UPCOMING CALENDAR

EDITOR’S NOTE: This calendar is being regularly updated to reflect all event cancellations and postponements. However, it is recommended that readers contact event organizers before they attend. For the most updated version of the calendar, please visit saratogian. com.

ARTISAN MARKET: The beloved “Artisan Market” at Brookside Museum will be returning in 2020, running from “Small Business Saturday” Nov. 28 through Dec. 24 at at 6 Charlton

St. in Ballston Spa. The market will feature only handcrafted products created by local artisans. Everything from natural soaps and lotions to unique ornaments and jewelry to scrumptious syrups and eatables – quite simply the best our community has to offer. The 2020 hours are noon to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. All money raised by the Artisan Market will fund Saratoga County History Center public programming and collection maintenance, ensuring that future generations of Saratogians, as well as people from around the world, will be able to learn about and enjoy our amazing, historic region.

BASKETBALL PROGRAM: Basketball is Back at the Rec! The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department is pleased to announce the return of two of its popular basketball programs, and even more excited to share that we will be back at the Recreation Center! Both the Parent/Child Tiny B’ball for ages 3-5 and Intro to Basketball for Grades K-1 will begin Saturday, November 7th. Fees for Tiny B’Ball are $50 for Saratoga Springs City residents and $60 for Non-City residents. Fees for Intro to Basketball are $60 for Saratoga Springs City residents and $80 for Non-City residents. Registration is now open. Spaces are limited to comply with safety and social distancing guidelines. Volunteer Coaches are needed for Intro to Basketball. Visit SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Youth Basketball for additional information and to register. Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs. org with questions.

PICKLEBALL: Drop in Pickleball is Back at the Rec! Our nine pickleball courts are ready for your return! Drop in pickleball will be held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9-11am beginning Monday, November 9th. Fees are $3 for City residents with a verified Community Pass account and $4 for all others. Participation is on a first come, first served basis. For safety and social distancing purposes participation is limited to 50. Participants must bring a mask, paddle, and appropriate footwear. Days/times are subject to change. Visit SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Rec Center Drop in Sessions for additional information and to set up an account. Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs. org with questions.

RACQUETBALL: Racquetball Rentals are Back at the Rec! Reservations for court times can be made through Community Pass. Fees are $5 for City residents with a verified Community Pass account and $10 for all others. Reservations and fees are for a one hour rental. For safety and social distancing purposes participation is limited to groups of 3. Participants must bring a mask, racquet, racquetballs, and appropriate footwear.

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

BROWN BREAD SALE: Simpson United Methodist Church, 1089 Rock City Road, Rock City Falls (.4 mi s of Rte. 29) is once again hosting its pre-Thanksgiving Steamed Brown Bread and Bake Sale. Traditional brown bread includes flours, molasses, raisins, and buttermilk, and is steamed in cans in water bath over the stove for three hours. Place your orders now until Monday November 16 by calling 518-885-4794 and leaving message with your name, phone number and how many loaves ($6.50 each) you would like. Pick up times are Friday Nov. 20, 4-6 p.m. and Sat. Nov., 21 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Holiday bake sale and hot dog lunch available during pickup Saturday Nov. 21. Any questions call 518-885-4794!

COLLECTION CANCELED: Post 36 of the Jewish War Veterans of Saratoga County regrets to announce that its annual Warm Coats for Veterans collection has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 Virus. The Coat drive will resume in November, 2021. During the past 6 years, Post 36 has been successfully collecting winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves for distribution to both the Men’s and Women’s Vet Houses in Ballston Spa. Post 36 of the Jewish War Veterans thanks everyone who has supported our mission. We are grateful and look forward to seeing you in 2021. For more information, please contact Daviud Kieserman, Commander, Post 36 at 518-587-7809.

FREE UNIFORM CLEANING FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS: New York-based dry cleaning business Best Cleaners offers a free uniform cleaning service to veterans and those who are currently serving in the military. This service has been offered through Best Cleaners since 2018 not only at all five of their store locations, but also with their pick up and delivery service as well. While many dry cleaners only offer free military cleaning during the month of May (Military Appreciation Month), Best Cleaners has long offered this service year round. Best Cleaners currently has five locations across the Capital Region including Delmar, Glenville, Latham, Loundonville, and Schenectady. The business offers free pick-up and delivery, dry cleaning, and restoration services. For more information visit bestcleanersny.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW CALL FOR ENTRIES: For photographers who enjoy taking pictures of nature or of people enjoying nature, entries for a photography show that will be highlighting the beauty and the mission of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park are being sought. The entry deadline is November 30, 2020 and up to four entries will be accepted per person. There will be prizes awarded for the following categories; Best in Show, Best Nature in Winter, Best featuring Conservation, Best featuring Education, Best featuring Recreation, Best Nature in Autumn, Best Animal Shot, Best Karner blue butterfly, and Best under-13. Entries should be submitted via email to info@wiltonpreserve.org with the following information; attached photograph files saved as jpeg, name, address, phone number, email, title of each submission, age if under 13. All work should be original and have been taken at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. This year the selected photographs will be displayed virtually, through a virtual Photography Gallery.

For more information, please contact the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at www.wiltonpreserve.org

ART EXHIBIT: Artists and members of the Southern Saratoga Art Society are exhibiting during the months of November and December, 2020 at the Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Court, Tel.# 518=383-1343. 13 artists will present “A Fall Festival of Art”, an eclectic mix of art work. Please try to visit, late afternoon is best at this venue, and support the arts in southern Saratoga County. For more information about SSAS visit our website: southernsaratogaartist.com

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE DINNER & AUCTION: The World Awareness Children’s Museum is excited to present their upcoming International Cuisine Dinner And Auction fundraiser, now in its 30th year! Due to COVID 19, the event is running virtually this year through November 8th, 2020! Patrons will gain access to exclusive digital content from a variety of renowned local restaurants and businesses, including videos on beer/wine pairings, recipes, cooking techniques, and more! Guests will also be able to participate in their famous online auction and silent raffle, with a Facebook Live video raffle drawing running on Sunday, November 8th! Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased at: https:// paybee.io/@wacm. All proceeds raised during International Cuisine help the Museum bring more fun and engaging multicultural programming for children to the greater Glens Falls area!

BALLSTON SPA HOLIDAY COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM: Join us in celebrating the season of giving by taking part in this year’s Holiday Community Arts Program. The Village of Ballston Spa is sponsoring its Annual Holiday Community Arts Program to make tree decorations and paint street banners to add to the festive feeling of the season. This is a free program. Everyone is welcome to participate even if you’re not a resident of Ballston Spa. This years theme, “5278 Points of Light” reminds everyone to bring joy and happiness into the lives of people around you. And together, our light will make a stronger community. This year we’re adding to the fun by having an Ornament decorating competition. We’ll supply the oversized blank ornament, you decorate it and Mayor Larry Woolbright will select the “Mayors Award” Winners. To join in on the fun email marklouisco@ gmail.com for information. Banners and oversized Star ornaments are all ready to be decorated and can be picked up in a contact free setting at 10 Thompson St. Ballston Spa. Pick up and drop off supplies in a contact free setting.

VIRTUAL DANCE CLASSES: The National Museum of Dance is pleased to offer a limited series of virtual dance classes! Ashley Bouder and Alec Knight of New York City Ballet will each be teaching a six-week session of ballet and acclaimed actors Chris Riggi and Stephanie Koenig will jointly be teaching a fourweek session of film acting. Classes begin Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Intermediate Ballet with Alec Knight, Thursdays 4:30 – 6 pm (Sixweek session ends Thursday, November 19); Intermediate/ Advanced Ballet with Ashley Bouder, Fridays 4:30 – 6 pm (Six-week session ends Friday, November 20). To register for the classes, please visit https://www.nationalmuseumofdance.org/calendar. For questions, please contact Bruce Curtis at rentals@dancemuseum.org. We hope to see you on Zoom!

DINNER POSTPONED: The Charlton Freehold Presbyterian Church is postponing its annual Election Day Chicken and Biscuit Dinner for one year. The church will still be supporting the School Pantry Program and ask that you consider mailing a contribution to The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York or donating on their website: https:// regionalfoodbank.net/donate-money/ Thank you and we look forward to seeing everyone next time!

HOLIDAY RAFFLE: Galway Lioness Holiday Raffle tickets – to be drawn December 2, 2020. 1st Prize $500; 2nd Prize - $300; 3rd Prize - $200. Tickets - $10 per ticket. See any Galway Lioness for tickets.

PRESCHOOL REOPENING: Attention Families of Preschoolers! Looking for more than just a typical preschool experience? Consider joining the Clifton Park Nursery School community, where creativity blossoms and a love of learning is born. We are a small, cooperative play-based school planning to re-open in January 2021. Parent involvement is key at CPNS, with a helper assigned to each class time. Email us at cliftonparknurseryschool@gmail. com for more information and check us out on Facebook/Instagram!

YOUTH PEN PAL PROGRAM: Letter writing helps kids learn communication and social skills and may even help them develop their penmanship. Each child who signs up to be a penpal will receive a kit with paper, stamped envelopes, pencils and more. Contact the Stillwater Public Library by phone, email or through the website to sign up. 518.664.6255,STILIB@ SALS.EDU, Stillwater.sals. edu.

VIRTUAL HOMEWORK HELP: Monday-Thursday 3pm - 5 pm on Discord for grades 6-12. Contact Discord username Michete#6346 for an invite to the server. This program is presented by the Stillwater Public Library.

HOLIDAY BASKET PROJECT: The Greater Galway Community Holiday Basket Project, a sub-committee of the Galway Pantry is looking for individuals or families willing to provide gifts, gift cards or monetary donations for children and adolescents in the local area. Donations will benefit those within the boundaries of the Galway Central School district, which includes all of the towns of Charlton, Galway and Providence and only parts of the towns of Amsterdam, Broadalbin, Glenville, Milton and Perth which are in the school district. This year, our community has been met with unprecedented challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in our 39 years, the Project Committee has been forced to consider the health and safety of our committee members, numerous volunteers and recipient families as we work to provide food and gifts to those who need it most. This year, the need is anticipated to be greater than ever. In order to reduce contact among volunteers and recipients, many of who are in the high risk category for COVID-19, we have made the hard decision to offer some combination of physical gifts and gift cards for the children. We are ever hopeful that this will be a temporary measure and that we can return to our normal project next year. While in the most recent years we have encouraged organizations and individuals to adopt a family or child on the recipient list, there will be fewer opportunities for direct adoptions this year. For most families who are able, we hope to provide them with gift cards only so that they may shop for their children. With that said, monetary donations in lieu of adoptions will also be greatly appreciated. Those interested in adopting a child or family for the holiday, either by providing gifts or supporting the purchase of gift cards should contact: Barbara McKean, 518-882-6621, bmckean@ nycap.rr.com or Sarah Benson, 518-366-0377,Sdbenson31@gmail.com.

VIRTUAL SARATOGA HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKETPLACE: Start your holiday shopping with our virtual show on November 14th and culminating with specials offered on November 28th which is Small Business Saturday and the original date of our show. Find crafters from previous shows or a discover new ones. These locally handmade items include Art, Quilting, Floral, Holiday Décor, Pottery, Baskets, Fashion, Woodworking. Visit www.saratogacraft. org home page anytime between November 14-28 and click on the link to the show to begin your virtual shopping. All proceeds benefit the Saratoga Center for the Family in their mission to reduce and treat abuse, neglect, trauma and mental health in our community’s children and families.

COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO MOURN: This is a 6-week non-denominational Christian grief support group for all those grieving the death of a loved one. We will meet in person using Covid guidelines for safe distancing in the Great Room at St Luke’s on the Hill, 40 McBride Rd., Mechanicville (located off Pruyn Hill Rd in the Town of Halfmoon). Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00pm Oct. 21 Dec. 2, 2020. You may register by phone at 518-6644834 or email dcylynne@ gmail.com. For further information visit stlukesonthehill.org/events.

SENIOR RESOURCES: The Senior Services Committee of CAPTAIN CHS has started a Clearinghouse website for senior citizens and their caregivers. Included are informational websites as well as virtual programs and entertainment. Studies have shown that Seniors are increasingly vulnerable to social isolation (a fact of life during the pandemic), and we have found a large number of programs which can help alleviate the sense of being alone.There are programs listed which can be accessed anytime

and programs which are time sensitive which will be updated as appropriate. Most programs are free, but there are some which charge a fee. The Clearinghouse can be found at the Care Links Resource Page at captaincares.org/care-links/resources.html, or directly at carelinksgoodstuff.weebly.com.We are always looking for additional resources to post on the page and suggestions may be sent to wljozwiak@gmail.

PUMPKIN GLOW & LIGHT SHOW: Ellms Family Farm is launching a new fall themed attraction. The Pumpkin Glow & Light Show Drive-Thru is an enchanting Halloween experience that features a pumpkin wonderland with thousands of hand carved illuminated jack o’lanterns. Guests are invited to be immersed in the magic from the safety and comfort of their own vehicle. The Drive-Thru experience boasts single pumpkin carvings to larger than life dazzling light displays. Ellms Family Farm has partnered with master carvers that are bringing all of the Halloween spirit to life. In addition to marveling at the masterpieces created by talented artists, guests will have the opportunity to be able to enjoy all the Ellms Farms fall snacks they know and love, by preselecting and prepaying for tasty fall themed treats, food & beverages, again to be enjoyed from your vehicle. This attraction is open from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday from Oct. 1 to Nov. 8 at Ellms Family Farm, located at 448 Charlton Rd., Ballston Spa. Tickets are currently on sale and more information can be found on the Ellms Farms website, www.ellmsfarms.com. The Pumpkin Glow & Light Show Drive-Thru is a great event for families, couples and young adults alike. There is something for everyone to enjoy at this truly magnificent Fall Spectacular – perfect for all ages!

NATUREFEST: Moreau Lake State Park NatureFest 2020 is going virtual. To help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve cancelled our annual onsite event. With the help of many Friends we have created a dedicated website that will feature individual videos, links and content highlighting local experts and organizations in many areas covering the environment, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable practices. We’ll also have games for friends and families to enjoy together. We invite you to visit our dedicated NatureFest 2020 website naturefest2020.org.

YOUTH & ADULT BALLET: Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet was founded in 2020 by Joan Kilgore Anderson and Cristiane Santos. After working together for 8 years, the two former professional dancers decided to open their own school to focus on proper ballet training and technique. They are passionate about their work and strive to give the best to their students, families, and community. Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is committed to providing quality professional dance training to pre-professional students throughout the Greater Saratoga region. Students achieve their potential as dancers and artists while learning in a collaborative environment. A focus is put on building self-confidence and maturity in a nurturing atmosphere with an emphasis on performance and positive reinforcement. Dancers learn the value of hard work and garner an appreciation and love for the arts. SSYB offers classes in ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, and conditioning for dancers ages 3 to adult. Classes will begin on Sept. 14. For more information or to register please visit www.saratogaspringsyouthballet.org.

PRESERVATION FOUNDATION SEEKING VOLUNTEERS: Five years ago the Foundation, in partnership with the City of Saratoga Springs, completed a comprehensive restoration of the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial. The restoration was comprised of the sculpture, masonry, and landscape which included the geraniums around the reflecting pool and plantings by the architectural surround, pond, Saratoga Arts building, and fence. Due to COVID-19, the City of Saratoga Springs was faced with budget cuts and reduced staffing. The Foundation is now looking for volunteers to help maintain the landscape of the Spirit of Life &

Spencer Trask Memorial. A green thumb is helpful, but not required. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Anne McDonough, our Administrative Assistant, at admin@saratogapreservation.org and include if you have any gardening experience.

PICKLEBALL LEAGUE: Ace the Court in the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department Pickleball League - Our program runs September 28-November 19. Everyone ages 18+ is welcome. Our Pickleball League follows a ladder style system. Players will play a double round-robin with others of similar skill level in a recreational setting. Registration fees are City $60, Non-City $70. Visit SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Pickleball League for additional information and to register. Contact the Recreation

Department at (518) 5873550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.

ICE SKATING: Form a new Skate of Mind with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department’s Intro to Ice Skating Program. Learn ice skating basics or improve your skills. Everyone ages 3-Adult is welcome. Intro to Ice Skating fees for the Early Fall session are City $85, Non-City $105. Intro to Ice Skating fees for the Fall session through Oct 31st are City $60, NonCity $80. Early Fall fees after Oct 31st are City $85, Non-City $105. Visit SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Ice Skating Lessons for fees, additional information, and to sign up. Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.