021916

LOCAL • INDEPENDENT • FREE Volume 11 • Issue 7 • February 19 – February 25, 2016

It’s not hockey…

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • (518) 581-2480

It’s Playoff Hockey!

Featured Stories

Blue Streaks Take Hard-Earned Victory into Semi’s This Weekend

“Smart City” Commission See pg. 9

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY

Co-Captain Jake Fauler puts Saratoga up 3-1. Photo by Tyler Bowen for MarkBolles.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It wasn’t the easiest win. But in the end, a quality team got the job done.

Overcoming a tremendous performance by Niskayuna/ Schenectady goalie James Blanchfield, the Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks registered a solid, yet hard-earned victory over the Mohawks, 5-1, in their first (quarterfinal) playoff match on Wednesday, February 17, at Weibel Avenue rink. As such, Saratoga will play a semifinal playoff game against Burnt Hills/ See Story pg. 35

Home Made Theater Wins “Best Community Theater” in New York

by Rebecca Davis Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater (HMT) has been awarded the title of “Best Community Theatre” by NY Theatre Guide, as part of their 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Voting was held online, with thousands of ballots cast from across New York State.

“There are so many theater companies that are worthy, so

we are certainly very honored,” said Stacie Mayette Barnes, Producing Manager at HMT. “It’s recognition of all the hard work we put in. The work of our 180 volunteers each year, the work of directors and designers – everyone involved put together a product we’re very proud of.”

According to NY Theatre Guide, the awards are designed to honor local performing arts, See Story pg. 29

Partners With

See pg. 12

Inside TODAY

Blotter 5 Obituaries 6-7 Business 14-15 Education 18-19 Pulse 26-29 Sports 35-39

Weekend Forecast FRIDAY

35|27 SATURDAY

46|32 SUNDAY

42|29 Photo by SaratogaPhotographer.com.

2

Man on the Street “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Saratoga Brewery Starts Off Beer Week SARATOGA SPRINGS — February 16 was the kickoff party for Saratoga Beer Week, a week-long celebration of craft beer, which goes until Saturday, February 20. The inaugural beer tapping took place at Olde Saratoga Brewing Co., with Mayor

Yepsen tapping the first keg.

After the official keg tapping, attendees sampled from more than 20 New York State craft breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries. Food was provided by local restaurants,

including The Barrelhouse and Comfort Kitchen.

For more information about Saratoga Beer Week, and to see a full list of events (including the Cider Night and Beer Summit), visit saratogabeerweek.com

Photos by MarkBolles.com

“Telekinesis.”

Blain Smith (left), from Saratoga Springs “Flying. I wouldn’t have to drive in traffic for my 45 minute commute.”

Erik Straub, from Schenectady

“Teleportation. Imagine being able to travel anywhere!”

Maya Manchester (left), from Niskayuna “To have a cure-all, be able to cure whatever ails you. People wouldn’t have to suffer.”

Susan Manchester (right), from Niskayuna

Kim Tessier, from Saratoga Springs “I want to be able to fly. I think that’d be pretty cool.”

Cheers from the team at Paradox Brewery.

“Telekinesis, because it’s like the Force.”

Moustache (front), from Burnt Hills “Telekinesis” Gordie Stoner (right), from Saratoga Springs “Regeneration, like Wolverine.”

Lowell Eggleston (middle), from Saratoga Springs “Phasing or intangibility. It’s the ability to pass through objects, like walking through walls.”

Chris Kaminski (left), from Saratoga Springs

Steven Miller of Shmaltz Brewing Co.

Mayor Yepsen taps a Death Wish IPA from Olde Saratoga Brewing.

Phil Usas, Charlie Usas and Jason Emerson from The Barrelhouse, joined by Kurt Buchard of Artisanal Brew Works.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

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Flurry Festival 2016 Hits All the Right Notes SARATOGA SPRINGS — From February 12 to Valentine’s Day, people from near and far were up on their feet and moving to the beat at Flurry Festival. Taking place at locations all over Saratoga, Flurry Festival featured performances, workshops and concerts centered on a vast diversity of music, singing and dancing.

With workshops on styles like contra, swing, hip-hop and square dancing, plus cultural dances from the

Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, it didn’t matter if you were just a beginner or an experienced dancer, Flurry Festival made for an exciting, and active, winter weekend.

Flurry Festival is sponsored by the DanceFlurry Organization (HudsonMohawk Traditional Dances, Inc.), a non-profit dedicated to connecting and inspiring people through traditional music and dance.

Photos by Francesco D’Amico.

4

WEEK IN REVIEW

Two Companies Held Accountable for Hoosick Falls Water Crisis HOOSICK FALLS — Two companies are being held responsible for the water contamination emergency in Hoosick Falls. It was announced on Thursday, February 11 that an investigation from the State’s Department of Environmental Conservation found that Saint-Gobain Performance, a large building materials company, and Honeywell International, a manufacturer of power generation systems and specialty chemicals, are accountable for this crisis, and

will be responsible for costs and cleanup.

Residents of Hoosick Falls were warned in December to avoid drinking and cooking with the city water as a result of large amounts of perfluorooctanoic acid being found. It was discovered that the two liable companies use this dangerous chemical in their manufacturing. Hoosick Falls Central School District held a press conference on Friday, February 12 addressing this matter.

Wilton Apartment Residence Burglarized; Arrest Made WILTON — A residence in the Renaissance Way apartment complex on Route 9 in Wilton fell victim to a burglary on Tuesday, February 2. A resident of these apartments witnessed a man approaching a door and toying with the lock, eventually entering the vacant apartment.

The Sheriff ’s Department was contacted, and his vehicle was eventually found on I-87. On Thursday, February 11, the suspect was

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identified as John F. Morgano, 69, of Cairo, NY. Morgano was taken back to the scene and the witness confirmed his identification. It was determined that Morgano stole cash and jewelry from the residence, and was charged with Second Degree Burglary (class C Felony).

Further investigation disclosed Morgano’s long history of burglary in both the State of New York and Florida, where he had outstanding warrants.

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Obituaries, Business Briefs, Buzz

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Man Arrested for Sale of Cocaine in Saratoga Springs

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A man was arrested for narcotic sales in Saratoga Springs on Friday, February 12. Ryan A. Gritt, 26, allegedly sold cocaine in Saratoga Springs in 2014. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2014,

but authorities were unable to locate him at that time. Gritt was then found by the Troy Police Department in a traffic stop, and was taken into custody. Gritt will face the charges of 3 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled

Substance in the 3rd degree (class B felony), 3 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd degree (class B felony), and 3 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th degree.

Mullahey Retires from Sheriff’s Department after 38 Years of Service

BALLSTON SPA — Undersheriff Kevin P. Mullahey has officially announced his retirement from the Saratoga County Sheriff 's Office as of Friday, February 12. Mullahey has been serving as a law-enforcement officer for 38 years beginning

in 1977, when he worked as a patrolman for the Waterford Police Department. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff to Sheriff James D. Bowen in 1986, serving for 6 years, before being promoted to Sergeant in 1986. He served as a

Criminal Investigator for 20 years, beginning in 1993. Mullahey was then selected as Undersheriff to Sheriff Zurlo in 2014. A selection of Mullahey's successor will be decided and announced within the impending weeks.

Women Dies as a Result of Accident on Route 67

BALLSTON – A driver was killed after crashing into a tractor trailer on State Route 67 in Ballston on Friday, February 12.

Yesenia Valle, 44, of Ballston Lake was driving on Route 67 when

her car spun into the path of a tractor-trailer. Valle was transported to Albany Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Todd A. Cunningham, 49, of

Wynantskill was left uninjured in the accident. Route 67 was shut down for about five hours following the crash. The investigation is still underway, and no charges have been filed.

Abandoned Restaurant Revived into Ballston Spa Diner

BALLSTON SPA — A local diner has opened in Ballston Spa as of Thursday, February 11. Ballston Spa Diner has taken over the space of an abandoned restaurant, formerly known as Ecobelli’s Restaurant, which has been closed for around 10 years. Owner Ted

Sourlis of Ballston Spa is highly experienced in the restaurant industry, having been involved for 23 years, and a cook for 26. Sourlis says that the restaurant aims to create a warm and welcoming environment for the guests.

The diner will serve a mix

of Italian, Greek, and American food, and will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast will be served all day, and takeout is available. For more information on Ballston Spa Diner, call 518-288-3642.

Tonko Unveils New Website

CAPITAL REGION — Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) announced the launch of his new congressional website on Tuesday, February 16. It can be accessed at http://tonko.house. gov. The new website highlights an enhanced focus on constituent service, help with federal agencies and

available federal grants, and assistance for local small businesses.

“I’m excited to announce the launch of the new Tonko.house.gov, where it’s never been easier to receive help with a federal agency, ask me a question, or voice your concerns,” Tonko said. “It’s also a great tool to

stay up-to-date on what’s going on in Washington, and how it impacts the Capital Region.”

Also featured on the Congressman’s website are social media channels, Tonko’s recent voting record, and much more.

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Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

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Real Brides Real Stories

NEXT DEADLINE: SPRING SIMPLY SARATOGA 02/19/16

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

COURTS:

is scheduled for March 24.

Michael J. Borger, 28, of Ballston Spa, was sentenced on February 1 to 5 years probation, after pleading to the felony charge of driving while intoxicated.

ARRESTS:

Henry L. Smith Jr., 39, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced on February 3 to two concurrent sentences of 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in prison, after pleading guilty to the felony charges of forgery in the second degree, and grand larceny in the third degree.

Migdalia Rivera-Acosta, 60, of Troy, was sentenced on February 3 to 1 ½ years in prison and 1 year post-release supervision, after pleading to the felony charge of attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Jordan R. VanBuskirk, 24, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced on February 4 to time served and 5 years probation, after pleading to the charges of felony criminal mischief in the third degree, and resisting arrest.

Molly L. Dutrow (a.k.a. Catherine Dutrow), 21, of Gansevoort, pled on February 4 to the felony charge of identity theft in the second degree. Sentencing is scheduled for March 24.

Jacqueline M. Jordan, 52, of Halfmoon, was arraigned on February 4 and charged with two felony counts of driving while intoxicated.

Rafael Hernandez, 31, of Clifton Park, was arraigned on February 4 and charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, felony manufacture of a weapon, felony criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, and unlawful possession of marihuana.

Richard J. Benoit, III, 39, of Cohoes, pled on February 5 to the felony charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Sentencing

Ricky C. Guidry, 45, of Ballston Spa, was arrested on January 26 and charged with felony aggravated family offense.

Meghann F. Daly, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 26 and charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving with BAC more than .08 of 1%, an equipment violation, and driving while intoxicated.

Jacob Q. Loya, 29, of Rock City Falls, was arrested on January 26 and charged with unlawful possession of marihuana.

Drahoslav Gavalec, 42, of Slovakia, was arrested on January 27 and charged with driving while intoxicated, refusing a pre-screen test, failure to signal a turn, making an unsafe lane change, and operating a motor vehicle by unlicensed driver.

Joshua B. Reed, 23, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 28 and charged with felony assault in the second degree.

Shawn M. Johnson, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 28 and charged with possession of an open container.

Nathan J. Surprenant, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 28 and charged with assault in the third degree.

Michael J. Cole, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 28 and charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

Emily R. Latalladi, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 28 and charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree, and criminal impersonation in the second degree.

Valdinei Severino Sousa, 38, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 29 and charged with felony criminal possession of a forget

BLOTTER 5 instrument in the second degree, failure to signal a turn, false impersonation, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Laurie M. Cannelli, 51, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 29 and charged with petit larceny.

Tyler M. Gilbert-Kavanaugh, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 31 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, unlawful possession of marihuana, and an equipment violation.

Thomas R. McCall, 27, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on January 31 and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Daniel I. McCann, 25, of Albany, was arrested on January 31 and charged with felony criminal mischief in the third degree.

Kevin M. Lynch, 58, of Malta, was arrested on January

31 and charged with felony driving while intoxicated (second offense), felony driving with BAC more than .08 of 1% (with 1 prior), unlawfully driving on or across the sidewalk.

Alex Curet, 24, of Troy, and Latif S. Parker, 22, of Troy, were arrested on January 31 and both charged with criminal possession of marihuana in the fifth degree.

Malika U. Jackson, 28, of Albany, was arrested February 2 and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree.

Miguel W. John, 20, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on February 3 and charged with felony burglary in the first degree, obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, and unlawful possession of marihuana.

James D. Greenleaf, 27, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on February 3 and charged with harassment in the second degree, unlawful possession of marihuana, resisting arrest, criminal mischief in the fourth degree.

Nicholas J. Keller, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on February 3 and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, and driving at an unreasonable speed.

Frederick M. Wilson, 67, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested on February 3 and charged with criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

Sade S. Bryant, 29, of Amsterdam, was arrested on February 5 and charged with failure to signal a turn, driving with a BAC more than .08 of 1%, driving while intoxicated, and unlawful possession of marihuana.

6 Thomas (Tom) Steigerwald MILTON, NY — E. Thomas (Tom) Steigerwald of Milton, 72, passed away suddenly on February 8, 2016. Born in Saratoga Springs on July 10, 1943, Tom was the son of Joseph and Helen Steigerwald.

Tom worked for many years for Skidmore College and Saratoga Harness Track. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather. Tom enjoyed horseracing and casinos, but what he enjoyed most was time spent with his grandchildren.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Kathy (Dingmon); their children, Jeffrey (Deborah) Steigerwald, and Colleen Holloway; his siblings, Richard Steigerwald, Shirley Simpson, his beloved twin brother, John Steigerwald, and his precious grandchildren, Mikayla, Kaitlyn, Soleil and Nicholas.

Calling hours were held on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 at the Tunison Funeral Home, 105 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Funeral services will be arranged at the convenience of the family. Donations may be made to Saratoga County Animal Shelter, 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa NY 12020. Online remembrances may be made at www.tunisonfuneralhome.com.

Richard Joseph Steigerwald SARATOGA SPRINGS — Richard Joseph Steigerwald, 75, of Saratoga Springs passed away in his hometown on February 11, 2016.

Born on June 18, 1940 to the late Joseph and Helen Steigerwald, Richard was the second of four siblings, and the eldest son. He graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1958.

For over 25 years Richard managed six Mobil gas stations in Saratoga along with Steigerwald’s Towing Service, and was a strong representative of the gasoline retail industry in this region. Ever devoted to the Saratoga community, he sponsored many local civic organizations through his businesses. He later worked for many years for Saratoga County at Maplewood Manor, Prestwick Chase, and most recently at Skidmore College as a Building Supervisor/ Sports Center Monitor.

Richard loved automobiles and especially enjoyed detailing cars and attending car races and shows. Boating and snowmobiling were two of his other favorite pastimes, and listening to country music was a constant

OBITUARIES throughout his life. A true “people person,” he was always making friends and striking up conversations with individuals from all walks of life. Richard derived his greatest happiness from his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

He is survived by his wife, Anita (Stockwicz); their daughter, Tiffany (Simon) Batifort; and grandchildren Céleste and Augustin Batifort, as well as his former wife, Lynne (Mitchell); their children, Stacie Sabino, Laurie Cusumano, and Nile (Annemarie) Steigerwald; grandchildren Maja Sabino, Brianna and Joseph Cusumano, and Connor, Brendan, and Grace Steigerwald; and greatgranddaughter Sierra Santos. He is also survived by his sister, Shirley Simpson, and his brother, John Steigerwald.

He is predeceased by his son, Scott Steigerwald, and his brother, E. Thomas Steigerwald.

Relatives and friends gathered to remember him on Monday, February 15, at the William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, in Saratoga Springs.

Donations may be made to the Saratoga County Veterans Trust Fund, 152 West High Street Suite 201, Ballston Spa, NY 12020) or a charity of your choice.

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.

Anna Theresa Koval SARATOGA SPRINGS – Anna Theresa Koval passed into the loving hands of the Lord on February 10, 2016. Anna was born in Brothersvalley, Pennsylvania on November 11, 1921 and was 94 years young!

She was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Paul Koval; her brothers, John, Stephen and Paul and a sister, Mary Bogus. Survivors include a sister, Elizabeth Dorsey of Saratoga Springs and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces, great-nephews and a great-great-nephews.

Anna spent many years working for the General Electric Co. in Schenectady, as well as working on her family farm in the Town of Saratoga, raising and selling vegetables with her mother and sister in the summers in Saratoga Springs. After leaving GE, she became co-owner of Koval Farm and Garden Supply, Inc. in downtown Saratoga Springs, with her brother John. Anna enjoyed waiting on customers, especially weighing out numerous bulk seeds for gardeners. She was a horsewoman at heart and was also part-owner of several Standardbreds at Saratoga Harness Track through the early eighties Anna’s true devotion and purpose throughout her life was towards all of her family. She became a caretaker to not only her parents, but also her siblings that have passed on. She continued this tradition by watching over her nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends gathered to remember her on

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016 Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Rev. George J. Blasick, C.Ss.R. and burial followed at St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. in Saratoga Springs.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, in Saratoga Springs.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

David George Green SCHUYLERVILLE - David George Green passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Saratoga Hospital. He was 68 years old. Born on October 24, 1948 in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late George Henry Green and Helen Patricia Green.

Mr. Green Proudly served in the United State Navy from 1968 to 1971 and later in the United States Naval Reserve.

David worked as a security guard at Saratoga Race Track, as well as a horse handler and walker for Bill Mott for most of his working career, up to his retirement.

Survivors include his son Clint D. Green of Clifton Park, a brother Robert Green of Saratoga Springs, a sister Patricia Green of Saratoga Springs and his grandson Channing Hawk Green of Gansevoort.

Calling hours were held on Monday at the Tunison Funeral Home, 105 Lake Ave., in Saratoga Springs. Funeral services were held at the Gerald B H Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.

Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Clint Green, 105 Lake Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Online remembrances can be made at www.tunisonfuneralhome.com

Gail M. Olley WEST MILTON — Gail M. Olley, 72, passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Saratoga Hospital with her loving family by her side.

Born in Schenectady on May 3, 1943, she was the daughter of Elizabeth Piotrowski and the late Edward Piotrowski of Schenectady. Gail was a loving and devoted wife and mother.

In addition to her father, she was predeceased by her husband Gary Olley.

Survivors include her son Edward Olley (Joan) of Middle Grove, daughter Deborah Drapala (Chris) of Charlton and son Richard Olley (Connie) of Scotia; her mother Elizabeth Piotrowski of Schenectady; brother Ron Piotrowski (Carol) of Rotterdam and many grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

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(518) 581-2480 x 205 See full obituaries at saratogatodaynewspaper.com

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016 The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Saratoga Hospital for the great care that they provided and a special thanks to Dr. Wang for his compassionate care.

A memorial service will take place, at a later date, at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

Harold L. Crandall PFLUGERVILLE, TX — Harold L. Crandall, formerly of Saratoga Springs, passed away at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, TX on Tuesday February 9, 2016. He was 87.

Born on December 12, 1928 in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late George and Amy (Lester) Crandall. He worked for the Saratoga County Highway Dept. until his retirement. Harold enjoyed sketching, wood carving, football, riding his scooter and he never turned down a dessert.

In addition to his parents, Harold was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ella (Harrington) Crandall; two sisters, Dorothy Harrington and Helen Ernst and two brothers, John and George Crandall.

Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway in Saratoga Springs. A funeral home service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. and burial will be in the spring.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

Jeffery L. Johnson SARATOGA SPRINGS — Jeffery L. Johnson of Ballston Spa passed away on February 8, 2016. Jeff was born in Saratoga Springs to Alice and Hamp Johnson, Sr. on October 22, 1956. Jeff proudly served in the Army following high school. He was an avid reader and enjoyed music and fishing.

Mr. Johnson was predeceased by his father; brothers, Hamp Johnson Jr. and Percy Johnson; and sister, Marlene Johnson Glass. He is survived by his loving mother; son, Bryson Johnson; brothers, James Earl Johnson and David Johnson; and niece, Kristalin Kendra Glass.

A burial, with military honors, will take place at the Gerald B.H. National Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Tunison Funeral Home. 105 Lake Ave., in Saratoga Springs.

Kathleen (Katie) M. Barber SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kathleen (Katie) M. Barber passed away on February 10, 2016. She was 83 years old. Born on January 1,1933 in Ballston Spa, she was the daughter of the late Arline Smith and James Fitzgerald.

OBITUARIES 7 She retired from the Wesley Nursing Home where she worked for 21 years as a baker and salad chef.

She enjoyed horseracing, ballot, football and had an infatuation with shoes. She was also a good seamstress and liked to crochet.

Katie was a loving mother and grandmother. She was cherished by her family and friends.

She was predeceased by a brother, Harry. Survivors include her daughter, Wendy Carpenter (Mark) of St. Hedwig, TX, three sons, Robert (Toni) of Saratoga Springs, Daniel (Robin), Lady Lake, FL, Timothy (Merci) of Saratoga Springs, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one niece, Coleen Wooley, one sister-in-law, Donna Smith and cousin, Dorothy Martinez and several other cousins.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the Tunison Funeral Home, 105 Lake Ave., in Saratoga Springs. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Tunison Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at tunisonfuneralhome.com.

John Leslie Campbell SARATOGA SPRINGS — John Leslie (Les) Campbell, 92, passed away in his sleep on Monday, February 8, 2016. He was born May 31, 1923 to the late John and Ruth (Miller) Campbell in North Arlington, NJ. He loved his Lord and Savior, his wife, and his family.

Survivors include his wife Mary Bell of 62 years; his three daughters, Nancy (Michael) Dore, Beth Comer, and Joan (John) Merboth; seven grandchildren, Kevin (Erin) Dore, Christina (Brian) Strohman, Daniel Comer, Christopher (Jennie) Dore, Austin Merboth, Ryan (Anna) Dore, and Shannon Merboth; four great-grandchildren, John Michael Dore, Andrew Dore, Zachary Strohman and Lily Dore, to whom he was adoringly called “Poppy.” In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his only sister, Miriam Campbell Palladino Schilde.

Les Campbell was a near life-long resident of Fair Lawn, NJ, both before and after his marriage in 1953. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he was awarded an international teaching scholarship to New Zealand, where he taught at an all-girls high school for one year. Returning home via an around-the-world trip, he married his wife Mary Bell and raised three daughters. He was a Science/Biology teacher at Thomas Jefferson Jr. High School and at Fair Lawn High School. In 1963 he was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Act foreign teaching exchange scholarship and took his young family to London, England for a year teaching at the Southaw School in Southgate, England. After returning home and earning his Master’s Degree in education administration, he left the classroom and became an administrator at FLHS until his retirement in 1985, serving 40 years in the Fair Lawn public schools.

Whereas education was his career, ministry and teaching the Bible was his greatest gift and love, and he served as an elder, ministered, taught and helped lead the congregation at Valley Bible Chapel in Washington Township, NJ passionately and faithfully.

Les and Mary left Fair Lawn to spend their retirement years with family in Saratoga Springs.

A time of gathering was held at the Northway Bible Chapel, Corner of Moe and Par Del Rio Roads in Clifton Park on Friday, February 12, 2016. Visitation was held followed by a memorial service. Burial with military honors was held at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML), P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

Winifred “Audrey” Bresee ALABASTER, AL – Winifred “Audrey” Bresee, formerly of Gloversville, died on January 22, 2016, at the age of 93. Audrey was a resident of Saratoga Springs for 48 years.

Audrey graduated from Gloversville High School in 1940.

She attended Brodean Business School and worked at FJ&G Railroad, both in Gloversville. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Round Lake Methodist Church and the VFW Auxiliary. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband of 57 years, William “Bill” Nelson Bresee; her son, Sgt. Ronald William Bresee “The Breeze” and her son-in-law, Harry Stanford “Stan” Gossett, Jr. Survivors include her daughter, Lu Ann Gossett of Calera, AL; grandchildren, Jennifer Genereux (Peter), Lisa Smith (Donny), Nicholas Gossett (Ekaterina) and Rodney Bresee and six great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be conducted in the spring at Maplewood Cemetery in Saratoga Springs.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the Saratoga County Humane Society, 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.

Jerrold (Jerry) T. Lant SARATOGA SPRINGS — Jerrold (Jerry) T. Lant, 61, passed away on Sunday, February 14, 2016 in Las Vegas where he had lived for the last six years. Originally from Saratoga Springs, Jerry was the son of the late James and Kathleen Lant. Mr. Lant is survived by his large family, sisters Karen Harrison and Roberta Lant, both of Saratoga Springs, brother James (wife Wylene) of Port Charlotte, FL, brother John (wife) Susan of Wilton, several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends of Bill W. in Saratoga, Clifton Park and Las Vegas.

Jerry’s last wishes were entrusted to the McDermott Funeral Home of Las Vegas, NV. A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at a later date.

Freelance Writers Wanted It's pretty busy all year long here in Saratoga Springs, but as the City takes a collective deep breath and prepares to pull out all the stops for racing season, we'd like to build our freelance writing stable.

Looking for solid writers who have a familiarity with Saratoga Springs and its neighboring towns. If that's you, and you like to write about local government, agriculture, education, STEM, families, and general community news, please send your resume and writing samples to our Newsroom Manager, Norra Reyes, at norra@saratogapublishing.com.

8

NEWS

From the Publisher’s Desk . . .

Angels Among Us

by Chad Beatty Saratoga TODAY As many of you know, I lost my mother to ovarian cancer in late January.

A strong woman not willing to give up, she battled the insidious disease for 6 long years. To family and friends it was like a brutal boxing match with mom winning round after round until she had no more fight left in her. Unfortunately the odds were stacked against her because it was two against one…mom vs. chemo and

cancer. Even on her deathbed she had a smile on her face and positive words for those around her.

Despite the pain she suffered through during those final weeks, she was completely at peace with her circumstances. She had made the most of her time on earth; she had given 100 percent to the things she felt were most important; she had faith in a loving God, and she was ready to move on.

I unfortunately found that I was not at all prepared for what I knew was coming.

It was during this time that I realized I was surrounded by some truly incredible people. The calls, cards, hugs and help I received were nothing short of amazing. It seemed as though at every low, a card would arrive or my phone would ring with a kind word and prayer.

By coincidence or divine

intervention, the toughest times were always soothed by equal doses of love, sympathy and support. They may have been family, friends, coworkers or acquaintances, but they all gave of themselves and for that I am truly grateful.

I know it’s easy to sit back and complain about the insensitivity and cruelty of man as we listen to headlines of ISIS, racism and greed, but for every evil deed there is an angel among us. I saw them firsthand as they carried me when I stumbled. They cried with me and they laughed with me as we remembered a great woman.

The circle of life is filled with ups and down, and without the heartache we never truly enjoy the beauty that surrounds us every day.

So this week enjoy the crisp air, play in the snow, and show everyone how much you love them.

God Bless.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Deepest Thanks from the Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Committee SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two years ago the Saratoga Springs City Council initiated – in partnership with the US Department of Defense’s Vietnam War Commemoration – a program to honor all Vietnam Era Veterans and their families on the occasion of the War’s 50th Anniversary.

Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War’s lasting impact on the social, political and cultural life of an entire generation of Americans, and the incalculable burden carried by those who served and the family members they left behind, this was no mean feat.

The members of Saratoga Springs Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration Committee were honored to have been assigned the responsibility of designing and presenting an appropriate and dignified program worthy of the shared sacrifices of the entire Vietnam Era veteran community. We hope we have succeeded.

Along the way several Commemorative events – some solemn or thought provoking, some joyful or melancholy – have been held, culminating with the November 21 “Tribute” hosted by the Saratoga Springs City Center.

Now the members of the Commemoration Committee pause to thank the entire community for its support. We are particularly indebted to the following: • The Saratoga Springs City Council • The Governor’s Office • The County Board of Supervisors • The Saratoga Springs Public Library and staff • The Saratoga Springs Dept. of Public Works • The NYS Military Museum and staff • The NYS Army National Guard • ITAM • The Saratoga Springs City Center Authority and staff • The Academy for Lifelong Learning and staff • The SUNY Adirondack

Senior Lecture Series • Skidmore College (Prof.

David Kieran and the students of his class “The Vietnam War in American Memory”) • The Saratoga Springs Senior Center • The Saratoga-Wilton Elks Club and Flag Day Parade Committee • Saratoga Springs High School History Department and the High School Chorus • The Capital District Chapter of the Association of the United States Army • The Saratoga Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution • DeCrescente Distributing Company • The Holiday Inn • Saratoga Flag • Stewart’s Shops • Saratoga TODAY, for the comprehensive coverage it gave our programming over the period of the last two years. We are grateful.

Finally, and above all else, we thank our Vietnam Era veterans for allowing their shared experience to be recognized and their service honored.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them” Very truly yours, The Saratoga Springs Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Committee John Arpey, Mark Baker, Lew Benton, chair, Courtney Burns, Bill Carey, Jim Coyne, Joe Dalton, MaryAnn Fitzgerald, Barry Hartman, Jim Hartman, Patricia Huggins, Gayle LaSalle, Nick Laiacona, Hon. Peter Martin, Hon. Roy McDonald, Bob Mitchell, Ray Nichols, Ed Questel, Gene Ratigliano, Lou Schneider, Ernie Verni, David Waghorn, Susan Waghorn, Dave Walling ford and Hon. Joanne Yepsen, Ex-Officio

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

NEWS 9

Toward A “Smart City”

Presentation Sets Roadmap For Saratoga Springs to Be High-Speed Broadband Leader

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — A city that is doing well can reach for an even better quality of life for all it’s citizens, by investing in its infrastructure. Two weeks ago (Issue of February 5), we detailed the commitment that the City of Saratoga Springs was making to develop and promote solar technology for itself and its citizenry. In the same vein, a presentation made to the Saratoga Springs City Council

by Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan on Tuesday, February 16 detailed a path where the city would become a leader in developing and providing highspeed broadband to all stakeholders in businesses, schools, government, hospitals and the public at large.

Commissioner Madigan announced the formation of a “Smart-City Commission,” that is composed of representatives of a diverse community that would benefit from access to broadband.

The Commission’s mission statement detailed the broad goals they hope to accomplish. Stating that, “…Broadband and Internet access at globally competitive speeds are no longer optional luxuries, but have become essential resources for residents, businesses, service providers, and government,” the new Commission will work towards making Saratoga Springs become a model intelligent Community.

The concept of a “Smart City” is one of the core ideas of the Intelligent Communities Forum (IC). IC hosts an annual competition each year known as the “Intelligent Community of the Year Awards: Smart21 Communities of the Year.” As the members of the “Smart-City” Commission work through the application, the hope is for a specific, detailed pathway that accounts for the unique needs of our community will emerge, and further help strengthen and inform the “Smart City” Commission about its vision, mission, objectives, and our region’s strengths and challenges. Completing the application is thus a near term goal of this Commission.

This will entail a detailed assessment of broad indicators that provide communities with a framework for future planning and

development, as they work to build prosperous local economies in the Broadband Economy, and are a cornerstone for attaining Smart City status. These will include: Broadband: Intelligent Communities express a strong vision of their broadband future, develop strategies to encourage deployment and adoption, and may construct infrastructure of their own.

Knowledge Workforce: Intelligent Communities exhibit the determination and ability to develop a workforce qualified to perform knowledge work in every area of the economy.

Innovation: Intelligent Communities pursue innovation through the Innovation Triangle or “Triple Helix” – relationships between business, government and institutions such as universities and hospitals, help keep the economic benefits of innovation local, and create an innovation ecosystem that can engage the entire community in positive change.

- Digital Equality: Intelligent Communities promote digital equality by creating policies and programs that provide offline citizens with access to computers and broadband, by providing skills training and by promoting a vision of the benefits that the broadband economy can bring to their lives.

- Sustainability: Communities that use fewer resources to create products and provide services are also more efficient and productive, which is key to continued improvements in their standard of living.

- Advocacy: A community’s leaders and citizens can be a barrier to progress or can become its most powerful advocates for a better future.

Intelligent Communities work to engage leaders, citizens and organizations as champions of change.

The “Smart City” Commission has an impressive composition, including some of our City’s best and brightest leaders in information technology, diversely drawn from the City’s schools, colleges, medical facilities and business, as well as government. Some appointments are still pending, but as currently constituted, the members have more than enough intellectual power to put the City of Saratoga Springs on the road to become a Smart City in the near future: - John Mangona –Vice President, Chief Information and Compliance Officer, Saratoga Hospital

- Martin Vanags- President, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership - David L’hommedieu- Assistant Superintendent of Information Technology and Operational Innovation, Saratoga Springs City School District - William Duffy, Chief Technology Officer, Skidmore College - Christopher R. Markham, Chief

Technology Officer, SUNY Empire State College - Donald Flinton - Computer Services Manager , Saratoga Springs Public Library - Kevin Kling- Director, Information Technology, City of Saratoga Springs - Art Ware - Member at Large - Tim Holmes – President,

Saratoga Springs DBA - Matt Veitch - Saratoga Springs County Supervisor - A member of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Committee (TBA) - Lynn Bachner - Deputy Commissioner of Finance - Michele MadiganCommissioner of Finance

10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader Response to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Workshop A reader sent the following to Mayor Yepsen, Deputy Mayor Ogden, City Planning and Economic Development Staff, Behan Planning and Design Consultants, and the media. It’s been edited for space, as all letters are, but the full letter can be found on SaratogaTODAYnewspaper.com.

Thank you for holding the UDO Workshop for the public on February 4.

Homeowners from all over the city attended the Neighborhood and Community Character session of the UDO Workshop. Most if not all homeowners expressed the same concerns.

We do not want additional commercial uses allowed in our residential neighborhoods. The language in the recently approved 2015 Comprehensive Plan states that “existing neighborhood-scale commercial uses may currently exist to complement residential uses” in residential neighborhoods.

Therefore, to maintain in the Zoning Ordinance this intent, there should be no changes in the Residential Zoning Districts in Section 2.2, Table 2: Districts Use Schedule. Also, there should be no

reduction in city oversight.

We do not want additional density in our residential neighborhoods.

The 2015 Comprehensive Plan kept density levels for every type of residential neighborhood at the same maximum levels as in the 2001 Comprehensive Plan.

To maintain current density levels in Residential Zoning Districts, required lot sizes should not be reduced; the maximum allowable coverage for a building on a lot should not be increased; and setbacks should not be decreased. If anything, setbacks (front, side and rear yards) should be increased in all Residential Zoning Districts.

We are hopeful that our voices were heard on February 4, 2016 and that our concerns will be addressed in all forthcoming drafts developed by the UDO writers. We look forward to reviewing all future drafts and working with you to rewrite this most important document, our city’s Zoning Ordinance. For additional information go to the UDO website: www.saratogaspringsudo.com.

Thank you again.

Maureen A. Curtin Saratoga Springs

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Standing Up for Residents

I was disappointed to read the letter to the editor in the Feb. 12 edition of Saratoga TODAY from former mayor A.C. Riley, a person for whom I have great respect and admiration. The letter criticized the present Saratoga Springs City Council for not approving the Saratoga Hospital’s plan to expand their Planned Unit Development into property historically zoned as residential.

Three affirmative votes would have been required for the hospital’s plans to put a 75,000 sq. ft. professional building on Morgan Street. Since two Council members recused themselves from the vote and two seemed to be leaning towards approval, it was my decision that ended up blocking this project.

I explained to the hospital administrators that, though I fully appreciate

the progress that our hospital has achieved over the many years that I have lived here, I could not support their proposal. The idea of a professional building in close proximity to the hospital is a worthy goal and one that many other hospitals have achieved by building on their existing campuses with multi-story structures and parking garages. I suggested that they use a similar approach.

Morgan St. is a narrow thoroughfare with poor visibility. The anticipated doubling of vehicular traffic would not be well tolerated. The three parcels in question are historic and represent one of the few remaining bucolic settings within City limits.

It is especially troubling that Mrs. Riley would characterize the reaction of those living in proximity to this project as a whim. Many

of those living in the neighborhood who came to the four City Council public hearings expressed their support for the hospital in their efforts to improve the delivery of healthcare in our community. However, they were disappointed that a change on future land use for property that would have a direct local effect was approved without their knowledge or input. They listed many valid reasons for their opposition to the project. Their reactions should not be so easily dismissed.

Mrs. Riley should know that I always take issues that are before the City Council very seriously and try to find the best solution for our community.

Chris Mathiesen Commissioner of Public Safety Saratoga Springs

Got a Sidewalk? You’re Liable. A Few Tips:

It’s no wonder that in the past few years several publications have named Saratoga Springs as one of the best small cities in the United States to live in. A big part of the attraction is our lovely, historic, walkable downtown district. However, last winter, with its cruel mix of early season snow, followed by freezing rain and weeks of frigid temperatures, left a sheet of unstable ice on many of our city’s sidewalks. Broadway was in

good shape, however, as most businesses got the sidewalks in front of their stores cleared promptly, but the same cannot be said of surrounding residential neighborhoods.

I suspect that many city residents may not be fully aware of the city’s code regarding the clearing of snow and ice in front of their properties. Homeowners are required to clear the paved sidewalk in front of their house by removing both snow

Saratoga TODAY Letters to the Editor Policy

Letters to the Editor in response to a Saratoga TODAY article or local issue are welcome. Letters should be 250 words or less. Preference is given to typed, concise letters. All letters are subject to editing for length or clarity. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. Letters must include the writer’s name, address and a daytime phone number for confirmation, but only the writer’s name and town will be printed. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Letters to the editor, opinion and editorial columns and articles submitted to Saratoga TODAY may be published in print, electronic or other forms. We reserve the right not to publish a letter.

Submit to Norra@saratogapublishing.com.

and ice within twelve hours after a snowstorm ends. If there is no pavement, they must shovel or snow-blow a path four feet in width. Last winter, city officials had noticed how icy many sidewalks were, and they made an effort to notify homeowners by placing notices on their doors. This educational effort was wise and hopefully will alleviate future problems, as folks will now understand their civic responsibilities.

For those dreading going out in the cold to shovel, there are some clear health benefits that may serve as a motivational tool! Shoveling by hand burns anywhere from 285-380 calories per hour, depending on the size of the individual and the effort expended. Then, once the sidewalk is cleared and you can walk around downtown, Congress Park, and the State Park, burning about 250-300 calories in three miles of walking at a moderate pace, 15 minutes per mile.

Finally, for those still too nervous to wander about downtown due to a fear of falling on slippery surfaces, there are many traction devices available that fit easily onto the bottom of a boot or shoe that grip and give added security. YAKTRAX are perhaps the best known, and are found at many shops, including EMS and Dick’s. Other products include: STABILicers, Kako Ice Trekkers, and Kahtoola Microspikes.

In summary, there’s no reason to not get outside and enjoy all that downtown Saratoga has to offer all year long! So let’s be vigilant and energized about clearing the sidewalks and paths in front of our homes so we can all get outside this winter and have some fun!

Maureen E. Roberts Saratoga Springs

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

NEWS 11

Two Congress Park Projects Recognized at APWA Annual Awards Luncheon SARATOGA SPRINGS — Congratulations are in order for City of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation Executive Director Samantha Bosshart, and those who worked on the restoration of the Spirit of Life and Spencer Trask Memorial.

On February 5, the American Public Works Association recognized the two projects completed by the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works with the American Public Works Association Capital Branch Award. The Spirit of Life and Spencer Trask Memorial Restoration Project was selected for Historical/ Restoration under $5 million. In addition, the category of Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair under $5 million was awarded for

Left to right: SSPF Board member James Gold, Tom Keyes and Shawn Lock of PCC Contracting,City of Saratoga Springs Assistant Engineer Debbie LaBreche, SSPF Executive Director Samantha Bosshart, Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, Jimmy Capobianco of Mid-State Industries, and Mark Thaler of Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture and Preservation.

the Canfield Casino Ballroom Roof Reinforcing and Ceiling Stabilization. These awards highlight the Saratoga Springs DPW and their partners for their achievements in 2015.

Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation

Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs. For more information please visit www. saratogapreservation.org.

Hail To Tony!

30 Years of Service at City Hall SARATOGA SPRINGS — A trusted authority – appointed by eight consecutive Mayors – Democrats and Republicans. The undisputed ‘go-to’ person for all interpretations of the City’s Charter and countless other nuances of Saratoga Springs’ governance. A man who consistently goes the extra mile to assure the most definitive and thorough answers to countless inquiries. Perhaps most of all, a great guy who goes about his business with good cheer and a love for the history of his city.

All these reasons, plus more – led the Saratoga Springs City Council to write and sign a proclamation

The entire Saratoga Springs City Council presented Tony Izzo with a proclamation commemorating his 30 years of service as Assistant City Attorney. Photo by Gayle LaSalle.

commemorating Anthony “Tony” Izzo and his 30 years of service to the city as Assistant City Attorney at the Council’s meeting on Tuesday, February 16 – which was named “Tony Izzo Day” in the city. Usually,

Tony writes these proclamations – but not this special one.

Well done, Council, and Bravo Tony! – From your friends at Saratoga TODAY.

-Arthur Gonick

Healthcare Financing Reform Film

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Fixit, Healthcare at the Tipping Point, is a documentary film proposing reform in healthcare financing, and it will be presented by the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, on Monday, February 29, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. A discussion following each showing of the film will be

facilitated by Dr. David Ray, Chair, Capital District Chapter, Physicians for a National Health Program, and member, Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare.

This new 55-minute film looks in depth at how the dysfunctional and inefficient financing of our healthcare system damages our economy, suffocates our businesses, discourages physicians, and

negatively affects the nation’s health while it remains unaffordable for a third of our citizens.

This event is free and open to the public. If the library is closed due to adverse weather, the film will be shown on March 1. For further information, contact the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County, www.lwvsaratoga.org.

12

NEWS

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

A Brighter Day For Blue Code Blue Partnership with United Way Announced

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — Always nice to report progress - particularly when the community and its leadership come together to solve a problem. Three weeks ago (Issue dated January 29), we reported that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, in requiring local shelters to be in operation when the temperature reaches 32 degrees or below, issued an unfunded mandate, Executive Order 151.

The City of Saratoga Springs’ Code Blue Shelter had its “triggering” temperature at 20 degrees - a benchmark that has been used by many similar organizations throughout the state. The Code Blue Shelter, which is operated by Shelters of Saratoga at the Salvation Army on Woodlawn Avenue had not been resisting the State mandate, but was struggling to secure the funds it would need to operate for the many extra

nights this would involve, as well as volunteers to work at the facility. Shelters of Saratoga’s (SOS) Executive Director Mike Finocchi had estimated that it would take an estimated $32,000 to make up the cost difference.

All this changed, and for the better, on Tuesday, February 16, when Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen announced the formation of a partnership between the City of Saratoga Springs and the United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR) to benefit Code Blue. A drive has been launched to raise the necessary $32,000, and UWGCR President and CEO Brian Hassett was on hand to present Code Blue the first $8,000 on Tuesday.

“This is why we exist,” Hassett stated. “We have four platforms that we focus on and one is basic needs – food, shelter, safety. We’ve been working in the community for 90 years and when there is a need or a problem, we’re here. We

are the friend you can call in the middle of the night.”

Mayor Yepsen, who was instrumental in establishing the city’s Code Blue facility just prior to taking office in 2014, stated that the eventual goal is to have a year-round operational emergency shelter. This phase and the campaign to raise the funds for the goal of having Code Blue open every winter evening when the temperature drops to 32 degrees, is a very important step towards that goal. Noting last weekend’s frigid temperatures, well below zero, the Mayor spoke to the ongoing need, “without Code Blue, people would have likely died on our streets,” she said.

“We are thankful to Mayor Yepsen and the United Way of the Greater Capital Region for stepping up and help make a difference,” Finocchi said “It’s amazing how much the community gets involved.” He cited statistics showing what a difference Code Blue actually makes. “Last year, we had 14 people transition from Code Blue into our program at Shelters of Saratoga. None of these people have been back this winter,” he said.

Here’s the part where you can make a difference too. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to help Code Blue reach its goal may

Photos by Francesco D’Amico

L to R: Mayor Joanne Yepsen, Shelters of Saratoga’s (SOS) Executive Director Mike Finocchi, Cheryl Ann Murphy-Parant, Code Blue Saratoga program director, United Way of the Greater Capital Region President and CEO Brian Hassett

United Way of the Greater Capital Region presented $8,000 to kick off Code Blue’s $32,000 fund drive.

Salvation Army Major Les Bussey

go to a special webpage set up by the United Way. Visit www.unitedtoconquer.org. All donations made through this page will go to Code Blue.

Also, if you are already contributing to the United Way through payroll deductions or other methods, Hassett told me that the United Way staff would be delighted to assist anyone who wants to designate that their contributions be earmarked for Code Blue. Call the UWGCR staff at

518-456-2200, or visit www.unitedwaygcr.org to do this.

And, of course, volunteers are always needed. Visit www. codebluesaratoga.org to sign up for daily shift schedules.

With the United Way contribution, and It’s fundraising support, a major step was taken towards a better life for many in need on the streets of our community. Like Code Blue itself, this is something every citizen should be proud of.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

BALLSTON SPA 9 Parkwood Dr., $227,550.

Roy and Shirley Paine sold property to Brian and Amy Hall.

CHARLTON 466 Stage Rd., $150,700. Robert Gardiner sold property to James Rogers and Katie Loukes.

Charlton Rd., $37,500. Curtis and Deborah Marsh sold property to Katz Excavating and Construction LLC.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

65 Arrow Wood Place, $163,000. Susan Champlin sold property to Ronnie Delap.

MILTON 48 Ralph St., $75,000. Peter and Darcy Jones sold property to Muk Yuen.

35 Whippletree Rd., $136,000.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development sold property to Christine Levy.

$200,000. Michael and Catherine Murphy sold property to Garrett and Sarah Thompson.

219 Regent St., $365,000. Paul and Meredith VonSchenk sold property to Erin Bach-Lloyd and Meredith VonSchenk.

3 East Broadway, $97,000.

Kendra Heeney sold property to Bonacio Construction Inc.

97 Greenfield Ave., $148,500.

Melissa Eaton sold property to Rachel Taylor.

1 Van Dorn St., $341,500.

Lawrence, Diane and Douglas Ward sold property to Eric and Caitlin Stefanik.

31 Eggleston St., $37,600.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC sold property to Korey Allen.

46 Eastern Ave., $164,500.

Angelique and John Kaiser sold property to Julianne Torres.

203 Division St., $175,000.

Carolyn Maloney sold property to Glyn and Patricia Chilton.

483 Angel Rd., $72,000.

William Carlton and Karla Wyckoff-Carlton sold property to Eugene and Arlene Joubert.

1 Coachman Dr., $181,000.

Daniel and Rebecca Wells sold property to Steven and Melissa Stein.

19 Elizabeth Lane, $275,000.

Joseph Grillo and Hilary Preston sold property to Robert Duncan.

CORINTH

GALWAY 4611 McConchie Rd. $157,000. US Bank National Association (as Trustee) sold property to Thomas and Sharon Lyng.

6136 Jockey St., $148,000.

Martha Beauchamp sold property to Matthew and Meagan Bartlett.

GREENFIELD Lot 3 Griffin Rd., $32,500.

Maureen Jestude sold property to Michael Germain.

27 Hoffman Rd., $5,000. Janice Mastromarchi sold property to William and Laura Wozniak.

MALTA 16 Glade Mallow Rd., $250,000.

Robert and Lisa Petta sold property to Glen Shields.

11 Rum Cherry Rd., $239,900.

Jami Sautter and Kelly Law sold property to Michael Foster.

36-40 Maltaville Rd., $125,000.

Sukhdev Singh and Gurmail Briana sold property to Sukhdev Singh.

139 Wineberry Lane, $271,000.

Andrew and Sue Mawdesley sold property to Stephen and Taryn Woodard.

NORTHUMBERLAND

WILTON

7 James Ct., $155,000. Ray and Nancy Miller sold property to Randy and Robin Countermine.

26 Cider Mill Way, $499,334.

Smith Bridge LLC sold property to Menderes Cirakoglu.

113 Rimbrave Dr., $139,000.

Stormy Barrett sold property to Amy Harrington.

32 Nicklaus Dr., $219,900.

Michael and Jean Mango sold property to Dennis Fogarty.

SARATOGA 13 Morgans Run, $103,000. US Bank Trust (as Trustee by Atty) sold property to James and Susan Bowen.

7 Hill Rd., $581,000. Jay and Linda Dickstein sold property to Terry Forrester and Suzanne Hermitage.

Lot 8 Burgoyne Rd., $110,000.

Tony and Kim Mariotti sold property to Peter and Theresa Capozzola.

SARATOGA SPRINGS 21 Pamela Lane, $424,884.

Blitman Saratoga LLC sold property to Louis and Ann Petruccelli.

37 Jackson St., $297,000. Betty Doyle Life Estate (by Atty) sold property to John Catillaz and Taber Carpenter-Catillaz.

46 Park St., $335,000. John Inman and Rebekah Rice sold property to Aaron Lewis and Katie Cooper-Lewis.

40 Wagon Wheel Trail,

85 Ernst Rd., $36,700. Robert and Cathy Boucher sold property to Jeana Boucher and Kevin Labas.

4 Carefree Lane, $310,000.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society (as Trustee, by Atty) and Christiana Trust DBA (as Trustee, by Atty) sold property to Jeffrey Smith.

Harran Lane, $200,000.

Jeanann Dennis (as Exec and Sole beneficiary), Michael Dennis (by Exec) and George Arakelian sold property to Thomas Roohan.

5 Paddington Dr., $432,000.

James and Lynn McColl sold property to Kurt and Joanne Seastrand.

4 Chestnut Hill Dr., $150,000.

RJ Taylor Builders Inc. sold property to Bradley and Erika Borman.

12 Oldham Place, $435,230. Tra Tom Development Inc., sold property to Michael Brown and Jennifer Trudeau-Brown.

11 Briar Lane, $386,000. Paul Dopman and Kara MackeyDopman sold property to Ashley Long and Ronald Schorpp.

13 4 Evergreen Dr., $182,500. Blue View Corporation sold property to Frank and Dian Sansiveri.

14

BUSINESS

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

More Luxury Apartments in Saratoga Springs The Hamlet Opens in Fresh Market Commons

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Prime Companies offered community stakeholders and public officials the first preview of the Spa’s newest luxury apartment complex

during a tour of the ongoing construction at The Hamlet at Saratoga Springs. The week before, the Hamlet began holding its first open house and rentals are

currently in progress.

The mixed-use complex is located adjacent to the Fresh Market Plaza, which is also owned

by Prime Companies and leased

by Coldwell Banker Commercial Prime Properties. The Hamlet at Saratoga Springs features 55 luxury units, indoor and covered parking, private balconies, an extravagant clubhouse, and 24/7 customer care. The complex is scheduled to complete phase one construction in late February.

“We are excited to provide an exclusive first glance at the area’s newest luxury apartment complex as we complete construction of The Hamlet at Saratoga Springs,” said Ken Raymond, owner of

Prime Companies. “This property is defined by elegance and convenience as it combines maintenance-free upscale living with retail options in one elite location.”

Tour attendees received exclusive access to the complex’s signature features, including the exercise facility, rooftop garden, pet area, clubhouse, private balconies, and apartments offering stainless steel appliances, tiled bathrooms, quartz countertops, furnishings and more.

The Hamlet at Saratoga Springs is the latest offering from Prime Companies, a Capital Region leader in residential and commercial real estate development, brokerage, hospitality, and

property management. Prime Companies owns and operates five other high-end apartment complexes in the Capital Region as well as four hotels, including the Pavilion Grand Hotel in Saratoga Springs, recently recognized by The Huffington Post as one of the “Ten Top Small But Surprisingly Posh Inns in the Northeast US.” The Hamlet at Saratoga Springs is currently accepting applications for one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. For more information, call 518-5848203 or visit www.thehamletatsaratogasprings.com for floor plans, amenities, photos, and more.

A view of the entrance and kitchen area from the living room of the model apartment.

Prime Companies showcased The Hamlet at Saratoga Springs luxury apartment complex during a tour with community stakeholders and public officials on Wednesday, February 10.

The apartments offer a dog space on the roof, conveniently fenced, drained, and maintained so owners can allow their pets to run free on days when they cannot take them for a walk (baggies conveniently supplied).

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

BUSINESS BRIEFS 15

Meg Minehan of Roohan Realty to serve on the GCAR Board of Directors.

Joanna Rockwood, Valerie Thompson, Meg Minehan, Jack Minehan, Earline Johnson, Kate R. Naughton and Christine Hogan Barton.

Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) Installs Board of Directors TROY — The Empire State Society of Association Executives installed new and directors to its board of directors on Thursday, February 11, 2016 during the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet held at the Renaissance Hotel in Albany.

ESSAE’s newly elected directors include: Rita Ferris,

President, Northeastern Retail Lumber Association, Todd Garofano, President, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, Alison Ritchie, Director of Program Operations, NYS Dispute Resolution Association, and Kathy Van De Loo, President & CEO, Association Development Group.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Roohan Realty is proud and excited to announce that Meg Minehan was sworn in as a Director for the Greater Capital Association of Realtors® (GCAR) at the recent induction ceremony and dinner held at the Albany Country Club. Elected by the membership of GCAR, Meg will serve a threeyear term as a Director and also

serve on the Panel for Review of Professional Standards decisions.

Meg is an alumnus of the Leadership Saratoga program and a 32-year veteran of the real estate industry. She is an Associate Broker, Corporate Trainer and Transaction Facilitator with Roohan Realty. Meg can be reached at meg@roohanrealty.com or 518.366.3325, or visit her website at www.megminehan.com.

New Agents Join Julie & Co. Realty Real Estate Brokerage Continues to Grow

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Julie & Co. Realty, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of five new real estate agents. Pictured from Left to Right Linda Munro, Cara Carley, Tina Nigro, Angela Amedio and

Michael Bannon (not pictured) have all joined the growing team.

All of the agents are residents of Saratoga Springs and are very knowledgeable about the housing market in this area and the surrounding

Capital District. They bring with them different areas of specialty, years of experience, numerous accolades and a passion for real estate.

We are fortunate to have such a great variety of agents on our team.

16

Life Skills Class Donates to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital SCHUYLERVILLE – A group of Schuylerville Elementary School students is using the skills they learned in class to help give to sick children. Students in Amy Jordan’s life skills class donated $500 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from the profits they earned by running the Holiday Shoppe in December.

“We were very excited when PEP (Parents as Education Partners) asked our class to help with the Holiday Shoppe,” Jordan said. “It was wonderful to watch the students take the concepts they’ve learned running the SMILES school store and carry them over to another project.”

A representative from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently visited Jordan’s class to accept the donation. After the visit, the children

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

It’s a Girl!!!

Todd and Naomi Gillespie welcomed a daughter, Abigail, on December 28, 2015. Abigail decided they wanted to continue to help out.

The students sold Valentine’s Day carnations on Friday, Feb. 12

for $1.50 each. All of the profits will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

weighed 5 lbs., 7 oz., and was 17 ¾ in. long. The Gillespie family resides in Waterford, NY.

Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Celebrate 64 Years

Child Auditions for New York City Ballet at SPAC SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that children's auditions for New York City Ballet’s July performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at SPAC will be held on Sunday, March 13 at The School of the Arts of the National Museum of Dance, 99 South Broadway, Saratoga

Springs. Dena Abergel, New York City Ballet's Children's Ballet Master, will conduct the auditions at 10 a.m. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

The first round of auditions will be for one petite child ages 7-9 and 4 feet 2 inches to 4 feet 4 inches tall for a non-dancing role. This will be followed by roles for girls ages 9-13 with at

least 2 years of serious ballet training who measure 4 feet 10 inches and below.

Note: dancers taller than the maximum height requirement of 4 feet 10 inches will not be eligible to audition. Children chosen must be available for rehearsals starting July 5. Audition forms are available online at dancemuseum. org and spac.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs chapter of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will celebrate their 64th anniversary with a dinner on March 17 at the Holiday Inn on Broadway.

The group is a fraternal organization that meets once each year on St. Patrick’s Day to honor the patron saint of Ireland and to raise money for local Catholic charitable organizations.

17

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

THIS WEEK’S

SPOTLIGHT SARATOGA CHILDREN’S THEATRE

For children who have a passion for performing arts, Saratoga Children’s Theatre summer camp is a DREAM COME TRUE.

At Saratoga Children’s Theatre we hire dedicated professionals that will enhance your child’s awareness for the arts while enjoying a great summer camp experience, while enhancing your child’s selfesteem. Before and After Care will be available for all camps.

RISING STARS CAMPS (4-6 years) these stars-to-be will learn to explore their creativity through music, storytelling, movement, and arts. Both fun and educational, we have created our Rising Stars program to provide a warm and nurturing environment, giving campers the opportunity to gain a wonderful introduction to the theatrical arts. New this summer we will be offering half day and full day camps for the Rising Stars. All rising stars camos are one week 9am-4pm full day, 9am-12noon half day.

To Advertise in the Summer Camp Guide

Call (518) 581-2480

KIDS CAMPS 4 Sessions - (7-10) Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have the opportunity to perform their show at the end of camp and they are open to the public. Campers will perform on stage at St. Clements Auditorium, Saratoga Springs. Camp hours are 9am-4pm; KIDS camps are 1 or 2 weeks. NEW this summer is 1 Play and 2 week camps.

JUNIOR CAMPS 4 Sessions - (1013 years) Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have

the opportunity to perform in a show at the end of camp and they are open to the public. Campers will be educated in theater performance. NEW this summer is a 1-week Triple Threat camp and 3-2-1 Action camp for children who want to hone in on their acting skills. Campers will perform on stage at St. Clements Auditorium, Saratoga Springs. Camp hours are 9am-4pm.

TEEN TROUPE CAMP - (13-18 years) Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have the opportunity to perform in 4 shows at the end of camp at Skidmore College JBK Theater. Campers will have Master classes with Theater Professionals during their camp experience. NEW this summer is a one-week Audition Prep camp.

Camp hours are 9am-4pm Camp will be held at St. Clements School for the first 2 weeks, the third week of camp is at Skidmore College.

18

EDUCATION

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Commissioner Visits Saratoga STEM

by Jack Rosen for Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs School District was excited Thursday, February 11, to have the chance to host New York’s State Education Commissioner, MaryEllen Elia.

Elia, who was hired by the Board of Regents last May in a unanimous vote by the Board, toured Saratoga Springs School District to both highlight and get an inperson look at the district’s STEM Program.

Elia was joined by Regent Beverly Ouderkirk and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner as well as Superintendent Michael M. Piccirillo and Joseph A. Greco, K-12 Director of Math, Science, and Technology Integration for the Saratoga Springs City School District.

“The Saratoga Springs City School District was very excited to have them witness some of the amazing work that our teachers are doing to strengthen our K-12 STEM pipeline,” said Greco.

“Our programs are getting attention because they are purposeful and align with our vision to provide a rich and relevant curriculum that will prepare all students for success in college or career.

The district administration and school board have worked collaboratively since day one to put the right players in place, provide clear (and visionary) direction, and remove roadblocks to allow teachers and students to flourish.”

Elia’s tour of the District began by checking in on a 6th grade Computer Programing and App Design course at Maple Avenue Middle School. All 6th graders at the school are required to take the class, which teaches them the basics of computer programing and app design, in addition to nurturing student’s problem solving abilities.

The Commissioner then proceeded to Lake Avenue Elementary School, where she engaged in a roundtable discussion with students and teachers regarding the importance of STEM education and training.

The Commissioner also sat in on the 2nd graders’ “Number Talks” practice. “Number Talks” is a mental math teaching technique, designed to help students make better sense of problems and improve their abstract reasoning skills.

The tour concluded with the Commissioner attending four versions of Project Lead the Way. Each is intended to not

NYS Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia took a tour of the STEM education program in the Saratoga Springs City School District. Photo by MarkBolles.com.

only familiarize students with engineering, but to get them to actively participate in it in some way. In the case of kindergarteners, it involves introducing them to the concept of engineering itself, and getting them to identify objects around them that were designed by engineers. In the case of 5th grade students, the project requires they build an autonomous robot that is capable of solving a real-world design problem.

Some take the

Commissioner’s visit as a true vote of confidence in the Saratoga Springs School District’s already well-renowned STEM program.

“It was wonderful to have the Commissioner visit our school district to see first hand the fantastic work our teachers and students are engaged in. We are proud of our school district, and the Commissioner’s visit validated our accomplishments in the area of STEM education and the purposeful work we continue

to do related to Vision 2018,” said Piccirillo.

Others, who like Superintendent Piccirillo have dedicated themselves to the success of the District’s STEM program, were touched by the recognition their hard work was receiving. “I am so thankful that Commissioner Elia was able to see the same remarkable things that I have been seeing every day,” said Greco.

Stillwater Selects Morris for Superintendent STILLWATER — The Stillwater Central School District Board of Education is scheduled to appoint Patricia Morris as Superintendent of Schools at its February 23 Board Meeting. Morris is currently the Middle School Principal at Stillwater Central School District, a position she has held since 2008. Morris has been with Stillwater Central School District since 1992.

“The Board embarked on this process long ago,” said Stillwater Board of Education President Tim Hems.

“Through the hard work of all involved stakeholders such as community members, teachers, parents, students, district staff, and fellow board members, we came to this conclusion. The Board deliberated and discussed the final

Patricia Morris.

candidates at length, and it was a difficult decision having two quality candidates in the final round of interviews.”

The Board offered Morris a three-year agreement with an initial salary of $140,000. She

is expected to begin her duties on July 1. Morris will succeed Superintendent Stanley Maziejka, who is retiring June 30 after serving the district for nearly 10 years.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

$1,000 Scholarships to be Awarded BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Fair announced that ten scholarships in the amount of one thousand dollars each will be awarded to current New York State high school seniors and students enrolled in college.

These scholarships are sponsored by the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and the New York State Showpeoples’ Association.

To qualify, candidates from Saratoga County must be active at the Saratoga County

Fair, and submit their application through the Fair Office no later than Friday, April 8.

Further information is available at the Saratoga County Fair, 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020, through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, and from local high school offices. Application forms are available at www.nyfairs.org.

For more information, please contact the Saratoga County Fair office at 518-885-9701.

School Emergency Response Program SARATOGA SPRINGS — A Parent University program titled “School Emergency Response: Know What to Do” is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held in the Maple Avenue Middle School Large Group Instruction Room (LGI).

The program will be presented by the Saratoga Springs City School District Emergency Response Team and discuss district emergency planning and a parents' role in an emergency. The program will provide basic information

for parent-student reunification and discuss the ongoing effort to keep our students safe. Officers from the NYS Police, Saratoga County Sheriff, and the Saratoga Police Department will explain how they support the school district during an emergency.

Parent University is a community collaboration that offers opportunities for parents and caregivers to continue their learning. All events are open to parents and guardians of all buildings and grade levels.

Galway CSD Potential Capital Improvement Project GALWAY — The Galway Central School District Board of Education will hear a presentation about a potential capital improvement project at its next Board meeting on Thursday, February 25. Residents of the Galway Central School District are encouraged to attend to learn details and ask questions. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Library.

Residents will have two additional opportunities to learn about the items included in the potential

capital improvement project on March 1 and March 8. The two additional presentations will be in the High School Auditorium at 6 p.m.

The general categories that need to be addressed in the potential capital improvement project include: Health, Safety and Accessibility; Infrastructure; Energy Saving Measures; and Community and Stakeholder Input. For more information, visit www. galwaycsd.org/capital or call (518)882-1033.

EDUCATION BRIEFS

19

Schuylerville Kicks Off Read for RMD House

SCHUYLERVILLE —Schuylerville Elementary School students plan to read as many minutes as they can in the month of March, in an effort to help seriously ill children and their families. It’s all part of the “Read for Ronald McDonald House” program, which raises funds to support the Albany Ronald McDonald House.

Students attended a kickoff assembly on Thursday, Feb. 11, where they learned about the program and who they are helping.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to help other children,” school

counselor Cassandra Luthringer said.

“The program furthers our district’s mission. It promotes the value of community service, while encouraging students to read.”

Students wishing to participate will be asking family and friends to sponsor them for any amount of money for every minute that they read during the month of March.

Each day, students will keep track of the number of minutes they read on a special calendar. At the end of the month, they will go back to their sponsors, collect their donations, and

return the donations to school. The donations will then be collected by a Ronald McDonald House representative to help benefit the families of the Albany Ronald McDonald House.

All student participants will receive a personalized participation certificate and three student representatives will be invited to attend the Awards for Excellence Celebration at the Albany Ronald McDonald House. A number of other prizes are available for participating students and schools.

Saratoga Hospital Volunteer Guild Scholarships SARATOGA SPRINGS — Since 1990, the Saratoga Hospital and Nursing Home Volunteer Guild has been offering scholarships to graduating greater Saratoga County seniors accepted into college to study in the healthcare field.

Graduates may be pursuing a broad range of medical careers such as pre-med, nursing, bio-medical research, pharmacology, medical imaging, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, physician’s assistant, mental health, and health care management.

This year, the Guild is offering five $1,500 scholarships. Eligible students must be entering college in September of 2016, have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and a documented record of community

service. Application deadline is April 4 with winners to be honored at the Volunteer Guild’s Annual Recognition Dinner May 19.

Requirements and applications are available at the Front

Desk at Saratoga Hospital; by email request through Betsy St. Pierre, Volunteer Services, Saratoga Hospital at estpierre@saratogacare.org; or w w w. s ar ato g a h o spit a l. org / aboutus/volunteering.

20

FOOD

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Family Ties Strengthen Longlesson Farm Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs Saturdays, 9 to 1 Lincoln Baths, 65 So. Broadway Saratoga Spa State Park

by Jeremy Riccardi for Saratoga TODAY The owners of Longlesson Farm have turned their passion for farming into a thriving family run operation that sells beef, pork, and chicken at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. “It is this lifestyle that we try to share with our customers whether it’s a roasted chicken, a smoked ham or braised beef,” says co-owner and family member Shannon Mason.

Bob and Melanie Mason started Longlesson Farm in 1987. In 2008, their daughter Shannon Mason and son-in-law Christophe Robert and their children joined the business.

Longlesson Farm represents an important sector of the Saratoga regional economy as well as the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The federal agency cites statistics from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization that show about 86 percent of all farms in the United States to be run by families, with one or more family member providing the main source of labor At Longlesson, each family member contributes. “Working as a family is not always easy,” said Mason. “You can’t close the door and go home at the end of a hard day. The farm is both a business and a lifestyle. It is the unconditional love of family that binds the farm and

pushes us through the hard times.”

For Mason, it’s a mutual enjoyment of animals and of sharing family time that makes the hard work worthwhile. “At the end of the day, we stop and gather around the dinner table to share a fine meal,” she said. “Long walks through the fields with the dogs, a leisurely ride on horseback, the children catching crayfish in the creek are reason enough to keep the farm going.”

Working the farm as a family helps each member feel they are a valued part of the business as well as stewards of the land. “It is important to take a step back and remember why you do what you do.”

For the family members, the love of land, family, and experiences at the farmers’ market contribute to their success.

“Farmers’ markets allow our family to share our experiences as well as our fine beef, pork, and chicken with our friends and neighbors and the local community.”

You can visit Longlesson Farm every Saturday at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market from 9a.m.-1p.m. at the Lincoln Baths building in Saratoga Spa State Park.

Ingredients

Directions

* Ingredients can be found at the market

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer crisped bacon with a slotted spoon to a Dutch oven. Retain bacon drippings in the skillet.

3. Generously season short ribs with salt and pepper.

4. Heat bacon drippings in the same skillet over high heat. Cook short ribs in hot bacon fat until browned and caramelized on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer ribs to the Dutch oven, reserving drippings in the skillet.

Add thyme and bay leaf to the ribs mixture.

5. Reduce heat under the same skillet to medium. Cook and stir onion in the skillet until soft and golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

6. Whisk flour into onion mixture and stir until the mixture becomes pastelike and light golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes.

7. Pour red wine into onion mixture; cook until thick and hot, about 2 minutes. Pour onion-wine mixture into Dutch oven; add beef broth and salt to taste. Bring ribs mixture to a simmer and cover the Dutch oven with a lid.

8. Transfer Dutch oven to the preheated oven and cook until short ribs are fork tender, about 2 hours. Remove ribs to a serving dish, reserving sauce in the pot.

9. Set Dutch oven on high heat and boil sauce until reduced and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Spoon reduced sauce over ribs.

Adapted from Chef John’s recipe on www.allrecipes.com Prep time - 20 minutes Cook time - 2 hours 35 minutes Ready in - 2 hours 55 minutes - 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces * - 3 - 3 1/2 lbs. beef short ribs * - salt and ground black pepper to taste - 10 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped * - 1 bay leaf - 1 onion, diced * - 4 cloves garlic, minced * - 2 tablespoons flour - 1 cup dry red wine * - 1 quart beef broth (broth may be made from beef bone) *

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

FOOD 21

No “I” in Team!

by John Reardon for Saratoga TODAY Hello my foodie friends. We here at CTTC and a few of our Foodie Friends have been waiting for the arrival of this coffee machine for about a year! The machine, by Capresso, is called the Coffee Team Pro Plus! A great machine that grinds your beans fresh in a Conical Burr Grinder! Anyone who loves coffee knows that when your beans are that fresh your coffee is delicious! It even has a special setting for oily dark roast beans with extra grinding time for these slow moving beans. You can brew with the grinder or turn it off for

your favorite pre-ground coffee. If you are like my father-inlaw you’ll love that feature! He loves his “Chock full o’Nuts” preground coffee! It also features a S/S Thermal Carafe which keeps your coffee hot for hours and in the same quality condition.

Features and Benefits Freshly grinds whole coffee beans directly into the filter then automatically brews up to 10 cups of coffee 10-cup stainless steel thermal carafe with ergonomic handle has brew- through lid and drip-free pouring spout Permanent GoldTone Filter is easy to use and clean 24-hour programmable clock/timer with easy-to-read LCD display Fully removable water tank for easy filling Integrated, professional, solid steel conical burr grinder with removable upper burr Slow burr grinding imparts minimal heat, preserving more aroma Two-step grind and clean chamber automatically cleans the grinder after every cycle

Patent-pending dispenser improves flow of ground coffee into the filter Special “Oily” coffee bean setting for slow feeding dark roasts Improved bean container with low-friction, ribbed surface for easy feeding beans Fully removable 7-ounce bean container is easy to unlock and lift, to change out beans or access burr for cleaning Beans stay inside of container when removed, no spilt beans Freshness seal bean container lid preserves coffee flavor Three fineness settings for light to dark beans let you adjust the grinder to your preference (the darker/oilier the bean, the coarser the setting)

Use with or without the grinder, accommodating preground coffee, flavored coffees or decaf Charcoal water filter removes up top 82 percent of impurities Drip stop for pouring a cup while brewing Full stainless steel exterior Automatic shut off AM/PM Programmable Clock/Timer to grind and brew automatically How Things Work The fully removable water tank and bean container are just some of the most desirable features packed into the CoffeeTEAM PRO Plus line. It is widely known that fresh grinding your beans is the optimal way to prepare drip- style coffee, but for the first time ever, the CoffeeTEAM PRO Plus allows for complete access to the solid steel conical burr. The intricate design of the conical steel burrs provides for a higher gear reduction to slow down the grinding speed below 500 rpm. The slower the speed, the less heat that is imparted to the ground coffee thus preserving

Fish Fridays

maximum aroma.

The two-step grind and clean process ensures no beans and minimal ground coffee are left in the grinder after use. Fully adjustable grind and cup settings make it easy to craft the perfect brew no matter your strength preference, and the all new “Oily” bean setting, and the redesigned, low friction bean container automatically compensates for slower feeding dark roasts.

Stop in to my family business at 46 Marion Ave. and let’s have some coffee and sing the Chock full o’Nuts original jingle that my father-in-law sings everyday: “Chock full o’Nuts is that heavenly coffee, Heavenly coffee, heavenly coffee.

Chock full o’Nuts is that heavenly coffee, Better coffee Rockefeller’s money can’t buy!”

(Later changed to “Millionares”) Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen”, Take Care, John and Paula

Lenten Specials through March 25th

22 Adirondack Christian Fellowship 8 Mountain Ledge, Wilton 587-0623 | acfsaratoga.com Services: Sunday 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.

Adirondack Friends Meeting 27 Saratoga Ave, South Glens Falls 793-3755 | adirondackfriendsmeeting.org Regina Baird Haag, Pastor Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Assembly of God Faith Chapel 6 Burgoyne St, Schuylerville 695-6069 | Rev. Jason Proctor Services: Sunday 10:45 a.m.

Assembly of God Saratoga 118 Woodlawn Ave, Saratoga Springs 584-6081 | Services: Sunday Worship 10 a.m.

Bacon Hill Reformed Church* 560 Route 32N, Bacon Hill | 695-3074 Rev. Janet Vincent | Services: Worship service 10 a.m.; Sunday School 10 a.m.

Baha’i Community of Saratoga Springs 584-9679; 692-7694 | usbnc.org Ballston Center Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 58 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa | 885-7312 ballstoncenterarpchurch.org Services: Sunday Worship, 10:30 a.m.

Ballston Spa United Methodist Church 101 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa 885-6886 | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Bethesda Episcopal Church 41 Washington St, Saratoga Springs 584-5980 | Services: Sunday 8 & 10 a.m.

Calvary Capital District 17 Low Street, Ballston Spa | Pastor Andrew Holt Services: Sunday 10 am | calvarycd.com Church of Christ at Clifton Park 7 Old Route 146, Clifton Park 371-6611 | cliftonparkchurchofchrist.com Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Christ Community Reformed Church 1010 Route 146, Clifton Park | 371-7654 ccrc-cpny.org | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Christ Episcopal Church Routes 50 & 67, Ballston Spa | 885-1031 Services: Sunday 8 & 10 a.m.

Christian Restoration Ministries Saratoga Senior Center 5 Williams St, Saratoga Springs 796-4323 | Pastor Pat Roach Services: Sunday 10 a.m.; 6:30 p.m.

Christian Science Church 107 Circular St, Saratoga Springs 584-0221 | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Community Alliance Church 257 Rowland St, Ballston Spa 885-6524 | Services: Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Congregation Shaara Tfille* 84 Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs 584-2370 | saratogasynagogue.org Services: Saturday 10 a.m.

Corinth Free Methodist Church 20 Hamilton Ave, Corinth 654-9255; 792-0271 Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Corinth United Methodist Church 243 Main Street, Corinth 654-2521 | cfumc@cnyconnect.net Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Cornerstone Community Church 516 Park Ave., Mechanicville | 664-5204 mycornerstonechurch.org | Pastor Frank Galerie Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Community 2001 Route 9, Round Lake 877-8506 | ccorpusc@nycap.rr.com Services: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.; Eastern Orthodox — Christ the Savior

RELIGION 349 Eastline Road, Ballston Spa 786-3100 | xcsavior@yahoo.com.

Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

First Baptist Church of Saratoga Springs 45 Washington St, Saratoga Springs 584-6301 | Services: Sunday 11 a.m.

First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa 202 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa 885-8361 | bspabaptist.org Services: 10:30 a.m. worship, 9 a.m. Sunday School (all ages) First Presbyterian Church of Ballston Spa 22 West High St, Ballston Spa 885-5583 | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Full Gospel Tabernacle 207 Redmond Road, Gansevoort 793-2739 | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Galway United Methodist Church 2056 East St, Galway | 882-6520 galway-united-methodist-church.com Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

(9 a.m. in July and August) Grace Fellowship Saratoga 165 High Rock Ave, Saratoga | 691-0301 saratoga.gracefellowship.com Pastor: Mike Adams Services: Sundays 9 & 11 a.m.

Grace Brethren Church* 137 W. Milton Road, Ballston Spa 587-0649 | Rev. Dan Pierce Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Greater Grace Community Church Pastor David Moore | 899-7777 thechurch@ggccmalta.org Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Greenfield Center Baptist Church 30 Wilton Road, Greenfield Center | 893-7429 Services: Sunday School for all ages - 9:45 a.m.; Church Service - 11 a.m.

Highway Tabernacle Church 90 River Road, Mechanicville | 664-4442 Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Hope Church 206 Greenfield Ave, Ballston Spa 885-7442 | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Jonesville United Methodist 963 Main St, Clifton Park 877-7332 | Services: Sunday 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Living Springs Community Church 59 Pine Road, Saratoga Springs 584-9112 | Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Living Waters Church of God 4330 State Rt. 50, Saratoga Springs 587-0484 | livingwaterscog.us Services: Sundays 10 a.m.

Malta Presbyterian Church Dunning Street, Malta 899-5992 | Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Malta Ridge United Methodist Church 729 Malta Ave. Ext, Malta 581-0210 | Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Middle Grove United Methodist Church* 581-2973 | Pastor Bonnie Bates Services: Sunday 9 a.m.

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Corner of Jefferson St. & Crescent St. Saratoga Springs | 584-9441 Rev. Dr. Victor L. Collier, Pastor New Horizon Church 150 Perry Road, Saratoga Springs 587-0711 | Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

New Life Fellowship 51 Old Gick Road, ­­Saratoga Springs 580-1810 | newlifeinsaratoga.org.

Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

NorthStar Church

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Gowana Middle School, Clifton Park 371-2811 | northstarchurch.com Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.

Old Saratoga Reformed Church* 48 Pearl St., Schuylerville oldsaratogareformedchurch.org Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Old Stone Church (American Baptist) 159 Stone Church Road, Ballston Spa 583-1002 | Services: Sunday 9 a.m.; Adult Sunday School 9 a.m.; Service 10:30 a.m.

Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church* 73 Midline Road, Ballston Lake 399-5713 | Services: Saturday 5 p.m.

Sunday 8:15 & 10:15 a.m.

Presbyterian-NE Congregational Church 24 Circular St, Saratoga Springs 584-6091 | pnecchurch.org Services: Sunday 10:45 a.m.

Quaker Springs United Methodist Church* 466 Route 32 South, Quaker Springs 695-3101 | qsumc.com Pastor Al Johnson Services: Sunday 9 a.m.

River of Hope Fellowship 100 Saratoga Village Blvd, Malta Cmns, Ste. 3 | 881-1505 riverofhopefellowship.com Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter 241 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-2375 | Services: Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m.

St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church 231 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs 584-6122 | Services: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 8, 9:30, 11:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., 1 p.m. Spanish Service St. George’s Episcopal Church 912 Route 146, Clifton Park 371-6351 | stgeorge@csdsl.net Services: Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 8 & 9:30 a.m.

St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church* 3159 Route 9N, Greenfield Center 893-7680 stjosephschurchgreenfieldcenter.org Services: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church* 167 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa 885-7411 | stmarysbsta.org Services: Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., Noon.

St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church* 771 Route 29, Rock City Falls 893-7680 | sjoegctr@nycap.rr.com Services: Sunday 8:30 am.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 149 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs 584-0904 | Services: Saturday 5 p.m.; Sundays 8:30 & 11 a.m.

St. Peter Lutheran Church 2776 Route 9, Malta | 583-4153 Services: Sunday 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.; Sunday School at 9:15 a.m.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 1 Grove Street, Schuylerville 695-3918 | Rev. Donna J. Arnold Services: Sunday 8 & 9 a.m.

St. Thomas of Canterbury 242 Grooms Road, Halfmoon st-thomas-of-canterbury.org Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Saratoga Abundant Life Church 2325 Route 50 South, Saratoga Springs 885-5456 | SALChurch.org Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

Saratoga Chabad 130 Circular St, Saratoga Springs 526-0773 | saratogachabad.com Saratoga Friends Meeting (Quaker) Rts. 32 and 71, Quaker Springs 587-7477; 399-5013 Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Saratoga United Methodist Church* Henning Road, Saratoga Springs 584-3720 | saratogaumc.com Services: Sunday 9 & 10:45 a.m.

Saratoga Seventh-Day Adventist Church 399 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs 882-9384 | saratogasda.org Services: Sabbath School: 10 a.m. Worship Service: 11:30 a.m.

Schuylerville United Methodist Church* 51 Church St, Schuylerville 695-3101 | sumethodist.org Services: Worship at 11am Shenendehowa United Methodist 971 Route 146, Clifton Park 371-7964 Services: Sunday 9 & 10:30 a.m.

Simpson United Methodist Church Rock City Road, Rock City Falls 885-4794 Services: Sunday 10:45 a.m.

Soul Saving Station for Every Nation Christ Crusaders of America 62 Henry St, Saratoga Springs 584-3122 Services: Sunday 10 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Stillwater United Church (Presbyterian U.S.A.) 747 Hudson Avenue, Stillwater | 664-7984 stillwaterunitedchurch.org Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Temple Sinai* 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-8730 | saratogasinai.org Shabbat Services: Friday 6 p.m. or 8p.m. (rotating schedule) Saturdays: 10:30a.m.

Terra Nova Church* 45 Washington St, Saratoga Springs 833-0504 | terranovachurch.org Services: Sunday 5:30 p.m.

The Salvation Army/ Worship, Service & Community Center 27 Woodlawn Ave, Saratoga Springs 584-1640 Services: Sunday School 10 a.m.; Praise & Worship 11 a.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church 155 Ballard Road, Gansevoort 584-9107 | tumcwilton.com Rev Keith Mann Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs 624 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-1555 | uusaratoga.org Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Unity Church in Albany 21 King Ave., Albany 453-3603 Services: Sunday 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.

West Charlton United Presbyterian Church 1331 Sacandaga Road, West Charlton 882-9874 | westcharltonupc.org Rev. Thomas Gregg, Pastor Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Wilton Baptist Church 755 Saratoga Road, Wilton 583-2736 wiltonbaptistchurch.com Services: Sunday 11 a.m.

* — Handicap Accessible

RELIGION 23

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Paper Clips SARATOGA SPRINGS — Norwegians like to claim that it was one of their own who invented the paper clip with a local patent in 1899.

Later, during World War II, the citizens of Norway used the clip as a discreet symbol of solidarity by wearing it on their lapels as a sign of patriotism

and resistance against Nazi tyranny during the war years.

The clip was a symbol of solidarity and unity, showing that wearers were “bound together." The wearing of paper clips was soon prohibited under German occupation, and people wearing them could risk severe punishment.

The 2004 documentary film Paper Clips celebrates that solidarity in people and comes to Saratoga Springs on Sunday, March 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Filene Hall at Skidmore College.

This showing of the film Paper Clips is part of an interfaith program sponsored by Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, Congregation Shaara Tfille, Skidmore Office for Jewish Student Life, and Temple Sinai in conjunction with local churches, and through a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeast New York.

In 1998, when out of a desire to help students open their eyes to the diversity of the world beyond their insulated rural valley of Whitwell, TN, school principal Linda Hooper and teacher David Smith created the “Paper Clip” project to help students grasp the enormity of human suffering during the Holocaust.

Whitwell had no Jews, no Catholics, one Hispanic, and five African- Americans. By the

time the project was completed, the horizons of the population had widened considerably.

The idea to collect paper clips was born when a student at Whitwell Middle School asked, “What is six million? I’ve never seen that before” - a reference to the six million European Jews who perished in the Nazi campaign during World War II. Hooper and her colleagues suggested that it might help the students to visualize the staggering number of Jewish and other victims of the Holocaust by finding an object to collect.

The students did some research and discovered the Norwegian paper clip piece of the story.

David Smith says he knew he was stereotyped as a Southerner, and admits that he stereotyped Northerners.

In changing their perceptions about minorities, the students of Whitwell also changed perceptions others may have held about them. That America has frequently been people living everywhere; in a time of divisiveness, there is something innocently captivating about the paper clip project, which transforms an ordinary mountain of paper clips into a small town’s moving gesture.

Letters were sent to news organizations and to famous people, asking them to contribute paper clips to help the students reach their goal of 6 million. Celebrities contributed clips and businesses sent masses of them. Then the Washington Post and “NBC Nightly News” picked up the story. In a matter of months, the school collected 24 million paper clips….a number which eventually grew to 29 million and 25,000 pieces of mail from all over the globe.

They came in boxes and in envelopes with letters to tell their story of specific people lost in the Holocaust. Each subsequent 8th grade class picked up the project.

“The project soon took on a life of its own,” says Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of Saratoga Jewish Arts and President of Temple Sinai. “Holocaust survivors came to give first-hand accounts, a German husband and wife journalist team from

Germany become frequent guests, eventually setting out to find a German railroad car to serve as permanent repository for the paper clips and to double as a memorial and museum.”

Paper Clips began as a lesson about prejudice….What happened next was a miracle. An inspiring and award winning documentary shows how even small-town students and educators can teach the world powerful lessons. It is a straightforward film which takes viewers from the initial stages of the project through to its fruition with the likes of Tom Hanks, George W. Bush, Steven Spielberg, Madeleine Albright, Bill Clinton, and many German citizens.

Linda Bertrand, a retired middle school teacher from Saratoga, was touched by the story and found herself traveling to Whitwell to meet the teacher who inspired this project and see the results for herself. Linda will comment on her trip and a panel will discuss the communal potential of this project.

Panel members will include Lollie Abramson, Coordinator of Jewish Student Life and Interfaith Programming; Linda Bertrand, retired teacher and congregant of Congregation Shaara Tfille; Rev. Joseph Cleveland, Unitarian Universalist Church; Linda Motzkin, co-Rabbi of Temple Sinai and High Holiday Chaplain

at Skidmore College; Pamela Polacsek, congregant and previous President of Congregation Shaara Tfille , Gabriel Snyder, Skidmore student; and Heather Williams, Pastor of United Methodist Church.

The program will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2:30 p.m. at Filene Hall, Skidmore College.

Dessert reception will follow.

For reservations and information, please call 518-584-8730, option 2.

For more information about the program, contact Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of Saratoga Jewish Arts and President of Temple Sinai at p.auster.wang@gmail.com

24

LOCAL BRIEFS

Fix It – Healthcare at the Tipping Point This new 55-minute film, made from a business perspective, will take place at the Saratoga Springs Library, on Monday, February 29 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. It looks in depth at how our dysfunctional and inefficient healthcare system damages our economy, suffocates our businesses, discourages physicians, and negatively affects the nation’s health while it remains unaffordable for a third of our citizens. Discussion of the film will be facilitated by Dr. David Ray, Chair, Capital District Chapter Physicians for a National Health Program, and member, Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare. The League of Women Voters of NYS and the NYS Nurses Association advocate for New York Health, LWV of Saratoga County: www.lwvsaratoga.org If the library is closed on account of weather, it will be shown on Tuesday, March 1.

Schuylerville Public Library Winter Gala Secrets and Spies will be held on February 27 at 6 p.m. Join us at Christ the King, 575 Burton Road Greenwich, for an evening of music, food, and basket raffle. Gala tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased at the Schuylerville Library. Raffle tickets are 1 ticket for $1 or 15 tickets for $10; drawing will be held the night of the gala, but you do not need to be present to win. Need something to wear? Schuylerville Community Theater has graciously opened their closets to us – select the perfect dress and pair it against a sharp tux. For more information please contact the Library at (518) 695-6641.

Hawley Foundation for Children - Grants The Hawley Foundation for Children addresses the health, education and welfare of

children in Saratoga County.

This year’s grant applications for 501C organizations may be found online at www.HawleyFoundation. org. Deadline for receipt of applications is March 1.

Café Malta-Irish Style Town of Malta Parks and Recreation announces Café Malta-Irish Style, an intimate Coffee House just in time for St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday March 12, 2016. Doors open 6:30 p.m,; show 7 p.m. Performers include: Walt Smith, Padraig Timoney & Flor Ryan, Hill Country Cloggers, Greg V. Clarke and Don & Elyse Young with the Singing Waitresses, Irish and folk music, sing-a-long and clogging.

Malta Community Center is located at One Bayberry Drive, Malta. Seats $8 in advanced; $10 after 3/11 or at the door. Coffee and dessert will also be available for purchase. Contact The Malta Community Center at (518) 8994411 or www.maltaparksrec.com for advanced tickets.

Saratoga Hospital’s Free Running Screening A free stride assessment clinic for runners of all skill levels will be held at the YMCA, West Avenue Branch, Saratoga Springs, on March 19 at 9 a.m. to Noon. We will assess strength, flexibility and stride of runners, as well as provide information on which running shoes are right for you. To register, please call (518)580-2450.

27th Annual Palm Sunday Polka Benefit Polka Country Musicians of Jewett City, CT will be providing music for your dancing and listening pleasure on March 20 at the Saratoga Knights of Columbus Hall located at 50 Pine Rd., Saratoga Springs from 1 – 5 p.m. A cash kitchen and bar, raffles, and prizes. Cost is $25 per couple, $13 per person or $15 at the door. For reservations call Steve or Cathy Coblish by March 10, (518) 899-3061 or mail checks payable to Steve Coblish, 4-B Harwich Manor, Ballston Lake, NY 12019.

Auditions for “Groovy!”

Malta Spotlighter’s Theatre Troupe is holding auditions

Sunday, March 20 and Monday, March 21, for the musical comedy tribute to the 1960s, ‘GROOVY!’ Elyse Young, Artistic Director, is seeking dozens of teens and adults for a variety of speaking, singing and dancing roles. There are also parts for a small group of children, ages 8+. Performances are June 11 & 12 at the Malta Community Center. Audition appointments are necessary. For more details or to schedule an appointment, contact Elyse at (518) 899-4411 x305 or theater@ malta-town.org.

Dance +26 The Dance Alliance of the Capital Region is proud to co-sponsor Dance +26 with The National Museum of Dance’s School of the Arts on Sunday, April 3, 2016 from 11 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

The theme will be “Dancing through Time” and all classes will be inspired by a member of the National Museum of Dance Hall of Fame. Three levels of classes: children 8-11, open ages 12 adult, and intermediate/advanced 12 - adult. Registration and more information will be available soon at www.dancealliance.org.

Turning Stone Bus Trip This is a fundraiser for Operation Adopt a Soldier, Sunday, April 10, 2016. We are leaving Wilton Mall near Dick’s Sporting Goods- Light Pole –C-2 at 6:30 a.m. Sharp. We will be stopping at Exit 8- Northway 87- park & ride at 7 a.m. sharp to pick up people. Cost is $30 per person which includes the ride to and from, $25 free play or $20 bingo and $5 food. There will be bingo and prizes on the way down. Must be paid by April 1 or you will be taken off the list. We need to arrive at the casino by 11 a.m. to get the benefits. For more information call Cliff at (518) 260-9922 or Red (518) 729-9417.

The Wesley Foundation Gala – Seventies Style Celebrate 1970’s style at Saratoga Golf and Polo Club on Saturday, May 21 from 6 – 10 p.m. to raise funds for The Wesley Community - an organization that serves more than 700 Saratoga area seniors and those with long-term disabilities.

The night will offer delicious

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016 food from Chef John Ireland at Saratoga Golf and Polo Club, décor from Fine Affairs, music from The Refrigerators, classic cars, fondue stations, a sundae bar featuring ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s of Saratoga, a 1970’s themed candy bar, complimentary champagne on arrival, a silent auction and photos against groovy backdrops.

Don’t miss this exciting evening to support The Wesley Community’s Spring building renovation. Cocktail party attire is suggested and stylish 70’s attire is also welcome. Last year’s event sold out, so make your reservations soon. Reservations are $125 per person, $200 per couple. Full event details call (518) 691.1420 or online registration are available at www. thewesleycommunity.org/gala.

Armed Forces Day The Town of Malta Veterans Committee has begun planning a special salute to the military by holding their annual parade on Saturday, May 21, 2016 – “Armed Forces Day” and you are invited. We are reaching out to the community, military and veterans’ families, groups and organizations, troop and military family support groups. Veterans at large are invited to join in an ad-hoc formation from various service branches – including currently serving and former service members – for one joint march element. Spread the word.

For more information or an application, call (518) 899-4411.

Ryan’s Run Ryan’s Run, sponsored by Saratoga Springs Teachers Association, is a 5K run/walk at Saratoga Spa State Park at the Warming Hut on May 21, 2016. All proceeds go to support families with MIOP and to fund research. The race is chip timed

by AREEP. Register at www. curemiop.org.

Spring Activities Brochure Available The Town of Malta’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Human Services Spring Activities Brochure is now available online at www.maltaparksrec. com. It is available at the Malta Community Center and registration has begun for spring

classes and programs. New classes, sports programs and special events are scheduled to begin in March. Please call the Malta Community Center at (518) 899-4411 for more information.

Burnt Hills Oratorio Society - Call for Singers If you love to sing, come join The Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, which rehearses Tuesday nights , 7 p.m. at the Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake High School choral room.

BHOS is a friendly group that welcomes all singers, without audition. The choir will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria and highlights of Handel’s Messiah, at the time of year originally intended by its composer. The upcoming concert is scheduled for Sunday, May 15, 3 p.m. at the Zankel Music Center at Skidmore. Founded in 1970, BHOS proudly present two major concerts annually that feature local soloists and orchestral players. The members represent all age groups and vocations. Here is your opportunity to sing with an orchestra, blend voices, and enjoy community in a way that is often lacking in today’s culture. New singers accepted through the end of February.

Membership is $55 plus the cost of music. For more information, go to www.bhos. us, find us on Facebook, or just show up at a rehearsal.

Volunteers Needed The Saratoga County Office for the Aging is in immediate NEED of volunteers to help deliver meals to homebound seniors in the following communities in Saratoga County: Saratoga, Schuylerville and Wilton. Substitute drivers are needed throughout Saratoga County. This program helps many seniors remain independent in their homes. Nutritious meals are prepared, packed and ready for transport. Average delivery time is about one hour. A training/ orientation is provided. Being a volunteer for this program is a gratifying experience – seniors look forward to seeing a friendly face. Please call Billie Jo or Carmella at The Office for the Aging, (518) 363-4020 or (518) 363-4033 for details.

Send your local briefs to calendar@saratogapublishing.com two weeks prior to the event.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016 Concert: Raging Asian Women

Family Friendly Event

Friday, February 19 Fish Fry Fridays Fish Creek Rod and Gun Club, Route 32 south of the village of Victory, 4:30 – 7 p.m.

Menu: fried fish, fried clams, fried chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp, or buffalo shrimp. Also clam chowder by the bowl or by the quart. Beverages: soda, water, coffee, beer. You are invited to eat in at our club house or to call ahead for take-out (518) 695-3917.

Everyone will be welcome.

Saturday, February 20 Family Yoga at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market Saratoga Spa State Park, Lincoln Baths Building, 65 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Family Yoga is back at our winter market (November-April). Certified yoga instructor Patty Rodecker will hold a free Family Yoga class. The 30-minute classes will be familyfriendly and designed for yogis of all ages and abilities. Bring your mat or just wear your sneakers and enjoy a gentle, fun program designed to put a smile on your face and peace in your heart. Please register ahead by emailing Julia at: Julia@ saratogafarmersmarket.org.

Genealogy and Local History Town of Saratoga Town Hall, corner of Rt. 4 and Rt. 29 in Schuylerville, 1 p.m.

“Town of Providence” will be the program topic presented by Edward Dandaraw, town historian and Tim Vandenberg, long-time town resident. They will speak about the formation of the Saratoga County town of Providence, how it evolved and who its early settlers were. Public is welcome. For information call (518)587-2978.

Arthur Zankel Music Center, Skidmore Campus, 8 p.m. $8 adults, $5 senior citizens and Skidmore community, free for students and children For more information call (518) 580-5321 or go to www.skidmore. edu/zankel.

21st Annual Ballston Spa Winter Fun Festival Bath Street Hill and Elks Club, Hamilton Street, Ballston Spa, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

This year will feature Sledding down Bath Street hill from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. depending on snow.

Music, dancing, contests, and free food at the Elks Club from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. An indoor snowball rumble and children’s coloring contest with prizes and children’s crafts at the Elks Club from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. This event is sponsored by The Village of Ballston Spa, the Town of Milton, and the Elks Club.

Sunday, February 21 Breakfast Buffet Saratoga-Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Rt. 9, Saratoga Springs, 8:30 – 11 a.m.

Fruit cocktail, French toast, pancakes, potatoes, breakfast sausage and ham, corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, juice, coffee and tea. Donation Requested: Adults $8, Seniors and Military (Active/Retired with ID Card) $7, Children 5—12 $6, Under 5 Free, Take-outs $8. Call (518) 584-2585 for more information.

Dharma Meditation One Big Roof, Center for Mindful Practices, located in the Saratoga Health & Wellness Bldg. (across from Maple Ave. Middle School) 9 - 10:15 a.m.

This is a group meeting for meditation followed up by a short discussion. All contemplative traditions are honored. Visit www.oneroofsaratoga.com or call Pierre at (413) 992-7012.

The Frost Awakens Hudson Crossing Park, Schuylerville, Noon – 3 p.m.

Learn about a past big business on the Hudson through ice harvesting demonstrations, watch sled-dog pulling, dip an ice-fishing line in the

CALENDAR 25 canal, try a fat-tire bike, win a prize in the best hat head hair contest, and more. With enough snow, stalk a trail on snowshoes, sled down a kidfriendly hill, and show off your snow sculpting skills. Hot food available from 9 Miles East at a Warming Tent sponsored by AmeriGas. Event partners also include Saratoga Tackle and Archery, Spa City Bicycleworks, Alpine Sport Shop, Jeramie and Sarah van Rijsewijk plus their sled dogs and Cold Water rescue demo

by Schuyler Hose.

Concert: Principal Brass

Arthur Zankel Music Center, Skidmore Campus, 8 p.m. $8 adults, $5 senior citizens and Skidmore community, free for students and children.

For more information call (518) 580-5321 or go to www.skidmore. edu/zankel

Tuesday, February 23 Saratoga Friends Saratoga Springs Public Library, Glasby Room, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold” goes the old campfire song.

Saratoga Friends is a social group for baby boomers who are new to the Saratoga area and are interested in making new friends to socialize with.

This is not a dating or singles group.

Couples and singles are welcome, and there is no membership fee. Group members plan social activities based on their interests.

For more information, contact newsaratogafriends@gmail.com.

Wednesday, February 24 2016 Winter Storytellers Series SUNY Empire State College, 2 Union Avenue, Room 126, Saratoga Springs, Noon - 1pm Special Black History Month Presentation. MaryNell Morgan: W.E.B. Du Bois: The Souls of Black Folk Sorrow Songs . The Academy for Lifelong Learning presents the eighth annual storytellers series every Wednesday through March 2. Sponsored by Prestwick Chase at Saratoga. Free and open to the public. Postponed if Saratoga Springs city schools are closed. For more information, call the Academy at (518) 587-2100 ext. 2415, www.esc.edu/all.

Guided Mindful Meditation

Saratoga Springs Public Library, Susman Room, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Take a break from the daily grind and clear your mind with guided Mindful Meditation led by professionals from One Roof Holistic Health Center. Sessions are free and open to the public, and will be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, call (518) 584-7860 ext. 205.

Baked Chicken and Swiss Steak Dinner Saratoga Wilton Elks, 1 Elk Lane, Saratoga Springs, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Soup, Tossed Salad, Baked Chicken, Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Rolls and Butter, Dessert, Coffee and Tea. Donation: $10 adults, $9 Seniors (62 years) and Military(Active or Retired) with ID Card, $6 Children 5-12, Children under 5 free, $10 all take-outs. Cash bar available. Call (518) 584-2585 for more information.

Saratoga Acoustic Blues & Jam Night – Open Mic Night Caffé Lena, 47 Phila St, Saratoga Springs, Signup 7 p.m., Opening Set 7:30 p.m.

Hall of Fame Inductee, Sonny Speed will be hosting this event for SABS. Billy Graham will be back again with his gritty blues music. Acoustic Jam to follow - All levels of playing are welcome. - 4th Wednesday of the month. Come on down to listen and play the blues. Admission: $5. One of Saratoga best musical values.

Contact, (if necessary): Phil Drum phild1214@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 25 Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist (HOPE) Fundraiser Inn at Saratoga, 231 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 5 – 10:30 p.m.

Help save the lives of abandoned pets just by having a nice evening out.

Join us for dinner and/or drinks, and live entertainment by Jeff Walton.

25 percent of all proceeds from food and beverage sales will be donated to HOPE. There will also be a raffle for an overnight stay at the Inn and dinner for 2. Reservations suggested but not required.

Local Town Websites Town of Ballston: Ballston Town Hall 323 Charlton Road (518) 885-8502 www.townofballstonny.org Village of Ballston Spa: 66 Front Street (518) 885-5711 www.ballstonspany.org Town of Greenfield: 7 Wilton Road (518) 893-7432 www.townofgreenfield.com Town of Malta: 2540 Route 9 (518) 899-2818 www.malta-town.org Town of Milton: 503 Geyser Road (518) 885-9220 www.townofmiltonny.org City of Saratoga Springs: 474 Broadway (518) 587-3550 www.saratoga-springs.org Town of Saratoga: 12 Spring Street, Schuylerville (518) 695-3644 www.townofsaratoga.com Village of Schuylerville: 35 Spring Street (518) 695-3881 www.villageofschuylerville.org Town of Stillwater: 881 N. Hudson Avenue Stillwater, NY 12170 (518) 664-6148 www.stillwaterny.org Town of Wilton: 22 Traver Road (518) 587-1939 www.townofwilton.com Saratoga County Board of Supervisors: 40 McMaster St, #1 Ballston Spa, NY 12020 (518) 885-2240 www.saratogacountyny.gov

Send your calendar events to calendar@saratogapublishing.com two weeks prior to the event.

PULSE

26

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Getting Weird with Let’s Be Leonard

by Rebecca Davis Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — Funky, groovy and kind of weird is the best way to describe local band, Let’s Be Leonard. Made up of five casual dudes (and a merch guy named Nick), Let’s Be Leonard has created quite a following for themselves in their hometown, and now they’re branching out all over the state and Vermont, making waves in the music world wherever they go. On Saturday, February 20, Let’s Be Leonard will be performing at Putnam Den, along with their good friends Wild Adriatic, for a live recorded show.

Let’s Be Leonard came together in 2013 after several of the band members met at Schenectady County Community College. Through meeting at local gigs and open mics, they formed the rest of the band, which is currently made up of Matt Griffin on lead guitar, Karl Bertrand on rhythm guitar, Connor Dunn on saxophone, Chris Cronin on bass and Paul Gauy on drums. All the members take part in vocals.

When asked what kind of genre their music is, drummer Paul Gauy said, “It’s like a jazz jam fusion. We take the song form style of jazz, where there’s a lot of solos and instrumental parts, and do it with a rock n’ roll feel. It’s all very rock n’ roll.”

Guitarist Matt Griffin added, “I

always tell people it’s like Steely Dan and The Grateful Dead combined.”

Let’s Be Leonard is definitely reminiscent of the classic jam band, while making sure their sound is entirely their own. They’re inspired by the 70’s era of music, with additional influences as varied as Herbie Hancock and Phish.

“People look at us as a continuation of the jam tradition,” said bassist Chris Cronin, “We take this really seriously because what we do with our instruments is an expression of what we live.”

The members of Let’s Be Leonard, who are all best friends, currently live together on 500 acres in Greenwich, at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center. The guys are taking care of the property in the off-season, doing landscaping and getting in touch with their inner lumberjacks, that is, when they’re not practicing and rehearsing.

“We hang out so much, that when we’re on stage, it’s just a continuation of it. We’re hanging out, but with instruments in our hands,” said Gauy. “We’ve got this vibe thing going on; it’s what Leonard is. It’s not really giving a damn about fitting in and just being yourself – forgetting about everything and just being right in the moment, having a good time.”

That sense of spontaneity and living in the moment is how their debut album, “Cow,” got

its name. After a day of recording, the guys had a bonfire, a few drinks and took an inside joke too far, resulting in the very random name “Cow” as the title for their first album. Even the band name came from a misunderstood text. When guitarist Karl Bertrand suggested “Leonard” as the band name, but texted “Let’s Be Leonard,” the name stuck. Always keeping a sense of humor with their work, much of their creative ideas start with the phrase, “Wouldn’t it be funny if…?”

“We’re doing serious things, but we can’t be serious about them at all,” said Bertrand, and Gauy agreed, “If we get too serious, then we’re going to drive ourselves crazy and be unhappy.”

Let’s Be Leonard takes their positive energy and easy-going, happy-go-lucky attitude with them on stage, making their audiences feel comfortable, laidback and oh-so groovy. All the members of the band take part in writing the music, with each member adding something different to the mix. Bertrand, who has written the most songs for the band, enjoys exploring topics such as childhood, innocence and freedom, while Chris Cronin tends to focus more on cosmic subjects and the universe in his writing. Matt Griffin admits that he writes a lot of “stupid love songs.”

“We have all these experiences, and then we express those experiences through music,”

Let’s Be Leonard will be at Putnam Den with Wild Adriatic on Saturday, February 20. Photo provided.

Cronin said. “Experimenting is the name of our game,” added Gauy.

Let’s Be Leonard’s album “Cow” was released several months ago, and for now, the band is focused on perfecting their live act. They can be heard doing the occasional cover song, like a Dead tune or a little Billy Joel, but focus more on their original material, of which there is a lot of. Let’s Be Leonard even has their own fan subscription, known as “Leonardland.” Fans can subscribe to “Leonardland” for $10 per year and get exclusive access to their back-catalog,

live recorded shows, behindthe-scenes of the band’s life, discounted merchandise, and more fun surprises.

Tickets to the show on Saturday, February 20 can be purchased at putnamden.com.

The show starts at 9:30 p.m., with the doors opening at 8:30 p.m.

For more information about Let’s Be Leonard, visit their website at letsbeleonard.com and their Facebook page, facebook. com/letsbeleonard.

SPAC Adds Half Marathon to Annual “Rock and Run” Registration is Now Open SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announces a new half marathon (13.1 miles) race as part of the highly anticipated annual “Rock and Run” fundraiser in the Spa State Park on Sunday, May 15.

Hosted by SPAC’s Action Council, the event will also include 5K, 10K, and for kids, a 50 yard dash race, followed by a post-race party on the SPAC lawn. Registration is currently open online at areep. com under “schedule.”

“SPAC’s ‘Rock and Run’ is the perfect high-energy precursor to our 2016 Season, providing critical financial support for local children from underserved backgrounds to participate in SPAC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration,” said Marcia J. White, SPAC’s President and Executive Director. “The addition of a half marathon race to the ‘Rock & Run’ promises to bring this family-favorite event to a whole new level

for local runners. I want to express my tremendous thanks to our Action Council members, whose creativity, time and effort make this year’s highly anticipated event possible.”

Registration costs are $5 for the kids’ 50 yard dash, $25 for the 5K, $35 for the 10K, and $50 for the half marathon.

The kids’ 50 yard dash begins at 7:30 a.m., with all other races starting at 8 a.m.

Proceeds from the “Rock

& Run” benefit SPAC’s Vivienne Anderson Children’s Program, an arts education program that hosts underserved children at New York City Ballet performances with the support of The National Museum of Dance and the Capital District YMCA’s Camp Chingachgook. The children visit the National Museum of Dance, meet with dancers from the company, and learn about a dancer’s life. They view the performance after having been introduced to the story line, choreographer, and

composer. It is the goal of the program that experiencing the arts in such a meaningful way, often for their first time, will help these children foster a lifelong love of the arts.

The program is named for former Action Council President Vivienne Anderson, who was a tireless advocate for children’s education.

For more information about the “Rock and Run” fundraiser or to register, visit spac.org/events/2016/05/15/ spac-rock-and-run.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

27 PULSE

“A Childhood Love Letter to Ballet” Author Sari Wilson Visits Northshire

by Rebecca Davis Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sari Wilson, author of “Girl Through Glass,” will be at Northshire Bookstore on Thursday, February 25 at 6 p.m. Wilson will discuss her debut novel, and her own experience as a childhood ballerina, with Darlene Myers, the founder and artistic director of Northeast Ballet.

“Girl Through Glass” follows the story of 11-year -old Mira as she climbs the ladder toward becoming one of New York City’s top ballet dancers in the late 1970’s, attending the prestigious School of American Ballet, and eventually becoming one of Balanchine’s most cherished dancers. Intertwined in Mira’s story is the present day life of Kate, a dance professor who is trying to reinvent herself despite the past she can’t seem to escape.

“My hope was to use the milieu of dance to examine broader themes, and to create a compelling human drama that would connect and relate to all sorts of people,” said Wilson. “A universal theme is how we connect to our past and how we redefine our past as we change and grow. I think people connect to it in the way that we all have a childhood fantasy or experience that as adults, we need to try to understand more or incorporate into our sense of identity.”

Wilson paints a picture of the ballet world that is vivid and meticulous, which comes from Wilson’s own experience as a childhood ballerina. As a child, Wilson studied ballet at Neubert Ballet Theater, a once-storied

Sari Wilson will be at Northshire Bookstore on February 25 at 6 p.m. to discuss her debut novel, “Girl Through Glass.”

Carnegie Hall studio, at Harkness Ballet and as a scholarship student at Eliot Feld’s New Ballet School. After that, she studied and performed modern dance with Stephan Koplowitz and at Oberlin College. When an injury ended her dancing career after college, Wilson began writing. She worked in journalism before deciding to become a fiction writer.

“I was a passionate childhood dancer. I fell in love with it – the movement, the rituals, the people in that world,” said Wilson. “It was a deep childhood passion, but the ballet world has never left me, and I’m not unusual in that. So many girls take ballet at this pivotal point in their lives; it was a big part

of my childhood and adolescent experience. As a writer, I became interested in that again. My North Star has been this novel. I had to merge these two worlds, one that is focused on the body and one that is cerebral. I was trying to give movement a language.”

There are many themes Wilson incorporates into the novel that many readers will find easy to relate to, such as ambition, childhood dreams, and a desire for excellence and perfection. Wilson also hopes her novel opens up a conversation about girlhood and the difficulties that come with it.

“I want people to come away with a sense of the power of girlhood and adolescence. This is such a powerful time in a girl’s life, and it’s filled with mystery and complexity that too often gets overlooked in broader culture.”

Wilson, who lives in Brooklyn, is looking forward to her book talk at Northshire, mentioning how Saratoga Springs has always been an important place for her. Wilson not only went to ballet camp in Saratoga at a kid, but five years ago, she received a Yaddo residency, where she was able to write the ending to “Girl Through Glass.”

“Working on a novel is an immersive experience. The world

of the novel has to exist in the mind, so I needed to find these moments where I could completely immerse myself in the world I was creating. I spent an amazing two weeks [at Yaddo] just immersed,” Wilson explained.

“Trying to have space in a modern life for demands of a novel that is character driven requires a type of world building. It’s its own imaginary universe. It requires a leaving. Yaddo gave me that.

I remember almost crying with gratitude when I got there. That place is an absolute gift.”

Now that the novel is finished, Wilson has been hearing praise from average readers and dancers alike, who applaud her for her

candid look at the ballet world, and also how she uses that world to explain bigger issues and ideas.

“One part of the process was hearing from readers about how important a book can be in people’s lives. It feels very special to make those connections [with readers],” said Wilson. “One person even told me how they’re bringing my book to therapy. It can be a deep experience for some people. I feel like I’m always learning from my readers.”

Sari Wilson’s book signing and discussion on February 25 at Northshire Bookstore, located at 424 Broadway, is free and open to the public. For more information about Sari Wilson and “Girl Through Glass,” visit sariwilson.com.

PULSE “Birds Can Fly, Why Can’t I?” Takes Flight: New Children’s Book is Work of Art 28

by Rebecca Davis Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — “Birds Can Fly, Why Can’t I?” tells the story of an adorable panda bear, who has big dreams of one day being able to soar through the sky.

A work of collaboration between artist David Hill and writer and publisher Vicki Addesso Dodd, “Birds Can Fly, Why Can’t I?” isn’t just a classic children’s tale, it’s a work of art all on its own. Hill and Addesso Dodd will be hosting a book release party for their book on Saturday, February 27 at David Hill Gallery. The party will feature book signings, clips of how the illustrations were created, and giveaways of Hill’s artwork.

David Hill describes his beginning work in illustrating children’s books as “a true hobby.” Born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Hill’s main body of work throughout his life has been creating beautiful and intricate oil paintings of serene nature scenes, incorporating island life into most of his pieces. In 2003, he decided to make his first children’s book, and continued it as a pastime, creating one and moving on to another, but never really doing anything with them. After Hill moved to Saratoga in 2011, he developed the beginning stages of “Birds Can Fly, Why Can’t I?”, and he knew this was one he had to finish completely.

“I needed to take this book to completion,” said Hill. “My son was three when I started it.

I wanted to have a book that was my own book, one that I could read to my son and say, ‘your dad made this for you.’”

In fact, the panda bear in “Birds Can Fly, Why Can’t I” is based off of Hill’s now seven-yearold son, Griffin.

“My son was fully the panda to me. There’s a page of the book where he’s counting money from his piggy bank. My son did that every day.

That page is directly from him, with the coins all spread out around him,” explained Hill. “It was great to have these little vignettes of his life incorporated into the book. I could not have done it without him.”

Hill painted each of the book’s initial images in oil, using

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

something now that is more feminine. Now might be the time to base one on my daughter.”

The book release party on Saturday, February 27 will take place at David Hill Gallery, located at 454 Broadway, at the Saratoga Marketplace, from 2

“Birds Can Fly, Why Can’t I?” will be released on February 27 at David Hill Gallery. Photo provided.

several layers and giving a sort of transparency to certain areas.

“There’s this soft glow in the paintings of the pandas. Like the world as seen through a jar of honey. I wanted this amber tone to it, that is until the dream sequence and the colors get cooler,” David said.

After finishing the book, Hill then partnered up with Vicki Addesso Dodd, a book consultant, children’s book author, and owner of Saratoga Springs Publishing.

After taking a look at what Hill put together, she fell in love with the concept, and decided to help him finish the book. Though Hill had created a storyline already, Addesso Dodd built off from that and used the illustrations to write the finished product.

“This was such an interesting project for me to do because I took the illustrations and wrote directly from them. Normally, I’m only used to writing my own story,” said Addesso Dodd, who has three published children’s books of her own through her company. “To me, [this book] is the true meaning of a picture book. It’s published in a way that if the text was removed, you can still understand the story based on the illustrations. I had so much fun with it.”

“The scaffolding was there,” said Hill, “but she did a beautiful job of taking it to a new place.”

“I just love the book,” Addesso Dodd elaborated, “The illustrations are a different medium. They relate to children, but have a different artistic view.

I love the emotion in the book, and I feel that it is inspirational.

It shows that whatever children choose to do, if they look within themselves, they have the power to make anything possible.”

Hill is just as thrilled with how the book turned out, and mentioned how his son is excited about the book’s completion.

“People are coming into the gallery and buying images from the book, and it’s not even out yet,” Hill said. “I wanted to think of each page as its own painting, that if you took the page away from this book, it’s a painting. It’s ready to go as its own story. That was my goal for each page, to create something that can exist completely on its own, and I believe I achieved that.”

In the future, Hill will be continuing with his gallery paintings, which focus on beauty and repetition in the natural world, but he also plans on creating more children’s books, too.

“My goal now is to have a new book every Christmas, since I have so many books ready to go,” said Hill. “But I also have a daughter that is one-year-old.

My son was such a great help and inspiration that I’m tempted to do

p.m. until 6 p.m. The party is free to attend and open to the public.

For more information about David Hill, visit davidhillgallery. com. For more information about Vicki Addesso Dodd and her work, visit saratogaspringspublishing.com.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

29 PULSE

Saratoga Children’s Theatre Performs at Disney!

On Thursday, February 18, the talented young performers at Saratoga Children’s Theatre took their exceptional acting, singing, and dancing skills to the three-day National Performing Arts Festival at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. Competing with top performers from across the country, SCT’s cast of “Seussical the Musical” will perform a 20-minute excerpt from the show, which will then be judged by a panel. Good Luck, SCT! Photos by Mark Bolles.

Home Made Theater Wins “Best Community Theater” in New York Continued from front page.

entertainment and education organizations for their creativity, talents, and contributions across New York. Home Made Theater was one of five theaters nominated for the award.

Other nominees included Central New York Playhouse in Syracuse, Clocktower Players in Irvington, Olean Community Theatre, and Ghent Playhouse.

Now in its 31st season, HMT got the news about the award during the opening week of their production

of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Barnes noted how HMT will be using their status as “Best Community Theatre” to raise awareness for HMT’s shows and draw to attention to what the company is all about.

“We’re very excited about this award. There must be people out there who believe in us and took the time to vote,” continued Barnes. “HMT is a unique blend of professionals and those working in theater for the first time.

We try to give everyone involved a great experience. We’re proud of the quality of the work we do

and proud to give our audiences some terrific entertainment. I want to thank everyone for voting for us, and invite everyone to come check us out in the state park – you won’t be sorry!”

Going on right now at HMT is their production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ” by Tennessee Williams. Show times are February 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. and February 21 and 28 at 2 p.m.

For more information about Home Made Theater, visit homemadetheater.org.

Photo by SaratogaPhotographer.com.

PULSE

30

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

week of 2/19-2/25 friday, 2/19: Erin Harkes, 9 pm @ Bentley’s — 899.4300 Mipso, 8 pm @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 Chuck Kelsey, 7 pm @ Carson’s Woodside Tavern — 584.9791 Jukebox Night, 9 pm @ Caroline St. Pub — 583.9400 Miles Uptown, 7 pm @ Crown Grill — 583.1105 Party of Three, 4 pm @ End Zone Sports Pub — 584.6460 Rick Bolton + Jeff Walton, 5 pm @ Gaffney’s — 587.7359 Acoustic Circus, 9 pm @ Gaffney’s — 587.7359 Radio Junkies, 10 pm @ Harvey’s — 583.0003 In Spite of Ourselves, 8 pm @ Nanola — 587.1300 Rick Rosoff Quartet, 9 pm @ 9 Maple Avenue — 583.2582 George Muscatello, 6 pm @ One Caroline — 587.2026 Nancy Kamen, 5:30 pm @ Primetime Ultra Lounge — 583.4563 Toys in the Attic, 9:30 pm @ Putnam Den — 584.8066 Jim Hood, 9 pm @ The Mill — 899.5253 Frankie Lessard, 8:30 pm @ The Rusty Nail — 371.9875 Seth Warden Trio, 6 pm @ The Saratoga Winery — 584.9463 Tim Wechgelaer, 6:30 pm @ Thirsty Owl — 587.9694 New York Players, 8 pm @ Vapor — 581.5775

saturday, 2/20: Bluegrass Jam, 9:30 am @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 Martin Grosswendt + Suzanne Salem.

Schatz, 8 pm @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 John Stack, 7 pm @ Carson’s Woodside Tavern — 584.9791 Crazy Head Mazie, 9 pm @ Caroline St. Pub — 583.9400 Ubuntu, 9 pm @ Gaffney’s — 587.7359 Late Night DJ, 10 pm @ Harvey’s — 583.0003 Good Looking, 8 pm @ Nanola — 587.1300 Nelson Esposito Quintana, 9 pm @ 9 Maple Avenue — 583.2582 Useless Cans, 9 pm @ One Caroline — 587.2026 Er Go Blu, 5:30 pm @ Primetime Ultra Lounge — 583.4563 Wild Adriatic w/ Let’s Be Leonard, 9 pm @ Putnam Den — 584.8066 Dos Amigos, 9 pm @ The Mill — 899.5253

Forthlin Road, 8 pm @ The Parting Glass — 583.1916 Karaoke, 9:30 pm @ The Rusty Nail — 371.9875 Rich Clements Band, 3 pm @ The Saratoga Winery — 584.9463 Mike O’Donnell, 6:30 pm @ Thirsty Owl — 587.9694 DVDJ Dread, 9 pm @ Vapor — 581.5775 Rob Aronstein, 7 pm @ Wishing Well — 584.7640

sunday, 2/21: Samy Mielgo, 2:30 pm @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 Tom Chapin, 7 pm @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 Dooojj — CD Release, 4 pm @ Nanola — 587.1300 Live Jazz Brunch, 10 am @ Primetime Ultra Lounge — 583.4563 Rick Nelson, 3 pm @ The Saratoga Winery — 584.9463

tuesday, 2/23: Rich Ortiz, 9 pm @ Caroline St. Pub — 583.9400 Open Mic with Rick Bolton, 8 pm @ Gaffney’s — 587.7359

wednesday, 2/24: Acoustic Blues Open Mic + Jam, 7 pm @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 Masters of Nostalgia, 8:30 pm @ One Caroline — 587.2026 Open Mic, 9 pm @ Putnam Den — 584.8066 Celtic Session, 7 pm @ The Parting Glass — 583.1916 Karaoke, 9 pm @ The Rusty Nail — 371.9875

thursday, 2/25: Pat Decker, 7 pm @ Bailey’s — 583.6060 Open Mic, 7 pm @ Caffè Lena — 583.0022 Open Mic, 10 pm @ Circus Café — 583.1106 In Spite of Ourselves, 8 pm @ Gaffney’s — 587.7359 Emily Teller, 6 pm @ Harvey’s — 583.0003 Brian LaPoint + the Joints, 8 pm @ Nanola — 587.1300 Chris Carey + Mike O’Donnell, 8 pm @ One Caroline — 587.2026 Rich Ortiz, 5:30 pm @ Primetime Ultra Lounge — 583.4563 Southern Belles w/Last Daze, 9:30 pm @ Putnam Den — 584.8066 Celtic Session, 7 pm @ The Parting Glass — 583.1916

32 It’s where NEED to be.

YOU

Publication Day: Friday

Ad Copy Due: Wednesday, noon

Space Reservation Due: Monday, 5 p.m.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

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33 HELP WANTED

34

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Puzzles Across 1 Explosive sound 5 Outer __ 10 Not even ajar 14 “Born to Die” singer/songwriter Del Rey 15 Stadium divisions 16 Son of Leah 17 “You’re living in the past,” nowadays 20 Flower celebrated in an annual Ottawa festival 21 Move the boat, in a way 22 Painting option 23 Like a typical farmer’s market 25 “Gotcha!”

26 “You can’t go there,” nowadays 32 Peace Nobelist Sakharov 35 Elijah Blue’s mom 36 __ de coeur: impassioned plea 37 “Gone With the Wind” setting 38 “Whew!”

39 Sit a spell 40 The Pac-12’s Beavers 41 Ego 43 Citrine or amethyst 45 “Nobody can go there,” nowadays 48 A Bobbsey twin 49 Stops 53 Early New Zealand settler 56 “Something __, something ...”

58 Bug 59 “Never heard of you,” nowadays 62 Cinch 63 Sci-fi staple 64 Golf shot 65 Breton, e.g.

66 Band tour stop, perhaps 67 Building additions Down 1 Olive Oyl pursuer 2 Eagerly consume 3 One with degrees?

4 Sauce of southern Italy 5 Norm: Abbr.

6 Capital ENE of Custer 7 Prefix with 5-Across 8 Intercollegiate sport 9 Lawyer’s letters 10 Moccasin, for one 11 Man around the Haus

See puzzle solutions on page 38

See puzzle solution on page 38 12 Layer in the eye 13 Considerable 18 Posthaste 19 Escort 24 “Here,” on Metro maps 25 “__ to Billie Joe” 27 Act the cynic 28 Coming up short 29 Bakery specialist 30 Before, to a bard 31 Scatterbrain 32 On the highest point of 33 Apollo’s creator 34 Pharmacopeia listing 38 Abbreviation on a lunch menu 39 Splendor 41 Gastropod for a gourmet 42 Geochronological span

43 “¿__ pasa?”

44 Three-time Indy winner Bobby 46 Transported 47 Favored to win 50 “60 Minutes” regular 51 Sri Lankan language 52 What a pedometer counts 53 Catchall file abbr.

54 Archer of “Fatal Attraction” 55 Common face shape 56 Redolence 57 Jiffy __ 60 “Science Friday” radio host Flatow 61 Greek “H”

Writing the Right Word by Dave Dowling

Accuracy in word choice is a key to effective communication. In your daily writing and speaking, try to make sure you use the right word in the right place with the right spelling. By doing so, its effect will affect your communication in a positive way. This quick weekly tip will help you filter the confusion in some of our daily word choices.

This Week: Occultist, Oculist Occultist is one who believes in or studies supernatural things. An occultist would usually reject astronomy in favor of astrology.

Oculist is a physician who treats eyes (synonymous with ophthalmologist and optometrist). Oculist Dr. Smith treated my glaucoma.

Dave Dowling is the author of The Wrong Word Dictionary and The Dictionary of Worthless Words. Both books are available from many book retailers, and signed copies can be obtained by contacting Dave at davedowling59@yahoo.com

SPORTS 35

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

It’s not hockey… It’s Playoff Hockey!

Continued from front page.

Ballston Spa this Friday, February 19, at 6:45 p.m.

Saratoga came into the contest with a perfect 13-0 record in league play, while Nisky/Shen was 3-10. Many times, the playoffs will dictate a different, more defensive style of play – as teams feel each other out in the beginning. That was hardly the case with the Blue Streaks here – they came out early and often, forcing Blanchfield to make save after save to keep the game scoreless after the first period. Indeed, with 12 minutes remaining in the second period, Saratoga had outshot the Mohawks 25-2!

While the Blue Streaks were never really threatened in the contest, with literally 95+ percent of the action in their offensive zone, it took quite a bit of effort for them to break through. But they stuck to their game and kept on flying to the net, peppering Blanchfield with shot after shot until finally, at 3:38 into the second period, co-captain Josh Dagle slipped one

by Blanchfield, assisted by cocaptain Elliott Hungerford.

This was followed less than a minute later, at 4:07, with another Blue Streak tally by Colin Paton, assisted by Caleb Smith to put Saratoga up 2-0.

The Mohawks managed their lone goal, on the power play at 8:16, but Saratoga had the answer just over a minute later, as co-captain Jake Fauler, assisted by Brendan Coffey

Colin Paton scored twice for the Blue Streaks

Co-captains Josh Dagle (L) and Elliott Hungerford (9) Celebrate a Hard-Earned Victory. Photos by MarkBolles.com

and Hungerford, made it 3-1 Saratoga, and essentially iced the game as you could feel that, despite Blanchfield’s heroics (he would finish with an impressive 51 saves in the contest), the offensive swarming tsunami of the Blue Streaks were a force that would not be denied.

In the third period, Saratoga added to their lead, with Paton registering his second goal at 1:20, and then a power play goal by Hungerford, assisted by Fauler and Coffey at 11:29, closed out

the scoring.

Coming in, this had all the elements of a “trap game” – in which Saratoga came in with everything going for itself – a top seed playing at their home rink, and running into a hot goalie. And yet Saratoga made a statement that they were not going to be denied. The fact that they overcame stop after frustrating stop and kept working, sticking to their plan and, at the end, enabling their superior talent to come through, sets them up well for Friday’s semifinal match against Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa – a team which bested CBA on

Saratoga Boys BB Scores First Round Playoff Win

Junior Adam Anderson Paced Saratoga With 27 Points. Photo by MarkBolles.com

Mohawks’ goalie James Blanchfield was outstanding in defeat; registering 51 saves.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School Varsity Basketball squad, seeded tenth in Section 2 Class AA, registered a strong 72-54 victory in its first round playoff match over Albany on the road, on Tuesday, February 16.

Junior guard Adam Anderson, who scored 27 points and sank 15 of 19 free throws, paced the Blue Streaks and led all scorers. Senior

forward Alex Skaine registered 20 points for Saratoga.

The Blue Streaks’ next playoff match is a quarterfinal tilt against number two seed Guilderland and will take place on Saturday, February 20, at 5:30 at Hudson Valley Community College. The semifinals will be at the Glens Falls Civic Center on February 25, and the final will be March 1 at the Times Union Center.

Wednesday, 5-3, and will come in riding an 11 game winning streak.

The winner of Friday’s semifinal

game will meet the winner of LaSalle vs. Tri-Falls in the Section 2 final on Thursday, February 25.

36

SPORTS

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

Referees Are Human

by Damian Fantauzzi for Saratoga TODAY In Argyle, about two weeks ago, two high school basketball referees were hurt and a Fort Edward man arrested after the man allegedly attacked one of the referees after a girls junior varsity basketball game, police said.

The person attacking the refs was charged with unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor, and non-criminal harassment after the confrontation at Argyle High School, according to the Washington County Sheriff ’s Office.

Police said that the man accosted one of the referees after a junior varsity girl’s basketball game between Argyle and Fort Edward high schools. He is accused of pinning the referee to a wall and refusing to let him leave. The other referee who also worked in the game intervened, there was a struggle, and the second referee suffered a cut hand, sheriff ’s Senior Investigator Tony LeClaire said. The ref who was pinned against the wall suffered a sprained finger, police said.

Charges were filed on behalf of the ref who was pinned against the wall, and the other did not seek prosecution despite his injury. The attacker apparently knew one of the referees and was complaining to him about calls during the game when the second referee came to his aid. He was accused of grabbing the second referee by the shirt and holding him against the wall, officials said.

Roger Forando, the region’s referee assigner for girl’s high school basketball, said “sportsmanship” at school athletics events seems to be worsening, pointing to an incident in Whitehall

in 2014 and others in the Albany area.

He said there have been 17 problems with fans in Section II this school year, including one at a Glens Falls-Hudson Falls girls’ basketball game in which a water bottle was thrown on the court in the direction of a Glens Falls player.

The Warrensburg-Whitehall boys’ varsity basketball game was halted just recently because a fan had to be ejected for remarks to a referee, and State Police were called. “We are quite concerned with the escalation of poor sportsmanship at basketball games,” Forando said.

I have been witness to some fantastic moments at basketball games and some absolutely ridiculous moments. Each of the fantastic moments I have witnessed occurred during the games, involving kids and especially as a coach. I would say most of the ridiculous moments occurred after a game, or in the stands, from people that should know better, the adults. They are supposed to be there to set an example for the kids, and cheer them on, while teaching what is right from wrong.

Do referees miss calls? Of course they do! No one is perfect! Do refs have good games and bad games? Yes, they do. Just like players and coaches, referees are human. There is not a single person on this planet that goes through every single day in life without making a mistake. A ref goes out on the floor, or the playing field, with a goal to do the best job he, or she can possibly do during a game. I don’t think I have ever known a ref to show up at the gym with the thought in mind of going out on the floor to call the game in favor of one team over the other.

No one is guiltier than me, as a basketball coach, for getting on the refs. I can say at times I was out of line, or just plain over emotional about a call, but let me say this, when that final buzzer went off, so did my emotions. I always left my game out on the floor.

There were times, and very few times, I felt we got the short end of the stick. I will confess that in some situations I felt that there might have been a call to get even

with me because of my reputation as a basketball coach, but I got over it pretty darn quick. As I aged into coaching, I became more aware of my actions and reactions, and how it affected the team. Ninety nine percent of the time my feelings of what the officials did disappeared before I left the gym, or got on the bus. I never said anything negative to a ref at the end of a game. Given the opportunity, I usually would compliment an official at the end of the game by saying, “good game,” or “nice job.”

When coaching, I didn’t like it when people in the stands failed to understand that the referees were trying to watch all 10 players on the floor, at the same time, and make a split decision in half a second. Two people on opposite sides of the gym have different viewpoints and perspective of the same play. To one person, a play, or a call may look innocent and no big deal, while another person from an opposite perspective will see the exact same play and scream for a call. Remember, when refs are on the floor they may have had a better angle, and from their point of view this is what they saw.

The other thing most people don’t think about is how much easier it is to view a basketball game standing or sitting in the same position, and even from an elevated view. Officials have to worry about moving their feet while looking through players, around players, and getting out of the way of players. A bird’s-eyeview is much easier to see things in the peripheral, or the bigger picture. There is another thing I don’t think parents understand, and at times coaches, that a ref must “see” the infraction to make the “call.”

There are times that a ref knows what has happened in a situation, but if he or she did not see what just happened, they cannot make the call on the play. For example, they might hear noise from contact, but maybe had their backs to the situation, so they can’t guess what just happened to make the call. I think for an official there is nothing worse than the feeling than knowing they might have missed a somewhat violent interaction, or penalty,

especially when a kid gets hurt as a result. It happens, and it might be the biggest dread for an official, because, in reality, refs would like to see a clean and fair game.

How can these situations be prevented - preventing an irate fan from going after an official?

There are situations where a ref can eject a fan, with the aid of law enforcement. That always leaves the referee with an uncomfortable feeling of the possibility that there might be some sort of retribution by the person expelled. That can’t be easy for the official to concentrate on the rest of the game, or getting out of the gym safely. This shouldn’t be part of the night for anyone.

So here is my take on what can be the underlying reason for what has been happening, and this isn’t just a local problem. A question first: Is there too much media coverage on high school athletics? Is it to a point where, mainly the parents have the delusion that their child is a great athlete and worthy enough to be noticed by a Division 1 college with the offer of a full athletic scholarship? First of all, only 1 percent of high school athletes earn D-1 athletic scholarships. That’s a fact, only 1 percent! One of the biggest problems is this can be an egotistical trip for some parents, and realistically and unfortunately it’s mostly the fathers who are trying to live out an unaccomplished dream that their kid is the super star that they weren’t.

There needs to be some

opportunity, maybe provided by the school systems, or even the NCAA, to educate parents on the pros and cons of playing sports.

The pro being the participation, as well as developing camaraderie with teammates, and opponents, and mainly being part of something that they should cherish forever.

The con being, that 95 percent, or more, of scholastic athletes most likely will not ever play at a higher level. A referee making a questionable call is not preventing their child from getting that dream athletic scholarship!

The reality is that just maybe that child isn’t as good as dad, mom or even the athlete might believe.

I have said this before: Let your child have fun playing sports and see them evolve as a good person because of the association and participation that comes with being on a team and playing sports. That’s what it means to be an athlete; it’s good to have dreams of athletic prowess, but not a dream that’s an unachievable egotistical grandeur.

Do remember that a game isn’t a game without officiating, and that refs are human like you and me, but however you think the calls go, whether pro or con, those questionable calls will not have an effect on the child’s future in athletics. Here’s a “make up” call, there isn’t any, so enjoy the game and respect those who do what they do without actually expecting recognition for a job well done, the refs!

Saratoga Girls BB Opens Playoffs with Win

Freshman Kelly Flaherty led the Streaks with 20 points. Photo by MarkBolles.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The number six-seeded Saratoga Springs High Varsity Girls Basketball squad, paced by 20 points from freshman Kelly Flaherty and 15 from eighthgrader Dolly Cairns, defeated number 11 Niskayuna in their opening playoff match, 63-51, on Tuesday, February 16.

Saratoga’s record is now 13-8 overall, and next will square off against number three-seeded Albany on Monday, February 22 at Bethlehem.

- Arthur Gonick

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Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

All Outdoors Winter’s Broken Promise

by Tim Blodgett for Saratoga TODAY I have not yet reached the “Old Codger” stage of life, but I am old enough to see their point when they say, “winters aren’t the same as they used to be.” Hurtling breakneck down steep slopes, snow forts and snow banks taller than dad are held up as evidence against recent winters, especially this year’s sub-par showing. Nothing seems to measure up when viewed through the cloudy lens of time.

If my twelve-year-old self had suffered through a winter like this, I would surely have blocked the unhappy season from my memory. We tend to glorify our old memories and gloss over the recent past when it suits us, so don’t get upset when I ask you to recall the previous two winters and compare them to this dud.

They were COLD and SNOWY just like when I was a kid! Maybe Old Man W spent all his cold cash and had to economize this year.

A lot of people are welcoming the break from harsh conditions they’ve suffered though in the past. Just as many are lamenting lost opportunities and cancelled plans. I truly feel bad for you if you have a shiny new snowmobile sitting idle in your yard.

We’ve had precious few cold days and nights but snow makers at the ski slopes have worked some white magic and have opened some trails to their patrons.

Ice fishermen have seen most of their fishing holes freeze over but have had to forego the use of their machines and use extreme caution when going forth. Many outdoor enthusiasts just gave up or are hoping for a late season

resurgence of winter weather.

According to that darn woodchuck though, spring’s coming early if it hasn’t already arrived.

I think about the impact a winter like this has on the local flora and fauna. With the exception of recent and often unwelcome new arrivals, plants and animals of this area have evolved adaptations that allow them to survive, and often thrive, in harsh winter conditions. Most critters great and small are enjoying the mild conditions and will greet spring fat, happy and fruitful.

They need a break once in a while so I’m happy for most of them.

The cute and furry ones aren’t the only ones benefitting, I expect that we may have a bumper crop of pests as well. The lack of extended cold may allow pests like ticks and other insects that can cause damage to local plant life and crops to survive, and cause us grief in a few months. There has been some worry that the mild temperature may have caused apples and other fruiting trees to prematurely use the stored resources they will need soon, time will tell.

It’s not as obvious but we have been suffering drought conditions for quite some time now and that will spell trouble this spring and into summer.

Unless we get rains of biblical proportions this spring, water levels in local streams and rivers will be very low because there is no snow pack to speak of. This could lead to water shortages and depleted aquifers. At least we won’t have to worry about flooding, right? I grew up on the banks of the Kaydeross Creek and spent a lot of years downstream of Lake Lonely, so I know a little about flooding.

Thankfully, the high water events I experienced were more of a temporary inconvenience than a disaster. The good these seasonal floods do is often overlooked by the inconvenienced.

They re-sculpt, recharge and generally rejuvenate the streams they effect by flushing away accumulated silt and depositing it in the surrounding fields and wetlands, washing in nutrients, deepening or digging new channels and piling fallen trees, thus creating

new habitat for fish and their prey to use. Without snow packs to provide a source of cold runoff, stream temperatures can rise too high and fatally stress trout that need the cooler water. A normal, plain Jane, run of the mill, unremarkable and completely forgettable winter would have been better in my humble opinion.

It has been pointed out to me though, if I may paraphrase the words of someone you may have heard of, “You can’t always get what you want; you get what you need.” I’m sure the Rolling Stones were talking about something else, but there may be some truth in that refrain.

Let’s look on the bright side.

If the current weather pattern continues, we will see an early start to the spring fishing season - that’s something most anglers look forward to. We’ve all had a break from many of the usual challenges we face from frozen pipes to high heating bills. Harsh winter weather strengthens the vitality of wildlife by winnowing out the weak and less adaptable, perhaps the mild weather pattern

will have the same effect and will promote positive change. One year won’t make that much difference, but if this is the pattern that many are predicting will become the norm, we will all be adapting.

March will be upon us soon and it has a contradictory reputation. Given the milk toast winter thus far, I won’t bet on the lion making much of a statement next month, since the lamb is here early. A late season whopper of a snowstorm won’t hurt my feelings though. We can all agree that the lengthening days tend to brighten one’s mood and sense of optimism. Spring with its rain and summer with the resultant lawn work will be upon us soon, so enjoy what’s left of winter, it may surprise us yet and remind us of the old time winters of our youth!

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at 518-584-3952.

The store has a new location, at 111 Green St, Schuylerville.

For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

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Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

COMMUNITY SPORTS BULLETIN Sign Up For 2nd Annual Blue Needs You 8K Run On March 26, 2016 join our great community of runners in the second annual Blue Needs You 8K Run. This family friendly event features an 8K Run, Kids Fun Run, and Cheer Squad- A $10 donation gets you a race day Cheer Squad tee. All proceeds benefit the Saratoga Springs Code Blue Shelter.

When you “Run for Blue” you are ensuring a safe, warm shelter, kind hand and hot meals for individuals in the Saratoga region who may otherwise remain unsheltered during periods of hazardous winter weather.

The early bird registration fee to run is $30 until March 11. To register or for more information, visit www.codeblueneedsyou.org/wordpress/

Coaches Workshop for Capital Region Soccer To prepare for the spring season, the 6th Annual Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) Coaches Workshop will take place on Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sand Creek Middle School, 329 Sand Creek Road in Albany. Coaching clinics and meetings plus referee clinics are highlights. It’s open to all coaches, referees plus administrators and it is mandatory that

a coach or representative from each CDYSL team attend. The CDYSL Coaches Workshop provides a one-day venue for coaches and club administrators to combine attendance at the mandatory coaches meetings with clinics and workshops that enhance player, team and club development.

For more info, phone the CDYSL office at 518-435-2325.

Guided Winter Hikes at Saratoga National Historical Park Join the park rangers on Sunday, February 21 and Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM for rangerled winter hikes at Saratoga Battlefield, located between Rt. 4 and Rt. 32, just north of the Village of Stillwater.

Snow or no snow, these two unique walks will offer fun winter walks combined with great history and two different themes: Sunday, February 21: “Frosty History” ­Park Ranger Megan Stevens brings you on a walk through the scenic grounds that witnessed the Battles of Saratoga, addressing the question of what these soldiers experienced in the previous and following winters.

Saturday, March 12: “Survivor: Winterland” P ­ark Ranger Bill Valosin leads a walk into the winter woods with an eye toward “roughing it when you have to,” like when your GPS gets you lost in the middle

of miles-from-nowhere and you need a cozy, warm fire, snug shelter, or some water to drink.

No one gets voted off here!

For more information about this or other events, call the Visitor Center at 518-6702985 or visit www.nps.gov/sara.

Sign Up For Round Lake Baseball The Round Lake/Malta Youth Baseball League is now accepting registrations for Recreational Spring Baseball.

The league is dedicated to providing recreational co-ed baseball to all youth in our community at the same low fees as last year regardless of experience, residency, or school district. Divisions start at T-Ball (ages 4-5), and go up to Division 10U. Please visit our NEW website at Leagues. bluesombrero.com/roundlakebaseball for online registration and you can email questions to roundlakebaseball@gmail. com. Applications can also be found at the Malta Community Center. There are a limited number of spots per division so sign up early. And don’t forget to register for our league-subsidized player clinics!

Open Gym at Gavin Park Monday – Friday, through February 26, 3-5 p.m.

Open gym is free to all participants. Those 11 and

Puzzle solutions from pg. 34 Send your sports stories or briefs to Arthur Gonick, Sports Editor at arthur@saratoga publishing.com

under must have an adult 18+ with them at all times.

Basketball shooting only permitted. Maximum capacity is limited to 25 participants.

Malta Spring Activities Brochure Available The Town of Malta’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Human Services Spring Activities Brochure is now available online at www.maltaparksrec. com. It is available at the Malta Community Center, and registration has begun for spring classes and programs. New classes, sports programs and special events are scheduled to begin in March. Please call the Malta Community Center at 518-899-4411 for more information.

Saratoga Varsity Baseball Clinic The Saratoga Springs Varsity baseball team will be hosting a winter clinic for grade 3 - 8 students on February 23 and 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Saratoga Springs High School.

The clinic will cover all basic baseball skills and be a chance to learn with members of the 2015 state finalists! Check out www.saratogabaseballcamps. com to register.

Ballston Spa School District Offers Community Swim Opportunities The Ballston Spa Aquatics Program is currently offering opportunities for public use of the pool during adult lap swimming sessions, from 6 -7 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and on Monday and Wednesday evenings. A family/open swim is also offered on Saturday afternoons from noon – 2 p.m.

Additional opportunities are offered throughout the year, including adult Aqua Cardio classes and a Learn-To-Swim program in the spring.

The Community Swim Program is open to district students, families and community members. District residents need to show identification and pay a $1 entrance fee to utilize the pool. Non-residents are admitted, as space allows, for a $2 fee. The pool is closed during swim meets, school vacations, emergency cancellations (i.e. snow days or early dismissals) and when school activities necessitate closure.

Information is available online at www.bscsd.org, by clicking on the aquatics/pool button on the left side of the homepage. For more information, please contact the pool office directly at 518-884-7150 ext. 2324.

Week of February 19 – February 25, 2016

SPORTS 39

Shout Out to Saints’ Girls Basketball Best Season in Dozen Years

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Spa Catholic Saints Girls basketball squad have a lot to be proud of this year.

They have just concluded their best regular season since 2003, compiling a solid 8-5 record in the Northern Division of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and 12-8 overall.

They also made the sectional tournament again, facing a tough BerneKnox team in the first round on Tuesday, February 16.

Though the Lady Saints came away on the short end of that contest, they and Coach Tom Coons can look

Retired jockey Ramon Dominguez Designated Eligible for Hall of Fame Consideration SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Executive Committee has unanimously approved a measure to designate retired jockey Ramon Dominguez as eligible for Hall of Fame consideration beginning in 2016. Dominguez suffered a career-ending injury at Aqueduct Racetrack in January 2013.

Hall of Fame procedures require jockeys to be licensed in North America for 20 years to be eligible for consideration, but the requirement was waived in the case of Dominguez — who rode for 18 years (1996 through 2013) in North America — because he would have satisfied the requirement in 2015 and would have been eligible for Hall of Fame consideration if not for the career-ending injury.

Dominguez, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He ranks 17th all time in earnings and 32nd in wins.

The National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame Nominating Committee will meet later this month to review the preliminary candidates and select the finalists for the Hall of Fame voting panel. The Hall of Fame finalists will be named in March and the inductees will be announced in April. The 2016 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Friday, August 12 at FasigTipton in Saratoga Springs.

back on a season of accomplishment.

Seniors Chloe Ethier and Mariah Murray were honored before the Saints’ home game against HadleyLuzerne on Monday, February 1, and they came away with a 44-25 victory.

The dual-threat of junior Emma VanDeCar (averaging 13 ppg) and senior Chloe Ethier (8.9 ppg/ 11 rebounds per game) proved to be a key element in the Saints’ improvement. Both were named to the WAC all-star basketball team, to go with their all-star berths in WAC boy’s golf. If that were not enough, both Emma and Chloe are number one in their class academically! Saints fans will have another season to enjoy from Emma, while Chloe is currently weighing multiple offers from colleges to play golf and basketball.

The Lady Saints have much to look forward to. In addition to Emma VanDeCarr’s senior season, look for continued improvement and solid contributions from guards Kristen Mahar (currently a junior) and sophomore Ani Crocker, as well as junior guard/forward Katie Case, which will set Spa Catholic up to be a force in the WAC for some time to come.

Senior Mariah Murray

Senior Chloe Ethier was honored before tipping off against Hadley-Luzerne.

With Emma VanDeCar (13), Ani Crocker (12), Kristen Mahar (11) and Katie Case (2) back next season, the Saints have plenty to look forward to. Photos by MarkBolles.com