In Chatham , local art collector and benefactor Rick Sharp recently donated $175,000 to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The money will be used to enhance the second-floor gallery in the 1815 Main House at the site, as well as to create a new visitor experience, including redesign and physical upgrades to the space, and for future programming, historic site officials said. The upgraded second-floor gallery, which is expected to open in April, will be formally named “The Richard Sharp Gallery” — or “The Rick” for short. Sharp’s donation inspired others to donate to the site. A recent fundraiser collected more than $350,000. For information on the historic site, visit: .

In Schenectady, Scotia-Glenville High School senior Isaac Furnish and Schenectady High School junior Silas Harva

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