SARATOGA SPRINGS — “Brookmere Wedding Showcase,” an event that offers the opportunity for engaged couples to explore a luxurious venue while connecting with top industry wedding professionals will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2 at the Brookmere, located at 500 Union Ave.

“A select group of wedding professionals from a variety of categories will be present to help answer questions and guide engaged couples toward the services they need to fulfill their dreams,” said Fran Dingeman, owner of Network Saratoga LLC. and presenter of the show. “We look forward to warmly welcoming engaged couples, as well as their families, friends, and attendants, to this exclusive new venue space in Saratoga Springs.”

The three-hour event will include hors d’oeuvre tastings, a champagne toast, giveaways, and the opportunity to win a variety of prizes and gift certificates. 

Local musician Garland Nelson, will act as the Master of Ceremonies as well as perform at the event. The showcase will also feature a variety of vendors. 

Early registration for the Brookmere Wedding Showcase is encouraged as space is limited. To register, visit www.brookmere wedding showcase.com A show entrance fee of $10 per person will be collected with online registration prior to the show and a fee of $15 per person will be collected at the door.

For more information about the Brookmere Wedding Showcase, contact Network Saratoga at fran@networksaratoga.com or call 518-365-3459.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — New York City Ballet (NYCB) will audition area children Sunday, March 9 at 10 a.m., to dance during its Saratoga season, July 9 -12. Led by NYCB Children’s Repertory Director Dena Abergel and Associate Children’s Repertory Director Arch Higgins, the auditions are for 36 children roles in George Balanchine’s Coppélia, which first premiered at SPAC in 1974.  

“Bringing four performances of Coppélia, which held its world premiere in Saratoga, is a truly special opportunity for the community and our young aspiring dancers, Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center said in a statement. “With three acts of lavish sets and costumes and more than 130 performers, including 36 local children, it promises to delight and inspire ballet lovers and newcomers, alike.” 

Casting for Coppélia includes roles for 24 girls who are nine-13 years old between four feet, two inches and five feet, one inches tall. In addition, there will be roles for six young ladies who are 14-18 years old between five feet, two inches and five feet, seven inches tall and six young men who are 14-18 years old and at least five feet, five inches tall. 

At least two years of ballet training is encouraged for all of the roles. Understudies will also be cast. 

Rehearsals for selected dancers will be held from June 29 to July 9 at the SPAC School of the Arts and at the SPAC amphitheater. 

New York City Ballet will perform its full-length production of Coppélia at SPAC on July 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 12 at 2:00 p.m. Advance registration is required by Thursday, March 6 and applicants must audition in person to be considered. 

Auditions on March 9 will commence at 10 a.m. for children ages 14-18 (check-in no earlier than 9 a.m.) and at 10:30 a.m. for children ages nine to 13 (check-in no earlier than 9:30 a.m.) at the SPAC School of the Arts (located behind the National Museum of Dance School), 99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. Visit spac.org for more details.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Join the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation for a special evening at Panza’s Restaurant, 129 South Broadway, from 5 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Panza’s will donate 10% of all dining proceeds (excluding alcohol and gratuity) to the SSPF to support the preservation of Saratoga Springs’ architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage.

For reservations, call 518-584-6882 Wednesday through Sunday or on Resy.com. Visit PanzasRestaurant.com for more information. 

 SARATOGA SPRINGS —A casual mid-winter fundraising event to support local Veterans and retired racehorses will take place 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Horseshoe Inn Bar and Grill, located at 9 Gridley St, Saratoga Springs.

The evening of live music – featuring Jeff Walton, dining, and charitable giving will benefit Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s (THS) Freedom Rein program.

The event aims to raise $5,000 to sponsor four Veterans or Service Members for an eight-week Equine Therapy Group. The Freedom Rein program provides therapeutic interactions with retired racehorses, offering participants a unique and impactful form of mental health support.

Event Highlights include buffet dinner (included with admission), a cash bar, a spotlight on retired racehorses thriving in second careers, and a raffle with exclusive items and experiences, with proceeds directly benefiting THS Veterans’ Program

Ticket are: $55 and available at https://thsaratoga.org/100-days-to-belmont/. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Village of Ballston Spa has commenced “Revitalize Ballston Spa,” an effort to attract investment and funding opportunities by developing a comprehensive vision for the Village’s future. 

The process will develop a community vision, identify strategic sites for redevelopment, and establish an implementation strategy. The project is kicking off with a Visioning Survey to gather feedback from community members. 

Revitalize Ballston Spa is a 12-month planning process focused on identifying challenges and opportunities for downtown revitalization and site-specific strategies to further renewal in the Village. The plan is funded through a grant secured by former Mayor Larry Woolbright from the NYS Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) grant program. 

LaBella Associates will act as consultants to guide the planning process and facilitate community engagement. A Steering Committee of community members was formed to provide local input on all elements of the plan and planning process.

Community members will have many opportunities and avenues to participate in the Revitalize Ballston Spa process over the next year. For more background information on the BOA program and the planning process, please visit www.revitalizebspa.com. 

SARATOGA — Gerard B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery announced its 2025 Vietnam Veterans Day Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29. This year’s commemoration marks the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. 

Vietnam Veterans who served on active duty from Nov. 1, 1955 – May 15, 1975, and spouses of deceased veterans who served during these dates are especially encouraged to attend and receive a Vietnam Veteran lapel pin.

Saratoga National Cemetery is the resting place of nearly 6,500 interred Vietnam Veterans. To commemorate this historic anniversary, each veteran interred will receive graveside honors on March 29.

Throughout the years, youth have played an integral part in ceremonies. Continuing this tradition, Saratoga National Cemetery is calling youth: individuals, church groups, scouts, schools, 4-H, service organizations and clubs to be part of the monumental mission.

Interested youth groups are asked to contact Saratoga National Cemetery by March 17 at 518-581-9128 to sign up. They will subsequently be contacted with section assignment prior to the ceremony.

Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery is located at 200 Duell Road in the town of Saratoga. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609 will host an afternoon of shared readings from banned books by authors of color, or books that have been banned for calling out racism. 

The event will take place 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at 69 Beekman St. and is sponsored by the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW)’s Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609, Mary A. Carter Temple #362, and Our Lodge Foundation, in recognition of Black History Month.

The event, free and open to the public, is meant to celebrate the freedom to read without government or public interference – an essential right to creating a better world for everyone.

Anyone is welcome to participate by reading a short passage from a banned book and giving the reason why the book was or is banned.

Banned Books by Black Authors include: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Beloved, The Bluest Eye, The Color Purple, The Hate U Give.  Banned Books Exposing Racism include: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Black Like Me. 

The lodge bar will not be open, however, soda and water will be available for purchase. Donations to support FAL #609 and MACT #362 are welcomed. For more information, go to: frederickallenlodge.org

SCHUYLERVILLE — What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a lamp that won’t work? Or with a favorite shirt that is ripped? Toss it? No way! 

Schuylerville Public Library is organizing a Repair Café 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 1.

At Schuylerville Public Library, located at 52 Ferry St., various volunteer repair experts will be available to help make all possible repairs free of charge. 

Most tools and materials will also be on hand. People visiting the Repair Café are invited to bring along their broken items from home. Limit of two items per person.  Small appliances, lamps, hair dryers, radios, clothes, toys… anything that is broken and small enough to carry is welcome and can more than likely be repaired. 

The Repair Café concept arose in the Netherlands, in 2009, and was formulated by Martine Postma, at the time an Amsterdam-based journalist/publicist. In 2010, she started the Repair Café Foundation (see Repaircafe.org). This foundation provides support to local groups around the world wishing to start their own Repair Café. The foundation also supports the Repair Café in the Schuylerville Public Library.

“By repairing instead of tossing, we lessen the strain on our environment,” said Library Director Caitlin Johnson.  

Anyone interested in volunteering for this event as a repairer may contact Caitlin Johnson at cjohnson@sals.edu.