SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga County’s Department of Aging and Youth Services will offer its Gather and Dine program at the Saratoga Senior Center in Saratoga Springs – 209 West Ave Suite 1, Saratoga Springs – beginning Monday, Dec. 11.
The program offers hot, nutritious meals to seniors ages 60 and older free of charge along with the opportunity to socialize with other seniors in their area. All meals are prepared by Mazzone Hospitality.
Lunches are served at Noon Monday through Friday. Those interested can make reservations by signing up at the Saratoga Senior Center or by calling the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services at 518-363-4020. Reservations are required. “To Go” meals are not available.
The Gather and Dine program is part of the Saratoga County Office for the Aging and Youth Services Senior Nutrition Program. Gather and Dine sites include senior centers and town halls throughout Saratoga County.
For more information about the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services, visit www.SaratogaCountyNY.gov
GLENS FALLS — “Capturing Forever Wild: The Life of S.R. Stoddard,” featuring Maureen Folk, Curator at the Chapman Museum, will take place 7 p.m., Dec. 13 at The Chapman Museum.
Born to a farming family in Wilton, Seneca Ray Stoddard had a simple life that shifted when he relocated to Glens Falls. His life and work as a photographer took him across the Adirondacks, the United States, and the world as he created a historical record of life at the turn of the 20th century. This program is free but requires a reservation. To register, call 518-793-2826.
Note, additionally, the Chapman will host a Holiday Open House 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, and a screening of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Both these programs are free. The latter requires a reservation. Call 518-793-2826.
The Chapman Museum is located at 348 Glen St., Glens Falls.
BALLSTON SPA — As part of the Sounds in Winter concert series, the Lark Strings will be performing in the Long Room of Brookside Museum on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Register at brooksidemuseum.networkforgood.com/events/64889-sounds-in-winter-concert-lark-strings .
The Lark Strings, composed of three local, professional musicians, Jessica Belflower and Heather Chan (violins) and Brian Axford (piano and guitar), will present an energetic program mixing classical music heavy-hitters with American fiddle icons.
St. Helen of The Cross Old Catholic Church will hold a special mass in Spanish and English related to Our Lady of Guadalupe at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11.
The church is located at 20 Prospect St., (in the Chocolate Factory) in Ballston Spa.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Casino Hotel announced $120,000 in donations on Wednesday in the Vapor night club.
The money was split evenly between twelve organizations, including Albany Medical Health System – Saratoga Hospital, Franklin Community Center, SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children), and Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar.
“It’s an honor to give back to these wonderful organizations in this community,” said Vice President of External Affairs Skip Carlson in a statement. “We’ve been hosting this event for 19 years now, and it’s so heartwarming to hear each year how these organizations are truly making a difference in the lives of so many.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The annual Mitten Tree Program is up and running and will continue through Jan. 3, the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center announced during its Nov. 28 program launch.
Members of the local community are invited to contribute warm winter wear to the Visitor Center Mitten Tree – located at 297 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. All donations will benefit CAPTAIN Community Human Services, Franklin Community Center, and Shelters of Saratoga.
Instead of ornaments or lights, the tree is decorated with warm winter items such as hats, scarves, gloves, and of course, mittens. Those wishing to donate are encouraged to hang new or handmade items upon the tree.
The Visitor Center is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesdays–Saturdays. Special hours will apply during the week of Christmas. For more information, visit www.discoversaratoga.org/saratoga-springs-visitor-center.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city long-called The August Place To Be was granted a late springtime addition to that moniker with this week’s official announcement naming Saratoga Race Course as the staging ground for June’s four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
“Saratoga now adds to its storied history by hosting the third leg of the Triple Crown,” Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Dec. 6, inspiring thoughts of warmer climes on a day when the local community saw the gentle tumble of errant flurries. “It’s a win for horseracing and for the Capital Region to have the excitement and the ability to host the four-day Festival in June at America’s most historic track.”
The four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be staged Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9. The Belmont Stakes race will run Saturday, June 8. No changes are anticipated regarding Saratoga’s 40-day summer meet.
The relocation of the stakes race and its associated four-day festival will allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park on Long Island. And while construction is anticipated to go on at least through the 2025 Belmont Stakes season, only the 2024 festival at Saratoga was announced this week.
“It is a temporary situation, and we hope to be even further ahead of schedule so we can end sooner, but it’s good to at least have an alternative to shutting down Belmont completely, and can take the races elsewhere in the state,” Gov. Hochul said at a presser shortly after the Belmont announcement.
The four-day festival at Saratoga Race Course will include 23 stakes races in total with purses totaling $9.7 million.
The New York Racing Association began signaling earlier this year that some Belmont races would be shifted to Saratoga. Statements punctuated with optimism from the political and tourism worlds alike were issued with a ferocity shortly after Wednesday morning’s announcement, showcasing the affair as a driver of tourism, a major boon for the economy, an inspiration to partner with new stakeholders and something to further showcase the region’s world-class attractions.
A different track brings with it additional changes: due to the configuration of Saratoga’s main track, the Belmont Stakes will be contested at 1 1/4 miles in 2024 rather than the traditional 1 1/2 miles, pending the approval of the North American Graded Stakes Committee.
Inaugurated in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack and moved in 1905 to Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes has notably provided Secretariat’s 31-length victory in 1973 and American Pharoah successfully ending a 37-year Triple Crown drought in 2015. The race was staged at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963-1967 when Belmont Park last underwent significant renovations.
Following the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, the NYRA circuit will return to Aqueduct Racetrack for the remainder of the spring meet before racing shifts to Saratoga for the annual 40-day summer meet beginning Thursday, July 11. The fall meet customarily held at Belmont Park will again be shifted to Aqueduct Racetrack in 2024 while construction of a new Belmont Park continues.
Ticket packages and pricing for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will be available in early 2024.
A Bocce Ball Court, such as this one, is one of five project proposals which city residents may vote to have developed in 2024.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting Committee will be holding online public voting for the second cycle of project proposals through Tuesday, Dec. 12.
Saratoga Springs residents over the age of 18 are able to cast their ballot towards their favorite projects.
The Participatory Budgeting process encourages local community members to participate in the City’s budget process by voting on how to spend a portion of up to 0.25% of the City’s total budget – approximately $153,000, give or take. Final funding decisions will be made by the City Council in late December.
The Committee received a total of 15 submissions for Cycle Two; with proposed projects ranging from smaller-scale recreation initiatives to larger community-wide accessible programming.
There are 5 total projects on the ballot for potential funding: Bocce Ball Court, Saratoga Farmer’s Market, Opera Saratoga Family Programming, Solar Charging Bench for the Saratoga Springs Public Library, and Lake Avenue School Centennial Celebration.
Bocce Ball: Construction of one (1) bocce ball court in Veteran’s Memorial Park. Project submitted by individual. Estimated Cost: $13,000. Location: Veteran’s Memorial Park, 10 Adams Road.
Opera Saratoga Family Programming: Produce five (5) outreach opera performances in Saratoga Springs and the State Park for children and family’s education and enjoyment. Project submitted by Opera Saratoga. Estimated Cost: $15,000. Location: Opera Saratoga, 19 Roosevelt Drive.
Lake Ave School Centennial Celebration: Celebrate Lake Ave Schools’ upcoming centennial by recording oral histories and memories, photograph mementos and produce an exhibition for display at the Saratoga Springs Public Library (location pending). Project submitted by Lake Avenue PTA. Estimated Cost: $10,000. Location: Lake Avenue School, 126 Lake Ave.
Solar Charging Bench for Public Library: 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. Project submitted by Saratoga Springs Public Library. Estimated Cost: $11,000. Location: Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.
Saratoga Farmers’ Market Program Support: Purchasing tents, wagons and tables for the Saratoga Springs Farmer’s Market and aiding in marketing expenses. Project submitted by Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association (organization). Estimated Cost: $12,000. Location: Saratoga Springs Farmer’s Market, 112 High Rock Ave.
“This past year we’ve seen a lot of our PB projects from Cycle One come online – they’ve had a tremendously positive impact on our community – from providing free arts programming and recreational curling to beautifying our city streets,” Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi said in a statement. “We were excited to see a whole new set of project ideas for Cycle Two and are continuing to look for community input as to which projects they want to see funded.”
To vote, visit go to: pbstanford.org/2023-saratoga-ny.
Revised plans for the corporate offices of Prime Group Holdings with a proposed two-story addition at 395 Broadway, prepared by the architectural firm Balzer & Tuck and filed with the city of Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Applications under consideration this week by the Saratoga Springs Design Review Board include:
• Historic Review of a two-story addition at 395 Broadway. Prime Group Holdings founder Robert Moser has been seeking city Land Use Board approval to add two stories to the company’s existing two-story brick masonry office building at 395 Broadway. The combined four-story building would serve as office space for Prime Group Holdings, with a retail store component on the first floor.
The red-brick building located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Division Street was originally developed in 2000 to house Borders Books & Music, and in in 2018 was purchased by Ed Mitzen and the Fingerpaint Marketing firm. It was sold to Prime Group Holdings for $11 million in July.
• Architectural Review of exterior modifications including roof replacement, porch reconstruction, and select window infill and replacement at 118 Woodlawn Ave., regarding the Woodlawn Club exterior modification project.
• 177 South Broadway Stewarts Demolition and Redevelopment: Determination of Historic/Architectural significance for an existing single-family residence. Consideration of SEQRA lead agency, and Advisory Opinion to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding the demolition of the existing single-family residence and redevelopment of a convenience store and fueling station.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s 2nd annual Holiday Concert Series in Spa Little Theater showcases three special performances in December featuring a cappella quartet Kings Return; genre-defying string trio Time for Three; and vintage jazz & pop singer Kat Edmonson.
Kings Return: We Four Kings. 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2. This unique, harmonizing group turned internet sensation captures the essence of an old-school a cappella quartet with sounds inspired by gospel and R&B. Their joyous We Four Kings program features soulfully reinvented holiday favorites including “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Mary, Did You Know” and more.
Time for Three: Home for the Holidays. 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9. In addition to their incredible arrangements of Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Led Zeppelin and others, Time for Three will present special arrangements of holiday favorites including “The Christmas Song,” “Edelweiss,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and a special Hanukah MashUP.
Kat Edmonson: Holiday Swingin’! 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17. Bringing her unique blend of jazz, cabaret and vintage pop, Kat Edmonson and her band will perform Yuletide favorites such as “Jingle Bell Rock, “O Christmas Tree,” and “Let It Snow” from her record which has been described by Jazziz as “impeccably hip” and included in the New York Times “13 Albums That Revisit (and Redefine!) Holiday Classics.”
For more information, and tickets, go to: spac.org.
