15th Annual Santa’s Playland Open House
Quick Response is celebrating 15 Years of Holiday Magic. This free event is open to the public on Friday, December 11, 5:30 to 9 p.m. and offers spectacular LED lighted displays. Children can visit with Santa and other winter Characters, enjoy rides on The Quick Express Train, Horse and Wagon rides and free refreshments. Shuttle service is offered from offsite parking areas. Quick Response is located at 2077 Route 9, Round Lake.
The Town of Malta Decorate for the Holidays Contest 2015
Town of Malta announces “Decorate for the Holidays 2015” which is open to Malta residents and businesses that love to light and trim their homes and work establishments throughout the holiday season. Awards are given in six categories: The “WOW” Award, Fun for Kids, One Color Beauty, Christmas in Motion, Sweet & Simple and All Blown Up. No registration fee. Entry forms can be obtained at the Malta Community Center and also at www.maltaparksrec.com. Deadline for entries is Thursday, December 9. Judging will take place on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13. For further information please call (518) 899-4411.
Home Baked Christmas Cookies and Soup
Come to Christ the Savior Orthodox Church located at 349 Eastline Rd., in Ballston Lake on December 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for our home baked cookies and soup. Fill one of our containers with an assortment of home baked Christmas Cookies, made by members of the parish from old family recipes for $10 per container – ready for gift giving, or take home and enjoy. Soup take-out also available, New England Clam Chowder and or Borscht. For more information call (518) 885-4681.
Breakfast with Santa
The Annual Breakfast with Santa is on Saturday, December 12, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Henry Cornell Post 234 at 23 Pleasant Street in Ballston Spa. Kids 12 and under can enjoy a hot breakfast with Santa Claus. There will be a holiday raffle for parents. The event is open to the community.
Wreaths Across America Ceremony
The Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association will take part in a Wreaths Across America Ceremony at the Saratoga National Cemetery starting at Noon on Saturday December 12 at the main flag pole. You do not have to be a veteran to attend. All are welcome.
Malta’s Holiday Revue
Dress in your holiday best and see talented area performers on a seasonally decorated stage at the Malta Community Center, One Bayberry Drive, on Saturday, December 12, 2015. Elyse Young, Malta’s Artistic Director, will host the festivities as singers, dancers, musicians and other performing artists entertain with a winter holiday theme! Don’t miss this great family activity for the holiday season! Tickets are on sale now. Advanced seats are $5; $7 at the door. House opens at 6:30 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. Call the Malta Community Center at (518) 899-4411 for more information or purchase tickets at www.maltaparksrec.com.
Who Killed Christmas 2
An original play with a myriad of interesting characters that will be featured at Free Spirit Fellowship on Sunday, December 13, at 10:30 a.m. Join us as we determine who the guilty party is. For more information call (518) 885-3149. The church is located at 1425 West High St. in Ballston Spa.
Upstate Model Railroaders Train Show
Large show at the Glens Falls Civic Center with 8 different scale working layouts. Railroad art, photographs, collectibles, over 40 vendors. For more information call (518) 747-4112 or visit www.upstatemodelrailroaders.com
Christmas Cantata: “Stars of Glory”
The Christmas Cantata to be presented by the Ballston Spa Combined Church Choirs on Sunday, December 13, at 6 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa. Hors d’oeuvres precede the concert at 5 p.m.
Folk Music “Lessons and Carols”
Mysterious and wonderful Advent and Christmas carols drawn from Celtic, African American, and Early American traditions are the trademark of the “Festival of Lessons and Carols,” slated for Christ Church, Ballston Spa, on Monday and Tuesday, December 14 and 15. The concert is anchored by folk music legends John Kirk and Trish Miller of Greenfield Center with special guests Joel Rosenberger of Saratoga Springs, Dan Berggren of Ballston Spa, and Rick Bunting of Bainbridge, and includes Field Horne and Theresa LaGattuta-Bruno of Saratoga Springs and Kristin McCabe of Charlton. The ensemble’s two compact disks will be on sale at the performances. The national folk music magazine Dirty Linen calls them “a spirited collection of holiday songs that hail from off the beaten path. If you want different music to make things festive, this is the compilation for you.”The concert is free and takes place by candlelight at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church, on the corner of Route 50 (Church Avenue) and Route 67 (West High Street) in Ballston Spa. The public is invited for festive refreshments afterward. “Lessons and Carols” has been presented annually since 1994. For further information, call (518) 885-1031.
Havurah Vatik December Event
All Saratoga area seniors 55 plus are welcome to join us at Congregation Shaara Tfille, on Tuesday, December 15 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. for our December event. Join local musicians of the Adirondack Klezmer Band for a rollicking celebration of the Hannukah festival. Instrumentalists Al Wadler, clarinet; Bob Orban and Matt Collins, trumpet; Jim Fuchs, sax; Ray Rabl, drums; Ian Dingman, bass; Sherry Shevy, accordion; Bruce North, cello; Barbara Rosoff and Judy Korot, violin will treat us to traditional melodies and dances of Eastern Europe: the “voice of the Jewish heart.” A festive catered lunch featuring Latkes follows the program. Contact Temple Sinai at (518) 584-8730, mailbox 4, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by December 9 if you are planning to attend the luncheon, need to cancel your reservation, or if you need transportation. To contact Havurah Vatik for any other reason, you can email the co-chairs: Ellen Steinberger at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Caroline Seligman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Christmas Gifts and Decorations
Second Hand Rose Thrift Shop, 116 Broad St., in Schuylerville has Christmas gifts and decorations with home goods for all holiday parties. Come and check out our gently used clothes, shoes, books, etc., for men, women and children. Second Hand Rose is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Christmas. The Shop has continuous in store sales of first class bargains with new items arriving daily. Our proceeds after expenses are given back to Community Service Organizations. Volunteers are needed and appreciated. For more information, please call Second Hand Rose Thrift Shop at (518) 695-4640.
Cancer Support Group
A cancer diagnosis can be shocking and traumatic, and survivorship requires many skills to navigate the journey towards well -being. The cancer support group, regardless of the type of cancer one faces, is a safe container to explore common physical, financial, emotional, cognitive, developmental, familial and spiritual issues. Skills of resiliency, empathy, “being seen and understood,” are addressed. Inter-connectedness, intimacy, and new attitudes and possibilities are cultivated to face and release feelings of isolation, confusion, anxiety and day-to-day uncertainties in a group of people with similar wishes to improve the quality of their lives. Pierre Zimmerman, who facilitates this group, has been working with people who have cancer for the last 12 years, leading support groups, mindfulness based stress reduction programs and spiritual retreats. Pierre is a survivor of stage 4 cancer, diagnosed in 2001 and given a few months to live. He has been dedicating a large part of his life since then to supporting people on their journeys with cancer. Call Pierre at (413) 992-7012 to register and confirm — as schedule may be subject to change. This group meets at Saratoga Hospital, every 4th Wednesday of the month.
Volunteers Needed
Saratoga County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program has partnered with Community Connections, a program of the Adult and Senior Center of Saratoga to recruit volunteers in a variety of capacities. The volunteers are trained and matched with care recipients to provide services that include home visits, transportation, household chores, telephone check-ins and referral to other Saratoga County organizations. If you are a RSVP volunteer or if you would like more information about becoming a volunteer, please call Janet Haskell at (518) 884-4110.
Looking for Volunteers
CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services is accepting new adult volunteer applications for its Homework Help, and Family Assistance. We are in need of van drivers at this time. Please visit www.captaincares.org for the application, or call Mary at (518) 371-1185. CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services is a social service agency located in Clifton Park. CAPTAIN operates a runaway and homeless youth shelter, street outreach services, Teen Talk Helpline, emergency food pantry, family assistance program, and various youth leadership programs. For those with questions about CAPTAIN, please visit our website at www.captaincares.org. Those wishing to speak to a CAPTAIN Representative may also call (518) 371-1185.
