NEW YORK —The Christmas Lights NYC bus tour takes off with the North Pole Express, from Nov. 12 to Jan. 1.
This Christmas bus adventure starts with warm hot chocolate and cookies while passengers listen to elves tell a captivating Christmas story. The bus tour then takes a journey through New York City to see over 10 dazzling holiday lights displays from the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show and Rockefeller Christmas Tree and Radio City Music Hall to the Cartier Holiday Lights and Bryant Park Winter Village.
On the tour passengers will have the opportunity to sing Christmas carols, spend quality time with Santa, write their Christmas list and receive a sleigh bell as a gift from him while they tell him their seasonal wishes. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas and coats and will receive a warm Christmas hat and winter blanket to keep cozy on the open-top Upper Deck. The trip includes new storytelling, seasonal lighting and gifting surprises.
The North Pole Express will board and depart this year at the centrally based New York Public Library on 476 Fifth Avenue (42nd St. btwn 5th and 6th Ave.) near Grand Central and Bryant Park.
The North Pole Express comes in two package options: a Standard or Enhanced experience. The Standard is a 45-minute trip, 4-mile route, the Express is approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes.
For tickets and more information, visit TopView North Pole Express website at topviewnyc.com, or download the TopView App where a QR code and journey information enables boarding via an e-pass so no print-outs are needed.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Congregation Shaara Tfille and The Jewish Community Center of Saratoga Springs will be hosting a breakfast and a showing of the animated film “Tattooed Torah,” to be followed by a live discussion with Dr. Tomáš Kraus, executive director of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. The event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 6.
During the Nazi regime in Czechoslovakia, Judaica items were confiscated. These artifacts including Torah scrolls were brought to Prague and given numbers. Then, during the communist regime, many were dispersed around the world. One reached Chicago where upon Marvell Ginsburg wrote what would become the beloved children’s book The Tattooed Torah. The story, which was made into animated film, recounts the true rescue and restoration of a small Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia.
Breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m., with the movie and discussion beginning at 10 a.m. Cost is $15 per person. Attendees must show proof of Covid vaccinations, masks optional. To make a reservation or more information, contact Carole at 518-584-2370 or saratogajcc@albany.twcbc.com.
BALLSTON SPA — Authorities responded to three separate school threats in less than 24 hours beginning Oct. 26, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Two of the threats pertained to the Ballston Spa High School-Middle School complex, and one pertained to Schuylerville High School.
The two threats at the Ballston Spa schools referenced violence by firearms and were made via social media outlets.
The threat at Schuylerville High School was made in person directly to other students and also referenced violence by firearms.
The Sheriff’s Office identified three students suspected of making the threats, and all three students – aged 11, 15, and 16 – will be charged with making a threat of mass harm and referred to Family Court for further action.
“If someone makes a threat against one of our schools, know that the men and women of our agency will turn over every rock to find you and to make sure our students and teachers are safe,” said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, in a statement.
HADLEY — The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office provided an update to a fatal motorcycle accident that occurred in the Town of Hadley on Oct. 11, reporting they were notified by family members that 45-year-old Dennis J. Mason, who was a passenger, succumbed to his injuries.
The accident occurred on Harris Road. Eric A. McFarlane, 48, of Hadley, who operated the three-wheeled motorcycle, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Sustainable Saratoga’s October event was the first in the area to collect paint to be recycled. Recyclers in over 600 cars dropped off over 60,000 pounds of paint.
Recyclers now have two ongoing options for recycling paint. GreenSheen will pick up paint at your home as long as you have a minimum of 10 gallons and live within 50 miles of Rotterdam. Call 720- 854-8722 to arrange pickup. The second option is that people in Saratoga Springs can take up to 5 gallons per visit to Allerdice Building Supply or Sherwin-Williams. Go to paintcare.org for a list of more drop off places and information about this recycling program.
Saratoga Springs — The owners of a popular local restaurant and hotel complex at 500 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs, have decided to close their business. Co-owners Steve and Yvonne Sullivan and David Powers, partners in Longfellows Hotel, Restaurant and Conference Center, have determined it’s time for someone else to take their property to the next level. They will continue to own and operate their second restaurant, the Olde Bryan Inn, located at 123 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs.
The announcement was officially made Thursday, Nov. 3 that Longfellows will be closing its doors on Saturday, January 21, 2023. “After almost 50 years in hospitality, it’s time to step back,” said Steve Sullivan (Sully), co-owner of the 9.5 acre property. Steve continued, “A few weeks ago an offer was accepted from a group of investors/operators to purchase the Longfellows property. I believe Longfellows is in good hands. Going forward, we plan to continue to own and operate the Olde Bryan Inn for many years to come. I also look forward to time spent coaching those around me, as well as working on social service projects, some that I’ve already been involved in for many years.”
Sully continued, “We’ve spent over a third of our lives being good stewards to this property. Believe me, this has been the toughest decision we’ve ever had to make. It’s been a great 26-year run. Now it’s time for someone else to bring this wonderful venture forward.”
When they first opened Longfellows Restaurant in May of 1997, the Sullivans and Mr. Powers recognized the former dairy barn to have ‘great bones’ that they hoped to simply embellish. In 1998 they built the Longfellows Hotel, which added 18 rooms to the existing building. In 2003 they added another building with 32 additional rooms as well as a conference center.
Over the 26 years in business, Longfellows has accommodated thousands of hotel guests and hosted over 2400 weddings and countless catering events. Couples and families have made a tradition of celebrating holiday dinners at Longfellows as well as memorable sacramental events in their lives. Longfellows has been the host venue for the Dickens Festival, Longfellows Wedding Show and other signature annual events.
Philanthropists at heart, the Sullivans and Mr. Powers have hosted fundraising events for innumerable community organizations and area nonprofits. In addition, Longfellows has been instrumental in community outreach by offering weekly dinners in season for Code Blue, donating weekly dinners for Community Hospice patients and their families, and providing meals for guests of the local Soup Kitchen at the Presbyterian Church in Saratoga Springs year-round.
In respect to the Longfellows staff, Director of Human Services, Gerri Thompson, emphasized, “We’ve been transparent with our staff of 78 employees and are working diligently with our partners in the hospitality industry to place our employees in alternative industry jobs. We will continue to assist our employees in finding other meaningful employment before we close.”
Sully added, “As we’ve done over the past 26 years, any and all Longfellows gift certificates will continue to be redeemable at the Olde Bryan Inn. All frequent diner points will be transferred to the Olde Bryan Inn and ‘Mug Club’ members can still fill their mugs at the Olde Bryan Inn.”
“We’re thankful for all the wonderful employees we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. They really did a great job serving each other as well as our guests. We’re grateful for the wonderful vendors and suppliers we’ve worked beside and maintained relationships with. To all of our customers who stayed with us, dined with us, and celebrated with us, this is not ‘goodbye’. We look forward to seeing you at the Olde Bryan Inn!”
In closing Sully added, “Our objective when we first opened Longfellows was first and foremost to be good stewards of the property and to those we were here to serve. I believe we’ve met those objectives. We are very grateful for the opportunities we’ve had over the past 26 years. We especially wish to thank the community for their continued support. May God bless you and your families.”- Dave, Yvonne and Sully.
ABOUT LONGFELLOWS
Longfellows was originally the site of two enormous dairy barns on the first farm in New York State believed to use the process of pasteurization. In 1995, Longfellows Restaurant was established and quickly became a perennial favorite with a reputation of distinction. In the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “That the feast might be more joyous, that the time may pass more gaily, and the guests be more contented.” Longfellows has adopted this maxim as their daily mission and they make the pleasure of their guests their ultimate satisfaction. Longfellows is located at 500 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs and is open at 4 p.m. for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.longfellows.com.
Saratoga PLAN’s PLAN for the Future event at the Juniper Springs Event Barn in Corinth Oct. 20. Photo provided.
CORINTH — More than 150 guests attended Saratoga PLAN’s first PLAN for the Future event at the Juniper Springs Event Barn in Corinth Oct. 20, raising more than $100,000 to support Saratoga PLAN’s ongoing land conservation and stewardship efforts across Saratoga County.
“The future of conservation today is protecting family farms and wood lots in our communities across the state, said PLAN’s new executive director Rob Davies, in a statement. “It is protecting those special open spaces in our backyards where we live, work, and play every day that form the character and quality of life of our communities that are under so much pressure today.”
Individuals who have made a large effort in protecting those very same areas in Saratoga County by donating land to Saratoga PLAN in 2022 are aptly named Conservation Heroes. Five heroes were celebrated at the PLAN for the Future event, including father and son, Paul and Brett Bolesh who conserved their 50-acre farm in Northumberland with Saratoga PLAN earlier this year.
The event also honored two Conservation Champions, individuals recognized for their dedication and extraordinary contributions to conservation during their lifetime: Tim Barnett, former Executive Director of the Adirondack Chapter for the Nature Conservancy and former Saratoga PLAN emeritus board member and beloved Phyllis Aldrich, former PLAN board member and mother of Will Aldrich, landowner of Tupelo Community Forest.
Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) has helped conserve over 7,000 acres of land in Saratoga County. PLAN helps landowners conserve farmland, woodlands and natural habitats, and connects people to nature through an extensive trail network, including 12 public nature preserves open for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and nature study. For more information call 518-587-554 or visit saratogaplan.org
SCHUYLERVILLE — The New York State Education Department has awarded $119,850 in Public Library Construction Grant funds to the Schuylerville Public Library as part of a New York State program designed to assist libraries undertaking major construction and remodeling projects.
The Schuylerville Public Library has recently completed some renovations, lighting upgrades, a 500 square foot addition, and projects to make their facility fully accessible. This award will allow the library to add some much-needed space for meetings, programs and storage. The Pavilion will be approximately 27×27 feet on the northwest side of the current library property and feature a covered area for picnic tables and public programming, as well as secure storage.
The $119,850 grant will be applied to the $159,800 anticipated cost of the project. The library’s construction reserve will fund the remainder.
A few years ago, the library hosted community input sessions to identify what the 10,000 district residents want in their library; the answers overwhelmingly were focused on additional space.
The library plans to accept construction bids in late winter once local approvals have been obtained. The Schuylerville Public Library is located in the village of Schuylerville on 52 Ferry St. To learn more, visit www.schuylervillelibrary.sals.edu.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents a Zoom discussion of “Just Mercy” as part of its social justice series on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.
Just Mercy, a 2019 biographical, legal drama based on a memoir of the same title, stars Michael B. Jordan. It emphasizes social justice, enumerating the variety of flaws of a legal structure, blinded by racism, and handicapped by poverty which leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system.
“Just Mercy presents a world where deep-rooted racism, brutal intimidation, and an all but closed legal system stack the deck to a terrifying extent, against poor defendants of color,” Phyllis Wang, coordinator of SJCA, said in a statement.
The pursuit of social justice, challenging the unequal status quo, and maintaining hope are at the film’s core. The blame for injustice is largely placed on individuals through incompetent legal representation, police misconduct, and a biased judge rather than systemic racial and economic disparities. In addition to injustice, nature and family play a significant role in the film.
Registration for the panel discussion is required by emailing sjca.sjcf@gmail.com
Introducing a new tool for Saratoga County residents.
BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Office of Emergency Management has unveiled a new storm reporting tool for residents. Information collected through the Storm Damage Reporting Tool will help inform effective and timely planning and response to storm conditions and damage.
The tool allows residents to submit real-time information about severe weather-related events and storm-related damage to infrastructure in Saratoga County.
How it works: Go to www.saratogacountyny.gov/StormReporter. Residents simply choose whether they are reporting storm damage or severe weather and fill in the location, date, and time of the observation. Users also have the option of uploading a photo as well as including additional comments and their contact information.
Information collected may be shared with first responders, town officials, the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Management, and the Saratoga County Department of Public Works, if applicable.
The information collected from the tool will allow emergency management staff to better support efforts by public works, utilities, and hazard mitigation professionals following severe-weather events, according to outgoing director of Saratoga County Office of Emergency Management Carl Zeilman.
Note, the tool is not a replacement for 911. In emergencies, residents are always instructed to dial 911.
