Looking ahead: School starting up, Saratoga Race Course season wrapping up

With a new week underway, here are five of the events and news items our team of reporters is tracking. 

SCHOOL STARTING UP

Summer vacation officially ends this week, with area schools set to welcome students back either Wednesday or Thursday in most cases. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, last month, announced the state would be relaxing its COVID-19-related safety protocols to align with new guidelines issues by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Under the new guidelines, students that have been in contact with an infected person no longer have to quarantine or take regularly test for the virus if they don’t show symptoms, but should wear a mask for 10 days while attending class. Those that are symptomatic should stay home for five days, or until symptoms disappear and they test negative.  

Masks, under the new guidelines, are recommended but not required when a school is located in area of high transmission. 

For more on COVID-19 guidance, check your local school district’s website.

— Chad Arnold

SARATOGA RACE COURSE SEASON ENDS

On Monday, the final call to the post will sound for the 2022 season at Saratoga Race Course. 

A pair of stakes races are set to be featured on closing day, the Grade III Bernard Baruch and the traditional final stakes race of the Saratoga meet, the Grade I Hopeful.

Post time for Monday, as it is throughout Saratoga’s closing weekend, is 12:35 p.m. for the first race.

— Adam Shinder

HISTORIC COURTHOUSE CELEBRATION

Fulton County will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its historic courthouse on Thursday.

The courthouse was erected in 1772 when New York was still a British colony – four years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. It is the oldest courthouse still used in the state to this day. 

For the first time ever, the New York State Court of Appeals will hear two cases in the courthouse.

On Saturday, the celebration of the courthouse’s rich history will continue with a Jail & Bail fundraising event for the Johnstown Historical Society. 

— Shenandoah Briere

FOURTH ANNUAL ART WITH HEART & HOPE 

The fourth Art with Heart & Hope pop-up exhibit will take place Thursday. The annual event is an exhibit, fundraiser and celebration of artists who use their craft to cope with illness, disability or caregiving.

Artwork will be displayed alongside written statements from the artists sharing the ways art helps them to move beyond their personal battles with illness or disability. 

The event will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. All proceeds from the event will benefit Beyond My Battle, a Saratoga-based nonprofit which works to help people reduce the stress of illness and disability.

— Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge

FESTIVALS SET FOR DOWNTOWN SCHENECTADY

It’s going to be a busy weekend in downtown Schenectady. The Greek Festival is set to run from Friday to Sunday at the Hellenic Center (510 Liberty Street), featuring live music, Greek food, folk dancing and more. Hours are 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday. 

Little Italy Street Fest is slated for Saturday on North Jay Street. From noon to 8 p.m. there will be live music from two stages and a variety of Italian dishes.

The Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show rounds out the weekend, running from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday. 

— Indiana Nash

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