SARATOGA SPRINGS — Later this month, Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art auction will offer two exceptional Sir Alfred J. Munnings paintings from the collection of the late Marylou Whitney.

The live auction, which begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31, includes Sir Alfred J. Munnings’ My Horse Anarchist – estimate $200,000 / $300,000, according to Sotheby’s. and Mahmoud Being Saddled for the Derby, 1936 – estimated in excess of $3.5 million.

The latter painting was commissioned by Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III, a horse breeder, to commemorate his record Derby Victory with the horse Mahmoud. Aga Khan was a shrewd breeder, and his family had been associated with horses since sixth century Arabia.

With the advent of World War II, Aga Khan accepted a bid from an American consortium, led by Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, for the purchase of Mahmoud in 1940. Mahmoud became the star stallion at the Whitneys’ farm in Kentucky and a horse who sired one of the most important lines in modern American racing.  For more information about Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art Auction, go to: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/19th-century-european-art?locale=en. 

ALBANY – More than $2 million that Saratoga Springs had been annually receiving as a host city of Video Lottery Terminals at Saratoga Casino, has been yanked from the state’s 2020-2021 Executive Budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week.

Established in the 2006-2007 NYS budget, the city has been receiving between $2 – $3 million dollars per year to assist with costs associated with hosting Video Lottery Terminals.  The city expected to receive $2,325,592 in VLT Aid revenue in 2020.  

The costs offset include those associated with public safety, explained Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.

“In Saratoga Springs, thousands of guests visit the Saratoga Casino Hotel to gamble and otherwise enjoy the casino’s facilities. Unfortunately, the influx of visitors puts additional strain on the city, and particularly on the Saratoga Springs Police Department,” Woerner said, in a statement. “VLT Aid is used to alleviate some of that cost. Cutting this aid will be a significant burden on cities like Saratoga Springs across the state, and I am committed to ensuring that it is restored in the final 2020-2021 enacted budget.”

“It goes without saying that this would be a significant loss of revenue to the city,” Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan said, in a statement.  “This is not the first time the Governor’s Executive Budget and the State have pulled back on VLT revenue.  It has been decreased at least once and eliminated before – only to be re-instated at a substantially decreased amount.”

In 2009, Saratoga Springs was scheduled to receive approximately $3.8 million in video lottery terminal aid for hosting the then-named Saratoga Gaming & Raceway. Shortly before it committed to its 2009 budget however, the city was informed of then-Gov. David Paterson’s proposal that those numbers were to be cut in half.

At Saratoga’s other track, where harness races have been run since 1941, the season was extended in 1978 to include winter racing, and the venue began to host recreational events and music festivals to make ends meet. In early 2004 the video gaming machines, also called video lottery terminals, or VLTs, arrived.

The $2,325,592 impending loss in aid represents nearly 5% of the city’s $48.7 million 2020 operating budget.  

Madigan said that she will be contacting members of the Senate, Assembly and Governor’s office, and ask Saratoga Springs council members to do likewise. 

ALBANY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced last week that four Capital Region organizations are being awarded a combined $85,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to support their efforts to foster music, arts and culture.

“Our Capital Region heritage, culture and economy stand on the shoulders of countless local artists, innovators, visionaries, and the organizations that encourage and support their work,” Tonko said, in a statement. “Fostering a strong Capital Region creative economy supports great arts and culture here, but it also means more good jobs, stronger growth and innovation, and adds a precious measure of vibrancy to the fabric of our communities.”

Organizations receiving funding:

• • Media Alliance, Inc, also known as the Sanctuary for Independent Media, in Troy, NY is being awarded $15,000 to support a series of multidisciplinary artist residencies.
• • Albany Symphony Orchestra in Albany, NY is being awarded $25,000 to support the American Music Festival.
• • Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY is being awarded $20,000 in funding to support the Skidmore Jazz Institute.
• • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY is being awarded $25,000 to support an artist residency and commissioning at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC).

Established in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that provides funding to programs to promote equal participation in the arts and development of creativity to communities throughout the country. For this round of funding for FY2020, the agency approved 1,187 grants totaling $27.3 million. The National Endowment for the Arts estimated that arts and cultural production generate more than $800 billion to the U.S. economy each year. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS/MEXICO — In 2008, 14 year-old Eleuterio Martinez Ramirez, or Ele, arrived in the U.S. Speaking no English, he set off on a journey that would see him master the language, gain scholarships, a college degree, and working on a project to change the future of recycling. The reason for his journey? To search for a better future. 

Hailing from the small village of La Sabana, Copala in Oaxaca, Mexico, Ramirez came to Saratoga Springs and was assigned a guardian to help his adjustment to the U.S. Through a program put on at the backstretch, he learned English, and began to pursue higher education.

Ramirez attended Skidmore College, and studied Documentary Studies, Anthropology, and Math, with the goal of becoming an engineer. “To me, art and science are not separated, but related by how they help us understand and solve important problems in society,” he said.

While at Skidmore, Ramirez was able to travel back to his home village as part of an internship program. He was able to assist at a local school, Centro de Integracion Social 28, and began a community based photography program to help students learn about photography, and to explore his own Triqui culture. “The Triqui people are one of the pre-Colombian indigenous groups that live in the south-western of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, who are still preserving their culture through their native language (called Triqui), beliefs and art,” explained Ramirez.

This internship became a photo project that was then put on exhibition at the Skidmore Case Center. The project, entitled, “Ventana a mi Comunidad (Window to my Community)” ran in the fall of 2018, and featured photos of local school children, landscapes, adults and daily routines of villagers.

After graduating from Skidmore in May of 2018, Ramirez was able to visit his hometown again with help from the Anne Palamountain Award. This time, he was able to continue his efforts in teaching local school children, and brought 15 tablets and other materials to help assist them.

Despite all of this, Ramirez has no plans of slowing down: he currently works as an Associate Technician at Global Foundries, and has big plans for the future. “My goal for this year while working at Global Foundries is to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering through a program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,” he said. 

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Ramirez is also currently working on a recycling and solar project. “This project got my attention because I noticed that many rural areas in my home-state, especially in my community, don’t have recycling companies that take our plastic, so instead people just dump it out in the rivers or burn it, and this is very bad for the environment,” he explained. “I visualized that bringing this project

back home can have a positive impact on not just the community, but to the environment as well.”

Ramirez said that installed solar panels could help power schools and clinics in his home community. “This is essential to me because many teenagers, like me or under 18 year-olds, quit school because of the lack of resources that the school and/or the government don’t provide every year,” he said. “Therefore, I want to set up the goal to work on these projects and not just give back to my community, but inspire the young Triqui generation [to see] that everything can be done through the knowledge that they can gain through education, and to truly appreciate it because any ideas can be achieved by knowledge, and also determination and sacrifice.”

Throughout his journey, Ramirez has a large group of supporters throughout the community, ranging from professors, coworkers, and friends. “Few individuals have manifested their fear and used it to propel themselves forward down a virtuous path,” said Ramirez’s former professor, Bernardo Ramirez Rios. “Eleuterio Martinez Ramirez is one of the few individuals I know who has overcome tremendous adversity and will continue to shape the story of the United States of America in a righteous way.”

Another friend and supporter, Michelle Paquette-Deuel, Director of the Pre-College Program at Skidmore, has known Ramirez for 10 years. “When once asked why he [Ramirez] studied tirelessly as a Skidmore student, he explained that he carried on his shoulders the hopes of all those who had helped him to get there, that he couldn’t let them or himself down,” stated Paquette-Deuel. “His achievements reflect his steadfast work ethic and sacrifice on behalf of others and the future of his dreams—a future that now includes his U.S. citizenship. Eleuterio’s story entails an epic journey, but it is the measure of his character that is most remarkable.”

Ramirez’s large group of supporters was able to help him celebrate a momentous occasion, when he officially became an American. “I recently obtained my citizenship yesterday [Jan.17], which was the most remarkable day of my life because to me it represents not just a great accomplishment that I did, but it also represents all the people that have supported me through this long journey,” said Ramirez. 

Ramirez will continue to give back to his hometown, and to his new community in the U.S. “I witnessed many conditions that pushed me to leave when I was younger like poverty and lack of resources to enhance students’ learning,” he said. “I felt privileged to have all the opportunities that I gained through my education and just to be here in the USA, but I wanted to give back these opportunities to other students that don’t have it.”

Photos provided by John Rowe

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, Jan. 15, a group of students from Warrensburg and Mayfield Central Schools visited Prestwick Chase to speak to residents about growing up, their careers and their lives today. The students were part of a lifespan/ human development class that is taught at both schools. The residents also had some questions for the students in return: they wanted to learn what life was like for the students today, and their plans for after school. Student visitors included Zach Carpenter, Liam Edmeunds, Chris Lambeth, Serena Stewart, Alexia Insonia, Olivia Dunn, Navae Aponte, Lilliana Powers, and teachers Maryellen Seaman and Stacie Anastasia. Prestwick Chase residents were Marian Peterson, Walter Blair, Bruce Conroy, Pat King, Jane Rydzynski, Ellie Strack and Doris Ludwig.

ROUND LAKE — For the fourth year in a row, The Mill on Round Lake defies the bleakness of winter with their 30-foot Fire & Ice Bar. Fire pits will be available to keep customers toasty warm as they enjoy the frosty surroundings, including ice sculpture shuffleboards, and corn hole. Patrons can also retreat to a cozy spot by the indoor fireplace.

Creating the longest ice bar in the Capital Region is a Herculean event requiring 10,000 pounds of ice and countless hours of planning and set-up. Charlie “The Ice Man” Jones and his sculptors bring the event to life and The Mill staff does everything from making ice shot glasses to stacking firewood in preparation. Installation of the ice bar will be Jan. 29 around 4:30 p.m. and usually takes two to three hours. The Fire & Ice Bar will be open only six days, but the novelty has made this time of year one of the busiest at The Mill.

Speciality cocktails will range from an Artic Cosmo to Sex on a Snowbank. Moscow Mules, bottled beer, wine and ice shot glass shots will also be served, as well as hot drinks such as Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie and Hot Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The drink menu will be available via the website’s What’s Happening homepage section: www.myfavoritetaverns.com 

The Fire & Ice Bar will be open as follows:
Friday, Jan. 31 • 5 – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1 • 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7 • 5 – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 • 2 – 10 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 • 5 – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 • 2 – 10 p.m.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In an effort to sustain both the First Night and July 4th fireworks displays in downtown Saratoga Springs this year and into the future, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce has created a Saratoga Springs Fireworks Fund. The Chamber is now seeking local businesses that want to see First Night and July 4th fireworks displays continue to become a sponsor or to make an online donation. All sponsorship funds and donations to the Saratoga Springs Fireworks Fund are tax-deductible as charitable donations. This is your chance to make a difference! The funds donated will be used solely to put on the fireworks this year on First Night and July 4th and hopefully for years to come. To donate, please visit secure.givelively.org/donate/ saratoga-county-foundation-inc/ saratoga-springs-fireworks-fund.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club 5th Annual “Because Hunger Doesn’t End With the Holidays” food drive collected a record amount of food for local food pantries in Saratoga on Saturday, January 18. Partnering with the Golub and Hannaford Corporations, the club collected donations at four area Price Chopper, Market 32 and Hannaford stores. All of the donations received were shared equally with seven area pantries, including the Franklin Community Center Pantry, Wilton Food Pantry, St. Clement’s Church Pantry, Saratoga EOC Pantry, Shelters of Saratoga Pantry, Presbyterian Church Pantry and Salvation Army Pantry. In total the club collected approximately 7,500 pounds of food and monetary donations of $330! The monetary donations will go toward the Saratoga Springs School District School Lunch program. 

The Lions are especially grateful to the tremendous outpouring of support from members of our community! Your donations will go a long way toward restocking the shelves of our food pantries, which many fellow members of our community rely on.

Saratoga Springs — Equine professionals and enthusiasts mark your calendars for the Annual Horsemen’s Social on Friday, February 21 from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. at The Saratoga Winery, 462 NY-29 Saratoga Springs. This social networking was created by the CCE Equine Leadership Committee to encourage horse people of all disciplines to gather and discuss the state of the industry and foster relationships within the equine community. 

Participants can expect a wonderful BBQ meal and drink ticket, along with great conversation, guest speakers and silent auction to benefit the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Training Center. The Training Center supports year-round educational programming, as well as many 4-H Horse Clubs and their events.

Please call 518-885-8995 to register for the Horsemen’s Social by February 8. There are limited spaces available, and no walk-ins. Cost of tickets are $35. We hope to see you there!

For more information, please contact Brieanna Hughes at bh548@cornell.edu, call 518-885-8995, or visit their website www.cceequine.com or Facebook page at facebook.com/cceequine.

People who suffer from Parkinson’s disease often struggle with tremors, facial stiffness, slurred speech or difficulties with movement. While the disease is considered incurable and progressive, these symptoms can possibly be alleviated with aerobic exercise and physical therapy focused on balance and stretching.

One of the best ways to maintain a discipline for these exercises is to keep moving with activities such as swimming, boxing or attending a weekly class, such as Dance through Parkinson’s held at the National Museum of Dance every Tuesday afternoon.

“It helps a lot,” said Fred, who’s been coming for about six months to the class as well as attending twice weekly physical therapy sessions in Scotia.

Donald, another Tuesday attendee, has been coming through the summer, said his caregiver Marilyn.

“I take him to a lot of classes,” she said. “If I didn’t, he’d sit home watching television.”

Leading the class is Rachelle Smith-Stallman, a dancer and dance therapist, with a Master’s in Dance/ Movement Therapy from Hunter College, who got involved about six years ago when a cousin and a friend of her husband’s got Parkinson’s.

“It broke my heart,” Smith-Stallman said. “I decided to volunteer and do a dance class.”

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Albany had a Parkinson’s group and the response to her participation was so immediate that she decided to do four to five classes. That’s when she learned about the Dance for Parkinson program that Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson’s Group founded in 2001. Dancers were trained to explore movement through different types of music to enhance a participant’s strength, flexibility, and balance for awareness and confidence. The program is now in more than 250 communities and 25 countries. 

Smith-Stallman trained with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Juilliard School in Brooklyn to become Board Certified in Dance Movement. She also recently completed another class. “It’s fantastic!” Smith-Stallman said.

Two years ago, she began giving Thursday classes at Colonie’s Ciccotti Center (30 Aviation Road) and in January 2018 she began the Tuesday sessions at the Dance Museum. While her Thursday classes are large, at 20-30 people, which also includes caregivers and friends, her Tuesday classes are small, at under ten people.

Despite size, she likes to theme her classes. A recent Tuesday class focused on the music of famous television programs. “It’s a dance class. We warm up in chairs, then on to standing with plies and then improvisation and dance sequences across the floor. For those who can’t stand, they are encouraged to join along by using arms and legs while sitting.” she said. “We really have a good time. It’s fun.”

The classes are free, although donations are accepted. 

Tuesday classes are at 1:30 p.m. for an hour at the
National Museum of Dance (99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs).
Call 518-584-2225, ex. 3001; DanceMuseum.org.
Thursday classes are at 1:30 p.m. for 75 minutes at the Ciccotti Center. Call 518-867-8920; www.CiccottiCenter.org.