SARATOGA SPRINGS — CCE Equine invites the public to experience one of Saratoga’s finest thoroughbred breeding farms with a free drive-through tour on Sunday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mill Creek Farm.

Mill Creek Farm is opening its gates to allow the community to tour the farm from the safety of their car. This tour is a fun educational event enjoyed by all ages.

The equine industry is an essential part of Saratoga’s culture and economy. You can expect a delightful drive through a beautiful farm accompanied by an audio recording from Mill Creek’s owners, family, and staff. The audio recording will include farm history and what day-to-day life is like on the farm. You can find the recording and map on CCE Saratoga County’s website ccesaratoga.org in the weeks prior to this event which you can download or stream via a smart phone. A from-your-car scavenger hunt will also be available for kids to enjoy. 

This event will be a memorable family outing to conclude the track season. Mill Creek Farm is located on 1019 Co Rt 70, Stillwater, NY 12170. Those participating in the tour must enter north of the farm from the intersection of Neilson Rd and County Rd 70. Please note: you must stay in your car for the entire tour. Masks will be required to interact with staff and volunteers.   

For more information contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County at 518-885-8995 or visit ccesaratoga.org.

Q: Why did you become a H.O.P.E. volunteer? 
A: I wanted to be more involved with the community, and since I like animals, I thought volunteering with an animal rescue would be fun. I honestly don’t remember how I found H.O.P.E. 

Q: What do you do for H.O.P.E.? 
A: I help at H.O.P.E.’s Pet Adoption Center – anything from cleaning to playing with the cats to greeting visitors. I also help with H.O.P.E.’s Instagram Accounts. And I help gather photos of H.O.P.E. pets, volunteers and supporters to use in the slide shows they use for their Annual Gala and other events. 

Q: What is your favorite part about volunteering? 
A: I think it is super fun to see animals find a new home and to see the look on the adopters faces when they get that new pet. 

Q: Do you have a favorite adoption story? 
A: A Pit Bull Mix named Simba. He was so charming, at first I didn’t understand why he hadn’t been adopted. I found out his one fault was that he couldn’t live with cats, so he was with H.O.P.E. for a long time. Just when I least expected it, the perfect home was found for him. 

Q: What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering with H.O.P.E.? 
A: Definitely reach out and contact us. There are so many ways you can help us. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga-Wilton Elks #161 Member Karen Ellis and her son Ray Ellis delivered 20 bags filled with approximately 12 meals each worth of food to Stonequist Senior Apartments today from the Wilton Food Pantry.

Last time Ray Ellis delivered food, it was a family member’s wedding day and since he received such a great reaction from being dressed up… he did it again. It’s the little things that make people smile.

South Glens Falls ­— There are plenty of smiles under those masks as employees at the South Glens Falls Hannaford store present donations to Operation Adopt A Soldier (OAAS) to be used in free comfort kits sent to U.S. soldiers serving in areas of conflict. 

Shoppers at the South Glens Falls, Glens Falls, Queensbury and Hudson Falls Hannaford stores are invited to purchase and donate items to OAAS through the end of August as the non-profit marks one year since a devastating fire destroyed its Wilton headquarters.

An August 2019 fire that destroyed Operation Adopt A Soldier’s (OAAS) Wilton headquarters didn’t damage the all-volunteer group’s determination to restore its services to America’s soldiers.OAAS announced that four Hannaford stores in the southern Adirondacks are serving as collection sites for a month-long campaign to replenish OAAS’ inventory with donations from shoppers.

The collection bins are located behind the front-end cash registers. Shoppers can place their donations in the bins after checking out. A “wish list” of accepted items is posted on the bins.

The participating Hannaford locations are: 190 Quaker Road, Queensbury; 175 Broad St., Glens Falls; 3758 Burgoyne Ave., Hudson Falls; 27-41 Route 9, South Glens Falls.

“We are grateful to Hannaford for stepping up and assisting us in our mission to provide our brave soldiers with a little taste of home,” said Cliff Seguin, OAAS founder/co-chair. “OAAS only survives because of donations from our always-generous and caring public and business communities. It’s our never-ending mission to show everyone’s support for our military personnel serving in dangerous areas, far from home and family.”

The August 17, 2019 fire destroyed a multi-use structure on Route 50, Wilton, that included the OAAS office. Nearly all the group’s possessions – including 260 packed comfort kits awaiting Postal Service pickup – were destroyed. The structure has not been rebuilt.

Within days, OAAS relocated to a warehouse donated by Wilton businessman Richard Woodcock at 891 Saratoga Road (Route 9), Wilton. He’s also paying for the office utilities until OAAS finds a permanent home. Woodcock’s property is for sale or lease.

“Our volunteers were understandably shocked and devastated by the fire,” said Seguin. “But the public’s reaction to our misfortune was astounding and heartfelt. Donations poured in once everyone found out we had a temporary home, and we’ve been consistently sending the care packages ever since, except during the pandemic shutdown.”

OAAS accepts public donations at its Wilton office from 10 a.m. to noon each Thursday and Saturday, and by appointment for large-volume donations.

Meanwhile, the Chapman Museum at 348 Glen St., Glens Falls, continues to serve as an OAAS donation site while its reopening exhibit, “Let’s All Fight,” runs through Sept. 20. The exhibit honors the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II with a display of WWII-era propaganda posters that detail stateside efforts to support America’s soldiers serving overseas. Museum officials noted OAAS’ modern-day services form a bridge to America’s efforts during the 1940s.

OAAS, an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit, uses product and monetary donations to fill comfort kits that are shipped to U.S. military personnel serving in areas of conflict. The kits are free; each box costs $12 to ship.

Acceptable items include non-perishable food, snacks, candy/gum, toiletries, energy bars/drinks, CDs/DVDs, stationery, paperback books, games, puzzle books, sports gear, over-the-counter health products and phone cards. A detailed list of items is posted on www.operationadoptasoldier.com

OAAS cannot ship perishable/refrigerated foods, aerosols, cologne/perfume, hardcover books, used clothing and alcohol.

Useful donations that cannot be shipped or don’t fit in the boxes are donated to area charities.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses often have stigmas set against them that they can be wild and unruly animals. This myth is most likely based around the fact that racehorses, just like any other athlete, enjoy what they do and put a lot of energy towards their goals. Horses love to run, and most racehorses are quite young and full of excitement when they are racing. That is what makes them good at what they do.

However, horses, just like people, have many different energy and mood levels, and their environment can have a large impact on how they react. So, one can imagine that being in large space surrounded by other horses and thousands of fans can get a horse amped up – and isn’t that what fans want from an animal about to race to the finish line?

Once these racehorses have transitioned into retirement, though, we see a drastic change in their energy levels. Some horses still love to have a very active, go-getter lifestyle – but many enjoy a leisurely life once given the chance.

The first step in finding the right ex-racehorse for a life in equine therapy is to determine what kind of horse they are. Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga look for a horse that more often craves an easy-going life because that is what we can provide for them. It is very important that the horse thrives in and enjoys the life that we give them just as much as we do.

Next, transition into their new world can take time depending on whether they are coming right off the track. A horse who transitions straight from the track environment to farm life will more likely take much longer to settle into their new life because they are both in a new home with new friends and also in a whole new world. In contrast, a horse who has already been in retirement for a while – for example, a mare who transitioned into breeding for some years after racing – can have an easier time of transition into a new home because they just need to be integrated into a new herd, not a whole new life.

Making the right decision on when to start training comes from taking the time to get to know the horse and observing them in their new environment. You want to be careful not to overwhelm the horse too quickly with too much new information. Just like humans, they will need time to create a life within their new home.

Once the horse has settled, it is time to begin training. Training for a therapy horse varies depending on what specific type of equine therapy is involved, but many components remain the same.

Pictured above, Taylor and Tommy Krogmann, two Act  With Respect Always (AWRA) followers, show off the AWRA face masks. Rich Johns, founder of the nonprofit, has sent over 150 masks to the community at no cost. Anyone interested in receiving a mask can contact Johns’ email at acejohns@aol.com. Their website can be accessed at actwithrespectalways.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/actwithrespectalways/.

BALLSTON LAKE – Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York (GSNENY) congratulates Raia James, Sara Casale and Tiffany Cospito for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout.

James earned the designation by creating a school supply closet at Paige Elementary School to address an ongoing need for school supplies throughout the school year. Casale started a self-confidence program for select eight grade students in the Shenendehowa Central School District to earn the designation. Cospito earned the award by starting a children’s music program at Hospicio San Jose, an orphanage in Guatemala.

Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better but they change it for good. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades ninth through twelfth who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national, and global challenges. Since 1916, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change.

The Gold Award is earned by a Girl Scout who works to address an issue they’re passionate about in a way that produces meaningful and lasting change. Whether it’s on a local, national, or global level, Gold Award Girl Scouts provide innovative solutions to significant challenges.

“Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good—and [each girl] embodies everything this achievement stands for,” said Mary Buszuwski, GSNENY CEO. “[They all] addressed an issue that’s important to them—educational equity—for her Gold Award, and we congratulate [these girls] on this momentous accomplishment.”

Girl Scouts is 2.5 million strong—more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) to change the world. Girl Scouts’ extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. 

BALLSTON SPA – Saratoga 4-H staff delivered trophies to winners of the Youth Video Challenge for the Virtual Saratoga County Fair. 4-H members were asked to be submit videos about the animal species they would typically bring to the Saratoga County Fair. This Video challenge provided youth an opportunity to show case their animals and knowledge of the species they care for. Educators and animal science professionals judged the videos on Wednesday, July 22 and winners were awarded on Thursday the 24.

The Saratoga County Fair is the most anticipated event of the year for 4-H members. Youth work year round to breed, care for, and prepare their animals to be shown at this annual event. In the past, around 200 youth across the county participate in animal shows, species including: dairy cattle, beef cattle, horses, rabbits, sheep, goats and more. Youth and their animals are judged for cleanliness, animal confirmation, genetics, and other aspects of animal health. The cancelation of the Saratoga County Fair was devastating, yet youth came together to exhibit their animal in a fun and educational way.

The Youth Video Challenge for the Virtual Saratoga County Fair had three categories, Cloverbud, ages 8 and under, Jr., ages 9-12, and Sr., ages 13-18. Cloverbuds receive participation awards and first, second and third place trophies were given to the top three videos submitted.

Trophy Winners are as follows:

Senior Division:

First- Kohlby Himelrick with his Goat

Second- Julia Bodien with her Rabbit

Third- Collin Anderson with his Sheep

Junior Division

First- Eva Anderson with her Rabbit

Second- Aaron Myatt with his Guinea Pig

Third- Eva Anderson with her Chicken

Congrats to our winners. Despite the County Fair being canceled, Saratoga County 4-H has been working to create and renew our diverse educational opportunities to fit the changing educational climate. For more information about 4-H Animal Science opportunities, please contact Brieanna Hughes at bh548@cornell.edu or visit our website at http://ccesaratoga.org/.

BALLSTON SPA – Saratoga 4-H staff delivered trophies to winners of the Youth Video Challenge for the Virtual Saratoga County Fair. 4-H members were asked to submit videos about the animal species they would typically bring to the Saratoga County Fair. The Video challenge provided youth an opportunity to showcase their animals and knowledge of the species they care for. Educators and animal science professionals judged the videos on Wednesday, July 22 and winners were awarded on Thursday the 24. 

The Saratoga County Fair is the most anticipated event of the year for 4-H members. Youth work year round to breed, care for, and prepare their animals to be shown at this annual event. In the past, around 200 youth across the county participate in animal shows, species including: dairy cattle, beef cattle, horses, rabbits, sheep, goats and more. Youth and their animals are judged for cleanliness, animal confirmation, genetics, and other aspects of animal health. The cancelation of the Saratoga County Fair was devastating, yet youth came together to exhibit their animal in a fun and educational way. 

The Youth Video Challenge for the Virtual Saratoga County Fair had three categories, Cloverbud, ages 8 and under, Jr., ages 9-12, and Sr., ages 13-18. Cloverbuds receive participation awards and first, second and third place trophies were given to the top three videos submitted. 

Trophy Winners are as follows: 

Senior Division: 

First– Kohlby Himelrick with his Goat 

Second– Julia Bodien with her Rabbit 

Third- Collin Anderson with his Sheep 

Junior Division 

First– Eva Anderson with her Rabbit 

Congrats to our winners! Despite the County Fair being canceled, Saratoga County 4-H has been working to create and renew our diverse educational opportunities to fit the changing educational climate. For more information about 4-H Animal Science opportunities, please contact Brieanna Hughes at bh548@cornell.edu or visit our website at ccesaratoga.org.