It was several thousand more than they ever imagined. Bags and boxes of books were everywhere. In just three weeks, they’d collected more than 4,500 books during their very first book drive. The plan was to divide the books among a handful of their philanthropic partners, but there were so many that they started two libraries at elementary schools in ...

By Ava Fleisher Congratulations on creating a budget (see the previous pages). Now comes the hard part: sticking to it. If you’re the type of person who tracks every penny in Excel and loves it, then there’s nothing to see here. Move on to the next article with a sense of pride that you’re on top of it. But if ...

By Lindsey Gaynor and Clare McAlpin Artwork by Zoe Stevens We’re a junior and senior in high school who attend different schools. We know we’re not the only ones lost in conversations about money, and other teens share similar questions surrounding financial independence. Neither of us learned about personal finances in school, and it feels like it should be a ...

By Gia Miller Studies have shown that most people would rather talk about sex and death than their money. But when you’re sharing a home and a life, those financial conversations are important, no matter how uncomfortable they might be. “Money is such an emotional topic,” says Judi McAnaw, a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Armonk. “But you should ...

By Susan Trumpbour In today’s fast-paced and expensive world, finding ways to save money has become an essential part of our lives. Yet many people remain unaware of the abundant free resources and services offered by their local library and town. From educational programs and entertainment options to borrowing musical instruments, your local library is a treasure trove of opportunities ...

Writing by Dr. Sarah J. Cutler Felines are fantastic friends. They’re the cat’s meow, if you will.  While there are millions of cats in the U.S., no two are the same, and there is a wide range of temperaments and physical attributes. Still, most cats have retained much of the instinctual behaviors and physical attributes of their wild ancestor, Felis ...

Writing & photography by Justin Negard When you think about Saratoga Springs, odds are, you think of charging racehorses. You probably imagine the horns of the race track blowing and the roaring crowds cheering their stallion of choice. And that makes sense because this town has become synonymous with horse racing. It’s a well-deserved reputation, as a trip to Saratoga ...

Writing  by Cathy Deutsch Artwork by Elizabeth Gourlay Photography by Justin Negard Holidays – especially Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas – are often where we gather with family and friends around the dining table in celebration of honored customs and traditions. For this Connecting in the Kitchen, we’ve skipped all the boring stuff (the turkey and ham, infinite variations of potatoes, ...

Writing  by Josephine D'ippolito Artwork by Marilena Perilli There’s a certain pleasure that comes with giving the perfect gift.  It could be a hard-to-find toy for a nephew, a first (or signed) edition for a voracious reader or a meal delivery subscription for the friend who burns toast. Whatever it is, matching the right gift with a loved one can ...