Saratoga North Edition 121621

Saratoga North Edition | Thursday, December 16, 2021

Waitress gets a $1,335 surprise Tip at Malta diner part of restaurant giving trend ByLINE: KATHLEEN MOORE

MALTA - A waitress at the Ugly Rooster got a huge Christmas present last Saturday: A $1,335 tip. Patricia Smith burst into tears when a breakfast group handed her 15 $100

IT job move draws rebuke

Outgoing Spa City deputy mayor expected to get post ByLINE: WENDY LIBERATORE

SARATOGA SPRINGS An incoming city official is accusing Mayor Meg Kelly of trying to ensure her deputy, a political appointee, has a job come January. Deputy Mayor Lisa SHIELDS Shields is expected to be named systems manager for the city's IT department, upsetting SANGHVI incoming Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi who will oversee the department starting in the new year.

"This is our city's IT," Sanghvi said. "It's all of our security systems and making a hire based off the favoritism and cronyism, it's a blatant disregard for our city and our city's safety. I'm frustrated and angry Mayor Meg Kelly is pushing her into this position. I do not like this at Please see SHIELDS 14

COURTESY TAMMY LOYA

Fifteen customers at the Ugly Rooster in Malta surprised waitress Patricia Smith with their $100 tips Saturday.

bills to pay their $165 check. "My husband just got diagnosed with cancer so it really helps out a lot. I appreciate it so much," she said.

Tammy Loya organized the event, asking friends and work associates to bring $100 each for the surprise. "This is the first time we're doing COURTESY TAMMY LOYA this. We're so excited," Customers at the Ugly Rooster in Malta gather after surprising waitress she said. She wanted Patricia Smith with tips netting more than $1,300. She said it will help with to spread the news in medical bills. hopes that other people would do it too. "I'm hoping it catches on like wildfire and many people copy us," she said. "I she pays the bills and gets "a little extra stuff" for their children, she said she plans to use saw it on Facebook last year, but with COVID, I couldn't get it organized last year." She hoped whatever is left to help others. Loya was so the tip would go to someone in need, but she buoyed by the success of the event that she didn't expect the waitress to have a huge medplans to do it again this season. A friend who ical bill that needed paying at Christmas. "We will be visiting is eager to do it with her. The were in the right place at the right time," she goal is to find a total of 15 people per breakfast said. Smith's husband was recently diagnosed so that the server ends up with a hefty tip. "Evwith testicular cancer. The tip will let them erybody's gone through hard times, I've gone stay up to date on their medical bills and have through hard times, and if someone had done enough left over for a couple of presents for that to me at the right time, it would have been their two children, ages 5 and 9, Smith said.

"It helps us so much right now," she said. After such a big deal," she said.

Kathleen.Moore@timesunion.com

Complaint against Spa City mayor filed ByLINE: WENDY LIBERATORE

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The city's Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton has asked the city's Ethics Board to rule on Mayor Meg Kelly's use of her office's authority to secure a $200,000 gift for a private school where Dalton says the mayor works. In the undated complaint that was expected to be reviewed by the city's Ethics Board last Wednesday evening, Dalton said that the outgoing Democrat "has used the office of the Mayor to promote and market the Charlton School, as well as solicit a sizable donation from a city employee." The donation, Dalton claims, came after Kelly asked Assistant City Attorney Tony Izzo, who reports to Kelly and sits on the board of the Sarah B. Foulke Charitable Fund, to arrange the grant for the private high school in Burnt Hills. "I find her behavior to be ethically questionable and I am hoping this board can give me some clarification on whether or not the Mayor's actions violated her ethical obligation to the city and her position as Mayor," Dalton wrote in the complaint, adding she finds it "highly inappropriate that the Mayor would initiate any conversation regarding a gift for the Charlton School with any employee, especially one that reports to her directly." The Ethics Board, as chaired

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by attorney Brendan Chudy, immediately called for an executive session last Wednesday without saying who or what the board is reviewing. Kelly did not respond to the Times Union seeking comment on the complaint.

Neither did Alex Capo, the school's executive director, thus making Kelly's work status at the school unclear. However, a woman who answered the phone at the school said she didn't know Kelly's title and that she "comes and goes" a lot at the school. However, Izzo did speak with the Times Union. He said he did not feel pressured to recommend that the Foulke Charitable Fund give the money to the school. "We are advisory only," Izzo said. "We work with the Community Foundation (of the Greater Capital Region) in Albany. We make recommendations to them based upon our criteria, based on what we think Sarah would consider is important. The foundation does their own investigation to decide whether to give the money." The gift, presented in December 2020, was "to finance renovations to a historic chapel that has served as a therapeutic arts space since 2014," the school's website indicated. Izzo also said he did not read Dalton's complaint, but is aware of it. He said that he might be asked to speak as a witness at the ethics proceedings. Last Wednesday evening, Izzo was not present at the meet-

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ing. Dalton's complaint did not end with the foundation gift. She also listed a number other actions that Kelly took that troubled Dalton as they favored students of the private school, described as a therapeutic high school for girls, over students who live in the city. For example, for the city's Juneteenth celebration, the mayor handed out its "first ever Legislative Artistic Award" to students from the Charlton School without inviting Saratoga Springs public and private schools students to participate. Kelly, she said, also created a summer internship program in City Hall for students at the school. Those selected for internships were given a tour of City Hall by Please see COMPLAINT 14

Malta says no to lounges ByLINE: KATHLEEN MOORE

WE HAVE RESOURCES WE MAKE REFERRALS WE CONNECT PEOPLE

LORI VAN BUREN / TIMES UNION ARCHIVE

Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly is the subject of a complaint filed by Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton, who has asked the city’s Ethics Board to rule on Kelly’s efforts to secure a $200,000 gift for a private school in Charlton where Dalton says the mayor works.

and lounges in town, Supervisor Darren O'Connor said. In a vote of 3-2 last Monday, the Town Board narrowly decided not to allow dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana in town or let customers use marijuana at on-site

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lounges. "I know the prohibition in New York has been removed," O'Connor said. "I don't think there's any point that Malta should join in that." He noted that the next board -- with two new members seated Jan. 1 -- could make

a different decision, and that residents could force a referendum by running a petition drive over the next 45 days. Board member Tim Dunn, who voted against opting out, said it was a bad idea.

Please see LOUNGES 14

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PAGE 2 | DECEMBER 16, 2021

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

Appoint road salt task force members, get moving ByLINE: TRACY ORMSBEE

A year ago, the Adirondack Explorer ran a story of a happy gathering in Saranac Lake's Riverfront Park to celebrate the signing of a law to study and reduce the use of road salt in the Adirondack Park.

The measure's sponsor, state Assemblyman Billy Jones, was there, as was Dan Stec, who had just been elected to the state Senate, along with leaders of environmental organizations and the daughter of the longtime Wilmington town supervisor for whom the law was named. Speeches were made and congratulations were shared all around. That fine moment, we are sad to say, is as far as the work has progressed. The task force the law establishes has not yet been named. So it already has missed its first deadline, which was Dec.

1, to submit a report with assessments and recommendations to the governor and legislative leaders. Maybe by the time you read this, the task force will be in place.

Our reporter Zach Matson learned that a list of potential appointees exists, and that it is expected to be

ing out all along the way -- about as far as it can go. New York state is one of the heaviest users of road salt in America, dumping nearly 50,000 pounds per mile on state roadways. While researchers have raised concerns about road salt since the 1950s, its application in

announced soon. But here we are, nearly 12 months after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo endorsed the legislation, and we're still waiting.

It's a shame, really, that another year has been lost when we might have been dealing with a serious threat to the Adirondacks that was identified here more than 40 years ago. This can has been kicked down the road -- salt spew-

the Adirondacks didn't become a real threat until the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, when its use first became the norm. Now concerned residents, environmental groups and scientists agree that it is past time to act. Road salt is a polluter of the park's pristine lakes and streams, putting aquatic life at risk. It damages cars and appliances. It leaches into drink-

ing water wells, raising fears of dangerous contamination, since salt contributes to hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death. Unfortunately, when the task force finally does convene, it will be working under a weaker bill than originally passed by the Legislature. Amended at Cuomo's insistence, the measure lets the state Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation and local governments adjust task force recommendations. The former governor's changes also removed the requirement for the DOT to turn over records to the task force and the public. At the same time, the scope of the task force's study was widened, to include parking lots and sidewalks in addition to state roads.

Please see SALT 12

Crosby's Christmas hit rooted in Albany Law ByLINE: ROBERT GAVIN

Albany Law School alumni includes top judges, business executives, governors and President William McKinley. And then there's Bing Crosby -- well, in a way. The legendary singer did not attend the nation's oldest independent law school, but one of Crosby's most famous songs, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," has a crooning connection to 80 New Scotland Ave. Crosby's holiday classic -- performed by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Kelly Clarkson and others -- was the brainchild of Albany Law School graduate James Kimball Gannon. Nine years before "I'll Be Home For Christmas" became an international smash hit, Gannon, known as "Kim," was graduating from Albany Law School. The 1934 alumnus would become a major songwriter and lyricist of 200 popular songs and worked with the biggest names of the day. Gannon also was nominated for three Academy Awards. He even worked as a lawyer for a few years. But the con-

nection between Gannon and, by extension, his famous song to Albany Law School was all but unknown until the school's Government and Law Center, which has a large archive of old newspaper clippings, tweeted about it last week. The news quickly piqued interest, said Ben Meyers, the law's school's associate director of communications and marketing, told Law Beat. He said school staffers found a June 9, 1933, profile of Gannon in The Saratogian newspaper, as well as a 1933 yearbook that contained information on Gannon. "Albany Law School is indescribably proud of Mr. Gannon and his contribution to the holiday season," Meyers told Law Beat. "His words have brought so much comfort and joy to so many over the decades that we are humbled to just be a part of his journey and success."

The 1933 newspaper article said Gannon's parents were living in London and, in their former years, had spent summers in Ballston Spa. The Brooklyn-born Gannon grew up in New Jersey, but had family roots in the Capital

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A page from the 1933 Albany Law School yearbook contains information on James Kimball “Kim” Gannon, the 1934 school graduate who later wrote the Bing Crosby holiday classic “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

Region. His family had come to Brooklyn and New Jersey from Fort Ann in Washington County. Gannon spent his summers in Please see LAW BEAT 12

Monday 4:00pm Saratoga North Edition The Advertiser Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The majority of the ads in this publication were created by and are the sole property of Local First and cannot be reproduced without express permission from the publisher.

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DECEMBER 16, 2021 | PAGE 3

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

AROUND YOUR COMMUNITY Saratoga County Office for The Aging Partners With Americorps Seniors’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program to Recruit Volunteers for Senior Nutrition Program SARATOGA COUNTY – Saratoga County Office for the Aging has partnered with AmeriCorps Seniors’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to recruit new volunteers for the department’s Senior Nutrition Program.

RSVP recruits for volunteers ages 55-and-over for various opportunities throughout Saratoga County. For this initiative, RSVP will recruit volunteers for both Home Delivered Meals and the In-house Dining programs.

Locations in need of help include but are not limited to; Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville, Hadley, Edinburg, Galway, Greenfield, Malta, Mechanicville, Moreau, and Wilton. Flexible schedules are available Monday-Friday between 9 AM and 1 PM, depending on assignment. Volunteer opportunities include delivering, portioning and packaging meals as well as serving lunch at in-house dining locations. Subbing opportunities are also available for all delivery routes.

Training and orientation will be provided.

All volunteers, staff, and diners adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols including social distancing and mask wearing to promote the safety of all

participants of the Home Delivered Meals and Inhouse Dining programs.

The Senior Nutrition Program helps Saratoga County seniors remain independent while providing those individuals with daily nutritious meals. Inhouse Dining gives seniors the opportunity to socialize with others in their community while Home Delivered Meals serves those who are primarily homebound.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges, through national service and volunteering.

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

RSVP is funded in part

by The Corporation for National and Community Service. RSVP is sponsored by Saratoga County Office for the Aging, funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act; the New York State Office for the Aging; and the County of Saratoga.

For more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Lexi Rosamino at 518363-4033 or arosamino@ saratogacountyny.gov.

Volunteers Needed Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association CAPITAL DISTRICT - The Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association is recruiting volunteers to become new

members. We welcome honorably discharged veterans to join the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association and Color Guard. The Honor Guard also joins directly with all active duty branches sharing in the ceremonial procedures.

If you are interested in exploring membership, please go to www.snchga. org and read about our organization. If you feel the Honor Guard may be a good fit for you, complete an application and mail the required forms to the address on the application.

If you would like to talk to someone before applying for membership, please email mjoly@nycap.rr.com with your information so you may be contacted or call 518-383-3214 (Mark Joly) or 518-253-3202 (Art Dutcher) to discuss your questions with an Honor Guard member.

Broad Street Schuylerville in the early 1900s, the 1951 confirmation students at Notre Dame Church, one of the last steam engines of the Saratoga & Schuylerville Railroad in 1947, the old one-lane iron Bryant’s Bridge, the Eustis wedding party in 1930, and seven other pictures from the Town’s past.

You will learn that fire destroyed Prospector’s Bar & Grill and the Hotel Schuyler in 1997, struck the Dutch Reformed Church in 1831, the gristmill in Grangerville in 1938, the Glass Bakery on Broad Street in 1945, the Theater Bar in 1984 and the Liberty wallpaper plant in 1924. Other tidbits include the date the Visitation Church closed, the Quaker Springs Methodist church was incorporated, the Assembly of God Church was dedicated, the Dovegate Inn opened on Broad Street, the Old Saratoga Trading Post Museum closed, Schuylerville Central School District was formed, and a helicopter crashed and burned in Grangerville.

Calendars may be purchased for $5.00 in Schuylerville at Byron’s Market, Saratoga Apple, Schuylerville Public Library, Schuylerville Village Clerk’s office and at the Town Clerk’s office or at the Old Saratoga

2022 Town of Saratoga Calendars Now Available TOWN OF SARATOGA - The 2022 Town of Saratoga calendars featuring pictures from days gone by in the villages of Schuylerville and Victory and in the surrounding areas are now on sale. Calendar pages are sprinkled with close to 150 historical tidbits.

The photos include

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Mercantile and Olde Saratoga Home and Garden on Route 29 and from Pat Peck. The Old Saratoga Historical Association has produced the Town of Saratoga calendar for the past 37 years. Call Pat Peck, 518-584-4129, to arrange to have calendars mailed and to offer photos for the 2023 calendar.

Looking For New Baseball Umpires CAPITAL DISTRICT Capital District Baseball Umpires Association is looking for new members for the 2022 season. If you think you have what it takes to be a baseball umpire, training classes are now forming. For more information, call Bob Umholtz at 518-986-5987 or go to cdbua.com

Northeast Problem Gambling Resource Center CAPITAL DISTRICT - The addition of mobile sports betting in New York State has brought access to gambling to everyone’s pocket. Anyone in New York with a cell phone can now gamble 24/7 from anywhere. With the increase in access to gambling opportunities will inevitably come an increase in individuals, families and communi-

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ties impacted by negative consequences.

In response to increased access to gambling in NYS, NYCPG has launched a brand new, solution-focused resource in NYS that’s designed to highlight all of the ways New Yorkers can work together on this cause to reduce these negative consequences.

StrongerThanYouThinkNY.org has something for everyone, whether you’re in need of treatment, have a loved one struggling, or want to be a part of the solution on a community level.

Problem gambling can impact anyone, and its effects go far beyond the individual. Relationships, employment, finances, and mental health all take a hit when gambling is no longer entertainment. Often the symptoms are invisible to others until they can’t be hidden any longer. It’s never too late to get help or become an advocate for this cause.

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It’s the Holiday Season, the most wonderful time of the year!! The joy of decorating with twinkling lights, trimming Christmas trees and filling our homes with the sweet smells of the Holidays!! The most important part of the Holiday is spending time with family and friends in a fashion that’s meaningful to you.

This is the time of year where we focus on giving!! There are many organizations that need help, but especially during the Holidays; local food banks, The American Red Cross, homeless shelters and many more.

If you can reach out, even the smallest gesture means the world to these organizations, but it means even more to those you’re helping.

We at Local First are very excited to share our new and improved product with local advertisers and readers.

This has been a year-long project. The papers have been a tab format for many years and are now a broadsheet. This new format has enabled us to increase our content, especially our local content.

This also enables us to increase our ad sizes as well as create new premium ad positions for our local advertisers. I want to thank everyone involved in this process. It took at least 50 people from many departments within the organization to make this happen.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season. Please stay safe and healthy!!

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PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 16, 2021

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

Dear Friends of Gateway House of Peace BALLSTON SPA - Imagine you are sailing along on a beautiful day and suddenly a surprise storm capsizes your boat. You are tossed about in turbulent waters trying to control your fears, but panic grips your heart and mind and you feel vulnerable and alone. Frantically you look around for help and discover a life raft floating in the distance. It’s coming your way! As you roll into the comfort of it you take a deep breath, incredibly thankful for a safer journey to your final destination.

Now imagine that you are struck with a terminal illness. You are alone, or your family is unable to support your end-of-life needs. You look for help navigating these uncharted waters during the most vulnerable period of your entire life. Your search finds Gateway House of Peace. This home, with its dedicated staff and volunteers, is your life raft that envelops you in comfort and safely brings you to your journey’s end.

For seven years, Gateway House of Peace has provided this life raft for terminally ill people and equally so for their families. All of our gold standards of individualized, round the clock, personal care, are possible because of the support of our local community and donors like you.

Here are some sentiments folks who’ve spent time with us have shared: “We will never forget how you helped all of us and made us feel like we were not alone.”

“Knowing someone was always there with her brought us a sense of peace.”

Capital Region Social Happenings December Event and Concert Series CAPITAL DISTRICT - https://www.facebook. com/CapitalRegionSocial - CapRegSocialHappenings@gmail.com. Friday Night Events at 7 pm – Picnic at noon at 435 New Karner Road (Hanover Square Building) at “Hill” door entrance. Open to the public. Inside seating is limited. $12 pp and that includes beverages and snacks. Plenty of free park-

ing. Handicap accessible.

CDC & COVID compliant.

Masks required on everyone. Be prepared to show your vaccination card as well as provide your phone number for contact tracing. Our inside seating is limited. Call 518-452-6883 for more information.

Friday Night – December 17 at 7:00 pm: Joe Sinatra returns to our stage and will be performing a new Holiday Concert for the audience. You’ll hear holiday favorites that represent the Rat Pack.

This event is sure to put you in the holiday mood.

TOWN OF DAY The Day Town Hall will be closed December 24th through January 2nd.

Re-opening January 3rd.

Emergency calls may be made to Town Supervisor

Happy Holidays to All!

“You helped him transition peacefully and us to be more at ease with this very difficult point of life.”

“You all made us feel like family...our final memories were possible due to your wonderful house.”

Your donations go directly to creating this safe haven.

Gateway House of Peace is 100% donor driven and receives no government funding or insurance reimbursements. We were unable to host our signature fundraiser gala due to Covid so our need this year is even greater.

To support this sacred mission visit GatewayHouseOfPeace.org/donate.

Holiday Photo Opportunity at Brookside BALLSTON SPA - The Saratoga County History center is festooning the porch of the beloved Brookside Museum with holiday decorations, and welcoming friends and families to take their holiday pictures and portraits on the front lawn. A joyful seasonal sleigh will serve as a unique background for pictures.

All are welcome to partake in this free and festive opportunity during regular museum hours Thursdays, 1-5 PM, Fridays, 1-6 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5 PM, through December 24. Donations are encouraged, and all proceeds will go to the “Preserve the Porch” annual campaign.

The iconic porch – the face of Brookside – is in desperate need of repair. Though renovations and remodels have occurred over the past century and a half, the entryway needs more than periodic upkeep. Specifically, Friday Night – December 31: We starting with an early 6:00 pm New Year’s Eve Party for those that would like to be home early to watch the ball drop! Bring a finger food to share and be prepared for a few delightful surprises. This event won’t break your bank! $4 with finger food and $10 without. Non-alcoholic sparking toast included.

Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker Performance at the University at Albany SARATOGA SPRINGS - Let the holiday magic begin as you join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on their journey to a delightful winter wonderland!

Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet presents its first full Nutcracker production featuring 85 Capital Region-area dancers ages 5-18 years old, with special guests Sarah MacGregor,

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Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm @ The EMS building at 101 Sherman Ave., Corinth, NY

Aram Hengen and James Alexander.

Performances will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 1 and 7 p.m. at the University at Albany’s Performing Arts Center.

All ticket proceeds directly support the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet, a nonprofit organization.

Don’t miss your chance to see this exciting holiday classic!

For tickets go to https:// www.eventbrite.com.

Ticket prices are $35 for general admission; $28 for seniors and students (ages 4 to 18); and free children under 3.

Learn more about Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet at www.saratogaspringsyouthballet.org.

December and January Moonlight Hikes at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park WILTON - Are you interested in traversing the trails of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park at night?

View nature in a new light, or lack thereof, as we walk the trails under the full moon. An unforgettable experience for all ages! The group will cover approximately 1.5 miles of trail.

The December Moonlight Hikes are scheduled for Friday December 17th and Saturday December 18th, both beginning promptly at 5:30pm. In the month of January, the hikes are scheduled for Saturday January 15th and Sunday

all the front steps and floor boards, which are ruined by rot and mold, need to be replaced, as well as the deck frame supporting the floor. Moreover, the entire portico needs to be rebuilt for proper drainage, and the earth beneath should be covered with plastic and pea stone to reduce moisture. The crisis concerns both safety and appearance.

Total cost is estimated at $20,000 ($10,000 for material, the same for labor). To raise that sum, the Saratoga County History Center, which operates Brookside Museum, has launched a massive fundraising drive. “Preserve the Porch” is well underway, and a long-time supporter of the History Center will match all funds donated. Matching funds means that the public need only raise $10,000 – a reasonable sum to save one of our community’s most significant structures.

The trustees of the Saratoga County History Center call on the public to contribute whatever they can to preserve the porch. The History Center is a non-profit organization operated almost entirely by volunteers. All donations are tax deductible. In this season of giving, we hope you will give to your community.

Donations can be made easily online: https:// brooksidemuseum.networkforgood.com/projects/143480-preserve-the-porch Please visit the website (www.brooksidemuseum.org) and social media accounts (@SaratogaCoHistory) for news and announcements.

January 16th, both beginning promptly at 5:30pm. This is a free program guided by an environmental educator.

Registration is required.

Space is limited. To register please visit our website, wiltonpreserve.org, and click on the “Public Programs” tab to access the online registration form.

For more information, please contact the Preserve & Park office at 518450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org. details and ticket purchase click on: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ winter-musical-interlude-tickets-167626901575 For questions, please contact: info.saratogachamberplayers@gmail. com

Saratoga Chamber Players Winter Musical Interlude SARATOGA SPRINGS Saratoga Chamber Players return for an exciting 35th season with a Winter Musical Interlude on December 19 at 3pm at the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue; Saratoga Springs. Jill Levy, violin; Ashley Bathgate, cello; and Blair McMillen, piano, will introduce and then perform works of Haydn, Martinū, and Beethoven.

Concertgoers are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to the day of the performance to facilitate screening. For everyone’s health, all attendees must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test

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and agree to wear a mask throughout the performance. There will be no intermission. All seating will be socially distanced.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students and free to children. For program details and ticket purchase click on: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ winter-musical-interlude-tickets-167626901575 For questions, please contact: info.saratogachamberplayers@gmail. com Special thanks to the New York State Council on the Arts & Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund

United Methodist Church Christmas Eve Service PORTER CORNERS - The United Methodist Church, 512 Allen Road, will host a Christmas Eve Service at the church at 6pm. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the culmination of the hope, peace, love and joy of the Advent Season with the arrival of Baby Jesus. Special music and candlelighting will add to this special service.

Alplaus UMC Christmas Eve Service ALPLAUS - This Christmas Eve we are gathering in person and masked to celebrate and worship at 7pm on Friday, December 24th. We will sing well known carols, hear the beloved Christmas story in scripture and music with a message for today and end with candlelight and Silent Night. All are welcomed, please join us at: 1 Brookside Place, Alplaus NY 12008.

Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609 New Years Ball SARATOGA SPRINGS - Join us for our New Years Eve Black & White Ball.

Music, Dancing, Hors d’Oeuvres & Cash Bar with a complimentary midnight champagne toast! 8:00pm to 2:00am. Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609, 69 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs. To reserve and for more information: 518-205-7595.

Are You a Family Member in Crisis?

GLENVILLE – Families Anonymous is a free support group for family and friends of a loved one who is suffering from alcohol, drugs, or other addictive behavior. You are not alone and there is help. Meetings are presently phone-in every Monday evening at 7:15. Listen to other FA members, become stronger, and learn new ways to improve the situation. For additional information or meeting phone-in number, call or text 518-424-0472.

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Small (serves 6-8ppl): $29 / Large (serves 10-12ppl): $36 Take Note: All food is served in pans that may be reheated and instructions are included.All orders must be in by Tuesday, December 21st.

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LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

OPINION

The IOC Is A Craven Handmaid Of Beijing

By Rich Lowry It should be a rule of thumb that the Olympic Games shouldn't be held in countries that operate concentration camps.

If this strikes you as a reasonable demand, you aren't suited to serve on the International Olympic Committee. The IOC has doggedly defended Beijing as the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics even as the Chinese Communist Party pursues its campaign of unrelenting barbarity against the Uyghurs.

The Biden administration just announced a so-called diplomatic boycott of the games, a gesture of disapproval that won't dent the propaganda coup the IOC is handing the most dangerous regime in the world.

The IOC is the World Health Organization of sports. When China disappeared female tennis star Peng Shuai for the offense of

making an accusation of sexual assault against a former high government official, the IOC happily assisted in the regime's crisis PR, lest the shocking incident derail the games.

The president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, had a video call with Peng where she said all was well and Bach pretended to take her assurances at face value. Of course, Peng wasn't free to speak her mind, but part of Bach's job now is to look the other way at China's blatant abuses.

China has the great fortune to deal with international organizations -- except the Women's Tennis Association, which is suspending tournaments in China -- that lack all self-respect.

The IOC is following in the well-trod footsteps of corporations, financiers and sports leagues that start out wanting to do business with China and end up complicit in the regime's

crimes by staying silent or explaining them away.

The difference is that the IOC claims to be acting in support of high ideals. Bach likes to quote the Olympic charter that says Olympism exists "to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity."

Placing sport at the service of China does the opposite on all counts. China's autocrat, Xi Jinping, has been open about the political importance of the Olympics, "Hosting an excellent 2022 Games is a major task of the Party and the country, and it is a solemn commitment to the international community." Here, the interests of the CCP and the IOC -- as well as the corporate sponsors of the games -- coincide.

The last time China hosted the Olympics, the Summer Games in 2008, it used the opening ceremony to stage a gigantic and memorable regime-enhancing spectacle. Beijing promised reforms to get awarded the games and then, true to form, engaged in yet more heavy-handed repression.

If the 2008 Beijing Games were ill-advised, next year's Winter Olympics are a complete travesty. The atrocities in Xinjiang province are a matter of public record and the quashing of Hong Kong proceeds apace.

No one who crosses the regime is safe from imprisonment or worse. China openly menaces Taiwan with an invasion. Indeed, China could conceivably be in a shooting war with the United States within a year or two of using the presence of our athletes, among others, to enhance the rule of its dictator-for-life.

Bach insists that the IOC must always be politically neutral. As Michael Mazza of the American Enterprise Institute points out, though, the IOC banned apartheid-era South Africa from the games. There is no such thing as neutrality when dealing with an all-encompassing police state for which politics is a life-ordeath matter. The games aren't being hosted by Switzerland or Norway -- nice, law-abiding countries with good ski slopes -- but a revanchist power that tramples on human dignity and is a clear and present danger to international peace.

The IOC could have taken an off-ramp from these games at any point. Instead, its attitude is going to be, "Enjoy the snowboarding, never mind the concentration camps."

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review.

Democrats Have To Learn How To Win: They Think Selling Their Accomplishments Will Keep Congress in 2022?

S.E. Cupp, Tribune Content Agency Less than a year out from the 2022 midterm elections, in which Democrats could lose their control of Congress, President Biden's approval numbers are under water.

The party is already facing historical headwinds, given that the controlling party usually suffers in the following midterms. Making matters worse, a number of House Democrats have already announced they will not run again.

Republicans are also trying to make it harder to vote with at least 250 new laws in 43 states that limit voter access.

Add to that a slew of problems, from rising COVID-19 cases and a new variant to a spotty economic recovery and continued supply chain woes that may not clear up in time for Democrats to declare victory.

All of this, understandably, has Democrats worried.

Their proposed strategy to overcome these considerable obstacles and win in 2022? Tout their own legislative accomplishments.

Now, I've asked around, and that, apparently, is not a joke, but a serious suggestion.

As Politico recently noted: "Democrats acknowledge they have a big problem. Their proposed antidote: Finish the battles over legislating as quickly as possible, then spend their next few months talking up their infrastructure and coronavirus relief laws, as well as their forthcoming social spending bill."

If this is the case, Republicans may as well start measuring the drapes in what were once Democrats' House and Senate offices.

Talk to many Democrats, as I have, and you will hear them, almost to a person, complain that the problem is that they -- and the media -- haven't sold their

accomplishments effectively enough.

Of course, plenty in the media have done just that, and voters remain unswayed.

It's not hard to see why. More than a year in, Democrats have spent more time arguing with each other than passing bills.

For another, the effects of much of Biden's signature legislation, from the proposed Build Back Better bill to a $1 trillion infrastructure bill to COVID relief bills, won't be felt immediately. In some cases, voters won't see the results for years, which is why they aren't moving Biden's poll numbers yet.

The naivete of the strategy nicely encapsulates why Republicans have been winning the message wars for years: Democrats don't know how to fight.

It's long-held conventional wisdom and popular mythology that Republicans fight dirty while Democrats play fair.

There's obviously some truth to it. From Richard Nixon's enemies list, to Newt Gingrich's shake n' break style of rebuilding the GOP, Karl Rove's "dirty tricks" to Steve Bannon's "Suck on this!" destruction of democratic norms, that just covers the modern era of Republican politics.

Despite the perception, Democrats' hands are far from clean. The Clintons were among the dirtiest fighters in politics -- just ask anyone who dared get in their way.

Dems turned mild-mannered Mormon Mitt Romney into a woman-hating, dog-killing monster in the 2012 election, before deciding he's actually a hero for voting to convict Donald Trump in both of his impeachment trials. Today, the party's taking a page from Republicans and effectively redistricting opponents out of office.

The real problem is Democrats haven't figured out the new right-wing playbook -- the one the GOP's been running for more than five years now.

Republicans and Fox News personalities start with a real problem -- inflation, rising gas prices, inner city crime, a border crisis -- and exaggerate or even lie about the causes and severity, maligning entire groups of people in the process. Then Democrats respond by dismissing the whole issue or telling voters it's not that bad. Biden's chief of staff says inflation is a high class problem, for example.

By inserting fake bogeymen like Big Bird, critical race theory, Dr. Seuss, and Kyle Rittenhouse into real issues that many voters do care about -- like vaccine efficacy, parental rights, political correctness and crime -- the right often gets the left to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Instead of telling voters the sky isn't blue because Fox says it is, Democrats need to acknowledge the truth while exposing the lunacy of the right's solutions.

While the right's fighting with Big Bird, the left's fighting to get more shots in arms. While Fox is attacking CRT, Democrats are fighting for parents' rights. No one's banning Dr. Seuss, but Republicans in Wisconsin are trying to ban all kinds of words from classrooms.

Instead of touting accomplishments most voters don't see or feel, Democrats need to go for the gut, asking voters if they want more Lauren Boeberts and Marjorie Taylor Greenes, because that's what they'll get if the GOP wins in 2022.

Do voters want more taxpayer waste over phony election audits? More of the Trump and Bannon show? More QAnon and conspiracy theories? Do they want another insurrection?

Democrats need to leave la-la-land and remember who they are up against. Turning real issues around on a party with no actual solutions, just grievances, is how Democrats will pull voters back to sanity and reason. Unfortunately, good deeds won't win the day.

S.E. Cupp is the host of "S.E. Cupp Unfiltered" on CNN.

Send Us Your Thoughts Regarding Our Opinion Page.

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Please send to bulletinboard@crwnewspapers.com

DECEMBER 16, 2021 | PAGE 11

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

HOME SOLUTIONS How to prepare for an extended power outage Planning ahead can help make adverse situations more manageable. Such is the case when storms strike and the power goes out. Extended power outages may not be pleasant, but some proactive planning can make it easier to withstand blackouts.

• Establish a local support network. Support can be just as valuable as supplies when confronting power outages. The American Red Cross urges individuals to identify people who can help them during an extended power outage. Such individuals may help you stay at home or evacuate if the power will be out for a lengthy period of time. Support networks can include relatives who live in nearby towns, but also neighbors. A single street can be served by different substations and main power lines, so friends or neighbor across the street may keep their power when your house does not, or vice versa.

When the power goes out, support networks can pool their resources in various ways, including sharing refrigerators or allowing neighbors without power to access the internet. Such support makes it easier for everyone to get through the outage with as little interruption to their lives as possible.

How to care for winter birds that visit your yard The pristine, white backdrop of a snowy winter day can be a wonder to behold. While fresh snow on the ground can make for awe-inspiring landscapes, the absence of greenery amid the starkness of winter poses challenges for animals that do not ride out winter in a state of hibernation.

Several bird species stay in colder climates over the winter. Red-winged crossbills, snow buntings, bohemian waxwings, evening grosbeaks, and cardinals are just some of the birds one may find while gazing outside on a chilly winter’s day.

Birding in the winter can be a rewarding hobby because, despite the chilly conditions, birds tend to be easy to find in bare trees. Furthermore, the colder temperatures may keep many people inside, meaning neighborhoods, trails and parks can be very quiet, making it easier for those who brave the cold to see birds.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds indicates that winter is a difficult time of year for birds due to the weather and the scarcity of food. Furthermore, birds must consume a lot of food in a short amount of time to have the energy and body warmth to survive each day.

Even birds that store food in caches or have developed special scavenging strategies to find as much food as possible can benefit from a little wintertime help. Penn State Extension suggests providing a variety of foods to

UTTERS G R U O Y N A E L C R NEVE

• Print a list of important contacts. If the power is out, it’s only a matter of time before smartphones lose their battery power. Phones can always be plugged into vehicles to get a quick power boost, but that’s not the most practical way to keep phones charged, especially if local roads are closed. A printed list of important contacts, including nearby relatives like seniors who may be incapacitated, doctors and school officials, ensures people whose phone batteries have died can still contact their loved ones and other important individuals so long as they can use a neighbor’s or a loved one’s phone.

• Learn to use your generator. Consumer Reports notes that improper operation of a generator can quickly prove deadly. If carbon monoxide concentrations are too high, individuals can lose their lives in as little as five minutes. And this is no insignificant threat, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 95 people died from generator-associated carbon monoxide poisoning in 2017. CR recommends operating generators at least 20 feet away from the house. Individuals should familiarize themselves with their generators upon purchasing them so they aren’t forced to endure a trial by fire when the power goes out.

• Stock up on essentials. The Red Cross recommends keeping a two-week supply of nonperishable food and water in the house, making sure to date each container of water and replace it every six months. Keep some attract the greatest number of species. Small, black-oil sunflower seeds are preferred by many smaller species of bird and have a high oil content that is nutritionally important for birds. Other sunflower seeds will be appropriate for blue jays and cardinals. Some other popular foods include white proso millet, thistle seed, niger seed, and peanuts.

Consult a wild bird store, which likely sells a birdseed mix that enables you to place a variety of seed into one feeder. In addition to seed, suet, which is made from high-quality animal fat, is crucial for birds in the winter.

Families can get crafty by spreading peanut butter onto pine cones and sprinkling seed on top. Hang the pine cones tied to pieces of string from tree branches for homemade feeders.

Birds likely need a little help surviving the winter, when conditions can be bleak. Offering food and observing backyard visitors can be a great way to unwind on winter afternoons.

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Extended power outages can be a nuisance. Planning for such outages in advance can make blackouts more manageable.

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PAGE 12 | DECEMBER 16, 2021

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

SALT CONTINUED FROM 2

Nobody is arguing against public safety on Adirondack roadways. In fact, we can clear roads for safe driving while still protecting the environment and public health from road salt. That's because there are alternatives to road salt, and nowadays there are also improved plows that get closer to the ground. Cutting of branches over highways allows more sunlight to melt snow. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature need to put a task force in place that takes road salt pollution and health risks seriously. Then, among the task force's recommendations should be steps to give some clout to the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force and Pilot Program, which it lost due to Cuomo's intervention. Here's what non-government organizations have been doing to

LAW BEAT CONTINUED FROM 2

Ballston Spa. In 1920, the future songwriter graduated from New York Military Academy in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Four years later, Gannon graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, where he met his wife,

Norma. Gannon penned the school's alma mater song. He initially worked in the credit department of Seaboard Bank in New York City and then moved to Greenwich in Washington County, where he worked as a manager at the New York Power and Light Corp. But Gannon's dream at the time was to be an attorney, which led

address the road salt problem while our government leaders were procrastinating: ■ AdkAction, which has been working on this issue for 11 years, has enlisted 26 Adirondack municipalities to sign a pledge to reduce road salt.

■ The Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith's College is researching road salt application's effect on water quality, monitoring 15 streams in the Adirondack Park. Additionally, the institute tested wells in 2017 and found that 55 percent of those down slope of state roads contained salt above healthy levels.

■ The Ausable River Association has been working with AWI to monitor sodium and chloride levels in the Chubb River to check how those chemicals move into the waterways near Lake Placid.

■ The Lake George Association has gained agreements from all the municipalities in the Lake George Basin to adopt a memorandum of understanding and best him to Albany Law School in 1930. Gannon joined the Psi Upsilon fraternity at the school, and played sports including hockey and baseball. In the 1933 Albany Law School yearbook, The Verdict, Gannon's profile read as follows: "The crooning counsellor. Broadcasts from WGY at night and from the smoking room

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between classes. Writes most of his own songs and probably most of the phony fan mail he shows us. Give 'Kim' time and he will have all the laws set to music. Member of the Back Row Brief Snatching Club. Every afternoon he buzzes back to Ballston and runs a law office and in the evening is a dutiful husband. Known to the radio audience as 'Johnny Albright' but known to us as one of the most popular men in '33. How about that turkey, 'Kim?' Gannon had his own radio show on WGY-AM (the station still around today) under the "Johnny Albright" moniker. While in law school, Gannon also worked in the credit department with the firm of Bradstreet and Dunn. In 1934, Gannon passed the state's bar

practices agreement to reduce the use of road salt. LGA is providing funding to the municipalities to help see this through. The municipalities say they already have reduced road salt use up to 50 percent.

Now it's the turn of the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force and Pilot Program. The 2021 winter season is underway, and the plows and salt trucks are on the roads. It's time for the state to give this issue the attention it deserves. Here's the charge for the task force, assuming it is ready to get to work: Study the data and then make smart recommendations that won't cut any corners -- but will protect Adirondack waterways and the drinking water we all depend upon, while keeping drivers safe on the roadways. No more delays, please.

Tracy Ormsbee is publisher of the Adirondack Explorer, a nonprofit news magazine and website based in Saranac Lake. exam. He practiced law for five years in Ballston Spa, but had a different career path than the legal world, according to the 1933 article and Albany Law School.

In 1939, Gannon published his first song, "For Tonight." Three years later, Gannon wrote "Moonlight Cocktail," which was recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. For 10 weeks, it was the nation's best-selling record. Gannon started to pile up dozens of writing credits for movie songs into the 1950s and 1960s.

Gannon's biggest song, of course, would come in 1943 with "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Crosby sang Gannon's lyrics to the music of Walter Kent, who like Gannon, had attended St. Lawrence University.

"It was my understanding that Kim Gannon had the

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Bing Crosby made “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” a recording smash.

tune running through his head and how that should sound. He suggested the tune and the composer filled in the harmony," Culver Tefft, a friend of Gannon, told the PostStar in Glens Falls at the time, according to the law school's own write-up on Gannon. During World War II, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" was more popular than Crosby's signature classic, "White Christmas." It was the most requested song at USO shows in Europe and the Pacific, according to the Library of Congress, Albany Law said. In 1974, Gannon died in Lake Worth, Fla. He was 73.

His widow, Norma Allen Gannon, died in 2000.

According to Albany Law School, "I'll Be Home For Christmas was as of 2014 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publisher's 10th most-performed holiday song of the century." "Christmas is the holiday in the title, but the message of rejoining loved ones at home and celebrating one another is universal, Meyers told Law Beat. "We can all embrace that. It is certainly a thankful time of year and, even though we lost track of this, we are thankful to have rediscovered his connection to the law school."

Nature on the Move Walks at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park WILTON - On Monday, January 3rd at 10:30am Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be holding one of their bi-monthly Nature on the Move walks. This 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. These walks are a bi- monthly activity with the next walk scheduled on January 24th at the same location, the Camp Saratoga North Trailhead kiosk.

Registration is required.

Space is limited. Snowshoes will be available for rent 15 minutes before the program at $3 per participant. If there is no snow, the program will take place without snowshoes.

To register please visit our website, wiltonpreserve.org, and click on the “Public Programs” tab to access the online registration form. For more information, please contact the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org.

DECEMBER 16, 2021 | PAGE 13

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

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This Week in Saratoga County History Local Hero Changed the Outcome at Pearl Harbor SARATOGA COUNTY - Submitted by Sean Kelleher, December 9, 2021 - Sean Kelleher is the Vice President of the Saratoga County History Center and Historian for the town of Saratoga, NY. He posts a daily blog to https://historianatsaratoga.wordpress.com/ Sean may be contacted by email at historiantosaratoga@gmail.com SOURCE: US NAVAL ACADEMY

Midshipman Lawrence Ruff

Eighty years ago, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese forces launched a devastating surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and a local man played a big role in defending against that attack.

Furthermore, his actions have been credited with shortening the war in the Pacific.

That Sunday morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the naval base there, and managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan and formally enter World War. Lawrence Ruff was born on 7 July 1905 in Troy, NY and grew up on Green Street in the village of Schuylerville. His father was a merchant of seed and flour on Spring Street. Ruff had a typical childhood; he was the bugler for the local Boy Scout troop and excelled academically in high school. He entered the US Navy in 1923. His intelligence was noted, and he was sent to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Ruff’s early career (10+ years) in the Navy had various ship-based assignments.

On that fateful Sunday morning in December, Lieutenant Ruff was assigned as the battleship USS Nevada’s communications officer. He was planning to attend church services on the hospital ship, USS Solace. Ruff and Father Drinnan took a small launch boat on a peace-

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ful journey across Pearl Harbor passing by all six Pacific fleet battleships. They arrived shortly before 7 am. Ruff was waiting for the church service on the hospital ship, when at 7:55 am, they heard the first bombs.

The Japanese made a complete surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. Ruff witnessed the battleship USS Arizona erupted in flames and smoke. He rushed back to the small launch boat and took a harrowing journey across the same Harbor including being strafed by a Japanese aircraft. At 8:10 am, the battleship USS Oklahoma rolls over, entombing 460 sailors.

When Ruff boarded the Nevada, around 8:25 am, he discovered that most of the Nevada’s senior officers were absent and that those present would have to assume duties for which they had not been trained. Ruff made his way to his station in the Nevada’s conning. Lt. Commander Thomas was the most senior officer present.

However, Thomas was several decks below at his duty station.

As soon as they were able to communicate, they quickly agreed that Thomas should remain in charge of the ship below decks while Ruff took care of topside duties as Officer of the Deck. Ruff was ordered to “do his best to get them out of the harbor as quickly as possible, dispensing with the usual protocol.” Ruff assumed the conning of the ship as “Acting Navigator.” The Nevada started to raise enough steam to move the ship out of harm’s way at 8:32 am. This was just in time as an ocean of burning oil from the Arizona was slowly moving toward the Nevada’s bow, threatening to engulf her in flames.

The Japanese 2nd attack wave of airplanes arrived at 8:45 am. The Nevada continued to move out of the harbor, which raised the spirits of the American sailors fighting fires on many ships.

Cheers could be heard as sailors saw the Nevada making a wake. However, the Japanese also noticed.

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Japanese air attacked focused on the Nevada with five 250kg bombs making direct hits on the ship and 10-15 bombs missing the ship. This resulted in 11 fires burning out of control on the Nevada. At this point, Ruff helped steer this battleship out of the main shipping channel and beached the boat at Hospital Point.

The actions of Ruff’s and his crew resulted in the Japanese 2nd wave focusing on the Nevada rather than the American fuel supplies. Historians believe it would have cost the Americans at least a year if the Japanese had managed to destroy this fuel supply. In addition, Ruff’s action to clear Nevada of the shipping lane allowed the Americans to make rapid use of the port to rebuild the Pacific fleet.

Ruff served in both the Second World War and the Korean War. He retired as a Rear Admiral and received the Bronze, Silver and Gold Star for his courage. His second career was as an educator in Long Beach, California. He made many family trips back to Schuylerville to visit his extended family (nine brothers and sisters). It is not rare in some circles to still hear Ruff family stories about Uncle Larry. He was a source of inspiration for the family to provide public services, including his niece, June Launder, who was a remarkable WAVE nurse in the Pacific during the war. Lawrence Ruff died on October 20,1978 at the age of 73.

Note: Lawrence Ruff was played by long-time actor Ron Masak in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!

E L A S Y A D I L HO

Santa Claus at the Corinth Food Pantry CORINTH - Santa Claus will be at the Corinth Food Pantry building on 4th Street on Saturday, December 18 from 9 - 12. Come visit Santa and enjoy the treats! Freesponsored by the Corinth Community Churches.

PORTER CORNERS -The Porter Corners UMC continues to collect deposit refundable beverage bottles and beverage cans They must have the label intact. You can leave yours at the back door of the church at 512 Allen Road or if you have a large amount we can arrange to pick them up. To arrange for pickup please call Jane at 518-893-2289 or Carrie at 518-893-6214. We thank you for your continued support!

Save-the-Date MLK Saratoga’s 7th Annual Dr. King Celebration Weekend SARATOGA SPRINGS - Friday January 14 Monday January 17.

2022 Theme: “I’ve decided to stick with Love ...” Artists, Speakers, Workshops, & More! In-Person & Remote. MLKSaratoga.org for unfolding details.

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PAGE 14 | DECEMBER 16, 2021

LOCAL FIRST | SARATOGA NORTH

COMPLAINT

SHIELDS

CONTINUED FROM 1

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the mayor. "This opportunity was not publicized or known to the council that I am aware of, nor was the opportunity offered to anyone other than Charlton students," Dalton wrote. She said that she was troubled too that Kelly told her in early 2020 that she was seeking a job at the school and wanted to feature Capo in the city's series of Facebook Live discussions on mental health. "I became concerned about using Alex Capo ... as his participation in our Facebook Live series inherently involved promotion of the Charlton School and if Mayor Kelly was trying to get a job there, (it) was not something I felt comfortable doing in my role as DPS Commissioner," Dalton wrote to the Ethics Board. "As a result, I continued with the Facebook Live Mental Health series, but used other expert guests unaffiliated with the Mayor or the Charlton School." Kelly and Dalton, who were allies during the 2019 election cycle, are leaving office at the end of the year. Advisory opinions of the board, its 2015 procedures indicates, will be posted on the city's website in a "summarized version" that does not include any names of either the complainant or the respondent. wliberatore@timesunion.com518-454-5445 @wendyliberatore

all." Sanghvi said she was told of the appointment by outgoing Commissioner Michele Madigan who invited Sanghvi to City Hall on Thursday morning to discuss Shields' candidacy. Kelly and Shields did not respond to a Times Union request for comment on the appointment. Shields would replace Kevin Kling who is leaving in January after 25 years in City Hall. According to the Seethrough.ny website, Kling was paid $145,167 in 2020. Madigan said the job has been a challenge to fill. "We have been searching for months and have interviewed 12 people," Madigan said. "We've had people not want to come back for second interviews due to the chaos and change happening at the city."

She also said the Shields is Kling's top choice, not Kelly's. "I understand Minita has concerns and so I have asked that she meet with Kevin to

Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Food Pantry

will be having a Christmas Eve Service at 7 P.M. and a Christmas Day Service at 11 A.M. Everyone Is Welcome! All Saints Episcopal Church is a small country church which allows us to give personal attention to each congregate.

In addition to worship on Sunday we run midweek Alpha Courses, Healing Prayer Classes and Growth Groups to help connect people to each other and to God. Please let us know any way we can help you on your journey.

Blessings in Jesus!

BALLSTON SPA - The Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Food Pantry is open each Wednesday from 9:30 to noon and serves all of Saratoga County. We are located at 101 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa.

Saint Mary’s Church Christmas Services LAKE LUZERNE Saint Mary’s Church in Lake Luzerne would be honored if you would consider worshipping with us this Christmas. Below is the holiday schedule.

Christmas Eve Services Friday, December 24 at 5:00pm and 8:00pm.

Christmas Day “quiet” Service (No Music) Saturday, December 25 at 10:00am.

Regular Sunday Service Sunday, December 26 at 9:30am.

“Behold, a virgin shall

be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”- Matthew 1:23 For more information call (518) 696-3030 or visit www.stmarysluzerne.org

Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Thrift Shop BALLSTON SPA - The Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Thrift Shop is open on Tuesday morningsfrom 9:30 until noon. We are located at 101 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa. However much you can fit in a grocery bag is just $3.

All Saints Episcopal Church Christmas Services ROUND LAKE - 3 Simpson Avenue, Round Lake. All Saints Episcopal Church Located invites you to join us for Sunday Service at 9:30 A.M. We

Saratoga Springs Figure Skating Club Learn to Skate Program SARATOGA SPRINGS - We are the only area club to offer the US Figure Skating sanctioned program. Our instructors are experienced and approved through USFS, The program is open to all ages from 3-adult. We meet on Saturday mornings from

further understand why he believes she is the right person for this position," Madigan said. "I would then like Minita to meet with Lisa, which has not happened to date. If Minita is not on board with this hire then it is unlikely I will appoint her as it would be provisional and Minita could let her go on Jan. 1. There is no reason to put someone, Lisa, through such an ordeal." Sanghvi said she's also against the appointment because she thinks Shields is unqualified as her computer science degree was awarded in 1981. "That was 40 years ago," Sanghvi said. "Does any part of what she learned remain?" Sanghvi said the move came after Kelly tried to appoint Shields as the head of the planning department, which at the time of Bradley Birge's retirement, was one of the city's top jobs with a pay of $152,500. "This is a gross abuse," Sanghvi said. "It's so egregious, so over the top." Shields, who has maintained a low profile during Kelly's two terms, did make the news

10-11. Our next 6 week session starts January 8th, Our Registration is open now and additional information can be found at www.SaratogaLearnToSkate.com

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Register for the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department’s December 14th workshops.

Visit www.SaratogaRec. com and click Programs, Pickleball Workshops for complete information and to register. Contact the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions.

in July 2020 when she posted on the city's website internal documents from the Shelters of Saratoga. Sanghvi said that none of the incoming City Council members have heard from Kelly. Yet, she said she does appreciate Madigan, who has kept her informed during the transition. Still, she said, "I will oppose this measure with whatever voice I have." This is not the only lame duck appointment in City Hall. Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton plans to appoint a new assistant police chief to replace Assistant Chief John Catone, who is retiring at the end of January, upsetting incoming Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino who believes he should make the appointment. "They are trying to fill all these spots before we come in," Sanghvi said. "What it's going to do is force us to fire all these people and then have to worry about hiring the right people. ... What is happening is not right. It's crossed all limits of shamelessness."

LOUNGES CONTINUED FROM 1

"This would be incredibly difficult for anyone who wants to drive a petition here ... over the holidays, as we're experiencing an uptick in COVID," he said. He argued that "literally every community around us" would allow marijuana sales. A number of suburban towns in the Capital Region -- including Niskayuna, Glenville, Wilton and Ballston -- have opted out of allowing dispensaries and lounges. Others, including Colonie and Clifton Park are weighing legislation to opt out of allowing lounges. On Monday, Schenectady's City Council opted out of both. Communities must decide if they'll opt out

by Dec. 31; municipalities that do so can reverse course in the future. Dunn said the legal sale of marijuana was no different than selling alcohol. "Nothing we're doing tonight is going to keep marijuana out of the town of Malta. The state of New York says this substance is legal and able to be sold," he said. "What this legislation does is the town restricting the activities of private enterprises and for what it appears to me to be mainly social purposes or moral purposes. I have a real issue with that." Board members also focused on the possibility of sales tax revenue from marijuana sales. People want that, said board member Cynthia Young, who also voted no to opting out.

"General consensus is they don't want on-site consumption," she said. "But they're concerned if we opt out of dispensaries we can lose out on a possible pretty good revenue thing." But the revenue has a "social cost," said board member Craig Warner, who added that the state shouldn't be balancing its budget on such money. "Gambling and drugs -- is that the way to fund our children's education? That is not a position to be proud of," he said.

"How would you explain that to your grandchildren?"

HOUSE OF THE WEEK 16 Grove Street, Victory

KRISTI B PHOTOGRAPHY

The home at 16 Grove St., Victory, sits on a half-acre lot.

T

his week’s house is a cute, newly renovated home in the village of Victory, town of Saratoga. In addition to a new roof, gutters, water line, boiler and insulation, the first-floor interiors have been updated as well.

The two-story home has 1,368 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, a full bathroom and a half-bath.

There’s a big front porch as well as a three-season room and a detached garage with LEIGH room for three cars and an HORNBECK upstairs storage or potential HOUSE OF apartment space. The halfTHE WEEK acre lot can be subdivided.

Natural gas, public sewer.

Schuylerville schools. Taxes: $2,982.

List price: $350,000. Contact listing agent Allison Bradley with Four Seasons Sotheby's International Real Estate at 518-339-7313.

n If

you have seen or own a particularly interesting home for sale to feature, send the address to lhornbeck@timesunion.com

n To

see more House of the week photos, go to Leigh Hornbeck’s Places & Spaces blog at http://blog.timesunion. com/realestate

Top to Bottom: a view of the living room; the kitchen; one of three bedrooms.

At far left is the dining room.

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