Local First Saratoga North Edition 122922

Academy for Lifelong Learning Offering

16 Winter Courses

SARATOGA - The Academy for Lifelong Learning continues its 30+ year tradition of presenting educational and social opportunities for adults 55+ by offering sixteen, 5-week courses starting the week of January 23 Registration is now open. For a course brochure, go to www.esc.edu/all or www.allsaratoga.org Course brochures are also available at local libraries, YMCA’s and retirement communities or by request at (518) 2906988 or jeff@allsaratoga. org. Please note – some changes have been made. For the most updated version go to our website. Registrations will be accepted throughout the term until courses are full. Some courses will sell out. Annual membership is $75 and goes for 365 days from join date. Five-week courses are $50 each.

Topics for these volunteer-led, noncredit courses include music, literature, teas, Italian language, investing, variety speaker series, Art History and Anatomy, ancient game of Go, hiking, snow shoeing, Chinese writings, history, art at the Tang, science, and more. Join A.L.L. locally for classroom and outdoor courses, or from Please see COURSES 10

Effort to transform racing’s rules gets boost from Congress

By EMILIE MUNSON

ALBANY — Two years ago, when Congress voted to create a national horse racing authority, lawmakers sought to usher in a cleaner, safer sport that would be governed by one rule book across the country.

Recently, imperiled by lawsuits and other challenges, that vision has been anything but assured.

In a mission to rescue the struggling federal body, Congress passed new legislation on Friday that changes how the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will have its regulations approved. The measure was tucked in a huge annual spending bill that’s headed for President Joe Biden’s desk.

The hope is the legislative tweak will put the authority on solid legal footing after an appeals court in November ruled the fledgling body was unconstitutional, according to U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, who championed the amendment and the original establishment of the authority.

The authority will resubmit drug enforcement rules to the Federal Trade Commission in the coming weeks, according to spokeswoman Mandy Minger, getting it back on track to become the sports’ anti-doping body in 2023.

The stakes for change are high: While the Kentucky Derby captivates millions each year, the sport has been marked by a spate of recent doping scandals, including one that snared the sport’s top trainer — Bob Baffert — and another that revealed elaborate schemes involving dozens of horsemen and their associates.

But the authority still must fight off a separate legal challenge in another federal court. Depending on the ruling, a U.S. Supreme Court review could be possible.

Other questions, including how the authority will pay for regulating the sport and whether many racetracks will opt out of federal oversight, have prompted worried hand-wringing and some frustration across horse racing as drug testing and safety regulation undergo a significant transformation.

“I think everyone has bought into the concept of the central rule making entity,” said Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissions International and the former head of the New York Racing and Wagering Board. “Our position has been the statute

(establishing the authority) needs technical correction. ... I’m just personally very concerned about everything I see.”

While other sports have private national governing bodies that write their rules and oversee competition, horse racing has been handled for decades by state commissions established to regulate, and pluck revenue, from betting on the sport.

After years of advocacy by reformers, Congress in 2020 approved legislation to fashion a new nongovernmental body tucked under the umbrella of the Federal Trade Commission and called it the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. The authority was given two main missions: stop doping in the sport and make racetracks safer. It was tasked with overseeing thoroughbred racing in the U.S., the high-profile horse races watched by millions of Americans during events like the Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Standardbred racing, also common in New York, will continue to be the purview of state regulators.

Led by some full-time staff and several advisory boards stacked with top industry names, the authority began crafting new regulations for the sport and hired an enforcement agency, Drug-Free International, to lead drug-testing efforts. Drug-Free International runs drug-testing programs for the National Football League, Major League Baseball and other sports.

In July, the authority took over regulating racetrack surfaces and grounds, as well as the rules jockeys must follow when using crops on horses. The goal was to be fully operational in 2023, when the authority would officially become the drug enforcement body for thoroughbred racing.

But the burgeoning organization attracted fierce opponents. State officials in Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia and organizations representing thoroughbred owners and trainers in some states filed lawsuits claiming the authority’s unusual quasi-government status is unconstitutional. New York thoroughbred groups did not join the lawsuit.

A panel of judges in November agreed with

the plaintiffs that the authority’s structure awarded too much federal power to a private entity. The new amendment passed by Congress Friday gives the Federal Trade Commission more power to shape the authority’s rules in the hopes of remediating that problem.

“It will ensure HISA is able to get work as intended,” Tonko said. “Congress now has spoken about this twice. The message is crystal clear ... reform is happening.”

A separate case against the authority brought by several states and horse racing organizations, including the lead association for standardbred racing, filed arguments before another federal appeals court earlier this month. A decision there could influence the authority’s functions.

Many open questions remain about exactly how the authority’s oversight of the sport will work. The authority can only regulate thoroughbred horse racing at tracks that simulcast their racing for bettors to wager on in other states.

The Texas Racing Commission has said its state law requires that it oversee horse racing in order to regulate betting in the state and, therefore, it cannot relinquish regulatory powers to the authority.

“Since I implemented the policy to deny the interstate export of covered races last June, HISA has made no attempt to assert jurisdiction over Texas thoroughbred races and they have told others denying the export signal is

By RICK KARLIN

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Stewart’s 2022 Holiday Match Program has raised more than $2 million for local children’s organizations.

From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day, customers donated $1,011,281 to the program, and Stewart’s Shops doubled that donated amount.

There are no administrative costs involved in the matching donation program; 100 percent of the funds benefit nonprofit children’s charities.

“We are continually amazed by the generosity of our customers. ... These gifts have the power to accelerate progress where it’s needed most and support projects and services that can fuel real change in our communities,” said Jennifer Frame, Stewart’s Shops

A total of 1,716 children’s organizations received funding

All local children’s charities are encouraged to apply for funding annually. Organizations can apply online through Jan. 31.

Groups must be locally based, benefit children younger than18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. All funds will be allocated in March.

Together, Stewart’s Shops and its customers have raised more than $36 million since 1986.

SKIP DICKSTEIN / SPECIAL TO THE TIMES UNION

Congress passed new legislation Friday that changes how the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will have its regulations approved.

Please

director of corporate philanthropy.

from last year’s Holiday Match campaign.

PROVIDED BY STEWART’S SHOPS

With matching donations, Stewart’s customers and the company have raised more than $36 million for children’s charities since 1986.

Saratoga County History Center Launches “Saratoga History

Happy Hours”

BALLSTON SPA - Saratoga County History Center members are invited to our inaugural Saratoga History Happy Hour at the Real McCoy Beer Company in Ballston Spa. The Saratoga History Happy Hour is a series of three happy hour vibe programs at which local historians or experts weigh in on a variety of historical topics, share their insights, answer audience questions, participate in a trivia contest, and enjoy libations from a New York State craft brewery.

Sean Kelleher, SCHC vice president, explains, “Mike Schaffer of the Real McCoy Company approached us. With all the history at his site, the birthplace of the purported inventor of baseball, this will be a fun opportunity to learn about some of Saratoga County’s most intriguing historical accounts.”

The program takes place at the Real McCoy Beer Company, the historic birthplace of

Southern Saratoga Art Society

CAPITAL DISTRICT - Artists and members of SSAS are exhibiting at two locations during January and February, 2023. The Clifton Park Senior Community Center Gallery, 6 Clifton Commons Ct., Tel. #: 518-383-1343 will be hosting a show called “The Two Vals” and will feature the artwork of Valerie Woodward and Valerie Wolf. These unique artists will feature an eclectic mix of artwork and use of vibrant colors in landscapes, still-life, paint pouring,

Major-General Abner Doubleday in Ballston Spa. The taproom is a legacy of America’s early aesthetic and historic charm, so you can enjoy historical stories and craft beers just like our ancestors. The Real McCoy Beer Company is located at 28 Washington Street in the village of Ballston Spa, NY 12020.

The agenda of the series is as follows:

January 26 – Real Life Crime is the focus with Waterford Historian Russ VanDervoort and SCHC Director of Education Anne Clothier.

February 9 – The Hamiltons and the Schuylers is the focus with Saratoga National Historical Park’s curator, Christine Valosin.

March 16 – Saratoga Style Baseball, including the story of the Abner Doubleday House and Lefty Mulligan with town of Saratoga Historian Sean Kelleher and others.

The programs start at 6 pm. Tickets to the Saratoga History Happy Hour are $15 each and come with a craft beer or non-alcoholic beverage. These events are limited to Saratoga County History Center members. Advance purchase of tickets is required by visiting https://brooksidemuseum.

realism to abstract, using acrylics, watercolor, pen and watercolor pencil collages just to name a few.

The Mechanicville Library, 190 N. Main Street, Tel.#: 518-664-4646 will feature artist Barbara Hurley. Barbara has been painting most of her life. She paints in acrylics, oils and watercolors and has taken many classes with various artists. Her exhibit includes portraits in oils and some recent works in Acrylics. Barbara will donate any proceeds from sales to the Round Lake Methodist Church.

For further informa-

Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Thrift Shop

BALLSTON SPA - The Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Thrift Shop is open on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 until noon. We are located at 101 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa.

org/2022/12/saratoga-history-happy-hours/ Membership in the Saratoga County History Center starts at $25. You are invited to become a part of Saratoga County’s history and join our fantastic community of partners and supporters as a History Center Member! Visit the link to explore our different membership levels: https:// brooksidemuseum.org/ support-schs/new-individual-membership-page/

If you are interested in participating in the upcoming Saratoga History Happy Hours, join our email list https:// brooksidemuseum. networkforgood.com/ events/51237-saratoga-history-happy-hour-mailing-list to stay current on all the latest Saratoga History Happy Hour news!

Capital Region Veterans Memorial (CRVM) Fundraiser

SCHENECTADY - Mary Brandt, Board President of the Capital Region Veterans Memorial, has announced a fundraising Dinner at the Water’s Edge Lighthouse, 2 Freeman’s Bridge Road, Glenville, NY

tion about SSAS visit our website: southernsaratogaartist.com or check us out on Facebook.

Annual New Years Eve Comedy Event Is Back!

CAPITAL DISTRICT -

The First Night of Funny returns for the 15th time at three local venues

The First Night of Funny, the annual New Years Eve stand-up comedy event that has long been a tradition for comedy fans is BACK! This year live events will take place at

on January 28, 2023 for the benefit of the Capital Region Veterans Memorial to be located in the new Legacy Park of Glenville, NY.

A highlight of the event is the Silent Auction with a very exciting item to be raffled off. A FLIGHT for TWO out of the Saratoga County Airport to a nearby Regional Airport. The flight will conclude with breakfast with the Pilot and all expenses are included. Many other items have been collected according to Ginny Barr, board member. Some other major items include a “Gaming Chair” and an Air Convection Oven. Auction items can be donated by calling Mary Brandt at 518-495-2524.

Bidding for this event will commence at 4 PM on Saturday, January 28th. Dinner will be at 5 and the evening will include an updated presentation on the progress of this important Capital District Project for Veterans. The cost is $40 per person and tickets can be purchased on line at CAPITALREGIONVETERANS.ORG

Proctors Theater in Schenectady NY, The Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes NY and The Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls NY.

The annual event is now in it’s 15th year and provides a high quality yet affordable indoor option for guests to enjoy on New Years Eve. All shows are suitable for guests 16 and over and provide a great night of laughs that ends early enough to be home well before midnight. Each event features four nationally touring headliners. All tickets are the same price everywhere in the house, so the earlier

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Event

Fish Creek Rod & Gun Club

Monthly Breakfast

SCHUYLERVILLESunday, January 8, 2023 8:00 – 11:00 - 123 SR 32

Schuylerville, NY $10 Adults $5 Children

Come welcome the New Year with us.

Choose from: Pancakes, regular, buckwheat, apple cinnamon and blueberry or French Toast. Eggs to order, homefries, bacon or sausage, toast, coffee and orange juice.

Ballston Area Senior Citizens Activities

BALLSTON/MILTON - BASC Inc. If you are 55+ a resident of Saratoga County. Looking to make new friends consider joining Ballston Area Senior. Residents from surrounding Counties are welcome to join.

Stop in the Milton Community Center any Thursday 10:00 am—11:45 am to join. Our newsletter at ballstonmiltonseniors. com also has an application in it fill it out and mail it in. For membership information contact Barb Broderson at 518-8854229 or e-mail ballston. area.seniors2@gmail.com

you purchase, the closer to the stage you sit (no VIP seating for those willing to spend more). Tickets are $35 from 12/26 through 12/30 and $40 the day of the event for all shows and venues. Tickets for ALL shows and details for each are available at www.

FirstNightOfFunny.com. 7:30pm - Proctors Theater – 432 State Street –Schenectady, 7:00pm & 9:00pm –Charles R Wood Theater –207 Glen St – Glens Falls 7:00pm & 9:30pm –Cohoes Music Hall –58 Remsen Street –Cohoes

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Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The majority of the ads in this publication were created by and are the sole property of Local First and cannot be reproduced without express permission from the publisher.

Murder in the Canfield Casino: New Detective Board Game Benefits Saratoga Springs History Museum

SARATOGA - Murder in the Canfield Casino: New Detective Board Game Benefits Saratoga Springs History Museum

Ballston

Spa United Methodist Church Food Pantry

BALLSTON SPA - The Ballston Spa United Method ist Church Food Pantry is open each Wednesday from 9:30 to noon and serves all of Saratoga County. We are located at 101 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa.

GLENS FALLS - The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour showcases the best mountain films from the annual Festival in Banff, Canada held each October. This year, we are returning to the Charles R Wood Theater for 3 nights which provides an opportunity to see all the shows that are part of the World Tour. Come each night to see all the great films.

The doors open at 6 pm. Come view the Mountain Art show featuring local artists. Enjoy some refreshments while you peruse the raffle items that benefit ADK’s Summit Steward Program. Special door prizes for those that get there by 6:30. Parking can be challenging, so arrive early.

We’re grateful for our local sponsors which enable us to keep the ticket price affordable. Please thank them for their support when you stop by their locations. Our sponsors are: Rocksport, Fountain Square Outfitters, the law office of Meyer, Fuller & Stockwell, Nemer Ford and Nemer Chrysler, Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Rick’s Bike Shop, Common Roots Brewery and Foundation, the Queensbury Hotel, and Local Motion PT.

Friday – Sunday, February 3-5, 2023 at 7pm (different films each night) 6 pm doors open for pre-show including Mountain Art show, free popcorn, door prizes, Common Roots beverages, and more!

February Break Drama Camp with Elyse Young

MALTA - Town of Malta Parks and Recreation Department announces FEBRUARY BREAK DRAMA CAMP for ages 10-15 will run Tuesday, February 21 through Friday, February 24 from10:00am until 3:00pm. The camp will be taught by Malta’s Artistic Director Elyse Young and will include acting skills, vocal techniques, theater games, crafts, rehearsals and performance of a short play. Camp and performance will take place at the Malta Community Center, One Bayberry Drive, Malta.

For more information, go online to www.maltaparksrec.com or contact Town of Malta Parks and Recreation Department at (518) 899-4411.

The Saratoga Springs History Museum has released a fun new board game just in time for the holidays: Murder in the Canfield Casino: The Saratoga Springs Historical Detective Game.

Players take on the role of historical figures from Saratoga Springs history and act as sleuths to solve the murder of Ms. Sara Toga in the Canfield Casino, Saratoga Springs’ most historic building. The game board is based on the floor plan of the Casino, and the suspects are prominent people from Saratoga Springs history, including: John Morrissey, builder of the Casino and founder of the racetrack; George Crum, inventor of the potato chip; and singer/actress Lillian Russell. All the potential murder weapons shown History Museum.

“This game was conceptualized during the pandemic shutdowns. I designed and wrote it, and sourced out the creative materials necessary to talented local people. We are so excited to have this finally come to fruition and be available for the holiday season,” says James Parillo, Executive Director of the History Museum.

Murder in the Canfield Casino retails for $49.95, with all proceedsbenefitting the Museum. The game is available at the Saratoga Springs History Museum Shop, Impressions of Saratoga, The Dark Horse Mercantile, G. Williker’s and The National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame’s Shop.

The History Museum has been located in the Canfield Casino since 1912 and serves thousands of visitors and hundreds of schoolchildren every year. The Museum’s three floors of exhibits tell the story of Saratoga Springs, and are always changing and improving. The History Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through December 18.

The Museum Shop will remain open December 19-23 for holiday shopping.

This game was made possible by Camelot Print and Copy Centers, The Adirondack Trust Company, Impressions of Saratoga, The Dark Horse Mercantile, Larry Ambrosino Design and Gail Stein Photography.

The History Museum can be reached at 518-584-6920, at www.saratogahistory.org, or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Charles R Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls

Recruiting AmeriCorps Volunteers

55+

CAPITAL DISTRICT

- Community Caregivers has partnered with AmeriCorps Seniors and is actively recruiting volunteers who are 55+ join a national volunteer movement and help their neighbors.

Our volunteers provide support, at no charge, to older adults and individuals who need help to live safely and independently in their own homes. There are several flexible opportunities available such as grocery shopping and transportation. We currently serve Albany and Rensselaer counties.

For those that meet the income guidelines, there is even a modest stipend available.

If your organization currently utilizes volunteers and would like to find out how we can partner or if you’re interested and have questions, please send us a note at americorps@communitycaregivers.org .

Also, Visit Community Caregivers at www.communitycaregivers.org.

Eco-Friendly Actions Calendar

CAPITAL DISTRICTYouth2 presents the 2023 “Eco-Friendly Actions” calendar to promote living in a sustainable manner for generations to come. Youth2 will post monthly on Facebook, Instagram and other local digital platforms simple lifestyle adjustments one can make to give back to our environment.

The organization has worked to create a methodical monthly plan for

the upcoming year. Early in 2023, the calendar explores themes of land use, upcycling, and trees, but as the year progresses gardening, recycling, water use, and advocacy are also discussed.

Youth2 hopes to call attention to addressing practical worldly issues (protection of water, trees, etc.) in a manageable, doable and not overwhelming way. The purpose of this calendar is to educate more people in the Saratoga Springs region on easy environmental actions that can be accomplished to help to protect our environment. Through community action we can contribute to a better future.

Master Gardener Training

WARRENSBURG - Applications are now being accepted for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program! The program starts in January 2023 and will be held virtually. The program is open to anyone who has an interest in expanding their gardening experience and knowledge. Learn how you can improve your own gardens and landscapes. Learn scientifically-based gardening information in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. It is a great way to learn even more by sharing information with fellow-Master Gardeners during the training, and following the training, by participating in community-based horticultural programs, educational projects, and helping people in the community with their gardening questions. The Master Gardener Training Program is packed with information provided by the

Capital Region Veterans Memorial Fundraising Continues

GLENVILLE - Efforts are continuing to create a Capital Region Veterans Memorial in a new 6.5 acre Legacy Park at Dutch Meadows Lane and North Ballston Road in Glenville, NY.

The Capital Region Veterans Memorial board of directors is trying to raise $1,000,000 or more to build a 4,000 square foot building to house a Veterans Café, visitor welcome center, museum, and computer technological services. The Legacy Park will have an amphitheater and a serene walkway with Military monuments, according to Mary Brandt, board president.

Monuments for World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and Expeditionaries will commemorate our fallen troops from Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties.

The completed project will honor our deceased Veterans while honoring and also serving our living Veterans, according to Ginny Barr, a board member.

The Veterans Café will be a place where Veterans, their friends and families, as well as the general public, can interact and share history and concerns, according to Justine Crowley-Duncan, board secretary.

Larry Zeglen, board vice-president suggested combining two original ideas of a Veterans Café’, inspired by Richard’s Coffee House in North Carolina and a monument park, inspired by one in Utah.

many scientists, educators, and garden experts associated with Cornell University. The course includes information about botany; entomology; organic gardening; soil health; use of fertilizers; plant diseases; good flower, fruit, and vegetable growing practices; and wildlife management. The deadline for all applications is Friday, December 30th. Please contact Rebecca Devaney for more information and an application by calling 518-623-3291 or email rld245@cornell.edu .

To Love A Child Annual December Angel Match $15,000 Challenge

CAPITAL DISTRICT - To Love A Child, Inc., a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization announces its Annual Angel Match $15,000 Challenge. This event kicks off on Giving Tuesday November 30th and will extend thru December 31st.

Two anonymous “angels” have pledged to match every donation during the month of December up to a $15,000 total. Donations assist people suffering from abject poverty—those deprived of basic human needs; including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health care, shelter, and education. Donations will be used to support local families in our community as well as programs and projects in Haiti and Zimbabwe.

To Love A Child invites you to make a difference in a child’s life. Your help and generosity are greatly needed this year to support our vision and mission in helping impov-

erished children. Over the past 13 years we continue to change lives through our journeys and your support.

Donations can be made on PayPal by visiting the website www.toloveachild. net or by mailing a check to: To Love A Child Inc., PO Box 165, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated.

Saratoga – Wilton Elks Lodge 161 Hosts a Stuffed Chicken Breast Dinner for Curbside Pick Up

SARATOGA / WILTON - Wednesday, January 4 2023, 4:30-6:00pm

Call Monday And Tuesday Between 10am-Noon To Place An Order - 518584-2585

Boneless Stuffed Chicken Breast w/Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Vegetable, Cranberry Sauce. Roll, Tossed Salad Dinner For 2 /$30.00 (Cash Only)

First Day

1pm Mud Pond Hike Did you stay up too late but still want to get out and start the new year off right... join us on a beautiful hike around our lesser known Mud Pond. This hike is family friendly but may be a bit long for those with shorter strides; strollers and wagons will not navigate this trail. Please consider bringing a carrier for the kiddos. This hike is free but DOES REQUIRE sign ups, please call 518-917-2174.

Capital District Fly Fisher Present an Introductory Fly Tying Class

Kwanzaa Celebration at the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge 609

SARATOGA - Fri., Dec. 30, 11:30am to 2:30pm

Hikes

for 2023 at Moreau Lake

GANSEVOORTJanuary 1, 2023, 9am Nature Trail Hike

Come and welcome the new year by stretching your legs and getting some fresh air. Our Educators will guide this hike on the Nature Trail, this hike is not stroller friendly but families are welcome and encouraged. Hike will be about a mile and a half with some bumpy terrain and hills. This hike is free but DOES REQUIRE sign ups, please call 518-917-2174.

To date the group has raised nearly $100,000, according to Brandt.

There are a number of ways people can help fund the project. Donations can be made through its website at capitalregionveteransmemorial.org or by mail. Send checks to Capital Region Veterans Memorial, PO Box 2756, Glenville, NY 12325.

Or, by purchasing a brick paver for the walkways by the monuments. A 4” by 8” paver costs $100 and an 8” by 8” paver costs $200. You can honor a Veteran, a military unit, a group, a business or anyone and that will be engraved on the paver brick. To place an order on line, visit the website at capitalregionveteransmemorial.org, and click “Buy a Brick”

For more information, contact Mary Brandt at 518-495-2524 or marybrandt543@gmail.com

Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center Annual Mitten Tree Program

Program encourages giving back to locals in need this winter season

SARATOGA - The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center is excited to announce the launch of their annual Mitten Tree Program. Starting Saturday, November 26 through Saturday, December 31, 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 the following organizations: CAPTAIN Community Human Services, Frank-

CLIFTON PARK - Intro to Fly Tying (Ages 13 and up) First session covers materials, tools, safety and hands-on instruction on knots used in fly tying. Students MUST have their own tying tools, which will be covered at the first session, and have 2 weeks to obtain needed tools. By the end of the 8 sessions, each student should have all the skills needed to embark on a life-long hobby of fly tying. Date: Jan 11, 25, Feb 1, 8, 22, March 1, 8, 22, (March 29 for weather date)

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Site: Locust Lane Clubhouse - 5 Locust Lane, Clifton Park Fee: $85

Registration is online through Town of Clifton Park. You do not have to be a resident to enroll.

Instructor: Members of Capital District Fly Fishers

Contact: Tom Passarelli tpassare@yahoo.com (518)-765-3389 Evan Lubin evan.Lubin@gmail.com

Please join us at the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge in celebrating together the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work & Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Sponsored by the Mary A. Carter Temple #362 For updated details & to purchase tickets: https://www.frederickallenlodge.org/kwanzaa More information: 518691-2499 www.FrederickAllenLodge.org 69 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Annual New Year’s Celebration at the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge 609

SARATOGA - Saturday, December 31 7:00pm to 2:00am, You are invited to dance in 2023 with all of us at The Lodge ... Complimentary Champagne @ Midnight!

Live Music & Dancing • Nibbles & Lite Fare • Raffles & Door Prizes • Cash Bar

For updated details & to purchase tickets: www.FrederickAllenLodge.org/new-years-eve More information: 518691-2499 www.FrederickAllenLodge.org 69 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

lin Community Center, and Shelters of Saratoga.

“As the holiday season approaches, we’re reminded how important it is to give back,” said Karen Verrigni, director of the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center. “This annual tradition provides hundreds of pieces of winter wear to those in need during the cold winter months. The kindness and generosity of our region is heartwarming!”

Instead of ornaments or lights, the tree is decorated with warm winter items such as hats, scarves, gloves, and of course, mittens. If you’d like to donate, the Visitor Center asks that you hang new or handmade items upon the tree. Visitor Center hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitor Center will be closed on Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. In December, the Visitor Center will be closed the following days for the Christmas holiday: Saturday, December 24 - Tuesday, December 27. The Visitor Center will be closed Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31 for the New Year holiday.

For more information, visit www.discoversaratoga. org/saratoga-springs-visitor-center.

Looking for Baseball Umpires

CAPITAL DISTRICT - Capital District Baseball Umpires Association is looking for new members for the 2023 season. Training classes are now forming. Please call Bob Umholtz at 518-986-5987 or go to cdbua.com for more information.

The Global War for American Independence –Experts Next Door

BALLSTON SPA - The Saratoga County History Center (SCHC) announces a virtual presentation by Dr. Eliga Gould on the Global War for American Revolution. Dr. Gould will participate in the History Center’s popular virtual speaker series “Experts Next Door.” At 7 pm on January 31st, Dr. Gould will explain the global war for American independence and the role played by the battles of Saratoga in 1777. This is a virtual program presented on Zoom.

Dr. Eliga Gould is a Professor and Chair of the Department of History at the University of New Hampshire. Gould’s scholarship focuses on the American Revolution, emphasizing the revolution’s “outer” history in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and the wider world. His current book project, Crucible of Peace: The Turbulent History of America’s Founding Treaty, examines the least studied United

States’ founding documents: the Treaty of 1783 that ended the American Revolutionary War. He is the author of Among the Powers of the Earth: The American Revolution and the Making of a New World Empire and co-editor of Empire and Nation: The American Revolution and the Atlantic World.

Sean Kelleher, Vice President of the Saratoga County History Center, says, “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Gould present our virtual “Experts Next Door” program. The American victory at Saratoga in 1777 could not have been achieved without foreign aid. After Saratoga, most people don’t realize that the fighting of the American Revolution includes Asia, Africa, and Europe.” The History Center is proud to support the Saratoga County 250th American Revolution Commission, created by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors to recognize the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in Saratoga County.

The event, set to take place on Zoom, is open to the public. It’s free, but do-

UAlbany Professor Emerita Martha Rozett to Lead “Synagogue Scholars” Discussion of Provocative Book

CAPITAL DISTRICT - B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation resumes its “Synagogue Scholars” series with a discussion led by Professor Emerita Martha Rozett of People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn Friday, Jan. 6, immediately following the congregation’s 7 p.m. Shabbat service.

B’nai Sholom is at 420 Whitehall Road, Albany, New York. The service and program, open to all who wish to worship and learn, will be in person (weather permitting) and via Zoom. For Zoom link, contact the B’nai Sholom office.

Horn’s essay collection has a title that seems designed to offend or challenge the reader. Most of the 12 essays were published elsewhere in recent years and some have been the subjects of a podcast on Tablet. Author of The World to Come and All Other Nights and with a doctorate in Hebrew and Yiddish literature, Horn is troubled by the way readers expect “uplifting” stories about Jews

Clifton Park Senior Community Center

CLIFTON PARK - 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park, NY 12065 • 518-383-1343

Senior Express -Transportation for Clifton Park Senior Residents – 518371-4444

Saratoga County Office for the Aging - Home Delivered Meals – 518-3634020 or 518-363-4033

Periodic Activities: call or go online to view our newsletter at https://cliftonpark.org/services/senior-services/senior-center.html

Our Daily Lunch Program (12:00pm Noon) is ongoing. Call for details.

MONDAYS:

Game Room Activities (darts, air hockey, billiards, & ping pong), Tap Dance, Jazz Dance, Bocce Ball, Chair Yoga, Beginner Clogging, Intermediate

Clogging, Discussion Group, Rummikub, Ukulele, Quilting Group, Soulful Line Dancing, Healthy Bones

TUESDAYS:

Exercise to Tape, Game Room Activities (darts, air hockey, billiards, & ping pong), Yoga, Dice Games, Duplicate Bridge Group, Qi-Gong and Tai Chi, Scrabble, Hand and Foot Cards, Square and Round Dancing, Tai Chi for Seniors

WEDNESDAYS:

Exercise to Tape, Game Room Activities (darts, air hockey, billiards, & ping pong), Investment Group, Ukulele Group, Dice Games, Intermediate Bridge, Bowling, Beginner Mahjong, Poker, Knitting and Crocheting, Healthy Bones

THURSDAYS: Exercise to Tape, Game Room Activities (darts, air hockey, billiards, & ping

nations are highly valued. To register, please visit https://brooksidemuseum. networkforgood.com/ events/51224-end-21

The “Experts Next Door” virtual speaker series was launched in the summer of 2020 and has featured specialists from various fields, from archaeology to gardening to mixology to history to teach. Please visit the History Center website at www.brooksidemuseum. org for more information.

Code Blue Saratoga Open

SARATOGA - Shelters of Saratoga to open the Code Blue winter emergency shelter beginning 10/27/2022 until April 2023. The agency operates the NYS mandated winter shelter for Saratoga County.

Beginning Thursday and continuing until April 2023, the program will provide nightly shelter from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Additionally, on days when the temperature drops below 32 degrees, daytime respite with a navigation center where community partner agencies provide

client services will be available. Services this winter have expanded to include case management, which provides the means for guests to move out of homelessness.

SHELTER LOCATION: 4 Adelphi Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: 518-581-1097 ext. 500

CONTACT CODE BLUE: 518-581-1097, ext. 500 About Shelters of Saratoga - Shelters of Saratoga’s mission is to transform the lives of our neighbors facing homelessness through supportive services, safe shelter, and a path to independence. The Saratoga County based human services agency has been providing homeless care since 1991. Shelters of Saratoga operates Saratoga County’s Code Blue program, a New York State mandated program that protects people who would otherwise remain unsheltered during winter weather.

To get involved or donate, visit: www.sheltersofsaratoga. org

and their rescuers that emphasize redemption, arguing that such stories minimize the suffering experienced by the Jewish people throughout history. Horn’s is a provocative book, but a timely one for a world in which anti-Semitism, both subtle and violent, continues to be widespread.

In her Jan. 6 talk, Rozett will examine four of the essays in Horn’s book: “Everyone’s (Second) Favorite Dead Jew,” “Frozen Jews,” “Legends of Dead Jews” and “Commuting with Shylock.”

A Shakespeare scholar and professor emerita at the University at Albany, Rozett is the author of When People Wrote Letters: A Family Chronicle (The Troy Book Makers, 2011), a story told through family letters and autobiographies about the travels and careers of her mother and great aunt and about a romance threatened by the differences between New England Episcopalians and New York Jews. Rozett holds a doctorate in English from the University of Michigan.

Begun in 2004, the “Synagogue Scholars” series spotlights individuals in the Capital Region Jewish community who are recognized authorities in their fields.

pong), Chorus, Rummikub, Yoga, Mixed-Media Watercolors & Acrylics, Pinochle, Mahjong FRIDAYS: Tap Dance, Ballet, Orchestra, Big Band, Woodcarving, Game Room Activities (darts, air hockey, billiards, & ping pong), Bocce Ball, Dominoes, Jewelry Making Class, Bingo, Crowns, Canasta, Latin Line Dancing, Healthy Bones

Historic Cherry Hill Recruits Volunteer Guides to Lead Tours of the Historic House Museum In 2023

ALBANY - Historic Cherry Hill is looking for individuals interested in local history to join as volunteer guides for the 2023 tour season. Guide training will begin on-site

in late January 2023 and will take place roughly every other Wednesday evening through April.

Interested volunteers will be fully trained by Historic Cherry Hill staff members and guest speakers. Guides can expect to commit to 6-10 hours per month from January to November of 2023, with the majority of public tours occurring between June and August.

Regarding Covid-19: Historic Cherry Hill will continue to follow the latest recommendations from NYS and CDC guidelines and museum best practices to ensure the safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff.

Historic Cherry Hill tells a story of America through the lives and experiences of five generations of one Albany, New York household. The historic house museum is located at 523 ½ South Pearl St., Albany, NY 12202.

Historic Cherry Hill is an equal opportunity employer. Please note that guides walk up and down two flights of stairs during the tour, and may be on their feet for prolonged periods of time.

Interested volunteers can visit our website at

Malta Ridge UMC Free Lunch

MALTA - The Malta Ridge United Methodist Church will hold a Free Lunch on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the Church located at 729 Malta Avenue Extension, in Malta Ridge. A soup and sandwich lunch will be served at no charge from 11:30am to 1:30pm. All are welcome. For additional information or directions please call the Church at 518-581-0210.

Knights of Columbus 246 Host Bingo

SARATOGA - KOC Hall, 50 Pine Road, Saratoga Springs, every Wednesday evening. The doors open at 4:30, the kitchen window (which is staffed by the Catholic Daughters) opens at 5:30, games go on sale at 6:00, and the first game starts at 7:00. Every week, there is $1,500 in guaranteed prize money. Join us for an evening out and help to support our activities within the community.

is Looking for Volunteers to Join our Team

CAPITAL DISTRICTIf you enjoy being outdoors in the wilderness, working with others to help people, follow directions well and have a willingness to learn, then our SAR team might be for you! Prior knowledge is helpful, but definitely not required as we provide the training. Check out our website at: www.humsar.org for more information.

Collie, Sheltie Walk at The Crossings Park

COLONIE - Collies and Shelties as well as their owners are welcome to join in a weekly walk at The Crossings Park at 11 a.m. Sundays in Colonie. The walk begins at the first parking lot on the right off of Albany Shaker Road. Participants welcome newcomers.For information, contact Terry Brown at (518) 785-1117 or soldierttb@gmail.com.

B’nai Sholom monitors the rapidly changing COVID situation and follows state and CDC health guidelines regarding masking and social distancing.

For more information, visit www.bnaisholomalbany. org or contact the B’nai Sholom office: office@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us or 518-482-5283.

American Legion Breakfasts Back in January

DELMAR - American Legion - Blanchard Post 104016 W. Poplar Drive Delmar NY

Sons of the American Legion Monthly Breakfast Buffet- all you can eat** Adults $12, Children $6 (under 12) Enjoy our extensive buffet which includes omelet stations, breakfast sandwiches, eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, pancakes, and more. Includes beverages (coffee, tea, juices) Proceeds used to fund our various projects and programs that directly support our Veterans.

January 29, 2023 from 9 to 12-noon (and February 26th and March 26th) Thank you for your support to the Veterans - we look forward to seeing you! *elevator and ADA restrooms on site

www.historiccherryhill. org/news/ or contact Meghan Willis, Education Assistant at HCH by emailing meghan@ historiccherryhill.org or calling 518-434-4791.

Colonie Senior Service Centers

Announces January’s Healthy and Local Cooking Class

COLONIE - Each month Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc (CSSC) offers a cooking demonstration highlighting “the best of local” for seniors (55+). As the area’s largest nonprofit senior organization, CSSC offers a wide array of senior programs and services including educational, and health and wellness opportunities.

Join Award Winning Chef Aneesa Waheed, owner of Tara Kitchen, on Tuesday, January 31 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to learn from an area expert about why Moroccan cuisine is so special. The class will take place at CSSC’s King Thiel Senior Community, 17 Elks Lane in Latham.

Moroccan cuisine is the cuisine of Morocco,

fueled by interactions and exchanges with many cultures and nations over the centuries. Moroccan cuisine is a mix of Arab, Berber, Andalusi, and Mediterranean cuisines, with minimal European and sub-Saharan influences. For nearly a decade, Tara Kitchen has served Moroccan food that is for everyone. It’s worldly but accessible comfort food packed with flavor. Vibrant, not fiery, it is seasoned with spices that reflect Morocco’s history as a cultural crossroad. There is a $5 charge to attend, and prior registration is required. Space is limited. For further information or to register, please call Diane at 5 18-459-2857 ext. 305.

The Latham-Colonie Columbiettes are Hosting a Breakfast Buffet

LATHAM - Sunday, January 8th, 2023, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Latham-Colonie Knights of Columbus Council, 328 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, N.Y. 12110.

Menu includes; Scrambled Eggs, an Omelet Station, Home Fries, Corned Beef Hash, Bacon and Sausage, Pancakes and French Toast served w/Warm syrup, A Variety of Cereals and Juices, Bananas and Hot Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate.

*$12 Adults, $6 Children (5-10) and under 5 Free! www.lathamcoloniekofc. com/dinners&events

The Boys and Girls Club Of Albany is Hosting an Adult Bible Study

ALBANY - Each Thursday at 6:00 P.M. The address is 21 Delaware Avenue.

For further info please call 518-885-3149.

Lakes’ changes could hurt fish

Study: Deoxygenation affects trout, salmon habitat in Adirondacks

By ZACHARY MATSON ADIRONDACK EXPLORER

SARANAC LAKE — Dissolved oxygen levels have been declining in Adirondack lakes in recent decades, and new research shows that could be a big problem for fish.

Warming temperatures mean earlier ice breaks and later ice formation. This causes lake stratification — the separation of a warm top layer from a cold bottom layer — to strengthen and last longer.

Typically, mixing events in spring and fall replenish nutrients and oxygen throughout a lake’s water column. But as stratification lengthens, dissolved oxygen by late summer is falling to levels that pose harm to fish and other aquatic life.

sity professor who has studied Adirondack lakes since the 1980s, is finishing up a paper that uses data from the Hamilton County Water and Soil Conservation District.

The data included temperature and oxygen measurements at different depths, known as profiles, on 17 Adirondack lakes.

Bukaveckas found that the shape and size of lakes determined how harmed they will be by the declining oxygen levels. Large, deep lakes will retain more oxygen-rich waters than smaller, shallower ones.

Imagine a trout searching for suitable habitat in a lake: Surface waters warm more than desired, so they move to deeper waters, but those deeper waters are losing the oxygen they need to survive. The lake’s “Goldilocks Zone” is shrinking.

“It’s an issue of habitat compression,” Bukaveckas said. “They have less and less habitat available in the lakes.”

Some shallow Adirondack lakes don’t stratify and have consistent oxygenation throughout, but they are also susceptible to warming.

The 25 years of Hamilton County data showed that dissolved oxygen levels had declined in a significant number of lakes. In the early 1990s, 73 percent of the studied lakes registered average summer dissolved oxygen levels above 5 mg/l. By 2021, 55 percent of the lakes exceeded the oxygen threshold. Bukaveckas projected that by 2045, around 45 percent of the studied lakes would meet the threshold.

Rose and other researchers demonstrated that a decline in dissolved oxygen was “widespread in surface and deep-water habitats” across the world’s temperate lakes from 1941 to 2017.

Researchers at Rose’s lab compiled and published a data set of 28 Adirondack lakes focused on the concurrent impacts of climate change and acidification, including the oxygen and temperature measurements.

The data, which ended in 2012, showed that Adirondack lakes were losing oxygen at faster rates than global averages, Rose said.

A research paper published this month analyzed deoxygenation trends in around 400 lakes worldwide, including over a dozen in the Adirondacks, and examined the volume of water and habitat where dissolved oxygen levels dropped below 5 mg/l. Below that level, cold-water fish like trout and salmon can struggle to find suitable habitat.

The researchers from Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute estimated that across the studied lakes, the proportion of the water column falling below the critical oxygen threshold had increased between 0.9 percent and 1.7 percent per decade.

“Assuming this applies to lakes generally, this is a massive amount of water,” said Stephen Jane, a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell’s Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the paper’s lead author.

Jane said that some lakes will be less sensitive to the oxygen declines, but that those with lower oxygen concentrations are likely to see more of the water column fall into low-oxygen conditions.

“Lakes are definitely having increases in the amount of water that is not suitable for cold-water species,” Jane said.

Paul Bukaveckas, a Virginia Commonwealth Univer-

“Finish the Job” Campaign for Brookside Museum Launched

BALLSTON SPA - The Saratoga County History Center at Ballston Spa’s Brookside Museum has launched its Annual Appeal, “Finish the Job,” with the objective of complete stabilization of the historic building in the coming year. The goal of the current phase, $45,000, will fund energy efficiency and long-postponed repair of space required for museum operations and care of its important collections. Two friends of the museum have pledged $15,000 to match an equal sum from the community.

Last year’s “Preserve the Porch” campaign exceeded its goal by more than $10,000. The building’s porch of six square columns in the Greek Revival style is believed to have been built in the late 1820s or early 1830s, replacing the 1792 original. The top-quality restoration work of the porch is now underway and will be finished by year’s end.

“Finish the Job” will make the museum’s most economical operation possible. Its storm windows are 70 years old and do little to keep out the weather. Replacement with modern, efficient storms is planned before midwinter. New interior and exterior lighting, for the comfort of museum visitors and to reduce energy consumption, will use LED technology.

An area of the building damaged many years ago by a leaking roof was to be gutted and converted to badly-needed storage. Finally, since most of the museum’s galleries have been renovated, only two floors must be repaired and refurbished.

Field Horne, president of the Saratoga County History Center, explains,

“In late spring 2023, a permanent exhibition about the county’s economic and social development since First Nations times will be installed, thanks to funding from the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. “Finish the Job” will create a welcoming setting for the new exhibit.”

All gifts will be acknowledged with gratitude and donors will be counted as 2023 members. Contributions can be submitted through the www. brooksidemuseum.org link or by mail to SCHS, 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa, N.Y. 12020.

Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund Supports the History Center

Lend-A-Hand Grants an Exhibition on the History of Saratoga County

BALLSON SPA - Tthe Saratoga County History Center in Ballston Spa announced a $2,500 grant from the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund as part of their LendA-Hand program. The grant was presented at the Community Fund’s annual award reception and will support an immersive exhibition on the history of Saratoga County to open in spring 2023.

Field Horne, president of the SCHC, said, “This grant helps the History Center regain fiscal momentum with exhibitions, the lifeblood of a museum. The support of the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund makes possible the preservation and sharing of our county’s rich history.”

Maureen Walsh, SCHC Treasurer, said, “This grant represents the faith of the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund in the value of SCHC. We are delighted and honored. The funding will

That habitat compression will be more impactful on certain lakes. Bukaveckas compared two Hamilton County lakes to demonstrate the point: Piseco Lake and Lake Eaton. Piseco is around 130 feet deep, while Eaton reaches a maximum depth of 56 feet. Oxygen depletion is more acute in Lake Eaton, where the cold layer of water is much thinner than at Piseco. According to findings, average summer dissolved oxygen levels at Eaton dropped below 3 mg/l, Bukaveckas said in an interview.

The loss of oxygen can alter the chemical and biological characteristics of lakes and create an accumulation of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Oxygen depletion also results in the formation of a toxic form of mercury, potentially enhancing the bioaccumulation of mercury in fish. It may also exacerbate harmful algae and cyanobacteria growth, which in turn can deplete oxygen.

The Adirondacks’ history of acid rain further complicates research. When lakes were highly acidified, organic matter did not readily dissolve into the water column, resulting in many clear lakes. As pH levels increased, so did the solubility of organic matter, and water clarity declined. The lake “browning” was a sign of recovery from acid rain, but it also limited sunlight’s ability to warm deeper waters, potentially strengthening stratification and exacerbating oxygen losses.

“We think that is driving or contributing to faster-than-average rates of oxygen loss,” said Kevin Rose, an RPI researcher who runs the lab where as a doctoral student Jane studied stratification and deoxygenation.

In a 2021 paper published in the journal Nature, Jane,

help SCHC deliver on its mission to bring a deeper understanding, for residents and visitors alike, of how the past informs and impacts our present and future in Saratoga County.”

With this grant and other support, the organization will create an exhibit with a lifespan of about a decade. An exhibition of this magnitude and quality should result in a steady audience and sustainable fiscal support. It will provide an engaging orientation for residents and visitors about the county’s history and be the basis for developing new public and school programs. This development should lead to additional partnerships with cultural and educational institutions and increase outreach to audiences and donors.

The Saratoga County History Center is dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the diverse histories of Saratoga County. In addition to the Brookside Museum, the History Center provides various innovative, exciting, and educational programs online and in-person across the county. Please check the website (www.brooksidemuseum. org) and social media accounts (@SaratogaCoHistory) for updates and announcements.

Hudson-Mohawk Search & Rescue Looking for Volunteers

CAPITAL DISTRICT - If you enjoy being outdoors in the wilderness, working with others to help people, follow directions well and have a willingness to learn, then our SAR team might be for you! Prior knowledge is helpful, but definitely not required as we provide the training. Check out our website at: www.humsar.org for more information.

Rose is also one of the lead scientists organizing a large survey of around 300 Adirondack lakes focused on climate change. As part of that survey, known as SCALE, researchers want to collect temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles, and on a subset of the lakes they’ll deploy probes to collect high-frequency data throughout the ice-free season.

Rose said an initial $500,000 appropriated to plan for the survey is supporting work at a variety of research institutions. RPI is mining data sets to determine a representative list of lakes to study. Cornell is working on methods to survey lake biology using environmental DNA technology. The City University of New York is using its satellite imagery expertise to maximize remote sensing of impacts to Adirondack lakes.

He said they could start survey work in 2023 if the funding is available, estimating three years of sampling around 100 lakes each year.

A group of researchers and advocates met to discuss the survey plans in Saratoga Springs in 2021. Rose and Peter McIntyre, a Cornell scientist, summarized the four overarching research questions of the project. The questions focused on carbon cycling, lake biodiversity and harmful algal blooms.

“Oxygen and temperature was question No. 1,” Rose said.

This story is from the Adirondack Explorer, a nonprofit news organization that covers the Adirondack Park. Its journalism is published in a bimonthly magazine and daily on adirondackexplorer.org.

ZACHARY MATSON / ADIRONDACK EXPLORER

Research has shown that large, deep lakes will retain more oxygen-rich waters than smaller, shallower ones. Case in point is Lake Eaton, above, which reaches a maximum depth of 56 feet and registered the lowest dissolved oxygen concentrations of 10 Hamilton County lakes.

ZACHARY MATSON / ADIRONDACK EXPLORER Sagamore Lake in Hamilton County was one of around 400 lakes worldwide analyzed in a new study of oxygen depletion.

Fish Creek Rod & Gun Club Fish Fry Friday

Eat-In or Take Out

SCHUYLERVILLEThe Fish Creek Rod and Gun Club Friday night Fish Fry will be back for 2023. Fish Fry will start January 13 and run through April 7th We will be serving from 4:00pthm till 7:00pm. Various menu items are available From fried fish to chicken nuggets with French fries, Cole slaw and chowder also available. 518-695-3917

Ballston Area Seniors

BALLSTON SPA - The Ballston Area Seniors will be meeting at the Town of Milton Community Center, 310 Northline Rd. every Thursday at 10:00am

To play cards, use the craft room & play pool or just socialize.

Lunch is at 12:00 noon. A Congregate Meals, Monday –Friday at 12:00 noon—1:00 pm. Reservation are required the day before your meal, call 518884-0163.

At lunch the BASC Members may participate in Congregate Meals OR bring your own lunch, your choice. We will have pizza every third Thursday of the month.

Coffee and hot water for tea will be available. New information on weekly activities

Mondays 9:00 ---12:00---Table Pool 10:00---11:00am--Chorus 11:15am---12:00--Exercise Tuesdays 10:00am---12:00--Crafts 1:00---4:00pm--Mahjong Wednesdays 9:00---12:00—

Senior Craft Room 12:30 pm---3:00 pm---

Quilting

First Wednesday of each Month Pickin’s 6:30pm9:30pm

Thursdays 12:00---Lunch & General Meeting, followed by Bingo 1:00pm---4:00pm---

Table Pool

Fridays 9:00 am—12:00---

Senior Craft Room 10:00 am—12:00-— Computer Class 2:00---2:45pm--Exercise 6:30---9:00pm---

Table Pool

We will be keeping you updated in the newspapers & meetings.

Senior December Dining Events at Colonie Senior Service Centers

COLONIE - Join us for a hot meal at The Beltrone Living Center Monday-Friday at Noon. This program is funded in part by the Albany County Dept. for Aging, NYS Office for the Aging, Administration for Community Living, Town of Colonie and participant contributions. January menu is currently under review and subject to change.

This program is an equal opportunity provider. Suggested donation of $3, and registration and reservations are required.

Call 518-459-2857 x 303.

January 6th at Noon

Special Lunch: “As Iz” (Izzy Singer) is an Albany, NY area based one-man band, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Izzy has performed and recorded his music since the late 1980s. He will play a mix of original songs plus classic covers from artists such as The Beatles, Johnny Cash, The Byrds, Ricky Nelson and more! Lunch served will be Chicken

Cacciatore, Rice Pilaf, Sauteed Spinach, Green Salad and a blondie.

January 9th at Noon: Lunch & Learn: Come enjoy lunch with the community and listen to Alexandra Wolfe, Master in Social Work, a Volunteer Coordinator and Family Advocate at the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center speak about the work they do for our community, and about volunteer opportunities to help victims. Lunch served will be Shrimp Scampi over Angel Hair with Peas, a Caesar Salad and a blondie. January 23rd at 5:00pm: Come see Joe Gorman – singer, songwriter and vocalist preform and enjoy a tasty lunch with the community! Dinner served will be (subject to change) Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles, Green Beans, Caeser Salad and a Ice Cream Sundae.

1/ 2 CLOSED Day after NYD

1/3 Chicken Pesto Lasagna

1/4 Salmon Cakes

1/5 Spinach Fritta

1/6 Special Luncheon Chicken Cacciatore

1/9 Lunch & Learn Shrimp Scampi

1/10 Goulash

1/11 Cream of Broccoli Soup + ½ Turkey Sand.

1/12 Pizza Day

1/13 Sausage w/ Peppers & Onions

1/16 CLOSED MLK DAY

1/17 Meatloaf

1/18 Chicken & Dumplings 1/19 Bacon, Shrimp & Corn Chowder + ½ Turkey Sand

1/20 Shepard’s Pie 1/23 Lunch Chicken Plicata

1/23 Special Dinner Swedish Meatballs w/Egg Noodles

1/24 Baked Ham w/Peas + Scalloped Potatoes

1/25 Seafood Mac &

1/26

1/27

THE CENTER at Colonie

Service Centers

Announces January Classes and Events

COLONIE - THE CENTER is a place for individuals 55 years of age or older to learn, grow, exercise and be creative. Best of all, it’s a place to have fun! We are so excited about these offerings, in celebration of the New Year and of all things new and exciting. Please note, $20 membership is due in January. Call 518-459-2857 x 327 or email THECENTERatCSSC@colonieseniors. org for information. All events take place at The Beltrone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany NY. Registration required. These classes start in January. Please call for dates, times and to register.

Call 518-459-2857 x 327 or cbarrett@coloniesenior.org.

Wellness and Exercise Guided Meditation 101, $30

Tap Dancing: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, $60

Intro to Ballet, $60 How to Shoot Pool, $45 Learn to Bowl, $69 Intro to Nia, $30 Strength, Core and Cardio, $65 Yoga for Joy, $60 Tai Chi for Healthy Aging, $40 Art Events

Soapmaking 101, $29 Zentangle, $29 Watercolor Workshop, $15 Flower Study – Scryli9c Painting, $33 Rubber Stamping Art,

Greenlight Networks to expand service

By MELISSA MANNO

CLIFTON PARK — Green-light Networks, a high-speed broadband service provider, said this week it will expand its fiber-optic network throughout the town with a $16 million investment.

The service expansion will make gigabit internet available to nearly 12,000 homes by year-end of 2024, as well as support infrastructure development in the town with the creation of local jobs and work for local contractors.

After establishing service in the Azalea and El Dorado neighborhoods in 2021, new construction in these neighborhoods will connect an additional 2,000 households to the network.

Construction is also set to begin in the neighborhoods of Summerlin, Roosevelt and Bruno and other smaller neighborhoods to extend the network to 10,000 more homes in 2024, according to the announcement Wednesday. The company is encouraging residents in these areas to place preorders for service.

Mark Murphy, president and CEO of Greenlight, said the Rochester-based Company has been working with the Saratoga County town over the past year to identify a plan to ensure local residents gain access to their high-speed fiber internet and reliable connectivity.

“Connecting residents to multi-gigabit fiber internet will be a gamechanger for individuals and families looking for alternative options for reliable and affordable Internet services. We’re excited to welcome new customers and look forward to building our presence here in Clifton Park,” Murphy said in a statement.

Greenlight is partnering with the Vischer Ferry Fire Department to host its network equipment in exchange for complimentary high-speed fiber broadband service.

The Rochester-based company first broke into the Capital Region in November 2021 by establishing its services in Clifton Park. In October, Greenlight announced an expansion into Malta with a $6.5 million investment, bringing service to more than 6,500 households in the town. The development followed the release of a report that revealed more than 132,000 households lack the ability to access broadband in New York.

Once construction in Clifton Park is complete, customers that preordered service will be notified to schedule inhome installation.

$10

Quilted Hearts, Free Button Club Surprise Event, Free Trips and Travel

Troy Music Hall, $10 Met Opera at Crossgates, $42

Via Aquarium and Druther’s Lunch, $59

Cross Country Ski Lesson, $80

Krause’s Candy Tour, $10

Silk Scarf Workshop, $59 Albany Mural Tour, $10

Many Club and Social Events, including Bingo, bridge, cribbage, knitting, Rummi-cube, cornhole, mahjong, book club, writer’s workshop and movies.

Hispanic and International Ministry at Clifton Park Center Baptist Church

CLIFTON PARK - Clifton Park Center Baptist Church offers an outreach program for Hispanics and Internationals in the area. It is a time of fellowship and Bible Study on Mondays @ 7:00pm. It is offered in English and in Spanish. The church is located at 713 Clifton Park Center Road in Clifton Park, NY. Please contact Rev. Damaris Cami-Staples at (518)371-6023 if you have any questions.

THE CENTER at Colonie Senior Sevice CentersSearching for Timbuctoo Screening and Q&A

COLONIE - SEARCHING FOR TIMBUCTOO tells the little-known story of a Black settlement, established in the wilds of upstate New York, that brought together a group of ardent abolitionists willing to risk their fortunes, their families, and

their futures to destroy slavery. Little did they know that by coming together, they would help tear the nation apart.

Paul Miller is a writer, filmmaker and photographer based in upstate New York. As a 20-year veteran of broadcast and cable television, he has worked for national shows and networks, including The History Channel, National Geographic Channel, PBS, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Free for all.

Monday, February 6, 3:00 p.m ., with question-and-answer session to follow. At The Beltrone Living Center.

St. Mary’s Church Food Pantry

WATERFORD - The Food Pantry of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Sixth and Broad Streets in Waterford, is open and accepting new Waterford clients. To register, or for more information, contact Lynda at 518-237-8826. Returning clients should continue to contact the Rectory at 518-237-3131 on Monday mornings to sign up for the Tuesday distribution. The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary’s Church. The Pantry looks forward to seeing returning clients and to meeting new ones.

Book Club at THE CENTER

COLONIE - Whether you are an avid reader or need a little nudge to pick one up, this book club is welcoming to all. We’ll meet the third Tuesday of each month to discuss the chosen book. 518-4592857 x 327, cbarrett@ colonieseniors.org

COLONIE - The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)

to communities in seven states- Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, New York and Oregon to implement innovative projects for equitable and accessible transportation to meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved populations, especially older adults and people with disabilities from diverse communities.

Colonie Senior Service Centers (CSSC) is one of seven grantees selected from among the nine transportation planning grants funded by NADTC in 2021. To build upon our earlier work, Colonie Senior Service Centers was awarded $70,000 to expand its transportation

services into the City of Watervliet and Village of Menands for seniors aged 60 and older and seniors with disabilities. Seniors must be registered with CSSC to participate in this new initiative and can do so by calling Jim ay 518459-6064.

Diane Conroy-LaCivita, Executive Director of Colonie Senior Service Centers, is thrilled to have been chosen by the NADTC to participate, commenting “Can’t not do it! As a forty-one-year-old nonprofit, CSSC is considered the largest provider of senior programs and services in the Capital Region. Our hardworking Team’s motto is to ‘always step-up, never step aside’. This grant will allow our organization to help even more seniors throughout the community.”

The mission of Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc. is to provide comprehensive services to those in our community who are in or approaching their mature years, and to provide support and services to their families and caregivers. Through these services, CSSC strives to ensure the physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being of our participants, improve the quality of life, and to enhance the structure and stability of our community as a whole.

Greenlight Networks, a broadband provider, is looking to build out a fiber-optic network in Clifton Park to service residents there. Contributed by Greenlight Networks

Cheese w/Broccoli

Minestrone Soup + ½ Roast Beef Sand.

Antipasto Salad + Italian Wedding Soup 1/30 Stuffed Pepper 1/31 Irish Beef Stew

Senior

SARATOGA SPRINGS RECREATION DEPARTMENT

SARATOGA - Saratoga Springs Recreation Department Spring Program

Registration

Mark your calendars! Registration for spring programs including baseball, fitness classes, skating lessons, soccer, and volleyball begin in January.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs for complete information and to register.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

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Discover Your Artistic Talent with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department and C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios

In this co-sponsored program, youth will have the opportunity explore a variety of artistic medium in order to develope their own unique expression.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Art Programs for complete information and to register.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions. *****

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Begin Your Ice Skating Journey with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department Intro to Ice Skating introduces skaters age 3-adults to the exciting world of ice skating, and prepares a skater for advancement to figure skating, hockey, or speed skating. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Ice Skating lessons for complete information and to register.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions. *****

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Begin Your Figure Skating Journey with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department Fundamentals of Figure Skating introduces participants to the artistry and athleticism of figure skating.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Ice Skating lessons for complete information and to register.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions. *****

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Learn Responsible Dinking at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department Pickleball Workshops

Several pickleball workshops will be held in Dec 28th and 29th at the Rec Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue for various levels of interest and expertise.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Pickleball Workshops for complete information and to register.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

*****

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Gear up for a great winter with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department

Registration is now open for fan favorites boxing and volleyball.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs for complete information and to register.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

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Mother Teresa’s

Thrift Shop

MECHANICVILLEThe Thrift shop is opened Tues-Wed-Thurs. 10 A.M.- 2 P.M. Located at 52 William St, Mechanicville. Visit our Thrift Shop, we have a large selection of quality items, and low prices. Gently used designer clothing, accessories and home goods. New inventory arriving daily, and weekly sales. Dedicated volunteers. Donations Always Welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Capital Region

Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

Friday – Jan 13 at 7 pm: It’s Broadway Musical Night. Enjoy a “CATS” with discussion after. This is a pay what you will event. Call 518-452-6883 for more information. Location in Colonie: Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

Enjoy a night of music. ($10 pp) – Snacks and beverages available for purchase. Call 518-4526883 for more information. Location in Colonie: Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

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New Fitness Room at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department

Commit to being fit at the Rec!

The Scott T. Johnson Recreation Center offers popular exercise equipment including a treadmill, rowing machine, free weights, and more.

Participants must sign up for a Drop In Rec Card prior to coming.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Rec Center, Drop In Sessions for complete information.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

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Drop In Fitness Classes at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue is currently offering drop in classes in Balletone and Pumped up Strength.

Balletone is a cardio and strength program that combines dance, pilates, and fitness moves, and is open to everyone 18 years and older.

Pumped up Strength is a combination strength training and cardio program, and is open to everyone 18 years and older.

Both incorporate fun and energizing music to keep you moving.

A City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card is required in order to participate.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Balletone or Pumped Up Strength for complete information.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions. *****

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Drop In Sessions at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue is currently offering Open Adult (17+) Basketball, Open Gym, and Pickleball sessions.

A City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card is required in order to participate.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com, and click on the basketball for the schedule, information, and to sign up for your City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

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Drop

In Sessions

at the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink

Join us for Family Skate, Open Public, Family and Open Stick, Open Adult (17+ and 40+), and Open Figure sessions.

A City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card is required in order to participate in all sessions except Open Public (City residents receive a discount upon sign-up).

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com, and click the ice skate for the schedule, information, and to sign up for your City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card.

Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

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Racquetball Rentals at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center

Reservations for court times can be made through Community Pass.

Fees are $5 for City residents with a verified Community Pass account and $8 for all others.

Reservations and fees are per person/per hour.

Participants must sign up for a Drop In Rec Card prior to coming.

Participants must a racquet, racquetballs, and appropriate footwear.

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Rec Center Drop in Sessions for additional information and to reserve a court. Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.

Social Happenings and Singles Outreach

Services

January Events

CAPITAL DISTRICT - https://www.facebook. com/CapitalRegionSocial - CapRegSocialHappenings@gmail.com.

Check out the following events that are held at 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Building) at “Hill” door entrance. As conditions change, current State and CDC guidelines will be in effect. Plenty of free parking. Handicap accessible.

Tuesday Nights: 7 pm “Real World” discussions. A different topic every Tuesday with a different Facilitator. Great interactive event at Singles Outreach. $4 members/ $6 Guests Call 518-452-6883 for more information. Location in Colonie: Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

Friday – Jan 6 at 7 pm: LIVE event! Ed Salvo Performs song and guitar -- music across the decades. He’s always a hit when he performs. ($10 pp) – Snacks and beverages available for purchase. Call 518-452-6883 for info Location in Colonie:

Sunday, Jan 15 at 3 pm: Guest Presentation -- Following the 2 pm potluck, enjoy our speaker, Gretchen Moore from the Albany Guardian Society. Learn about all their programs. Potluck $5 with dish or $10 without. Call 518-452-6883 for more information. Location in Colonie: Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

Friday – Jan 20 at 7 pm: Chinese New Year Celebration. It’s the Year of the Rabbit. Bring a Chinese Take-out dish to share. Discussion about the Lunar New Year and more. $5 with dish or $10 without. Call 518-4526883 for more information. Location in Colonie: Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

Sunday, Jan 22 at 3 pm: Guest Presentation -- Following the 2 pm potluck, enjoy our speaker, Connie Frisbee Houde, International Photographer and Traveler. Learn about her latest trip to Tibet. Potluck $5 with dish or $10 without. Call 518-452-6883 for more information. Location in Colonie: Hanover Square Building, 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Offices and Apts.) at “Hill” door.

Friday – Jan 27 at 7 pm: LIVE event! Good Things Trio will perform.

THE CENTER at Colonie Senior Service Centers Announces an Open House

COLONIE - The Open House is January 13 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. THE CENTER is a place for individuals 55 years of age or older to learn, grow, exercise and be creative. Best of all, it’s a place to have fun! We are so excited about these offerings, in celebration of the New Year and of all things new and exciting. Please note, $20 membership is due in January.

Come and mingle, meet instructors and learn about THE CENTER at CSSC. At our January Open House, there will be information about wellness and fitness classes, artistic and creative events and club happenings, too. The open house is a great chance to see where classes are held and tour our building. Start your journey in staying active, connected and healthy in 2023!

There will also be music, crafts, snacks and fun. Free for all. Call 518-4592857 x 327 or cbarrett@ coloniesenior.org.

Open Studio Time at THE CENTER

COLONIE - Come work in our beautiful Art Studio. Bring whatever project you’re working on and be creative in a supportive environment. Tuesdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 518459-2857 x 327, cbarrett@ colonieseniors.org

This week’s home is a slice of Colonial comfort in Rensselaer County, between Grafton and Hoosick Falls. While the snow may be hiding it now, the real star is the landscaped backyard, with tiered gardens leading from the back patio to a pergola.

Built in 1999 – and hasn’t been on the market in 20 years – the 2,100-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms; the main bedroom on the second floor has a full ensuite bathroom with a soaking tub.

Also situated on the 1.5-acre plot is a detached garage/workshop, for the handy homeowner. Newer features include a furnace, hot water and roof.

Berlin Central schools. Taxes: $5,873. Listing price: $354,900, thanks to a recent $15,000 price drop.

For more information, contact listing agent Bohdan Lewyta, HUNT Real Estate ERA, by calling 518-5968484. —Sara Tracey

RACING RULES

CONTINUED FROM 1

the only recourse a state has to prevent their jurisdiction,” said Amy Cook, executive director of the Texas Racing Commission. “Unless directed by our Legislature, the Texas Racing Commission will not relinquish state funds or personnel to conduct federal activities. As a result, with complete stakeholder input, I determined the best path forward for Texas horse racing was to deny HISA’s authority and allow the industry to move forward

HOROSCOPE

Week Of January 1, 2023

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Sometimes you have to hold some things in to safeguard others from sticky situations. It can be tricky keeping secrets, but this week it is for the best.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, there are a lot of people in your corner right now who are willing to pitch in when you need help. If you encounter an obstacle, just ask for assistance.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, change your schedule or your scenery, especially if you feel like you are in a rut. All it may take is one modification to bring on an entirely new perspective.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

If a person comes to you needing a friend in the next few days, resist the urge to offer advice. Simply listen and provide companionship. This is all the person needs at the moment.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Prioritize getting your finances in order, Leo. Make this one New Year’s resolution that you maintain; otherwise, you may have financial troubles in the months to come.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

A few opportunities are coming your way in regard to your career, Virgo. Sort through all of the offers and figure out what works best for your situation.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, there is a lot of momentum around you, but for some reason you cannot find your footing. Sooner than later you’ll find your path and will be moving along.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Take charge of your priorities,

Scorpio. It can be easy to get swept away in other people’s drama. Make a list of all the things you want to accomplish and start working.

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, people are expecting much of you this week, especially higher-ups at work. You may need to find the motivation to keep going. The end result will be worth it.

CAPRICORN –Dec 22/Jan 20

Family time is a hot commodity for you right now, Capricorn. Even after the holidays, you have a few other events on the calendar that will bring relatives together.

AQUARIUS –Jan 21/Feb 18

It can be difficult to let things go and trust other people. However, the free time that you’ll get will enable you to tackle other items on your to-do list, Aquarius.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

If you are thinking about going back to school or learning a new skill, this is the time to do it, Pisces. Start shopping around for programs.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

JANUARY 1

Poppy, Singer (28)

JANUARY 2

Dax Shepard, Actor (48)

JANUARY 3

Florence Pugh, Actress (27)

JANUARY 4

Coco Jones, Actress (25)

JANUARY 5

Bradley Cooper, Actor (48)

JANUARY 6

Kate McKinnon, Comic (39)

JANUARY 7

Nicolas Cage, Actor (59)

in an atmosphere of regulatory certainty.”

If other states follow suit or some tracks opt not to simulcast, racing would again be left with a patchwork of regulatory jurisdictions.

“Currently, Texas is the only significant racing state that is not subject to the authority’s regulations,” Minger, the authority’s spokeswoman, said. “There are a few fair meets throughout the Midwest and the West that are also not subject to the authority’s regulations.”

The authority is seeking to use some state commissions’ resources, like investigators and drug samplers, to enforce the rules it’s writing.

The New York Gaming Commission has refused to sign an agreement with the authority to enforce the authority’s rules in the state, commission spokesman Brad Maione said this week.

“Is it appropriate for the state regulatory staff to basically undertake something as a vendor for the authority?” commission Executive Director Rob Williams asked in August, while speaking at a horse racing conference in Saratoga Springs. He said it wasn’t clear the state agency had legislative authority to use state resources in that way. “We declined to accept that responsibility.”

Also, Congress has not allocated any federal funding to pay for horse racing regulation. States or racetracks will pay the authority’s regulatory costs. The Gaming Commission declined to allocate state funds or collect fees from the industry to send to the authority.

If states don’t pay, the bill falls to racetracks to cover, possibly through fees for horses participating in races. This year, the New York Racing Association and New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association split a $1.6 million fee from the authority and implemented per-racehorse fees at the tracks. A list of racetrack assessments obtained by the Times Union shows the New York Racing Association could be on the hook for about $8 million when the authority starts drug enforcement.

NYRA has supported legislation to establish a national horse racing authority for years.

COURSES

CONTINUED FROM 1

anywhere for Zoom options.

Founded in 1992, the Academy is a nonprofit, membership organization whose members share a love of learning. A self-funded entity, A.L.L. is designed to offer lifelong learning and comradery among seniors, A.L.L. also offers a spring and fall term, Special Interest Groups, (SIGs) and special events that are held throughout the year. If you would like to support the Academy by becoming a member or for more information, contact the Academy at (518) 290-6988, email jeff@allsaratoga,org, or go to www.allsaratoga.org.

Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry

BALLSTON SPA - Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry, located at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave, has expanded our service hours. We are now open every Tuesday morning from 9-11am and every Thursday afternoon from 4:30-6:00pm.

“We look forward to its full implementation as soon as possible,” NYRA spokesman Patrick Mc-Kenna said.

As the regulatory battle has unfolded, more than two dozen horse racing trainers, veterinarians and suppliers were sentenced to federal prison this year in one of the largest doping takedowns on record in the sport. The prosecutions by federal prosecutors in Manhattan involved a few trainers and individuals who worked with horses in New York.

For now, horse racing drug enforcement is the purview of its erstwhile handlers: state commissions like the New York Gaming Commission. State commissions write their own rules on the use of medications in horse racing, test for illicit drug use, employ investigators to police the sport and deliver penalties to violators.

George Maylin, the head of the New York State Equine Drug Lab, responsible for conducting all horse racing drug testing in New York, told the Times Union that testing and research has struggled to keep up with the new and difficult-to-detect substances that he and others in the field believe cheaters are using to win races.

Trainers, investigators and other sources in the industry told the Times Union lackluster state investigations in New York, combined with underfunded drug testing, have for decades contributed to a proliferation of doping in standardbred and thoroughbred racing.

Tens of thousands of equines are shipped for slaughter every year from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico, including some former race horses, with New York as a primary thoroughfare for shipments.

Horse breeding and racing has benefited from significant state support in New York. Racing has been propped up by more than $2.9 billion in state taxpayer dollars and government-directed benefits since 2008, a Times Union investigation uncovered.

Saratoga Race Course, a top race track in the nation, broke wagering records and notched another year of high attendance during its meet this year.

Waterford Knights of Columbus Breakfast Buffet and Omelet Station

WATERFORD - Buffet featuring our famous Omelet Station, Eggs cooked to order, Pancakes (Plain or Blueberry), French toast, Sausage, Bacon, Seasoned Home Fries, Toast, coffee, tea, orange and apple juices.

Take a chance to win the 50/50 drawing.

Each paid breakfast enters you to win a free breakfast!

WHEN: Sun., Jan. 8th, 2023, 8:00am – 11:00am

Every 1st Sunday of the Month

WHERE: K of C Hall, 76 Grace Street, Waterford waterfordkofc.org or call 518-237-9330

$12.00 adult - $6.00 children (Children under 4 free)

Al-anon Meetings

SARATOGA - Alanon meeting to support those living with an alcoholic, grew up with alcoholism etc… please join us at our weekly meeting: Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church 175 5th Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Every Tuesday: 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

The landscaped backyard, above, features tiered gardens leading from the back patio to a pergola. At left is a detached garage/ workshop, Below, the kitchen and living space.

JANUARY Saturday & Sunday, January 21 & 22.

Birch Bark Picture Frames and Mirrors with Jim Schreiner. 2 days.

9am-4pm. Tuition $250.

Member Tuition $200. Materials fee $15.

Birch bark picture frames and mirrors have adorned Adirondack camps and cabins for centuries and were a favorite winter project for the guides to make. This is a great class for beginners with limited experience with woodworking and tools. You will select a frame and learn how to cut and fasten the Birch bark, twigs and other natural objects to create your own “masterpiece”. Come see why this is one of our most popular classes. You’ll be proud to hang this in your home!

Tuesday - Friday, January 24 - 27. Introduction to Weaving on a Floor Loom with Teri Dvorak. 4 days. 10am-1pm. Tuition $250.

Member Tuition $200. Materials fee $20.

Learn to weave on a floor loom. With instruction and hands on experience, you will perform each step of the process - winding a warp, dressing a loom, and weaving a cotton towel to take home and use for years to come.

NOTE: The class is held at the Lake George Outlets 1476 Rt. 9, behind the Log Jam.

Saturday, January 28

Introduction to Beekeeping with Bianca Braman. 1/2 day. 9am-1pm.

Tuition $75. Member

Tuition $60. Materials fee $0.

This course will give students the confidence to get started in beekeeping. We will go over some reasons why one might want to keep bees and then discuss how to procure and care for the bees to foster a healthy and happy bee relationship. Depending on the specific interests of the class, we can discuss more about keeping bees for honey, pollinating, wax, propolis, bee venom therapy (personal/home needs), or simply bee interest.

Saturday, January 28 Introduction to Woodturning with John Kingsley. 1/2 day. 9am-12pm. Tuition $70. Member Tuition $55. Materials fee $15.

To every season turn, turn, turn! This course is for people who have an interest in learning how to turn. The emphasis will be on learning how to use the lathe and tools safely and correctly. In this class you will learn the basics of creating spindle-based objects. Then you will use your new-found skills to create a candlestick and a wooden pen. Friends and family will be truly impressed! You’ll need to take this class before moving on to the more advanced turning classes.

NOTE: For your safety: no loose-fitting clothes, hair tied back, comfortable shoes and no jewelry If sensitive to wood dust, registration for turning classes is not recommended.

Lake Luzerne, NY 12846 - (518) 696-2400 - www.adirondackfolkschool.org

Finding beauty in all conditions

Whatever the weather, Adirondack trek a treat

By HERB TERNS

On an early December morning with my bike loaded with camping gear, I rode north for an Adirondack overnight. These trips have become a form of ritual for me.

I exhausted the length of the Ballston Lake Bike Path before finding quiet roads through farm fields. The long ridge of the Kayaderosseras Range was visible to the north, both my obstacle and my gateway to the Adirondacks.

After a long climb, I stopped for lunch on top of the ridge at Archer Vly. It was colder there; the vly was frozen and I inhaled the clean, slightly metallic scent of winter. I rode the top of the ridge, waving at hunters and then enjoyed the long, chilly descent to Sacandaga Lake.

Too late in the year for powerboats and too early for snowmobiles, Great Sacandaga Lake was peaceful and ringed by mountains as I crossed the Batchellerville bridge. I passed through Northville on the pretty main street and then rode smaller roads on my way into Hope.

Along the way I had a staring contest with a roadside porcupine who was contemplating a dinner of deer pellets. Goats have a reputation for eating anything, but porcupines make goats look like Susie Davidson Powell.

In the shadow of Rand Mountain, I placed my tent near the rushing water of Stony Creek. I’m not usually a campfire guy, but with an early sunset and chilly night, I became one. I rolled bean burritos and placed them on a fireside stone to warm them, but lacked patience and ate most of them cold.

There was no television and no internet. Except for the bike and modern fabric, I could have been someone from the Paleolithic era — same fire, same human with the same desire for ritual under the same night sky. The fire crackled as I considered the transience and timelessness of things.

What looked like car headlights was actually the sudden appearance of a bright moon. I walked to the edge of Stony Creek guided by moonlight. The water, trees and snow were bathed in a silver glow. I may have ridden six hours for just that moment.

I snuffed out the fire and crawled into my sleeping bag. There wasn’t another human

around for a mile or more. This was not an everyday sensation. I considered fierce woodland creatures — bears, coyote, serial killers — but I’d already seen the most frightening one, the porcupine.

When I was a kid in the Catskills, my mother was the fire tower observer on Hunter Mountain and we were stranded one night when a porcupine ate the wires in our jeep. A few years later on the same mountain, porcupines chomped on the tires of my grandfather’s jeep. I lay in the dark near Stony Creek thinking about how far I’d need to walk if a hungry porcupine noshed on my bike tires.

You have your nighttime anxiety and I have mine.

At four in the morning, I woke to a soft, peaceful rain on the tent. A few hours later, frigid rain beat a hard tattoo. I packed up the bike with cold, numb hands. A few degrees colder and the woods would have been pretty and white and I would have been warmer, but that wasn’t the day I had. Picking your own hardships is a luxury and rain or not, I was lucky.

My bike was not on the porcupine’s menu and I festooned it with a panoply of lights and rode into the tempest. I soon stopped to see clouds draped over the low-slung mountains and the rushing creek. It’s not nature’s job to make the world beautiful; it’s my job to see it.

The rain came in waves of light and heavy but eventually the rain did not matter. The center line of the highway was notched with rumble strips to alert drowsy drivers. I was thankful for the sound of tires on those strips behind me as drivers crossed the yellow line to pass safely, thankful for them giving me space to go on living.

BUCK Marketing & Data Analyst

SARAH