Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and Senator Jim Tedisco announced that they have passed new bi-partisan legislation in both the state Senate and Assembly to build new senior supportive housing in the town of Wilton for veterans in need.

 Woerner and Tedisco’s legislation (A7312/S7139) enables the transfer of 15 acres of state land along Northern Pines Road in the town of Wilton to the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition to build 12 new housing units with the possibility of future expansion if funding becomes available.

 The home will serve veterans with physical and mental health needs by providing supportive housing services such as 24-hour staffing, personalized care plans, transportation to medical appointments, medication assistance, help with bathing and dressing, and other personal hygiene activities, housekeeping, meal preparation, social activities and peer-to-peer support.

 “Our country’s heroes deserve affordable housing and quality healthcare, and this bill addresses both. I appreciate the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition bringing to me the opportunity to assist them in expanding supportive housing for Veterans in our community. I am grateful for the Office of General Services for facilitating making these state lands available for building needed housing,” Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner said. “I thank Senator Tedisco for his partnership in enabling our former military members gain access to the stable housing and comprehensive support services they so critically need,” 

 “Many of our veterans who heroically served our country with dedication and honor have service related injuries and mental health-related challenges that are long lasting and permanent,” said Senator Jim Tedisco. “No veteran who put their very life on the line for our freedom and liberty should ever be forced into a situation where they are homeless or can’t afford a place to live. I was pleased to work in a bi-partisan fashion with Assemblywoman Woerner to pass this legislation to ensure our veterans who need help have a supportive place to call home,” 

 “I want to thank Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner for always taking care of the residents of Wilton and Saratoga County and our veterans who have given their all for the United States of America,” said Wilton Town Supervisor John Lant.

 The bill now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk for her review and signature.

Following the celebration of Juneteenth, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation will present an evening virtual program “Galveston’s Juneteenth Story: And Still We Rise” on Tuesday, June 24, at 7pm. 

The evening virtual program will be presented by historian Tommie D. Boudreaux in collaboration with the Galveston Historical Foundation. The program gives an in-depth look at the Juneteenth story, beginning on June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. 

This moment, now commemorated as Juneteenth, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is one of the most significant in Galveston’s history and has been honored with celebrations for more than 150 years, as Boudreaux reminds us, “Understanding the past offers an opportunity to be an advocate for a better life for all mankind.”

Tommie D. Boudreaux is a lifelong resident of Galveston Island and a retired administrator with the Galveston Independent School District.  A graduate of the historic Central High School, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Galveston Historical Foundation and chaired its African American Heritage Committee. 

She is also a board member of the Old Central Cultural Center and the Coastal Community Federal Credit Union. A Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tommie serves as the Galveston chapter’s historian and chairs its Heritage & Archives Committee.

Her published works include “African Americans of Galveston,” “Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community,” and “Galveston’s Juneteenth Story… And Still We Rise,” along with numerous articles on community history and cultural events.

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is proud to share the history of Juneteenth, rooted in Galveston, the birthplace of the holiday, which stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience. Juneteenth is a time for reflection, education, and celebration of African American culture and history.

The virtual program will have a suggested donation of $10 and will be hosted via Zoom. To register, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 587-5030. All registrants will receive a Zoom link in advance, as well as access to the program recording. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Wednesday that Saratoga season admission passes for both the July 4th Racing Festival and 2025 summer meet at the Saratoga Race Course are now available for purchase at more than 175 Stewart’s Shops throughout the greater Capital Region.

Just in time for Father’s Day, Saratoga season passes provide fans with general admission access to 44 days of thoroughbred racing this summer for the equivalent of approximately $2 per day. Season passes are available for $90 at Stewart’s Shops through Sunday, July 13, or for $95 online at NYRA.com/Saratoga.

Passes include admission to the traditional 40-day summer meet, July 10 to Sept. 1, in addition to the July 4th Racing Festival, July 3 to 6, which has been relocated to Saratoga while construction continues on a new Belmont Park.

Saratoga season passes provide access to the apron and the Rivers Casino Backyard which includes hundreds of free picnic tables available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pitney Meadows Community Farm is proud to unveil a new collection of comprehensive interpretive signs across its campus, marking a major milestone in community stewardship, education, and cultural connection. 

The community is invited to visit the farm and experience “Cultivating Connections: Sustaining Heritage through Interpretive Signage,” a campus-wide initiative developed in partnership with the Land Trust Alliance.

This thoughtfully curated collection of interpretive signs features 19 permanent signs strategically placed throughout the farm’s acreage, each designed to foster visitation, enrich understanding, and celebrate the rich heritage of the land. Visitors will now be able to engage with ADA-compliant signage that highlights regenerative farming practices, native plant and animal identification, wayfinding across the farm, and the land’s cultural and historical significance, especially its ties to the Abenaki and Mahican peoples.

“The interpretative signage program will significantly enhance the visitor experience at Pitney Meadows Community Farm, fostering a deeper connection to the land, promoting sustainable practices, and honoring the cultural heritage of the original caretakers of this land,” said McConnell.

Key Objectives of the Signage Program Include:

Bringing Our Stewardship Plan to Life: Communicating our community-developed land management and conservation practices in an accessible, engaging way.

Enhancing Educational Opportunities: Offering informative content on sustainable agriculture and land management, as well as the farm’s ecological and historical context.

Promoting Biodiversity Awareness: Showcasing native flora and fauna to deepen public appreciation for local ecosystems.

Facilitating Wayfinding: Providing clear and inviting directional signage to guide visitors through our campus.

Celebrating Cultural Heritage: Honoring the Eastern Algonquian and Iroquoian families of our region through signage that features Abenaki and Mohawk translations, with historical context provided by the Ndakinna Education Center. 

This is more than signage—it’s an open-air classroom, a celebration of heritage, and a call to connection.

Pitney Meadows warmly invites the community to walk the paths, read the stories, and experience the land through a new lens. The interpretive signage is now open for exploration at

Pitney Meadows Community Farm, 223 West Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

Spring is in full bloom as The Wesley Foundation — the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs – turns its focus to warmer, sunnier days by laying the groundwork for its annual gala fundraiser. This year’s event is titled ‘La Dolce Vita,’ which translates to ‘The Good Life.’” 

A fitting salute to summer, the gala is slated for Saturday, June 21 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Lodge at Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs. Proceeds will support the purchase of an Accessible Bus for residents residing at the Wesley Health Care Center. 

Presented by The Adirondack Trust Company and Amsure, the gala will feature dinner, complimentary beverages, dancing, live music by Jukebox Rebellion USA, a silent auction and more. 

A few highlights of many of the silent auction items include a 2003 Syracuse Orange men’s basketball jointly signed by Hall-of-Fame Coach Jim Boeheim and current Siena Men’s Basketball Head Coach Gerry McNamara who helped lead Syracuse to a national title that year; and a five-person Clubhouse Box available for A Day at the Races during the 2025 summer meet at Saratoga Racecourse.

“The Wesley Community is committed to providing exceptional care for our seniors and has remained true to that mission for more than five decades. We are excited to celebrate our rich history and bright future with this annual gala event,” said The Wesley Community CEO J. Brian Nealon. “La Dolce Vita will raise critical funding for a new and much-needed Accessible Bus for our residents at Wesley Health Care Center and allow us to continue to provide the highest standard of services to our residents and their families now and in the future.”

Tickets for La Doce Vita are $200 per person or $350 per couple. Reservations are required and can be made at www.thewesleycommunity.org/gala. The Lodge at Saratoga Casino Hotel is located at 1 Nelson Ave., Saratoga Springs. 

Founded in 1972, The Wesley Community was established as a long-term senior care community and has steadily grown into a continuum-of-care campus featuring independent and assisted living apartments, compassionate skilled nursing and memory-care services.

The Honorary Chairs of the event are Skip and Colleen Carlson, who have been long-time supporters of The Wesley Community.

“It is a privilege to chair the La Dolce Vita gala event and underscore how fortunate we are to have Wesley in our community to provide a continuum of care for seniors,” said Colleen Carlson. “My family has had first-hand experience with the compassionate care and kindness of the staff and comfort that my mother received while aging in place on campus. I will forever be grateful to The Wesley Community for that and for the peace of mind it provided to us. It is vital we offer ongoing support to keep these essential services available to seniors now and in the future.”

Brookside Museum will host an Olde Time Strawberry Social on Sunday June 22 from 2:00- 4:00 P.M.

This family-friendly event will include games, children’s crafts and music performed by Simon Elijah. There will be homemade strawberry shortcake available for a fee of $5.00. Please order your shortcake in advance on our website at www.brooksidemuseum.org/events. 

In addition to the day’s festivities an optional strawberry pot class hosted by Suzanne Balet of Balet Flowers will begin at 2:30. To register for the strawberry pot class as well as learn more about pricing please visit http://www.baletflowers.com/contact-us. 

A special thank you to Allerdice Ace Hardware for sponsoring this event.

The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the diverse histories of Saratoga County. The History Center offers a variety of innovative, exciting, and educational programming.

Please visit the website (www.brooksidemuseum.org) and social media accounts (@SaratogaCoHistory) for news and announcements. 

Brookside Museum is located at 21 Fairground Avenue in Ballston Spa at the intersection of Front Street, Fairground Avenue, and Charlton Street.