Agriculture at Fair

 

The Saratoga County Fair runs through this weekend, and Pete Bardunias, our speaker on Thursday, has been there promoting the Capital Region Chamber and local agriculture.

Pete noted that until the arrival of GlobalFoundries agriculture was the county's biggest earner. It faces various problems, especially development pressure, but some towns such as Milton and Galway have been responding positively by accommodating and encouraging smaller farms.

So head for the county fairgrounds in Ballston Spa for all the fun of the fair, including the many farm animals and other features.

.

Wellspring's Work

 

Christie Keegan was our speaker at this week's meeting. She is director of programming for Wellspring, which not long ago moved its headquarters to 2816 Route 9 in Malta.

Wellspring provides services related to domestic violence and sexual assault. Its programs include an emergency shelter, a 24/7 hot line, counseling, assistance with housing and legal needs, a food pantry and more. While it works with government agencies such as the Department of Social Services, Keegan said "Public services are often unhelpful." It does not charge for these services, relying on grants, donations and volunteer support.

Wellspring began, Keegan said, almost 40 years ago in a building in Saratoga Springs linked to St. Clement's Church, which continues to support the organization. While most victims are female, Keegan began her talk with the story of how in the 1980s she was shocked to discover that a male friend was being abused by his female spouse.

One key tip-off to an abusive relationship, she said, is if one partner is afraid of the other.

Scholar and Rotarians

 

Akshi Patil, who won our Rotary scholarship this year, is seen at Thursday's meeting with Paul Phillips, chairman of the club's Scholarship Committee.

A Shenendehowa graduate, she will be studying biomedical engineering at SUNY Binghamton. Her activities include soccer, karate, playing piano and guitar, and volunteer work for Schenectady Inner City Ministry. 

In other business, members reported completed cleanup of a cabin we have been sponsoring in recent years at the summer camp where the families of Saratoga Race Course workers live. And we resolved to once again assist the Ballston Spa Baptist Church's summer food distribution program.

Next week's speaker will be from Wellspring.

Last weekend, the passage of another Rotary year was marked at a change-over party at Larry Levine's house on Saratoga Lake. The handshake symbolizes Dwight Havens, left, taking over as club president from Larry. Then Dwight inducted new member Brian Farrell.