Local First Twin Bridges Edition 111722

Toys for Toga Kicks off 10th Annual Fundraiser with Record

CLIFTON PARK - The

Toys for Toga toy drive and fundraiser is back for its 10th consecutive year and with the public’s help, organizers hope to collect more than 3,500 toys and raise $7,500 for kids in need in Saratoga County.

Now through Dec. 4th, organizers are asking the public to donate a new, unwrapped toy at any participating business. This year, more than 70 Saratoga County restaurants, bars, retail stores, hotels, and more have a Toys for Toga toy collection bin in their lobby. A full list of drop off locations can be found in the attached news release.

In addition, the first 1,500 people to donate a toy at Death Wish Coffee Company’s Saratoga headquarters will receive a FREE 1-lb. bag of Death Wish coffee. They will also be entered into a raffle for a Death Wish prize basket worth $500. Toys can be dropped off during business hours and we ask that toys be valued at $20 or more for the free coffee.

The Boys and Girls Club Of Albany is Hosting an Adult Bible Study

ALBANY - Each Thursday at 6:00 P.M. The address is 21 Delaware Avenue. For further info please call 518-885-3149.

Brew pubs with big ambitions

Former Hamlet & Ghost chef making superb tacos at Unified Beerworks, and Druthers-Clifton Park is off to an assured start despite huge crowds

By SUSIE DAVIDSON POWELL

Upstate is awash in regional, local, even hyperlocal breweries. Long before Chatham Brewing canned its beers and opened a tasting room, we were among weekenders refilling growlers out of the Chatham garage where the company first started. We’ve since seen a huge rise in brewery tasting rooms, from 518 Craft in Troy (the tasting room for Schmaltz Beer) to Bye-i Brewing in Cohoes, Great Flats Brewing in Schenectady, S&S Farm Brewery in Nassau and Crossroads Brewing Co. in Athens, to name a random few. Since the pandemic, breweries without kitchens partnered up with rotating food trucks or vendors like Lidia’s Empanadas or O’Malley’s Oven; others started out with food as part of the deal. Every now and then, you find a brewery knocking it out of the park with food that equals their commitment to beer. If you haven’t been to these two, go.

pastry chef at Salt & Char in Saratoga Springs and former executive chef at Hamlet & Ghost, also in Saratoga, where she was known for creative, locally sourced plates bursting with flavor and a rigorous fermentation program that continues in the hands of her successor.

You could say — as one bartender did to me — that she’s hiding out at Unified Beerworks while planning a future bakery with her former bosses. So much the better for us. Here, the mood is laidback and her talent is on display in a short but brilliantly executed menu of tacos, quesadillas and a riff on the Taco Bell Crunchwrap. Metal trays lined with paper boast taco trios finished with the peppery stems of Tray Farms microgreens. My favorite is the spicy sweet potato with cotija cheese that takes piquant heat from spicy salsa macha and delivers an unexpected thrill from the crunchy corn nuts tucked inside. Slow-cooked chicken gets the al-pastor treatment with caramelized pineapple, creamy avocado dressing and a spicy-crisp cabbagejalapeno slaw. Meat lovers will lust after birria-style, beer-roasted short rib beef with melted Oaxaca cheese, folded, pressed and brightened with cilantro. Don’t debate, just order one of each.

The wannabe Crunchwrap — dubbed The Griller — is a two-handed hexagon with parcel folds packing crumbled chorizo and chipotle crema, but I’m smitten with Hunter’s melted lager queso, the beer singing happily through the topping of poblano pepper relish and chile oil with crusty sauteed chorizo bits. Alongside, I scoop Hunter’s roasted, smoky, garlic-spiked salsa. Served with a pile of tortilla chips, it’s easy to see why half the staff of Global Foundries are here, beer in hand, after work.

cloudy Milkshake IPA while Have It Her Way is a sharp IPA sour.

A small enclosed beer garden and retractable garage doors adds an appealingly incongruous outdoor element to Unified Beerworks’ industrial location. Good beer and excellent food make this Malta brewery my hot favorite. Unified Beerworks, 7 Old Stonebreak Road #4, Malta. 518-289-5078 and unified-beerworks.com . 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Onsite parking lot. Disabled-accessible.

Druthers Clifton Park

Unified Beerworks

It doesn’t get much more out there than this. Built in a metal hangar in a bland industrial park in Malta, this hardly feels like the destination brewery. There are no lush farm fields to draw your gaze or scenic byways for a Sunday drive, but Unified Beerworks has a cult following for its 10 or more craft beers and a secret kitchen weapon in the form of Michele Hunter, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef and winner of an episode of the Food Network show “Chopped.” Hunter was the founding

In spite of metal struts and a corrugated roof, there’s a warm welcome in the expansive tasting room with brewmasters tending the tanks in plain sight. Board games are stacked in reach, patrons call out offers to share when I order more food than makes sense, and a woman seated with me at the bar books a flight to Nashville on a whim and invites me to go. Bartenders (or “beertenders,” as they’re known here) helpfully describe the current lineup of 10 drafts, from a seasonal Oktoberfest Marzen and Imperial IPA to three fruit sours. The $10 beer flight is the way to go, with four pours nested in a clear plastic paddle. Have It His Way is an excellent unfiltered and

The fourth location of Druthers Brewing goes to the opposite extreme from Unified Beer-works with a stunning new building in the heart of Clifton Park, a stone’s throw from the Dog Haus Biergarten in one of the growing shopping plazas. The cavernous barn design, cathedral-height rock fireplace, overflow dining room and two packed bars are just the start. Outside, a carefully designed leafy patio swirls and flows with a kids’ playground, cornhole and seating areas (soon to be arranged around fire pits) leading to a rear bar with a separate kitchen and open-sided bar. This is more like the love child of a German beer hall and an alfresco Los Angeles brewery tasting room than anything else in the Capital Region. Given how packed it already is midweek in October, just three weeks after opening, it’s sure to be the summer hotspot next year.

With a wait time of 45 minutes for a table, we joined one of two communal high-tops and were impressed with the speed of service. It’s hard to imagine the kitchen keeping up with a full house and a bar crowd three deep, but our server reappeared with an Old Fashioned and

State seeks order on Norlite

Regulators want plant to temporarily cease operations if dust emissions

By RICK KARLIN

COHOES — State Attorney General Letitia James and Environmental Commissioner Basil Seggos are back in court with Nor-lite, seeking a preliminary injunction that could potentially force the facility to temporarily halt operations if there is too much silica dust coming from rock and slag piles there.

The Attorney General’s Office and Department of Environmental Conservation are asking the court to order Norlite to set up an internal air monitoring program, which could trigger a shutdown if dust levels exceed a certain point. They also want the company to hire an independent engineer to identify ways to control the dust.

“Air pollution from the Norlite plant has made it impossible for community members to open a window or walk outside without fearing for their health and safety,” James said in announcing the injunction request, filed Thursday in State Supreme Court in Albany County.

The injunction request is the latest move in a regulatory tug-of-war over Norlite which is now being played out in the courts.

Earlier in the week Norlite filed a motion rebutting a filing in October alleging that Norlite was in violation of guidelines or standards regarding air pollution. Norlite contends that the guidelines hadn’t been put into regulation, which they say would give them the force of law.

Additionally, Norlite lawyers criticized the state’s relying in part on emission standards that are in California, not New York.

In seeking the injunction on Thursday, the attorney general’s lawyers pointed to a broadly worded state law regarding air pollution that states “no person shall cause or allow emissions of air contaminants to the

outdoor atmosphere of such quantity, characteristic or duration which are injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property.”

Norlite workers mine shale rock on the site and processes it in a large kiln to produce aggregate for roads and buildings.

The kiln is fired by hazardous wastes such as solvents or old paint, which Norlite collects for a fee from industrial plants along the East Coast. The wastes are incinerated in the kiln.

The facility, owned by the Spanish-based Tradebe company, came into the spotlight two years ago when it was revealed that the kiln was also incinerating hazardous PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals. That has since been outlawed, but that episode also drew attention to residents of the neighboring Saratoga Sites subsidized housing complex who have long complained of and worried about dust from the plant.

Last summer, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development agreed to let Saratoga Sites be torn down. The city of Cohoes would like to turn it into an industrial site.

Thursday’s injunction request, though, states that 100 people are still residing at Saratoga Sites.

Norlite has maintained that there have been no proven health issues connected to the dust, which they repeated on Friday. And they point to improvements, such as berms and water sprinklers to minimize dust.

“We have been a member of the Cohoes community for over 65 years, and our top priority has always been the health and safety of our dedicated employees and our neighbors,” a company spokesman said in a prepared statement.

“We have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 18 months to bolster our dust mitigation systems, and we will continue that process. To our knowledge, there is no evidence or report that links our facility to any illness.”

rkarlin@timesunion.com A 518 454 5758 A

PHOTOS BY SUSIE DAVIDSON POWELL / FOR THE TIMES UNION

The spacious patio areas at Druthers Brewing's in Clifton Park will extend the outdoor season with fire pits.

PHOTOS BY SUSIE DAVIDSON POWELL / FOR THE TIMES UNION

Unified Beerworks, above, is in a Malta industrial park and gets strong patronage from the nearby Global-Foundries plant. Please

were too high

Saratoga County History

Submitted by Don Carola November 9, 2022

Don Carola is a local history buff and re-enactor and is retired as manager of information technology from the NYS Office of Information Technology Services.

In August 1814, Capt. Opie of the 5th Regiment of U.S. Infantry placed a bounty in the Plattsburgh Republican offering a $200 reward for the return of four deserters, including Simeon Ford, who was accused of deserting for the third time.

Ford was described as 24 years of age, 5-feet-7 and a half inches tall, with dark hair and eyes and a fair complexion. His occupation: brick layer. He was also described as a cunning, artful, imposing fellow possessing a “superior degree of loquacity” which he used “in a most imposing manner.”

The bounty posting said when Ford fled, he took with him his new regimental uniform, a theft which surely angered Capt. Opie, who later would report Simeon’s desertion when applying for a pension.

Simeon Ford was the eldest son of Sanbun Ford, Revolutionary War patriot and early resident of Ballston.Born June 7, 1788, in Connecticut, Simeon made the migration to Ballston Spa with his parents in 1792, first stopping at Hillsdale, Columbia County, where the family is listed in the 1790 U.S. Census. The Ford family consisted of Sanbun, wife Hannah, Simeon, daughter Anna. and their newborn brother William, born Feb. 27, 1792.

Simeon signed up in the 5th Regiment in 1808 for an enlistment of five years. Documents written six years later in March 1814 by U.S. Rep. John W. Taylor (Charlton, Saratoga County) sought Simeon’s honorable discharge from the Army because he was thought to have deserted.

In the various letters, Taylor tried to set the record straight. He stated that Simeon was taken ill at Fort Columbus (Governors

Island in New York Harbor) two or three years into his service and was allowed to return home to recuperate and visit with friends and family.

It appears that he didn’t return to duty. When war was declared against Britain on June 17, 1812, President James Madison issued an edict that allowed AWOL soldiers to return to service with no penalties. Simeon took advantage of the pardon and returned to the Army.

During Simeon’s absence, the 5th Regiment, had been dispatched to the southern part of the United States. Upon re-entry to service, Simeon was placed under command of Capt. George Nelson, 6th Regiment of U.S. Infantry, a unit training at the Greenbush cantonment, now the site of the Red Mill Elementary School in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County.

Simeon soon was off to war.

According to Robert Malcomson in his book “A Very Brilliant Affair” on the battle of Queenston Heights, Ontario, two companies under Capt. Nelson were accompanying artillery commanded by Lt. Col. Fenwick as it headed to Fort Niagara in the first week of August 1812.

The Battle of Queenston Heights occurred on October 13, 1812. Capt. Nelson’s unit was under command of a Maj. Mullany. Fenwick and Mullany’s unit were ordered to Lewiston just before the battle commenced, arriving at the embarkation site just north of Lewiston Heights, on the American side of the Niagara River, with 240 men.

The British targeted the site and poured in shot and shell. Upon seeing the carnage, Lt. Col. Fenwick ordered the men to seek high ground and hide behind the remaining trees. Capt. Nelson turned his unit about to seek shelter when he was killed by cannon fire. An American mortar unit silenced the British artillery position, upon which Fenwick noticed the reduction in artillery fire and

ordered his men back to the embarkation site to cross the river into Ontario. By noon 600 American regulars were put across the river.

Of the 74 officers and men listed in his unit, Nelson was killed, another officer wounded and 15 were taken as prisoner. The first wave with Fenwick was decimated. Fenwick suffered wounds to his eye, right elbow and side. Afterward nine musket ball holes were counted in his cloak.

What appeared to be an American victory in the end became a defeat. American troops were pushed back and had to retreat across the river. Poor planning was to blame, for there weren’t enough bateaux on hand to transport more troops across to the Canadian side of the river.

It is interesting to note that Simeon served with two future famous U.S. Generals, Capt. John E. Wool and Lt. Col. Winfield Scott. Simeon served under and would have seen two early power players of Albany and New York state, Stephen and Solomon Van Rensselaer, who were second cousins. Stephen would later become lieutenant governor of New York and Solomon was adjutant general of the militia 1800-1811 and elected to Congress in 1819 for two terms.

Simeon states in his pension record that he was at the battle of 40 Mile Creek in Ontario on June 8, 1813. The U.S. 6th Regiment was at the battle of Fort George in Ontario, fought two weeks earlier, so I believe he participated in both conflicts.

His brother Amasiah places him at Plattsburgh in March 1814 as well, while early newspaper ads show mail waiting at the

post office for Simeon in Plattsburgh. His records note he was discharged in April 1814, yet on Aug. 25, 1814, Capt. Opie published a notice in the Plattsburgh newspaper offering a reward for his return as a deserter. The war formally ended Feb. 18, 1815 and in the end, Simeon, with the help of John Taylor, was granted a pension.

Simeon married Hannah Randall in Rensselaer on Feb. 23, 1823. They would have four children: Charlotte (born 1827), Elizabeth (b. 1836), John (b. 1838) and Sanborn (b. 1842). Simeon died Feb. 14, 1859, and is buried in the Ford plot at the Ballston Spa Village Cemetery alongside the other fighting Fords. His wife Hannah died in 1886 in Green Island, Albany County.

Was Simeon Ford a deserter or a hero? He certainly saw his share of carnage and performed his share of soldiering. As a direct descendant my vote is skewed. Two centuries later, I know where to find Simeon Ford, but I’m not sure how to collect the bounty.

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Plattsburgh Republican, August 27, 1814

Southern Saratoga Art Society

CAPITAL DISTRICT - Artists and members of SSAS are exhibiting throughout the area. The Town of Clifton Park Lobby, 1 Town Hall Plaza, Tel.#: 518-371-6651, Ext. 240, will feature artist Faith Weldon during the months of November and December, 2022.

The Clifton Park Senior Community Center Gal lery, 6 Clifton Common Ct., Tel.#:518-383-1343, will be hosting members of SSAS in a show called “Seasons”, which showcas es the elegance of Spring, the passion of Summer, the subtlety of Autumn and the harshness of Winter during the months of November and December, 2022.

The Mechanicville Li brary, 190 N. Main Street, Tel.#:518-664-4646, will feature artist, Karen Zimmer for the months of November and December, 2022. Visit these venues and enjoy the artwork of these various artists. For more information about SSAS visit our website: southernsaratogaartist. com or check us out on Facebook.

Bethlehem Grange 137 Girl Scout Bake Sale and Craft Fair

SELKIRK - Saturday 12/10/22 at Bethlehem Grange 137. We’re Hand icap Accessible. Lots of different crafts to check out and finish your holiday shopping. Plenty of Conve nient parking. 2 Handicap Ramps for easy access.

For additional infor mation, please call or text Jackie at 518-810-6031. We’re located at 24 Bridge St., Selkirk, NY 12158

Seeking Tax Assistance Volunteers

SARATOGA COUNTYTax-Aide, the free income tax assistance program sponsored by the AARP Foundation and the IRS, is seeking volunteers for the upcoming tax season at various sites in Saratoga, Warren & Washington, NY counties. You do not need to be an AARP member to volunteer.

Tax-Aide volunteers answer questions, pre pare and file returns for low to moderate income taxpayers and seniors from February 1st to April 15th, 2023. No experience is required, but computer experience is helpful for tax counseling.

Volunteers typically participate one or more days per week, with flexible schedules to accommodate volunteer availability. Volunteers who do not wish to prepare returns are also needed to greet taxpayers, confirm appointments or provide computer support. Free IRS certified training is provided for all positions.

For more information on how you can join our team, contact District Communications Coor dinator Lorna Olivo at 518 309-8530 or email AARPTaxAideSaratoga@ gmail.com.

Jonesville United Methodist Church Food Pantry

CLIFTON PARK

The Jonesville United Methodist Church Food Pantry is open each Friday from 9am-12 noon and serves residents of Burnt Hills/ Ballston Lake and Shenendehowa school districts.We are located at 963 Main Street, Jones ville,518-877-7380.

Amity Reformed Church Holly Berry Christmas Sale

VISCHER FERRY - Am ity Reformed Church 335 Riverview Road in Vischer Ferry will be hosting it’s annual Holly Berry Christ mas Sale on Saturday No vember 19 from 9 am to 3 pm. Come shop for unique treasures from Christmas past: decorations, jewelry, glassware, ornaments, and crafts or visit the bake sale room which will be well stocked with homemade pies, breads, and cookies just in time for Thanks giving or to freeze for the Christmas holiday season. Our Sunday School stu dents will be operating a lunch cafe out of the kitchen with the proceeds going to benefit the Ron ald McDonald House in Albany, and Scout Troop 4030 will be collecting donations for the National Boy Scout food drive in the church parking lot from 9 am - noon.

For further information call 518 371-8237.

Capital Region

Social Happenings & Singles Outreach

Services Events

ALBANY - Where: 435 New Karner Road (Ha nover Square Building) at “Hill” door entrance.

Sunday – Nov. 20 at 7 pm: Following our Turkey Dinner Potluck at 2 pm, Guest Speaker Bernadette Fuller and associate, will discuss all types of insurance. Bring your questions to this event. ($5) Call 518-452-6883 for info.

Friday – Dec. 2 at 7 pm: Don Hyman (The Soul Man), popular area entertainer, will treat us to a Holiday Concert on

our stage. He is sure to get you in the mood for the upcoming holiday season.

Beverages and snacks included. ($12) Call 518-452-6883 for info.

“Expanding” A Two Month Show and Sale of Eclectic Art in a Wide Variety of Media and Techniques.

ALBANY - Dozens of the area’s finest artists will be represented in this newly expanded gallery space.

Gallery hours MTWF 12-6, Thurs 12-8, Sat 10-3 or by appointment. Closed Sundays

Special “Meet-the-Art ists” night on Friday Octo ber 7th, 5:30-8pm. Event runs through November 28th

Art Associates Gallery 21 Railroad Avenue, Alba ny 12205. 518-459-1307

Bethlehem Historical Association Lecture

DELMAR - Presen tation begins at 7 pm. at Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar

Free and open to the public. Registration suggested as seating is limited. Call 518-439-9314 or online at Bethlehem. LibraryCalendar.com

Marilyn Sassi pres ents American Folk Art on November 30

Sassi begins her talk with painted portraits of local, early 18th century Dutch families and the un trained artists who creat ed them. She explores the “golden age” of American folk art from 1830 to 1850. In folk art, the most com mon, workaday objects are

Cohoes Rotary to Donate Portion

of Ornament Sale Proceeds to Support Students and the Arts

COHOES - In 2004 The Rotary Club of Cohoes start ed a collectible series of Christmas ornaments featuring historic landmarks in the City of Cohoes. This year’s or nament depicts the 1968 Cohoes High School. A portion of the proceeds for the sale of the 2022 ornament will go to support the Cohoes Friends of the Arts Booster Club. The purpose of the Arts Boosters is to serve and support the students and promote activities of the Cohoes School District Arts Programs. The arts programs include visu al arts, fashion design, building design, graphic design, writing, performance, theater, chorus, band, and music.

Following are previous ornament designs in the series: 2004-the Cohoes Falls; 2005-the Harmony Mills; 2006the Cohoes Music Hall; 2007-the Cohoes Mastodon; 2008-Cohoes City Hall; 2009-the Half Moon; 2010-Sil liman Memorial Church; 2011-the Van Schaick Man sion; 2012-Keveny Memorial Academy; 2013-Cohoes High School (dedicated in 1921); 2014-Cohoes Library; 2015-the former Cohoes Movie Theatre; 2016-Carlson’s Ice Rink; 2017-Erie Canal Locks; 2018 Cohoes Armory; 2019-Matton Shipyard; 2020-Cohoes 150th Anniversary logo; 2021-St. Agnes Church. This year’s design is the Cohoes High School built in 1968. Coffee mugs with the Cohoes High School design are also available for pur chase.

Cost for ornaments is $20. Mugs are $10. To purchase ornaments or mugs go to http://www.rotaryclubofco hoes.org for further information. Ornaments and mugs are also available for purchase at Marra’s Pharmacy, 217 Remsen Street, Cohoes.

decorated turning them into true artistic expres sions. From portraits and landscapes to weather vanes and carousel horses, the art is created by untrained individuals with an innate talent for color and design.

Marilyn Sassi is an adjunct professor at Sche nectady County Commu nity College and Hudson Valley Community Col lege. She is a past curator of Schenectady County Historical Society and the Fulton County Museum. In addition to her teaching and museum experience Marilyn has been involved in the field of antiques for many years.

Comedy Show! “North Country Comedy Tour” Fundraising Show For After The Fire, Inc.

SARATOGA - A Volun teer, Non-Profit Organi zation Helping People In Saratog County Who Have Been Victims Of Fire In Their Home.

Emcee – Mikael Gregg Headliner – Brad Lowery Feature –Pat Dabiere

Saratoga Holiday Inn – 232 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, Sat., Nov. 19th Dinner 6 Pm, Show 8 Pm Dinner & Show - $60 Show Only Advanced Sale - $25 Show Only At The Door-$30 Call 518-581-1823 To Reserve Your Tickets Now!!

St. Mary’s Waterford Indoor Farmer’s Market

WATERFORD - St. Mary’s Altar Society will hold an Indoor Farmers Market and Bake Sale on

Sunday, November 20th in St. Mary’s Parish Hall, located on the corner of Sixth and Division Streets, Waterford from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. This event, spon sored by St. Mary’s Altar Society and the Waterford Harbor Farmers Market, will feature produce, art, gifts, honey, maple prod ucts, soap, sauces, books, raffles, baked goods, crafts and more!

ClayWorks Holiday Sale at Saratoga Clay Arts Center

SCHUYLERVILLEMeet the Artists at SCAC Studio Tours, Demonstra tions, Ceramic Art for Sale -- Functional and Sculp tural and Refreshments

November 26th, 2022 10am - 3pm December 4th, 2022 12pm - 5pm or by appoint ment from November 27th -December 3rd Please email: artistsofs cac@gmail.com

Address: Saratoga Clay Arts Center 167 Hayes Rd, Schuyler ville, NY 12871

Small Business Saturday at Mechanicville Library

MECHANICVILLEOn November 26th from 9 am - 2 pm, we will be hosting local vendors and crafters here in the Me chanicville Library. Drop in and check out! If you are a small business owner who would like would like to join us for our event & receive free marketing to help introduce yourself to local customers, please give us a call or email us at MechanicvilleLibrary@ yahoo.com

Mechanicville District

Public Library 190 N. Main St. Mechan icville, NY 12118 518-664-4646 • meclib. sals.edu

Save $$$… Lots of Them

CAPITAL DISTRICTIt’s that time again. Rotary Club is selling SaveAround coupon books still at the same price as previous years, $25. You can buy now and start using now… good until end of 2023. You can send as gift to your friends/family here and out of town and state for the their area. Don’t wait, call 518-878-0883 for your books.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner

WATERFORD –A free Thanksgiving Dinner dine-in will be with Messy Church activities at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20 .at Grace Church, 36 Third St.

Take-out will be from 3 to 4 p.m.

Messy Church pro vides an opportunity for people of all ages to wor ship together in a fun and creative way. Fun activi ties with a Biblical theme are planned.

Reservations are rec ommended no later than Nov. 16.To make a reser vation, call (518) 237-7370 or email dcndenise5.30@ gmail.com. Leave name, phone number and num ber of meals requested.

The Rev. Kathy Alonge-Coons celebrates the Holy Eucharist at 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Sundays. Deacon Denise Moore assists.

An Adult Christian Education program begins at 8:30 a.m.

A coffee hour follows each service.

FREE Helplines 24/7

ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE AND PROBLEM GAMBLING 877-846-7369 or Text 467369.

CHILD ABUSE is when a person does serious physical injury, creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or engages in sex with a child in their care and when a caregiver allows someone else to abuse the child in their care in a similar manner. 518- 474-8740.

CRISIS FOR FOOD, HEALTH, HOUSING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSPORTATION: For non-emergency help for paying your bills or to help someone, get the most up-to-date information by calling United Way 3-digit number -211.

DOMESTIC ABUSE of an intimate partner is ‘ridiculing, humiliating, putdowns, isolating, manipulating, ordering, intimidating, threatening, beating, sexual coercion and controlling money’. The abused person, family member or friend can anonymously call one or more of these agencies: Unity House 518-272-2370; Equinox 518-432-7865; St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services 518-271-3257; YWCA NENY 518-374-3386; Wellspring 518-584-8188; National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233.

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH RELATIONSHIPS: Dating, personal safety and supporting others. 866-331-9474 or Text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Human trafficking crime occurs when a trafficker uses fraud or coercion against a person to solicit labor or engage in commercial sex acts. If the person engaged in commercial sex is under 18 years, it is a crime even when force, fraud, or coercion is not used. 888-373-7888 or Text 233733.

SEXUAL ASSAULT: Eight out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone who knows the victim. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network 800-656.4673; Albany County sexual assault hotline 518-447-7716.

SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE offers confidential crisis and prevention resources for people in distress and their loved ones. Call 988 or 800-273-8255.

Al-anon/Alateen Meetings

4 pm each Sunday. The meetings are a time for sharing with other young people and learning that they are not alone.

Friendships are formed and life becomes manageable. A reminder that Alanon continues to meet at the same time and location on Sunday.

There is also an Al-anon meeting each Wednesday, 6 pm at St. Mary’s Church, Crescent, 86 Church Hill Road. Any questions may be directed to:

cmc.afg.123@gmail.com

Grief Support Group

DELMAR - Bethlehem Lutheran Church is sponsoring a Grief support group called “Surviving the Holidays”.

This time of year is one of the most difficult after you have lost a loved one. Let us help you through this struggle of emotion and grief.

Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. There is no charge or fee to attend.

For more information contact us at 518-439-4328 or email Deacon Melissa Derenches at derenches@ blcdelmar.com. You can also register online at bit. ly/blcgriefholidays.

Senior November Dining Events at Colonie Senior Service Centers

COLONIE - Join us for a hot meal at The Beltrone Living Center Monday –Friday at noon. This program is funded in part by the Albany County Dept. for Aging, NYS Office for the Aging, Administration for Community Living, Town of Colonie and participant contributions. This program is an equal opportunity provider. Suggested donation of $3, and registration and reservations are required.

Call 518-459-2857 x 303.

November 21st at

5pm: Special Dinner: Join us for a Turkey Dinner and exciting performance from a fan favorite, Hands of Time 6-Piece Brass Band! Dinner will be accompanied by stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, butternut squash and a pumpkin pie!

11/18 Beef & Broccoli

11/21 Parmesan Encrusted Chicken

11/21 Special Dinner

Hands of Time 6-Piece

Brass Band Turkey Dinner

11/22 Salmon Cakes

11/23 Pulled Pork Sandwich

11/24 CLOSED

THANKSGIVING DAY

11/25 CLOSED DAY AF-

TER THANKSGIVING

11/28 Scrimp Scampi

11/29 Chicken Pesto Sandwich 11/30 Butternut Squash Soup & ½ Turkey Sandwich

Membership renewal: it’s time! $20 per calendar year Membership is open and available to anyone aged 55 and older, no matter where you live. By becoming a member, you have access to our club events, free of charge. Membership also gives you discounts for creative events, travel and trips and wellness classes.

Membership can be done over the phone, or you can mail a check to CSSC, 6 Winners Circle, Albany NY 12205, Attention: Caroline Barrett December is often a very busy month, and we believe in caring for yourself as well as others, at all times of the year. Here at THE CENTER, we are busy with trips and both creative and wellness classes. Come along on December 1 as we travel to Clifton Park for a workshop to create two fused glass ornaments. We’ve had classes with Fused Glass in the past, and the results are incredibly beautiful. On December 2, a four-week session of

Ukulele begins. There’s nothing quite like the sound of joyful music, and why not learn how to make your own? Ukulele class is fun, social and a great learning experience.

On December 5, a twoweek session begins, making Sola flowers. Sola flowers are life-like flowers make from soft and pliable pieces of wood. We’ll first dye the wood, then attach stems to create long-lasting, pretty arrangements. Join us on December 13 when we gather with Lydia Lynch to create sweet gnome ornaments.

In the wellness department, come and try Guided Meditation, starting December 2 for a four-week session. You can also step into exercise class that have already begun: Strength, Core and Cardio, Line Dancing, Tai Chi, Yoga, Tap Dancing or Jazz. There is a session of our newest offering, Nia, starting December 7.

Lastly, we are busy planning for January, February and March, and love to hear from you! If you’ve seen anything fun, interesting or something that shouldn’t be missed, please call. We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to Caroline Barrett for prices and information on all of our programs and

events, 518-459-2857 x 327 or cbarrett@colonieseniors.org.

Mary’s Healthcare Auxiliary Shopping Bazaar

AMSTERDAM - Amsterdam’s St. Mary’s Healthcare Auxiliary is hosting “Christmas in November Holiday Shopping Bazaar 2022” on Friday, Nov. 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Carondelet Pavilion Auditorium on Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, across from the hospital. This year’s Auxiliary festivities will include the opportunity to take part in their famous Raffle Baskets, shop at the St. Mary’s Auxiliary Boutique and other vendors as well as their Thanksgiving Bake Sale. When you arrive at the Auditorium you will be given a ticket to enter a drawing for a chance to win a $200.00 MasterCard Gift Card and a Holiday Gift Basket. Winners of the Basket Raffles and special prize will be called after the close of the event on Saturday. There is no fee to enter the Auditorium for the Bazaar.

St. Mary’s Healthcare Auxiliary members are looking forward to seeing

you all at this Holiday Shopping Bazaar and thank you for your support of St. Mary’s Healthcare and it’s Auxiliary.

For more information, call Colleen Hardies-Medwid at 518-841-7136.

Southern Saratoga Art Society

SARATOGA COUNTY

- The Southern Saratoga Art Society will meet on Monday, November 28, 2022 , 6:30 p.m., and have a special art demonstration hosted by the Blooming Artist Gallery, 675 Grooms Road Clifton Park., Rexford Landing Plaza. Featured will be artist, Ilona Zabolotna demonstrating a “Coffee Painting” using her recently developed unique technique of brewed expresso as a medium.

Her style flows much like watercolor and champions combining refined detail with pouring coffee and freely expressive splatter. Her portraits are full of emotions with knowledge of anatomy.

The demonstration is open to the public and made possible by Saratoga Arts through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

For more information about SSAS, visit: southernsaratogaartist.com

Thursday Musical Club Announces December Concert

SCHENECTADY - The Thursday Musical Club will present “Christmas Peace” on Sunday, December 4th at 3:00 pm at the First Reformed

Church of Schenectady, 8 N. Church St.

The program will feature John Rutter’s Dancing Day, a collection of traditional carols accompanied by harpist Karlinda Caldicott. Additional carols from France, Germany, Spain, and the Ukraine will be included.

Michaela O’Donnell, recipient of the Thursday Musical Club scholarship for a student at SUNY/ Schenectady, will perform. The chorus is directed by Julie Panke and accompanied by Elinore Farnum, piano and organ. Tickets are $15.

Empty Stocking Project Begins

SARATOGA COUNTY

- The Saratoga County Children’s Committee is a nonprofit organization that helps children and families in Saratoga County. The Empty Stocking Project provides holiday gifts and necessities to about 900 children and teens each year. Generous people and organizations sponsor a child by purchasing gifts from the child’s “wish list”.

If you are willing to sponsor a child or for more information please call Kathy Kelly at 399-6629 or go to our website www. saratogachildrenscommittee.org. Cash donations are always appreciated and may be sent to The Saratoga County Children’s Committee, P.O. Box 1254, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Bridge at THE CENTER

COLONIE - Come play with a friendly group. Tuesdays at 12:30. 518459-2857 x 327, cbarrett@ colonieseniors.org

friends and family. Such gatherings can be centered around Hollywood awards shows, sporting events or even the finale of a popular television series. Regardless of what’s being watched, hosts can employ various strategies to make the party as fun and memorable as possible for themselves and their guests.

• Stock up on food and drinks. Even if the festivities won’t include a sit-down dinner, stock up on food and drinks so no one goes hungry or thirsty. If the event you’re watching is slated to begin shortly after dinnertime, consider hosting a potluck pre-event dinner. A potluck dinner helps take some of the burden off of hosts and the pre-event meal can be a great time to share thoughts and theories about the event everyone is there to watch. Provide plenty of nonalcoholic beverages like water, soda, tea, and coffee as well. Alcoholic beverages can be served, but hosts should keep everyone’s consumption to a minimum to ensure guests make it home safe.

• Prepare some event-specific treats. Some event-specific treats like cookies that look like baseballs or desserts designed to mimic the appearance of an awards show statuette can inject a little something extra into the party.

• Send guests home with event-specific party favors. Event-specific party favors also can be a nice touch that guests won’t soon forget. If you’re gathering to watch a big game on the gridiron, pass out foam fingers with league or team logos. If it’s the finale of a beloved television series, hand out show-related mementos

Did you know?

Certain home improvement projects are more complex than others. Projects that involve working with gas lines are among the most complicated and risky undertakings, and even seasoned do-it-yourselfers are urged to leave such tasks to certified professionals. According to Angi, the average cost to move a gas line is between $15 and $25 per linear foot, and homeowners can expect to pay an additional $1 to $10 per linear foot for pipe materials. A natural gas plumber can install, extend and repair natural gas lines and ensure that the project is completed safely, on time and within homeowners’ budgets. Angi notes that the average cost to move a gas line is between $250 and $750 for the whole project. However, if a buried line must be excavated, that cost could run into the thousands of dollars.

that allude to a specific and important episode, character or plot point in the show’s history.

• Make sure everyone has a seat and some space. Before inviting guests, conduct a reasonable assessment of your viewing space and determine how many guests can fit and sit comfortably in the space. Events like games and awards shows tend to last several hours, and guests will want a comfortable seat and a little space to spread out. Tailor the size of your guest list to your available space.

• Upgrade your tech. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of many watch parties, and in the interim hosts’ tech might have fallen a bit behind the times. Shop around for new items if your television could be a few inches larger or your surround sound system could use an upgrade to make any audiophile proud. Guests will appreciate the high-quality

images and sound, and hosts will enjoy the upgrades long after the party has ended.

• Fill the down time. A television show watch party may not have much down time, but games and awards shows will have some breaks in the action. Some fun games like bingo can keep guests engaged even when the action on the screen slows down.

Hosts can up the fun factor of watch parties with a few simple strategies to make the festivities feel unique.

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

369-371 2nd St., Troy

It’s a three-story brick urban home sits near the center of Troy. Built in 1860, the house has many of the trappings of a historic gem —wood floors, intricate mouldings, pocket doors and decorative wood finishings — it just needs some elbow grease. The house has 3,322 square feet of living space, five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It sits on a triple-corner lot with room for parking and gardens. The property is situated between the Hudson River and Prospect Park, just south of downtown. Troy schools. Taxes: $9,669. List price: $379,000. Contact listing agent Colin McDonald with McDonald Real Estate Co. at 518-505-4977 or Colinmcdonaldreco@gmail. com.

Scarlet Knife restaurant opens in Latham

STEVE BARNES TABLE HOPPING

COLONIE — The area’s biggest new restaurant is also one of its most expensive, a place built on the belief that Capital Region diners want wide-open spaces for their luxury experience, in the parking lot as well as the dining room.

Scarlet Knife, which officially opened Friday, Nov. 11, has wholly transformed 15,000 square feet of a former

HOROSCOPE

Week Of November 20, 2022

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

You have an energy to release this week, Aries. But you are not sure if the world is ready for you. Don’t expect the same reaction from everyone when you interact.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Something in your life that seems ordinary on the sur face can turn into something that is rather special. Taurus. Keep your eyes peeled for every possibility.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, all of the fanfare you are about to receive can make it seem like you are the most popular person on the planet. Revel in the attention while you have it.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Sometimes the less traveled path can take you to some pretty special places, Cancer. Don’t be so quick to rule out opportunities that are right in front of you.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Start evaluating personal habits that may be hold ing you back, Leo. Upon closer examination, you may discover that there are some things you can easily change for the better.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, much to your relief, your hard work could start paying off very soon. It has been a long time coming, so enjoy any rewards that come from your efforts.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Consider a partnership that falls into your lap, Libra. It may provide you with some new social and business connections. There’s a lot of opportunity coming down the pike.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, it is alright to desire

some quiet, but too much excitement is surrounding you lately for things to settle down just yet. Ride this wave a little longer.

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

A week full of possibilities and positivity lies ahead for you, Sagittarius. The only question is, “what are you going to do with it?” Bring a friend for the ride.

CAPRICORN –Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, no matter how much work you have on your plate, rest assured that you have all of the resources available to get things done successfully.

AQUARIUS –Jan 21/Feb 18

The stars are interested in showering you with plenty of love right now, Aquarius. This could be one of the most enjoyable weeks you’ve had in quite a while.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Romance could bloom this week if you are interested, Pisces. You also may be able to solidify an existing relationship.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

NOVEMBER 20

Joe Biden, U.S. President (80)

NOVEMBER 21

Nikki & Brie Bella, Wrestlers (39)

NOVEMBER 22

Jamie Campbell Bower, Actor (34)

NOVEMBER 23

Justin Turner, Athlete (38)

NOVEMBER 24

Sarah Hyland, Actress (32)

NOVEMBER 25

Corbyn Besson, Singer (24)

NOVEMBER 26

Rita Ora, Singer (32)

Kmart store on the Route 2 hill between Lath-am Circle and Watervliet.

Everything about Scarlet Knife is large, from the 22-foot ceilings to 225-person inside capacity and the size of the bill at the end of a meal. The menu’s appetiz ers average $19, entrees average $54 (including $98 for a 10-ounce, prime-grade filet mignon), all draft beers cost $11 and four people splitting two desserts could cost an additional $40.

“Go big or go home. We wanted an environment that would attract people from around the area,” said James Warren, who owns Scarlet Knife with his brother-in-law Paul Dimm, most recently a chef at a New Jersey coun try club and the executive chef of Scarlet Knife. Warren co-founded and is a principal of Troy-based kW Mission Critical Engineering, which designs high-tech data centers and last year was sold to a global engineering firm with $7 billion in annual revenue.

The horseshoe-shaped bar at Scarlet Knife seats 25, with another 22 at surrounding high-top tables and about 100 in the main dining area. A large, curved sit-down bar offers front-row seats for about a dozen at the expansive open kitchen, with additional rooms for private events and one dedicated to desserts. Patrons can adjourn to the Dessert Room after a meal in the dining room or make a reservation specifically to dine there to sample items including Black Forest cake flamed tableside or a whole lemon that’s been hollowed out, the rinds poached, can died and filled with panna cotta, all topped by dehydrated blueberry meringue, creme Anglaise and blueberry-basil granita. There’s also a side patio, expansive of course, with its own bar.

The wine list has about 120 labels to start, of which two dozen cost less than $50 a bottle, and another 50 are

CLIFTON PARK/ HALFMOON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Family Story Time

Clifton Park, NY - Mon day, November 21 at 10 am

Nurture your child’s love of reading with sto ries, songs, and other fun activities. For all ages, with an adult. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Get Tech Help-Meet our New Technology Librarian!

• Monday, November 21 from 12-1 pm

• Tuesday, November 22 from 10:30-11:30 am

Drop into the computer lab with your technology questions, which will help us decide what types of

classes to offer in the fu ture. Sessions are limited to 15 minutes per person. 518-371-8622. www.cphli brary.org

HYBRID: Demystify ing Shakespeare: Henry IV, Part 2

Five weeks beginning Monday, November 21 at 6 pm

Tom Bulger, a Shake speare scholar and retired professor from Sienna College, will lead a lively discussion of one of Shake speare’s most beloved plays. This five-session program will run from November 21 to Decem ber 19, with a different act discussed each week. Registration required. 518371-8622. www.cphlibrary. org

Dimm and Warren said they did little formal market research, instead having meals at area restaurants they consider the most direct competitors for Scarlet Knife, including 677 Prime and Yono’s in Albany, Black & Blue Steak and Crab in Guilderland, 15 Church and Salt & Char in Saratoga Springs and, just 2.5 miles down the hill in Green Island, Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill.

“It will be a special-event place, but we also think we’ll have people who will come a couple of times a month,” said Dimm, who leads a kitchen of 12 that he hopes to fur ther expand. The 25 front-of-house employees are under the direction of General Manager Alex Sisca, formerly director of restaurants for The Sagamore resort in Bolton Landing.

The menu, written by Dimm, is contemporary Amer ican, which allows it to include global flavors. Italian is evident in beef carpaccio, gnocchi with vegetarian sauce, and scallops with white truffle and Asiago polenta; Latin in shrimp with house-made chorizo and Peruvian-spiced bluefin tuna, which also nods to the Japanese influence on Peru’s cuisine; and French with charcuterie, cassoulet and roast chicken. Desserts are by the restaurant’s pastry chef, Jenny Carter.

Scarlet Knife gets its name from the mascot of War ren’s alma mater, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, with the second word changed to acknowledge Dimm’s education at the Culinary Institute of America.

The name led to an obvious design choice that proved a challenge to fulfill.

Said Dimm, “Steak knives with red handles were hard to find.”

Family LEGO Build!

Tuesday, November 22 at 6 pm.

LEGO builders are challenged to work as a family to build a project of your own design. All LEGOs will be provided. For children of all ages, with an adult. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Teen Book Club: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Tuesday, November 22 at 7:30 pm.

Come hang out, discuss our monthly book selec tion - or any book you want - make a craft, and just be you! This month we’ll be reading A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Call the Library

to reserve the book, and read it before the meeting if you can. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

National Game & Puz zle Week for Teens

November 20-26. Stop by the Teen Place to enjoy a game or puzzle with your friends or family. For grades 6-12. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Through Dec. 23. Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the Chil dren’s Desk, then search for holiday symbols in the Children’s Library. 518371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

between $50 and $100. Splurge wines include Antinori Solaia for $466 and the cult-favorite Penfolds Grange for $850.

PHOTOS BY ROBERT KRISTEL

The house on the corner of 2nd and Monroe streets was built in 1860.

staged, below.

East Glenville Community Church to Host “One Starry Night”

GLENVILLE - East Glenville Community Church, 335 Saratoga Rd (Rt 50), will host One Starry Night, an engaging family Christmas event open to the public on Saturday, December 10th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. Enter the town of Bethlehem and experience what life was like when Jesus was born. It’s an interactive walk through living exhibits including a Bethlehem marketplace, the inn Joseph and Mary visited, and a nativity scene with real animals to see. Families and children are welcome! Free admission. For information see church website, www.egcchurch.org or call church office, (518) 399-3151.

Dinners/Events at South Bethlehem United Methodist Church

SOUTH BETHLEHEM – Come join us for our Holiday Craft Fair on December 10, 2022 from 9-3. Breakfast sandwiches and lunch will be available plus a bake sale to support our church United Women in Faith. Our Thrift Shop ‘Boutique’ will be open as well. Please come out to support small business, do your Christmas shopping and grab a bite to eat.

Contact Emily Shutter at 518: 813-0661 for further information.

St. Mary’s Church Food Pantry

WATERFORD - The Food Pantry of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Sixth and Broad Streets in Waterford, is open and accepting new Waterford clients. To register, or for more information, contact Lynda at 518-237-8826.

Returning clients should continue to contact the Rectory at 518-237-3131 on Monday mornings to sign up for the Tuesday distribution. The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary’s Church. The Pantry looks forward to seeing returning clients and to meeting new ones.

Open Studio Time at THE CENTER

Book Club (In Person) at THE CENTER

COLONIE - Whether you are an avid reader or need a little nudge to pick one up, this book club is welcoming to all. We’ll meet the third Tuesday of each month to discuss the chosen book. 518-459-2857 x 327, cbarrett@colonieseniors.org

a beer flight in just a few minutes. The $17 beer flight is six 5-ounce pours chosen from 14 draft beers, which include a Czech Pilsner, German black lager, several New England IPAs, a hefewizen and two fruit sours. I loved the summery Nanermelon, a sour ale conditioned with watermelon and banana puree; the Peach Apricot Dare, a sour brewed with salt and coriander and fermented over fruit puree; and the clove notes of the Bavarian-style hefeweizen, but you won’t go wrong with the Marzen Oktoberfest or 80 Shilling Scottish ale.

The Druthers menu is built around the brewery’s usual tacos, wings, pizza and burgers, but it deserves a special shout-out for an Ugly Burger stacked with crisp bacon, beer cheese, Gorgonzola, onion rings and a fried egg. The Drutherbird fried chicken sandwich is a win thanks to juicy buttermilk fried chicken with a craggy, crisp shell, dill pickle slices, coleslaw and jalapeno ranch, and though Druthers is known for its assorted skillet mac-n- cheeses, I was inspired by the hearty tomato soup and grilled cheese combo, which is eye-opening in its large-scale proportions. Acknowledging that they’ve only been open for three weeks, the soup is excessively thick, but the flavor is all there, and while the toasted white bread grilled cheese could have used a few seconds longer to properly melt, it’s good for dunking and makes a filling $13 meal.

The only struggle is the acoustics. They’re currently at such full-tilt roar that my guest and I were actually yelling across the table and cupping ears to catch replies. If you’re into noisy beer halls, you’ll love it. If you’re going for date night, reserve in the smaller dining room or sit outside.

Druthers Clifton Park, 7 Southside Drive, Clifton Park. Phone not yet operational; druthersbrewing.com . Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; kitchen closes one hour earlier. Onsite parking lot. Disabled-accessible. Susie Davidson Powell is a British freelance food writer in upstate New York.

Meet New Friends - Get InvolvedAre You Ready to Get Started Volunteering?

COLONIE - Colonie Senior Service Centers (CSSC) is the Capital Region Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) sponsor. CSSC is able to provide diverse opportunities for senior volunteers age 55 and over by collaborating with 83 “RSVP stations” (area non-profits organizations that include hospitals, museums, historic sites, educational institutions, social service agencies, healthcare organizations and more) throughout Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties. In essence, CSSC operates as matchmaker for individuals who want to volunteer and organizations who are seeking volunteers. We currently have hundreds of RSVP volunteers who make a difference every day for the organizations they serve. RSVP volunteers positively impact people’s lives by donating their time and talents for the greater good of the community.

To learn more about RSVP please call (518) 459-2857 ext. 308

Hispanic and International Ministry at Clifton Park Center Baptist Church

CLIFTON PARK - Clifton Park Center Baptist Church offers an outreach program for Hispanics and Internationals in the area. It is a time of fellowship and Bible Study on Mondays @ 7:00pm. It is offered in English and in Spanish. The church is located at 713 Clifton Park Center Road in Clifton

Park, NY. Please contact Rev. Damaris Cami-Staples at (518)371-6023 if you have any questions.

Johnsonville Thrift Shop

JOHNSONVILLE - The Johnsonville Methodist Church Thrift Shop, located at 22 Bridge St., Johnsonville, NY 12094, is open 9-12 every Wednesday and the first Saturday of each month. Closed on holidays. Look for our sign at the corner of Route 67 and Route 111. We have a great selection of adult and children’s clothing, boots, shoes, coats, purses, special occasion and career clothing, jewelry, toys, linens, household and decorative items. Our well-organized book room has over 1,000 books available.

Hudson-Mohawk Search & Rescue is Looking for Volunteers to Join our Team

CAPITAL DISTRICTIf you enjoy being outdoors in the wilderness, working with others to help people, follow directions well and have a willingness to learn, then our SAR team might be for you! Prior knowledge is helpful, but definitely not required as we provide the training. Check out our website at: www.humsar.org for more information.

Mother Teresa’s Thrift Shop

MECHANICVILLEThe Thrift shop is opened Tues-Wed-Thurs. 10 A.M.- 2 P.M. Located at 52 William St, Mechanicville. Visit our Thrift Shop, we have a large selection of quality items, and low prices. Gently used designer clothing, accessories and home goods. New inventory arriving daily, and weekly sales.

Dedicated volunteers. Donations Always Welcome. Hope to see you soon.

Building on Love and Waterford Lions Fundraiser

WATERFORD - The Waterford Lions Club is participating in the Trees of Hope Raffle and is raffling off a decorated Christmas tree that includes two $250 gift certificates - one to Target and one to Walmart. Tickets are 5 for $20 or individual tickets are $4 each. There will be 2 chances to win. You could win our Lions family Christmas tree or you could win the Grand prize tree that has $250 in NYS lottery tickets and $250 in gift cards. The drawing is slated for Friday, December 16th, live on the Building on Love FaceBook page. Tickets can be purchased from the Waterford Lion’s Club by contacting either Lion Florence Brisee at (518)209-8073 or Lion Philip Fusco at (518)930-8662. Tickets for our Lion’s Tree can also be purchased on the Building on Love website www.buildingonlove.org and click Events, Trees of Hope. Make your Christmas brighter with a chance to win and help the Waterford Lion’s Club continue their good work of assisting families in need, helping people with sight and vision issues and other community services.

The Society Of American Magicians

HALFMOON - The local group of The Society of American Magicians (SAM), Assembly #24, meets on the second Tuesday of the month at The Halfmoon Diner, Route 9, Halfmoon. For meeting details and information about our organization visit our website: WWW.SAM24.SYNTHASITE.COM