LOCAL • INDEPENDENT • FREE Volume 20
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Issue 3
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January 16 - January 22, 2026
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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
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NY’S First
BAD BOYS Floating Sauna
… Whatcha Gonna Do … • Texas Fugitive Caught on Caroline pg.9 • DWI Ends in Creek pg.10
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 14 to celebrate the recent opening of KOS Sauna on Saratoga Lake. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
A LONG
See Story pg. 12
$2 Million, Year Long Reno
STRANGE TRIP Saratoga Arts Reopens Local Events Pay Tribute to Bob Weir
Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir. Photo via Wikimedia.
See Story pg. 23
Photo via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
See Story pg. 14
518- 581-2480
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History
OF
SARATOGA
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Freedom for Samuel Rumples by Dave Waite | Sponsored by Saratoga County History Center Contact The Saratoga County History Roundtable at: saratogacohistoryroundtable@gmail.com In September of 1876, a group of men led by a reporter from a Saratoga newspaper, visited the Saratoga County Poor House in Ballston Spa. Their purpose was to meet a “centenarian” who was there under the charge of Keeper of the Poor House George D. Story. The person they hoped to visit that day was a 102-year-old ex-slave named Samuel Rumples. We are fortunate that this unnamed reporter wrote about their time with Samuel, and that his account of the meeting was published in the September 26, 1876, edition of the Saratoga Sentinel. Samuel had been born as a slave into the household of Nicholas Fort of Halfmoon in 1775. While no written record of Samuel’s birth or his years as a slave has been found, according to the Federal Census, Nicholas Fort did own three slaves in both 1790 and 1800. Nicholas Fort established a rope ferry across the Mohawk River in Saratoga County in 1728, and there established the hamlet of Fort’s Ferry. This community lasted until about 1907, when work being done to build the Barge Canal raised the water level, making the location uninhabitable. New York was the eighth state to begin the process of ending slavery within its borders. It was a gradual process that began with children born after July 4, 1799, to enslaved mothers in New York being born free. Unfortunately, these young men and women had to stay with their mothers’ owners until they reached twenty-five if female and twenty-eight if male. For those born before 1799, freedom would not come until 1827. As Samuel Rumples was born in 1775, his release from slavery did not come until his 52nd year in 1827. In 1830, a free African American named Samuel Rumpus is found in the Halfmoon Federal Census. In this family are one male under 10 years of age, a man and woman between 36 and 53, and a man and woman over fifty-five. In 1831, Samuel Rumpus, Jr., purchased a 2-acre parcel in Halfmoon for $150, and five
years later, with his last name spelled Rumpas on the deed, he sold it for a profit of $73. It was in June of 1843 that Rumpus again purchased property in Halfmoon, Saratoga County. This time, he paid two hundred and forty dollars for a one-acre parcel that sat along the north side of the Mohawk River between the road leading to Fonda Ferry and the Erie Canal. The Fonda Ferry was adjacent to what is today the Crescent Bridge, where Route 9 crosses the Mohawk River. In 1846, Samuel, this time with his name spelled Rumpuss and using an X mark to sign his name, sold the property. While Samuel talked with his visitors, he told of a time in his life that he had “amassed quite a small property,” but had lost it all through a friend’s fraudulent actions some thirty years earlier. From Saratoga County Supreme Court records, the truth of this matter is revealed. In the 1840s, Rumples made a verbal agreement with Sarah Freligh to pay $400 plus interest “within a reasonable time” to purchase property along what is now Moe Road in Clifton Park. For over ten years Rumples lived on the property, and during that time he never paid any of the principal and only a small portion of the interest on this contract. With Rumples not fulfilling his agreement to purchase the land, in 1855, Sarah sent her niece’s husband, Nicholas Philo, to collect payment, and to inform Rumples that if he would not pay, the property would be sold. As Samuel Rumples did not pay the amount owed, in 1856, the property was sold to Eber Mills. At that time, the new owner agreed to rent the house and a small piece of surrounding property to Rumples for twelve dollars a year. After a year went by with Rumples not paying any of the rent owed to Mills, and likely because he was facing eviction from the property, he brought legal action against the previous and present owners of the property. Two years later, C. A Waldron was appointed as the referee to decide the case by the Saratoga County Supreme Court. It was in May of 1858 that
Waldron announced his decision. First, he gave Samuel Rumples thirty days to pay the $429 due on the verbal contract he originally made with Sarah Freligh, as well as $35 in court costs. In the second part of the decision, Rumples was given the option to buy the portion of the property he had been renting from the present owner of the property, Eber Mills, by paying within thirty days, $408.25 plus court costs of $108.25. If Rumples did this, Mills would be required to grant him a “good and sufficient” deed to the property. There is no record that Rumples ever complied with these decisions. After this loss, Samuel Rumpus stayed in Saratoga County, with 1865 census records listing 85-year-old Samuel, and his 79-year-old wife Nancy living in Clifton Park. Sometime between 1865 and when he was interviewed in 1876, Samuel Rumple’s wife Nancy passed away, he lost his eyesight and found his way to the County Poor House in Ballston Spa. When the reporter and his friends talked with Samuel, his memory was growing dim, but he still could clearly remember his life with the Fort family, even recalling his old master, Nicholas Fort, who by then had been gone for over 50 years, as “the best man he ever seen.” The poor house where Samuel was living when he received his visitors was only three years old, having been built to replace the original building on the property in 1873. It was a twostory brick building with wings for both men and women. The visitors that day found the building to be as neat as a well-ordered hotel, making it difficult to realize that it was even an almshouse. At the time of their visit, the poor house held one hundred and twenty-five inmates. As the sun set, the men visiting Samuel Rumple bid their farewells and set off for home. While no date of death or place of burial was recorded for Samuel Rumples, thanks to this reporter and the Saratoga Sentinel, his story of embracing freedom after slavery has been preserved, and he will not be forgotten.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
NEWS
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Saratoga County Launches One Dead in Health and Wellness Initiative crash at Valvoline for Veterans in Partnership in Town of with Saratoga Regional YMCA
Halfmoon
The Saratoga County officials today announced a comprehensive health and wellness program for participants in its Veterans Service Agency’s Peer Connection Program, in partnership with Saratoga Regional YMCA. This initiative offers a special YMCA membership focused on physical health and overall well-being in a supportive environment. Eligibility requires veterans to be Saratoga County residents, use a Saratoga Regional YMCA at least three times a week, and attend one monthly meeting at the Saratoga Springs YMCA. This program is being offered at a 75% discounted rate for the membership. “On Behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I am proud to support the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency in their initiative to promote physical health as an essential component of veterans’ overall wellbeing,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett (Town of Clifton Park) and former Army Officer said. “Those who have served our country deserve the best care and support as they embark on their journeys toward wellness. Thank you to the Saratoga Regional YMCA for their invaluable partnership in providing essential resources. Together, we are building a strong foundation for the mental and physical health of our veterans.” “As a Navy Veteran, I wholeheartedly support the initiative of this program, which directly addresses the mental and physical health needs of our veterans,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Ian Murray (Town of Saratoga) said. “I want to emphasize the immense sacrifices our veterans have made for our country. It’s our duty to ensure they have access to the comprehensive resources they have earned and truly deserve. This offers an innovative solution to the
challenges faced by those in crisis, focusing on their strengths to foster resilience.” “We recognize that physical health is a vital protective factor in suicide prevention of veterans,” Frank McClement, Director of the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency said, “By focusing on minimizing risks and enhancing the protective factors for our veterans, we aim to foster an environment that supports personal growth and goal setting. We are committed to prioritizing physical health and wellbeing for our veterans, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to succeed.” “Through this partnership with Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency, the Saratoga Regional YMCA is proud to support those who have served by providing greater access to programs that foster health, connection, and belonging,” Allison D’Antonio, CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA said. “This initiative is about more than just access — it’s about honoring veterans with opportunities to thrive as part of our community.” Membership to the Veterans Health and Wellness Program begins upon application approval, submission of financial details, and issuance
of a YMCA card, lasting until December 31, 2026. The YMCA will cover 50% of the membership costs, while the Peer Connection Program will contribute an additional 25%. Veterans will be responsible for the remaining 25%. The Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency assists Veterans and their families with securing earned benefits and services. The Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency office will be having an informational session and presentation tabling event on January 27th from 1:30-5:00pm at the Saratoga Regional YMCA location and on February 25th from 2-5pm at the Glens Falls YMCA location. The Peer Connection Program is a New York Statefunded Private First-Class Joseph P. Dwyer program, that provides opportunities for local veterans who have readjusted to civilian life to form relationships with veterans in need. It provides one-on-one mentoring, learning opportunities, social events, presentations, entertainment, volunteer/service opportunities, and more. For more information, interested veterans should contact Peer Connection Program Coordinator Erin Cassidy at 518-605-2899 or visit www.veteranspeertopeer.org
by Aidan Cahill Saratoga TODAY
A 50 year old Schenectady man died after a crash at a Valvoline in the Town of Halfmoon. Sikander Samuel of Schenectady died on Jan. 12 at Albany Medical Center after he was pinned between two vehicles while working at the Valvoline on Route 9 in the Town of Halfmoon. The crash occurred when a vehicle waiting in line to be serviced suddenly accelerated into the vehicle in front of it which was also waiting to be serviced. As a result of the collision, the two vehicles forced a third one — which was being serviced in the bay at the time — to crash through a glass garage door at the front of the service bay. Samuel was initially transported to Albany Medical Center with leg fractures and
possible internal injuries. No cause of death was listed at the time. Deputies said the operator of the vehicle that struck Samuel, a 63-year-old man from Schaghticoke, is cooperating with the investigation. The crash and death caused the Valvoline to close it’s doors for two days. It reopened on Jan. 13. In a statement to the media, the company who owns the franchise, offered their sympathy to the family. “Everyone across our franchise is heartbroken by the death of our colleague following the tragic incident on Saturday. Our deepest sympathies are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read. “We are continuing to cooperate fully with the authorities as they investigate, and we are committed to supporting his family and our entire team as we navigate this loss together.”
OBITUARIES
4 Thomas A. Guilianelli
MECHANICVILLE - On Monday January 5, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m. Thomas A. Guilianelli passed away suddenly and peacefully at Saratoga Hospital after being stricken at the Wesley where he had been undergoing rehab from a recent illness that had impacted his Parkinson’s. He was 85 years old. Born on May 14, 1940, in Mechanicville to Thomas and Rose Canonica Guilianelli, he was the youngest of four children. His father was an Italian immigrant, who came to this Country for a better life where he and Rose raised their four children with love and respect for one another. Tom’s father passed down the work ethic that he and his siblings carried through the rest of their lives, and his mother Rose
provided a loving home that Tom always looked backed on with great memories, especially of Canonica Family gatherings, where great food and times were had by all. In later years good times were spent at family functions with in-laws and friends. Tom was a proud graduate of Mechanicville High School Class of 1958. In 1958 he met the love of his life, Diane F. Dwyer, who he spent the next 68 years of his life with. They would have celebrated their 64th anniversary on February 4th. Their union produced two sons, Thomas F. and David P. (Hoover) Guilianelli, their Irish twins. Tom’s family was the most important thing in his life, if it was help coaching Hoover’s little league team or a father son bowling tournament with Tommy, or a school function he was always there for his two sons. That was even more evident, when Tommy took ill and passed away on October 27, 2021. It was a void he could never fill, but he soldiered on. He was also a dedicated Dad to his loyal Samoyed-Maverick, who he loved very much and who was always by his side, even visiting him during his stay at Wesley. Maverick will miss him very much. Outside of his family, he was a loyal and dedicated employee well over 50 years for
OBITUARIES CONT. PAGE 8
Mechanicville Price Chopper, where he was the receiver and was recognized numerous times for his stellar work. He was well respected and considered the best at his job. He made many friends and relationships in all those years, one of his bread vendors even nicknamed him the “Governor”. He worked until he was almost 79 years old with illness, finally forcing him into retirement. He also worked at Korrell Mfg. and as a teenager he also liked to help his neighbor out at G.A. Bove Fuels unloading the coal cars that came into the yard. Outside of work it was about spending time with his family and sports. He liked nothing more than summer vacations at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire or Kennebunkport, Maine with Diane or the two of them taking trips to casinos to Atlantic City with friends or short rides to the Racino with his in-laws Nancy and Andy Burke. He also would enjoy his summers on his front porch with his two sons and neighbors, Carmine and Anthony. When it came to sports, he was a diehard Yankee and NY Giants fan. He always enjoyed watching Yankee games with his family and always remarked how on his 54th Birthday he attended Dwight (Doc) Gooden’s no hitter. His last full day on earth was watching with Hoover from his room at Wesley, his Giants beat Hoover’s Cowboys. Hoover believes he could finally pass on now that his Giants finally beat the Cowboys - Dad see you on the other side where we can take this conversation up again. He was also, for many years, the pitcher for the Mechanicville Police Department Softball Team, in which he liked to brag that they never lost a game. The officers were all his buddies, and he always enjoyed playing alongside them. He continued well into his early 50’s playing in pickup games. He also liked telling his sons how he hit the first HR at MechanicvilleStillwater Little League. In addition to Tommy and his parents; he was predeceased by his siblings, Anna and Anthony (Bubbles) Cimino, Nancy and Julius (Fatty) Marcelle, Anthony (Nookie) and June Guilianelli and his in-laws Francis (Chick) and Eleanor Donnelly Dwyer, Andrew (Andy) Burke, Colleen Dwyer Wong; his special uncle
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
and aunt Alphonse (Fonzi) and Lil Canonica and his loyal and faithful canine companions Pumpkin, Princess, Natasha and Allie. In addition to his wife Diane and son David and also Maverick, he was survived by his sister-in-law Nancy M. Burke. Also surviving are in-laws, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, way too numerous to mention. The family would like to thank Clifton Park Halfmoon Ambulance, Saratoga Fire Department/EMT’s, the Doctors and Nurses at Saratoga Hospital both the ER and Third Floor, Dr. Stephen Sgambati, Jr., Dr. Robert Benton, Dr. Seth Cappello, Dr. Joseph Larosa and a big thank you to Dr. Era Hanspal at Albany Med Neurology, and all their family, friends, neighbors and Hoover’s co-workers at DeCrescente Distributing. Diane and David would like to extend their most heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Wesley at 2 Hathorn who took great care of their husband and father and who were by his side when his condition took a sudden turn for the worse. We are forever grateful knowing he was not alone. A thank you just isn’t enough. Calling hours were Sunday January 11, 2026, at the ChaseSmith Family Funeral Homes, 319 Park Ave, Mechanicville. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, January 12 at All Saints on the Hudson South Church, (St. Paul’s), 121 N. Main St. Mechanicville. Burial took place in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Harris Ave. where he will join his beloved Tommy in the family plot. Memorial donations may be made in Thomas’ name to The Wesley Foundation c/o Eileen Nash, 131 Lawrence St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or at www. thewesleycommunity.org/ wesley-foundation. Online remembrances may be made at www. burkefuneralhome.com.
Raymond V. Kelleher SARATOGA SPRINGS - Raymond V. Kelleher, age 84, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Saratoga Hospital with his family by his side. At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service at this time. For online condolences, please visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
Cecilia Monaco SARATOGA SPRINGS – Cecilia Monaco, 96, passed away Friday, January 9, 2026 at home. She was 96 years old. Born on January 26, 1929, in Saratoga Springs, NY. Burial will be private at St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. Online remembrance may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Patricia A. Willson BALLSTON SPA – Patricia A. Willson, 83 passed away peacefully on January 11, 2026. Calling hours are 4 - 7pm, January 21, at Burke Funeral Home. Mass is 11 am, January 22, at St. Clement’s followed by burial in St. Peter’s cemetery. Memorial donations to St. Peter’s Hospice or Gateway House of Peace. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
BLOTTER
BLOTTER REPORT
in the Town of Wilton on Jan. 2.
January 7, 2026- January 13, 2026 January 7, 2026. 1:15 p.m.- New York State Police arrested four individuals — two residents of Champlain, one resident of Mooers Forks and one resident on West Chazy — in the Town of Malta on charges of misdemeanor 3rd degree falsely reporting a crime/ catastrophe/emergency. Appearance tickets issued. January 7, 2026. 3:05 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Waterford resident in the Village of Waterford on 19 felony charges: six counts of 3rd degree criminal possession of an assault weapon, six counts of criminal possession of a firearm- unregistered assault weapon and seven counts of 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon- ammunition feeding device. Appearance ticket issued. January 7, 2026. 8:50 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Mechanicville resident in the Town of Clifton Park on charges of misdemeanor 2nd degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle: 3 or more suspensions. Appearance ticket issued. January 8, 2026. 12:40 a.m.- New York State Police arrested a Bronx resident in Suffolk County for an incident that occurred in the Town of Wilton. They were charged with felony 3rd degree grand larceny. Released on own recognizance. January 8, 2026. 11:05 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Clifton Park resident in the Town of Clifton Park on charges of felony 2nd degree bail jumping. Released on own recognizance. January 9, 2026. 9:55 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Saratoga Springs resident in the City of Saratoga Springs on charges of misdemeanor 2nd degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Appearance
ticket issued. January 9, 2026. 11:33 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Fort Edward resident in the Town of Moreau on charges of felony 3rd degree criminal mischief: damage to another person’s property amount over $250. Central Arraignment. January 11, 2026. 7:35 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Saratoga Springs resident in the Town of Saratoga on charges of misdemeanor criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and attempted misdemeanor 3rd degree assault. Released on own recognizance. January 12, 2026. 7:48 a.m.New York State Police arrested a Schuylerville resident in the Town of Malta on charges of 2nd degree aggravated unlicensed operation: 3 or more open suspensions, 3 or more separate dates. January 12, 2026. 9:29 a.m.New York State Police arrested a Ballston Spa resident in the Village of Ballston Spa on charges of misdemeanor resisting arrest. Appearance ticket issued. January 12, 2026. 9:39 a.m.New York State Police arrested a Ballston Spa resident in the Town of Malta on charges of misdemeanor 2nd degree criminal impersonation, attempted felony 2nd degree grand larceny: extort by public service and felony 1st degree identity theft- assume other’s identity to commit or attempt a felony. Released on own recognizance. Arrest stems from incident that occurred
January 12, 2026. 1:45 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Corona, NY resident in the Village of Harrison on charges of misdemeanor petit larceny. The arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred in the Town of Wilton in August 2025. Central Arraignment. January 12, 2026. 2:58 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Middle Grove, NY resident in the Town of Milton on charges of felony 4th degree grand larceny: property greater than $1000. Released on bail/ bond. January 13, 2026. 3:00 a.m.New York State Police arrested a Saratoga Springs resident in the Town of Moreau on charges of three counts of misdemeanor 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor 2nd degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia: scales, misdemeanor 2nd degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia: package, felony 4th degree criminal passion of a narcotic drug and felony 3rd degree criminal possession of a controlled substance: intent to sell narcotics. Released on own recognizance. January 13, 2026. 2:19 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Clifton Park juvenile in the Town of Clifton Park on charges of misdemeanor criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. Released to third party. Arrest stems from incident that occurred January 8 in the Town of Halfmoon.
5 January 13, 2026. 2:20 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Schuylerville resident in the Village of Victory on charges of misdemeanor DWI- first offense, misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle with bac of .08 or morefirst offense, misdemeanor aggravated DWI- BAC of .18 or higher- no priors and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle: committed under influence of drugs or alcohol. Appearance ticket issued. Arrest stems from crash that occurred in the Town of Saratoga in August 2025. January 13, 2026. 3:00 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Fort Edward resident in the City of Saratoga Springs on charges of misdemeanor 3rd degree bail jumping. Held- no bail. January 13, 2026. 3:00 p.m.- New York State Police arrested a Fort Edward resident in the City of Saratoga Springs on charges of misdemeanor 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and 2nd degree criminal impersonation. Appearance ticket issued. January 13, 2026. 3:22 p.m.New York State Police arrested two Queensbury residents in the Town of
Moreau on charges of misdemeanor imitation controlled substance- manufacture/sell- 1st violation and misdemeanor 3rd degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. The other was arrested on charges of two counts of misdemeanor 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Appearance tickets issued. January 13, 2026. 3:48 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Watervliet resident in the Town of Clifton Park on charges of 2 counts of misdemeanor reckless driving and misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle when license or registration suspended under article 7. Appearance ticket issued. Arrest stems from crash that occurred in March 2024 in the Town of Halfmoon. January 13, 2026. 4:39 p.m.New York State Police arrested a Troy resident in the Town of Clifton Park on charges of felony 4th degree criminal possession of stolen property, value exceeds $1000 and misdemeanor unlawful possession of certain ammunition feeding devices: not in home/ first offense. Arrest stems from incident that occurred in November 2025.
NEWS BRIEFS
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Locally Owned & Operated PUBLISHER/EDITOR Chad Beatty 518-581-2480 x212 cbeatty@saratogapublishing.com MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris Bushee 518-581-2480 x201 cbushee@saratogapublishing.com ADVERTISING Jim Daley, Advertising Director 518-581-2480 x209 jdaley@saratogapublishing.com Cindy Durfey Ad Sales, Classifieds, Calendar, Obituaries 518-581-2480 x204 cdurfey@saratogapublishing.com DISTRIBUTION Kim Beatty 518-581-2480 x205 kbeatty@saratogapublishing.com DESIGN Julia Ettkin Graphic Designer Jocelyn Lucey Ad Designer, Web & Social Media EDITORIAL Aidan Cahill City, Crime, Education 518-581-2480 x214 acahill@saratogapublishing.com Jonathon Norcross Business, Sports Arts & Entertainment 518-581-2480 x219 jnorcross@saratogapublishing.com PROOFREADER Anne Strauss astrauss@saratogapublishing.com Send your calendar events to calendar@saratogapublishing.com
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Saratoga Home and Lifestyle January 23rd
Local news never looked this good! 2254 Route 50 South Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: 518-581-2480
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Greg Veitch to Speak on the Mob in Saratoga January 26 at the Saratoga Torch Club The Saratoga Torch Club will welcome Greg Veitch, former Saratoga Springs Police Chief and leading historian of the city’s underworld past, as its featured speaker Monday evening, January 26, at the Saratoga Springs Holiday Inn. Veitch’s talk will draw from his extensive research into Saratoga Springs’ long history of gambling, organized crime, and civic corruption, the subject of his two acclaimed books, All the Law in the World Won’t Stop Them and A Gangster’s Paradise. Blending original archival research with the instincts of a career law-enforcement officer, Veitch has become the foremost chronicler of a complex
chapter in Saratoga’s past—one that shaped the city far beyond its elegant public image. The Saratoga Torch Club is a civic forum dedicated to thoughtful conversation on history, public affairs, science, and the arts. Veitch’s remarks are in keeping with the club’s tradition of talks designed to spark informed discussion among members and guests. For the presentation only, which will start at 7 p.m., the suggested donation is $5. For dinner, seats are $40, payable at the door by cash or check, starting with a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. Make reservations by Friday, January 23, by contacting Richard Lynch at torchman999@gmail.com.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
State Police arrest four following a staged kidnapping prank On January 7, 2026, State Police of Saratoga arrested Jasmine R. Barber, 20, of Champlain, NY, Emily R. Ferdinandi, 20, of Champlain, NY, and two 18-year-olds each for Falsely Reporting an Incident in the third degree. On January 7, 2026, at about 1:00 p.m., Troopers received a report that a vehicle was traveling southbound on I-87 Northway in Saratoga County with a passenger who was reportedly displaying a handwritten sign stating “help!! being kidnapped!!”. During a significant law enforcement response, a vehicle matching the caller’s description was located on I-87 Northway in Malta, NY, and was stopped, causing a temporary shutdown of I-87 southbound. The 18-year-old driver and passengers Barber, Ferdinandi, and an 18-year-old were removed from the vehicle
and detained. Further investigation determined that all individuals in the vehicle were aware that the sign was displayed as an alleged “joke” and no kidnapping had occurred. All four were arrested and transported to SP Saratoga for processing. Each was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Malta Town Court on February 5, 2026, and released. State Police wants to emphasize that falsely reporting a kidnapping is not a prank or a mistake; it’s a serious crime with real consequences. When a false any false emergency report is made, emergency responders rush into action, diverting police, medical, and rescue resources away from people who may genuinely need help. Families and communities experience fear and trauma, and in some cases, false reports can even put officers and bystanders in danger.
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Meet Oreo!
photo
OF THE
WEEK
winter 2025
“Luther Forest ~ Looking out my back door” Photo by Denise Rutledge Oreo is a big fellow with an even bigger heart. He is so sweet and wants a lap to call his own. His owner had to go into long-term care and unfortunately the family was allergic. He had been living in the
empty home for a few weeks, and someone would come feed him and give him attention. Because of this, he is eager for pets and companionship. He will be your best friend. He is roughly 10 years old (but
definitely doesn’t look or act it), is up to date on vaccines and is declawed. We recently had senior blood work done and he is as healthy as can be. Come meet Oreo and see if he is a perfect fit for you!
Now is your chance to get your photos published! Submit your “Photo of the Week” for a chance to be PUBLISHED IN PRINT in Saratoga TODAY Newspaper. Winter contest photo submissions close February 6. One photo will be chosen each week. Email your photo to: Design@SaratogaPublishing.com
OBITUARIES
8 George J. Biette, Sr.
David S. Wemmitt
SARATOGA SPRINGS – On Friday, January 2, 2026, George J. Biette, Sr. passed away surrounded by family members. Memorial donations to Saratoga County Senior Meals Program. Calling hours are 4-6 pm, Friday, January 16 at Burke Funeral Home. Burial will be private. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome. com.
BALLSTON SPA - David S. Wemmitt, 68 passed away on January 2, 2026. A celebration of life will be announced in the future. Donations may be made to Operation Adopt A Soldier, Saratoga Springs, or The Vet House, Ballston Spa. For online condolences, please visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
Clement Clark
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Nora Louise (Honor) Olsen
SARATOGA SPRINGS Clement Clark, 99, passed away on January 13, 2026. Calling hours are 10 – 11 am, Tuesday, January 20 at Burke Funeral Home with a funeral home service at 11 am. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome. com.
Betty Larmon SARATOGA SPRINGS Betty Larmon completed her journey on earth to be with the Lord and Pop on January 6, 2026. She will be joined with Pop at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY 12871 on May 4, 2026, at 11am. For online condolences, please visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
WILTON - Nora Louise (Honor) Olsen, age 72, of Wilton, New York, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2025. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Nora was the beloved daughter of the late John and Neriede Bardon. She was a proud graduate of St. Peter’s Academy, Class of 1971, where she formed lifelong friendships and nurtured her passion for the arts. Nora was an avid painter and artist, whose creativity and gentle spirit touched all who knew her. She is survived by her devoted husband, Mark Olsen; her loving daughters Natasha (Jim) Kreuter, Marisa Bencivenga, and Brittany Bencivenga; her cherished granddaughter Kendall Kreuter; her beloved siblings Tom Bardon,
Dan (Jackie) Bardon, Chris (Marian) Bardon, and Kevin (Linda) Bardon; and her halfbrother James (Linda) Quinn. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom held a special place in her heart. Nora was preceded in death by her brothers John Bardon, Michael Bardon, and Timothy Bardon. Family and friends may call from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation in Nora’s honor. Contributions may be made online at www.parkinson. org or by mail to: Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. For online condolences, please visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
James A. Corey
John L. Maurizi
SARATOGA SPRINGS - James A. Corey, age 71, of Saratoga Springs passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Saratoga Hospital, with his wife, Suzanne, by his side. An informal graveside service is planned for the summer. For online condolences, please visit www.compassionatefuneralcare. com.
WILTON - John L. Maurizi passed away on January 5, 2026, in the comfort of his home in Wilton. A Funeral Mass in John’s honor will be held on January 23, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Luke’s Church, 340 Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423. For online condolences, please visit www. compassionatefuneralcare.com.
Janet (Jan) M. Cicotte
online condolences, please visit www.compassionatefuneralcare. com.
HEBRON - Janet (Jan) M. Cicotte, 67, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with her family by her side. At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service at this time. For
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
NEWS
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Fugitive from Texas Burger Busted for DWI Caught after Police by Park Police Chase in Spa City by Aidan Cahill Saratoga TODAY
The Saratoga Springs Police Department arrested a fugitive from Texas after receiving a report of someone driving erratically on Caroline Street. Jody Harr, 47, was arrested by SSPD on a slew of charges after he was caught by Saratoga Springs Police during a DWI investigation. According to SSPD, around 11:00 p.m., they received a report from a concerned citizen about a driver who was possibly intoxicated near the intersection of Caroline Street and Henry Street. When officers approached on foot, the driver, later identified as Harr, fled the scene. This triggered a chase which ended near the intersection of West Circular Street and Union Street. Harr was initially taken into custody for DWI but further investigation revealed that he was wanted in Texas related to child pornography offenses. He was charged with being a fugitive from justice, felony DWI- two prior convictions in the last 10 years, felony aggravated DWI, felony operating a motor vehicle with BAC over .08, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. In addition, he received several traffic violations including passing a red light, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving to the left of pavement markings, and
driving on a sidewalk. In an email to Saratoga TODAY, SSPD confirmed that the warrants for Harr’s arrest were issued by the Grand Prairie Police Department in Dallas County, TX. While the SSPD couldn’t cite Texas law specifically, they did state that the warrant was related to child pornography charges in Texas. A review of court records from the Dallas County District Court shows that Harr has been charged with one count of 3rd degree possession of child pornography. During the course of the case, prosecutors alleged in court filings that Harr sent harassing messages to an individual involved and her son. While bond for this case was set at $20,000, it has since been revoked. The last action related to the case took place on July 8, 2024, and the case is currently listed as inactive. This inactive status is done when something court can’t resume is due to factors beyond the control of the court — such as when a warrant is issued for the arrest of the defendant, according to the State of Texas Judicial Branch. As for Harr’s other charges, this is far from his first time being arrested for DWI. A review of his criminal record from the Texas Department of Public Safety shows four arrests for DWI in the state — the latest two coming in 2023 and 2017. Harr was remanded into the custody of the Saratoga County Sheriff ’s Office pending extradition back to Texas.
Newly elected Saratoga Springs Supervisor Sarah Burger has been arrested for DWI. The arrest occurred in the early hours of Jan. 11, 2026. Burger was pulled over by New York State Park Police around 11:46 p.m. Jan. 10 and placed under arrest shortly after. She was arraigned, issued an appearance ticket, and subsequently released. In a statement put out after the arrest, Mattew Chavin, Burger’s lawyer, said that his client respects the rule of law and is entitled to due process. “I have instructed her not to comment on this matter. We are very early in the process and awaiting discovery materials,” Chauvin said. “Accordingly, I will not be making further comment beyond this statement at this time.” Burger’s arrest was first reported by WNYT. She is due
– Saratoga Springs Supervisor Sarah Burger was arrested for DWI on January 11 by New York State Park Police. (Aidan Cahill)
in court on Feb. 5. Burger won her seat on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors this past November and was sworn in on January 1 of this year. In her election, she received the most votes of any candidate running in
a competitive race with 5,458 across the One Saratoga and Democratic party lines. Outside of politics, Burger is a partner at her own law firm, Burger Law Group, and served as Saratoga Springs City Attorney in 2014.
NEWS
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Malta Police Barrett Not Running for Reelection in 2026 Chase ends in a Creek by Aidan Cahill Saratoga TODAY
by Aidan Cahill Saratoga TODAY
A Malta man has been charged with several traffic offenses after trying to hide in a creek while feeling from a DWI. Bradley Crannell of Malta was charged with felony DWI, felony unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, misdemeanor fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, speeding, improper plates, uninspected motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, failing to keep right and passing a red light. According to Saratoga County Sheriff ’s Deputies, Crannell was initially stopped for erratic driving on East High
Street in Malta. While he initially stopped for Deputies, he is alleged to have fled the area. He later abandoned the car at the former location of Spa Brahuas Restaurant on High Street and fled into the woods. The Sherriff ’s Office subsequently deployed a drone with a thermal camera and spotted Crannell lying next to a creek. He was subsequently taken into custody without further incident. Crannell’s DWI was elevated to a felony due to a prior conviction. He was arraigned in Malta Town Court and remanded into the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings.
For 26 years, Clifton Park has been consistently represented at the county level by one man: Republican Phil Barrett. In that time Saratoga County’s population went from 200,635 when he started to 240,360 today, while the GDP went from $5,461,772 in 2001, the earliest year available to $14,870,710 in 2023, the last year available. Throughout all this growth and subsequent change, Barrett has represented Clifton Park in the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and served as its chair on four separate occasions. In 2027, however, that will change. On Jan. 12, Barrett announced that this term will be his last. Barrett made the announcement on his personal blog in a post entitled “Never a Good Time,” in which he talked about his career and some of the challenges he faced. “I will not be seeking a 15th term as Town/County Supervisor in 2026,” Barrett said in the post. “I agreed to run in 2025, knowing the new term would be a one-year term as opposed to the historical twoyear term. Although I completely disagree with the altering of the election schedule, it was a more enticing time frame based on my personal interests.” The former Army officer and Commercial Lender began his tenure in the position
Phil Barrett announced that 2026 will be his last year on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. He has been in office as Clifton Park Town/ County Supervisor for 26 years. (Aidan Cahill)
in 1999 and was subsequently elected 14 times. In 2010, he passed Henry J. Kinns for longest tenured supervisor in town history. During his tenure in office, he was only primaried once however his opponent, Dale Kelley, dropped out before the primary. Barrett is currently serving his fourth term as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors — his third consecutive after a previous term in 2007. In the blog post Barrett talked about his longevity in office and said he always viewed the position as a job with twoyear contracts given to him by the voters. “I have always viewed this position as a job,” Barrett said. “It’s an important job and a public job, but at the end of the
day it’s a job. The voters have provided me the opportunity to do the job on a series of 14 two-year contracts. Perform and you may earn another contract. If you don’t perform the short-term contract may expire, permanently.” Barrett’s announcement comes at a time when Clifton Park will see many changes. Democrats swept all the elections they contested in 2025 in Clifton Park, leaving Barrett in the minority in the Town Board. Meanwhile, a state law goes into effect shifting elections for most jurisdictions from odd numbered years to even numbered ones — resulting in a shortened one-year term. As for what’s next, Barrett didn’t offer specifics but said he would still be around and won’t be leaving the area.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
BALLSTON
MALTA
Kyle Madden sold property at 967 Rt 67 to Agila NY Holdings for $150,000
Karen McPhail sold property at 3 Essex St to Marianne Needham for $458,100
Maksim Karasavov sold property at 314 Goode St to Beecher Property Holdings LLC for $469,000
Jeffrey Silengo sold property at 89 Arrow Wood Pl to Jacob Gardner for $300,000
CHARLTON Mary Anne Jendrazak sold property at 6 Cornelia Ave to Jennifer Wiederhold for $390,000
CORINTH Kathyrn Moulder sold property at 9 Miner Rd to Samuel Kramer for $330,000 Sean Homes Excavating LLC sold property at to 175 Wells Rd to Jolynn Pierce for $500,000
GREENFIELD
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PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
Jeffrey Stratton sold property at 7 Cozy Lane to William McGloin for $435,000 Malta Land Company LLC sold property at 30 Admirals Way to Scott Garbien for $1,122,330 Nanette Supley sold property at 23 Manning Cove Rd to Colin Morton for $1,750,000
MILTON JEM Properties and Rentals sold property at 85 Hyde Blvd to Benjamin Ushkow for $320,000
Lynne Knauf sold property at 21 Pepper Lane to Renee Taliana for $725,000
Mary Jane Rockwell sold property at 62 Greenfield Ave to Richard Yowell for $350,000
Keith Egbert sold property at 2 White Oak Court to Daniel Lichtenstein for $435,000
Carroll Theriault sold property at 341 Saratoga Ave to Gagne Enterprises LLC for $222,000
Daniel Lichtenstein sold property at 131 Ballou Rd to Nicholas Cioffi for $392,500
Scott Von Duhn sold property at 28 Chapman St to Ethan Gormley for $475,000 Brittany Fitts sold property at
7 Burning Pines Dr to Kayla Green for $420,000
SARATOGA Saratoga Farms LLC sold property at 137 & 147 Burgoyne Rd to Saratoganorth49 LLC for $150,000 Roberto Dellaporta sold property at 46 Ferry St to Leeann Sukala for $164,000 Michael Rotchford sold property at 139 Burke Rd to 139 Burke Rd LLC for $950,000
SARATOGA SPRINGS Jeffrey Beyer sold property at 29 Karista Spring Dr to Ashley Pacheco for $382,500 Zip and Dee LLC sold property at 95 Bryan St to Nicholas Grasso for $665,000
Colleen Brereton sold property at 58 Woodlawn Ave to Stefano Paone for $550,000 Kerri Sharp sold property at 14 Arapaho Dr to Joseph Amodio for $258,000 Corey Simmons sold property at 138 Hathorn Blvd to Elijah Chin for $325,000 Michael Bertrand sold property at 13 Frederick Dr to Nicholas Abate for $518,000 JW Hemingway sold
property at 112 Nelson Ave to Douglas Roche for $3,676,932
WILTON McPadden Builders sold property at 10 Avalon Way to Sarah Gray for $730,294 Saratoga Group Wilton LLC sold property at 13 Brookhaven Ct to Pigliavento Assoc. LLC for $124,000 PiglioaventoAssociates LLC sold property at 13 Brookhaven Ct to Thomas Semiklose for $1,161,028
BUSINESS
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
New York’s First Public Law Firm Announces Promotions SARATOGA SPRINGS — Floating Sauna Opens on Lemery Greisler LLC, a Capital Region business law firm with Saratoga Lake an office in Saratoga Springs,
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 14 to celebrate the recent opening of KOS Sauna on Saratoga Lake. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ice-cold waters surrounded the KOS floating sauna on Saratoga Lake, threatening to cool its steamy inner core. But the chilly foes were fought off by KOS’ interior temperatures, which can reach as high as a sizzling 230 degrees. KOS (pronounced “cozy” without the y) is a Norwegian word defined as a feeling of comfort, warmth, and togetherness. It is an apt description of New York State’s first public floating sauna, which was filled with local politicos and well-wishers on Wednesday afternoon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the Finnish-style sauna’s recent opening. The 15-person sauna is open year-round and offers
everything from communal sessions to private rentals to annual memberships to classes and rituals. A visit includes access to the sauna, roof terrace, and changing rooms, as well as an invigorating plunge into the lake (in winter, this experience may be for only the boldest of Saratogians). Water served at the sauna is sourced straight from the Spa City’s famed mineral springs. Saratoga’s ancient, mineral-rich agua was the primary reason KOS creator/ owner Kate Butchart decided to open up shop here, she said at the ribbon cutting. KOS is located at the marina near Lago by Druthers, at 550 Union Avenue. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., with reservation slots available at 90-minute increments.
recently announced that Susan Nixon, Esq. has become a member. The firm also announced the promotion of Chelsey Lester, Esq. to principal attorney. Nixon focuses her practice in the areas of real estate, economic development and project development, banking and commercial finance, trust formation and administration, estate planning and administration, and succession planning. Lester concentrates her practice in a range of business law areas, including formation and governance of business entities, labor and
Photos of Chelsey Lester and Susan Nixon provided.
employment matters, contract review and drafting, mergers and acquisitions, securities, and corporate finance. Lester also has experience enforcing
creditors’ rights in commercial financing transactions. Lemery Greisler LLC is a business law firm with offices in Saratoga Springs and Albany.
Saratoga Florists Join Forces by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Founded in 2024, Saratoga Floral Design has recently undergone some significant changes, joining forces with Jan’s Florist and undergoing a five-month-long renovation. The company officially merged with Jan’s in October of last year, opening a new storefront at 3 Marion Avenue in the Spa City. The transition brought together Jan Murphy’s decades of experience with a new vision for the shop under a new name. Murphy herself remains actively involved in the operation and continues to personally design floral arrangements alongside Saratoga Floral Design’s Paulina Hoag. Originally from Poland, Hoag has been living in the United States for 17 years, building a life and career. Her design style is influenced by European floral traditions that emphasize natural
Photo of Paulina Hoag and Jan Murphy by Super Source Media for Saratoga TODAY.
movement, thoughtful composition, and refined simplicity. “After years of supporting and managing businesses behind the scenes, I felt inspired to create something of my own—something rooted in creativity, hard work,
and community,” Hoag told Saratoga TODAY. “When the opportunity arose to continue a beloved local flower shop, it felt like a meaningful next chapter in my journey.” In addition to custom floral arrangements, Saratoga Floral Design offers a curated selection of gifts for all occasions, including products from small businesses such as baby gifts, items for dog and cat lovers, and specialty treats. The shop also hosts flower-arranging workshops. “Above all, our goal is to be more than a flower shop—to be a place where people feel at home and part of the community,” Hoag said. For more information, visit jans-florist.com.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
BUSINESS BRIEFS
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13th Annual Chili Bowl Fundraiser Brews News: B-Spa Returns to City Center Brewery Reopening SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Clay Arts Center recently announced the participating restaurants for its 13th Annual Chili Bowl Fundraiser, taking place Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Five local restaurants will compete for the title of “Best Chili 2026,” with the winning chef receiving a handmade ceramic trophy crafted by artists from Saratoga Clay Arts Center. This year’s confirmed lineup includes: Thorn + Roots (returning 2025 Best Chili winner), 9 Miles East, Morrissey’s Restaurant, Noah’s Restaurant, and The Olde Bryan Inn. The Chili Bowl Fundraiser typically draws more than 1,000 attendees for a day celebrating food, art, and community. Guests can enjoy chili tastings served in handmade ceramic bowls created by regional
Logo via Back Barn Brewing Company. Image via the Saratoga Clay Arts Center.
artists, as well as live music performed by CC Smokes. Proceeds from the event will benefit three local organizations: Saratoga Clay Arts Center, supporting clay arts education and community programming; To Life!, providing education
and support for those affected by breast cancer; and the Wilton Food Pantry, helping address food insecurity in the region. Registration for the event is now open. Tickets may be purchased online at www.saratogaclayarts.org.
Adirondack Trust Awards $97,150 to Lend-A-Hand Grant Recipients SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund announced recently that its Independent Advisory Committee has awarded Lend-A-Hand Grants to dozens of local nonprofits. The Community Fund’s Autumn Giving Match Campaign raised more than $94,000, which has been matched by the Adirondack Trust Company. The grants were presented at the Community Fund’s Annual Lend-A-Hand Grant Award Reception on Dec. 10 in Saratoga Springs. Lend-A-Hand Grant Awards for 2026 projects were provided to 37 different organizations, including: AIM Services, Belmont Child Care Association, Bikeatoga, Camp Abilities Saratoga, Children’s Museum at Saratoga, Franklin Community Center, Operation Adopt-a-Soldier, Pitney Meadows, Saratoga Bridges, Saratoga Center for the Family, Saratoga Children’s Literacy
League, Saratoga County Children’s Committee, Saratoga Pride, Saratoga Sponsor-AScholar, Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs, Shelters of Saratoga, The First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa’s Summer Lunch Program, The Wesley Community, and Wellspring. “The awarded grants will support programs for a wide
variety of needs, and will include the areas of the arts, education, health, and family activities,” said Joyce Ure, volunteer chair for the Independent Advisory Committee. “Thank you to the organizations, volunteers, and donors who provide support, time, and hard work throughout the year. We are honored to be a part of this process.”
by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
BALLSTON SPA — The former Real McCoy Beer. Co. location in Ballston Spa will soon reopen as a Back Barn Brewing outpost, the company announced last Thursday. The historic former home of Civil War General Abner Doubleday at 28 Washington Street will once again be the site of a brewery after the business’ six-year partnership with Real McCoy ended on Dec. 29. “The connection we had when first meeting Mike and
Bona Schaffer was immediate and positive with shared values, love for craft beer and history, and community relationships,” said Back Barn Brewing in its announcement. “The decision to bring Back Barn Brewing’s beer to Ballston Spa was an easy one. We are excited and look forward to becoming a part of Ballston Spa’s local community, and hopefully, you are as excited as we are! Stay tuned for opening dates and more.” Back Barn is a farm brewery based out of a renovated barn in Delanson, a village in Schenectady County about 50 miles southwest of Saratoga.
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BUSINESS BRIEFS
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Saratoga Arts Unveils New Look After $2 Million Renovation Saratoga Arts opened its doors to the public last weekend, revealing the results of a $2 million, year-long renovation project. The center, located at 320 Broadway, has a wide variety of events on its 2026
schedule, including yoga classes, candle making, the Saratoga Film Showcase, screen printing, collage felting, artist lectures, and the Feb. 6 launch of the “Dream Logic” exhibition. The center features, among
other things, multiple studiostyle classroom spaces, a dedicated printshop, rehearsal and music studios, a gallery and exhibition space, and a black box theater for film, music, theater, and special events.
Photos via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Puzzles Across 1 Hustle 11 Back in the day 15 Be fashionable, in a way 16 Rock, paper, or scissors 17 Planter’s purchase 18 Defense mechanism 19 Web ending 20 Online service since April 1, 2004 21 Asleep, say 22 Woodstock performer between Melanie and Joan 24 Chemistry suffix 25 Earn 27 No longer usable 29 Event for day traders? 31 __ Dei 32 Even slightly 33 Beats Electronics co-founder 34 Classic CIA-vs.-KGB spoof 36 Some 1990s GM subcompacts 38 Continent with aardvarks: Abbr. 41 Stand rituals 43 Gulf of Guinea capital 47 Words of gratitude 49 Really relished 50 Barrel racing events 51 “Crocodile Rock” label 53 __ of Maine 54 Bit 55 “WarGames” org. 57 Santa __ winds 58 Word with lots and straws 59 Fallible one 61 Inverse of nano62 Convenience one can bank on, familiarly 63 Website for artisans 64 Spots that rarely offer good views Down 1 L’Oreal product 2 Provider of partial coverage? 3 Russian government metonym 4 Fast break for millions 5 Letters to alert moms and dads 6 Bawled (out) 7 Highway through Whitehorse 8 Most thick, as cosmetics 9 “Power Hits” series record co. 10 Three of a kind, say
See puzzle solutions on page 24
See puzzle solution on page 24 11 Like most older movies 12 Improvised 13 Even less straight 14 Informal alliance 23 “Drinks are __” 25 Faint 26 Data transfer 28 Married hombre 30 Source of tail winds? 32 Regarding 35 Celebratory chorus 37 Macbeth, for one 38 Shorten 39 Gas use exhortation? 40 Discount showers 42 Request to a skeptic 44 Dalmatian’s home 45 Leftover
46 Product promotion vehicle 48 Inland passage 49 Traveler’s aid 52 Rajas topping 55 First country to legalize same-sex marriage: Abbr. 56 Medics 59 Jake and Amy’s baby, on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” 60 MLB scoreboard heading
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: Who’s, Whose Who’s is the contraction for who is. Who’s that person you are recommending for the position? Who’s can also mean who has. Who’s been sending money to the charity anonymously? Whose is the possessive form of who. Whose report card shows the most improvement from last year? 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
EDUCATION
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Pitney Meadows Community Farm Announces New Agritourism Partnership With Farmstead Catering, Bringing “Seed-To-Celebration” Weddings & Gatherings To Saratoga Springs, Ny Pitney Meadows Community Farm is pleased to announce a new chapter in its mission-driven work: beginning in 2026, the nonprofit Community Farm will begin hosting weddings and gatherings on its historic 166-acre property, in partnership with Farmstead Catering. This collaboration marks an intentional expansion into the agritourism sector, inviting couples, families, guests, and groups to gather and celebrate not only their special day but also the land that nourishes the community year-round. Bookings for the 2026 weddings and gatherings are now open. Couples and groups interested in learning more about offerings or beginning the planning process with Farmstead Catering are encouraged to reach out through our website: www. pitneymeadows.org/agritourism “A gathering on a working Community Farm is more than a venue choice, it’s a relationship with the land,” said Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community
Farm. “As stewards of this land, we’re excited to invite guests into the rhythms of our farm, the seasons, and the food that grows here.” At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief in place, community, and the power of truly local food. Farmstead Catering, created and led by Dillon Klepetar, has built a reputation across New York and New England for a culinary approach that honors both the land and the people who steward it. For every celebration, ingredients will be grown and raised primarily at Echo Farm, Farmstead Caterings’ home farm in the Adirondacks, and Pitney Meadows, with thoughtfully chosen supplemental sourcing from within a defined local radius. This collaboration is rooted in delivering one-of-a-kind experiences driven by professionals who are dedicated to farming as a source of community nourishment. Both Pitney Meadows and Echo Farm practice regenerative, pasture-based, and organic methods, ensuring that each plate is an expression of their shared values. It’s a partnership that reflects not only exceptional
culinary craft but a commitment to supporting and uplifting our regional agricultural community. “Every time people gather, something special happens,” shared Dilon Klepetar of Farmstead Catering. “When we cook with ingredients grown here—at Echo Farm, at Pitney Meadows, and by our local farm community—the meal becomes part of that experience. It reflects the season, the people, and the landscape. That’s the heart of every celebration for us. Our clients don’t invest in a product, but an everbearing process.” Pitney Meadows’ expansion into weddings and gatherings
reflects the farm’s broader vision for community-centered agritourism. Proceeds from wedding events directly support the nonprofit’s mission to promote food sovereignty, ecological stewardship, engaging educational programs and opportunities, and access to locally grown food in the Saratoga region. Guests who attend a wedding at Pitney Meadows become part of the farm’s larger story… one grounded in community, sustainability, and love for the land. “There’s something special about celebrating a wedding on a working Community Farm,” said Jori Wekin, Farmstead
Catering’s Event Planner and Coordinator. “Guests will feel it the moment they arrive… the openness, the generosity of the land, the sense of connection. Together with Pitney Meadows, we’re able to offer couples a day that feels grounded and a shared reverent experience.” Bookings for the 2026 season are now open. Couples or groups interested in learning more about offerings, touring the farm, or beginning the planning process with Farmstead Catering are encouraged to reach out through our website www.pitneymeadows. org/agritourism or contact farmsteadcatering@gmail.com
Ballston Spa Central School District to Begin Enrolling for 2026-2027 UPK Program The Ballston Spa Central School District will begin enrolling students for its Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program for the 2026-2027 school year on February 9, 2026. Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) is a state and federally funded program offered to families FREE of charge, regardless of income status. Children who have birth dates between December 2, 2021 and December 1, 2022, and are residents of the Ballston Spa Central School District are eligible to apply. A child who is age-eligible to attend kindergarten is not eligible for the UPK program. For additional information, visit the district’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program web page at https://www.bscsd. org/departments/curriculuminstruction/2026-2027-universal-pre-kindergarten-program. For questions about the registration process, please contact the District Registrar at registrar@ bscsd.org or (518) 602-0256. For general UPK questions, please contact the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at upk@bscsd.org or (518) 884-7195, ext. 1374.
The online registration link form will be available on the BSCSD UPK web page at https:// www.bscsd.org/departments/ curriculum-instruction/20262027-universal-pre-kindergarten-program at 8:00 am on February 9, 2026. The application deadline is March 27, 2026. For the 2026-2027 school year, agencies that will partner with the district to provide full-day Universal PreKindergarten classrooms are Advanced Therapy, Ballston Area Community Center, Childtime (Ballston Spa and Mechanicville locations), LifeWorks Head Start, Little Achievers Child Care and Learning Center. Parents are provided the opportunity to indicate their preference regarding UPK sites, and the district makes efforts to match parent preference to placement determinations; however, parents are not guaranteed placement at the site they prefer. In the event that there are more applicants than available spaces, all complete applications will be included in a random lottery that will be conducted at the close of the
enrollment period. Those applications not selected through the lottery process will be placed on a waiting list. All families who submit a timely application will be mailed acceptance/declination letters after the enrollment period has closed. Complete applications received after the March 27, 2026, deadline will have fewer options for placement and may be placed on a waitlist for programming if all current spots have been filled. Parents of potential 20262027 UPK students are invited to attend the BSCSD UPK Parent Information Night on January 21, 2026, from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm in the Milton Terrace/Wood Road Cafeteria, 100 Wood Road, Ballston Spa. Representatives from the school district and community-based sites will be present to answer questions and provide more information about the Ballston Spa CSD UPK program. Adults only please. If your child is age-eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year, please contact registration@bscsd.org for information on registering.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
EDUCATION BRIEFS
SSHS Hall of Distinction Nominations Accepted Through February 20
The Saratoga Springs City School District is seeking community input on candidates for the eleventh annual Hall of Distinction. The Saratoga Springs City School District Hall of Distinction provides a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the graduates of our school district. The program was designed to instill in our students the concepts of achievement and excellence with the Hall of Distinction Inductees serving as exceptional role models. Their personal accomplishments, either to their individual fields of endeavor or to the broader community, exemplify what our students may attain through initiative and commitment. Potential candidates must have graduated from Saratoga Springs High School at least ten years ago and must exemplify our District’s educational philosophy through an
outstanding social contribution to the broader community by making a difference in the lives of others; and/or outstanding professional contribution to, or achievement in, their field of endeavor. A committee composed of community members, former and current high school administrators, and former and current high school teachers will review the nominations and select the honorees. Individuals will be recognized in the spring at Saratoga Springs High School which is tentatively scheduled for June 2, 2026. An online Hall of Distinction Form is available at https:// forms.office.com/r/cAtAnpG8Y3. All recommendation/ application forms must be submitted by February 20, 2026. For more information about the Hall of Distinction, please visit the Saratoga Springs City School District’s website at saratogaschools.org.
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Maple Avenue Middle School Presents: Frozen The Maple Avenue Musical Club is proud to announce its upcoming musical production of FROZEN, showcasing the exceptional talents of Saratoga Springs Middle School students in a captivating performance that promises to charm audiences of all ages. Performances: Friday, January 30 at 7pm Saturday, January 31 at 1pm + 7pm Friday, February 6 at 7pm Saturday, February 7 at 1pm + 7pm At Maple Avenue Middle School’s Trombley Auditorium 515 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY For the first time ever, audiences in our area will experience Frozen in its full musical glory— performed by an extraordinary cast of middle school talent. With performance rights newly released, our students are among the very first in the region to bring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and the kingdom of Arendelle to life in the complete musical, featuring the show-stopping songs, sweeping story, and magical theatrical moments that captivated
Broadway audiences. At the heart of Frozen is the powerful tale of two royal sisters—one wrestling with the growing force of her icy powers, the other determined to mend the bond that once held them together. When Elsa accidentally plunges their kingdom into an eternal winter, Anna sets out on a daring journey to save her sister and restore Arendelle, encountering rugged mountain men, charming reindeer, and warmhearted snowmen along the way. This landmark production promises a thrilling, heart-filled event for families, theater lovers, and Frozen fans of all ages. The students have been diligently rehearsing under the guidance of Maple Avenue Musical Club Director, Candace Calvin, since November 2025 to bring this magical story to life. The musical features a talented cast and crew of 66 students, impressive musical numbers, and a theatrical design that will bring this beloved musical to life.
“This ensemble has worked so hard over the past several months to put together an outstanding show,” said Candace Calvin, the director of the musical. “From vocals to costumes, props and sheer talent, we are so excited to share this performance with our community. Please come out and support this cast of young actors.” Ticket Information: Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students & children. Tickets can be purchased online or with the QR code. Tickets will also be available at the door. All proceeds from ticket sales go towards supporting Maple Avenue Musical Club’s future productions. Sponsorship and Donations: Individuals or businesses interested in supporting the production should feel free to contact Michaela Brown at: m_brown2@ saratogaschools.org. Contributors will be listed in the program. We look forward to welcoming you to Frozen at Maple Ave!
Food
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
When Does Soup Become Stew?
Gomez Veggie Ville
Lovin’ Mama Farm
Lamb Stew
SATURDAYS 9:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.
WILTON MALL FOOD COURT by Julia Howard
YIELDS: 8 servings | PREP & COOK TIME: 2 hours and 40 min
for Saratoga TODAY Photos by Pattie Garrett.
Muddy Trail Jerky Co
W
hat is the difference between a soup and a stew? A simple explanation is that if you can drink the broth, it’s a soup. If you need a fork and a spoon, it’s a stew. Both are easy to customize to your liking using local ingredients from the farmers’ market.
For soups, let’s focus on stock or broth, preferably homemade, by simmering chicken or beef leftovers in water, or utilizing root vegetables, onions, and herbs. A quality stock can make soup flavorful and nourishing, and stock makers like chicken parts are available at Grazin’ Acres Farm and Jireh Farm, which also sells beef and pork bones. Soups can range from simple broths with vegetables to creamy, pureed soups featuring ingredients like potatoes and cheese. The first step is typically sautéing aromatics such as onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs. Then, add broth and seasonal vegetables. Pasta, beans, beef, and poultry may also be added for protein and density. When making stew, the ingredients are the stars, typically cooked slow and low for concentrated flavors. Stews have a reputation for being thicker and heartier with much less liquid. For vegetables, Gomez Veggie Ville and Lovin’ Mama Farm have stored root vegetables, as well as greens and herbs. You’ll find Brussels sprouts, potatoes, winter squash, beets, cabbage, onions, kohlrabi, garlic, and kale, and many herbs and spices like rosemary and thyme, and dried chili peppers. The Mushroom Shop has a wide variety of mushrooms. And, Muddy Trails Jerky Co. has spices for seasoning. Beef, chicken, and lamb are abundant at the farmers’ market and are delicious additions to whatever soup or stew you’re making. Consider
chuck roast for beef stew, smoked ham hocks for split pea, Polish kielbasa soup, beef chili, and a slow-simmered lamb stew. Longlesson Farm, Holly & Vine, Thymeless Homestead, May-KMark, Hepatica Farm, Jireh Farm, and Grazin’ Acres have excellent options. If you’re looking for a shortcut, Muddy Trails Jerky Co. offers various soup mixes, including alphabet soup, broccoli cheddar soup, and southern bean soup. What’s Happening at the Market in January Live Music: • January 17 TuneFolk • January 24 Far Eye Reggae • January 31 Selah Eiler Children’s Activity: • January 17 Silly Snowflake Craft with the Saratoga Springs Mobile Library FREE Yoga Classes: • January 17, 24, and 31 at 10:30 in the new market pop-up studio with Yoga Mandali The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Wilton Mall food court. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket. org, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ saratogafarmersmarket, and sign up for our free weekly newsletter.
INGREDIENTS: *Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market • 4 oz bacon*, chopped into 1/4” strips
• 4 cups low sodium beef broth or stock
• 2 lbs lamb stew meat*
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 Tbsp sea salt for the lamb plus 1 tsp for stew
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp black pepper for lamb plus 1/2 tsp for stew
• 1 1/2 lbs small potatoes* halved or quartered into 1” pieces
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1 large yellow onion*, diced • 4 garlic cloves*, minced • 1 1/2 cups red wine • 1 lb mushrooms*, thickly sliced
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme*
• 4 medium carrots*, peeled and cut into 1/2” thick pieces • 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. In a 5Qt dutch oven, saute chopped bacon over medium heat until browned and fat released. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a large plate. 2. While bacon cooks, season lamb pieces with 1/2 Tbsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup flour and toss to coat. Cook lamb in 2 batches in hot bacon grease over medium heat until browned (3-4 min per side) then transfer to the plate with bacon. 3. Add diced onion and sauté 2 min. Add garlic and cook another minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cups wine, scraping the bottom to deglaze. Add sliced mushrooms, bring to simmer then cook uncovered 10 min. Preheat Oven to 325˚F. 4. Return bacon and lamb to pot and add 4 cups broth, 1 Tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and 2 bay leaves. Stir in potatoes and carrots, making sure potatoes are mostly submerged in liquid. Bring to a boil then COVER and carefully transfer to preheated oven at 325˚F for 1 hr and 45 min. When done, potatoes and lamb will be very tender. Recipe and recipe photo by Natasha’s Kitchen
Food
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
19
WOK THIS WAY Sweet and Sour Pork
by John Reardon for Saratoga TODAY INGREDIENTS
Hello my Foodie Friends ! What new culinary creations are you craving during these colder months? One approach that many of our foodies are using is to stir-fry. Stir-frying is the quintessential weeknight supper! If you have a fridge full of ingredients, and half an hour to put dinner on the table, cooking with a wok is definitely the go-to method. Vegetables retain their bright color and crunch and you can watch meat and aromatics go from raw to crisp in seconds, making stir-frying in a wok a fun way to cook. A wok is a wide bowlshaped cooking vessel with handles used commonly in Chinese and Asian cooking. The types of foods generally cooked in woks are stir frying, stewing, boiling, braising and steaming. At Compliments to the Chef, we carry a large assortment of high quality woks and Stir Fry’s that suit the needs of the Asian cooking enthusiast. Both the carbon steel and non-stick woks spread
h c n Lu FRIDAY
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heat evenly and are easy to clean up. The handles are designed to stay cool on the stovetop, so you can easily remove the pan from the burner without using potholders. The curved sides of a wok diffuse heat and extend the cooking surface, which helps with tossing and stirring. The great depth allows ample room to cook a whole fish, if so desired. Simmering, deep frying, or steaming, are just a few of its multiple uses. Season them with vegetable oil before use and after cleaning. With the carbon wok, the more you use a wok, the more flavor it will take on, and the better your food will taste. As you cook with the wok, the metal pores open, and the fat you’re cooking with seeps in. There are other ways to use a wok that we may not typically think of. With its wide top and plenty of room, a wok is great for tossing a salad. Woks are great for making taco filling or any of the rice-and-pea type of dishes
like arroz con pollo or paella. Consider a wok for scrambling eggs especially in large quantities. The eggs cook almost instantaneously, with no sticking, even if you’ve pre-cooked some vegetables before adding the eggs to the wok. When cooking a Mexican-style meal, cook on very low heat and use it to keep tortillas warm. Another use can be as a steamer by placing a steamer rack on the bottom with water. A wok is great for steaming lobster. Whereever your tastes take you, this pan can deliver while you “wok this way”. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place for those cool tools to help you with your special dinner. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.
Take Care, John & Paula
Department of Aging and Youth Services
Aging & Youth Services
MONDAY
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• 9 New Year’s Special • Cubed Pork & LS Ham w/Cranberry White Bean Mustard Sauce Casserole Spinach • Au Gratin Potatoes • Warm Cranberry Creamed Corn Crunch Dinner Roll • Cherry Pie • WW Dinner Roll
Served at the Saratoga Senior Center
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1/13
1/14
1/15
• Turkey Divan Mashed Potatoes Butternut Squash Applesauce
• Meatballs in Sauce • Chicken A La Pasta w/Sauce King Rice Pilaf Vegetable Trio Fruit Brussels Sprouts Cocktail WW Dinner Roll Mandarin Oranges
Menu Subject To Change. Coffee, Tea and Butter are served daily at sites. The suggested contribution is $2 per meal. There is a $8 fee for guests under the age of 60. Please make checks payable to: Saratoga County Treasurer, c/o Saratoga County Office for the Aging, 152 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 medium green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2/3 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2/3 cup ketchup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons reducedsodium soy sauce
• 1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
• 1 pound boneless pork loin, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Hot cooked rice
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• Optional, thinly sliced green onions and sesame seeds
• 1 medium onion, chopped • 2 medium carrots, sliced
INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THE BROTH: 1. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup and soy sauce. Pour half into a large resealable plastic bag; add pork. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 30 minutes. Set remaining marinade aside. 2. Drain and discard marinade from pork. In wok or large skillet, cook pork in oil for 3 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, green pepper, garlic and ginger; saute until pork is tender. Add reserved marinade. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute. Stir in the pineapple. Serve with rice and if desired, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home at tasteofhome.com
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CALENDAR
This Week’s Events: JAN. 16-22 FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 11th Annual Dr. King Celebration Weekend Skidmore College Case Center, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 5:30-7:30 p.m. MLK Saratoga and Skidmore College Present: The Inaugural MLK Weekend Celebration Student Arts Showcase. Dr. King-themed artwork from students in the Saratoga Area will be shown and performed live. Will also feature crafts, face-painting, music and refreshments. All are welcome!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 Love is the Greatest Force: The Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Resistance Frederick Allen Lodge, 69 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Local activists will present a workshop to demonstrate, teach and discuss non-violent resistance and protest. The lodge was chartered in 1925 by Frederick Joseph Allen, the first Black employee in Saratoga’s Public Works Department.
Genealogy and Local History Town of Saratoga Town Hall, 12 Spring St. Schuylerville | 1 p.m. Heritage Hunters will meet. JPV Oliver will lead the program, “George Washington & Saratoga: It’s Complicated.” John will take a humorous look at our 1st President and his involvement with Saratoga County. John has worked as a museum history guide and speech writer and publishes his musings every day at LoucheLife.substack.com. Program is free and the public
is welcome. For information call 518-885-9309.
Family Saturdays Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 2 p.m. An art-making program in collaboration with MLK Saratoga, as part of their Dr. King Celebration Weekend. This year’s celebration is inspired by a quote from Dr. King: “Love is the greatest force in the universe; it is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos.” Free and open to the public. Programs are suitable for children ages 5 and older, accompanied by their adult companions. No registration is required; supplies are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Turkey Dinner Maplewood Parkway Methodist Church, 15 Maplewood Parkway, S. Glens Falls | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Menu: Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, veggie, soup and homemade dessert. $12 for adults. Preorders are recommended for pick up and delivery.
4-H Party for a Cause The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Course, 35 Gracemoore Rd., Saratoga Springs | 6 – 10 p.m. at. Tickets for this event are $20 and include music by Electric Rodeo, 5 Raffle tickets & Light Refreshments (veggies, cheese, crackers, pepperoni). There will be a Silent Auction, Raffle Baskets, and a whole lot of fun. We will also have an open cash bar and a limited menu for additional purchases. Additional raffle tickets will be available as well. Many thanks to Harmony Veterinary Center for being our signature sponsor. For tickets, visit https://cce. sc4h.org/party/ If you have any
questions, contact Greg Stevens at the 4-H office at 518-8858995 or grs9@cornell.edu.
Hubby Jenkins of the Carolina Chocolate Drops Concert Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs | 8 p.m. Hubby Jenkins is celebrated for his riveting performances that honor and illuminate the African American roots of old-time American music. Currently, the show is sold out. To be added to the waiting list, send an email to sales@ caffelena.org with your name, contact info and # of tickets you’re looking for. Free live stream available. Sign up at caffeelena.org.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 All You Can Eat Country Breakfast Gansevoort Firehouse, 1870 Route 32N, Gansevoort | 8 – 11 a.m. Menu: Eggs cooked to order, omelets, pancakes, hash, French toast, home fries, hash, biscuits with sausage gravy, orange juice, milk, and coffee. Donations: $12 adults, $10 seniors 55+, military and 1st responders. $10 children 6 – 12, children under 6 free.
Moral Cosmos AME Zion Church, 122 Crescent St., Saratoga Springs | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Morning Gospel Service at featuring the music of the Heavenly Echoes: a prominent, long-running Southern-style gospel group from the Capital District.
Civil Minds Think Alike Frederick Allen Lodge, 69 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs | 2 – 4 p.m. Workshop led by Saratoga Springs High School students, exploring
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Dr. King’s values and how they connect with and inspire today’s youth.
MONDAY, JANUARY 19 Dr. King Day of Service Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Honor Dr. King by participating at service projects ranging from collecting nonperishable food items; blanket making and food collections for pets in local shelters; the Mooncatcher project to make renewable menstrual management kits; repairing gently used books for donation, and more. Local community organizations will also be there sharing their stories and missions. Light lunch catered by Jackson Soul Catering following the service projects at 12 noon.
Dr. King Weekend Community Celebration Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs | 1 – 2 p.m. Featuring opening music by Soulist Garland Nelson, local speakers, and a keynote address by Minister Steven Boxley.
Winter Fun Days Scavenger Hunt & Bonfire Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Enjoy s’mores and hot cocoa around the fire! Stop in the Welcome Cabin for a scavenger hunt sheet to complete while on the trails to claim your prize! Register on our website, www.wiltonpreserve.org or by calling the office at 518450-0321. Our programs are weather dependent and may be cancelled due to inclement weather or poor trail conditions.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 Intermediate English Class In Person or Online, Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs |
5:15 – 6:45 p.m. If you have mastered some basic English, but still struggle to understand or to speak fluently, this class level is for you. We will practice English listening, speaking, reading and writing through a variety of exercises. Join this class and learn with others who are improving their English! Please register online, www.sspl.org.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 Radiant Morning Yoga Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 10 a.m. Get up and get moving with this refreshing and relaxing morning yoga class with certified yoga instructor Miki Vysohlid. Registration required. 518-3718622. www.cphlibrary.org.
Academy for Lifelong Learning Winter Storyteller Series Prestwick Chase at Saratoga, 100 Saratoga Boulevard, Saratoga Springs | 12 noon – 1 p. m. Free and open to the public. No reservations required. Sponsored by Prestwick Chase. Storyteller Eileen Egan Mack presents Voice of the Mountains: Jeanne Robert Foster An Adirondack Legacy. Different storytellers will offer their tales every Wednesday through February 11. If Saratoga Springs city schools are closed due to weather, that presentation will be postponed until February 18. For more information on the Academy for Lifelong Learning, to register for winter courses, or for a complete lineup of storytellers, visit www.allsaratoga.org or contact Academy Executive Director, Jeff Shinaman at jeff@ allsaratoga.org or call 518-2906988.
Stuffed Shells Dinner Saratoga Wilton Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Curbside pickup only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order. 518-584-2585. Menu: stuffed shells, meatballs,
Send your upcoming local event briefs to calendar@saratogapublishing.com two weeks prior to the event.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
sweet sausage, tossed salad, garlic toast. Dinner $15 (cash only).
Astronomy Club Galway Public Library, 2112 East Street, Galway | 6:30 p.m. The presentation will be Winter Constellations. The Club is open to adults and teens (middle school and older). Registration is requested, but not required, by calling 518882-6385. New members are welcome.
Hidden Figures Film Panel Discussion Zoom | 7 p.m. The film is part of Saratoga Jewish Community Art’s Social Justice series. The film Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama. The film follows three actual African American women mathematicians – Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson -- who challenged stereotypes and racial barriers at NASA during the Space Race. Preregistration is required. To register, visit https:// lp.constantcontactpages.com/ sl/dwKBJlE/HiddenFigures
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 MS Support Group Meeting By Zoom and in person at SAIL, 71 Glenwood Ave., Queensbury, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Contact Lou Ann Holt 518793-9506 for more information.
Curator’s Tour of Family Forms Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | Noon. Tour led by the exhibition’s co-curator Corinne Moss-Racusin, Professor of Psychology at Skidmore, and Izzy DeSantis, Kiki Pohlad ’13 Curatorial Assistant.
Experts Next Door: Write, Fold, Seal: Letter Writing in the Victorian Age with Catherine Golden Live on Zoom | 7 p.m. Long before e-mail, Facebook, and Instagram, letter writing was the only way to communicate. The recipient, not the sender,
had to pay to receive a letter at the time of delivery. Postage rates in early Victorian Britain were so high that many people dreaded the postman’s knock. But all that changed in 1840 with the Penny Post. In this Zoom presentation, we will journey to Victorian England to learn about the first adhesive postage stamp, called the Penny Black, and a method for prepayment, which quickly became the model for other nations including the United States. To register, visit www. brooksidemuseum.org/events
UPCOMING
Events
Book Sale A used book sale in the program room at Galway Public Library, located at will be held on Friday, January 23 from 2 - 5 p.m. and Saturday, January 24, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Fill your bag for any monetary donation!
Chili Dinner The Ballston Spa United Methodist Church, 101 Milton Ave, will be having a Chili Dinner with chili from various restaurants competing for top prize. The event will be held from 5-7 p.m. on January 23. Adults $8, children 10 and under $5. Beverages and home-made desserts will also be available.
Saratoga Film Showcase Now in its second year, the weekend-long showcase on January 23 – 25 will feature 31 short films, nearly double last year’s lineup – with all but on filmmaker attending in person. The Saratoga Film Showcase offers a dynamic mix of film screenings, panels, live programming, and social gathering s designed to foster connection between artists and audiences. Tickets and additional information are available at: https://saratogaarts.org/event-6473240
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CALENDAR Beginner Maple Syrup Course Have you ever wanted to make your own Maple Syrup? Join the Milton Grange and Corell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County on January 24 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Located at the 4-H Training Center, 556 Middle Line Rd., Ballston Spa, NY 12020. We will be teaching the basics on how to make maple syrup on a small scale geared toward beginners. This handson class will cover identifying trees to tap, how and when to tap a tree your trees, a basic at home set up, syrup grades and products, including a taste test. Class size is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Total cost is $30, $45 for two people, which includes a pancake lunch with your choice of meat and beverage along with a sample size bottle of syrup to go home with you. Contact Jessica Luse at jmh452@cornell.edu for more information or questions. Registration is due on January 16.
Monthly Indoor Craft and Garage Sale Sunday, January 25, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. the popular Saratoga Wilton Elks Indoor Craft and Garage Sale will be held at the Lodge at 1 Elk Lane, Saratoga Springs. Admission is free with over 40 vendors, great parking and lunch available too. Just about anything you can imagine might be offered. There are lightly used children’s toys available and craft items too; as well as anything garage sale. It’s a fun activity the entire family enjoys. All proceeds go to the Elks Scholarship Fund. An 8’ table with chairs is $15. Email Debbie @ deborahozolins@gmail. com or call 518-226-5595 for information or to sign up for a table(s). Applications are available in the Elks Lobby after 3 pm Monday through Saturday. Next sale is February 22, 2026, March 15, 2026, and April 26, 2026.
Sow You Want to Be an Ecological Gardener?! Join us for this free workshop and leave with the tools
to plant your own native plant garden come spring. Thursday, January 29, 5 – 7 p.m. Come by any time between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Skidmore College Center for Integrated Sciences. Plant seeds this winter and have seedlings to plant or pot on in spring. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and guide you in winter sowing best practices. To register: https://forms.gle/ aTT2CD632AufXcX4A. Visit, https://sustainablesaratoga. org/event/community-wintersowing-workshop/
Recently Engaged? Let us assist you in your Wedding Plans! The Daily Gazette is hosting our 26th Annual Capital Region’s Premier Wedding Show! This event is held at the Saratoga City Center on February 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register to win thousands of dollars’ worth of door prizes from our attending exhibitors. Plus…. The Daily Gazette gives away a $1,000 gift certificate to put towards your big day with any of the participating exhibitors. Don’t miss out on our Backyard Experience that we once again bring to you. Food trucks, picnic area, wine and beer sampling along with live music during the day. Registration is free - Capital Region’s Premier Wedding Show 2026. The Daily Gazette looks forward to assisting you with planning your big day!
Snowshoe Races The Saratoga Winterfest 5K Snowshoe Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, February 1 at 11 a.m. in the Saratoga Spa State Park. There will be no indoor facilities, and we will meet in the quadrangle near the restrooms. The Camp Saratoga 8K Snowshoe Race will be held on Saturday, February 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. Registration for both events can be done online through www.runsignup.com with day-of onsite. A limited supply of Dion snowshoes is available to rent for $10 on a first come/first serve basis. For more information about the above events
visit www.saratogastryders. org. Questions? Call Laura at 518-581-1278 or laura@ saratogastryders.org.
6 Hour Defensive Driving Course Saturday, February 07, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs. Cost is $40 prepaid, $45 at door (a donation is given to the church). Call: 518-784-5009
Lung Cancer Benefit for Kurt Haas Sr. Hosted by Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Department, located at 1870 Rte. 32 N. Gansevoort, on Saturday February 21, 2026, from 4 - 7 p.m. All you can eat Spaghetti Dinner, $10 Adults, $5 Kids (4-12), Free for children 3 and under. Raffle baskets and 50/50 Raffle. Kurt has been serving the community for 51 years as a Fire Department Member. Help us as a community give back to Kurt. Every Dollar raised will help Kurt and his family with medical bills and expenses. For questions or pickup arrangements, please text/call Jonna Freeman 518-598-2804 or Stephanie Rosa 518-5024325.
Call for Local Folk or Irish Performers Come audition for an opportunity to showcase your talent during “Café Malta”, an intimate coffee house at the Malta Community Center on Friday evening, March 13. It’s lucky Friday the 13th right before St. Patrick’s Day! We are looking for talented musicians, vocalists, and small acoustic bands, storytellers and/or dancers. Each acoustic act selected will play a short 10–15-minute set. Auditions are by appointment only. Contact Elyse Young, Artistic Director, at 518-8994411 x 305 or theater@townofmalta.gov for more details or to schedule an audition.
Arts & Entertainment
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
UPH Announces New Coming Soon to Saratoga: Al Roker Shows: Soul Asylum, and an Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Broadway Tunes, Naked Magicians SARATOGA SPRINGS — Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) recently announced an eclectic lineup of upcoming performances that include a Grammy-winning rock band, classic Broadway tunes, and even naked magicians. UPH will present Sing Along Broadway on Feb. 5, inviting audiences to take part in an interactive concert celebrating popular songs from the Broadway stage. The performance encourages audience participation as singers and hosts lead numbers from classic and contemporary musicals. JJ Grey & Mofro will bring their signature blend of Southern soul, blues, funk, rock, and roots music to the UPH stage on Feb. 13. On Feb. 20, the Naked Magicians will bring their Las Vegas act to the Spa City with an adults-only show that combines comedy, audience interaction, and illusions. Fresh off sold-out
performances around the globe, the duo presents a humorous take on magic. On April 9, Croce Plays Croce will celebrate the catalog of Jim Croce while his son A.J. Croce showcases his own musicianship. The performance features classics alongside original material, offering audiences an evening of storytelling, pianodriven music, and legacy. Soul Asylum’s acoustic show will bring their alternative rock sound and decadesspanning catalog to UPH on April 26. The group is perhaps best known for its 1993 hit “Runaway Train,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, as well as its musical contributions to three classic Kevin Smith films: “Clerks,” “Clerks II,” and “Chasing Amy.” Tickets for these shows are currently on sale through the Box Office at Proctors in person, via phone at (518) 346-6204, or online by visiting atuph.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Emmy Award-winning author Deborah Roberts will stop by the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga on Feb. 7 with her husband, famous weather anchor Al Roker, to discuss “Sisters Loved and Treasured.” In her new book, Roberts, an ABC News journalist and New York Times bestselling author, curates a collection of conversations, meditations, and anecdotes from her own sisters, celebrity friends, and everyday people who share deeply personal accounts of how their relationships as sisters shaped their lives. Roberts previously authored the bestselling “Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life.” She also cowrote “Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times” with her husband. Also visiting Northshire (on Feb. 20) is Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Sayles, whose latest book “Crucible,” is described as a “complex and sweeping historical novel about Henry Ford and his attempt to rule not only an automotive
Images via Northshire Bookstore.
empire but the rambunctious city of Detroit.” Sayles (a Schenectady native) has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and once for the National Book Award. He has written eight novels. His most popular film,
“Lone Star,” was released in 1996 and starred Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Frances McDormand, and Matthew McConaughey. Tickets for both author events are available at www.northshire.com/ upcoming-events.
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Arts & Entertainment
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Bob Weir, Headliner of Biggest SPAC Show, Fades Away by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir faded away on Saturday, though, as any true Deadhead knows, his music will never stop. Weir launched one of the most beloved bands in American history, one that inspired countless people to pile into vehicles and explore their country, trailing the Grateful Dead on tour. With the group’s improvisation, experimentation, and innovation also came new ways of performing and thinking about music. Their influence on American art and culture is vast and impossible to measure. One could not truly experience the Dead without hearing them play live, in an environment that, more often than not, inspired warm feelings of community and, at times, even spirituality. The Grateful Dead’s very name seemed to suggest that although life is brief, it’s still an experience to appreciate (“Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there,” sang Phil Lesh on “Box of Rain”). The group made its mark almost everywhere, from its origins in San Francisco to the Giza pyramids in Egypt, the site of two 1978 Dead shows. It’s unsurprising then that the Dead’s influence can still be felt here in Saratoga Springs. The band holds (and may forever hold) the record for the largest crowd to ever gather at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). In 1985, 40,231 Deadheads convened in the Spa State Park, surpassing the previously held attendance record (also set by the Grateful Dead) of 37,801. Since then, both SPAC and Saratoga at large have become jam band hotspots. Phish and the Dave Matthews Band have played here dozens of times, stopping by almost every summer. Rising acts such as Goose, Dogs in a Pile, and Eggy have all performed in the Spa City multiple times. Grateful Dead tribute bands play here so frequently that one might think they’ve somehow stumbled into Haight-Ashbury circa 1967. Weir brought Dead & Company (a successor group to the Grateful Dead that featured John Mayer on lead guitar) to
Saratoga for the final time in the summer of 2023. He’d been here many times with several different bands. His sound—which could sometimes be joyful, haunting, tender, and invigorating all at once—seemed to fill the air of the park, swaying the leaves of towering trees and hovering above the ancient mineral springs. For those who enjoy this sound (Jerry Garcia famously compared the Dead to licorice, quipping, “Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice”), witnessing Weir play in a bucolic setting was practically nirvana. Though few can faithfully replicate Weir’s singular playing style, the songs he wrote and sung will be played long after his departure, which is exactly what he wanted. On Jan. 17, Bearly Dead will take the stage at Putnam Place for an 8:30 p.m. show. The group describes itself as “not just another Grateful Dead cover band,” but rather, “a cosmic exploration of the Grateful Dead catalog.” “I truly believe that Bob Weir is the most important rhythm guitar player in rock history,” wrote Bearly Dead guitarist Nick Swift in a social media tribute to Weir. “It’s amazing to me how he kept playing music and touring this long into his life. I keep reading tribute posts from musicians who knew him who cite his ‘need’ to play music - that it wasn’t just something fun to do, that it was something that filled a deep void in his soul and he couldn’t stop. He basically lived his life on stage, but not in some need to be an inauthentic celebrity. He just wanted to make music with people for people. And there’s something very magical about that… I look forward to finally getting to play again this Saturday in Saratoga. I’ll give it all I’ve got. We’ll miss you Bobby. We will do what we can to carry your spirit forward into the future.” Another local tribute to Weir will come in the form of a special, celebratory memorial yoga class at Yoga Mandali on Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. The event, organized by yoga teacher and writer Natalli Amato, will send proceeds to the Rex Foundation, which was created by the Grateful Dead in 1983 to provide philanthropic
Two local events this weekend will pay tribute to the music of Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead. At Putnam Place on Jan. 17, the tribute band Bearly Dead will perform. At Yoga Mandali on Jan. 18, a celebration/memorial yoga class will be held in Weir’s memory. Images via Putnam Place and Natalli Amato, respectively.
grassroots support. “I was born in the postJerry era,” Amato told Saratoga TODAY. “For me, the person at the spiritual center of the Dead
has been Bob Weir. Over the past ten years, Dead and Company gave me some of the best memories and adventures of my adult life. But more important
than that, loving this music has brought me into deeper connection with friends, family, and even strangers. Our yoga class Sunday is a place to celebrate that!”
Arts & Entertainment
24
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Acclaimed Trio Returns to Saratoga for Another Sold-Out Show by Jonathon Norcross Saratoga TODAY
Games
Fun And
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Sweet Remains—a folk-pop trio that has amassed more than 65 million streams on Spotify— will play a sold-out show at Caffe Lena on Jan. 22. The last time they played there, on July 11, 2025, they also sold out the famed folk venue. In other words, they’re kind of a big deal. The group’s history is rich, with each band member having his own compelling origin story. One of those band members, Greg Naughton, spoke with Saratoga TODAY ahead of Sweet Remains’ stop in the Spa City. Naughton seems to have been surrounded by artists and performers from the moment he entered the world. His father James Naughton starred in the “Planet of the Apes” TV series, won two Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, and played Meryl Streep’s soon-to-be-ex-husband in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Greg’s wife Kelli O’Hara is a Broadway superstar and eighttime Tony Award nominee. Greg himself has worn many hats, including filmmaker, actor, and musician. But as his directorial debut, “The Independents,” a 2018 film about The Sweet Remains, seems to indicate, music may be his greatest calling. Saratoga TODAY’s interview with Greg Naughton is
presented below in Q&A format, edited for length and clarity. Saratoga TODAY: I guess now you’re coming up, maybe in the next year or two, on two decades with Sweet Remains. What keeps all of you coming back together? Is there some kind of secret to keeping a group intact this long? Greg Naughton: The reason I started to write [“The Independents”] is because I was fascinated by this relationship I have with these two guys, which is more like brothers/spouses than other relationships I have with any other men. You have to have all the same things. You got to negotiate. There’s plenty of times, when you spend a lot of time with each other in small spaces and in each other’s creative space, you’re going to have hurt feelings. You’re going to have conflicts… We have a very similar sense of humor. I think that’s the main thing. Anytime things get difficult or uncomfortable for us, we just have a way of breaking through that with humor. It keeps it fun. If it wasn’t fun, we certainly wouldn’t be doing it. There’s enough to getting on the road with a band and trying to get into clubs in the snow and the whatever, and all of the details of that wouldn’t add up unless you were having fun. ST: When you go into a studio, do you go into it trying to achieve something specific? Are you looking for a certain
sound or hoping to accomplish a certain objective? What’s that process like of creating a new studio album? GN: It has varied, and I think quite often, as with even writing a song, we go in with one objective, and it finds its ways around the preconceptions that we had and becomes something else. Most of the albums didn’t stick to a strong sense of, ‘We’re gonna make this kind of album this time.’ We have a couple of ideas for the future where we might try and stick more strictly to a certain thing. Like, what if we did a rock and roll album? These are pretty folk-rock, more roots, acoustic-oriented [albums]. That’s been our main genre and main output. But what if we did a rock album where it’s really rock and roll, and did it as a collaboration with another group that we like that does that sort of thing? Or, what if we did a kids album? We all have kids. Well, [Brian Chartrand] doesn’t have kids, but we have between us seven kids in the pan at this point. So, those are concepts that, we haven’t quite done them yet, but [they’re] things I would personally be excited to do at some point. ST: Your upcoming show at Caffe Lena is sold out already. And I see you sold out the last time you performed here in July. What is it about playing these folk houses that kind of jives with your group?
Puzzle Solutions See puzzles pg. 15
Photo of The Sweet Remains via the band’s website.
GN: [Caffe Lena] is a special room. That room has defied the march of time… Since the pandemic, for sure, a lot of clubs like that one have not made it through. There’s a lot of reasons why a club like Caffe Lena shouldn’t make it. It’s kind of too small to make good money, I would imagine. But, I find that there’s a real enthusiasm with the audience there for being in that room and being that intimate with the music, which is infectious, I assume, as much for the audience as it is for us. That, and probably somebody who runs and owns the place cares and has managed to keep that alive. ALSO COMING SOON TO CAFFE LENA: The Dust Bowl Faeries will return for their second appearance at Caffe Lena on Jan. 25, playing with their new drummer and debuting new songs.
Infused with dark humor, theatrical costumes, and mystical lyrics, Dust Bowl Faeries perform songs spun from the very fabric of faerie culture and lore. Hailing from the Hudson Valley, Dust Bowl Faeries present original songs nuanced by tango, flamenco, Klezmer, Balkan, and Romani swing music. Singing saw, accordion, bass, acoustic guitar, and drums combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries’ unique sound. The Wolff Sisters—a sibling-fronted Americana outfit from Boston—will perform at Caffe Lena on Feb. 5. Their gig in Saratoga is the first in a string of shows they’re playing around New England this winter. The group recently released their latest single, “Where Am I (To Call My Home)?” on all platforms, and just released a live music video to accompany it.
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Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
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LEGALS NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Wilcox Psychology, P.L.L.C.. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/20/25. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom processes against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, PO Box 1470, Halfmoon NY 12065. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 12/05, 12/12, 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16/2026. 16206 Notice of formation of J. Dennis Enterprises LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 9/17/2025. 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: 4 Vandenburg Ln. Halfmoon, NY 12065. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/05, 12/12, 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16/2026. 16219 Notice of formation of Savvy Salplings LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 11/21/2025. 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: 2282 Alexander Rd Galway N.Y. 12074. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/12, 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23/2026. 16222 Notice of formation of EFJAYS SOLUTIONS LLC. Articles of Organization filed
with the Secretary of State of New York on 10/31/2025 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: 2110 Maple Ave, Ballston Lake, NY 12019. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/12, 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23/2026. 16223 Notice of formation of SEA GLASS NAIL STUDIO LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 12/09/2025. 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: 418 Broadway Suite # 10547 Albany NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/12, 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23/2026. 16250 Notice of Formation of ADK Sled Chicks LLC. ADK Sled Chicks LLC filed Articles of Organization with the New York Secretary of State on December 10, 2025. The office of the LLC is in Saratoga County, New York. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served, and shall mail a copy of such process to: 508 S Shore Rd, Northville, NY 12134. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity. 12/12, 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23/2026. 16258 Notice of formation of Rooted Barn LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 12/04/2025 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: PO Box 5, Porter Corners, NY 12859. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30/2026. 16282 Notice of formation of KTABLE LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 12/16/2025. 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: 21 Evergreen Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30/2026. 16292 Notice of formation of Upstate Thrift & Apparel LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 09/07/2025 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: 102 6th Street Saratoga NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 12/19/2025, 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30/2026. 16312 Northbound Capital LLC Auth. filed w/ SSNY 12/15/25. Off. in Saratoga Co. Cert. of Form filed w/ SSDE 7/24/25. Process served to SSNY - desig. as agt. of LLC & mailed to Accumera LLC, 911 Central Ave, #101, Albany, NY 12206. The reg. agt. is Accumera LLC at same address. Add. maintd. in DE: 3500 S. Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901. Name & add. of auth. officer in DE where
Cert of Form filed: SSDE, Div. of Corp, 401 Federal St, Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Any lawful purpose. 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6/2026. 16332 Notice of formation of Creekside Estate and Service LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 12/14/2025. 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: 15 Trieble Ave. STE 5 Ballston Spa NY 12020. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6/2026. 16349 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Notice of Formation of Amperella, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/18/2025. Office Location: Saratoga County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Amperella, LLC: 25C Sylvan Trail, Ballston Lake, NY 12019. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13/2026. 16348 831 Schultz, LLC filed Art. of Org. with the Sec’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/22/2025 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as agent for the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 831 Schultz, LLC, 831 Route 67, P.O. Box 2409, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 Purpose: any lawful act. 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 02/6,
2/13/2026. 16371 Notice of formation of Queirolo Consulting, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 11/03/2025. 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: 21 Guideboard Rd., Waterford, NY 12188. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13/2026. 16402 Notice of registration of EVERBRIDGE INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC. Authority filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 01/09/2026. 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: c/o 3H Legal Services, PLLC, 36 Long Alley, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20/2026. 16471 Notice of Formation of Professional Limited Liability Company. Name: Back Again Chiropractic, PLLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/12/2025. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the PLLC 325 Ushers Road, Ballston Lake, NY 12019. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20/2026. 16472 Notice of formation of Ride
26
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
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Like A Girl LLC. Articles of organization filed with the secretary of state of New York on January 12, 2026. 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: 23 Ruggles Rd., Saratoga Springs, New York 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20/2026. 16475
PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE: Notice of Intent to Acquire Property Under Article 5, Section 233.aa of the New York State Education Law. The Saratoga County History
Center at Brookside Museum hereby asserts its intent to acquire title to the following property, which has been stored at Brookside Museum for over ten years, and the source of which is unidentified. This list, with images, is also posted to the SCHC / Brookside website at: Saratoga County History Center (brooksidemuseum.org) If you claim, and can demonstrate, ownership to this property, you must contact the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum in writing to make arrangements to collect the property. Send correspondence to: Curatorial Department, Saratoga County History Center, 6 Charlton Street, Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, or: field.horne@gmail.com. If you fail to do so within One Hundred and Eighty
(180) days, the Museum will commence proceedings to acquire the property. If you wish to commence legal proceedings to acquire the property, you should consult an attorney. Item: George Washington Autograph: Payment Order dated at Philadelphia; May 5, 1795, on Office of Disct & Deposit, Baltimore, for $370.00 to Edward McKean, Esq. Signed, “George Washington” 2.5” x 6.25”. 1/2, 1/9, 1/16/2026. 16334 NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Department of Central Services of Saratoga County will receive sealed bids in person or electronically through the Empire State Purchasing System Website until 11:00 a.m. on the following dates at which time bids will be publicly opened and read aloud: January 29, 2026 Auto Parts, specification 26-PWAP-15R February 3, 2026 Diesel Fuel, specification 26 DF-1 February 3, 2026 #2 Fuel Oil and Kerosene, specification 26-FOK-1 Bid forms and instructions are available at the Department of Central Services, 50 W. High Street, Ballston Spa, NY between 9:00 a.m. and 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 1/16/2026, 16462
27
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
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Sports
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Scores and Highlights: Saints Snap Losing Streaks, Blue Streak Crowned Wrestler of the Week SPA CATHOLIC BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS After a tough three-game losing streak, the 6-4 Saratoga Central Catholic boys basketball team rebounded, earning three wins in their last four games. On Dec. 29, the Saints snapped their losing streak with a 75 to 68 victory against Cambridge. The following day, they fell to Schuylerville by just one point, 53 to 52. In that close contest, Jasyn Thompson had 13 points, Thomas Zayac added 13, and Kihl Kelly chipped in 8. On Jan. 3, Spa Catholic bested Corinth, 79 to 51. Thompson led his squad with 20 points, Kingston Davis had 15, and Kelly put 12 more on the board for Saratoga. On Jan. 9, the Saints defeated Tamarac, 63 to 58. For Spa Catholic, David Redgrave Jr. netted 19 points, Bryce Peterson added 13, and Thompson contributed 8 points along with a whopping 8 blocks. LADY SAINTS SNAP LOSING STREAK The Saratoga Central Catholic girl’s basketball team has also struggled recently, falling in four-straight games before stopping the bleeding with a Jan. 12 win against Waterford-Halfmoon, 47 to 35. In that game, sharpshooter Sophia Ryan had a game-high 24 points, and Addison Whitbeck added 16 for the Saints. On Jan. 8, Tamarac defeated Spa Catholic 67 to 59. Ryan had a stunning 34 points and Whitbeck netted 24. In a 47 to 41 loss against Granville on Dec. 30, Ryan scored 23 and Whitbeck added 6 for the Lady Saints. With their latest win against Waterford-Halfmoon, Spa Catholic improved their season record to 6-5. “DANGEROUS” DANNY DACEY CROWNED WRESTLER OF THE WEEK “Dangerous” Danny Dacey earned Week 3’s Division 1 “Wrestler of the Week” honors from the Friends of Section 2 Wrestling. Dacey recently won a gold medal at the Windsor Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29., placed 2nd at the Saratoga Invitational on Jan. 3, and
pinned three competitors at the Lee Van Slyke Memorial Duals on Dec. 20. SCHUYLERVILLE COACHES EARN ACCOLADES Schuylerville High School varsity football coach John Bowen was recently named the Times Union Small School Coach of the Year, following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Bowen guided the Black Horses to a Section 2 championship and an 11–1 overall record, with the season ending in the state semifinals. Coming off a historic prior year for the program, Bowen made it clear early on that this team would not live in the shadow of the past. “We’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge some of the blueprint from last year, but we put that behind us and focused on moving forward,” said Bowen. “We weren’t going to spend time looking in the rearview mirror. This was their team—their narrative to write, their chapter in the book of Schuylerville football. The seniors did an unbelievable job owning that.” Schuylerville High School varsity girl’s soccer head coach Paul Rogan also recently received an honor: 2025 Class B Section 2 Coach of the Year. Under Coach Rogan’s leadership, the team advanced to the Section 2 Class B championship game for the first time in program history, finishing the season as sectional runnersup with a 12-4-3 win-loss-tie record. The milestone appearance marked a breakthrough year and highlighted the team’s growth, resilience, and competitive spirit. Rogan credited the success to his players and staff. “Being named Coach of the Year is a testament to the skill and dedication of the wonderful players on the team, as well as the efforts of coaches Wian, Gallagher, and Letzring, and the athletic department,” said Rogan. “Coaching the Schuylerville varsity soccer team continues to be one of the great joys of my life. This year’s team embraced the challenge of a highly competitive schedule, never backed down from anyone, and always brought their very best effort. Their determination and heart defined our
season. I look forward to next year’s team building on the successes of this year’s group.” SKIDMORE HOCKEY EVENS OUT SEASON RECORD Coleman Jenkins scored the game winner with 4:02 remaining as Matthew Franzoi scored twice for the Skidmore College men’s hockey team in a 4-2 victory over visiting Plattsburgh State last Saturday night. Skidmore (6-6-2, 3-3-1 SUNYAC) scored the contest’s first two goals and overcame two quick Plattsburgh goals to tie it up for the win. Franzoi, a senior, opened the scoring at 12:22 of the first period and added his second goal of the night at 5:44 of the second to give the Thoroughbreds a 2-0 lead. Jenkins netted the gamewinning goal with 4:02 remaining in the third period, finishing a feed from Shane Baker and Jack Bartfield. Skidmore outshot the Cardinals 37-23, including a 28-15 advantage through two periods. Both teams went scoreless on the power play while also both scoring shorthanded goals. Skidmore surrendered just one shot across its two penalty kills. Up next, Skidmore is back at home to host Potsdam (Jan. 16) and Canton (Jan. 17) at the Saratoga City Rink. SKIDMORE WOMEN’S B-BALL TEAM SCORES FIRST LEAGUE VICTORY The Skidmore College women’s basketball team led from start to finish in a 65-49
Saratoga Springs wrestler Danny Dacey was named Division 1 Wrestler of the Week by Friends of Section 2 Wrestling on Jan. 8.
Saratoga Central Catholic’s star girls varsity basketball player Sophia Ryan. Photo via SCC Athletics.
Liberty League road victory over William Smith College last Friday night. Skidmore (3-7, 1-2 Liberty League) controlled the lead for 38.5 of the game’s 40 minutes (96 percent) and faced just one deficit in the evening (3-2). Madison Meyer paced the Thoroughbreds with 16 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals. Claudia Schneider chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Ruby Krop and Stella Criniti each scored eight points for Skidmore. Krop also posted a game-high eight rebounds and four blocks. The Thoroughbreds held decisive edges in points off turnovers (25-9), second-chance points (20-4), and bench scoring (25-8). Skidmore limited
the Herons to single digit scoring in both the first and second quarters, building a commanding 32-17 halftime advantage. The Thoroughbreds outscored WSC 22-6 in the paint during the opening half. Skidmore extended the margin with a 15-2 run spanning nearly eight minutes, highlighted by a stretch of nine unanswered points. A Criniti 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter pushed Skidmore’s lead to a game-high 20 at 51-31. The Thoroughbreds again led by 20 in the fourth before a late William Smith push set the 65-49 final. Skidmore has now won 10 straight meetings against William Smith, with the Herons’ last victory in the series coming in 2019.
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Sports
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Legendary Trainer Who Made Big Impact on Saratoga Passes Away at 85 SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently mourned the loss of legendary trainer Leo O’Brien, who passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 85 following a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia. O’Brien trained New Yorkbred millionaires Fourstardave, Fourstars Allstar, and Irish Linnet. Fourstardave was nicknamed “The Sultan of Saratoga” because he won at least one race at the Saratoga Race Course every year from 1987 to 1994. The Fourstardave sports bar at the track was named in the horse’s honor, as was the Grade 1 Fourstardave race run each summer at the Spa. O’Brien and his late wife, Joan, raised two children together. Their daughter Leona worked in the NYRA press box from 1992-95 and is married to Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who is the all-time leading rider at Saratoga. The Irish-born O’Brien rose to prominence in the United States as a steeplechase jockey from 1964-76. When his riding career was cut short due to injury, he returned to Ireland to begin training steeplechase horses. He came back to the U.S. in 1981 with a solitary horse, Sports Reporter, who captured the International Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap that September at Ligonier and, one
month later, finished sixth in the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap at Belmont Park. O’Brien would later make his name on the flat with the illustrious multiple graded stakeswinner Fourstardave. Richard Migliore was the regular rider for Fourstardave’s last two seasons of racing and was aboard for his final score at Saratoga on July 24, 1994. “My last win on Fourstardave was my favorite,” Migliore said. “It was the last hurrah, the last go-around, and there was so much pressure that day to keep the streak alive and go out a winner at Saratoga. The horse ended up being much the best that day, and I just had to keep him out of trouble. He was a special horse - how many horses will even race up there eight years in a row, let alone win eight years in a row?” Upon his passing, Fourstardave was laid to rest at Clare Court on the Saratoga backstretch. While Fourstardave enjoys legend status in Saratoga, his full-brother Fourstars Allstar would make history for O’Brien, becoming the first Americantrained horse to win a European Classic by taking the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas in 1991 with future Hall of Famer Mike Smith at the helm. O’Brien and his son-inlaw Velazquez teamed up with a
Photo of Leo O’Brien by Coglianese Photo, provided by the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
number of the venerable trainer’s top horses, including the multiple graded stakes-winner Irish Linnet, who won 19-of62 starts for purse earnings in excess of $1.2 million. According to Equibase statistics, O’Brien posted a record of 6,477-568-677-691 for purse earnings in excess of $27 million over his storied career. In addition to his children Keith and Leona, he is survived by his grandchildren Lerina, Michael, Darby, Liam, Jacinta, Muireannm, and Jonjo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in O’Brien’s name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and/or the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy.
Snowshoe Events Scheduled for February SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two snowshoe events organized by Saratoga Stryders, an affiliate chapter of the Road Runners Club of America, are planned for next month. The Saratoga Winterfest 5K Snowshoe Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. in the Saratoga Spa State Park.
There will be no indoor facilities and participants will meet in the quadrangle near the restrooms. The Camp Saratoga 8K Snowshoe Race will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. Registration for both events can be done online through www.runsignup.com
with day-of onsite. A limited supply of Dion snowshoes will be available to rent for $10 on a first come/first serve basis. For more information about these events, visit w w w.saratogastr yders.org. Questions? Call Laura at 518581-1278 or laura@saratogastryders.org.
Sports
Week of January 16 - January 22, 2026
Racers Road Games Yield Mixed Results MECHANICVILLE — The Saratoga Racers rang in the new year on the road, splitting a pair of contests on Jan. 3 and 11. The American Basketball Association (ABA) squad will wrap up its away series with two more games this weekend against the Hudson Valley Rivermen and Herkimer Originals, before returning home on Jan. 24. On Jan. 3, against the Binghamton Bulldogs, Saratoga fell 127 to 109 in a game that featured 11 lead changes. It was the Racers’ second-straight loss, dropping their season record to 4-3. All three of the Racers’ losses this season have come at the hands of teams ranked in the top 20 of the ABA’s weekly power rankings. John Ryals III collected 24 points to lead all Saratoga scorers. The Racers poured in buckets at will in the paint, shooting 38-65 from inside the arc and 9-26 (35%) from beyond the arc. Saratoga pressured the ball all game, collecting 17 steals. Tobias Holmes led his team with 3 swipes. Joey Harden led Saratoga with 7 rebounds.
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Racing Museum Offering Free Giveaway on Jan. 19
Team photo via the Saratoga Racers.
Holmes finished with 19 points, RJ Rosa added 13, and Isaiah Grandison and Luke Perez both netted 11. On Jan. 11, the Racers fared better, beating the Boston Sharks 161 to 124. The victory improved Saratoga’s season record to 5-3. Donovan Williams scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 13 assists, earning the first-ever triple-double in Racer’s history. Holmes led all scorers with 39 points, and every other Racer who played in the contest finished with a doubledigit scoring performance.
Saratoga controlled the game from the opening tip, never giving up the advantage. The lead reached a peak of 48 points at 106-58. The Racers again scored at will in the paint. They went 48-77 from inside the arc. They controlled the glass, collecting 66 total rebounds, with Isaiah Grandison leading the team with 16 boards. Williams led his squad with 13 assists and 7 steals. Additional top scorers for Saratoga included Rosa (32 points), Wheelings (25), Cam Thomas (19), Grandison (18), Williams (15), and Perez (13).
Photo provided by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will give its first 25 visitors a free, commemorative, packable museum blanket with paid admission on Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The museum will be open on the holiday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum, which is otherwise closed on Monday and Tuesday from January through May and Sept. 8 through December, will be open on the following Monday holidays in 2026:
• Feb. 16, Presidents’ Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (featuring “The Forgotten Foundation: How Black Equestrians Helped Build American Thoroughbred Racing” lecture at 11 a.m.) • May 26, Memorial Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Sept. 7, Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Oct. 12, Columbus Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional Monday giveaways and special programming on those dates will be announced soon.