SARATOGA COUNTY — ‘Sundae’ on the Farm moved to online for the 2020 event. 

The community is welcomed to join from the comfort of their own home while the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Saratoga County takes them on a pre-recorded tour of three local dairy farms, one of which is a Stewart’s Shops Producer. This fun family online activity, ‘Sundae” on the Farm will be released Fathers’ Day, Sunday June 21. 

It is the perfect way to get a closer look at Koval Brother’s Dairy, Turning Point Dairy, and Willow Marsh Farm. Meanwhile, the Stewart’s Shops throughout Saratoga County will be featuring the Farm footage in each of their shops.

The ‘Sundae’ on the Farm Virtual tour is brought to you by Saratoga County Agricultural Promotional Committee. The video will be shown on the CCE Saratoga County’s Ag Economic Development Program Facebook Page and the CCE Saratoga County website (ccesaratoga.org). For questions or general inquiries, please contact Nicolina Foti, nvf5@cornell.edu. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With COVID-19 straining food banks across the state, Leonard Bus Sales announced that they will be doubling their donations to partner food banks as part of their annual support of the school-based BackPack nutrition program. 

The past few years, Leonard Bus Sales has taken funds it would traditionally spend for promotional items at industry trade shows and have invested it in local BackPack nutrition programs throughout the state to help ensure no child goes to school or bed hungry. This year, the company – which operates full-service facilities in Bergen, Deposit, Middletown, Rome, and Saratoga Springs – is doubling their contribution to seven regional food bank partners to $11,000 and helping more than 2,200 children state-wide.

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is a not-for-profit organization that collects donated food from the food industry and distributes it to nearly 1,000 charitable agencies feeding the hungry in 23 counties of northeastern New York.  The food provided by the Regional Food Bank helps to feed over 350,000 people each month, and in 2019 distributed over 40 million pounds of food to the hungry. 

To learn more about the Food Bank of Central New York go to regionalfoodbank.net, or to learn more about school-based hunger programs near you go to feedingamerica.org

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A peaceful protest march attended by more than 1,000 people took place June 7, 2020. The protest, sponsored by the group #saratogaagainstbrutality began at High Rock Park, proceeded down Broadway and concluded in Congress Park where speakers addressed the large crowd.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Second Chance Sports Founder Bill Yaiser has partnered with Jack Knowlton to raise funds to benefit Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Autism through local business Second Chance Sports and the Learning League.

Together, the two have developed a unique item called the “Six Foot Social Distance Stick” as a keepsake and souvenir of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Yaiser said the stick represents just one way the community has worked together.

“It’s just a great way to have community members and small businesses work together,” Yaiser said. 

With a $40 donation you receive the “I Survived Coronavirus’ six-foot social distancing stick. One of the community members who donate will be the winner of a large canvas poster personally signed by jockeys. The winner will also receive a Health Club Without Walls membership that can be used at local colleges.

“It’s a big fundraiser,” Yaiser said.  “It’s something funny and a nice keepsake and souvenir.”

Knowlton was the first to donate and receive the stick. He is the owner of Funny Cide in addition to Tiz the Law, an American Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2019 Champagne Stakes.

The donation helps fund programs in PTSD and autism at local colleges such as Hudson Valley Community College. Yaiser said the programs at HVCC have been successful for over 30-years. The programs will extend and concentrate on law enforcement members and their families in addition to their veteran’s program. 

Another prize that could be won include a dinner with jockeys and derby winners.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, welcomes Capital Region residents to take part in its “Share A Step For Seniors” virtual fundraiser beginning Thursday, June 19.

The weeklong fitness initiative, which runs through June 26, offers participants the opportunity to raise funds for The Wesley Community while working towards a fitness-oriented goal, such as running or walking a mile per day or completing a 30-mile bike ride. Members track their workouts, share their progress on social media and encourage friends and family to support their efforts via a donation.

All donations generated through “Share A Step For Seniors” will support The Wesley Community’s continued efforts to serve its residents and staff during the coronavirus global health pandemic. The Wesley Community is a non-profit senior living campus in Saratoga Springs with more than 700 residents.

“Showing love and support for our seniors is more important than ever and we are excited to hold a virtual event focused on health and wellness, while practicing social distancing,” said J. Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community. “We encourage participants to follow the guidelines from government and health officials during their fitness activities. All of us at The Wesley Community appreciate the continued support for this event.”

Registration is free. Individuals or teams interested in participating in the “Share A Step for Seniors” campaign can register at www.justgiving.com/campaign/shareastep.

Major sponsors of “Share A Step For Seniors” include Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family, Jim LaVigne and Mary Gavin, Mannix Marketing and Saratoga.com, CDPHP, Ruth Pouliot, Lisa Cardone-O’Connor – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Fingerpaint and T.C. Equipment. 

For more information about the Share A Step For Seniors event, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/shareastep or contact Katelynn Donovan via email at kndonovan@thewesleycommunity.org or by phone at 518-691-1616.

Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club throughout April and May 2020 used a three-prong approach to help thousands of people and appreciate essential front-line workers.

“Our club saw the need and determined that we could utilize different aspects to help so many people in our community during this horrific pandemic” said Lion Club President Sal Bonsangue.

First the Saratoga Springs Lions Club bought six cases, four gallons each case, of hand sanitizer from High Peaks Distilling of Adirondack Pub & Brewery. High Peaks also donated another case. The Lions then delivered a case of sanitizer to each of the following:  Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Fire Department (Lake and West Ave.), Empire Ambulance (West Ave.), Saratoga Police Department, Shelters of Saratoga and the Franklin Community Center.

Secondly, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club donated $500 to each of the following food pantries: Franklin Community Center Food Pantry, The Salvation Army, Wilton Food Pantry, St. Clements Food Pantry, Saratoga EOC Food Pantry, Shelters of Saratoga, Presbyterian Food Pantry and the Saratoga SNACpack program, spending $4000 to help thousands in our Community.

Thirdly, the club focused on showing their appreciation during these tough times to all local front-line workers while helping some local restaurant partners. They utilized Mama Mia’s Restaurant, Panza’s, 99 Restaurant in Wilton, Tinney’s Tavern, and PJ’s BAR-B-QSA. By utilizing and helping restaurant partners, Lions Club was able to provide a lunch for four consecutive weeks to each of the following front line workers in the Saratoga Area:  Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Police Department, Saratoga Fire Department (Lake and West Ave), Empire Ambulance (West Ave), Saratoga Sheriffs Wilton Barracks, The Wesley Community, Four Winds, and Shelters of Saratoga. 

Many thanks go to Advantage Press for donating Saratoga Lions “Thank You for All You Do” stickers which were placed on each meal.

The Lions Club is always looking for new members who want to help our community in our mission areas of Sight, Hearing, Diabetes, Youth, Community, Hunger, Childhood Cancer and Veterans.

The Saratoga Springs Lions Club is a volunteer-based service organization with a mission to serve its community and support local youth, promote diabetes prevention, promote sight and hearing conservation, to attack Hunger and Childhood Cancer and help our Veterans. To learn more about the club or to join in helping thousands of people in and around Saratoga Springs, visit our website for more information and how to contact us for membership.

MALTA — Zegers Freedom Flags is a small business focused on creating handcrafted wooden American Flags.

The father-daughter team Arthur and Morgan Zegers create the flags together. The two came up with the idea when Morgan Zegers graduated in 2018 and she found herself left with student debt. At the time, Art Zegers had watched online tutorials on how to create the wooden American flags and suggested they try creating one themselves.

“After we made one, it was so beautiful we didn’t know what to do with it,” Morgan Zegers said. “We donated it to the local VFW, we were both members in Malta when we lived there. Our friend got cancer from Agent Orange when he served in Vietnam, so they had a fundraiser for him and we donated [the flag] and a ton of people wanted to buy more. We began selling them after that.”

Colonel Arthur Zegers served the country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and on the site of 9/11. Morgan Zegers is the founder and CEO of Young Americans Against Socialism and owner of Zegers Freedom Flags.

When the two first began making flags, Morgan Zegers would hand carve the stars with a dremel. Soon after, the Eagle-Matt Lee Fire Department in Ballston Spa purchased 28 flags as gifts for each member of the fire department. 

“We just couldn’t make that many by hand so we ordered the CNC machine. That allows us to not only do the stars, but we can also do custom carvings,” Morgan Zegers said. 

A Computer Numerical Control, CNC, is the automated control of machining tools and 3D printers by means of the computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material, in this case wood, to meet specifications by following a coded programmed instruction and without a manual operator.

To create the flags, Art Zegers said he purchases the wood that he then cuts into small strips. He will stockpile the lumber, then burn the wood and stain it. They then put together the custom flag.

“It’s nice to be able to make a flag, but when it comes out as well as we make it, it’s pretty rewarding to hand it to a customer. They just really appreciate it and they send me photos of it hanging in the living room or in their office. It’s very rewarding in that aspect,” Art Zegers said.

Two years ago, Megan Zeggers ran for New York’s State Assembly, which led to a plethora of networking for flag donations and sales. 

“It’s really a big network of people who are already involved with great causes,” Megan Zegers said.

Both Megan and Art Zegers have full times jobs, and find themselves creating the flags in the evenings during their free time. 

“I’m just doing this as a hobby now for when I do retire in four years as a civilian and a reservists. With all my military connections…this is where I’m getting my custom work. From different soldiers, engineers, military police and the units that I belong to are all ordering flags from me. So that was very rewarding especially since I worked with them,” Art Zegers said. 

The business has grown to be a family affair, as Morgan Zeger’s brother now lends a helping hand. She added that her favorite part was the time she spends with her father.

“Working with my dad is the best. We don’t talk very much as we work because it’s pretty loud. Other times we’ll be really busy and sometimes we don’t work for very long, but it has been really nice to spend the time with him,” Morgan Zegers said. “All of our best customers are military family members or family members with people in law enforcement. It’s just really exciting to know that we are creating something that means a lot to the people receiving the gift. It means a lot to us.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Caregivers, volunteers and Alzheimer’s Association staff members showcased decorated vehicles and colorful signs in support the of staff at The Wesley Community during a “hooray for our heroes” car parade on May 21, 2020. 

The Alzheimer’s Association, Northeastern New York arranged the car parade in recognition of nurses and staff during the stay-at-home order. 

Individuals living in nursing homes and senior living facilities are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the community nature of these settings. In addition, the large majority of individuals living in these settings are older with underlying chronic conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19. Yet during these challenging and frequently heartbreaking times, nurses at these facilities have stepped up in the face of this pandemic.

The Wesley Community hosts a caregiver support group for the Alzheimer’s Association and is one of the top fundraisers for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Queensbury.

Hello, my name is Reeley Misbehaving, and I am a therapy horse at Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS).

I was adopted here in the summer of 2019 and am loving my new life so far. I get to live outside in the paddock with my friends and enjoy fresh air and yummy hay all day long. My favorite pastime is rolling in the mud and getting really dirty. This is easy to do because I am a white horse, and everything shows up on me.

Every day after breakfast, my caretaker and trainer, Laura, comes out to the paddock to bring me to our training session. She takes me to the round pen where we “join up,” which means that she asks me to move around her in a circle and connect to her through our movements. I enjoy this process because it means that Laura wants to get close to me and build trust. Then we begin my favorite part of training – prop desensitization. Laura shows me a series of objects that I experience daily as a therapy horse like trotting poles, tarps, pool noodles, and hula hoops. I pass with flying colors over these obstacles because I trust Laura and she would not do anything to endanger me. But still, I am a horse, so I must investigate everything to make sure it is not a threat. The pool noodle was the easiest. Once I realized that all I had to do was let her rub me with it and walk over it, it was a piece of cake. After every session Laura gives me a good grooming, which is by far the best portion of training.

My favorite part about being a therapy horse is spending time with my clients. I am a very social horse and I enjoy getting neck scratches and playing fun games with my human friends. I sense what my humans are feeling and can give them whatever they need, whether it’s a challenge or a nice long cuddle.

At the end of the day, us horses enjoy a delicious dinner and settle into our evening routine of hay-eating and naps. We have the best job, don’t you think?

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Each May at the Annual Meeting, the Preservation Foundation celebrates National Preservation Month by recognizing building owners with Preservation Recognition Awards.

Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty of the impacts of the Coronavirus, the call for nominations was delayed and the awards ceremony will not be able to take place in person. The Foundation does not want to delay any longer the recognition of projects. Therefore, it will announce award winners in June digitally. 

The Foundation seeks nominations for projects that reflect a dedication to preserving, developing, and reusing historic buildings and landscapes. Those nominated may be individuals, organizations, businesses, or community representatives. Nominations will be assessed by the Awards Committee according to the following criteria: project design sensitivity to the historic character and environment of the property, project execution represents appropriate techniques and preservation practice; degree of difficulty faced and appropriateness of solutions applied.

The project must be located in the City of Saratoga Springs, but does not have to be located in a historic district. Projects are to incorporate exteriors of private property, interiors or exteriors of public spaces, and must be 50 years or older. Additions to historic buildings and new in-fill construction can also be nominated. All projects must have been finalized within the past year.

To nominate a project or ask any questions about the awards please contact Nicole Babie, Membership & Programs Director, at nbabie@saratogapreservation.org. Please submit nominations by June 5, 2020 and include the address of the project; a description of the work completed; and, if possible, name of the property owner and photographs.