LO C A L
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I N D E P E N D E N T
Volume 10 • Issue 27 • July 10 – July 16, 2015
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F R E E saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • (518) 581-2480
24 Years of Dance:
A Ballerina Story by Rebecca Davis Saratoga TODAY
Tiler Peck and Adrian Danchig-Waring in George Balanchine’s “Symphony in C”. Photo credit: Paul Kolnik
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tiler Peck is living her dream. Principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, Peck will be performing at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center this month. She is excited to share her hard work, and her story, with the community. Born in Bakersfield, California, Peck started dancing at the age of 2 with her mother, a dance teacher. She originally was more interested in jazz, but her mother stressed the importance of practicing and
3-2 Vote Amends Solar Ordinance
by Norra Reyes Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — At the Saratoga Springs City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday evening, July 7, the Council voted to lift certain restrictions pertaining to the shadowing of neighboring solar panels in Transect 6 zones in the City, which can open up infill construction downtown. “I think it needed to happen,” said Michele Madigan, commissioner of finance for Saratoga Springs. “It’s unfortunate that the entire Council doesn’t see the bigger picture here. We want our
greenbelt kept safe and secure, but in our downtown we want infill and growth and development. We can find a way to do smart solar downtown and still keep the vibrancy and development of our downtown where our comprehensive plan requires it.” The 3-2 vote took place after weeks of discussion amongst businesses and residents on both sides of the issue, including public hearings regarding the city solar ordinance amendment, one of which took place that evening in front of a standing-room-only crowd. See Public Hearing pg. 8
studying ballet in order to become a wellrounded dancer. After being in commercials and on TV as a child, her turning point was playing Gracie in Broadway’s “Music Man” when she was 11. After that, she entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of the New York City Ballet, when she was 12. “I loved the way SAB teaches dance. It just seemed jazzier to me. I felt by studying here, I could get it all,” Peck said. At 15, Peck became an apprentice with the NYC Ballet and the next year See Ballerina pg. 7
Waterfront Park Opens
by Norra Reyes Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne D. Yepsen hosted a grand re-opening celebration of the Waterfront Park on Saratoga Lake on Thursday July 9 with a tour of the newly refurbished park.
The finished project, which broke ground last September, includes a new beach area, a brand new stairway and dock, and a repaved parking area. Since 2006, the City of Saratoga Springs has been looking at how best to provide its citizens with See Waterfront Park pg. 9
Featured Stories
Park Fest Highlights See pg. 3
Secret Garden Tour
See pgs. 14-15
Inside TODAY Blotter 5 Obituaries 6 Business 10-11 Education 12 Your Home
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Pulse 26-29 Sports 35-39
Weekend Forecast FRIDAY
83|58 SATURDAY
84|61 SUNDAY The new dock and beach make kayaking an enjoyable option at Waterfront Park. Photo © 2015 SaratogaPhotographer.com
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