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.

Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021

TURKEY DINNER: South Glens Falls United Methodist Church, located at 15 Maplewood Parkway, is having a Turkey Dinner on Saturday, January 23rd from 4:306:00pm. This dinner will be a drive-thru/pick-up dinner, we will not be serving sit down meals inside. Dinners will be bagged and delivered to your car. We will have the full meal available with a Homemade dessert. We will not be able to take special requests. Dinners will be $12. We will be taking pre-orders and we are also offering delivery service. Our phone # is 518-7931152.

MALTA INDOOR FLEA MARKET:

Shop in comfort and safety this winter in a 21,000-square-foot building with heat, restrooms, a snack bar and private parking. Keep treasure hunting while keeping warm! 75+ vendor spaces. COVID-19 safety guidelines in effect. Shop antiques, clothing, collectibles, crafts, furniture, jewelry, lighting, tools, toys and much more. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays Jan. 23, Feb. 20, March 20, April 17 at the former Treepaad Fun Center, located at 2381 Rt. 9 in Malta. More information is available online at maltaflea.com.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 JEWISH GENEALOGICAL ZOOM PRESENTATIONS:

Jump Starting Your Family Tree - Have you always wanted to trace your ancestry and didn’t know where to start? Join the Capital Region Jewish Genealogical Society on January 10 to learn how to get started, including a discussion of free and for-pay resources, recommendations on which records are most Get listed: Submit items for the calendar at CALENDAR@SARATOGIAN.COM. useful, and practical tips and advice. Then come back in two weeks on January 24 for a follow-up presentation on how to use DNA testing to help reach back into your family trees. Explore how DNA testing can help break down brick walls by revealing close relatives and distant names and places. Find out which websites offer testing, and what you can learn from your matches. Register for one or both!

Part 1: Resources and Tips, 7 p.m. on Jan 10. Register in advance for this meeting at https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZ0ldeuhqzwsGdX8EBl74J6v5jIPly88ev5L. Part 2: How Can DNA testing Help? 7 p.m. on Jan 24. Register in advance for this meeting at https:// us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ reg is ter/tZUq du upqjwiGdL 8 Os uL36Uw73TiaqHPxa Is. Presenter Susan Kugler is the Treasurer/Vice President of the Capital Region Jewish Genealogical Society. She is a life-long resident of East Schodack and considers herself an “advanced amateur” genealogist. Susan will share her expertise and welcomes questions from participants who want to start or continue their genealogical journey. BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Monday, Jan. 25, 2021

VIRTUAL ALZHEIMER’S EVENT: Know the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25. This event is presented by the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York. Alzheimer’s causes changes in memory, thinking and behavior that are not normal aging. Join us to learn about: the difference between normal aging and Alzheimer’s; common warning signs; the importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis; next steps and expectations for the diagnostic process; and Alzheimer’s Association resources. Event is free but you must register. For additional information and to register, contact: Sierra Snoddy at 518-6757214 or call our 24⁄7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

WELLNESS WALK:

On Monday, January 25th at 10:00am Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be holding one of their bi-monthly Wellness Walks led by longtime volunteer Linda Hovious. The Wellness Walk is geared towards gentle exercise and the enjoyment of nature and will be accessible for participants at basic fitness levels. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a winter walk on the trails! The walk will depart from the Camp Saratoga North Trailhead kiosk. Participants should park at Parking lot #1 located on Scout Road. Registration is required. Face masks will be expected to be worn throughout the duration of the program. Snowshoes will be available for rental 30 minutes before the program; $5 per person, $3 kids/students. If there is no snow, the program will take place without snowshoes. The Wellness Walks are a bi- monthly activity with the next walk scheduled in February, date to be announced. For more information or to register for the program, please call 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.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: This five-week course (noon to 1 p.m. on Mondays: Jan 4, 11, 25 and Feb. 1 and

8 - skipping MLK day) with Susan Meyer will provide practical support for developing or fine-tuning a daily meditation practice that’s appropriate for you, cultivating basic mindfulness skills and applying those skills to meeting life’s challenges so you can respond wisely instead of reactively. You’ll learn strategies to awaken to mindfulness and compassion when you’re in the thick of difficulty and dramatically shift the experience of your life, the people in it, and the world itself. Each class will include instruction, guided practice, Q&A, and followup resources. Registration required. This program is offered through Zoom videoconferencing. In advance of the first class, we will send an email to you containing an invitation and link to join the Zoom meeting. Please see the Zoom instructions for joining a meeting if you have any questions. More information about this Saratoga Springs Public Library program is available online at www.sspl.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org. BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25 at the Troy Masonic Temple, located at 39 Brunswick Rd., Troy. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 ONLINE KNITTING & HANDCRAFTING MEET UP:

Join our informal online knitting and handcrafting meet up 9:30am - 10:30am on Tuesdays. This online gathering is a perfect opportunity to knit, embroider or do other handwork while chatting companionably with others who are working on their own projects. There will be no instruction, but we welcome the opportunity to show and share our creations. New members welcome. Please register online. This online program uses the

Zoom livestreaming platform. It will require access to a computer, mobile device with the Zoom app installed, and/ or a phone for audio-only access. Registration with an email is required in order to receive information on how to connect. The email will be sent three (3) hours prior to the scheduled start time of the program. Please see the Zoom instructions for joining a meeting if you have any questions. More information about this Saratoga Springs Public Library program is available online at www.sspl. org.

GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION CLASS:

The Gifts of Imperfection Class – six Tuesdays, beginning January 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Engage, experience, and evolve—take your reading from theory to practice in this interactive class that explores Brené Brown’s book, “The Gifts of Imperfection.” Be challenged to cultivate the courage, compassion, and divine connection it takes to embrace your “imperfections’’ and recognize that you are always enough. Suggested donation: $20 per class. Hosted by Albany-Saratoga Spiritual Adventures via Zoom. For more information, visit our meetup.com group AlbanySaratoga Spiritual Adventures, call (518) 366-9918, or visit www.newthoughtnewyork.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Malta Ambulance, located at 2449 Rt. 9 in Malta. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org. BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Latham Fire Department, located at 226 Old Loudon Rd. in Latham. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021

ROAST PORK DINNER: Saratoga – Wilton Elks Lodge #161 presents a Roast Pork Dinner for curbside pick up Wednesday, Jan. 27, 4:306 pm. Call 518-584-2585 Monday or Tuesday between 10am-noon to place an order. Menu includes roast pork, mashed potatoes, vegetable, stuffing, applesauce, tossed salad, gravy, roll. Dinner for 2 is $25. Cash only.

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: How to “Use Your Head” to Stay Healthy, Happy and Productive in 2021. Are you feeling on edge in this environment of heightened uncertainty? Who isn’t! Learn to “use your head” to stay healthy, happy and productive this year by participating in this virtual hands-on event facilitated by Sarah Denio, Founder of KindNest. From 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, you’ll learn a bit of the science behind how thoughts and feelings impact overall health, utilize a breathing technique to invite calmness and clarity, and participate in a brief guided meditation to invite your mind and body to feel safe and in turn, your immune system to function optimally. In a matter of minutes, you will enhance your overall health and wellbeing, enabling you to get the results you desire in 2021! Registration is available online at https://chamber. saratoga.org/events/details/ how-to-use-your-head-tostay-healthy-happy-andproductive-in-2021-41637.

HISTORY AT HOME: Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is excited to announce its 2021 Virtual “History at Home” Winter Lecture series. The site will offer free online programs from January to March covering a range of interesting history topics. Links for the programs can be found on Schoharie Cross

ings NYS Parks webpage, on their Facebook, or by contacting the site. January 27th the site will welcome Schenectady Historian Chris

Leonard as he discusses the importance of Schenectady’s home front 75 years after the end of WWII. Leonard will explore how Schenectady’s industrial capabilities helped the Allies defeat Japan and Germany with war time production and groundbreaking

technologies created by the city’s twin economic powerhouses, General Electric and the American Locomotive Company. All the programs will begin at 6:30pm and are offered for free via the online platform, WebEx. The links for these programs go live at 6:20pm. There are no tickets to purchase and no need to pre-register. For information about this program series, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 8297516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit www.parks.ny.gov/historicsites/schohariecrossing. BLOOD DRIVE: An American

Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the Saratoga Springs City Center, located at

522 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

WINTER GREEN-UP: The

Capital Area Agriculture & Horticulture Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County are pleased to announce the Thirteenth Annual Winter Green-Up, the Northeast’s original grazing conference. Online via Zoom from 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 13, 20 and 27. Admission for Winter GreenUp 2021 is $35 for three sessions, $25 for two sessions,

$15 for a single session. Winter Green-Up has a long tradition of presenting speakers with expertise in grazing, meat and food production, and livestock handling. Winter Green-Up 2021 is no exception. 2021’s topics and speakers include: Elizabeth Marks, is a Biologist for the USDA NRCS in the Hudson Valley of New

York and a certified Holistic Management (HM) educator. She will be discussing Climate Change Trends Over the Last 125 Years In the Northeast and What Farmers Can Do to Be Resilient to Them (Jan. 13). Ed Rayburn is an Extension Specialist at West Virginia University, focusing on pasture and forage management and livestock nutrition. He will be speaking about Capturing and Converting Sunlight to Healthy Soil, Meat and Milk – It’s What Plants Do (Jan. 20). Fred Provenza is Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Ecology in the Dept. of Wildland Resources at Utah State University, where he directed an award-winning research group pioneering an understanding of learning’s influence on foraging behavior and how behavior links soil, plants, herbivores, and humans. Fred will be teaching us about Nourishing the Wisdom Body (Jan. 27) To register and pay online: https://tinyurl.com/ WinterGreenUp2021. For questions regarding registration or being a sponsor for this event, or to register by telephone, please contact cce-caahp@cornell.edu or (518)765-3518.

Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021

DRIVE-THRU FOOD PANTRY: The Town of Malta and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York will be hosting a contactless drive-thru food pantry on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 11:00 am at The David R. Meager Malta Community Center located at 1 Bayberry Drive in Malta. Local families/community members are welcome to enter the Malta Community Center parking lot and remain in their cars while volunteers load FREE food/ supplies into their car trunk. Thanks to the Regional Food Bank, an anticipated 18,000 pounds of food will be distributed at the event which will include fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats and non-perishable food items. Patrons will receive food on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. CDC guidelines will be followed by wearing appropriate masks and gloves while practicing social distancing. MALTA FOOD FEST: The Saratoga County Chamber will host the 2nd Annual Malta Food Fest on Thursday, January 28th, at HVCC’s TEC-SMART in Malta from 4:30 - 7:00pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample delicious offerings, packaged in grab and go containers, from some of the best restaurants in Malta, Ballston Spa and surrounding communities. This year’s offering is a “boxed-to-go” dinner that you can reheat at home which will be provided by Pizza Works, Bowled, The Hideaway, Esperanto, Nani’s Indian Kitchen, and Augie’s! As in previous years, proceeds from the event will benefit our district’s Ballston Spa Partnership for Innovation in Education Fund and the many amazing programs it financially supports as well as our local restaurants. New this year, participating restaurants will receive a portion of the ticket sales to help offset their costs. A silent auction of gift baskets, donated items and gift certificates will be held virtually as part of the evening’s activities. All required safety protocols and social distancing guidelines will be followed and additional details will be released closer to the event. Tickets for the dinners are available at https://saratogacountychamber.simpletix. com/e/62874.

VERMICOMPOSTING 101:

Learn about Composting with Worms Are you interested in composting? Join Sustainable Saratoga for a wiggly good time and learn to compost using worms! Thursday, January 28 at 6:30 pm, via Zoom. Bill Richmond, owner and chief worm wrangler at the Adirondack Worm Farm, located in Washington County, uses the science of vermicomposting to turn waste products into a super-charged, all-natural plant fertilizer, using the power of worms. Bill’s presentation will teach you how you can reduce the amount of garbage you send to landfills and boost the health and vitality of your plants and backyard garden through the remarkably simple process of vermicomposting. Register in advance for this meeting. To register, click the link and sign up using Zoom. https:// us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZMpceCtrz8sEtzc6wUN4ruquOfirM6e77f? fbclid=IwAR2ljkcmjfe7f5N DI1Jnmher26EfOPtn4275f XvnlXd4Oj-ZUbfZiMcnQeo. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

PART-TIME FARMER TAX SCHOOL:

January

28, 2021, 6:30 – 9:00 PM, Online, via Zoom. When it comes to taxes, do you have any of these questions?

How much farm income do I need to make to be able to deduct it on my taxes? What form(s) do I need to complete?What, if any, tax management strategy should I have for my farm business? Dayton Maxwell and Steve Hadcock will be prepared to answer these and other tax related questions for you during this meeting. Steve and Dayton will not only discuss income tax concepts, they will also cover Agricultural Value Assessment, Building Exemptions, sales tax regulations and Farmers School Tax Credit. The cost for attending this workshop is $15 per family. The registration fee includes a variety of resources. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/PartTimeFarmerTaxSchool2021. You can also register by phone: 518-765-3518 or email: cce-caahp@cornell. edu.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Desmond Hotel, located at 660 Albany Shaker Rd., Albany. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Empire State Plaza Office of General Services, located at 3 Empire State Plaza in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Chapel and Cultural Center, located at 2125 Burdett Ave. in Troy. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Poestenkill Fire Department, located on Route 355 in Poestenkill. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

Friday, Jan. 29, 2021

FUNDRAISER TAKEOUT FISH FRY: Knights of Columbus #246 will be hosting a Fundraiser Takeout Fish Fry on Friday, Jan. 29, from 5:00-7:30. The menu will include Fried or Baked Haddock - $14.00; Fried Clam Strips - $12.00 (these meals come with French Fries, Cole Slaw, Tartar Sauce, and Cocktail Sauce); Shrimp Salad Special (comes with French Fries and Cole Slaw), Homemade Macaroni and Cheese - $5.00; New England Clam Chowder $4.00 (8 oz. cup) or $6.00 (16 oz. container); Side of French Fries - $3.00; and Dessert - $2.00. Orders will be taken by calling 518-5848547 on Wednesday, 1⁄27, Thursday, 1⁄28, and Friday, 1⁄29, beginning at 1:00 and will continue through until 4:00, with the exception of Friday, which will continue right up until the event or we run out of food. Pickup starts at 5:00 and every 15 minutes thereafter. You are welcome to come into the building with a mask, or you may call from the parking lot upon your arrival with a description of your vehicle and your meal will be brought out to you. The meal is open to the public and, as usual, we thank you for your continued support of our events through these challenging times.

FISH FRY FRIDAY: Fish Fry Friday at the Fish Creek Rod and Gun Club is back from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday through April 10 at 123 Route 32, Victory Mills. We have expanded our clubhouse and invite you to come see our new addition. You are welcome to eat in or call ahead for take out (518-695-3917). Menu for dinners: Fish Fry, Chicken Tenders, Clam Strips, Popcorn Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Shrimp Scampi, Scallops and Chowder. Ask about our extras and specials and beverages. Everyone is invited, COVID-19 rules will apply.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29 at the American Red Cross of Eastern New York, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 SARATOGA CHOWDER TOUR 2021:

Chowderfest is not going away, it is just going to look a little different this year. For the safety of everyone, Discover Saratoga has altered Saratoga’s most anticipated annual event for 2021, introducing Saratoga Chowder Tour! This is now a week-long event, starting Saturday, January 30 through Saturday, February 6 where patrons can enjoy a cup or bowl of chowder at participating Saratoga County restaurants and vote for their favorite online. Participants will also have pints and quarts of chowder to-go. Saratoga Chowder Tour will allow customers who love Chowderfest to enjoy chowder at multiple restaurants throughout the week, avoiding overcrowding of restricted space, and safely vote online in the comfort of their homes. Reservations are strongly recommended due to limited capacity and spacing requirements inside local restaurants. Discover Saratoga has partnered with T-Shirt Graphics of Ballston Spa to create an online store to sell official Saratoga Chowder Tour gear. Customers can choose from several different shirts and hats and have them shipped directly to their house. The online store will close on February 7 at 11:59 p.m. All voting will take place online at discoversaratoga.org/ chowderfest/vote and end promptly on February 6 at 5:00 p.m. Winners will be announced on social media later that evening. For more information, including a list of participating chowder vendors and discounted hotel rates, please visit discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest or call (518) 584-1531.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org. BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Hope Lutheran Church, located at 470 Winter St. Ext. in Troy. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 CHALLAH WORKSHOP:

Challah Baking Workshop with author Dr. Beth Ricanati. Congregation Gates of Heaven is pleased to collaborate with Dr. Beth Ricanati, author of the award-winning book, Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs with a free virtual challah baking workshop. The temple encourages the entire family to participate. The workshop will be offered online via Zoom on Sunday, January 31 at 10 am. Participants can bake along or just watch. The workshop is free and registration is available on the temple website at www. cgoh.org. For more information or to purchase a book, please contact the temple’s director of congregational Jewish living, Arnold Rotenberg at 518-374-8173 or arotenberg@cgoh.org.

SARATOGA CHOWDER TOUR 2021:

Chowderfest is not going away, it is just going to look a little different this year. For the safety of everyone, Discover Saratoga has altered Saratoga’s most anticipated annual event for 2021, introducing Saratoga Chowder Tour! This is now a week-long event, starting Saturday, January 30 through Saturday, February 6 where patrons can enjoy a cup or bowl of chowder at participating Saratoga County restaurants and vote for their favorite online. Participants will also have pints and quarts of chowder to-go. Saratoga Chowder Tour will allow customers who love Chowderfest to enjoy chowder at multiple restaurants throughout the week, avoiding overcrowding of restricted space, and safely vote online in the comfort of their homes. Reservations are strongly recommended due to limited capacity and spacing requirements inside local restaurants. Discover Saratoga has partnered with T-Shirt Graphics of Ballston Spa to create an online store to sell official Saratoga Chowder Tour gear. Customers can choose from several different shirts and hats and have them shipped directly to their house. The online store will close on February 7 at 11:59 p.m. All voting will take place online at discoversaratoga.org/ chowderfest/vote and end promptly on February 6 at 5:00 p.m. Winners will be announced on social media later that evening. For more information, including a list of participating chowder vendors and discounted hotel rates, please visit discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest or call (518) 584-1531.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Monday, Feb. 1, 2021 SARATOGA CHOWDER TOUR 2021:

Chowderfest is not going away, it is just going to look a little different this year. For the safety of everyone, Discover Saratoga has altered Saratoga’s most anticipated annual event for 2021, introducing Saratoga Chowder Tour! This is now a week-long event, starting Saturday, January 30 through Saturday, February 6 where patrons can enjoy a cup or bowl of chowder at participating Saratoga County restaurants and vote for their favorite online. Participants will also have pints and quarts of chowder to-go. Saratoga Chowder Tour will allow customers who love Chowderfest to enjoy chowder at multiple restaurants throughout the week, avoiding overcrowding of restricted space, and safely vote online in the comfort of their homes. Reservations are strongly recommended due to limited capacity and spacing requirements inside local restaurants. Discover Saratoga has partnered with T-Shirt Graphics of Ballston Spa to create an online store to sell official Saratoga Chowder Tour gear. Customers can choose from several different shirts and hats and have them shipped directly to their house. The online store will close on February 7 at 11:59 p.m. All voting will take place online at discoversaratoga.org/ chowderfest/vote and end promptly on February 6 at 5:00 p.m. Winners will be announced on social media later that evening. For more information, including a list of participating chowder vendors and discounted hotel rates, please visit discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest or call (518) 584-1531. MINDFULNESS MEDITATION:

This five-week course (noon to 1 p.m. on Mondays: Jan 4, 11, 25 and Feb. 1 and 8 - skipping MLK day) with Susan Meyer will provide practical support for developing or fine-tuning a daily meditation practice that’s appropriate for you, cultivating basic mindfulness skills and applying those skills to meeting life’s challenges so you can respond wisely instead of reactively. You’ll learn strategies to awaken to mindfulness and compassion when you’re in the thick of difficulty and dramatically shift the experience of your life, the people in it, and the world itself. Each class will include instruction, guided practice, Q&A, and followup resources. Registration required. This program is offered through Zoom videoconferencing. In advance of the first class, we will send an email to you containing an invitation and link to join the Zoom meeting. Please see the Zoom instructions for joining a meeting if you have any questions. More information about this Saratoga Springs Public Library program is available online at www.sspl.org.

BLOOD DRIVE: An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1 at the Everett Road Blood Donation Center, located at 33 Everett Rd. in Albany. More information is available online at www. redcrossblood.org.

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING:

The Saratoga Springs City Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

The meetings are currently being held virtually via Zoom. Meetings are livestreamed to the City’s website. Anyone who would like to join the City Council meeting for Public Comment may register on the city’s website to receive their Zoom invitation link. When Public Hearings are held, anyone wishing to speak on these matters may do so via Zoom. Please note the start time of the Public Hearing on the Agenda.

More information is available online at www.saratogasprings.org.