Saratoga Springs High School Jazz Band plays at Disney World!

Saratoga Guitar is donating a percentage of all sales from January 10th to February 20th to the Saratoga High School Jazz Band to help with their travel expenses. The Jazz Band has been selected to represent Saratoga in February at Disney World on the World Stage and we want to help them get there!!

We are proud to be participating in this great event and we invite you stop in and see us. We're local and we're keeping your money local ! Thanks for your support. Go Toga Jazz

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (R,I – Willsboro) recently had the pleasure of meeting in her Albany legislative office with young participants from Reality Check and the Tobacco-Free Healthy Schools program from Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.  Students met with the assemblywoman to discuss implementing effective tobacco-free policies in local school districts, as well as developing comprehensive tobacco-free healthy school policies.  

 

Pictured, from left: Brie Robak, Kalie White and Eric Robak from Queensbury High School;

Julie Wright, The Tobacco Cessation Center of Glens Falls Hospital; Assemblywoman Sayward;

Rebecca Smith, The Tobacco Cessation Center of Glens Falls Hospital; Courtney Smith, Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition; and Crystal DeMatteo, Reality Check of Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties.

Jeff and Heath Ames, owners of Cantina Restaurant, present Franklin Community Center’s Bo Goliber with a check for $514.00.  Cantina donated 30-percent of the proceeds from their sales on January 18^th to benefit Franklin Community Center’s vital programming. 

In an effort to encourage dance & creative movement among young children, the National Museum of Dance is beginning a new children’s program in February: Yoga Motion. Yoga Motion will promote strength, flexibility, focus, and creativity through yoga poses and creative movement. Get those pint-sized dancers ready to move!

The 10-week long class will include a series of Yoga poses geared towards children such as Cobra, Lion, and Flamingo! Creativity will also be explored through movements like trees blowing in the wind & jumping in an imaginary puddle of honey! The children will play with beanbags, balls, and a parachute that looks like the night sky. Relaxations will take place near the end of each class in which everyone will lie back and imagine floating on a cloud or walking through a quiet forest. Yoga Motion will bring fun, laughter, and the pure joy of movement to young children.

Yoga Motion is geared for children ages 3 to 5 years old and will take place on Tuesday mornings from 9:30am to 10:30am from February 7 through March 27, a full eight weeks of creative movement! The cost of the 8-week class is $80 per child, or pay $12 per class. Don’t miss your chance to sign up for this program because there is only room for 10 kids per class. Save your spot today!

Peg Clark, an Occupational Therapy Assistant and Yoga Instructor, has taught Yoga and Fitness since 2003 for both children and adults. Peg has taught a Parent & Child Yoga Class at Greenfield Elementary School and an after school program at BOCES. She also teaches yoga at many Saratoga Bridges Day Programs, as well as at Highpointe Independent Living, Saratoga Care, Maplewood Manor, and River Ridge Nursing Homes. In addition, Peg has attended various creative dance workshops at the Kripalu Yoga Center. She is very enthusiastic in bringing fun yoga poses and the pure joy of moving creatively to young children all in one class.

To sign up for Yoga Motion call Sue at 584-2225 x3009 or e-mail sue@dancemuseum.org. The sign-up form can also be found on the museum’s website at www.dancemuseum.org.

For more information about the museum’s current exhibits and upcoming events, please visit www.dancemuseum.org or call 518-584-2225. The National Museum of Dance is located at 99 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, New York.

On Monday, Dec. 5, the ‘Bridges to Skidmore’ Program held their first graduation ceremony in Skidmore’s Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. Seven individuals proudly wore their graduation gowns and received a diploma after spending 4 semesters in the program. One of the Saratoga Bridges graduates will continue as a student advisor to the remaining students.

Michael Bruckner, who has a developmental disability and is employed at Saratoga Bridges blended vocational and volunteer program Alpha Community Opportunities, repetitively expressed his regret of not attending college to Jeffrey Moore, their MIS Coordinator. When Jeffrey relayed this to his wife Crystal Dea Moore, Skidmore Associate Professor in the Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work Department, an impetus for a new endeavor began. Professor Moore formulated the idea of bringing people to Skidmore in conjunction with her course on social work practice with individuals and families. She felt it would help students develop skills in communicating with diverse populations, raise disability awareness on campus, broaden the college’s connections to the local community and enhance Skidmore’s social and environmental responsibilities.

As Saratoga Bridges’ consumers began to truly enjoy the idea of learning, Professor Moore realized if the college shared its’ resources, Michael and his peers could engage in a real modified college experience she entitled, ‘Bridges to Skidmore’ College. She elicited help from Natalie Alvarez, a Skidmore junior and Intern at Saratoga Bridges to recruit students to make a commitment of attending lectures with individuals from Saratoga Bridges. The intent is to work together to overcome obstacles while providing socialization experiences. 10 participants and 5 Skidmore students participated in 30-minute presentations on a variety of subjects and topics presented by Skidmore faculty.

‘Bridges to Skidmore’ College has opened doors to a higher-level thinking and stretched cognitive capacities in a setting historically unavailable to people with developmental disabilities. It mirrors Saratoga Bridges philosophy of supporting individuals reach their greatest possible potential by striving to attain personal goals, promote independence, increase skills and enhance self-confidence. Additionally, ‘Bridges to Skidmore’ College helps to fulfill Skidmore’s mission related to civic engagement and diversity while addressing many of Saratoga Bridges’ strategic plan goals of providing innovative learning opportunities for the people they serve.

Moreover, many friendships have been formed and other collaborative initiatives have been developed. Michael has said, “It was a great experience! I learned a lot and I really, really enjoyed it.” A Skidmore student said, “This is the best thing I’ve ever done!”

Glens Falls, New York --- The World Awareness Children’s Museum presents Chinese New Year, an exhibit of youth art featuring festive, colorful depictions of how Chinese New Year is celebrated in Asia and the United States.  The exhibit will be on display from January 4 – March 4, 2012 at go! where children discover the world, 89 Warren Street in Glens Falls.

The exhibit includes 17 pieces of youth art from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and the United States that portray the family celebrations, parades, foods, music and dances that are part of the New Year celebration in China and in parts of the world with significant Chinese populations.

The museum will also host a Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday, January 21^st with a full day of programs, including an art program focusing on Chinese calligraphy and Zodiac signs.  Children can also learn about Chinese New Year traditions, create their own red envelopes--which are used to exchange holiday gifts and treats--and see a performance of the Chinese Lion Dance.  

A special Chinese Lion Dance workshop series will also be offered January 7, 14 and 21^st.  Sifu Sam Ling of Ling’s Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy will teach children ages 8 and up to perform the Chinese Lion Dance, culminating with a performance of the dance at the museum on January  21^st.  The deadline to register for the lion dance workshop is January 5^th; call 793-2773 or visit www.worldchildrensmuseum.org for details.

For at least 10 years, Hannaford has selected, on a monthly basis, a non-profit organization to be the recipient of their Donation Kiosk.  After The Fire has been fortunate to be chosen to be the recipient during the month of January 2012 at the Ballston Spa Hannaford, 11 Treible Ave. (Rowland St.).  The Donation Kiosk is conveniently located near the main entrance, and customers' donations will be greatly appreciated.

After The Fire is a non-profit organization that helps residents of Saratoga County who have suffered a loss due to fire.  They exist entirely on donations & are comprised totally of volunteers, which are badly needed.  When paged by Fire Control, volunteers respond to the fire scene, providing family members with personal care items, clothing, gift cards, Red Cross referral, informational material, emotional support - whatever is needed to help the family through an extremely traumatic time.   Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member, may call 435-4571, or visit www.afterthefire.org.

Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network is making an effort to inventory bicycle racks in the Saratoga Springs area. The goal of this inventory, is to be able to identify locations that need additional bike racks. Providing secure bicycle parking is an effective way to encourage Saratoga area residents to bicycle. Bicycling is an efficient, environmentally-friendly form of transportation that is also healthy and fun. Providing bike racks, is relatively inexpensive, and requires a minimum of maintenance. Providing bicycle parking also demonstrates commitment to a healthy and environmentally sustainable life style.

Healthy Transportation Network is seeking community help. Many existing racks have been located, and some locations have been nominated for new racks. However some bike racks are stored for the winter months. HTN is asking community members to review the bike inventory map, and email HTN with additional existing or nominated bike rack locations. Please submit it to information and nominations to info@healthytransportation.org . HTN will complete the inventory, and reach out to the appropriate landowner, and suggest the placement of a rack in that location.

CDTA will again have a subsidized bike rack program for 2012, with applications available in January. They will be offering free bike racks for the public and non-profit sectors, up to $1,000 value, and 50/50 cost sharing for the private sector, up to $1,000 total value (up to $500 from the Bike Rack Program). The CDTA program will be accepting applications, January through mid February. Installation of racks will occur this next spring.

Visit www.healthytransportation.org to see the map of current and proposed bike rack locations.

View Bike Rack Locations Saratoga Springs Area in a larger map

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – January 3, 2012 -- Wendy Whelan, principal dancer with NYCB (New York City Ballet) has been named Artistic Advisor of the new Myers Dance Center located at 153 Regent Street in Saratoga Springs.

Artistic Director Darlene Myers states, " I am very honored to announce my new

Artistic Advisor, Wendy Whelan, principal dancer with NYCB and star on the summer stage at SPAC for the New Myers Dance Center in Saratoga Springs.

“Miss Whelan has been a guest artist with my company, Northeast Ballet Co., for

many years and has watched the company's growth closely. She is expected to be an inspiration for all my dancers and for myself, personally as an artist.  She will be guest teaching at the Center and continuing her work with

Northeast Ballet. We are so pleased to have her in our own dance family and also in our community throughout the year. "

Myers Dance Center will hold an Open house at 153 Regent Street on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 from 2 - 4pm with an observation class from 4pm-5pm. Enjoy refreshments compliments of Hattie’s and Niskayuna Wines and Liquors, while listening to musicians of the Albany Symphony. 

Students will have an opportunity to meet Miss Myers and her outstanding staff and dancers at the open house. 

Registration will be taken for all classes in: student level ballet, pointe, jazz technique, stretch and movement for adults and introduction to ballet for 4 to 6 year olds.

Students may register for classes at the open house or on line (www.myersnortheast .org) . Class sizes are limited for personal attention

Myers Dance Center is located at 153 Regent Street, Saratoga Springs, New York.

Myers Ballet School and Northeast Ballet is located at 418 Liberty Street,

Schenectady New York, 12301.

Northeast Ballet is the resident dance company of Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady New York.