Hadley Hosts Annual Maple in April Fest April 26
HADLEY — Sweet Spring
Fun will be celebrated with maple goodies for everyone at the 24th annual Maple in April Festival, Saturday, April 26, in Hadley.
The outdoor, one day, family-fun festival begins with the Scholarship Breakfast featuring French Toast with real
maple syrup at 7:30 a.m.
Throughout the day e-food vendors will offer maple enhanced products, including maple cotton candy, maple cheesecakes, and maple popcorn.
Events include the Lil’ sugar dust-off Car, Truck and antique
Tractor Show, the horse drawn wagon ride through town to the craft and food vendors along Rockwell Street, bounce-houses, dance lessons and caricature portraits.
For more information, go to: https://www.hadleynybusiness. org/.
Sunnyside Garden Party Supports Secret Gardens Tour May 8
SARATOGA SPRINGS
— The Secret Gardens kickoff Garden Party will take place on Thursday, May 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sunnyside Gardens, 345 Church St.
This annual event – billed as a day to socialize and shop for Mother’s Day, and for yourself - is free and open to the public, featuring wine and nibbles courtesy of Sunnyside, raffle baskets, and live background music by Phil Drum.
The party celebrates and supports Soroptimists of Saratoga
County’s upcoming 30th Secret Gardens Tour, which will feature nine gardens in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, June 29. Tour tickets will be available for purchase in May.
Sunnyside donates to Soroptimists a portion of proceeds from sales, including gift cards, during the May 8 event.
Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, founded in 1979, is part of a more than 100-year-old global volunteer non-profit organization that strives to improve the lives of
women and girls. Beneficiaries include Wellspring, the organization dedicated to preventing sexual abuse and assisting victims in Saratoga County; a program to develop confidence, leadership skills and open doors for local high school girls; and awards to women heads of household overcoming adversity and furthering their education.
Visit www. soroptimistsaratoga.org for more information. Email questions to secretgardesninfo@gmail.com
Shaken, Stirred, and Celebration: UPH Showdown Marks 10 Years of Cheers for the Arts on May 15
SARATOGA SPRINGS
— Shaken & Stirred is back for its 10th anniversary. The event brings together talented local business teams to step behind the bar to shake, stir, and serve up friendly competition and community spirit - in support of the Collaborative School of the Arts at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.
The event invites attendees to support arts education by tipping their favorite bartending team. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Saratoga National Golf Course.
Last year, the event raised more than $72,000.
“This event isn’t just about great drinks and friendly competition - it’s about supporting the next generation of artists,” Teddy Foster, director of UPH said in a statement.
“The funds raised go directly to the Collaborative School of the Arts, providing young performers, designers and technicians with the resources and training they need to grow and thrive in the arts.”
The CSOA offers a wide range of educational
opportunities across the Capital Region, including workshops, master classes and performancebased programs, helping students of all ages develop their artistic skills and build confidence in a supportive environment. Specifically, at UPH, CSOA brings Rock Camp to the Great Hall, giving young musicians the ultimate band experience, from rehearsals to a live performance.
Admission to Shaken and Stirred: 10th Anniversary Edition is free, no cover charge. For more information, visit atuph.org or follow UPH on social media.
Belmont on Broadway: Gin Blossoms to Headline Free Kick-Off Concert June 4 in Saratoga Springs
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Belmont on Broadway, a free concert with performances by Gin Blossoms and Uprooted, will kick-off the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga Springs.
The concert will take place on Broadway from 7 - 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4.
The stage will be set adjacent to the City Center. Broadway will be closed from Van Dam to City
Hall on the day of the event.
Gin Blossoms formed in 1987 and rose to prominence following the 1992 release of their first major label album, New Miserable Experience, and the first single released from that album, “Hey Jealousy.”
The Uprooted Band featuring Michael Glabicki carries on the legacy of Rusted Root’s energetic music.
The 2025 Belmont on
Broadway kick-off concert was announced April 10 at the Saratoga Skip Scirocco Music Hall.
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be conducted at Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.
For more information about Belmont on Broadway, go to: www.discoversaratoga.org/ belmontonbroadway.
The Belmont on Broadway live music fest returns to Saratoga Springs for the second year. Last year’s inaugural event featured Blues Traveler.
Belmont on Broadway inaugural festival in June 2024, looking south on Broadway from the stage. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
Linda Michon
NISKAYUNA — Linda Michon passed away on April 9, 2025, at Saratoga Hospital.
Funeral services were held on Monday, April 14, 2025. Burial took place at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery where Linda was laid to rest with her late husband. Please visit www. burkefuneralhome.com.
Judith Eleanor Pratt
WILTON — Judith Eleanor Pratt passed away April 8, 2025. Per the family’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or immediate services. A celebration of life will be held on May 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at The Old Barn at Snook Kill. For online condolences, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
John “Lumpy” Prevost
SARATOGA SPRINGS — John “Lumpy” Prevost, 57, passed away on April 12, 2025, at Saratoga Hospital. Visitation was on April 17, at Burke Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 518-584-5373. Funeral service followed at 6 p.m. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Lisa Ribis
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lisa Ribis, 58, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2025, with her devoted husband by her side. A service was held on April 12 at Compassionate Funeral Care. Calling hours were prior to the service. Online condolences, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
OBITUARIES
William (Bill) H. Johnson Sr.
MOREAU — It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of William (Bill) H. Johnson Sr., age 79, on April 4, 2025. We respectfully request that donations be made to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (Trfinc.org) –a cause close to Bill’s heart. Services are private. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
JoAnne (DeMarco) Stanton
SARATOGA SPRINGS — JoAnne (DeMarco) Stanton, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed April 12, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Mass is at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 26, at St. Pius X Church, Loudonville. Burial to follow at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Memorial donations to your local library or animal shelter. Please visit www. burkefuneralhome.com.
Edward J. Crouse
MALTA — Edward J. Crouse, 96, a resident of Saratoga Lake, passed away on March 24, 2025. Memorial donations to Malta Veterans Appreciation Program, 4158A Silver Beach Rd, Malta, NY 12020 (www. maltavets.com). Burial was private in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Mechanicville. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Jean Elizabeth Cooley Rinko
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Jean Elizabeth Cooley Rinko, 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in the comfort of her home. Mass was April 12 at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, Ballston Lake. Burial will be at a later date. Online remembrances may be made at www. burkefuneralhome.com.
LeRoy A. Page, Jr.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — LeRoy A. Page, Jr., died April 2, 2025. A service was held on April 9 at Compassionate Funeral Care with calling hours prior. Interment was at Gerald B.H. Solomon National Cemetery. Online condolences, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
William Rawlington “Roy” Welsh IV
SARATOGA SPRINGS —
William Rawlington “Roy” Welsh IV of 221 Washington Street born April 29, 1959, a lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2024. He was a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School Class of 1977 – he was a superb baseball player and an avid sports and music fan. Roy was a HUGE Yankees fan, as well as a fan of the 49ers and horse racing. He could be found in discussion about the upcoming year his Yankees will have with “full faith” of a championship, keeping his horse bets close to his chest or listening to one of his favorite Robin Trower songs.
Roy was predeceased by his loving parents William R. Welsh III and Essie Mae Welsh and is survived by his cousin Beryl Bailey of Virginia.
Special thanks to Buddy Clarke, Todd Walczak, Mitzi Pinkney and Jimmy Azotea for their unwavering friendship, and to Rolland Hoag at Compassionate Funeral Care for his comfort and support.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Frederick Allen Elks Lodge at 69 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. For online condolences, visit www. compassionatefuneralcare. com.
City Police Statement Regarding Presence of ICE in Saratoga Springs This Week
Saratoga Springs Police Department Chief Tyler McIntosh released the following statement regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the city April 15:
We acknowledge the uncertainty and confusion pertaining to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the city, so I would like to offer some information in an effort to clarify today’s incident and the policies and practices of the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
On April 15, 2025 at 6:15 a.m., our police department communications center was contacted by ICE to notify us they were in the city conducting surveillance of a particular location. The ICE representative did not request assistance from our department and none was provided.
At 7:57 a.m., our communications center was again contacted by ICE and notified that agents made an arrest of an individual on Broadway near Gardner Lane and that they were leaving the city. A review of city camera video confirmed that no members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department were present or involved in this arrest.
The highest priority of the Saratoga Springs Police Department is to uphold the Constitutional rights of all individuals and to treat everyone we encounter with the utmost dignity and respect. Our mission is to serve and protect all residents and visitors of Saratoga Springs, regardless of their immigration status.
We believe there should be no barriers for anyone who wishes to report a crime or to contact a police officer for any reason. Therefore, the Saratoga Springs Police Department
does not require or encourage officers to investigate the immigration status of victims or witnesses. The reporting of a crime or cooperation with an investigation will not automatically lead to an immigration inquiry.
Immigration enforcement is not a priority of the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
SSPD members are not trained to enforce immigration laws under the federal program referred to as 287(g) certification nor do we plan to train our officers through this program.
However, should a federal law enforcement agency request assistance from the SSPD, we will provide assistance consistent with our policies and procedures, as we would for any other law enforcement organization needing assistance within the city. Probable examples are assisting an agency with traffic control and officer safety concerns.
Again, it is important to emphasize that immigration violations are not a priority of the Saratoga Springs Police Department. As evidenced today, we remain committed to following our policies which are drafted based on the Constitution, legislation, case law, and established best practices.
I recognize that immigration enforcement is a deeply complex and often sensitive topic that affects individuals, families, and communities in profound ways across the country. Our approach in SSPD is rooted in a commitment to equal enforcement of the law and serving and protecting all individuals in the City of Saratoga Springs with the utmost honor, integrity, and respect.
State DOT To Host Open House In Schuylerville Regarding U.S. Route 4 Bridge Replacement Project
SCHUYLERVILLE — The New York State Department of Transportation will host a public open house on Wednesday April 23, to discuss plans to replace the U.S. Route 4 bridge over the Hudson River. The bridge connects the towns of Northumberland, Saratoga County and Greenwich, Washington County, with a new structure at the same location designed to enhance safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The open house will take place 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Champlain Canal Gateway Region Visitor Center, 30 Ferry St., Schuylerville. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with NYSDOT Engineers and view plans, which include removing and replacing the bridge, and reconfiguring the intersection of Routes 4 and 32.
The bridge will be replaced with a new structure built to modern design standards with an expected lifespan of at least 75 years. Safety enhancements on the bridge include widening travel lanes from nine feet to 11 feet to facilitate the safe flow of traffic and adding five-foot shoulders in each direction to provide safer crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists. The project will also expand emergency access and enhance safety at the intersection by improving sight distance and adding turn lanes on Route 32.
The new structure will be built parallel to the existing bridge, which will remain open to traffic during construction, other than a brief period of transition to the new bridge, which will require a detour utilizing State Routes 32, 197 and 4. The project is expected to
begin in 2028 and be completed in 2030.
Additionally, last week DOT announced the start of a $3.8 million project to replace the bridge carrying State Route 22 over White Creek in the Town of White Creek, Washington County.
The project will enhance safety and improve mobility along an important travel route that provides access to the Adirondack Region and is a vital conduit for the flow of agricultural products from the area.
State Route 22 is the longest north-south state route in New York, stretching along the eastern border from New York City to Clinton County, near the Canadian border. The project will replace the existing, 98-year-old structure that serves approximately 5,000 vehicles a day.
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Dake Foundation for Children
Announces Community Grant Recipients
SARATOGA SPRINGS
— The Dake Foundation for Children has announced six nonprofit organizations that have been selected as recipients of the most recent funding round for their Community Grant program.
Founded by Gary Dake, President of Stewart’s Shops, the Foundation has provided grants to local children with disabilities since 2009 with a focus on inclusion,
independence, and fun. In addition to the individual support the organization provides, the Community Grant program offers assistance to local 501c3 nonprofit organizations seeking to make their spaces or programming more accessible and inclusive.
Program recipients are: All Abilities Productions, Queensbury, NY – Funding will support inclusive youth
This Month at Moreau Lake State Park
GANSEVOORT — The following events are scheduled to take place at Moreau Lake State Park, located at 605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort.
Friday, April 18 - Radical Rabbits 11a.m. - Join a Nature Center educator for a presentation on rabbit diets, ranges, behaviors and more. Free and open to all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Saturday, April 19Phragmites Basket Weaving 10 a.m. – noon. Join our nature center employees in a tutorial on weaving your own mini baskets for Easter, May Day, or to use as a catch-all. Free and open to all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Sunday, April 20 - Nature Trail Walk 11 a.m. Join an educator on an easy short 1.5 mile walk around the back pond. We will be starting the hike down at the beach. Please be prepared for muddy trail conditions. This
hike is not stroller friendly, but well-behaved dogs on a 6-ft. or shorter leash are welcome. Free and open to all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Monday, April 21Stonewall Hike 10 a.m. This is a guided hike on a lesserknown moderate trail along the Hudson River with the added interest of logging history and old foundations. This 3.5-mile hike has some steeper parts. We will meet at the park office and will caravan to the trailhead about 20 minutes away. Please dress appropriately for muddy conditions. Hiking poles, gaiters and waterproof boots are recommended. Free and geared toward ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Upcoming: Wednesday, April 23 - Beginner Birding 8:30 a.m.; Saturday, April 27 Celebrating Earth Day-Hike at Lake Bonita at 9 a.m.
theater programming; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Glens Falls, NY - Funding will support individuals with disabilities participating in their Group Mentoring program; Breakthrough T1D, Albany, NY – Funding will support their Connections program, providing education and community for children and young adults navigating Type 1 diabetes; Double H Ranch, Lake Luzerne, NY –Funding will support their Adaptive Winter Sports program, providing safe skiing and snowboarding opportunities for children with disabling conditions; Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern NY, Albany, NY – Funding will provide socialization and community support for children and young adults
diagnosed with epilepsy; STRIDE Adaptive Sports, West Sand Lake, NY – Funding will support their Learn to Bowl program, allowing children with disabilities to participate in the sport safely with their peers.
The Dake Foundation for Children funds grants by holding events open to the public throughout the year. The next event is “Boots & Bourbon,” and takes place on May 18 on the grounds of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Sponsorships are currently being accepted, the funds from which will provide opportunities for local children with disabilities to enjoy more independence, inclusion, and fun.
For more information, go to: http://www. dakefoundation.org.
Corinth Clean-Up Day and Scavenger HuntApril 27
CORINTH
— The Healthy Corinth Coalition has coordinated a Town and Village clean-up of roadside trash from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at The Barn, 8 Mallery St. Volunteers will meet at The Barn at 10 a.m. before heading out to pick up roadside trash. A scavenger hunt will take place to keep things fun for the whole family – everyone is welcome to participate. Bags, gloves, and coffee will be provided. Information on
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” will be provided at The Barn throughout the event. The event will take place rain or shine.
Healthy Corinth Coalition’s purpose is to address health disparities affecting the Corinth population, to improve the health and well-being of residents, and empower them to be proactive in identifying and removing barriers to good health. For more information, email: healthycorinth@gmail. com.
Saratoga School District Bike Rodeo Returns
Community Gardens at Wesley YEE-HAW!
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS
— The Saratoga Springs City School District’s annual Bike Rodeo event will return on Thursday, May 8 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Kids are encouraged to bring their bicycles to the East Side Recreation Field’s track and in-field off of Caroline Street for an obstacle course, minor bike maintenance, safety course, helmet fitting station, games, and a relay race contest.
All kids participating in the event can fill out a raffle ticket for a chance to win a new bike from Trek Saratoga Bicycles. Free hot dogs and hamburgers will also be provided by the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
The event precedes Biketo-School Day on May 16.
Community gardens. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s time for spring planting. If you love to garden but don’t have your own space, join the Wesley campus community gardens.
Rent is $50 for a raised 4x8 foot box. For an application, contact: Susanbokan@gmail.com.
Photo provided by Jake Zanetti.
REAL ID Set to Begin May 7; Rush Resulting in Longer DMV Wait Times in Saratoga County Sets Public Hearing for Restaurant Space at Saratoga County Airport
BALLSTON SPA — With the federal requirement of having a REAL ID to board domestic flights set to begin May 7, the Saratoga County DMVs have seen a 35% spike in foot traffic and increasing wait times for customers, according to the agency.
The May 7 deadline set by the federal Department of Homeland Security only relates to when “REAL ID-compliant” identification will be required to board planes flying within the United States and to enter certain federal buildings.
“If you plan to travel domestically by air in June or afterwards, you may want to consider delaying your visit to
DMV until 45 to 60 days out to avoid the influx of customers and longer wait times currently being experienced,” Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner said in a statement.
Hayner emphasized that the state-issued Standard Driver’s License and Standard Non-driver ID will remain a valid ID in New York State.
“If you don’t travel by air domestically or enter certain federal buildings where a REAL ID is required, you can continue to use your Standard Driver’s License/Non-driver ID. No need to upgrade,” he said. “You are not required to upgrade to a REAL ID. It is a personal choice.”
A U.S. passport also is a form of REAL ID and is good for domestic and international flights. Other forms of REAL ID that will be accepted to board a plane after May 7 can be found on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website at www.TSA.gov/id.
For those who need to visit the DMV, Hayner advises ensuring documents are ready when arriving for a smooth and efficient transaction.
For more information about the forms of ID available through the DMV and what documents are required for each, go to https:// dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/ enhanced-or-real-id.
by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
BALLSTON SPA — A public hearing will take place May 13 regarding a proposed lease agreement with Alexi’s at the Airport Inc. for the exclusive operation as a restaurant space at Saratoga County Airport.
The restaurant would be sited in the Terminal Building, which includes a newly constructed commercialgrade kitchen, bar, dining area, back-of-house storage, and catering area and would add to the operations, concessions, facilities, and services at the airport.
If the agreement is approved, Alexi’s at the Airport Inc. would be the exclusive provider of food services -which includes dining, catering, and takeout to airport clients, customers, and passengers.
Alexi’s at the Airport Inc. has proposed leasing the Restaurant Space for an initial term of one year, with two additional five-year renewal options. The annual lease rate would be $26,040 for the first two years, with a five percent annual increase thereafter.
The Board of Supervisors will stage the Public Hearing at 4:30 p.m. on May 13, in the Meeting Room of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors in Ballston Spa.
Last Call Shot Down
by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
BALLSTON SPA — A decades-long effort to curtail drinking hours in Saratoga Springs was narrowly rejected by Supervisors at the county table this week. The resolution requested the state Liquor Authority restrict the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages countywide.
The proposal to alter “Last Call’ hours had, in one form or another, been forwarded from the city of Saratoga Springs to the county three previous times during the past 20 or so years. In each case, the measure never secured necessary approval at the county subcommittee level to be brought for a full board discussion.
The April 15 Board of Supervisors meeting marked the first time the resolution came to a full board vote, even as more than one-third of the supervisors were absent from the meeting.
Supervisors, in number, voted 9-6 against the proposal to potentially alter Last Call hours in Saratoga County, with 8 of the 23 supervisors absent. The Board uses a weighted voting system based on population numbers in which county specific supervisors
serve. Approximate calculations utilizing that system indicate that the measure failed 83,000 to 75,000, with 77,500 others left absent in the vote.
“The Saratoga Springs City Council has been debating this for almost two decades,” Saratoga Springs city Supervisor Michele Madigan told the Board prior to the vote, citing measures initiated by former commissioners John Franck - in 2010, and Chris Mathiesen – two years later. “I don’t believe were trying to limit businesses, but to ensure and enhance public safety,” she said.
To that point, city Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll and county Sheriff Michael Zurlo had each expressed support for earlier Last Call times at bars.
“We went back four years and when you look at our useof-force incidents in the nightlife district in Saratoga Springs, 55% of those incidents happened after 2 a.m.,” said Commissioner Coll. “Reducing the hours with earlier closing times has the potential for us to reduce overtime as well as to keep officers more safe.”
The New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits sales of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption between the hours of 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, and between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8
a.m. on any other day.
The proposed resolution requested the SLA implement changes effective Jan. 1, 2026 across Saratoga County that would set Last Call at 2 a.m. from Nov. 1 to April 30 (with a 4 a.m. exception on New Year’s Eve), and at 3 a.m. from May 1 to Oct. 31. The “Last Call” proposal specified that bars may stay open beyond the stipulated “Last Call” time and continue to serve food and drinks - merely that they may not involve alcohol.
Carving out the time change solely for the city of Saratoga Springs requires state approval and is not believed to be a viable option.
A Public Hearing was held at the county complex in Ballston Spa on April 9 to solicit community input on the proposed changes. Three people spoke in-person and four letters were received. Six of the seven public responses were in favor of the change. All six favoring the change came from Saratoga Springs city residents.
“The city (of Saratoga Springs) is asking for this, so maybe there’s more work to be done to try to show the impact on each town,” city Supervisor Matt Veitch said immediately following the Board vote on April 15.
“We are a Board of
Supervisors and we all look at our own towns first. They’re looking out for what happens in their towns, so I don’t hold any ‘no’ votes against those towns. They’re doing what they feel is right by their constituents,” Veitch said. “I’m not sure what the process would be to re-introduce it.”
“I don’t know if we’re going to see earlier bar closings any time soon, but we’re going to discuss it,” Supervisor Madigan added.
How They Voted
There are 23 supervisors on the board representing Saratoga County’s 21 municipalities. Each county is represented by at least one supervisor, with Clifton Park and Saratoga Springs – the two municipalities with the largest populations - each represented by two supervisors.
The board had established a population of 25,000 residents as the threshold for the number of supervisors each county would have to represent them; less than 25,000 residents meant one supervisor, more than 25,000 meant two. When 2022 census reports showed the population in the town of Halfmoon had risen above that 25,000 population threshold - indicating a second supervisor would be required, the board instead voted to approve raising the population threshold to 27,500, essentially maintaining one supervisor for the town.
As such, current Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen carries
the board’s single most powerful weighted vote, counting as more than 25,600, with the two supervisors in Clifton Park – counting at just over 19,000 each, closest behind.
The results of this week’s vote, calculated using Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Weighted Vote, Local Law No. 1 of 2022 is as follows:
In Favor: Charlton Joe Grasso 4,328; Clifton Park Philip Barrett 19,014.5; Saratoga Ian Murray 5,808; Saratoga Springs Michele Madigan 14,245.5; Saratoga Springs Matthew Veitch 14,245.5; Wilton John Lant 17,361.
Total In Favor: 75,002.5 Against: Corinth Eric Butler 6,500; Day Harry Brennan 819; Edinburg Robert Anderson 1,333; Hadley Arthur Wright 1,976; Halfmoon Kevin Tollisen 25,662; Malta Cynthia Young 17,130; Mechanicville Thomas Richardson 5,163; Moreau Jesse Fish 16,202; Waterford David Ball 8,208.
Total Against: 82,993
Absent: Ballston Eric Connolly 11,831; Clifton Park Angela Thompson 19,014.5; Galway J.D. Arnold 3,525; Greenfield Kevin Veitch 8,004; Milton Scott Ostrander 18,800; Northumberland Willard H. Peck 5,242; Providence Sandra Winney 2,075; Stillwater Edward Kinowski 9,022.
Total Absent at Vote: 77,513.5
North Country Wild Care: Gala Coming to Saratoga Springs
by Nicholas Rodd Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS —
For 24 years, North Country Wild Care has committed to protecting and revitalizing the wildlife across nine New York counties. From bunnies to hawks, and from tree frogs to deer, this non-profit organization has called on their network of licensed volunteer members to restore these animals to full health so they can successfully return to the wild.
“You have people with all
different career experiences from all over the area, but we have this unified passion for helping wildlife,” said North Country Vice president Maureen Tusty.
“I think the majority of people came into volunteering because they had an experience where they found an animal, and they didn’t know how to help, or they didn’t know where to bring it, and they discovered the North Country hotline and then said, oh my, this is an amazing service. How can I help more? And so that’s how a lot of people get involved,” Tusty said.
“People are very caring, and when these situations happen, they want to help, and that’s how they get involved with North Country. And that’s why I think our wildlife rehabilitators are committed to doing this, because it’s very hands-on. There’s an immediate need for it.”
Now receiving more than 22,000 calls per year, North Country continues to look for ways to spread knowledge and awareness about how to best protect and rejuvenate the nature that surrounds everyone.
As a way to spread some of that awareness, North Country Wild Care is holding a spring Gala event on Sunday, May 18 at the Gideon Putnam in Saratoga
Springs. This event will give the public an opportunity to join members of North Country to learn more about how to help injured wildlife, or how to get more involved with the program if they are interested, all while enjoying food, live music, and other event activities.
Members of the organization will speak to attendees throughout the event about how to handle an injured or orphaned animal when it’s found, or how to get that animal to North Country as fast as possible. Long-time meteorologist and founder of the group Pet Connection Steve Caporizzo will be the keynote speaker at the spring gala.
North Country members will also be joined by some of the organization’s wildlife ambassadors, animals who were unable to return to full health and return to the wild. Gala participants will learn more about how these animals serve as helpers for the organization, going to enclosures and schools to act as educators for helping nature.
Attendees will be able to enjoy a variety of menu options during the event, which will include vegetarian and vegan choices as well. Live music will also be provided during the
meal from electro-acoustic group Tooty and the Mother Plucker, a husband-and-wife duo who are also members of North Country Wild Care.
Following the meal and speeches, there will be a silent auction available to everyone in attendance. All items up for auction, including many that are wildlife themed, are donated to the gala by local businesses, artists, and individuals. One major item will be a pontoon boat ride on Lake George, while others are expected to include wildlife gift baskets, art or craft work, and more. A wine raffle will also be taking place throughout the duration
of the auction. All proceeds from both the auction and the raffle go towards supporting the mission of North Country Wild Care.
The Gideon Putnam is located at 24 Gideon Putnam Road. Visit https:// ticketstripe.com/NCWCGala-2025 to buy tickets or donate to North Country Wild Care. More information about North Country Wild Care can be found at https:// northcountrywildcare.org/. If you come across an injured or orphaned wild animal, you can call the emergency hotline number for North Country Wild Care at 518-964-6740.
Stefanik, Tonko
Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Local Heritage Sites
Washington, D.C. — Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) on April 10 reintroduced the bipartisan Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act with Democratic Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) to commission a study regarding the benefits of expanding the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to include all of Washington and Saratoga Counties.
The legislation would specifically work towards expanding opportunities for both counties to participate in federal grant programs, increase heritage tourism, and support cultural and economic development in the area.
“Upstate New York and the North Country are the cradle of the American Revolution and home to numerous battlefields and historic sites,” Stefanik said in a statement, adding that the Act would bolster efforts to preserve the region’s heritage and ensure crucial pieces of our history are preserved for future generations. Stefanik was recently appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson as Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership for the 119th Congress.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill as a step to further honor our shared past and spark economic growth and cultural tourism in Upstate New York for generations to come,” Tonko said in a statement.
Tonko and Stefanik each represent portions of Saratoga County.
“Expanding the Heritage Area to include Saratoga and Washington Counties corrects a long-standing oversight and ensures that the full story of the Americas’ turning point is told,” said Sean Kelleher, Historian for the Town of Saratoga. “This study empowers our communities to preserve that legacy while unlocking economic opportunity through heritage tourism. It’s an investment in We the People —and in the stories that define our nation.”
The local Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, and Hudson River Valley Greenway are just a few of the sites that make up New York’s national heritage network and bring countless benefits to its communities.
North Country Wild Care will host a gala in May in Saratoga Springs.
Photo provided.
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
BALLSTON
Eastline Holdings LLC sold property at 7 Aspen Dr to Vikram Devara for $598,304
CHARLTON
Garry Hefflin sold property at 2158 Cook Rd to Katz Excavating and Construction for $165,000
CORINTH
Roseann Hotaling sold property at 137 Stark Rd to Dawson Emery for $345,000
MALTA
Eric Pinnell sold property at 1082 Laurel Lane to Eric Pinnell for $350,000
Jenns Lobb sold property at 31 Admirals Way to Aileen Campbell for $350,000
Christopher Reilly sold property at 88 Thimbleberry Rd to Joseph Klimczak for $319,900
MILTON
John Miller sold property at 1099 Rock City Rd to Ian Miller for $126,000
Justin Taylor sold property at 15 Crestline Dr to Coleen Wright for $235,000
Hunter Lane LLC sold property at 20 Hunter Ct to Laurie Simmons for $552,925
SARATOGA
Christopher Sass sold property at 21 Morgans Run to Brett Crawford for $317,500
Joel Roberts sold property at 7 Burgoyne St to Rebecca Laufer for $250,000
SARATOGA SPRINGS
Adelphi Owner II LLC sold property at 19 Washington ST Apt 566 to Park View 566 LLC for $3,100,000
Clifford Van Wagner sold property at 101 Catherine St to Blue Heron Cottage LLC for $401,227
Chloes Way LLC sold property at 37 Chlos Way to Megan Demagistris for $300,000
BDC Holdings Inc sold property at 131 Excelsior Ave to BDC North Spring Run LLC for $4,350,000
Maureen Smith sold property at 19 Lexington Rd to Timothy Lynott for $580,000
Meadowbrook IV LLC sold property at 45&47 Winding Brook to James Hamilton for $1,000,000
Mark McDonald sold property at 35 Dyer Switch to William Donnahie for $775,000
Jonathan Jaekel sold property at 212 Circular St to Hunter Hosley for $650,000
Raymond Seefeld sold property at 3 Gibson Ct to Excelsior Property LLC for $700,000
WILTON
Steve Gebo sold property at 9 Greylock Dr to Andrew Olson for $545,000
Ronald Forhan sold property at 112 Ingersoll Rd to Jake Catalano for $500,000
Amanda Huttig sold property at 24 Waverly Place to Brian Jones for $699,000
This 4 bedroom completely renovated home at 501 North Creek in Greenfield Center was listed by Kate Naughton from Roohan Realty and sold for $530,000
BUSINESS
Local Cigar Shops Contend with High Tax Rates
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS
— Stroll through the grounds of the Saratoga Race Course on a balmy summer afternoon, and amidst the ballyhoo and thundering of hooves, your nose will likely catch the scent of floating, dissipating cigar smoke.
The enjoyment of premium cigars (handcrafted, artisanal cigars as opposed to massproduced products) has long been a staple of horse racing. That’s partly why the Saratoga area has more than a few cigar lounges with stocked humidors offering celebrated brands like Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, and Rocky Patel.
Of course, no matter how elegant or meticulously rolled these sticks might be, they are still tobacco products that pose potential risks to smokers (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that “cigar smoke contains toxic compounds and chemicals that can cause cancer”). Thus, New York State slapped a 75% tax on the wholesale price of cigars and other tobacco products in an attempt to discourage their use. This tax is the second-highest in the country (after Utah), and local cigar shop owners say it’s
hurting their mom-and-pop businesses.
Kathleen Kelly, the president of the New York Cigar Association and the owner for more than three decades of Queensbury Cigar and Pipe, said this tax burden has made it difficult for new shops to open, especially because cigar aficionados can purchase less expensive products online or in a neighboring state with lower tax rates (Pennsylvania doesn’t have a tax on cigars, New Jersey’s rate is 30%, and Connecticut has a 50-cent cap).
“Cigars are more than just cigars,” Kelly said, referring to the economic impact of the hundreds of premium cigar shops in New York.
“We can’t compete with the online [stores] because of that 75% tax,” said James and Sons Tobacconists’ Kyle “Moe” Kommer, who has both a store in downtown Saratoga Springs and a booth at the racetrack. “Especially as manufacturers increase their prices, that just puts us further and further away.”
Kelly said her organization has spoken with a number of state legislators, such as Senator Jessica Ramos, who represents parts of Queens and is currently running for Mayor of New York City. Ramos is the sponsor of the
bipartisan Senate Bill S4413A, which would create a flat tax cap of 50 cents on premium cigars.
A similar bill in the Assembly (A3376A) was sponsored by Carrie Woerner, who represents Saratoga Springs. A 50-cent tax cap, Kelly said, would help increase “fairness” and “level the playing field.”
“Losing a small business, any small business, is a tragedy, given how important they are to their respective communities and to the [state] economy,” the New York Cigar Association says on its website. “Our members all want to pay their fair share, but a 75% tax rate is not fair and if we
can’t make a change, more shops will close.”
Another piece of legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Philip Ramos (no relation to Jessica) would allow cigar lounges to serve alcohol.
In total, the bills are designed to help support struggling small businesses that, in addition to selling their wares, also have a strong social component.
“You create a family in a cigar lounge,” Kelly said. “It means a lot to people.”
Stop by the family-owned James and Sons on Broadway, and you’ll likely see what Kelly means: friends, strangers, and
solo smokers all enjoying each other’s company in a laid-back setting.
“Guys go out on their boats together, vacations, have dinner together all the time,” Kommer said. “That’s what’s nice about it. That sense of community, everyone just kind of takes care of each other and hangs out and becomes lifelong friends.”
A short walk from James and Sons is the former home of the Adirondack Cigar Shoppe on Putnam Street, where locals used to pass the time together enjoying cigars and watching football. The now-empty store could be a sign of what’s to come.
James and Sons Tobacconists on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
Saratoga County Chamber Announces Award Recipients
SARATOGA SPRINGS —
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Colleen Carlson will be its
2025 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient.
Chad Kiesow, the COO of Stewart’s Shops, will also be
honored by the Chamber for serving as its 2024 Chair of the Board.
Carlson is the Director of Sales for the Saratoga Casino Hotel and has been with the organization for more than 40 years. She is a founding member of the Board of Directors at Jake’s Help from Heaven and currently serves as the organization’s treasurer. The nonprofit helps to create opportunities for individuals with complex medical needs and disabilities to thrive.
“When we started in 2011, I cried over each grant,” Carlson said in a statement. “Now I find joy in the support and quality
of life opportunities Jake’s Help from Heaven gives to so many families.”
Carlson’s past volunteer work includes serving as the general manager and host family coordinator for the Saratoga Phillies baseball organization. Her involvement with the Phillies led to her appointment by Mayor Scott Johnson to the Saratoga Springs Recreation Committee, where she became the vice chair.
For the past ten years, she has served on the Adirondack Trust Fund Advisory Committee.
From 2013 to 2022, she served on the Board of Directors of the Saratoga Hospital Foundation. And in her role with the
Saratoga Casino Hotel, Carlson has worked with numerous local charitable organizations to organize successful fundraisers from the Wesley Community to Saratoga Hospital, to Sponsor-AScholar, and more.
Past recipients of the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award include: Steve Sullivan (2018); Tom Roohan (2019); John Munter, Sr. (2020); Julie Stokes (2021); L. Clifford Van Wagner (2022); Dr. William Long (2023); and Cindy Hollowood (2024).
Carlson will be presented with the 2025 award at the Annual Chamber Celebration on Thursday, May 8.
Ballston Spa National Bank Plans Headquarters Renovations
BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB) announced last week that it will begin a historic rehabilitation of its original headquarters located at 87 Front Street, beginning June 2.
The building, which first served as a private residence in 1824, has been serving customers and businesses in the Village of Ballston Spa for over 187 years.
The rehabilitation project will be made possible through the partnership with Landmark Consulting LLC, Historic Preservation and Architectural Services, hcp architects, and
BBL Construction Services.
The bank is also applying for approval with the National Register of Historic Places and New York State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program under the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
“This is more than a renovation—it’s committing to our future and honoring our past,” said BSNB President and CEO Christopher R. Dowd in a news release. “We’re updating the space with the latest technology improvements while preserving our historic
appearance and heritage that define BSNB.”
The 87 Front Street Branch will temporarily close beginning Monday, June 2 and will remain closed until construction is completed. New and existing customers can visit the Ballston Spa Corporate Branch, 990 State Route 67 (1.1 miles) or the Milton Crest Branch, 344 Rowland Street, (3.3 miles) for all banking services.
BSNB plans to celebrate the newly renovated branch in late 2025 and will keep the community informed with updates on their website.
Photos of Colleen Carlson and Chad Kiesow provided by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Photo provided.
Activists and Community Members Debate Resolution at Contentious School Board Meeting
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS
— The Saratoga Springs High School auditorium was packed last Thursday night with a divided crowd of attendees that debated a recent resolution passed by the school board that reaffirmed the district’s support for, among other things, transgender students’ ability to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.
The resolution did not change any of the district’s existing policies, but it did attract the attention of many locals and even
national political activists such as the conservative X account “Libs of TikTok,” which accused the Saratoga Springs School District of supporting “radical gender ideology” in a post that garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
It also attracted the attention of the Riley Gaines Center, which sent its Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler to the April 10 Saratoga school board meeting. Wheeler, who advocates for “fairness and the protection of female athletes,” said in a press release that the board had departed from federal protections designed to ensure fairness in women’s sports.
“As someone who has
experienced firsthand the importance of fair competition, I am deeply concerned about policies that undermine opportunities for female athletes,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a former member of the women’s swim team alongside Riley Gaines. According to Wheeler, she was “violated” when a transgender athlete was allowed to undress with her and her teammates at the 2022 NCAA championships. The incident was partly what inspired Wheeler to become “a fierce advocate for upholding our freedoms and
rights to privacy, safety, and equal opportunity.”
Wheeler’s visit caused community members on both sides of the trans athletes debate to attend the April 10 meeting, where they offered their often passionate opinions during public comment periods.
“Boys do not belong in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, or sports, period,” Wheeler said at the meeting. “No resolution, no board has the right to rewrite federal law. No state is absolved from following federal law.”
Wheeler continued speaking after her allotted time, causing the auditorium to erupt in commotion as School Board President Anjeanette Emeka repeatedly told Wheeler that her time had expired. Many attendees cheered when Wheeler concluded her remarks.
Saratoga Springs High School student Sarah Pipino thanked the board for passing the resolution.
“There are a lot of people who are very scared to speak at meetings and I’m friends with a lot of those people and we’ve been talking a lot and they feel more safe and accepted and loved in the community and they are so grateful, so I am saying ‘thank you’ from all of them who have talked to me,” Pipino said to a round of applause.
Dr. Emanuel Cirenza, the district’s physician advisor, said that “to a large extent, this is very much a manufactured controversy…I’ve been here for coming up on 28 years and this issue has come up one time to my knowledge. I did a little investigating, and it was a track athlete essentially trying to get onto a team where nobody was pushed out and nobody was made to feel uncomfortable. These issues have always been handled,
I can reassure everybody in this room, with the greatest amount of sensitivity to everybody’s needs.”
The controversial resolution at the center of the debate, titled “Affirming Our Support for Every Student,” states, among other things, that the Board of Education would:
• reaffirm its support for the district’s policy and regulation 0105 titled “Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education”
• uphold New York State laws safeguarding vulnerable populations and not comply with directives that violate civil rights protections;
• affirm that every student has a right to an education regardless of immigration status, and that law enforcement officers may not question students on school property except under very specific conditions;
• respect students’ chosen names and pronouns while also ensuring their right to use facilities and participate in activities and sports consistent with their gender identity.
The resolution appeared to be a clear attempt to combat several Trump administration policies that threaten to rescind federal funds from educational institutions that don’t comply with the president’s orders. According to Board Vice President Tony Krackeler, $3.1 million of the district’s 2024-25 budget came from the federal government. All of those funds, Krackeler said, are only amendable by an act of Congress.
Riley Gaines Center Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler speaks at the April 10 Saratoga Springs School District board meeting. Photo via the district’s livestream.
Ballston Spa Middle Schoolers Crowned Odyssey of the Mind State Champs
BALLSTON SPA — The
Ballston Spa School District’s Middle School Problem 4 team was recently crowned New York State Champions at
the Odyssey of the Mind State Finals Tournament in Syracuse. The team was one of five squads representing Ballston Spa. The Wood Road
Elementary team, participating in the tournament for the first time, came in 8th place for their problem/division and got the highest spontaneous score.
Schuylerville School District
Adds New School Resource Officer
SCHUYLERVILLE —
Saratoga County Deputy Paula Wilbur will be the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Schuylerville Central School District following the departure of Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Greive, who served as the district’s SRO since September 2023.
Deputy Wilbur has been a Sheriff’s Deputy with Saratoga County since June 2024, and previously worked in law enforcement in Whitehall, as well as a Child Protective Services caseworker for Washington County Social Services.
“I’m excited to work in Schuylerville and make a positive impact on students,” Wilbur said in a statement. “I look forward to working with kids of all ages and being part of their day-to-day at school.
Helping children view law enforcement as positive role models is something that can benefit them throughout their lives.”
Deputy Greive has accepted a new position with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
Ballston Spa Robotics Team Heads to World Championship
BALLSTON SPA —
Ballston Spa’s 3US First Robotics Team 3044 0xBE4 has received and accepted a wild card invitation to attend the World Championships happening in Houston, Texas from April 16-19. They are one of 600 out of 3,690 teams worldwide to receive an invitation.
Earlier this month, the team was ranked the 4th best team in New York State following the New York Tech Valley FIRST Robotics Competition at MVP Arena. The squad also earned its 32nd team award with
the Gracious Professionalism Award.
Prior to the event at MVP, 0xBe4 competed at the Finger Lakes Regional against 54 teams from New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. The team qualified in 11th place and was selected to compete in Eliminations with the 5th seed Captain. The team’s record was 10-4 and their robot placed in the top ten in many categories. At the time, they were ranked #147 out of 2,947 teams in the country, and they were ranked #189 out of 3,712 teams in the world.
Photo via the Ballston Spa Central School District.
Photo via the 0xBe4 robotics team Facebook page.
Photo of Saratoga County Deputy Paula Wilbur via the Schuylerville Central School District.
Food
Honey Maple Glazed Ham & Beyond
SATURDAYS
9:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. WILTON MALL FOOD COURT
Areyou looking for a main dish for your upcoming Spring holidays? Consider making a Honey Maple Glazed Ham! It’s very simple.
Step 1: Purchase a fresh, local ham from the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.
Step 2: Melt 1/4 cup of butter. Whisk it together with 1/4 cup of real Maple Syrup*, 1 tablespoon honey*, I tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon sriracha and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.
Step 3: Baste the ham and bake it in a 350 degree, preheated, oven for 90 minutes. Glaze the ham with any additional glaze and/or drippings from the pan and cook for another 30-60 minutes (time depends on the size of the ham). Baste a third time and cook for the final 15 minutes.
Note: Check the size of your ham and the cooking time before glazing and baking so you can determine the intermittent glazing needed to make this delicious main dish. The items marked items (*) can be found at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. If you cannot find them on your own, you are always welcome to stop by the main table at the entrance and the onsite staff can guide you. Last week we shared a full list of Winter Market Vendors for your holiday prep. If you missed it, or are making your shopping list for sides, desserts and festive cocktails and need to peek again; simply visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and tap the menu line item marked news. It can be found under featured articles where you can bring all things local to your table.
After you have glazed, baked and served your delicious ham, don’t fret about the leftovers. This week’s recipe share will give you a way to create
an entirely different dinner bite with Ham Leek Pies. They are like a delicious pot pie, filled with comfort food warmth and whole lot of flavor all baked in one little dish. Of course, you could adapt the recipe and make one large ham leek pie as well.
Reminder: The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is in Wilton Mall through Saturday, April 26th. The market’s outdoor season begins at High Rock Park on Saturday, May 3rd. Hours of the outdoor market are as follows;
* Saturday Market at High Rock Park- begins May 3rd (9 am to 1 pm).
* Wednesday Market at High Rock Park - begins May 7th (3 pm to 6 pm).
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is currently open Saturdays, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, November through April at Wilton Mall Food Court ; accessible from the mall entrance across from BJs. The CDTA’s 450 (from Schenectady) and 452 (from Skidmore College via downtown Saratoga) run to the Mall hourly Saturday mornings.
Visit www. saratogafarmersmarket.org, sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on on Facebook and Instagram.
The recipe in this article was adapted from The Kitchen.
Ham and Leek Pies
YIELDS: 4 servings | PREP & COOK TIME: 1 hour
INGREDIENTS:
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 4 cups sliced leeks (white portion only)*
• 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms*
• 3 medium carrots, sliced*
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 3/4 cups cubed fully cooked ham*
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley*
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Dash pepper
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten*
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large saucepan, heat the butter over medium to high heat. Add the leeks, mushrooms and carrots; cook and stir until the vegetables are tender.
Stir in the flour until blended.
Gradually stir in the milk and broth.
Bring everything to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened; about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in ham, parsley, nutmeg and pepper. On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry; roll to 1/4inch thickness. Using a 10-oz. ramekin as a template, cut out 4 tops for pies.
Fill 4 greased 10-oz. ramekins with the leek mixture; top with pastry. Cut slits in to the pastry.
Brush tops of the pastry with egg.
Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Photos provided by Jodie Fitz for Saratoga TODAY
by John Reardon for Saratoga TODAY
However, during my childhood, my family would often make lamb for the Easter holiday.
Racking up lamb does require using the correct roasting tools
RACKING IT UP
Hello my Foodie Friends!
Among my favorite movies and movie scenes is from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” when Toula tries to explain to Aunt Voula that Ian is a Vegetarian. In this particular scene, Aunt Voula exclaims “What do you mean you don’t eat no meat.... that’s ok, I make lamb ...”. Although Lamb is a very common meat used in Greek cuisine, it is a meat that can be customary during this weekend’s holiday. I do not often get the opportunity to treat myself to roasted lamb.
such as a good roasting rack.
Tools needed when roasting lamb, or any meat product you are deciding to make this weekend, you do need some
essential pieces; a roasting rack and a good instant read thermometer.
Herb Roasted Lamb
INGREDIENTS
• 12 large unpeeled garlic cloves, divided
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 (6-pound) boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and tied 4 to 5 pounds small unpeeled potatoes (16 to 20 potatoes)
• 2 tablespoons good olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
The benefit of a basic roasting rack is so the bottom of the meat doesn’t “stew” in its own juices in a pan or burn. The rack is a means of lifting the food off of the bottom of the pan. If you are going to use a metal rack, some cooks prefer flat racks, and some prefer the V shaped racks. There are also U-shaped racks and vertical roasters available (think beer can chicken). Flat rack proponents say that a flat rack allows the meat to “spread out” and roast more evenly while V shaped racks “squeeze” the meat and prevent thorough cooking. The V rack helps keep the meat in a more uniform shape so that it will cook more evenly.
Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven so the lamb will sit in the middle of the oven.
Peel 6 of the cloves of garlic and place them in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade.
Add the rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and butter. Process until the garlic and rosemary are finely minced.
Thoroughly coat the top and sides of the lamb with the rosemary mixture. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Toss the potatoes and remaining unpeeled garlic in a bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan.
Place the lamb on top of the potatoes. Roast for 20 minutes.
Turn the heat down to 350 degrees F and roast for another 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until a meat thermometer registers 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare.
Place the lamb on a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the potatoes.
Enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, Your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, located at 33 Railroad Place to get your tools to assist you with your cooking creations. Remember my Food Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.
Take Care, John & Paula
Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa
This Week’s Events: APRIL
18-24
FRIDAY, APRIL 18
Veteran’s Memorial Park Book Walk: Tad
Veteran’s Memorial Park, 697 MacElroy Road., Clifton Park | Through May 24. Enjoy the book, “Tad” by Benji Davies as you stroll along the Veteran’s Memorial Park walking path. Created in partnership with the Town of Clifton Park. 518-3718622. Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, www.cphlibrary. org.
Fish Fry Friday
Fish Creek Rod and Gun Club, 132 State Route 32, Schuylerville | 4 – 7 p.m. Menu: fish fry, chicken tenders, clam strips, popcorn shrimp, buffalo shrimp. All dinners are served with coleslaw, sauce and choice of French fries or onion rings. Extras: Jalapeno poppers, mozzarella strips, bowl or quart of clam chowder (Manhattan or New England). Beverages available. Eat in at the club or call ahead for takeout at 518695-3917.
Moonlight Hike
Wilton Wildlife Preserve, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton | 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Interested in seeing the Preserve at night? View nature in a new light as we walk the trails in the moonlight. An unforgettable experience for ages 5+. This program is made possible by the support of Brookfield Renewable. If you can’t make it on Friday, join us on Saturday, April 12.
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Schultz & Dooley
Spring Beer Can and Breweriana Show
Clifton Park Elks Club, 695 McElroy Rd., Ballston Lake | 9 a.m. – Noon. General Admission is $3.Exhibitor tables are $15/each, Contact Bill Laraway at 518-369-6865 or email brewcoll2@gmail.com or Dennis Heffner at 518-2604681 dennish0706@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by the
Schultz and Dooley Chapter of the BCCA/NABA, a non-profit organization.
Genealogy and Local History
Town of Saratoga Town Hall, 12 Spring St., Schuylerville | 1 p.m. Heritage Hunters will host Beverwcyk Archaeologists, Aaron Gore and Daniel Mazeau. They will talk about their work on the BevierElting House that was built in the 1730s on Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz. They will cover the house’s history, its community, and the historic district, as well as their archaeological findings. The public is welcome. For information, call 518-885-9309.
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
HAPPY EASTER!
MONDAY, APRIL 21
Saratoga Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting
Saratoga Senior Center, 290 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs | 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
A presentation about the Help for PD website by Marie Thorne. All are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact us with any questions: Leader Gordon Blyth, gordonsblyth@ gmail.com, 917-887-7980. Co-Leader Marie Thorne softballmom300@yahoo.com, 518-810-8483.
Vegetable Gardening Series
Historic Grooms Tavern, 290 Sugar Hill Rd., Rexford | 6 – 7:30 p.m. This series is packed with tips and tricks to help you transform your garden into a flourishing paradise. Learn how to prep your soil, create the perfect garden layout, and master the art of companion planting. We’ll delve into essential skills like crop rotation, summer gardening strategies, pest management, and proper
watering techniques, and guide you through the process of harvesting and prepping your garden for winter. The cost is $5 per session. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension to register, https://ccesaratoga.org/ events. Join us for one or all 3 in this series. Additional dates are June 26 and August 7.
TUESDAY, APRIL 22
Historic Cornell Hill Fire Tower
Wilton Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton | 10 a.m. –3 p.m. Looking for a scenic view without having to climb a mountain? Come visit the Historic Cornell Hill Fire Tower. The fire tower is open, weather permitting. No need for registration.
Long Term Care Planning Expo
Saratoga Senior Center, 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs |2 pm – 4 pm Plan for your future at our Long-Term Planning Expo! Hear about topics like estate planning, long-term care finances, and finding the right living community from experts from Burke Funeral Home, Choice Connections, Herzog Law Firm, FIDIR, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Gwen Rowland from the Alzheimer’s Association will also discuss the importance of early detection for memory loss.
Celebrate the Power of Hope
Saratoga Center for the Family, 359 Ballston Ave., Saratoga Springs | 3 – 6 p.m. April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Help us give others “The Power of Hope” by purchasing a dinner for yourself, your family, or even your employees. Saratoga Center for the Family works to strengthen children, families, and our community by reducing the effects of abuse, trauma, and family dysfunction through advocacy, education and mental health therapy. Your support will help give others hope, beginning their journey of healing. Meals are to go and include grilled chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, roll, dessert, and bottled water for $15. Preorders encouraged as we will sell out. www.saratogacff.org/events/
celebrating-power-hope
Equine Nutrition Class
Cornell Cooperative Extension, 50 W. High St., Ballston Spa | 6:45 – 8:15 p.m. Enjoy a light dinner while engaging with Michelle Mulcahy, the Regional Sales Manager at Triple Crown Nutrition, who will share her expertise on “Understanding and Meeting Your Horses’ Nutritional Needs.” As passionate horse owners, we understand the desire to enhance our knowledge about our equine companions’ nutritional needs, and this class is designed to empower you with the answers you seek. Take this opportunity to converse directly with feed experts and deepen your understanding of what truly nourishes your horse. Cost is $15 per person; youth can attend for free, but please let us know their attendance at registration. To register call 518-885-8995, or email Robin at rc926@cornell. edu.
The Syrian Bride Film Discussion
Zoom | 7 p.m. Sponsored by Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, a panel discussion of the powerful film The Syrian Bride. The 2004 Israeli and Arab film is loosely based on a 1998 border-crossing incident in the demilitarized zone between Israel’s Golan Heights and Syria. Beyond its political overtones, the film presents the personal and psychological limits faced by women in traditional societies. Mona’s wedding day is the saddest day of her life. The Syrian Bride is a powerful film about physical, mental and emotional borders and the courage it takes to cross them. Advance registration is required. Registrants will receive a playbill and Zoom link about a day before the program, followed by a lastminute reminder shortly before the program. To register: https://lp.constantcontactpages. com/sl/9TRHKnH/ SyrianBrideApril22
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
Turkey Breast Dinner
Saratoga Wilton Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Take out only.
Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – noon to place an order at 518-584-2585. Menu: Sliced turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, vegetable, gravy, tossed salad, dinner rolls. $15 (cash only).
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
Dunkerley Dialogue with Penny Arcade and Joseph Cermatori
The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 6 p.m. Dunkerley Dialogues pair Skidmore professors with artists in a conversation format, which is often a catalyst for new connections and understandings across disciplines, and can spark new ideas for all participants. Penny Arcade, aka Susana Ventura, is a legendary performance artist who was a teenage superstar for Andy Warhol’s Factory, featured in the film Women In Revolt. The program will include ASL interpretation. Admission to the museum and to events are free. For more information, contact the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518580-8080 or visit https://tang. skidmore.edu.
Earth Week Screening: Roots So Deep
Emerson Auditorium, Palamountian Hall, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 6:30 – 9 p.m. A documentary series about inventive farmers and maverick scientists building a path to revive rural economies and ecologies with hooves, heart and soil. The film will be immediately followed by a Q&A featuring John Moore, of St. Croix Farm; Elizabeth Collins, of Otter Creek Farm; Alex Lempka, executive chef at Hamlet & Ghost; and Kristofer Covey, assistant professor of Environmental Studies & Sciences at Skidmore and co-founder and president of the Soil Inventory Project. Refreshments will be provided. Admission: $5 donation to farmland & forest conservation. Students with a valid student ID are free.
UPCOMING Events
The Grand Hotels of Saratoga Springs
Presented by Charlie Kuenzel at the Saratoga Senior Center, located at 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs on Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m. Saratoga
was the number one tourist destination in the United States in the 1800’s. The city was the playground of the rich and famous during the summer months. The Grand Hotels were the social apex for the rich and famous. This presentation will discuss the physical aspects of hotels as well as the social enjoyment they provided during the Gilded Age.
Open Mic Coffee House
To celebrate National Poetry Month, the Galway Public Library, 2112 East St., Galway, is hosting an Open Mic Coffee House on Friday, April 25, from 6-7 p.m. Artists are asked to bring a poem or two to share, either original work or a favorite piece. Sign-ups for a time slot start at 5:30 p.m. at the library. Please limit your performance to 5-10 minutes to allow time for all
to share their talents. Light refreshments will be available. Please call 518-882-6385 with any questions.
14th Tree Toga – Call for Volunteers
On Saturday, April 26, Sustainable Saratoga’s Urban Forestry Project will hold its 14th Tree Toga planting event, adding an expected 40 large-growing shade trees to Saratoga’s urban forest.
Volunteer Tree Planters are needed to help plant trees in the community. Volunteers will check in at Pitney Meadows Community Farm between 9 – 9:30 a.m. to get a lesson in tree planting before heading off in small teams to their assigned locations across the city. This is a fun, family-friendly volunteer event, open to everyone in the capital region. For additional information or to sign up, visit www.sustainablesaratoga.org.
Performance Art Legend Visits Saratoga Springs - Free Lecture April 24
by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Legendary performance artist Penny Arcade will serve as the visiting artist showcased in the
Tang Museum’s final Dunkerley Dialogue of the 2024-25 season. The event - Penny Arcade in conversation with Skidmore professor Joseph Cermatori - will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24 at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at
Skidmore College.
Penny Arcade, aka Susana Ventura, was a teenage superstar for Andy Warhol’s Factory, featured in the film Women in Revolt. She is an international icon of artistic resistance whose social practice is focused on the support of other artists and on the preservation of artist legacies, including the work of Sheyla Baykal (1944-1997) whose photographs are part of the Tang Museum’s monumental exhibition of 100 years of queer art, a field of bloom and hum.
She has co-helmed The Lower East Side Biography Project, a video oral history
of downtown New York that broadcasts and streams every Monday at 11 p.m., and is the author of 16 full-length works, hundreds of performances pieces, lectures, and interviews, all available online.
She last visited Saratoga Springs in June 2018 during a 10-day residency in Saratoga Springs organized by the Orchard Project. An interview conducted with this reporter during her stay at a Spring Street apartment may be read at: https://www.punkglobe.com/ pennyarcade1218.php.
The dialogue April 24 will take place in the exhibition, a
field of bloom and hum, which fills the Museum’s two floors with work by more than 160 artists in a celebration of queer identities and communities.
The Tang’s upstairs gallery, the Malloy Wing, features two stages created for exhibition-related events like the Dunkerley Dialogues. Dunkerley Dialogues pair Skidmore professors with artists in a conversational format.
Admission to the museum and to the events is free. For more information, contact the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit https:// tang.skidmore.edu.
Saratoga Springs Public Library Welcomes Master Drummer to The Spa City
Saratoga Springs — Master Drummer M’Bemba Bangoura will be back in Saratoga Springs on Friday, April 25, and will be showcased in three offerings presented by the Saratoga Springs Public Library in partnership with EarthBeat Music.
Bangoura is a highly acclaimed Guinean master drummer, teacher, and performer of African drum and dance. He is known for his mastery of the djembe and his contributions to the contemporary djembe scene.
Additionally, Saratoga Springs Public Library offers patrons the ability to check out djembe drums as part of their Library of Things.
Members of the community are invited to register for one of three offers:
1:30–2:30 p.m. - West African Drumming & Movement
for All Ages and Abilities
3–4 p.m. - Djembe Drumming Workshop for Adults and Teens (ages 13+)
4:15 – 5:30 p.m.DounDoun Dance Workshop for Adults and Teens (ages 13+)
For more information on these programs and/or to register, please visit the Events Calendar online at www.sspl.
org.
Saratoga Arts made these programs possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Each program requires registration for each person attending.
Penny Arcade, photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.
M’Bemba Bangoura. Photo: Vijay Rakhra Photography.
Week of April 18 - April 24, 2025
Joan Osborne Kicks-Off Tour at UPH: She’s An Artist, She Don’t Look Back
by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Joan Osborne kicked off her U.S. tour in Saratoga Springs on April 10, performing a 100-minute set in front of a packed house at Universal Preservation Hall.
The theater-in-the-round performance, which served as the first show of a national tour that will extend through October, largely showcased Osborne’s rendition of tunes culled from the Bob Dylan songbook. Some initially appeared in Osborne’s 2017 collection “Songs of Bob Dylan.” Her new collection - titled “Dylanology Live” - is slated for release later this month.
“When I cover someone else’s song, I never try to repeat what they did,” Osborne told this reporter, during an interview in advance of her Saratoga Springs show. “What I’m always looking for is trying to find the place where that song and my voice can come together in a way that some aspect of the song can be new, refreshed, where this song can live through me in a way that’s unique.”
Her appearance at UPH, accompanied by guitarist Jack Petruzzelli and keyboard player Will Bryant, consisted of an 11-song set honoring the great American musical poet – some of which Osborne had not previously performed before – and concluded with a three-song
people are the first in the world to hear them,” and later introducing the song “Shooting Star” as “another that we’ve never recorded or played live anywhere, but it’s just a favorite of mine.”
Standing stage left, Petruzzelli - co-producer Joan Osborne’s album “Bring It on Home,” alternated between electric and acoustic guitars, while Bryant - co-founder of Hudson Valley recording studio The Building – sat stage right moving between an electric keyboard and a grand piano.
Osborne added rhythmic accompaniment throughout with the use of a small blue tambourine she danced off her hip, amplified finger-snaps, and brush patterns graced atop a snare drum, gravitating gestures between the timekeeping beats as each situation warranted.
encore of works better associated with her own career as an artist.
Running a line through the Dylan songbook that traced back 60 years, the band offered funkified renditions of “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” and “Highway 61” – the latter featuring Osborne spewing out lyrics to a musical accompaniment that rollicked like a jazz carnival in an openair tent rolling across a Native American reservation; “LeopardSkin-Pillbox-Hat“ offered an uptempo swinging jazz feel, and the set time-checked nearly every decade of Dylan’s work, most recently with a tender, emotionfilled performance of 2020’s “I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You,” delivered with the presence of the Steinway grand piano filling UPH’s Great Hall, while the band’s vocalized harmonies majestically swirled about the space.
“We’re taking some liberties with the songs,” Osborne told the audience. “And you wouldn’t want us to play them like the record because that wouldn’t work and anyway Dylan himself plays halfway through the song before you even realize what it is,” she said, referring to the songwriter’s history of alternating arrangements when playing his own songs.
Osborne performed a pair of Dylan tunes released a quarter century apart - “She Belongs To Me” and “Everything Is Broken” while informing the audience: “We never recorded these, you
With her performance of “Man in the Long Black Coat,” Osborne swayed with crossed arms in sync with the solemnity of the piece, showcasing the breadth of her vocal range.
It was in the night’s encore segment that Osborne delivered three songs she is known for in her own right. These included the global sensation “One of Us,” the 2023 title tune “Nobody Owns You” from her 2023 release (which marked the one time she strapped on her own acoustic guitar) and revisited her 1995 debut album with the song “St. Teresa” delivering a rendition with a sultry groove vibe that resonated as nothing short of stunning.
Setlist: Joan Osborne Live at UPH, Saratoga Springs, April 10, 2025.
She Belongs to Me
Everything Is Broken Man In the Long Black Coat
Highway 61
Shooting Star
High Water (For Charley Patton)
Tryin’ To Get to Heaven (before they close the door)
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Leopard-Skin-Pillbox-Hat
I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You
Tangled Up in Blue
Encore:
St. Teresa
(What If God Was) One of Us Nobody Owns You
Joan Osborne’s guitar on stage at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on April 10, 2025. Photo: Joan Osborne Facebook.
Happy Easter
Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: J.R. Property Development & Services LLC. The Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNYS) on January 15, 2025. The company office is located in Saratoga County. The SSNYS has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNYS shall mail a copy of process to: J.R. Property Development & Services LLC, 14 Dyer Switch Rd #1, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866. The purpose of the company is to engage in any lawful business of every kind and character for which LLCs may be organized under the New York LLC Law, or any successor statute. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14674
Notice of formation of Althine Health & Home LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 02/26/2025 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 242 Sandhill Road Greenfield Center, NY 12833. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16, 5/23/2025. 14681
Notice of formation of First Call Solutions LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 2/16/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to
the LLC at: 25 Avendale Dr., Ballston Lake, NY 12019. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14685
Notice of formation of Saratoga Guitars LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 01/23/2025 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 1 Geyser Rd. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14686
Notice of formation of L.E.A.D. Solutions, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 01/08/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 34 Terrel Way Gansevoort, NY 12831. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14688
Name of the LLC is: 0 BOULDER BAY, LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on February 18, 2025. Office Location: 502 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs NY 12866. County of Saratoga. Under section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law. The secretary of state is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The post office
address within or without this state to which the secretary of state shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: 502 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs NY 12866. The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the LLCL. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14689
Notice of formation of SLATETOWN LLC, a New York limited liability company. Name: SLATETOWN LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York on February 19, 2025 under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law. Office location: 237 Broad Street, Schuylerville, NY 12871, Saratoga County. Secretary of State of New York designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Secretary of State of New York shall mail a copy of the process to: SLATETOWN LLC, 237 Broad Street, Schuylerville, NY 12871. Purpose: Any lawful business activity not otherwise prohibited by the laws of the State of New York. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14705
Notice of formation of NEO Home Remodeling and Repair LLC. Articles of Organization filed with New York State Dept. of State on 3/8/2025. The County within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is located in is Saratoga. The Secretary of State is designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The
address to which the Secretary of State shall mail process is to the limited liability company at NEO Home Remodeling and Repair LLC, 6 Merrall Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Company is organized for Remodeling. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14710
Notice of formation of J & M NEVADA ACQUISITIONS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 2/25/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: PO BOX 44, BALLSTON SPA, NY 12020. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18/2025. 14714
Notice of formation of Uncommon Farms, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on March 13, 2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 818 S Broadway, Malta, NY 12020. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25/2025. 14730
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law. Name: Accord Ventures, LLC, Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on March 14, 2025. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom
process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: c/o The LLC, 22 Cemetary Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Purpose: Any lawful act or activities. 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25/2025. 14734
Notice of formation of Mane Connection Mental Health Counseling, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 09/04/2024 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: Northwest Registered Agent ATTN: Mane Connection Mental Health Counseling, PLLC 418 Broadway STE N Albany NY 12207. Purpose: Providing mental health counseling. 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25/2025. 14741
Notice of formation of : Julian Property Management, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 3/05/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 669 Acland Blvd., Ballston Spa, NY 12020. 3/21, 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25/2025. 14745
Notice of formation of D&M Northern Properties, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 03/22/2025 . Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the
whom process
served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 7 Elizabeth St., St. Albans, VT 05478. 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02/2025. 14771
Notice of formation of The 13 Acres LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on March 18, 2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 17 Wheeler Road, Edinburg, New York 12134. 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02/2025. 14773
Notice of formation of Gorman Lions LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 03/04/2025 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 2070 East St., Galway, NY 12074. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02/2025. 14772
Notice of formation of A Cut Above Charcuterie LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 01/25/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 1 Wineberry Lane, Ballston Spa NY 12020. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02/2025. 14787
Notice of formation of CJL DESIGN SERVICES LLC.
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on MARCH 11, 2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 29 Locust Ridge Drive, Corinth, NY 12822-2400. 3/28, 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02/2025. 14788
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NOLETTE’S METAL ROOFING AND SIDING SUPPLIES LLC.
Articles of organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/26/25. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 1252 Saratoga Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09/2025. 14794
Notice of formation of Here and Now Onsite Yoga, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 3/20/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: Shelby Moszkowicz, 11 State Seal Rd Apt 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09/2025. 14820
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: The Paralegal Pros, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 4/1/2025. Office location: Saratoga County. The Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 63 Putnam Street, Suite 202, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: for any lawful purpose. 4/04, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09/2025. 14827
Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company Pursuant to New York Limited Liability Law, Section 206(c). The name of the limited liability company is JR2 Home Improvements LLC. The Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State on March 28, 2025. The office of the limited liability company is to be located in Saratoga
LEGALS
County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process may be served; the post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process served is 134 County Route 10, Corinth, New York 12822. The purpose of the business is to engage in any lawful activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Limited Liability Company Law. 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16/2025. 14843
Notice of formation of AVY ADVERTISING LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 03/26/2025 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 6093 FISHER FLOW TRAIL, BALLSTON SPA, NY, 12020. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16/2025. 14849
Notice of formation of Revive Autohaus LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 04/07/2025 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 9 Hampstead Pl Apt 304, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16/2025. 14855
Notice of formation of Gregory Chandler, LCSW, PLLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 10/22/2024 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the PLLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the PLLC at: 14 Myers Ln, Schuylerville, NY 12871. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16/2025. 14853
Notice of Formation of GNC Management & Consulting, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/3/2025. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 70 Daketown Rd, Greenfield Center, NY 12833. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16, 5/23/2025. 14861
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Saratoga County Department of Central Services located at 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 will receive sealed proposals until 5:00 p.m. on the following dates: May 16, 2025 Online Assessment Website and Related Professional Services, specification 25-RFP-RPOAW-1
May 23, 2025 Saratoga 250 Revolutionary Siege Experience, Specification 25-RFP-SCRSE-1
Specifications and proposal forms may be obtained at the Central Services Department, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (telephone - 518-8852210) or download at no charge from the Empire State Purchasing Group website at www.empirestatebidsystem. com.
Saratoga County, through its Central Services Department, reserves the right to reject parts of any or all Proposals.
JOHN T. WARMT Director of Purchasing Saratoga County 4/18/2025, 14875
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Department of Central Services will receive sealed bids in person or electronically through the Empire State Purchasing Website until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read aloud for Transit Mix Concrete, as per specification 25-PWTM-6R.
Bid forms and instructions are available at the Department of Central Services, 50 W.
High Street, Ballston Spa, NY between 9:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (telephone - 518-885-2210) or at the Empire State Purchasing Group website (www. empirestatebidsystem.com)
Saratoga County, through its Department of Central Services, reserves the right to reject parts of any or all bids.
JOHN T. WARMT
Director of Purchasing Saratoga County 04/18/2025, 14876
Notice of formation of Black N’ Blue Sips LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 03/26/2025. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: Lisa Marie Wallace, PO Box 804, Clifton Park, NY 12065.
Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 4/18, 4/25, 5/02, 5/09, 5/16, 5/23/2025. 14877
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Writing the Right Word by Dave Dowling
Accuracy in word choice is a key to effective communication. In your daily writing and speaking, try to make sure you use the right word in the right place with the right spelling. By doing so, its effect will affect your communication in a positive way. This quick weekly tip will help you filter the confusion in some of our daily word choices.
This Week: Historic, Historical Historic refers to something improtant or memorable. The opening of the wing is a historic occasion for the hospital Historical means concered with or relating to history. Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wild” is a historical novel.
Dave Dowling is the author of The Wrong Word Dictionary and The Dictionary of Worthless Words Both books are available from many book retailers, and signed copies can be obtained by contacting Dave at dave.dowling65@gmail.com
Skidmore Rowing Teams Victorious at Knecht Cup
CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY — Skidmore College’s women’s 1V8 and men’s 1V8 rowing teams both won the grand finals at the Knecht
Cup Regatta in New Jersey last weekend.
“Anytime we travel, it inevitably throws us off our rhythm and routines. The
FORE! Local Golf Courses Open for Season
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS —
If watching Rory McIlroy win an epic showdown at the Masters got you in the mood to swing some clubs, there’s good news: Saratoga area courses are officially open for business, and many of them are celebrating anniversaries and unveiling new features in 2025.
• The Saratoga National Golf Club, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, opened on April 11. The course is
rolling out new golf carts this year that are equipped with Pace GPS technology, which provides players with information such as pin location, distance-to-hole, and green heat maps.
• The Saratoga Spa State Park Golf Course’s 18 holes opened at the end of March. The course is also offering new GPS-equipped carts.
• The Saratoga Lake Golf Club is also celebrating 25 years in business with special rates from April 4 until April 30. In addition to its par 72 public golf course, the club also unveiled its
new indoor Trackman simulators at the end of last month.
• The semi-private McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton, which is currently accepting tee time reservations, recently announced that it will be hosting the 2025 New York State Junior Amateur and Girls’ Junior Championships.
• The Ballston Spa Country Club opened on April 4 for walking members and guests. The club is also celebrating its centennial this year and is adding a newly built clubhouse to its facilities. Time to hit the links!
Fun And Games Puzzle Solutions
athletes did a great job staying focused and stepped up when they needed to,” said Head Coach Manny Valentin in a statement. “We’re always in search of more speed, and the team did an excellent job executing their race plans and coming out on top this weekend.”
MEN’S RECAP
The men’s 1V and 2V boats entered a 14-boat event, with heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday. The winner of each heat advanced directly to the Grand Final, while the next three fastest times filled out the remaining spots. The 7th through 12th fastest crews moved on to the Petite Final, while the 13th and 14th fastest were eliminated after Day 1.
The men’s 1V won their heat with a time of 6:37, finishing six seconds ahead of Ithaca. The 2V placed third in their heat, ahead of Milwaukee School of Engineering, clocking
the 11th-fastest time overall and earning a spot in the Petite Final.
On Sunday, the men’s 2V faced St. Mary’s A and B, Washington College, Case Western, and Franklin & Marshall in the Petite Final. Skidmore crossed the line in 6:45, securing 11th place overall. St. Mary’s A won the Petite Final with a time of 6:34.
Shortly after, in the Grand Final, the 1V engaged in a thrilling back-and-forth race with Trinity College. Neither crew held more than a seat’s lead throughout the entire 2,000 meters. In the final sprint, Skidmore edged out Trinity by 0.49 seconds to take the win. Ithaca, Catholic, Trinity B, and MSOE rounded out the field.
WOMEN’S RECAP
The women competed in a 16-boat field under the same format as the men’s event. Crews needed either to win their heat or post one of the 12 fastest times to advance to Sunday’s finals.
The Skidmore women’s 1V won their heat in dominant fashion, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Washington College, whose time was 7:54.64. The 2V placed third in their heat with a time of 7:54.08. In a narrow margin, the 2V edged out Washington College B to earn a place in the Grand Final.
On Sunday, the 1V jumped out to an early lead in the Grand Final and never looked back, claiming victory by 3.24 seconds over nationally ranked No. 11 St. Mary’s. The 2V battled for fourth but ultimately finished fifth overall with a time of 7:33.49, just behind Washington College.
The Skidmore College men’s and women’s rowing teams pose with their medals after competing in the Knecht Cup Regatta in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Photos via Skidmore Athletics.
Week of April 18 - April 24, 2025
Ballston Spa Girls Flag Football Team Launches Fundraiser
BALLSTON SPA — The new Ballston Spa High School girls flag football program is seeking funds for team jackets, warm-up jerseys, a senior night, senior scholarships, and an end-of-season banquet.
“As a brand new program, we’re starting with zero funding,” the team’s booster club said on its GoFundMe page. “Your donation—big or small—makes a meaningful impact. Every dollar brings us one step closer to supporting the incredible athletes and
coaches who are working so hard to build this program.”
For more information or to support the program, visit www.gofundme.com/f/yj8r5support-ballston-spa-girls-flagfootball.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway Launches 60th Season
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
MALTA — The AlbanySaratoga Speedway is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a season-opening Super DIRTcar Series event on Friday, April 18.
Drivers will duke it out over 60 laps with $7,500 to win. Pits open at 3 p.m., the grandstands open at 5, hot laps start at 6 p.m., and the race itself will follow soon after.
“The best drivers in the Northeast will meet a stout group of Albany-Saratoga regulars for a battle that will likely take all 60 laps to decide,” said Super DIRTcar Series Announcer Mike Warren in a Q&A on the series’ website. “There is no place in the Capital Region where you’ll see better racing, and it’s normal to see a driver win from outside the top 10 every week.”
In addition to celebrating 60 years in business, this season is an especially notable one for the
Flyer
speedway. Late last year, plans to replace the racetrack with a 700unit residential development were derailed by the Malta Town Board. The speedway’s current owner, Howard Commander, said via a real estate agent who spoke at a December town board meeting on his behalf, that he “fully” supported the proposed project. Commander decided to try to sell the speedway due, in
Saratoga Weightlifter Wins Gold
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
— Lucille Murphy, a Saratoga Springs High School grad and district treasurer, was crowned a women’s weightlifting champion at the 2025 Masters National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend.
Murphy earned a silver medal in the 72kg snatch, and she won a gold medal in the 89kg clean and jerk. Her total of 161kg earned her the title of 76kg 40-44 age group national champion. Murphy was previously district treasurer for the Galway Central School District. For 11 years, she was also a youth rowing coach for the Saratoga Rowing Association.
part, to the financial challenges of maintaining and operating the track.
The speedway sits on valuable real estate: a 50-acre parcel along Route 9 North. The track originally opened in 1965 and features racing on Friday nights from April through September. The track’s future after the 2025 season is uncertain.
Photo of the Ballston Spa High School girls flag football team via GoFundMe.
Photo provided by Thomas Murphy.
image via the Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
