SCOTIA — Searching for good news amid the current state of the world is a welcome distraction that 55,000 other individuals agree with as of Wednesday this week. 

The distraction, called 518 Rainbow Hunt, started on March 18 by a mom sent home due to COVID-19. According to the 518 Rainbow Hunt group, Kristyn Dayter created the idea to bring some positive vibes and sunshine to families in the area after seeing similar ideas online. In a single day, the group welcomed over 1,000 members and has been growing since.

“Rainbows, unicorns, and glitter have always been my thing. They’re a perfect expression of my personality…” Dayter said on the facebook group. “I’m so overly happy that this little project has touched so many families and has been a good distraction for everyone in this uncertain time.”

The hunt challenges families design a rainbow and display in a window, driveway or any other creative way they can come up with. The idea is to get families outdoors and practice social distancing. 

“I can’t wait to see how far we can reach! The 518 sure can come together…” Dayton posted. “Good vibes only, keep rainbow hunting, we’ll all get through
this together.”

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Wilton Elks 161 recently used a portion of their Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant for the Mother Susan Anderson House.

Members of the lodge joined with family members to shop and deliver linens to the women and children’s emergency shelter, which is located on Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs.

Together they delivered 12 sets of bed linen, 12 comforters and 6 blankets to the Shelter. The lodge would like to thank the volunteers and families who helped deliver the items for those in need. 

Every Elks Lodge is eligible to apply for the $3,000 Beacon Grant, introduced this year. In order to apply, the lodge has to actively serve the community. For more information visit www.elks.org/cip/grants/BeaconGrants.cfm.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lisa Best, family and friends presented a gift of $13,500 to the Saratoga Regional YMCA in memory of their loving husband, father, and friend, Bob Best.

In 2018, after Bob’s sudden passing, family and friends created the Bob Best Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor Bob. Bob and Lisa Best and family were long-time members of the YMCA. Through their experience, they saw firsthand the great benefits Y membership and programs provides a family. Lisa found through her role as a teacher that at-risk students who were given financial assistance to the Y benefited from the positive influence the Y had on them through their programs. 

In total, the fund has provided the Y with $29,500. Funds are available to support sending kids to camp as well as covering membership costs. In addition, $1,000 was dedicated to the Saratoga Builder’s Association to benefit a local student entering the building trades. 

Lisa Best and their children want to thank friends, family and local businesses for their continued love and generous support to the Bob Best Memorial Fund.

Big thank you to everyone who made our annual Home & Lifestyle Show such a wonderful success this weekend. We had a great turnout for our ribbon cutting and show opening. Thanks to our many sponsors and vendors who make this show possible. Our Rotary club supports this endeavor with time and talents and it takes so many to make this achievable.  We also collected donations for both the Salvation Army and local pet rescue organizations over the weekend in honor of Leap of Kindness day. 

Since its founding in 1924, the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs has served the local community in many ways. In addition to engaging in service activities, the club has made charitable donations and major gifts to numerous not-for-profit organizations in the area. The club’s annual Home & Lifestyle Show has been its major fundraising activity since 1973. Proceeds from this event support the club’s donations to local organizations, youth scholarships, and international activities. More information about the club is available at www.saratogaspringsrotary.org.

– Joyce Ure, Owner and President of Cudney’s Laundry & Dry Cleaners Inc.

CHARLOTTE, VT/SARATOGA SPRINGS — Magical World, a 9-year-old mare owned by Three Chimneys Farm, delivered a colt by stallion Gun Runner at 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 25 at Three Chimneys as part of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Foal Patrol Season 3. This is the first foal of the season delivered on Foal Patrol. Both the mare and foal are healthy and doing well.

Magical World, a daughter of Distorted Humor who has already sired Grade 1 winner Guarana and listed winner Magical Dance, delivered her Gun Runner colt 11 days after her expected foaling date of Feb. 14. There are six mares participating in Foal Patrol Season 3. Both New Money Honey (in foal to War Front at Indian Creek Farm) and Hall of Fame member Ashado (in foal to Frosted at Godolphin’s Gainsborough) are due any time. The other mares this season include Vaulcluse (in foal to War Front at Gainesway Farm), Alpine Sky (in foal to More Than Ready at Old Tavern Farm), and Emotional Kitten (in foal to Dialed In at Denali Stud). Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year, is also a participant this season.

Foal Patrol is a one-of-a-kind interactive web project. Season 3 features a collection of live cameras where people can view real-time streams of several mares and their foals and the stallion Frosted. The live camera feeds will be available according to each horse’s daily schedule, set by the farm. For more information, please visit www.foalpatrol.com.

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including special events and program offerings, please call 518-584-0400 or visit www.racingmuseum.org.

SARATOGA COUNTY — On Feb. 7, 1791, Saratoga County was formed from its parent, Albany County. Originally, Saratoga County had four towns: Ballston, Stillwater, Halfmoon, and Saratoga. Old Saratoga historian, John Brandon describes the history of the partitions of Saratoga as “a district of country with indefinite boundaries stretching from perhaps Waterford to the State dam at Northumberland and including both sides of the river.”

MOREAU — Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties (“Habitat”) is teaming up with Curtis Lumber and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce for Leap of Kindness Day. Leap of Kindness Day is a chance for you to spend the extra day of 2020 to do something special for your favorite local charity. Habitat is asking for the community to purchase 2×4” pieces of lumber at all Curtis Lumber locations in the Capital Region throughout the month of February. Each 2×4 can be purchased for only $3. You’ll also get the opportunity to write a message about home ownership and/or affordable housing on a piece of lumber at each store. Curtis Lumber will then deliver all donated 2x4s to Habitat on Leap of Kindness Day. 2x4s can also be purchased at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore at 1373 US 9, Moreau NY 12828.

All the lumber will be used to help build affordable homes in your community! In 2020 Habitat for Humanity will be building an affordable home for a hard working family in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and Granville.

GLENS FALLS — The Arrow Financial Corporation Family of Companies is pleased to share that its local charitable giving over the past 10 years has exceeded $4 million.

Over the years, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, and Upstate Agency, LLC have proudly supported hundreds of community groups, business associations and local not-for-profits. In addition to sponsorships and financial contributions, volunteerism and education is ingrained in our culture and a big part of our commitment to each community we serve throughout Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Essex and Clinton counties.

“Caring for our communities directly impacts the customers, businesses and neighborhoods we serve,” said President and CEO Thomas J. Murphy. “Showing our gratitude and philanthropic support of organizations that make this region a better place is one of our guiding principles and we’ve been fulfilling that mission for more than 168 years.”

The more than $4 million in contributions has helped many organizations impacting economic development, affordable housing, food insecurity, financial literacy, education and youth services, health and human services, environmental preservation, arts and culture, veterans, first responders, and more.

Visit arrowfinancial.com/caring to learn more.

On Feb. 4, Prestwick Chase resident Tony Godlawski celebrated her 100th birthday. Godlawski celebrated the day with friends, a luncheon, birthday cake, and flowers, where she shared her advice on making into the triple digits: “Take it one day at a time, and lend a hand to others if you get the chance to.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Hilton today announced that the $9,100 raised during their 25th annual “Breakfast with Santa” event will benefit Beyond My Battle, an organization that provides support and services to those living with the stress of an illness or disability. Continuing their tradition of supporting local charities, a donation check was presented to Martel Catalano, co-founder and executive director of Beyond My Battle by the hotel’s General Manager Thomas Olsen and Director of Sales and Marketing Joanna Fairs.

“The team at The Saratoga Hilton looks forward to this annual event, that allows us to support a local Saratoga County organization that is helping in our community,” said Olsen. “This year, we’re proud to donate the proceeds of the event to Beyond My Battle, an organization that reflects the season’s spirit of giving by providing support to those going through a difficult time.” 

Saratoga Springs-based, Beyond My Battle is focused on reducing the stress and anxiety felt by those diagnosed with a serious illness, disease, or disability through support services and education resources. Through programs, Beyond My Battle uses scientifically backed research to reduce stress and improve their mental health through workshops, e-books, podcasts, and more. The program also has a peer-facilitated online community that provides a safe and open space to allow those undergoing serious illness or disability to connect and engage with others in a similar situation. 

For more information on The Saratoga Hilton, visit www.thesaratogahotel.com or call (518) 584-4000.  Follow The Saratoga Hilton on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.