Burnt Hills’ Tse a student of game

JOYCE BASSETT

This column is sponsored by Times Union Women@Work, the Capital Region’s network of business and professional women. Join today at: https://womenatworkny.com

Galvanized by the success of baseball players Kelsie Whitmore and Olivia Pichardo, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School junior Maddie Tse knows no limits.

Just ask her what position she’ll play as a member of the Spartans’ varsity baseball team.

“I mainly play outfield but I’m a pitcher and I can catch. I’ve been catching in the bullpen. I also play third base. Anywhere they need me really,” she said.

She started playing baseball as an 8-year-old and developed her skills in the Burnt Hills youth baseball program. She’s played field hockey and was a kicker on the varsity football team for the Spartans, but baseball is her true love.

Making her high school varsity team was a goal she felt she could achieve through hard work playing along her longtime teammates, but that work is just beginning.

“I’m looking to hopefully play D-III baseball in college. But if not, I still want to play club baseball,” she said.

Why baseball?

At 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, she’s small compared to the boys on varsity. And honestly she isn’t quite sure why she chose baseball and not softball as her primary sport.

“I kind of just fell in love with the game. At first I hated it,” she said. “I didn’t like it at all and then something just clicked and I can’t get enough of it.”

“I played softball when I was 6 or 7. It was just like T-ball,” she said.

Her parents signed her up for baseball the following year simply as a matter of family convenience. Her older brother Jackson was playing and her father, Victor, was deployed as an Army Reservist. Playing on the same fields would be easier for her mom, Sara, who was juggling parenting while working as a physician’s assistant.

“My brother was a big influence on my love for baseball. We played outside all the time and he helps me train,” she said.

An avid Yankees fan, she knows her baseball history, including the women who have paved the way on the diamond.

“Kelsie Whitmore is the first woman to play in the Atlantic League. Olivia Pichardo was the first woman to play D-I baseball as a walk-on at Brown University,” she said.

She’s also a fan of Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach professional baseball and founder of Baseball For All, which hosts an annual all-girls national tournament.

“Too many girls are still told they can’t play baseball because they are girls,” Siegal says on her website. “I founded Baseball For All to empower girls to believe in themselves and to keep playing the game they love. I fear if you tell a girl she can’t play baseball what else will she think she can’t do? I then worry what else boys will think girls can’t do?”

At Burnt Hills, as she rose through the youth developmental and high school levels of a baseball system, that has never been an issue for Tse. Growing up in Glenville, her coaches and teammates have embraced her as a baseball player her entire life. She’s earned spots on allstar teams and last year experienced what the future may hold: playing baseball on an all-female team.

As a member of the NY Wonders on the roster of the New York Girls Baseball organization, she traveled in 2022 to Vero Beach, Florida, to play in an elite development tournament at Jackie Robinson Training Complex.

She also plans to compete in nationals for the Wonders in July at the Ripken Experience ballpark in Elizabethtown, Ky.

“It’s pretty much set in stone that I’ll be going to the tournament. It will be the second all-girls tournament I’ve attended. It’s an awesome experience,” she said.

Meanwhile, she will play her first season of high school baseball while cheering for her Yankees. She’s interested in seeing how the new MLB baseball rules will impact the game.

“I think they’re interesting,” she said of the new rules. “It will definitely speed the game up, but it’ll be interesting to see the repercus-

Free April Vacation Programs

at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park

WILTON - There is plenty to do with Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park for April Break. Wilton Preserve has free events scheduled for all ages and the 25 miles of trails owned by the Department of Environmental Conservation, Saratoga County, and Town of Wilton will be open to the public. As a bonus, the Historic Cornell Fire Tower will be open on April 15 and 16 from 10am to 3pm. Check the full schedule below.

Nature on the Move

Monday, April 10, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Nature on the Move is a fast-paced walk that happens every other week throughout the year. For this special day, the group will climb the Fire Tower and learn about its history.

Spring Discovery Walk

Tuesday, April 11, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Take a walk through

Local Students

Work to Limit the Spread of Invasive Fish in NYS

CAPITAL DISTRICT

- Emma Willard School offers a program called STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) 10, where students work in small groups on a project together for the entire school year. A group of motivated students including Ella Daley, Nadia Mitic, Olivia Berkman, and Roz Kurd focused on the research of invasive fish species found in our waters. They studied the harmful actions of these fish and found out ways to help our community to increase awareness about the meadows, forests, and wetlands of Camp Saratoga. An environmental educator will guide the group through the changes of spring.

Bog Meadow Brook Walks

Thursday, April 13, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Interns shared with Wilton Preserve and Saratoga PLAN have developed information about the sights and sounds of Bog Meadow Brook. Watch the ecosystem develop as the seasons change during this weekly walk series.

Woodcock Walk

Thursday, April 13, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Learn about this silly-looking critter then take a guided walk at dusk. As the group moves through the meadows, we will watch for their mating displays and listen for their calls.

Tree ID at Congress Park

Friday, April 14, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Learn to identify the this problem and to help take positive action. local trees based on their bark and buds. Review the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees then enjoy a short craft. This program is run through the Saratoga Springs Public Library. To register, call the library at (518) 584-7860 ext. 303.

Research about the invasive fish revealed the damage they do to the environment and our local ecosystem. Through a program at Cornell CALS called “Fish Tracker”, the team will send collected water samples to test the eDNA to determine which invasive species are found in our regional waters. In addition to testing the water the team decided to raise awareness of limiting the spread of invasive species.

Invasive species are non-native so they don’t have natural predators to regulate their quick, growing population and they diminish the food supply for the native fish.

Woodcock Campfire

Chat

Friday, April 14, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Each month features a chat around the campfire to learn about the native species of the Saratoga Sandplains ecosystems, how these animals are threatened, and what we can do to help their conservation. While we chat, hang out around the fire for cocoa, s’mores, and cookies! This program is funded by the Common Roots Foundation.

Registration is required. Space is limited. To register please visit our website, wiltonpreserve. org, and click on the “Our Programs” tab, then “Calendar of Public Events” to access the online registration form. For more infor-

One of the current issues is the Round Goby fish, which is already in New York waters. The Round Goby is a small fish so it is not an issue of being a top predator but is a problem because they eat native fish eggs, specifically the smallmouth bass. The Smallmouth Bass only lays eggs once a year and the Round Goby is diminishing their population by inhibiting the reproduction success rate. Another big current issue is that of the Snakehead fish which is a non-native top predator, which kills and eats all the native species. The team wants to emphasize the impending issue of the Blue Catfish to New York State. If these fish got into New York waters, their diet mation, please contact the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve. org. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.

Saratoga County History Center

Calendar Listings

SARATOGA COUN-

TY - April 13 – 7 pm 2nd Annual Public History Awards. Saratoga County History Center will host the second annual Saratoga County Public History Award ceremony. The 2022 winners are Paul Perreault and Charlie Kuenzel. Selected by a committee of historians and educators, Perreault is a retired high school of mussels, which filter our waters, would lessen the purity and clarity of our waters.

The student team came up with the idea to sell merchandise that raises awareness and all the proceeds will be donated to the Natural Heritage Trust. The Natural Heritage Trust works on the preservation of native species and one of the ways they do this is limiting the spread of invasive species. The team proposed their idea to Youth2Youth Helping Youth (youthsquared.org) and wrote a grant proposal for financial support to design and purchase merchandise. They received a $500 grant. The merchandise is a canvas bag with a custom

Saratoga Springs

Heritage Area Visitor Center

Spring

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series

SARATOGA – The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center, in partnership with the Saratoga Springs Public Library, is excited to announce the launch of their Spring 2023 Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series. This community lecture series is designed to highlight the rich history, culture, and traditions of our city.

All Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series programs are free and open to the public. Each program takes place from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dutcher Community Room, Saratoga Springs principal and current Malta Town Historian, while Kuenzel is a retired Earth science teacher and current President of the Saratoga Springs History Museum. This celebration will be held at Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Please register at https://brooksidemuseum. networkforgood.com/ events/54955-2nd-annual-saratoga-county-public-history-award

Fish Creek

Rod & Gun Club

Fish Fry Friday

Eat-In or Take Out

SCHUYLERVILLE -

The Fish Creek Rod and Gun Club Friday night Fish Fry will be back for 2023. Fish Fry will start January 13 and run through April 7th We will be serving from 4:00pthm till 7:00pm.

Various menu items are available From fried fish to chicken nuggets with French fries, Cole slaw and chowder also available. 518-695-3917 design done by Ana VanPlew, one of the students at Emma Willard School. The team plans on raising awareness at their school and at the Sustainability Fair on April 16th, from 10am-4pm, at Skidmore College in Case Center.

Come join us to learn more and help take social action to keep our waters healthy!

Grief Hope and Healing Program

HALFMOON - 7 Weeks, Church of the Resurrection, begins April 14th at 6pm . Halfmoon Town Hall - Registration required. Please visit crsaratoga.org to contact us for more information.

Public Library, 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. The program can also be accessed virtually. Attendees are encouraged to check the library website for more information and guidelines https://www.sspl.org.

2023 programs:

Thursday, April 13, 2023: The Lakehouses at Saratoga Lake presented by Lorie Wies, Local History Librarian, retired Thursday, May 11, 2023: The Spa State Park: The Formation of one of Saratoga’s Greatest Assets presented by Charlie Kuenzel

Thursday, June 8, 2023: Erasing Spaces and Faces: The Legacy of Urban Renewal in Saratoga Springs presented by the Erasing Faces and Spaces Project Team

The Saratoga Springs

Heritage Area Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until March 31; April 1 –December 31, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information visit, www. saratogaspringsvisitorcenter.com.

New Style and Old Tyme

Fiddling with the Adirondack Fiddlers

SCHUYLERVILLESunday April 16th 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. American Legion Hall, Clancy St. Schuylerville, NY All fiddlers and musicians young and old and Public welcome. Round and square dancing. Food Available. For more information call (518) 274-6817

Adirondack Post 70 of the American Legion Meeting

SARATOGA - Adirondack Post 70 of the American Legion will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday, April 22nd , 2023, at 10AM. 34 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

Ancient Order of Hibernians Speaker Presentation

SARATOGA - Commodore John Barry Div. #1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians presents William H. Payne author of A Stone of The Heart. A memoir of his great uncle Paddy Delany and his service in the Irish War of Independence and the ensuing Irish Civil war in County Mayo, 1917-1922

7:30 PM Thursday April 20,2023 at Saratoga -Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Rt. 9 (near 4 Marion Ave. via GPS) Saratoga Springs N.Y For more information http:/wwwsaratogaaoh. com

Knights of Columbus

Lenten Fish Fry

SARATOGA - Knights of Columbus Council #246 will once again be hosting Fish Fry Friday each Friday throughout Lent, 2/24 through 4/7, 5:00-7:00 pm. However, the event will resume with advance call-in of orders on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between the hours of 12:00 noon and 3:00, beginning on Wednesday, 2/22. The menu will include Fried or Baked Haddock ($15) or Fried Clam Strips ($12), each with French Fries, Cole Slaw, Tartar Sauce, and Cocktail Sauce; Macaroni and Cheese ($5); New England Clam Chowder (pint - $7/quart - $13); Single Order o French Fries ($3); and Dessert ($2 - when available). Call 518-584-8547 to place your order or for more information. A set number of orders will be scheduled for pickup at 5:00 and at intervals of every 15 minutes thereafter until sold out, so make sure to schedule early. As always, thank you for your support and helping us to continue our good works in the community.

50 Pine Road, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866

518-584-8547

The Capital District Humanist Society

Presents:

The Latest “Word” on Neurodegenerative Diseases

CAPITA DISTRICT

- Neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease, etc.) together affect about 12% of the population. Their effects are debilitating and demoralizing for those affected, and can be devastating for their families. While there are attempts at treatment, there are no cures for these diseases.

Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD, is a professor of Pharmacology, Neurology and the Program in Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine, and an Elected Fellow of the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science. He is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics to treat Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. He received his MD/ PhD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has published 180 papers to date, and has received numerous awards throughout his career. This program will take place online, via Zoom, on Sunday, April 9th , 2023, at 1 PM.

ANY ONE WHO IS NOT A CURRENT PAID MEMBER of CDHS CAN ATTEND. Send an e mail request to: CDHS. Albany@gmail.com, several days prior, or log onto our Meetup page: https://www.meetup.com/ Capital-District-Humanist-Society/. Click on Join, then on Attend, and use the RSVP function and the link will be available to you. To learn more about us please go to: www.humanistsociety.net

HOPE Dog & Cat Adoption Event

SARATOGA - Location:

H.O.P.E. Adoption Center, Wilton Mall at Saratoga, 3065 Route 50, Saratoga Springs NY Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023

Franklin Community Center Receives

Funding

for Project Lift

SARATOGA - Franklin Community Center was recently awarded several grants in support of its Project Lift program; $500 from the Town of Greenfield Lions Club, $3,000 from the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs, $5,000 from the Stewart’s Holiday Match, $9,000 from The Christopher Dailey Foundation and $14,000 from The Hawley Foundation for Children. Project Lift, created in 1984 as a free after school program, addresses the growing need for youth to have prevention-based conversations as well as the opportunity to enhance their social and emotional skills. The funding assistance will support the impactful program as well as provide for the ancillary services offered to the Project Lift students and their families.

Franklin Community Center is blessed to have these organizations as partners. Thanks to all of their long-standing grant support, the students who attend our after-school program are able to benefit from the Back to School Backpack program, Holiday Assistance, Food Assistance and Camp Assistance. Said Colleen O’Connor Potter, Project Lift Program Director, “Helping children develop social and emotional skills is the heart and soul of our program and we are pleased to have the commitment of these organizations in supporting our work. Being able to rely on this generous funding helps Franklin Community Center meet our goals in providing fun and impactful experiences for each of our Lift students. We are so appreciative and look forward to many more years working together with these great community organizations.”

Project Lift works directly with students in grades 1st to 6th in the Saratoga Springs City School District. The program serves up to 175 children and their siblings in all 6 elementary schools and the middle school, with support to the students’ families. Services include Camp Assistance, which offers scholarships for participants enrolled in Project Lift the experience of attending summer camp. The goal is to offer students a place where they may learn about and better understand themselves in a safe, supportive, and relaxed natural environment. Providing camp opportunities to children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds helps the students to constructively learn independence and safe risk-taking, build relationships with peers and reap the benefits of connecting with nature. Community members interested in learning more about supporting the program and the services provided, can find more information on our website at www.franklincommunitycenter.org.

May & June Lacrosse Programs for Girls

CAPITAL DISTRICT - Capitalland lacrosse will be running a girls MAY & JUNE lacrosse program. Players can chose to play on Tuesdays night, Sunday afternoons or BOTH. All programs will start on May 16 and end on June 25. Each group will play for an hour and a half each day/night. Levels include: a co-ed K – 5th learn to play program; girls instructional programs for beginner & novice players grades 3rd - 10th, an advanced program for players in graders 6th –8th and one for 9 - 10 who want to refine their game while being introduced to more advanced techniques. All age level will be separated and a scrimmage will be held each night. For more information go to www.capitallandlacrosse.com or e-mail us at chad@capitallandlacrosse.com.

Time: 11am to 2pm

Come meet the many adoptable pets of H.O.P.E. Saturday, April 8, 2023, from 11am-2pm, at the H.O.P.E. Adoption Center located at the Wilton Mall. Many of the Dogs and Cats listed on our webpage will be available to meet.

You can start the adoption process today by filling out an adoption application online at hopeanimalrescue.org/forms.

League of Women Voters of Saratoga County Holding a Meeting on Electrifying the Empire State

CAPITAL DISTRICTLeague of Women Voters of Saratoga County is holding a meeting, via zoom, on Electrifying the Empire State with all-electric, emissions free homes, on April 12th from 7 to 8:30 pm.This event is open to the public. Link to the meeting and additional Information may be found at the League website lwvsaratoga.org/events . This meeting is co-sponsored by the LWVs of Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties.

Join research scientist advocate and climate activist Anshul Gupta for a presentation focusing on the science, technology, economics and politics of building electrification in New York State.

The League of women voters is a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. It is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle, and in practice

Hudson Crossing Park Event Easter Weekend

BALLSTON SPA - Grab your leash, grab your pup, and head to Hudson Crossing Park for the best K9 Easter egg Hunt around! HCP invites family members of the four legged variety to have a special K9 Easter Egg Hunt all of their own. Plastic eggs are “hidden” throughout the park and packed with treats courtesy of Lazy Dog Cookie Company of Ballston Spa, special trats provided by Homestead Animal Hospital! Supported by Elanco and Merck

Your donation online is appreciated ($10 per dog suggested donation or feel free to give extra for those who can’t).

*HCP volunteers/Egg Bunnies visit the park throughout the day to refill/re-hide to try to ensure visiting pups have the chance to “hunt.”

Come experience part of an epic, all-encompassing journey as a Christian by attending Easter services at the Community Alliance Church at 257 Rowland St. in Ballston Spa. Good Friday service is April 7th at 6:30 pm and Easter Sunday service is April 9th at 10:30 am.

Fish Creek Rod & Gun Club

Monthly Breakfast

SCHUYLERVILLESunday April 9, 2023

8:00 – 11:00 • 123 SR 32

Schuylerville, NY

$10 Adults $5 Children

Choose from: Pancakes, regular, buckwheat, apple cinnamon and blueberry or French Toast. Eggs to order, homefries, bacon or sausage, toast, coffee and orange juice.

The Next Generation Needs You. Be a Mentor.

SARATOGA COUNTY - The Saratoga Mentoring Program has been matching caring adults with children in Saratoga County for 29 years! Mentors can make a profound difference in the life of a child. Studies show that young people with mentors have more positive outcomes in school and in the community. Mentors are screened and trained before working with a child. Mentors meet with their mentees once a week for about 2 hours. In order to develop trust and consistency, a 1 year commitment is required. For more information visit our website at www.saratogamentoring.org or call 518-581-1487. Saratoga Mentoring is a program of Catholic Charities.

Community Alliance Church

Easter Services

BALLSTON SPA - Come experience part of an epic, all-encompassing journey as a Christian by attending Easter services at the Community Alliance Church at 257 Rowland St. in Ballston Spa. Good Friday service is April 7th at 6:30 pm and Easter Sunday service is April 9th at 10:30 am.

The Burnt HillsBallston Lake

Women’s Club

April Meeting

BURNT HILLS - The April meeting of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Women’s Club will be held at the Burnt Hills Methodist Church on Route 50 on April 10 at noon. The program will be “Independence with Aging Vision” presented by the Northest Association of the Blind. All are welcome to attend.

Q.U.I.L.T., Inc.

Monthly Guild Meeting – April 14th

CAPITAL DISTRICT -

Q.U.I.L.T., Inc. is a not-forprofit guild of quilters interested in learning about the art of making quilts. For the April meeting, members and guests join on Zoom at 9:30 to greet fellow quilters. A brief business meeting begins at 9:45 which will be followed by a lecture entitled “Batting: What’s Inside Matters” from Stephanie Hackney, Director of Sales & Marketing, Craft and Retail Hobbs Bonded Fibers. This lecture offers quilters and other creatives a chance to learn all about fibers and batting.

Preregistration is required on the Q.U.I.L.T., Inc. website https://www. quiltinc.org/ to receive the Zoom link. Please join us!

Green Drinks

SARATOGA - Green Drinks! A “green gathering” for those who work, volunteer, or have a passion for promoting the environment, conservation, and sustainability.

WHEN: April 12, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm

WHERE: The Parting Glass, 40-42 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs

DETAILS: Food, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase. https:// www.facebook.com/ events/231382042639792

Zen Practice Day at Skidmore College on April 15th

SARATOGA - Spend a day practicing Zen with visiting Zen teachers Roshi Robert E. Kennedy, Sensei Amy Yee and Sensei Russ Michel. The day will include sitting meditation, walking meditation, chanting, teacher talks, lunch, and Q & A. No experience necessary; all are welcome. Full day participation only please, 9 am to 4 pm. The $20 registration fee includes lunch and tea breaks. There is a strict space limit, so if interested, register soon. Questions? Email Holley Hodgins, hhodgins@skidmore.edu

Sponsored by the Skidmore College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. To Register click on this link and choose “Create an account and register.” https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_ page.aspx?ek=0010-000501ad575296ae4f50ba0991d120cb8416

Ballston Are Seniors Pickin’ Session

BALLSTON SPA - Wednesday, April 19, 2023

At the Milton Community Center 310 Northline Rd. Ballston Spa, NY

Open to the Public, Free Admission & ample free parking.

Time: 1:00pm to 3:00 pm

All acoustic musicians who enjoy playing country/ western, folk, gospel & bluegrass are welcome to participate.

If you don’t play, become part of the audience and enjoy the music. Bring a snack to share. Beverages provided. Call 518-885-4229 with questions.