ON WITH THE SHOW
Frost Faire will continue after government shutdown ends
STILLWATER, N.Y. » Concerns about the possible cancellation of a big annual event at the Saratoga National Historical Park are over now that the government shutdown has ended.
The 23rd annual Frost Faire scheduled for this weekend will be held as planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Saratoga National Historical Park, better known as Saratoga Battlefield.
During the shutdown, some event-goers were worried about the fate of the event, fearing the wintertime festival might be canceled.
But after an agreement was reached to reopen the government, plans to put on the 23rd annual Frost Faire resumed.
For decades this festival featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, cannon-firing demonstrations and sledding on the hill - has traditionally been the park’s first big event of the year and one of its largest signature gatherings.
In a report released by personal finance website WalletHub, New York state was ranked 30th in the country
on a list of states most affected by the government shutdown, with access to national parks as one of the factors studied.
During the shutdown, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, RWillsboro, whose district includes the Saratoga National Historical Park, released a statement about the government shutdown on Saturday. “I oppose government shutdowns and while in Congress have consistently voted to keep the government open,” she said. “I will continue working my hardest to resolve this impasse and implore Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to end this shutdown and reopen the government immediately.”
Regarding Saratoga National Historical Park, Stefanik’s office said, “Sadly, this entirely unnecessary shutdown will also have implications for our national parks, including Saratoga Battlefield. Congresswoman Stefanik has participated in numerous events at Saratoga and knows how special this hallowed ground is to our region.”
In another Saturday release, Stefanik announced that she asked for her own pay to be withheld until the end of the shutdown. “In the meantime, it is unacceptable to allow our troops and national security personnel to forego their pay while those in the Senate responsible for this shutdown receive theirs.”
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, last released a statement on Friday about the then-potential government shutdown. “For the first time in our nation’s history, it is possible we will have a government shutdown tonight while one party controls the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the House of Representatives,” she said. “A government shutdown is both regrettable and 100 percent avoidable. The problem is that President Trump has previously declared he wanted the government shut down and is doing all he can to get it.”
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, DAmsterdam, in a letter to his constituents sent on Saturday, shared his sentiment on the government shutdown. “I know many of you share my great frustration and disappointment that a deal could not be struck. At this point I do not know for how long the President and those loyal to him in Congress will keep the government closed,” he said.
This letter included a list of questions and answers about the shutdown, one of them being “Will I still be able to visit the national parks and monuments?” Tonko’s answer: “During the 2013 16-day shutdown, national parks, national monuments, and the Smithsonian museums were closed. However, the Trump Administration has announced that it will work to keep national parks “as accessible as possible” in the event of a shutdown. Officials have said that the anticipated plan is to keep many national parks open for hiking, wildlife watching, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Open-air parks and monuments in Washington, D.C. will remain open. However, other services that require National Park Service staff, including campgrounds and concessions, will be closed.”
Saratoga National Historical Park ranger and acting chief of interpretation Bill Valosin shared how the local Frost Faire was created as a way for people to enjoy winter outdoors in a timeless way, an opportunity that Frost Faires have provided dating back to the 17th century. Valosin said, “It’s a great opportunity to beat cabin fever, get out of the house and come visit the national park in your backyard.”
U.S. Rep. John Faso, RKinderhook, released a statement on Monday afternoon in response to the Senate cloture vote: “Senate Democrats and Sen. Schumer have finally come to their senses and have agreed to reopen the government. It was wrong to hold the nation hostage to the DACA issue, something that was unrelated to the federal government’s budget. Funding for vital programs that support our troops and help veterans and the disabled should never be used as a political bargaining chip. I have long supported a bi-partisan approach to deal with DACA and border security and look forward to a solution on that topic in the near future.”