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Guide for Saratoga County Voters: New Geographical Lines This Year for Congressional Districts 20, 21

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.


Town of Wilton map depicting Congressional Districts 20 and 21. Map image: latfor.state.ny.us. 

SARATOGA COUNTY —Redistricting Legislation earlier this year stipulates that Saratoga County voters, depending on where in the county they live, will this year see one of two different Congressional races to elect a congressperson to represent them, according to NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, or LATFOR.      

The District 20 congressperson will represent about 180,000 of Saratoga County’s approximately 235,000 residents, while the District 21 congressperson will represent about 55,000 county residents.  

Congressional District 20 race: incumbent Paul Tonko (D, WF) vs. challenger Kevin Waltz (R, C). 

Within Saratoga County, Congressional District 20 includes the following town and cities in their entirety: Ballston, Charlton, Clifton Park, Galway, Halfmoon, Malta, Mechanicville, Milton, Saratoga Springs, Stillwater, Waterford, and the mostly southern portion of Wilton.   

Congressional District 21 race: incumbent Elise Stefanik (R, C) vs. challenger Paula Collins (D, WF). 

Within Saratoga County, Congressional District 21 includes the following towns in their entirety: Corinth, Day, Edinburg, Greenfield, Hadley, Moreau, Northumberland, Providence, Saratoga, and the mostly northern portion of the town of Wilton.  

If you are unsure about your polling site, visit this Board of Elections site at: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/. 

Local Man to Receive Congressional Gold Medal for Heroic Service as Dust off Crew Member in Vietnam

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.


Bob Nevins in helicopter. Photo provided

GALWAY — With the passage of the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act, signed by Pres. Joe Biden on Sept. 26, Alliance180 founder Bob Nevins will receive a Congressional Gold Medal, earning this honor for his service as a Dustoff helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.

Nevins, who now dedicates his life to helping fellow veterans through Alliance180, was part of the elite Dustoff crews who pioneered the concept of rapid medical evacuation using helicopters, transporting nearly 900,000 wounded soldiers, allied forces, and civilians during the Vietnam War. 

The crews risked their lives daily to rescue those injured in combat, often flying into dangerous territory under intense enemy fire. 

“This recognition isn’t just for me,” said Nevins in a statement. “It’s for every Dustoff crew member who risked their life to save others. We weren’t just soldiers—we were there to preserve life in the middle of chaos. Every mission reminded us how precious that was.”

Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War, the medal will be given to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum for display and research. Duplicate bronze versions will be available for sale. For more information about Alliance180, visit https://www.alliance180.org

Stand-Down to Aid Veterans in Need

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A Saratoga-Wilton Elks Veterans Stand-Down will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs.

Services and information regarding benefits for veterans in need, homeless veterans and other veterans will be available.

“The event is all about helping veterans in crisis by providing new clothing, coats, boots, groceries, dental checkups, haircuts, etc.,” said Ray Sestak, secretary and assistant state captain of Eastern Region of Patriot Guard Riders of New York, and Stand-Down volunteer.

For information, contact Irwin “Dom” Dominguez, Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center Community Outreach Office coordinator, at 808-352-6477. 

Trick-Or-Treating In Downtown Saratoga Springs Saturday, Oct. 26

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —  A fall festival will be held in downtown Saratoga Springs noon – 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, announced the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association. 

The event will take place primarily on Caroline Street, with various activities spread out along Broadway. Trick-or-treating will take place throughout downtown, as well as the Pumpkin Roll on Caroline Street, face painting, balloon twisting, live entertainment, Therapeutic Horses, and more. 

Starting at noon, participating businesses will be candy-ready for trick-or-treaters as kids and parents are invited to dress up in costume and explore downtown Saratoga Springs. At the same time, volunteers from The Dance Lab will help orchestrate the Pumpkin Roll on Caroline Street. 

11 a.m. — Storytime with picture book authors – Northshire Bookstore – 424 Broadway

Noon – 3 p.m. — Downtown Saratoga Springs:

Trick-or-Treating at participating businesses throughout downtown

At the top of Caroline Street and Broadway, participants are welcome to grab a pumpkin from one of our volunteers from The Dance Lab. At the bottom of Caroline and Maple, participants can pick up their gift certificates from Ben & Jerry’s and Strike Zone.

Live Entertainment, Road Soda Pop 12-3pm  – Salt & Char patio

Traveling Entertainment: Sparkles the Juggler and Balloon Twister – Mr. Twisty 

Face Painting by Amanda at G. Willikers and Miss Stacey’s Faces near Impressions of Saratoga

Magic Matt (Magician) at Menges & Curtis

Maple Valley Farms (maple cotton candy and other maple items) – Impressions

Kids’ Peace Pan Band (Steel Drum Band)  – Adirondack Trust Drive-Thru

Therapeutic Horses (The Minis – Kramer & Kreme Puff) – Crafter’s Gallery

Book Signing at Crafter’s Gallery of “Lucky’s Great Adventures” (also meet Lucky)

Saratoga Springs Police Department: Explore a police car on display in front of Lifestyles of Saratoga.

The Dance Lab – Dance performance around 2:45/3:00 pm on Caroline Street.

Witch Walk SOSA: Concluding the festival with a spirited dance on Caroline Street.

Halloween Ghost Tour at Canfield Casino 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Springs History Museum announces the return of its highly anticipated Halloween Ghost Tours at the Canfield Casino. The event will be held on Oct. 30, with tours departing every 20 minutes from 5 – 7 p.m. 

The Canfield Casino was featured on the SYFY Network’s Ghost Hunters and ranked as the 4th Most Terrifying Place in America by the Travel Channel.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the halls of the Canfield Casino, where legends, spirits, and eerie tales await. Guided by experts, attendees will hear firsthand stories of ghostly encounters and paranormal happenings, blending mystery with excitement. 

Tickets: $25 per person, spots limited. 

“We hope this event is of interest to all who are looking for a unique and thrilling way to celebrate the Halloween season. The combination of the Casino’s rich history and its haunted reputation makes it a perfect destination for those looking for a spooky and memorable adventure,” said James Parillo, Museum Director of the Saratoga Springs History Museum, in a statement.

For more information and to secure tickets, visit https://www.saratogahistory.org/ghost-tours or contact the Saratoga Springs History Museum in Congress Park. 

Early voting begins

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Early voting gets underway Saturday, Oct. 26 at six polling sites in Saratoga County. All voters may vote at any poll site. 

Early Voting is just like voting on Election Day. Early voters privately mark and scan their ballot. Early voting results are counted, tabulated and included in (unofficial) election night totals.

Early voters are provided with nine days to vote in person prior to Election Day. Early voting dates and hours of operation are provided by local County Boards of Elections.

Voters who have applied for an Early Vote by Mail or Absentee Ballot are not permitted to vote on the voting machines, but may be issued an Affidavit Ballot.

Voters who cast a ballot during Early Voting will not be allowed to vote on Election Day. 

To see a list of early voting polling site locations and times of operation.

Saratoga Springs Approves Jan. 28 “Special” Election for Vacant Council Seat 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —It is the day some of the music world’s biggest stars came together to record the song “We Are The World,” and the day of tragedy when millions watched NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger explode shortly after liftoff on live TV. January 28 marks the date Jackson Pollock was born, the date W.B. Yeats died, and in 2025 will potentially be the day when voters in Saratoga Springs head to local polls to elect a member who will fill the City Council’s vacant fifth seat. 

The City Council on Oct. 15 approved a resolution to request a “special” election be held Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 to elect a Commissioner of Public Works/City Council member. 

The Jan. 28 proposal now heads to the Saratoga County Board of Elections to seek the approval of county election commissioners Cassandra Bagramian (D) and Joseph Suhrada (R) and onward for the ultimate approval from the state Board of Elections. 

The Commissioner of Public Works is departmentally responsible for oversight of Saratoga Springs’ street and highway maintenance, its buildings and grounds, and for ensuring that the water system provides sufficient quantities of safe potable water, among other duties. 

The position also plays a role in the legislative body of city government by placing the commissioner at the City Council table. The Council proposes and enacts legislation and establishes policy for the city. The mayor and four commissioners form the five-member City Council, and having five members is key in potentially acting as a tiebreaking vote in any deadlocked city-related decisions at the table where majority rules.    

The seat has been vacant for two months. Prior DPW Commissioner Jason Golub announced his pending resignation in mid-July with a departure date in mid-August. The remaining four-member City Council had been unable to come to majority consensus regarding how it should proceed to fill the seat, until this week’s agreement on a “special” election date.  

Additional resolutions aimed at finding a temporary solution by appointing someone as DPW Commissioner/City Council member, however, were unsuccessful. Those plans sought to first appoint members to an ad hoc committee to invite, interview and recommend – in a non-binding way – qualified candidates to assist the council in determining who would meet their ultimate approval. A revised version may potentially be presented at the council’s next scheduled meeting in early November.  

The term of the seat to be filled, like all current City Council seats, would be active through Dec. 31, 2025.   

9th Annual Veterans Ball at Hall of Springs Nov. 3; Veterans & Community Housing Coalition Appoints Diane Nazzaro as New Executive Director 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Veterans & Community Housing Coalition will host its 9th Annual Veterans Ball fundraiser on Nov. 3 at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs. 

VCHC is completing the Foreverly House, a grassroots initiative to provide safe and sustainable housing for homeless female veterans, including their children. The Foreverly House is expected to open in Fall 2024.

Over 50,000 Veterans are homeless on any given night in America, and hundreds of those are in the communities VCHC serves. VCHC provides housing and support services to homeless military veterans and their families, advocates on behalf of veterans, and offers housing opportunities for low-income households. The goal is to help homeless veterans attain and maintain permanent housing, achieve financial stability, have access to healthcare and regain their dignity.

For more information and tickets to the ball, which takes place 5 p.m. Nov. 3, go to: https://vchcny.org/, or call 518-885-0091.  

VCHC also announced that Diane Nazzaro has been named as the organization’s new Executive Director. Nazzaro brings experience from the Impact Sector and a person-centered approach to services that will enhance VCHC’s mission. Early in her career, she worked with individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges, and most recently served as the Associate Executive Director of AIM Services Inc., where she spent nearly a decade. 

Ghastly Crafts and Other Halloween Doings at Moreau Lake State Park

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

MOREAU — Moreau Lake State Park, located at 605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort, will host the following programs this month: 

Saturday, Oct. 19 – Halloween Needle Felted Creatures 10am-2pm. Join a talented needle felter and try out this fun craft that should result in a very cute or creepy take home.  Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511. $5 for adults and $1 for children. 

Sunday, Oct. 20 – Ghastly Crafts 10am. Need some friendly ghosts to “haunt” your home? Join a nature center educator to make ghastly crafts such as leaf ghost window clings, egg carton ghost portraits and lollipop ghosts. Open to all ages. Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511, cost is $1 per person. 

Sunday, Oct. 20 – Spiders: a Cute Creepy Crawly Critter 1pm. Spiders lend a helping hand (or eight) in balancing our ecosystem! Join a nature center educator to learn about spider life cycles, native spiders and the importance of spiders in our natural communities. Open to all ages.

Sunday, Oct. 27 – Halloween Bash 3:30pm. The Friends of Moreau Lake are putting on their annual Halloween event, there will be games, nature-based education, and most importantly fun! Please register in advance for this event by calling 518-793-0511.

Please check if the program requires registration, if it does, please reserve your spot 24-hours in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.