A cross-country skier at the Brookhaven Winter Park. Photo provided by Jenn Ginley.
GREENFIELD — The Town of Greenfield is hosting a Winterfest Celebration on Sunday, January 21 from 10am to 1pm at the Brookhaven Winter Park. The festivities will kick off with 2.5K and 5K snowshoe races. Then free snowshoe and cross-country skiing equipment will be available, along with instructors to guide newbies. Younger attendees can participate in a snowman-building contest. Race registrations will cost $25, but the rest of the celebration is free.
“Our residents are passionate about our remote location and our proximity to all that Saratoga Springs offers,” said Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch in a statement. “We work hard to build a sense of community pride among all of us who choose to reside here. Brookhaven Winter Park is a jewel, and in recent years the word has been getting out.”
The Brookhaven Winter Park is located at 333 Alpine Meadows Rd in Porter Corners, about 11 miles northwest of downtown Saratoga. To learn more or to register for a snowshoe race, visit greenfieldny.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In 2016, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce created Leap of Kindness Day in an effort to inspire community members to use leap day as an opportunity to do something kind for others. The idea took off, and in 2020, hundreds of other chambers organized their own Leap of Kindness days. Now, four years later, leap day has returned and the Saratoga Commerce Chamber will again be celebrating the occasion on Thursday, February 29.
Local nonprofit organizations can email Greg Dixon at gdixon@saratoga.org to let the chamber know what they need this leap year. The requests will be posted to saratoga.org/leapofkindnessday, where locals can see how they can help out their community.
Five projects approved for 2024 via Saratoga Springs’ Participatory Budgeting.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi on Jan. 2 announced the top vote-getters of the Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting project as selected by city residents.
“Participatory Budgeting is truly democracy in action,” Commissioner Sanghvi explained.
The Finance Department first launched pilot project in Spring of 2022 of Participatory Budgeting – as a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget.
“It’s a great project that allows people to come to City Hall with their solutions. If they see something they think will make our city better that they would like our city to be doing more of, they have an avenue to come to us and request funds for it,” Sanghvi said.
A volunteer committee evaluates the submitted potential projects, and items are placed on a ballot and put to a public vote.
In 2022, the City Council approved nine total projects for funding, ranging from an Urban Forestry Project to a free Community Art Program to a Dog Park Water Fountain.
For 2024, the Saratoga Springs City Council approved to allocate $62,500 to five projects.
They are:
• Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market Program Support. Total Cost: $12,000. Location: Saratoga Springs Farmer’s Market, 112 High Rock Ave.
Support nutrition education with an 8-week Saturday Farmers’ Market program called the Fresh Tent – which offers food sampling of fresh or prepared foods made with locally sourced farmers’ market products; Information on in-season fruits and vegetables, how to shop at the Farmer’s Market, NYS nutrition assistance programs and recipes using seasonal ingredients; An educational food-related activity for children; a $2 coupon for all visitors/participants for spending on Farmers’ Market products. The program will be free and open to the community. Submitter: Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market Association.
• Bocce Ball Court. Total Cost: $13,000. Location: Veteran’s Memorial Park, 10 Adams Road.
Construction of one bocce ball court in Veteran’s Memorial Park. Submitter: Individual.
• Opera Saratoga Family Programming. Total Cost: $15,000. Location: Opera Saratoga, 19 Roosevelt Drive.
Produce five outreach opera performances in Saratoga Springs and the State Park for children and family’s education and enjoyment. Submitter: Opera Saratoga.
• Solar Charging Bench for Public Library. Total Cost: $12,500. Location: Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.
Provide a convenient and clean energy charging source for electronic devices to Saratoga Springs residents and visitors. Located outside of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Submitter: SSPL.
• Lake Ave School Centennial Celebration. Total Cost: $10,000. Location: TBD, Lake Avenue School, 126 Lake Ave.
Celebrate Lake Ave Schools’ upcoming centennial by recording oral histories and memories, photograph mementoes and produce an exhibition for display at the Saratoga Springs Public Library (location pending); intended to promote intergenerational conversation, as Lake Ave was once the high school and junior high building and is currently the elementary school. Submitter: Lake Avenue PTA.
Color-coded rendering by phases of Schuylerville’s Revitalize Plan.
SCHUYLERVILLE — The village of Schuylerville has been awarded $4.5 million to revitalize its downtown, New York Gov., Kathy Hochul announced during a recent gathering in Lake George.
“When people look back and say: What was the turning point? You’re going to remember this day,” said Hochul, using a phrase often referenced by historians regarding the 1777 battles at Saratoga and the surrender of the British army in Schuylerville as the “turning point” of the American Revolution.
“This is the day it all begins,” Hochul said. “We have the 250th anniversary of the battle(s) of Saratoga coming up soon. Let’s celebrate 2027. Our goal is to greet the world with a really transformed village in time for that, so that’s the timetable we’re looking at.”
The $4.5 million awarded Schuylerville in the NY Forward grant measures about three times the village’s annual general fund budget and will be used to partially aid a handful of large projects. Among them are improvements to building facades, fixing broken culverts to revitalize the canal way, assisting the eventual development of a proposed multi-use building at a key location on Broad Street that currently sites vacant property, and helping fund a multi-year, multi-million-dollar project at Fort Hardy Park.
Schuylerville, which calls itself “America’s Most Historic Village” is home to about 1,400 residents. In 2022, its Village Board of Trustees appointed a 7-member committee for the NY Forward Task Force to lead the public participation and grant-writing process, and subsequently submitted a letter of intent to apply for the $4.5 million NY Forward Grant.
Timewise, most, if not all the projects, are anticipated to first “break ground” in 2025, Schuylerville Mayor Dan Carpenter said during the monthly village board meeting Jan. 8.
The Fort Hardy Park project specifically, will likely result in a potential tax increase in order to see the $20 million, 20-year project through to its completion – a tax burden shouldered by households in the village, which currently number about 700.
Any such increase related to the park, however, would be “miniscule,” compared to the more immediate circumstances regarding the infrastructure of the local water system as it pertains to Schuylerville and the neighboring village of Victory, the mayor cautioned.
A handful of years ago, the Schuylerville-Victory Board of Water Management (SVBOWM) retained C.T. Male Associates to prepare a Water System Master Plan. That 51-page report was released In May 2020 and notes that “the majority of the water mains within the Villages of Schuylerville and Victory are 100 to 120 years old and are well past their useful life.” Included was a $7 million water project infrastructure upgrade, Mayor Carpenter said. Most of the funding for the upgrades has potentially been identified, Carpenter added, but the SVBOWM has yet to act on securing the funding. “This water upgrade is going to affect both villages… inaction is going to cost us.” Costs associated with the upgrades would be shared by the two villages.
“Our water rates are going to go up – and that’s nothing to do with the (downtown revitalization) project we’re talking about today,” Carpenter said. “When people are upset about taxes going up because we’re improving the village, because we’re bringing in new businesses and we’re doing an upgrade to the park – the amount is miniscule compared to what will happen with the water if they continue to do nothing.
“That’s going to be because for the past 30 years we’ve had an aging infrastructure and we’ve had our head in the sand. We have done nothing to update or fix it and have been doing emergency repairs for the past 30 years,” Carpenter said. “Sitting down with CT Male, we identified that had we applied last year – in early 2023 – almost 75% of the ($7 million) cost of that water upgrade should have been eligible to be covered by grants. But, I cannot promise you if the Water Board takes another year that it’s going to be covered 75%.”
The Schuylerville-Victory Board of Water Management holds meetings monthly. The next scheduled meeting will take place 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 at Victory Meeting Hall, 23 Pine St. in Victory Mills.
Minita Sanghvi, Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner has announced her candidacy for the 44th State Senate District.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Minita Sanghvi has announced her candidacy for the 44th State Senate District in New York’s Capital Region.
Sanghvi, a Democrat, plans to challenge the seat currently held by Republican Jim Tedisco. The 44th Senate District includes Saratoga County, Niskayuna, and the city of Schenectady.
“I’m running for State Senate because we deserve better,” Sanghvi said, officially announcing her candidacy Jan. 8. “We need a leader who will put people ahead of partisan politics in Albany. I’m not a politician. I’m a parent, business educator, and fiscally responsible public servant. And I’ve built a record of listening to people and working with others to deliver results.”
Born to a conservative family of entrepreneurs and innovators in India, Sanghvi earned a degree in accounting and an MBA, and immigrated to the United States in 2001. She has taught business at Skidmore College for nearly 10 years, and in 2021 was first elected to serve as the Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner.
Sanghvi was re-elected city Finance Commissioner last November and on Jan. 1 began her second two-year term in the position. With that term slated to last through 2025 and State Senate Elections taking place in November 2024, it is currently unclear how and when her seat at the City Council will be affected.
There are approximately 226,000 active registered voters in the 44th State Senate District – about 176,000 in Saratoga County and 50,000 in Schenectady County, according to the state Board of Elections. Of those, just under 76,000 are registered Democrats and just over 71,000 registered Republicans, with the district-wide balance comprised of about 15,000 registered with other parties, and 64,000 “blanks” – those registered to vote but unaffiliated with any party.
State Senators serve two-year terms. In November 2022, James Tedisco (R, C) defeated Michelle Ostrelich (D, WF).
Sanghvi listed securing infrastructure dollars for bridges and roads, getting more state aid to counties and cities, helping to revitalize downtowns, bringing green and high-tech jobs to communities, and establishing “an innovation corridor” that connects Schenectady and Saratoga among her priorities.
If elected, Sanghvi will be the first openly gay and first woman of color to represent New York’s 44th State Senate District, and the first openly gay woman in the New York Senate.
“I believe in protecting rights and freedoms for all residents, no matter where they live or what political party they belong to,” Sanghvi said in a statement. “I’ll protect women’s access to health care, defend LGBTQ rights, and ensure everyone has an equal shot at the same American Dream this country has given to me.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — MLK Saratoga’s Annual Dr. King Celebration Weekend, to celebrate and reflect on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., features a series of events from Friday, Jan. 12 through Monday, Jan. 15.
Friday, Jan. 12
Dr. King Challenge – 5:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn, 232 Broadway. Hosted by MLK Saratoga and curated by the Capital Region’s DJ Hollyw8d, featuring several performing artists. Reception, food, cash bar, fun art projects for kids, face painting, Photo Booth, dancing. Family Friendly.
Saturday, Jan. 13
Sing A Song Of Gladness – 11 a.m.–Noon at Unitarian Universalist House 624 N. Broadway. A sing-along for all ages; join folksinger Dan Berggren, the Division Street School Song Writers Club, and the Rev. Joe Cleveland from the Unitarian Congregation for a sing-along of songs about love, peace, justice and community.
Yaddo Presents: Vision Portraits, with Filmmaker Rodney Evans – 5-7:30 p.m. Nancy DiCresce Room, The Pines, Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Yaddo presents a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a film screening of Vision Portraits by Yaddo artist and filmmaker Rodney Evans. The event offers audience members an opportunity to shift their perspective by participating in a film experience with augmented glasses and open-audio description. Reservations Required. Enter SPAC Through The Hall of Springs Gate.
Beloved Community Party – 7-11 p.m. at Frederick Allen Lodge, 69 Beekman St. Join friends and neighbors for a rocking and joyful night of community and dancing. Food, cash bar, and live music from Out of the Box.
Sunday, Jan. 14
Introduction To Restorative Practices for Youth and Adults – 1-3:30 p.m. at Dutcher Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St. An interactive program to learn about and experience restorative practices – what they are, how they are used, and local efforts to integrate restorative values and practices in our community. Panel discussion, interactive exhibits with adults and youth who use restorative practices in various settings, community building games, talking circles and snacks. Youth and adults are encouraged to attend and participate.
Monday, Jan. 15
MLK Day Of Service – 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.
All events are free & open to the public. For more details and information, go to: www.mlksaratoga.org/2024-dr-king-celebration-weekend.
BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County seniors are encouraged to celebrate Winterfest at the Department of Aging and Youth Services’ Gather and Dine locations throughout Saratoga County.
Winterfest will be celebrated during the month of January and will feature a hot cocoa bar with fixings, Belgian waffles with toppings and sausage prepared by Mazzone Hospitality.
Saratoga County residents ages 60 and older are invited to celebrate at their local Dine and Gather location. Reservations are required and must be made at least one day in advance by noon. Those interested must contact their preferred location to make a reservation.
Winterfest Locations & Dates:
•Jan. 16 – Moreau Community Center 518-792-6007
•Jan. 18 – Corinth Senior Center 518-654-2040
•Jan. 23 – Galway Town Hall 518-921-8799
•Jan. 25 – Saratoga Senior Center 518-884-4100
Lunch is served on site at 12 p.m. “To Go” meals are not available. Seniors with questions may contact Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services at 518-884-4100. For more information about the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services, visit SaratogaCountyNY.gov.
WILTON — On Mondays, Jan. 15 and 29, and Feb. 12 and 26 at 10:30 a.m., Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be holding its bi-weekly Nature on the Move walks.
The walks are led by one of Wilton Wildlife’s Environmental Educators and will take place on the NYS DEC Camp Saratoga Trails.
These walks give participants an opportunity to get out on the trails with like-minded people and observe the beauty of nature in the winter. They are geared towards gentle exercise and are appropriate for adults at basic fitness levels.
Registration is required at least one business day in advance. To register, go to: www.wiltonpreserve.org. For more information, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The NYS Office for the Aging Lunch Program – The Saratoga County Department of Aging & Youth Services lunch program – has returned to the Center. Lunch is served daily (Monday-Friday) at noon. The lunch program is available to any Saratoga County resident ages 60+.
To register for lunch, and/or learn more about transportation options, contact the Saratoga County Department of Aging & Youth Services at 518-363-4020.
Poetry/Story-Telling Open Mic – Friday, Jan. 12, 1 p.m. ($5 suggested donation). This program will begin with a reading by local poet David Graham, followed by open mic time. Each participant has five minutes to read two short poems or one long one. Storytellers have five minutes to tell, narrate or perform their piece. Light refreshments will be served.
An Afternoon with Charlie Kuenzel – Thursday, Jan. 18, 2 p.m. ($10). President of the Saratoga History Museum, Charlie Kuenzel will share history about the “Famed Mineral Springs of Saratoga” while guests enjoy food and a complimentary tasting. RSVP required.
Chef Showcase – Tuesday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m. ($12). Dine-in dinner provided at the Center by the Olde Bryan Inn. Enjoy delicious roasted pork with orange balsamic apple chutney, baked potato and side vegetables. Early registration is encouraged.
Silver Sneakers & Renew Active Luncheon – Friday, Jan. 26, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join the Saratoga Senior Center and Saratoga YMCA for a Friday Funday. Lunch will be provided by Mama Mia’s while attendees play generational Trivial Pursuit, The Game of Life and Scrabble. Guests can also try out the YMCA’s SMARTfit device, designed to improve cognitive and physical well-being.
Free Presentations
Medical Aid in Dying – Tuesday, Jan. 30, 1:30 pm. Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is a viable option for terminally ill people at the end stages of their illness, presently available in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Dr. David Pratt will present on the status of a potential Medical Aid in Dying option for New York State. RSVP required.
Healthy Life, Happy Life – Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1:30 p.m. Well-being (happiness) is a three-legged stool – mental health, physical health and emotional health. All three will be explored, including “use it or lose it,” managing risks, socialization, purpose and gratitude. RSVP required.
Saratoga Senior Center is located at 290 West Ave. Go to: saratogaseniorcenter.org.
BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops this month:
Jan. 16 at 11 a.m.: Completing Job Applications. Statistics show approximately 50% of mid-sized companies and almost all large corporations use an applicant tracking system to screen candidates for job opportunities. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers. Facilitated by Warren and Washington.
Jan. 23 at 11 a.m.: Overcoming Barriers. Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. Whether you’re facing transportation needs, childcare needs, prior justice system involvement, inexperience, health concerns or more, this workshop will provide you with resources and strategies to help you meet your goals. Facilitated by Saratoga and Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie.
Jan. 25 at 1:30 p.m.: Social Media. Your social media presence can make or break your ability to find a job. Learn how to use social media to your advantage in searching for a job and marketing yourself to land the job or career you’ve always wanted. Facilitated by Schenectady.
Registration is required for all workshops. Visit thejoblink.org/calendar/ to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at 518-884-4170 for more information. The workshops are offered as part of the Saratoga County Career Center’s WorkPays! workforce education campaign.
The Saratoga County Department of Workforce Development provides comprehensive training and employment services to residents through its Career Center and works with local businesses to attract and retain the local workforce.
