelopment:
54 Grove Street – High Rock Realty – Ron Murphy.

Best Residential Renovation: 
28 Chapman Street – Carrie McNeil and Scott Von Duhn.

Residential – Honorable Mention New Build:
7 Oakwood Court – Travis Fitzgerald.

Best Commercial Interior Renovation:
The Front Street Social Club, 52 Front Street – Jamie Fronk.

Best Commercial Exterior Renovation:
Amazing Finds Boutique, 53 Milton Avenue – Christine Jamison.

Best Commercial Complete Renovation:
Rilassare at 18 Front, 18 Front Street – Alicia TenEyck.

Commercial Renovation Honorable Mention (4):
dbTrends Boutique, 32 Front Street – Dayanis Bowie ; Inspire Hair Salon, 207 Milton Avenue – Dana Flinton ; Seraphina Devine Beauty, 437 Geyser Road – Autumn Wright; The Real McCoy Beer Co Ballston Spa, 28 Washington Street – Michael and Bona Schaffer. 

Best Community Renovation: 
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 167 Milton Avenue.

#518RainbowHunt Winner:
Saratoga County Historical Society at Brookside Museum, 6 Charlton Street.

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

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For decades, the Flower and Fruit Mission has hosted a winter fundraiser called the Snow Ball, an annual event to kick off the holiday season and raise funds for Saratoga Hospital.  In years past, members would sell boxes of homemade cookies to raise additional funds for the hospital.  This year’s Snow Ball is cancelled due to the pandemic, but to keep the cookie tradition and continue to raise funds, the Mission is selling beautiful boxes of cookies baked by the Putnam Market. 

All orders must be placed by Dec. 4 and picked up Dec. 17-18. Supporters can buy cookies for themselves, as presents or donate them to local non-profits. To order cookies, go to:  the-flower-and-fruit-mission-of-saratoga-hospital-108936.square.site/s/shop.

The Flower and Fruit Mission was established in 1904 to raise funds for the William J. Hickey Woman’s Health Services of Saratoga Hospital.  Today, the Mission supports the hospital’s maternity unit and the general well-being of its staff and patients. 

Some recent contributions from the F&F Mission include a $30,000 donation to the Community Health Center to support the uninsured and underinsured of our community, the purchase of Noelle, a simulation program used to train doctors and nurses in crisis care of mothers and newborns, the purchase of new Billibeds, which allow treatment of jaundice babies. 

The Mission also supports nursing education through scholarships; The Philly Dake Memorial Award, given to a SSHS graduating senior pursuing a career in healthcare and The Mildred Rockwell Fund, $10,000 to pay for advanced educational opportunities for labor and delivery nurses at Saratoga Hospital.

The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association and Stewart’s Shops are bringing Santa to the children of Saratoga Springs!

Catch a Glimpse of Santa in your Neighborhood as he travels through Saratoga Springs atop a tower ladder fire truck!

December 6 Starts @ 4 p.m. Geyser Crest Area
December 12 Starts @ 3 p.m. West Side Area
December 16 Starts @ 6 p.m. Woodlands & Meadowbrook Area
December 19 Starts @ 3 p.m. East Side Area
December 23 Starts @ 2 p.m. South Side, Jefferson St., Union Ave. South Area

Follow Santa Live on Facebook @DowntownSaratogaSprings

Learn more at saratogaspringssowntown.com