Girls must first achieve their bronze and silver awards by completing extensive community service and volunteer projects. It is only after they've made silver that a girl scout can begin planning their Gold Award project - a passion project that stresses the value of taking action over performing a service.

These projects are rigorous, and present incredible challenges for the girls motivated enough to tackle them.
According to Susan Conway, Girl Program Development Specialist for the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, the Gold Award requires anywhere from three months to a year to complete, and that doesn't even include the initial planning phase.

The planning phase alone is a great undertaking, and a very small percentage of scouts make it this far. Aside from years of consideration and brainstorming project ideas, once a scout has chosen their initiative, months and months of hard work and passionate dedication must follow before they can even submit their proposal for approval.

"It's a premiere award that stresses not only community service, leadership and organization, but the sustainability and measurability of global impact," Susan Conway said. "These projects don't have a one-time impact. These girls aren't volunteering at a food pantry for a day; even when the project does end for her, the project itself keeps going; it's a lot bigger than just a one-time thing."

Girl scouts who reach their gold do it by getting out in their community and making it a better place. They take action, follow a dream, and see it through to the end - it's a process and a journey that, once complete, signifies the prestigious honor and leadership implied by the title of the award.

"Girl Scouts are not just 'nice girls,' they are really necessary to our community. These girls are addressing the real issues in the community," Conway said.

With this in mind, two Saratoga Springs girl scouts have set out to make their mark on the community.

For Mary Morris, a sophomore at Saratoga Springs High School and member of troop 3339, choosing her project was the easiest part.

Mary is currently awaiting approval of her proposal for "Helping the Generations of the Future," her plans to design and construct a practice roadway at the Saratoga Springs Head Start, which will help teach underprivileged children the rules of the road while promoting exercise.
The idea came to her four years ago, when Mary was in eighth grade. While attending a work-camp at St. Clements she was given the opportunity to volunteer at a different Head Start location, where she observed the project in place.

She played with the children as they rode their tricycles along a practice roadway that was painted on the sidewalk. She loved the idea so much that it stuck with her; she kept it in mind for her Gold Award project.

Mary is dedicated to all aspects of the Head Start preschool program. Earlier this year, she completed a separate leadership project for the preschool. She spent 40 hours shopping, building, measuring and leading a team of individuals who took on the task of fixing an equipment shed for the preschool.

Although she has a backup plan, Mary is hopeful that the proposal will be approved and she is able to find funding so she can begin putting her plan into action right away.
Kathryn Sacca, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School and a member of troop 3155, is also working toward her Gold Award. A girl scout of 13 years, she's been dreaming of the Gold Award since the very beginning.

Her proposal for a project geared toward educating the community about the dangers of distractions while driving was recently approved. She is in the process of creating a public service announcement that will discuss the dangers of texting, eating and drinking while driving.

Kathryn's inspiration for her project was an irresponsible driver on the Northway.

"We were driving when I realized that one of the people nearby was swerving in and out of their lane. We, of course, slowed down as we passed by them and I noticed they were in the middle of texting," she said. "It's just so dangerous, and I don't think people realize it."

As a member of the school TV Studio Club, Kathryn knew she had the tools and the team to create a four minute video with interview and statistics regarding driving distractions.

"I want to show it to everyone at school, hopefully send it to the local news stations and put it up on YouTube. I want to reach as many people as possible; not just in Saratoga, but across the country," she said.

As the next wave of dedicated girl scouts make their way to the Gold, they walk in the footsteps of a handful of girls who have already completed theirs.

The trail to becoming a true leader was certainly not easy for Ballston Spa High School seniors Olivia Iannon and Alexandra Finocchio, but they finally made it this past November when they completed their Gold Award project.

The girls worked with the town of Malta to create a set of yellow and orange trails, which they marked, cleared, and mapped themselves. Their project, fittingly titled "Blazing the Way," provided the community with a safe, navigable trail system that anyone can enjoy.
"It was a lot of fun, and a lot of hard work, but we accomplished our goal; we did it," Alexandra said.
Although Alexandra and Olivia are heading off to college at the end of the summer, the Malta Parks Department has agreed to maintain the trails, thus continuing their positive influence on the community for years to come.

Olivia, who plans on becoming a teacher, wants to share with other girls the message behind completing such a project and seeing it through to the end.

"Being a girl scout has taught me to be strong and to be a leader. I want to encourage younger girl scouts to stick with it, and not be embarrassed about being a girl scouts. I went through it my whole life, and sometimes people made fun of me, but I didn't care. They don't realize that I've learned life-long lessons. I've experienced things I'll have with me forever," Olivia said.

With Girl Scouts Mary and Kathryn's Gold Award projects underway, and role models Olivia and Alexandra's already in place, the local community continues to grow stronger, safer, and friendlier thanks to the passion and dedication of these young leaders.

A first-ever "Battle of the Bands" competition on Friday, May 21 at the Spa Little Theatre has been added to the lineup of Saratoga Performing Arts Center's Extended Season.

"We are thrilled to introduce this wonderful new event which will showcase the extraordinary talents of emerging musicians and bands from this region and beyond. It's an exciting opportunity for us to further diversify our programming with up-and-coming artists from our area, and also is a great opportunity for the participants who will have the chance to perform at a world-class venue that has hosted the biggest stars from the classical and contemporary worlds," said Marcia J. White, SPAC's President & Executive Director

"Battle of the Bands will expand on our commitment to showcasing 'emerging artists' during our Extended Season and give audiences of all ages a chance to get closer to the arts and artists who are making a name for themselves here in our own backyard," she added.
The 10 finalists who will perform on May 21 will be chosen via a YouTube audition video and online entry form available at www.spac.org. All bands who've applied will be listed on SPAC's website on Friday, April 16. A voting period for the public to choose one of the ten finalists will take place on April 17 and 18.

Judging of the 10 finalists will be based on audience response and by a panel of local celebrity judges:
• Debbie Gabrione, guitarist and
  spirited lead singer of Ten Year
  Vamp, a power pop/rock band
  based in Albany that has opened
  for Lifehouse, Gavin DeGraw,
  Natasha Beddingfield, Simple
  Plan, the Spin Doctors, and
  many others.
• Matt Baumgartner, owner of
  Bombers restaurants in Albany
  and Schenectady and Wolff's
  Biergarten, as well as the
  irreverent, tell-it-like-it-is
  blogger at Fridaypuppy.com
• Jason Irwin, host of the award
  winning local music show
  EQX-Posure! which features
  one full hour of the area's finest talent.

In addition to the  professionally recorded EP and airplay on WEQX, the winning band will also receive 100 custom tee-shirts, 1,000 custom stickers from Saratoga Statement and placement of their name and logo on SPAC's website until December 31, 2010.

Bands interested in participating should visit SPAC's website at www.spac.org to submit an online entry form and YouTube audition video.  The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 14. Public voting for one of the 10 finalists will occur on April 17 and 18; all 10 finalists will be announced and tickets will go on sale for the event on April 21. 

There is no entry fee to participate. If selected for one of the 10 finalist positions, bands must agree to purchase 25 tickets at $15 each, which can then be sold or given away to fans, friends and family. 
More information is available on SPAC's website at www.spac.org

As downtown Saratoga prepares for the traditional St. Patty's Day whirlwind, safety is of utmost importance.

Although March 17 is sure to be a day of fun for drinkers and non-drinkers alike, the annual celebration is commonly associated with heavy drinking, which always sparks concerns about drunk driving.

This year, local officials, business owners and philanthropists are promoting the importance of staying safe, and making good decisions.

Martin, Harding and Mazzotti, a law firm based in Niskayuna, sponsors free cab rides on St. Patrick's Day to ensure that revelers have a safe ride home, which also means there is no excuse for driving drunk.

Party-goers who like to plan ahead can visit the Martin, Harding and Mazzotti website to get information about free cab rides: www.1800law1010.com.

Commissioner of Public Safety, Richard Wirth doesn't anticipate any issues on St. Patrick's Day: "We schedule accordingly, and handle the holiday like any other: routinely," he said.
Planning for a "Safe Patty's Day" is hard word, but it's certainly worth the effort for local business owners.

Joan Desadora, owner of the Parting Glass on Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, is ready for a full crowd. 

"We expect to be totally full from 11 a.m. to closing. This is our 30th St. Patty's day, we're excited and prepared," Desadora said.

The staff at the Parting Glass has run through a handful of safety meetings and information sessions over the past few weeks. They have been trained to identify when a customer has had too much, what to do in the event of an emergency, and how to handle a potential drunk driver situation.

"It's precision all day and night," Desadora said. "We have managers walking the floor all night, security guards at every entrance and in the parking lot, and we have printed instructions at several stations in the pub."

"We are very confident that people are going to have a fun and safe time," she said.
According to Kim Smith, General Manager of Gaffney's on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs, Saint Patrick's Day isn't usually a problem because the people who come out to celebrate seem to plan ahead and know their limits.

"Safety is a priority. We always have people keeping an eye out, making sure not to serve someone who has already had too much to drink. We tell them to take a break, have a soda or coffee, so they can keep having fun," Smith said.

St. Patty's Day is no different from any regular Saturday night in Saratoga - drunk  driving is always a problem.

"It happens almost every day of the week. We are lucky in Saratoga because it's usually easy to find a cab," Smith said.

But, the problem isn't necessarily finding a cab, it's the individual who doesn't plan ahead or can't recognize that they are too drunk to drink and should call a cab.

"The best advice I can give is to just stay with your friends. People need to keep track of one another. When you're with a large group of people and someone gets separated, that's when someone gets hurt or in trouble," Smith said.

All-in-all, Downtown Saratoga Springs is the place to be on St. Patrick's Day. So, have fun and enjoy the celebration, but don't forget to plan ahead and designate a sober driver.

In 2009 Officer Barrett was a top performer on his assigned shift in arrests made, traffic stops and calls for service.  He often is assigned to Bicycle Patrol in the downtown area during the warmer months and is a member of the Police Department's Mounted Unit.
Nominated by Lieutenant Robert Jillson, Officer Barrett is well regarded by the Police Department's leadership for his positive attitude in his day-to-day approach to police work.  He is assigned as a Field Training Officer, responsible for training new Police Officers who have recently completed the Police Academy.

"Officer Barrett is an excellent cop and a good example for other officers.  He works well with other members of the department and has been involved with a youth mentoring program through his church for several years.  Glenn is a hard worker and a valuable asset to our department; this is a well deserved honor for him," Lt. Jillson said.

The Officer of the Year is awarded to an officer or investigator in the Police Department nominated by his or her Lieutenant for their work performance the previous year.   

  
Saratoga Springs seeks input
The City of Saratoga Springs is seeking input to update its 2010 Consolidated Plan that identifies local priorities for the next five years of federal funding. Each year, the City of Saratoga Springs receives funding from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG).  This stream of federal dollars is intended to provide increased access to decent, affordable housing, to promote a suitable living environment, and to encourage expanded economic opportunities.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson stated, "In these difficult economic times, it's even more important to assist those more in need as well as to take meaningful steps toward future economic development. Steps taken now can reap many future benefits. I encourage all those who are eligible to apply for these funds.
To assist in reviewing and updating these priorities, the City's Community Development Citizen Advisory Committee has developed a short questionnaire available on the City's web site: www.saratoga-springs.org.  This questionnaire is also available in the Saratoga Springs Public Library at 49 Henry Street, and in the Office of Planning and Economic Development in City Hall.  For additional information, please contact the City Office of Planning and Economic Development at 587-3550.

Schuylerville bank robber arrested
Police have made an arrest in the bank robbery that occurred on Monday, March 8 at the Broad Street Branch of the Glens Falls National Bank in Schuylerville. Donald G. Swanson, 32, of Valley Falls was arrested on Wednesday morning, March 10, and was charged with third-degree robbery.

Swanson was unarmed at the time of the robbery, when he handed a bank teller a note demanding money. He left the bank with $5,500 cash, and was reportedly seen driving away in a maroon vehicle.

Swanson has a history of robbery convictions; he was arrested in 1999 and charged with second degree robbery in Warren County, for which he served two years in prison. He was also convicted of third degree robbery in 2005, for which he served two-and-a-half years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in Saratoga Town Court on April 6.

Saratoga Shoe Depot closes Delmar store
The Delaware Avenue Delmar location of the Saratoga Shoe Depot, which has been operating for 25 years, is closing. The store filed for bankruptcy.

Hollywood Video to close doors
The Hollywood Video store located on Ballston Ave in Saratoga Springs is set to shut-down in the near future, although the exact date is yet to be announced. Representatives of Movie Gallery Inc., Hollywood Video's parent company, announced last month plans to close 760 stores in the United States. According to the release, the company filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.

"There is a population out there that can use the help that we have to offer. We hope to build relationships with the chronically homeless community in order to get them help or to guide them in the proper direction to get them the services they need," Cox said.

While some members of the homeless community go mostly unnoticed, the last estimated number of homeless citizens in Saratoga County was 500.

"It's very hard to get a solid number," said Windy Wyczawski, executive director of Shelters of Saratoga. "The numbers always fluctuate and we can never actually get an accurate number."

The vehicle will make stops around Saratoga Springs in order to reach out to the homeless and build a trusting relationship with those who are resistant to getting help.

"Some people have had bad experiences in the past with social services and don't want our help, but we can help them get on their feet and we have a lot to offer them," Cox said.

According to Windy, the mission of the mobile outreach vehicle is subject to change as the employees gage what is actually needed by the homeless community and what programs and services they are interested in seeking.

After he graduated from Ithaca College with a bachelor's degree in exercise science, Iacobelli knew that he wanted to pursue a career in alternative health. At New York Chiropractic College he took classes in wellness and lifestyle implementation and has devised a program to help his clients lead a healthier lifestyle.

"I can provide them with a guide to incorporate wellness-related activities into their lifestyle and daily activities in order to get an overall sense of well being," he said.

Through his practice he will give lectures on wellness, nutrition, exercise and emotional heath, aside from chiropractic practices in spinal correction and alignment.

"My chiropractic care is aimed at restoring the structural curve of the spine and alleviate pain associated with it," he said. "Traditional chiropractic care is pain-based; I don't necessarily treat pain, but I try to prevent it before it starts. Once the curve in the spine is corrected, the pain goes away, so I want to treat it before it starts."

Iacobelli is ready to treat anyone who is ready to take a proactive approach at bettering their welfare and taking on a healthier lifestyle. Through March he is hosting free exams and consultations just to get his name out there in the community, but also to show people that there are accessible ways to lead a healthier life.

While it is just Iacobelli working at the office now, his brother will be graduating from New York Chiropractic within the next few years and will be joining him at the office. He is also hiring an office manager in the near future.

His company is called Align Wellness Chiropractic, LLC and is located at 81 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs. For more information, call (518) 682- 2656

"Now there's nothing we can't handle," said manager Joyce Ure. "We always follow New York State regulations and have stringent rules with chemicals, but before we had restrictions, for example, beaded items. We now use a softer, gentler process."
With dry cleaning, employees at Cudney's first read the manufacturers' tags on cleaning, then determine what would best treat different stains since there are different processes that can be used.

"Everything goes into the machine dry and comes out dry, and the new machine we use is chemical-free, making it much more eco-friendly," Ure said.
Cudney's can clean anything from wool sweaters to down comforters. They also service leather and suede materials, wedding dresses, table linens and can do alterations and repairs on clothing.

Cudney's Launderer and Dry Cleaners Inc. was founded in 1952 by James Cudney on the corner of Lake Avenue and Pavilion Place. Since then, they have moved to South Broadway and opened two more locations: one on the corner of West Avenue and Washington Street and one on Route 9 and Northern Pines Road. Though James Cudney passed away in 1997, the company is still family-owned-run by his daughter Lynette Cudney-Whaley and her husband. They employ 28 people at their three locations and offer home and business delivery services. In their two Saratoga Springs locations there are self-service laundromats with eco-friendly, front-loading machines that use cold water. The three sites are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most items, if brought in early in the day can be picked up that evening.

"What we really pride ourselves on is that we are very communicative with our customers. If there is anything wrong with an item or we have questions, we don't hesitate to call the customer to make sure they get the proper service," Ure said. "That's the kind of service you get with a locally owned, locally run company."

Not only do they serve the local community with their laundering needs, Cudney's supports the local economy by working with not-for-profits such as The Soroptimists of Saratoga and Coats for Kids.

"We are always taking donations to send to these charities. We support The Soroptimists to get women back on their feet after leaving an abusive household, and there are always children that need help. We want to be a part of the local community, and this is what we can do to help," Ure said.

Probably the best-known type of service dog is the "seeing eye dog." The public should never approach these working dogs because the dog's job can mean life or death for the blind handler. These guide dogs must stay focused at all times. Nevertheless, a service dog like Moses has less crucial jobs like companionship, picking up fallen out-of-reach objects and helping the handler with confidence in social situations.  In other words, the stakes are not as high for a service dog like Moses. With that in mind, I frequently let people pet Moses even when he is on duty. In Mosey's case it is good practice to interact with strangers because he and I regularly visit the Wesley Health Care Center where his job is to engage the older patients and make them smile.

In sum, parents need to keep telling their children that a service dog is different from a pet and that they should always ask first before reaching out to pet any dog. I always appreciate parents that explain to their children that Moses is a trained helper dog that is allowed in a grocery store, restaurant or shopping center. Older children might also be told that dogs like Moses are certified for public access and the Americans with Disabilities Act protects them from being denied access.

Turning now to another topic, I want to pat myself on the back because it is now one full year since I started writing my weekly pet column for Saratoga Today. To my amazement, after a year I have not yet run out of topics. Nevertheless, I am always looking for new ideas, so feel free to send me an e-mail (jsweet@skidmore.edu) with a request for a topic of interest to you. I am still really enjoying the process of researching and writing about pets. It has also been fun to meet some of my readers around town. Just the other day I was in Hannaford and the woman in front of me in the checkout line exclaimed, "I know who you are!" I responded with, "Who am I?" She looked down at Moses and after a slight pause she said apologetically, "Well, I know he is Moses. But I guess I don't remember your name." 

This was humbling since I was starting to think I was getting pretty famous locally with my pet columns. You see, for twenty-five years as a professor of anthropology at Skidmore College, I wrote a couple of books and many papers for academic journals, but practically no one (other than my husband, Steve and my Mom) ever read them. In contrast, with the Saratoga Today column people are actually reading what I write! Nonetheless, this nice woman in front of me at Hannaford's checkout counter only remembered Moses. So much for fame!!

But what you get here is a person of rich experience and professionalism, and someone who does a lot of diverse things extremely well, with a quiet confidence that makes it appear routine. There are many people around town who are proud to have Peter as a friend and lots more that enjoy knowing him while they are in the customer mode. And that is anything but routine.

Birth Date: March 12 -     ("Happy Birthday!"- editor) 
Hometown: Clifton Park
Resident of area for 17 years.
Where do you work?
I bartend at the Springwater Inn
What do you do there ?
I see my role as one of the      team that guides our guests     through a unique and      pleasurable dining       experience.
Do you have regulardays/hours?
I am there on Monday,    Wednesday, Friday and     Saturday.
Any other jobs? No, these     four evenings allow me to     pursue other interests, such     as...
Hobbies - My three favorites     are playing guitar, mountain     biking and snowboarding.
Last Vacation - right after     track     season in September;     a tradition     is to get away     with some  hospitality friends to     a private     camp - owned by a     legendary     bartender himself,     Mr. Trent     Anthony. It's up     near the     Canadian Border in a     town     known as Matemek, NY.    Very few people have even     heard of it,   which is why I like     it so, particularly after working     the racing season!
A great date is...
Breakfast, followed by a day at the beach.
A perfect day... involves family, friends and sunshine.
Places in town I like to go to after work...
There's many but Gaffney's and     Hattie's patio are the ones I hit     most often.
Favorite cocktail

(to make or drink):
Margaritas in all their
glorious forms!
Who's your favorite Bartender in town?
Tommy Cabbage
Customer from hell/goofy    customer story - For me, I just    adore people, usually a tourist    who hands me, or even more    annoying, sends the wait staff    over    with a drink "recipe card"    for     something that turns out to    be as complicated as, say, a gin    and tonic.

I try to resist sending back an application for a Dale Carnegie course with their cocktail!

Most embarrassing moment at work? It was more gratifying - I am     usually low-key     but one time     the staff of a place     surprised     me by    chipping in     for a     mandolin for    my  birthday. I     just recall getting very     beet   red, but it was a beautiful     thing...

Last movie watched - Departed
Favorite TV Show -
"No Reservations"
Favoritewebsite-        stumbleupon.com
"In my iPod now": A very big     percentage of it is blues      musicians. Otherwise it's a mix     of the classics of all genres like     Louis Armstrong and the 'Rat     Pack,' even some classical      classics.
Favorite local musicians: Rich     Ortiz, Rick Bolton, Jeff Walton
Favorite Sports Team - -     Yankees
Last Book/Magazine Read -     The Alchemist
What even my best customers     would be surprised to learn     about me: I was once married.
Wild Card: your philosophy     of life... Happiness is a choice     one makes every morning.     Attitude is everything!

Performers will include Julie Delfs of Pop Rock Circus, Tequila Mockingbirds, Tim Wechgelaer, Larry Clyman and other local musicians and singers. Tickets are $50 per person, and all proceeds are to go towards helping the eco-minded, independent, art-based Adirondack School continue to provide a safe academic environment for years to come.
The Adirondack School was founded in 1996 by parents looking for a school that placed an equal emphasis on the arts as well as the sciences as part of the regular curriculum. It is located at 5158 Route 113 in Greenwich. From the beginning it was determined that the school would be a welcoming community, not discriminating in employment or admissions against persons of any race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or religion and respecting the dignity and worth of all individuals. The School has no endowments and is chiefly maintained with tuition payments, fundraising and volunteer efforts. For more information on The Adirondack School visit www.adirondackschoolneny.org 

• Limòn Program Includes
  Signature Work, 'The Moor's
  Pavane' Based on       Shakespeare's  Othello
• Jones' breathtaking Full
  Length 'Fondly Do We
  Hope...Fervently Do We Pray'
  Explores Life of Abraham
  Lincoln

"It is a tremendous privilege to be able to present the José Limòn  and Bill T. Jones Dance Companies as part of our 2010 Season. Each of these companies will perform extraordinary, but very different programs which will highlight the unique contributions that each of these brilliant choreographers has made to contemporary dance repertory," said Marcia J. White, SPAC's President & Executive Director.  

José Limòn Dance Company, June 10 at 8:00 p.m., SPAC Amphitheatre
Acclaimed for its dramatic expression, technical mastery and expansive, yet nuanced movement, the Limón Dance Company continues to preserve and cultivate the masterpieces and legacy of founder José Limón (1908-1972). Limòn, a pioneering Mexican-born modern dancer and choreographer, is   regarded as one of the modern dance world's seminal creative artists, known for his intense dramatic presence and the theatricality and musicality of his dances. Limòn, with his mentors Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, developed the 'Limòn technique' that focuses on the movement of breath through the body, the dynamic use of weight in each body part and the fluid succession of one movement into the next. This tradition stands among only a few other movement techniques that have actually altered the course of twentieth century dance.

"As a dancer and as the first Mexican-American choreographer, José Limòn was a trailblazer in his time. He created a body of work that is brilliant, dramatic and strongly influenced by his cultural heritage and spiritual themes. His legacy lives on in these compelling works," said White.  

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, July 28 at 8:00 p.m., SPAC Amphitheatre
Last September, the most ambitious project in the 25-year history of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company had its premiere at Chicago's Ravinia Festival. 'Fondly Do We Hope ... Fervently Do We Pray,' a dance theatre work commissioned by Ravinia and created by acclaimed choreographer Bill T. Jones, explores the history, legend and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Jones, whose choreographic career is rich with complex, thought-provoking works, investigates the myriad meanings of Lincoln, rejecting accepted truth in favor of challenging (and        celebrating) the lasting contributions of this great man.

The dance theatre work investigates a handful of key moments from Lincoln's life, including his romance with wife-to-be Mary Todd, his grief over the deaths of two children, his guilt over war dead and the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The work also reveals through Jones' lens, the great distance between what is and what could have been, if Lincoln had lived to complete the Reconstruction.

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary season. The July 28 performance is the company's first at SPAC.

"It is an honor, and tremendously exciting, to welcome Bill T. Jones to SPAC. As a choreographer, he has changed the landscape of modern dance through his innovative use of texts and other media in collaboration with dance," said White.   " 'Fondly' represents a defining achievement in his career and a work that we feel privileged to present. Dance fans, history buffs, theater lovers and anyone who appreciates excellence and creativity will not want to miss this powerful, highly acclaimed work," she added.

Tickets for the June 10 José Limòn Dance Company performance are $25; tickets for the July 28 Bill T. Jones' 'Fondly Do We Hope...Fervently Do We Pray' performance are $40 and include free admission to the July 23 Talk by Bill T. Jones at the National Museum of Dance. Admission to the July 23 Talk for the general public will be $5. Seating for the July 23rd Pre-Performance Talk with Bill T. Jones at the Dance Museum is limited and must be reserved in advance. Please contact Deanna Gras at the SPAC Box Office at dgras@spac.org to make a reservation. Ticket order forms are available on SPAC's website at www.spac.org or by contacting SPAC at 518-584-9330.

Their next artist installation will be the works of Greg Klein, with a reception on the afternoon of March 20, and the exhibit on display through March 31. Mr. Klein grew up in rural Nebraska and studied wildlife biology and art at the University of Nebraska. He spent ten years in Colorado, exploring and painting the vast countryside of the Rocky Mountains. 

After visiting and experiencing the rugged beauty of the Adirondacks, he and his wife decided to settle in Upstate New York. Mr. Klein's work translates the emotional potential of the scene into the painting. The viewer feels the vastness of these places combined with a slight apprehension of the unknown. Mr. Klein's use of rich color, light and movement draws the viewer into the scene creating a strong sense of mystery.

For more information, phone the Sorelle Gallery at (518) 584-0600.
- Arthur Gonick

For baking or with conventional ovens, gas maintains constant temperature. For example, if you open the oven door of an electric oven, the heat escapes and it takes the element (heat source/coils) time to catch up to the temperature you've got set, where gas is constantly running and may only take seconds to return to its required temperature. Gas heat also distributes better when cooking and baking by eliminating hot spots.

 If you've ever baked cookies in an electric oven and the tray of cookies came out picturesque except two burnt cookies on the back left side, then you can feel my frustration with electric ovens.

Bottom line: given the choice to use gas or electric I will always choose gas. I've actually installed a propane tank when natural gas wasn't available.  So the next time you are in the market for a stove or given the opportunity to make a choice, it is always better to be "Cooking with Gas!"

Ron Farber is the Owner and Chef of 8 Tables Restaurant located at 68 Putnam Street in Downtown Saratoga Springs.  Ron has over 30 years experience in the restaurant industry as an owner of catering companies, delis, and restaurants. You can contact Ron at 8tablesrestaurant@gmail.com. Please call (518) 580-9800 for 8 Tables Restaurant reservations.