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Volume 8 • Issue 16 • April 26 – May 2, 2013
150
Kicks Off
by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The much anticipated opening week of Saratoga 150 is set to start Wednesday, May 1. When the initial plans were made to commemorate 150 years at the Saratoga Race Course, the oldest sports venue in the United States, one of the first decisions was to make the celebration span over the course of five months, unlike the 1963 centennial that lasted just one. After buying into that philosophy, organizers of the event established another standard: making the events more than affordable. “The concept was to get the people,” said Joseph Dalton, who worked at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce for 40 years, and is now one of the 30 committee members and coordinator for Saratoga 150. “We wanted to involve the entire community and make it so you didn’t have to have a hell of a lot of money to get See Saratoga 150 pg. 6
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Saratoga Booked Hotel Owners Report Fast Start to the Season
by Patricia Older Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — While a study of hotel rooms in Saratoga County shows a drop in occupancy from the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter in 2013, local hotel and bed and breakfast owners say this year is turning out to be the best one in recent memory. “Business has been very, very good here at the Downtowner,” said owner Mary Kay Asay of the
42-room hotel located in the center of the Spa City. “We are fully booked.” There are three more hotels proposed for Saratoga, including 159 rooms behind the Rip
Van Dam, 145 for Congress Plaza; and 109 rooms where the former Weathervane Restaurant stands. Todd Garofano, president of Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, said there are 2,645 rooms
in Saratoga County with 1,645 of those in Saratoga Springs. He noted that while he was uncertain how the additional rooms would affect those already in business, he was optimistic about the future. “Most hotels I have spoken with are encouraged so far this year. Advanced bookings for the summer are strong which will allow them to hold onto their rates and not discount,” said Garofano. “It will be interesting to see how the additional inventory will affect See Hotels pg. 7
Featured Stories Party it Forward Local girl uses the “Pay it Forward” concept to start a new trend while helping those less fortunate. See News pg. 11
Mock Trial The Spa Catholic Mock Trial team recently won the regional competition and are now preparing for State finals. See Education pg. 15
Inside TODAY Obituaries 5 Business 8 Summer Camps
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A Voice for Veterans
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Pulse/Local Gigs
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Sports 28
Weekend Forecast FRIDAY
60|34 SATURDAY
66|43 SUNDAY See 2013 SRA Invitational pg. 6
72|41
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Annual Fun Run—Fun for All at SPAC
Kid and adult runners sprinted out of the gates at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 20 for the annual Fun Run. Aside from the one mile Fun Run, the event also featured a 10k and a 5k run. Photos courtesy of MarkBolles.com
BLOTTER
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013 The following are arrests made by the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Elizabeth R. Holt, 55, of Glade Drive, Niskayuna was charged with third degree criminal trespassing on April 18. Holt was arrested, processed and released on bail. Jamie J. Tardanico, 54, of 128th St. SW, Mukilteo, Washington was arrested April 18 and charged with fourth degree stalking, a Class B misdemeanor, and trespassing. Tardanico was processed and arraigned in City Court. Frank M. Damico, 45, of Blooming Grove, Troy was arrested April 18 and charged with fourth degree grand larceny, a Class E misdemeanor. Damico was processed and arraigned in City Court. Justin T. Tavarez, 22, of Courtlandt Ave. in the Bronx was charged with fourth degree tampering with a witness on April 18. Tavarez is alleged to have contacted the victim in a prior case and threatened him. Tavarez was processed and arraigned in City Court. Jennifer C. Jenkins, 23, of Lakeview Road, Broadalbin was arrested April 19 charged with failure to signal a turn, DWI with a BAC more than .08 and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a BAC more than .18. Jenkins was transported to the police department and processed. The following individuals were arrested April 19 as part of a raid on Grand Ave., Saratoga Springs,
which had been the focus of an ongoing narcotics investigation: John R. Bates, 44, of Grand Ave., Saratoga Springs was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana; Shabazz R. Felton, 21, of New Jersey Ave., Brooklyn was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana; Robert L. Durr, 44, of Grand Ave., Saratoga Springs was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument; Michael David Wood, 47, of Congress St., Saratoga Springs was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; James L. Long, 59, of Grand Ave., Saratoga Springs was charged with second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; Barry C. Phalen, 59, of Bay St., Glens Falls was charged with seventh degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor. Micaela Helen Cruz, 22, of Quiet Harbor Drive, Saratoga Springs was charged with aggravated DWI with a BAC more than .18, a Class A misdemeanor, and
arrested April 20. Cruz was processed and then arraigned. Charles B. Sullivan, 23, of Long Meadow St., Long Meadow, Massachusetts was arrested April 20 and charged with DWI, failure to keep right, operating a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver, unlawful possession of marijuana and a BAC more than .08. Sullivan was processed and then arraigned. Henry Kaseam Belton, 29, of Jefferson Terrace, Saratoga Springs was arrested April 21 and charged with first degree criminal contempt, fourth degree stalking and second degree aggravated harassment, a Class A misdemeanor. Belton was arrested on a warrant from a domestic incident in February. Kayla Marie Pastore, 28, of Route 32, Schuylerville was arrested April 21 and charged with DWI with a BAC more than .08 and improper headlights. Pastore was arrested for DWI and transported to the police department where she was processed and released to a third party. Pastore will appear in City Court at a later date. Brandi D. Law, 31, of Sanders Ave., Scotia was charged with speeding, failure to keep right and DWI with a BAC more than .08, a class A misdemeanor, and arrested April 21. Law was transported to the police department, processed and released to a third party. Law will appear in City Court at a later date.
Charlene M. Miller, 40, of Rock City Road, Ballston Spa was arrested April 21 and charged with DWI with a BAC more than .08, failure to keep right and speeding.
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Miller was transported to the police department, processed and released to a third party. Miller will appear in City Court at a later date.
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week in Review
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Veitch Kicks-Off Campaign For Re-Election
Locally Owned and Operated 5 Case Street, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 Phone: (518) 581-2480 Fax: (518) 581-2487 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Hours of Operation 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday Publisher/Editor Chad Beatty 581-2480 x 212 cbeatty@saratogapublishing.com General Manager Robin Mitchell 581-2480 x 208 rmitchell@saratogapublishing.com Advertising Chris Bushee 581-2480 x 201 cbushee@saratogapublishing.com Jim Daley 581-2480 x 209 jdaley@saratogapublishing.com Cindy Durfey 581-2480 x 204 cdurfey@saratogapublishing.com Art Department Richard Hale 581-2480 x 202 Production Director, Website rhale@saratogapublishing.com Eric Havens 581-2480 x 207 ehavens@saratogapublishing.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Matthew Veitch has officially started his campaign for re-election to serve on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors representing Saratoga Springs. Veitch promised to continue to work on the creation of a trails program throughout the county. As Chairman of the Trails Committee, Veitch has worked toward the planning and construction of over 11 miles of new trails for use by Spa City and Saratoga County residents. He said his bi-partisan leadership has been a hallmark of his tenure in office, contributing to many of his accomplishments as
MALTA — Town of Malta Councilman Peter Klotz announced April 22 he will be challenging Town Supervisor Paul Sausville, eight-year incumbent, for the Republican nomination for the position. In his statement, Klotz said that now is the time “for new leadership that can look at where we are and where we are going with a fresh approach.” Klotz also accused Sausville of “working against the majority and the established consensus of the community.”
What: Mother’s Day Open House Date: Friday, May 10th Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm Location: 14 mountain Ledge Drive Wilton, NY Learn more: www.ziekereye.com or call (518) 450-1080
Chelsea DiSchiano 581-2480 x 214 Features Editor, Education, Pulse chelsea@saratogapublishing.com
Cindy Durfey 581-2480 x 204 cdurfey@saratogapublishing.com
to the Republican Committee to decide who they will endorse for the next election. “The way to the future is not by way of the past,” Klotz said. “Surely, we can learn from and build upon the past, but the Malta of today and tomorrow is not the Malta of yesterday.” Klotz has resided in Malta for 25 years and previously served as the chairman of the planning board, as has Sausville. Klotz has served six years on the town board and Sausville has served eight.
Make sure your mother has the vision she deserves. Join the team at Dr. Chris Zieker’s office for an open house:
Patricia Older 581-2480 x 203 Managing Editor, Business patricia@saratogapublishing.com
Calendar
Though the Town Board is made up of all Republicans, Sausville has often found himself in the minority when addressing changes brought forth by the introduction of GlobalFoundries in the community. In the adoption of the town’s new form-based zoning code for downtown Malta, Sausville was the only councilmember to vote against the legislation. The code passed in a 4-1 vote. Sausville announced a month ago that he will be running for reelection, meaning it will be up
In Celebration of Mother’s Day
Editorial
Trina Lucas 538-1190 RSVP, Events and Benefits trina@saratogapublishing,com
last week, Veitch noted the significant issues that have come up in Saratoga County over the last few years. “Things look good but uncertain in 2013 at Saratoga County. My job as Supervisor is to seek out and identify the problems and then work with my fellow Supervisors and our City Council to solve them. New initiatives and better monitoring of our processes are what’s needed to maintain what makes Saratoga County great—low taxes, a great quality of life, and balanced economic growth,” said Veitch. If elected, this will be Veitch’s fourth term as Supervisor.
Malta Councilman Peter Klotz Challenges Incumbent Supervisor Paul Sausville
Jessica Kane 581-2480 x 215 jkane@saratogapublishing.com
Brian Cremo 581-2480 x 206 Sports Editor, Obituaries, Briefs brian@saratogapublishing.com
a Supervisor. He pointed to his co-chairmanship of the Gateway Action Program of Saratoga (GAPS), with Democrat City Councilman John Franck, as evidence of two people of opposite parties working together to help the city of Saratoga Springs. As Chairman of the Technology Committee, Veitch has pushed for modernizing outdated county systems, most recently advocating for and receiving a budget line in 2013 to automate the time collection system for employees, which is projected to save at least $500,000 dollars this year. Throughout his announcement
Please join us for an open house to learn more about the advances in vision options that exist today. We will also have information available on Pelleve, our stateof-the-art, non-invasive wrinkle reduction system.
You are welcome to bring your mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, daughter any of the women in your life you want to celebrate!
Photographer
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Mark Bolles 490-1757 mbolles@photoandgraphic.com
Help ensure your mother is seeing all of the beauty in her life!
Distribution Kim Beatty 581-2480 x 205 kbeatty@saratogapublishing.com
We will be serving champagne, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. One lucky attendee will win a $500 Pelleve gift card! RSVP: appointment@ziekereye.com or by calling 450-1080
Christopher Zieker, MD is an ophthalmologist who has been practicing in the capital region since 2005. He was recently named One Of America’s Most Compassionate Doctors. His practice was awarded Best Of Saratoga Region in 2012. Stop by during the open house and see why!
Saratoga Springs Police Chief Announces Retirement SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Police Chief Chris Cole announced April 24 in a statement that he will be retiring from the police department at the end of May. “It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from the department that has literally been a part of my life since I was a child,” Cole said in the statement. “Saratoga has seen many changes over the years but one thing that has remained constant is the dedication of the men and women who have chosen law enforcement as their chosen profession.” Cole’s likely successor will be Greg Veitch, who currently serves as the assistant police chief for the department. “Although my retirement closes the door on this chapter of my career, other doors are opening. I have decided that I would like to pursue those other new opportunities while I am still young and energetic,” Cole said.
Former Saratoga Springs Accounts Clerk Sues City for Back Pay SARATOGA SPRINGS — Former Accounts Clerk for Saratoga Springs Mary Zlotnick, who was fired after a hearing officer ruled in December that Zlotnick had violated three of the five subordination charges the city had lodged against her after she accused the city’s assistant assessor of helping a Malta businesswoman solicit fees from condominium residents in the city in exchange for reduced assessments, and then alerted several newspapers and media outlets of her accusation. Zlotnick has now launched a 252page lawsuit against the city, asking for back pay and to be reinstated to her old job post. The lawsuit contends that the city did not provide enough evidence to prove its claims against Zlotnick in the personnel hearing, says several procedural errors were made during the hearing and also claims that the hearing officer, Christopher Nicolino, had a conflict of interest that he did not disclose. “The firm views this as silly on its face,” Harris Beach spokesman William P. Albert wrote in an email statement. “The hearing officer was selected by the city without input from Harris Beach. The issue seems to be a desperate tactic.” Zlotnick began working in the accounts department in 2010. She was suspended in August 2012 and fired in December 2012.
obituaries
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Beatrice “Bea” (DuPlantie) Rovito Provo MILTON — Beatrice “Bea” (DuPlantie) Rovito Provo, 85, of Northline Road passed peacefully into eternal rest at home surrounded by her loving family April 17. Born in Tupper Lake, she was the daughter of the late Rene DuPlantie and the late Lena (Derosia) DuPlantie Chaisson and wife of the late Tony Provo, who died in 1981. In addition to her parents and husband, Beatrice was predeceased by her brothers, Raymond Chaisson, Edmond DuPlantie and her grandson Raymond Anthony Robinson. Bea is survived by her daughter, Barbara Rovito (Wayne) Robinson and son Donald (Dinah) Rovito, Sr.; step-daughter Toni Anne Provo (Lou) Sabella; her grandchildren, Scott (Chris) Robinson, Donna (Russell) Houseworth, Angel Lackner, Donald (Anna) Rovito, Jr., Anthony (Georgianna) Rovito, Sr.; her great-grandchildren, Kaylee Houseworth, Austin and Blake Lackner, Donna Ashley and Alexander Rovito, Anthony Rovito, Jr.; sisters, Rena
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Geraldine V. “Gidge” Hubbard SARATOGA SPRINGS — Geraldine V. “Gidge” Hubbard, 94, passed away at Mary’s Haven on Friday, April 19. Born April 27, 1918, she was the oldest child of the late William and Olive Vaughan of Saratoga Springs. In addition to her parents and
husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Mary Schallehn. She is survived by a nephew William (Barbara) Schallehn of Porter Corners and Sheri Shrade of Sparta, Tennessee; seven great and eight greatgreat nieces and nephews.
Harold Morrow, Jr.
(DuPlantie) Drew, Janet (Chaisson) Hepworth and many nieces and nephews.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Harold Morrow, Jr. died peacefully on April 19 at Glens Falls Hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of the
Tunison Funeral Home 105 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs. Online remembrances can be made at www.tunisonfuneralhome.com.
Claudia Avis Turcotte Thomas Wishart SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thomas Wishart, 76, of Frederick Dr. died peacefully on Saturday, April 20 at the Saratoga Hospital. Born December 31, 1936 in Kirkintilloch, Scotland, he was the son of the late Thomas Wishart and Agnes Blair Wishart. Mr. Wishart continued his education as a draftsman before completing his national service in the U.K. Military. He married his wife Mary Rae Wishart on March 27, 1963 and they moved to the Saratoga Springs area in 1970. It was here that Mr. Wishart started his own business as a structural engineer, M&W Associates Inc. which was located in the Arcade Building on Broadway. In his leisure, Thomas loved music and the game of golf. He is predeceased by a son Gary Wishart. Survivors include his wife Mary Rae, a son David Wishart of San Diego, California, a sister Nan
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Family and friends are invited to attend. Arrangements are under the direction of the Tunison Funeral Home.
Willard Clark “Mike” Freeman
Bartlett, two brother in-laws Frank and Ian Muir and many relatives in Scotland.
Barbara Glines De Lanoy BALLSTON SPA — Barbara Glines De Lanoy, 89, of Ballston Spa, passed away Tuesday, April 23 at Mary’s Haven. Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, December 12, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Irene Glines. She was predeceased by her son Timothy De Lanoy, sister, Margaret Filigera, and brothers, Charles and Robert Glines. Barbara was survived by her daughters, Barbara Sanford (Tom) of Ballston Spa and Amy Stocking (Rod) of Grand Junction, Colorado; daughter in law, Kate De Lanoy of Clearwater, Florida; grandchildren, Judson Sanford of Clearwater, Cailin Sanford of Ballston Spa, Jesse Stocking of Grand Junction, Trevor Stocking of Grand Junction and Sean De Lanoy of North Fort Myers, Florida; sister, Helen Kohut (Al) of Savannah, Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Claudia Avis Turcotte of Beekman St, Saratoga Springs, who passed away On February 2, will be buried in Greenridge Cemetery on Saturday April 27.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Willard Clark “Mike” Freeman, 84, a Thoroughbred trainer who conditioned a number of prominent racehorses, including the multiple champion racemare Shuvee, passed away April 17 at the Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs. The horseman was born in Providence, R.I. on February 23, 1929. Freeman was a steeplechase rider before becoming a Thoroughbred trainer. Freeman’s career as a Thoroughbred trainer spanned more than a half century, saddling his first winner at the old Narragansett Park in 1952, a filly named Lady Whim. The Thoroughbred trainer conditioned a number of horses including the stakes winners Parnassus, Gala Performance, Cold Comfort, Show Off, Understudy, Hostage, Hodges Bay and Buckhar.
Freeman will always be associated with one of Thoroughbred racing’s greatest racemares. It was a horse he trained for Mrs. Whitney Stone, Shuvee, a daughter of Nashua, won 15 stakes races, and was named Champion older female in both 1970 and 1971. The mare won consecutive runnings of the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup against male horses. Shuvee was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1975. He is survived by his wife, Iris Winthrop Freeman and son Michael W. Freeman (Jessie) of Aiken, South Carolina; brother, Peter B. Freeman (Mary Jean) of Providence, Rhode Island; nephew Harry B. Freeman III (Susan) of Saratoga Springs; niece Tracy Freeman Wells (Christopher) of Bokeelia, Florida. A Memorial Service will be held at the Aiken Training Track on Saturday, May 4 at noon.
To view the full-text version of the obituaries printed on this page, visit the archive section of saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com. It is the policy of Saratoga TODAY to publish obituaries as a service to our readers. Please send your obituaries to obits@saratogapublishing.com
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Saratoga 150 Set to Kick Off Next Week continued from page 1 involved.” One of the ways the committee did that was by offering a $15 official Saratoga 150 Lapel Medallion, which can be purchased at any branch of Adirondack Trust. The medallion gives an individual free admission to a number of events, which are marked by an asterisk on the extensive 150 website: www. Saratoga150.com. The site includes a calendar of over 200 events, many of which have been done in the past, but not as publicized. The 64 non-profit organizations get included along with the new 150 events free of charge and gain publicity in exchange for using the 150 logo. “There’s so much going on in Saratoga, that people don’t usually get the word that it’s available,” Dalton said. “By the calendar, they’re going to get more information about it. A lot of people are going to find out about a lot of
things that take place at Saratoga.” The medallion will also allow $5 off of specific events at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “When you look at festivals like this, there’s usually a formal ball,” Dalton said. “What we said was, ‘No, we’re going to do a $2 Bettors Ball and we’re going to do it differently.’ What we tried to do was keep it so the Joe average guy with a $15 purchase can go. We tried to keep it off the black tie and champagne route and make it for the average guy in town. We have kept it low key. When we looked at it, this has to be close to savings of $100.” Unlike the centennial celebration that included a formal ball, 2013 will have more festive events like the August 17 Bettors Ball at the Saratoga City Center, which will include three different bands in three different rooms. Music from the 40s, 50s and 60s will be in one,
70s and 80s in another and 90s to the present day in a third. Aside from the fun and games, like being able to enter a chance to wager $15,000 of someone else money without a tax consequence unless you win, there will also be many Saratoga educational opportunities. Usually there is just one encampment a year. This summer, there will be four: War of 1812, Civil War, Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. All the major events will be videotaped and put on file for future viewing, unlike the centennial celebration, which aside from a video of the parade there is not much documented footage. Although many of the events are
free of charge, all proceeds of this summer’s events will go to community service groups. Nothing will be going to the 150 fund, said Dalton, who feels the two honorary chairs, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, couldn’t be a better example of supporting Saratoga County. “They’ve always been good supporters of the community in all sorts of ways,” Dalton said. “I never knew how committed they were to Saratoga and how hard they will work on something. The Floral Fest is all Marylou. John Hendrickson is a work horse and he comes up with great ideas. Take the Hoofprints Walk of Fame. That was his idea. He put it all together. That’s coming out of his pocket. All those granite
plaques on the ground, he paid for. They’re not shy about spending their money to promote Saratoga, but I never knew how hard they worked on a project until now. It’s not someone just writing a check out and saying goodbye.” One of the first of five events to kick off the celebration of the birth of Thoroughbred racing is the 54th annual horseshow. Formerly known as the St. Clements’s Horse Show, it is now in its second year as the Saratoga Spring Horse Show at the Yaddo Showgrounds/NYRA Grounds. It will go from May 1 to May 5. For more information visit the Saratoga 150 event page at www. Saratoga150.com/events/Saratoga 150-events/.
2013 16th Annual SRA Invitational SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 16th annual Saratoga Invitations is set to host upwards of 1200 teams from the Northeast this Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28. After about 900 entries in 2012, the Invitational has continued to see growth, as it becomes more and more renowned as one of the fastest regattas available for competition. Aside from Saratoga Springs, local teams from Shenendehowa, Niskayuna, Shaker, Albany, Burnt Hills, Stillwater, Ballston Spa, Emma
Willard and Scotia-Glenville will be competing amidst the couple thousand athletes who will be in town from states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts. As the regattas enter what Saratoga Rowing Association Executive Director Eric Catalano calls one of the most exciting times of the season, Saratoga Springs is sure to be packed with crew athletes and enthusiasts this weekend. In what is by far the largest Saratoga Invitational to date, the Saratoga Rowing Association is in its second consecutive year of having to make the event span over a period of three days. In addition to the invitational, the Liberty League Championships will also be underway Sunday morning before the invitational starts back up at 9:30 a.m. and goes until about 4:30 p.m..
Friday 4/26: Time 3 a.m. 3:21 a.m. 5:13 a.m. 5:20 a.m. 5:41 a.m.
Race Name Mens 1x Flight 1 (A) Mens 1x Flight 4 Mens 2x Flight 2 (A) Mens 2x Flight 3 (B) Mens Ltwt 2x Flight # (B) 5:48 a.m. Mens HS Ltwt 2x Flight 1(B. McKenna) 5:55 a.m. Mens HS Ltwt 2x Flight 2 (W. Peake) 8:09 a.m. Mens Frosh/Novice 4x Flight 2 (B) 8:54 a.m. Mens 2nd Varsity 8+ Flight 2 (B) Saturday 4/27: 7:59 a.m. Men’s Fros/Novice 4x Flight 9:36 a.m. Womens Middle School Flight 1 (A) 9:46 a.m. Womens Middle School Flight 2 (B, C, D) 10:06 a.m. Womens Frosh/Novice 4+ Flight 2 10:33 a.m. Mens JV 4x (11th grade and under only) 10:40 a.m. Mens Varsity 4x Flight 1 (A) 11:11 a.m. Mens Frosh/Novice 4+ Flight 2 12:30 p.m. Mens Middle School Flight 2 (B) 1:47 p.m. Mens HS Ltwt 8+ Flight See our wesbite for full schedule.
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Hotel Occupancy Up for Saratoga County continued from page 1 us. We already have a great lodging product in Saratoga and new inventory will certainly cause everyone to step up their game.” Bed and breakfast owner Amy Smith, who operates the historic Saratoga Arms, said she is not personally worried about the influx of new hotels, noting that her place catered to a niche crowd. “We are having a great year so far,” said Smith. “We are a boutique hotel and not a chain, so we have a niche crowd we cater to. It is family owned and run, so for us, I personally do not see [the new hotels] affecting us.” Bobby Bowers, representative from STR, a research company which tracks supply and demand data for the hotel industry nationally and globally, said that while reports show room occupancy is down in the county as compared to last year, it could be because of a growth spurt last year. “In 2013, there has been no new room supply, but you still have the 2012 number of rooms,” said Bowers. “Because the [2012] growth was so big, you are probably seeing a drop in the numbers.” Bowers went on to say that 413 additional rooms could possibly affect the market, but that several factors figure into the equation including the condition of existing properties, the strength of the economy in the area and the draws. “The 413 rooms is a pretty large number of rooms new on the market,” said Bowers. “That is about a 15 percent growth.” Continuing, he said the major question would be the condition of the existing hotels. “What you have to ask is what is the shape of the existing supply—is it in good health and will these rooms be replacing them?” said Bowers.
Bob Melvin, who along with his wife Stephanie has operated the Westchester House on Lincoln Avenue for 27 years, said that while they have scaled down operations in recent years in order to have more time to enjoy life, they are also still quite busy. “When we first opened, we knew as a very small business that it was hospitality oriented,” said Melvin. “Most people, if they experience a bed and breakfast, they know it is a unique experience. If you go to a major hotel, you most likely are going to encounter [staff] who do not know all the nuances of Saratoga Springs.” He said they made the decision to open for the season a week early this year to accommodate guests who want to come in for the Dave Matthews Band. “We are sold out for Phish, too” added Melvin. He said he had some concerns about the addition of more hotels to the area, noting that while his bed and breakfast probably would not suffer, some of the bigger chains may pull out if room occupancy starts to falter. “If the quality starts going down, the major companies will pull out,” said Melvin, noting that once before the Spa City had been a flourishing, vivacious town before many of the grand old hotels had closed down. “I think that between all the hotel rooms and the revolution of technology, we have to reorganize what we do,” said Melvin. Garofano agreed. “We’ll all need to continue to work hard to serve our loyal guests well so they return and find new business to keep Saratoga a thriving year-round destination,” he said.
Barbara Fox, owner of Union Gables Bed and Breakfast noted that while their weekends were fully booked, they try to promote themselves differently than a major hotel chain. “We hope we will not be affected [by the growth of hotels in the Spa City,] but we try to promote a better way to stay and hope to focus in on a special clientele,” said Fox. Asay said she had some concerns about the addition of over 400 new rooms to the area, but she was also confident in her hotel’s viability. “Any number of hotel rooms that are added to the pool of existing hotel rooms certainly can affect and impact [all of us,]” said Asay. “I really don’t know what the impact is going to be, if any, with the new rooms, but we are celebrating our 50th year and that says something there.” She added that with the 150 celebration this year and the promotion campaign by the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, she felt optimistic for the future. “It is always a dance,” said Asay. “How this plays out is a bit of an unknown. But it is true that health, history and horses still draw people to Saratoga.”
Bob Melvin poses on the porch of his bed and breakfast, the Westchester House on Lincoln Avenue. Photo courtesy of MarkBolles.com
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BUSINESS
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Village Pizzeria to Open Branch at Former Good Times by Patricia Older Saratoga TODAY GALWAY — Since first opening in 1988, Village Pizzeria has steadily grown along with its loyal customer base—first a pizzeria focusing on pizzas, the Italian restaurant has evolved over the years to become a destination place—the go-to for authentic Italian dining with a robust menu, good company and fine wines. Now the owners, Sandy Foster, along with husband Joe Guerrera and daughter Jessica Mancinone, are spreading out to open a second location in the former Good Times Restaurant on Ballston Lake. “We are bringing the Village Pizzeria to Ballston Lake,” said Sandy, who had no experience in the restaurant business prior to opening the pizzeria in Galway. “We did it because more and more of our customers are asking us for another location.” She said the new location is an exciting opportunity for them and they were going to be working between both spots to ensure the same quality of service, food and ambiance are maintained. The Good Times Restaurant was run by Desiree Kalleigh for the last 25 years. Prior to that, Desiree’s parents operated it. It closed its doors last week. Sandy said her daughter Jessica has been pivotal in helping with the
new design of the restaurant “Villago.” “We picked that name because it means the villa on the lake,” said Sandy, adding that with the purchase, they will have lake front property with a public boat launch. “We plan to add more docks and embrace the people who live along the lake—they can dock and dine.” Sandy and Joe, known for their hands-on style of managing the Village Pizzeria, are often the reason customers drive for miles to eat at their Galway location. She said that they will be bringing an abbreviated version of their menu to the new location with pizza and farm to fork salads and appetizers. “We definitely have to have seafood,” said Sandy. “We are also bringing our full gluten-free menu.” Village Pizzeria started out 25 years ago when Sandy and Joe, who are lovers of the Saratoga Race Course, decided to move to the area for a quieter, simpler life. “Our daughter was young and we wanted to be in the country,” said Sandy. They opened the small restaurant after being prompted by family and friends to market their homemade pizzas. “We used to cook pizzas at home and all the time people used to say you need to open a pizzeria,” said Sandy. And that is what they did. Sandy said that at first, opening Village Pizzeria was a lot of labor intensive work and required a lot of
gathering of all the materials necessary. “The “Want Ad Digest” was my bible,” said Sandy, adding that how the restaurant got its name is also a story of serendipity. Noting that they wanted to be accepted and fit into the small, tightknit community, they knew the name of their restaurant had to reflect the village and its quaintness. She goes on to explain that they met with a man who had advertised in the Digest and he had everything they would need to get started—the pizza ovens, the pizza tables, the kitchen necessities. “Then I see in the corner, this large, beautiful, wooden sign,” said Sandy. “And it said ‘Village Pizzeria.’ I told him to just put that in the truck too.” After about five years in business, the couple started to up the menu, adding dinners and specialty salads. “Five or six years after the beginning of the restaurant, I put the first pot of pasta on the stove,” said Sandy, who, along with Joe, did a lot of the cooking in the early years. She added that their menu has evolved over the years due to “customer requests,” and that many of their original employees are still with them. “We have a great staff,” said Sandy, noting that the new location will create about 25—30 new jobs. “We, alone, can’t do this by ourselves. I have always felt that if you take care of people, they
Joe Guerrera and Sandy Foster pose in the kitchen of their restaurant, Village Pizzeria in Galway. The couple, along with daughter Jessica Mancinone, are purchasing the former Good Times Restaurant in Ballston Lake to open a new branch of Village Pizzeria called Villago. Photo courtesy of MarkBolles.com
will take care of you.” Sandy said they hoped to close by next week on the Good Times property and to be up and running by the end of June. Once Villago opens, she continued, it will run on the same schedule as Village Pizzeria—open seven days a week from May through September, and then closed on Tuesdays throughout the remainder of the year. She said the large banquet hall on the top floor will allow them to expand their catering business and special events during the winter months when their patio area in Galway closes down for the season. “Our business is really big because of catering,” said Sandy, adding that the Galway banquet room has room for only 30 when the patio closes for the season. “At Villago we can seat 80 to 100—that will open us up to a whole new avenue of business.” While they will have two business partners in the purchase—Kurt Zarnofsky of KZ Construction and James Towne, a Saratoga attorney— Sandy said she, Joe and Jessica would be the ones running the restaurant. “I am the restaurant,” said Sandy.
And while Village Pizzeria had remained a beer and wine only establishment, Sandy said Villago will feature a fully stocked bar. She added that they never wanted to venture into the full bar at the Pizzeria because of the location, but she proudly added that Village Pizzeria was one out 833 establishments worldwide that received the Best Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. “We received that for our selection and the pairing of our menu with our wine list,” said Sandy, who said Village Pizzeria has over 400 wines to choose from. Adding that they are really excited about the new venture, Sandy said customers that now drive from points south to Galway can now enjoy the same service, quality of food and unique ambiance at the lakeside Villago. “This will be good for everyone,” said Sandy, adding that the employees will enjoy the change of venue as well. “We are really excited about our new restaurant—we know people are going to love it.” For more information about Village Pizzeria or Villago, call (518) 882-9431.
BUSINESS 9
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Laura Herr Named Executive Director for SaratogaArtsFest
Eliza Whipple Bianco Hired As Public Relations Specialist For Ed Lewi Associates
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The SaratogaArtsFest board of directors has named Laura K. Herr as the organization’s new executive director. An attorney, arts manager and fundraiser from Kent, Connecticut, Herr will begin her new post on September 1. The annual SaratogaArtsFest is a four-day citywide celebration of the arts held in June at venues throughout Saratoga Springs. The 2013 festival is scheduled for June 6-9. Herr will replace Mary Ellen O’Loughlin, who has played a leadership role in SaratogaArtsFest for four years, serving as its executive director for the past three years. “SaratogaArtsFest has been fortunate to have Mary Ellen O’Loughlin as executive director for three years,” said Dee Sarno, chair of the organization’s board of directors. “Her leadership, dynamic personality, and community outreach have been invaluable to the development of the ArtsFest.” The SaratogaArtsFest executive director is the chief spokesperson for the organization and is responsible for overseeing leadership and management, festival programming and marketing, and year round promotions of the arts in the Saratoga region. ArtsFest is supported by a large base of volunteers and by affiliated organizations, including more than 40 arts partner organizations and 20 community partner organizations. Herr comes to Saratoga Springs from the Kent School, where she has been the director of planned giving for the past three years. Prior to that she was vice president of artsAlive, a not-for-profit organization that works with the local arts community in Kent, Connecticut, to enhance art programming in the elementary
CLIFTON PARK — Ed Lewi Associates appointed Eliza Whipple Bianco as public relations specialist. In her role, Bianco will assist with media relations, communications and marketing efforts for the agency’s diverse and high-profile client base throughout New York and New England. Prior to joining Ed Lewi Associates, Bianco spent five years as an account director at the public relations firm Bullfrog & Baum in New York City, where she managed accounts for top restaurants, brands and highly regarded chefs including Chef Bobby Flay, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and several other Michelin Star restaurants and notable properties. Bianco was also involved in orchestrating full marketing
Laura Herr
schools. During 2008-09, she worked as corporate counsel for Pfizer, Inc. Herr earned bachelor degrees in both psychology and anthropology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2000. She received a juris doctorate from Washington College of Law at American University in 2003. Said Sarno of the new appointment, “Laura Herr’s enthusiasm and passion for the arts, combined with her business background, presentation skills, and experience in building alliances, made her an obvious choice for the job. The ArtsFest board looks forward to her guidance as we move to the next level of development.” Said Herr, “I am thrilled about moving to Saratoga Springs. My husband and I were drawn to the area because of its vibrancy; the access to so much culture is truly invigorating. The opportunity to serve as executive director of SaratogaArtsFest puts me in the center of this incredible artistic community.” Herr will move to Saratoga Springs with her husband and two children, ages eight and five, and two Labrador retrievers. Outside of work, her interests include the arts, writing and long-distance running.
Learn the Secrets of Building a Buzz for Your Business TROY — “Building a Buzz for Your Business,” a course for business owners interested in increasing the visibility of their companies in tough economic times will be held on Wednesdays, May 1, 8 and 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. Course fee is $55, which includes a coursebook. To register, telephone (518) 629-7339. Instructor Pauline Bartel will discuss an array of low-cost yet powerful word-of-mouth marketing strategies,
including creating an unforgettable business impression, using social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to promote business and harnessing the power of publicity. Bartel is president and chief creative officer of Bartel Communications, Inc., an awardwinning corporate communications firm that builds the images of companies with words through marketing and public relations. Visit the website (www.paulinebartel.com) for further information.
Saratoga Springs Public Library Budget Passes SARATOGA SPRINGS — Voters approved Saratoga Springs Public Library Budget by nearly 200 votes: 221–22. Saratoga Springs School District residents approved a tax levy of $4,954,215 to operate the Saratoga Springs Public Library in 2013–14. In addition, Dorothy “DeDe” Hill of Saratoga Springs was elected to the library’s Board of Trustees, with 134 votes compared to 73 votes for Cheryl Gold. The library serves the residents of the Saratoga Springs Enlarged City School District and funds for the library are collected when school taxes are collected. The proposed 2013-14 budget contains no increase over the amount levied in 2012. An estimated $550,387 will be available from sources other than 2013 property taxes. The tax amount for public library purposes appears as a separate item on school district tax bills. “We thank all those who came out to vote.” said Library Board President Ken Bollerud. “We’ve just completed another record-setting year for circulation and we are delighted by the public’s continued support. We look forward to another great year.”
campaigns and the opening of restaurants, as well as their participation in such well-known events as the New York City Wine & Food Festival, Aspen Food & Wine and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. She also previously served as the marketing director at Hippo’s, a consumer electronics company in Albany. Bianco is a graduate of The College of Saint Rose, where she earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master of science in public communications. During her undergraduate career, Bianco was a member of the women’s soccer team, where she broke the school’s all-time record for point producer and goal scorer in 2003. She was inducted into The
Eliza Whipple Bianco
College of Saint Rose Hall of Fame in 2010 for her accomplishments on the soccer field. For more information about Ed Lewi Associates, visit www. edlewi.com.
10
NEWS
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Congress Plaza Hotel Gets Go-Ahead City Planning Board Hears Plans for Senior Housing by Patricia Older Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Planning Board members approved the site plans for Congress Plaza Redevelopment which will see a 145-room hotel built where the former Broadway Joes was located. The project, proposed by DCG Development Co. out of Clifton Park, will be a six-story hotel with a
ground floor commercial and retail area to be built in the southwest corner of the lot. The owners are restricted in where the hotel is built because of a no-build-out clause in their long term lease with CVS. Only a portion of the existing plaza will be razed for the new construction and the company has revised the site plans after meeting with the Design Review Committee earlier this month. Matthew Jones, attorney for
DCG, told board members at Wednesday night’s meeting that DRC had been concerned about the flatness of the project. “We presented the original design with DRC and they were concerned with the uniformity,” said Jones. “We broke that up.” The new plans show an architecturally rich design with setbacks and cutouts, as well as a sidewalk that will be lined with existing and new oaks, a patio terrace area designed to encourage pedestrian
traffic and two additional access points—one off of Ash Street and one off of Federal. There will also be additional sidewalk entrances, bike racks and more parking. “We also now have four separate entry points [to the front of the building] from the sidewalk,” said Jones. DRC will demolish 35,000 square feet of the plaza to make room for the 85,000 square foot hotel. Planning Board Chair Clifford Van Wagner expressed his pleasure with the site plan improvements made, bringing the project more in line with existing projects and the vision of the city. “This project has come a long ways from when we first saw it,” said Van Wagner. “It is nice to see the developer work hand in hand with DRC.” Board member Tom Lewis agreed. “I think it is a great project and an indication of a city that is moving along nicely,” said Lewis. The builder hopes to have the project completed by next summer. In other business, planning board members approved the site plans for Plaza 15 Self Storage to build an additional three storage units. Board members had been concerned with the visual impact the new units would have at Exit 15 and sent the builder to the DRC last month. In order to address the visual concerns, the builder split one of the buildings in two and moved two of the three westward, hiding them behind an earthen berm.
“Building C presented too much of a visual impact,” said Mike Toohey, who represents the owners of the property. “To accommodate this we reduced the size of the building significantly and have hidden it behind an earthen berm.” The remaining portion of the building was moved to another location and would be hidden by the tree line and new buildings. The original building was 275’x15—it is now 70’x15’. Board members felt confident the applicants had done all that were requested of them to minimize visual impacts. “I think this is a textbook case and wish every applicant that comes before the board looks at what this applicant has done,” said board member Philip Klein. Van Wagner agreed. “This is Planning 101 at its finest,” said Van Wagner. “You folks listened and made it work.” The applicant still will need to reappear before DRC and the zoning board. Board members also heard the preliminary application from Omni Housing Development to build a four-story mixed use building at the corner of West Avenue and Church Street. The building is proposed to have 90 senior apartments for people over 55 years of age, as well as a ground floor of commercial and retail space including a restaurant, hair salon and library. The next Planning Board meeting will be May 8 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, What a sad day for America on what took place in Boston on 4/15. In my opinion, TV networks should not be allowed to bring a major tragedy into our living rooms within hours after the event took place. This is harmful to the public. The TV should state what took place maybe for five or 10 minutes then wait until regular news time and then tell what took place, but only for a short time. Reading about it the newspapers is the better way to know what is going on. Sorry TV stations, it’s just too much too quick for most people for too long a time to sit at your TV and continue to see all the bad stuff.
We should also outlaw backpacks as we know them today. Maybe they should be made out of clear see-through material and be only a certain size—much smaller than they are today. Too much bad stuff is carried in back packs. We should also have the most advanced and mightiest Armed Forces in the world we live in trying times. We have to be ready for anything that takes place that will harm our country. We have to make an effort to turn things around to better our way of life. God Bless Our Country. Sid Gordon Saratoga Springs
NEWS
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Party it Forward
Local Sixth Grader Making a Difference by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — This past holiday season, Maple Avenue Middle School student Ella Payer found herself thinking, “Why is everyone just dropping gifts off for Christmas? Why not make it a year round thing?” That simple idea catapulted the 12-year-old sixth grader to take action by teaming up with Bo Goliber, Coordinator of Development at Franklin Community Center (FCC), around the time of Ella’s birthday in January. As a prior Greenfield Elementary student, Ella saw the FCC’s presence when Project Lift met up after school and felt that Goliber was the one to brainstorm ideas with. Her original idea: to ask her friends to donate birthday gifts to local kids in need instead of buying Ella anything for her own birthday party. “Ella is (passionate) definitely,” said Goliber, who says she has seen youth involvement in community service grow over the last couple years. “It’s not as if no one has ever donated gifts before, but what’s unique about Ella is that she wanted to take it one step further. She realized if she was willing to give up birthday gifts, there are probably other kids who would too. Her creativity and willingness to want to keep it happening, she was genuinely excited when she saw the stuff the kids bought.” After the success of her birthday party donations, the concept further developed into the creation of an online wish list, which can be found on the FCC website at www. franklincommunitycenter.org. This list specifically identifies the needs of the local kids helped by the FCC and is updated based on the time of year. It will also help the small facility better organize and control an inventory of products that are needed most. “It’s kind of a simple thing,” said Ella’s mother, Beth. “I think the biggest trick was to get Franklin Community Center what they needed. Sometimes people donate stuff that isn’t truly the most useful thing. So Ella had this idea of the wish list that they can change at any time.” If someone wants hosts a similar “Celebrations” program party in the future, they can set up a time on the first and third Thursday of the month from 3:30–4 p.m. to drop off the gifts to Goliber and the FCC. Ella, who is now the lone official
Ella Payer teamed up with Franklin Community Center to help local kids.
Junior Ambassador at the FCC, will also be there to help receive and sort gifts that are brought in by people who have hosted other donation parties. “The idea is once someone has a party, they can come be a junior ambassador as well and also help receive, so it kind of goes on after that,” Ella said. The first drop-off was Thursday, April 25, as a local Girl Scout group became the first to schedule a party and drop off gifts. There are already two parties scheduled for drop-off by two elementary aged girls in May. Ella has also helped further advertise the effort by creating an Instagram called “celebratewithfranklin.” Ella said she caught the giving spirit after she went to a food drive with her friend, Kate. Since then she has just been looking for ways to help, something her mother has noticed and taken to heart. “I think it’s nice when you see that moment when they actually get that helping feels great,” Beth said. “When that clicks, it’s something that you can easily talk about, but when you see it in their eyes it actually can feel better.” Ella’s “party it forward” philosophy for kids is something she hopes to continue for years to come. Many of the donated items will go to Project Lift (first through fifth grade), but the new program is not limiting themselves to just being facilitators for those age groups. Also, if any one child under the age of 17 assigns a drop-off day, that host will also receive a $5 gift card from Plum Dandy and a thank you poem for their effort to help. “The way we look at it, the fact that we already have three parties, that’s better than nothing,” Goliber said. “So it’s already a success as far as I’m concerned.” For anyone wishing to host a party, they can contact the FCC by emailing info@franklincommunitycenter.org or by calling (518) 587-9826.
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12
LOCAL BRIEFS
Upcoming Town Meetings Town of Ballston: Ballston Town Hall 323 Charlton Road 885-8502 www.townofballstonny.org 4/30: Town Board, 7:30 p.m. 5/29: Planning Board, 7:30 p.m. 5/1: Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m. Village of Ballston Spa: 66 Front Street 885-5711 www.ballstonspany.org 4/29: Village Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m. Town of Greenfield: 7 Wilton Road 893-7432 www.townofgreenfield.com 4/30: Planning Board, 7 p.m. 5/9: Town Board, 7:30 p.m. Town of Malta: 2540 Route 9 899-2818 www.malta-town.org 5/6: Town Board, 7 p.m. 5/21: Planning Board 6:30 p.m.
May 3 Adult and Senior Center: Cinco de Mayo Celebration The Saratoga High School Key Club is sponsoring the Spring Mixer at the Adult and Senior Center of Saratoga on Friday, May 3 from 6-8:30 p.m. The Key Club is organizing the entire event with refreshments including hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, punch and desserts. Music will be provided by DJ Bob LaBombard. Tickets are $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Sign up early to make song requests. Stop by Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to purchase tickets or call (518) 584-1621.
May 4
Town of Milton:
Spring Antique Appraisal Show
503 Geyser Road 885-9220 www.townofmiltonny.org 5/1: Town Board, 7 p.m. 5/8: Planning Board, 7 p.m. 5/23: Zoning Board, 7 p.m.
Malta Community Center will have a fun and informative event featuring Mark Lawson of Mark Lawson Antiques as he educates participants on the world of antiques and performs appraisals. This special event will take place on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Admission for Malta residents with one appraisal item is $9; non-residents $10. General admission for Malta residents is $2; non –residents $3. Pre-registration is encouraged. Call (518) 899-4411 for more information.
City of Saratoga Springs: 474 Broadway 587-3550 www.saratoga-springs.org 5/7: Saratoga Springs City Council, 7 p.m. 5/8: Planning Board, 7 p.m. 5/20: Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. Town of Saratoga: 12 Spring Street, Schuylerville 695-3644 www.townofsaratoga.com 5/13: Town Board, 7 p.m. Village of Schuylerville: 35 Spring Street 695-3881 www.villageofschuylerville.org 5/8: Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. 5/27: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m. Town of Stillwater: 66 East St., Riverside Mechanicville, NY 12118 www.stillwaterny.org 5/6: Planning Board, 7 p.m. 5/16: Town Board, 7 p.m. 5/21: Board of Trustees, 7 p.m. Town of Wilton: 22 Traver Road 587-1939 www.townofwilton.com 5/2: Town Board, 7 p.m. 5/15: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m. 5/23: Zoning Board, 6:30 p.m.
Boston Bus Trip There will be a Boston bus trip on Saturday, May 4, sponsored by the Greenwich Elk’s Auxiliary. The bus will leave the Greenwich Elks Lodge on Route 40 in Greenwich at 6 a.m. Participants will be dropped off at Quincy Market. The bus returns to the Lodge by 11 p.m. Cost is $55. Mail a check or money order to Kim Strainer, 9 St. Lea Court, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or call (518) 361-6994 for more information.
May 4, 5
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors:
May Day Soccer Classic at Gavin Park
40 McMaster St, #1 Ballston Spa, NY 12020 (518) 885-2240 www.saratogacountyny.gov
Kick off spring with the 15th annual May Day Soccer Classic at Gavin Park in the Town of Wilton
on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. Over 100 top boys and girls soccer club teams from the Capital District, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont will be competing. Admission and parking are free. For additional information, please go online to www.swysc.net.
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013 Area Iraq and Afghanistan Vets: The Town of Malta Wants to Thank You
May 12
The Town of Malta is holding an Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 a.m. at the Malta Community Center on Bayberry Drive, with a special theme to recognize and thank veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for their service and to publicly welcome them home. All veterans of all wars and eras are welcome and encouraged to join in as well. The Malta Veterans Committee is asking area veterans and family members to contact them or the Town of Malta’s Department of Parks & Recreation directly to sign up. In addition to the veterans, Malta hopes military families and area groups and organizations at large that have supported the military and veterans community over the years will also come to participate or cheer our veterans on.
Greenwich Elks Lodge: Mother’s Day Brunch
Malta League of Arts Calls for Artists
May 11 Victory Mills Fire Department: Trip to Mohegan Sun Casino The Victory Mills Fire Department’s seventh annual trip to Mohegan Sun Casino will be Saturday, May 11 from 6 a.m. to midnight. Cost is $40 a ticket. With each ticket you will receive a $15 meal coupon and $15 free bets. Seats are limited, so get yours now by calling Brian Baker at (518) 858-6110.
The Greenwich Elks Lodge will be hosting a Mother’s Day brunch, Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Moms eat free with family. It’s $15 for adults, $7 for children 6-14 years old and children under five years old are free. There will be a full breakfast buffet with juice, fruit, eggs, home fries, seafood casserole, potato salad and a turkey and roast beef carving station. Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s will also be available for an additional fee after noon. No reservations are needed, but for groups of more than eight people, please call (518) 692-2061. Proceeds will benefit youth and community programs.
The Malta League of Arts is looking for artists, of all ages, to join n supporting the Armed Forces. The Town of Malta is having a Parade on Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. and is looking for artists to walk with their art in the parade. The theme is “What do you think makes America Great?”. You must be able to walk in the parade with your art and 3D art must be wearable or pushable. The meeting time is at 9 a.m. at the Malta Community Center. To register, or for more information, please contact Kristan Gottmann at coopertip@hotmail.com. No political material shall be displayed or distributed.
May 18
2nd Annual Emma Foundation Fun Run
Saratoga Hospital Sponsors Dog Walk In State Park Saratoga Hospital’s Wellness Committee is planning a dog walk on Saturday, May 18 in Saratoga State Park at 10 a.m. Registration is $10 and will begin at 8:45 a.m. in the warming huts off Route 9. The walk will cover a 1.7 mile loop, raffles will be held and proceeds from the event will be divided between the Saratoga Hospital Angel Fund and Estherville Animal Shelter. Contact Barb Kerker to pre-register at Kerkerb@yahoo.com or call (518) 882-5562.
The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, in support of The Emma Foundation, will be hosting the 2nd Annual Emma Foundation 5K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, May 18. The race event, which will benefit the Emma Foundation, is set to begin at 9 a.m. Register online at www.Emmas5KRun.org, or register the day of event from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the school, 62 York Ave. The entry fee is $20 and a family discount ($10 for each additional runner after three full registered runners) is offered. Kids race free.
May 19 National Tap Dance Day Celebrate National Tap Dance Day with the legendary Brenda Bufalino on Sunday, May 19 from 1–5:30 p.m. at the National Museum of Dance where she will present a lecture demonstration of Tap Dance—Made In America, The Rhythm and History of America’s own indigenous art form. She’ll also be teaching two classes which will consist of her technique for small footwork, phrasing and creating material. For more information call Saratoga Jazz Tap at (518) 581-1791 or tfbtap@nycap.rr.com
June 1 Women’s Healthier You Event: “Live Better, Longer” Seminar Saratoga’s only natural pharmacy is holding a Women’s “Healthier You” Event on Saturday, June 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fallon Wellness Pharmacy of Saratoga is hosting the event, which will be held at Longfellows Hotel and Conference Center. The day will feature six speakers who will help women take charge of their health, both inside and out and include the following event topics: “The Glowing and Radian Skin You’ve Always Wanted, Naturally,” “Hormone Happiness— Balancing Your Hormones and Your Life,” “Spring Cleaning For Your Body—Feel Your Best with Metabolic Detox,” “Food as Medicine—Using Nutrition to Heal, Transform, Sustain,” “Clearing the Path for Success Through Exercise and Fitness,” “Functional Medicine—Optimal Health and Vitality For Each Individual.” The cost for the event is $40 and includes lunch. Seating is limited. To register or for more information please call (518) 306-5343 ext.127.
June 12 Summer Day Camp Registration at Gavin Park Summer Camp registration is in full swing. Sign up today to ensure your child will be having lots of fun this summer in a safe and friendly environment. The program runs from June 25 through August 9; Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Before and after program child care is also available. For additional information, call (518) 584-9455, or go online to www.townofwilton. com/gavin-park. Registration ends June 12.
Send your local briefs to calendar@saratogapublishing.com before Monday at 5 p.m. for Friday publication.
calendar
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013 billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Performed by Saratoga Central Catholic’s Middle School Drama Troupe. Adults $7, Students/ seniors $5, kids under five free. All proceeds benefit Saratoga Central Catholic. For more information (518) 587-7070.
Friday, April 26
Saturday, April 27
Skidmore Small Jazz Ensembles
Third Annual Walk for Mental Health Awareness
Skidmore College, Zankel Music Center, 8 p.m. Under the coaching of Artists-inResidence John Nazarenko, Mark Vinci, and George Muscatello, students in the Skidmore Small Jazz Ensembles will perform. Repertoire includes jazz, Latin, funk, and rock-based music. For more information and to view all our events, visit www.skidmore. edu/zankel or call the Zankel box office (518) 580-5321.
Landscaping with Native Plants Workshop Rowland Hollow Creek Nature Preserve, Rowland St., Ballston Spa, 4–6 p.m. Saratoga PLAN is holding a unique, hands-on workshop about landscaping with native plants. Gain native landscaping experience and ideas for a healthy, low maintenance yard. For more information call (518) 587-5554.
Fighting Hunger Food Drive St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, 6 p.m. The Youth Group at St. Paul’s is supporting the world-wide effort to fight hunger by participating in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine effort. St. Paul’s youth are also looking to help our community by canvasing area neighborhoods collecting imperishable items or donations for St. Paul’s Food Pantry. If you would like to make a monetary donation or food item donation please drop it off at the church beginning Friday 6 pm. to Saturday 6 p.m. For more information call (518) 810-7850.
Saratoga Central Catholic Presents Annie, Jr. St. Peter’s Parish Center, 64 Hamilton St., Saratoga Springs Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m. The popular story of little orphan Annie and the adventures she has in NYC while befriending
Saratoga Spa State Park, Carlsbad Pavilion, 11 a.m. Support the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) of Saratoga County by walking for mental health awareness. All proceeds will go to funding the DBSA activities, including support group meetings, special events, training, and advocacy efforts. Registration, raffles and silent auction start at 9 a.m. For more information/donate www. DBSAsaratogacounty.com or call Chris at (518) 580-1064.
Spring Fling 2013 Dress-Up Dance Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Dr., Malta, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Boys, escort your Mom, Grandma or Aunt; Girls, be escorted by Dad, Grandpa or Uncle to an evening of cool DJ music and lights, personalized crafts, dance lessons, snacks and fun. Kids ages 4–10 and a favorite adult—dress in your finest for photos. Spots are limited, so don’t wait. Pre-registration is required. Call Town of Malta Parks & Recreation at (518) 899-4411 for more information.
Sunday, April 28 Breakfast Buffet Sons of Italian American War Vets Post 35, 247 Grand Ave. Saratoga 8–11 a.m. Featuring made to order omlettes, sausage biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, ham hash, fruit, Danish and more. Adults $8, Seniors $7, Kids under 5 are free.
Swedish American Pancake Breakfast Burnt Hills Fire Department, 810 St. Rt. 50, Ballston Lake, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Swedish pancakes served with lingonberries and hot cakes with maple syrup. Dine in or take out. Adults $6, Children ages 5–12 cost is $3. Children under 5 are free.
Annual Baked Ziti Dinner Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, West High St., Ballston Spa, 12–5 p.m. The event is a fund raiser for Troop 2. All proceeds are for the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which will be located in the church. Tickets: $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12, takeout available Call ahead dinner trays (feeds six to eight people) are available for $25. For details contact Alan Veet at (518) 2815204, or Linda Paley at the Christ Episcopal Church (518) 885-1031.
Sixth Annual Benefit for Wildwood Programs The Parting Glass, 42 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, 12–9 p.m. Benefit concert and auction featuring music by Hearty Hearty Love, Molly Durnin, Legendary Losers, North & South Dakotas, Stellar Young, Erin Harkes Band, Holly & Evan, and Charmboy. Tickets $5 pre sale, $10 at the door. Ages 12 and under free. Tickets available at Parkway Music or The Parting Glass. For more information email rock4wildwood@yahoo.com or visit www.wildwoodstock.com.
Monday, April 29 Preschool Pioneers at Camp Saratoga 80 Scout Rd., Gansevoort, 11 a.m. Ages 3-6 years old will be learning to identify patterns in nature. Adults are expected to attend and support children during the program. We will be outside for the program so please come dressed for the weather. For information or to register call (518) 450-0321. Visit our website to see all our ongoing events. www. wiltonpreserve.org.
Tuesday, April 30 Please Go Away! Planning Your Vacation Online Saratoga Springs Public Library, Computer Lab, 10 a.m. The Internet is becoming more of a common place to plan vacations. Travel information comes and goes on a daily basis through different web resources. This class helps students learn how to navigate and identify travel deals online. Call (518) 584-7860 ext. 257 to register. Check out all our ongoing programs at www.sspl.org.
Advancement in Treatment of Sinusitis
Family Friendly Events
Saratoga Springs Public Library, H. Dutcher Community Room, 6 p.m. Learn about advances, including minimally invasive surgical procedures such as Balloon Sinuplasty. This is a program offered by Saratoga Care and sponsored by the library. Registration is through Saratoga Care website under ëclasses and events www.saratogahospital.org or by phone at (518) 580-2450.
Friday
Wednesday, May 1
Saturday
Saratoga Farmers’ Market Opens High Rock Park Pavilion, High Rock Ave., Saratoga Springs Buy local from more than 50 regional farms and other producers. The market’s opening festivities for the outdoor season are scheduled for Saturday, May 4, and will include live music and other special activities. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will operate twice a week from May through the end of October on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fun, Fitness and FriendshipVolkswalk Saratoga Westside, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Join the Empire State Capital Volkssporters for a leisurely walk through a scenic or historic area over a pre-marked trail. The walk is typically 10K or 6.2 miles (a three mile route is also offered). Starting point is at parking garage on Woodlawn Ave. (Long Alley). Arrive 30 minutes prior to start. Cost is $3. For more information visit www.ava.org or www.ava.org/ clubs.escv.
Thursday, May 2 Second Annual Chefs Challenge Hampton Inn and Suites, Downtown Saratoga Springs, 6–9 p.m. Hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters, the event will feature two competing chefs, returning Champion Chef John Ireland of Panza’s will defend his title against challenger Jimmy Schultz of 2Shea Catering. Popular area restaurants will also offer specialty dishes to our guests. Cost is $55. For more information call (518) 862-1250.
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Join SaratogaMama this Friday at Saratoga Strike Zone for a fun Kids Day Out. The cost is just $5, all of which goes to support Jake’s Help from Heaven. The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kara Hilburger Photography is offering Swing into Spring photo sessions this Saturday and Sunday perfect for spring family portraits, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. The cost is $75 and includes a 30 minute session and 15 fully edited digital images. Call Kara at (518) 319-7228 to book your session! Hey kids! Looking for a gift to give Mom on Mother’s Day? Bring your mom or dad to Sunnyside Gardens this Saturday for their “Make it for Mom” Kids Event where you’ll design and plant a beautiful container garden to give Mom on Mother’s Day. Small Pots are $15 and Large pots are $20. Please RSVP on their website or by calling (518) 584-1034.
Sunday
Earth Day Scavenger Hunt at Saratoga Spa State Park. Spend the morning outdoors enjoying nature while going on a plant and animal themed scavenger hunt. Appropriate for ages 4–8. Fee is $3 per person or $5 per family. Call (518) 584-2000 Ext. 116 to register. The Bundle Store in Ballston Spa is starting a Mommy and Me Yoga six-week series. Bring your little one (six weeks to crawling) to enjoy a class filled with breathing techniques to calm you and your baby, gentle baby massage and stretches, community building and sharing and more! This is a six week series of 45 minute classes and the cost is $50. Call (518) 557-8809 for more information or to register.
Compliments of:
Send your local briefs to calendar@saratogapublishing.com before Monday at 5 p.m. for Friday publication.
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Education
Technology Summer Enrichment Program at TEC-SMART BALLSTON SPA — Middle school students interested in learning more about opportunities in science and technology are invited to attend a five-day Technology Enrichment Program offered by Hudson Valley Community College on July 22–26. The five-day program will run from 8:30 a.m–3 p.m. at TEC-SMART, located in NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology + Energy Park® (STEP®). The cost is $255, which covers instruction, course materials and a t-shirt. The program is taught by Ballston Spa Central School District instructors and is open to students from any district entering fifth through eighth grade. Participants will use hands on activities to explore the engineering design process, biotechnology, energy conservation, wind energy and solar energy. TEC-SMART, a collaboration between Hudson Valley Community College and the
Photo provided.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) features more than a dozen state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories used to train students in semiconductor manufacturing and green technologies, including home energy efficiency,
alternative fuels, solar, geothermal and wind energy. To register for the Technology Enrichment Program, contact the college’s Office of Community and Professional Education at (518) 629-7339 or go to www.hvcc.edu/ communityed/register.
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visit us online at saratogamama.com!
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Calhoun Named Dean of Special Programs at Skidmore College SARATOGA SPRINGS — Paul Calhoun, interim dean of special programs at Skidmore College for the past two years, has agreed to serve permanently as dean, beginning immediately, according to an announcement by Beau Breslin, Skidmore’s dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs. Appointed interim dean in May 2011, Calhoun has used a unique combination of skills drawn from the academic, business and arts fields to enrich Skidmore’s reputation as a cultural destination, known for providing innovative programs year-round. Calhoun served as the seventh F. William Harder Professor of Business Administration at the college, from 2006 to 2011. Before joining the Skidmore community,
Paul Calhoun
he was the director of operations and finance at the Arsenal Center for the Arts just outside Boston, and before that he spent 33 years with Mellon Financial Corporation. He is a 1972 graduate of Yale, where he earned a degree in economics.
Criminal Justice Students Volunteer Expertise for March of Dimes Walk in Saratoga Springs SARATOGA SPRINGS — Criminal Justice Studies students from the Washington-SaratogaWarren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES’ F. Donald Myers Education Center volunteered to provide crowd control, safety and direction to walkers at the March of Dimes Walk for Babies on Sunday, April 28, in Saratoga Springs. The walk, which is a fundraiser for the Northeast New York Division of the March of Dimes, will
begin at High Rock Park at 10 a.m. Registration is at 9 a.m. Walkers will travel three miles throughout the city, with the help of volunteer guides like those from WSWHE BOCES. Dave Foldi and Jeffrey Peek, teachers for the Criminal Justice program, believe it’s vital that their students learn to serve to their communities. Volunteering at a variety of events promote such service, which is essential to the criminal justice field.
Education
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
15
Saratoga Central Catholic Mock Trial Team Heads to State Finals
The Saratoga Central Catholic Mock Trial Team is all smiles after winning the Region 3 Championships April 20. Back row from left to right: Mr. John Dormin, Esq., Joshus Pikus, Zachary Grant, Riley McGuiggan, Benjamin Moeller, Kevin Kortright, Matthew Reichel, Patrick Taylor, Kevin Kortright DA of Washington County. Front row from left to right: Emily Shea, Anna Leone, Madeline Pelagalli, Andrew Valenza, Kathleen Gregorio, Nicholas Mauro, Maria Izzo. Missing from photo: Gabrella Gurney. Photo provided.
by Chelsea DiSchiano Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — After beating out several teams in the Saratoga County competition and going on to win the Mock Trial Region III Championships April 20, the Saratoga Central Catholic (SCC) mock trial team will head to the state finals May 20 and 21. There are eight mock trial teams in Saratoga County alone, though two of them did drop out earlier this year for various reasons. Each school in the state receives a case, either criminal or civil, and competes with their respective schools through four rounds until an ultimate winner from the county is decided. The case is the same for every school in the state, and each team has student attorneys, or advocates, and witnesses. Affidavits, or scripts, are provided for the witnesses and then the student lawyers have to present the questions for direct examinations and cross examinations, meaning teams can either play the plaintiff or the defense team. “They shuffle the cases every year, so it goes back and forth between criminal and civil cases— last year was a criminal case where someone got hit with a crowbar,” said Maria Izzo, student advisor for the team and government teacher at SCC. “They even make the names for the witnesses gender neutral, so you can have a male or female act as a witness.” Izzo said that the competition is a very “step-by-step process” and that the outcome isn’t just based on the verdict. “You can lose the verdict but win the competition because it’s about the competition and the presentation of the material,” Izzo explained. “The verdict is great if
you win it, but it’s really about style points—how your witnesses did, how your lawyers presented it, and the competition—so you have a number of points at the end and the team with the most points wins.” Five years ago, the SCC mock trial team only had six students. This year, they have 14. “We have three lawyers and six witnesses, and I have one senior who I call my assistant coach who basically acts as a lawyer helper,” Izzo said. “We broke it down to three groups and we had someone in each group acting as a ‘paralegal’ and acting as assistants to the lawyer of the group. Everybody had a role—they may not all be on the witness stand or a lawyer, but each person had something they contributed to the team.” Also contributing to the team’s success were actual lawyers who act as advisors to the team: John Dormin, executive director of the Special Investigations Office at the NYS Department of Labor, and Kevin Kortright, District Attorney of Washington County. “As an experienced trial lawyer with over 25 years of practice, I am astonished at the skill, poise and intelligence of the students I am privileged to work with at Saratoga Central Catholic’s mock trial program,” Dormin said. “They work incredibly hard, yet have fun with presenting these cases before real judges in real courtrooms. Our students also demonstrate something that is sometimes lacking in our justice system: respect and kindness toward their adversaries that shines through when they present their case.” Izzo said the lawyers help the students present their cases in true legal fashion, using the right terms. “The lawyers help with the technicality of everything,” Izzo said.
“They help us put the complaint into action and say, ‘This is the complaint and this is how we address the defense and the plaintiff.’ We meet with the lawyers weekly, but we practice about three times a week. My role is to help get the witnesses ready and go over their directs over and over again, and I help them revise their questions and help with the overall flow of everything.” Izzo said the team won by a narrow margin at the regional competition, beating out Pottsdam to move on to the state finals in Albany May 20.
“[State Supreme Court] Judge Thomas D. Nolan Jr. was the judge at regionals and he came in after the case was over and gave the kids the kudos they so well deserve, and some pointers,” Izzo said. “We’re all holding our breath because you just want to hear the verdict, and finally he said, ‘It’s a very close one—I’m going to make half the room happy and half the room sad today,’ and then he said we won by two points. We were elated and very surprised, because [Pottsdam] was a very good team, but we had a very slight edge on them—two points is extremely close and it could have gone the other way, but it went our way.” Now the students are enjoying their time together as they prepare for the top level of the competition, Izzo said. “They just enjoy the camaraderie—they get along so well and
they’re friends—if we have a 3 o clock practice they’ll go out and get a coffee together or sometimes they’ll go out to dinner together,” Izzo said. “They’re a very close group and work very well together so they’re having a blast. They’re having so much fun and the fact that they’re so dedicated makes it easy for me because they’re very self-motivated.” Dormin added that a lot of the team’s success is owed to Izzo, and that no matter the outcome of the mock trial, he thinks the students will be very successful in life. “A large share of their success belongs to [Izzo], who inspires them to achievement in this competition with integrity, not sharp practices,” Dormin said. “I am so proud to have worked with these students over the years, and they will be leaders on whatever path they choose in life.”
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
This Week’s SPOLIGHT
The Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES Gifted and Talented Resource Center has been offering Gifted and Enrichment programs for over 30 years. This summer we will be offering three camping options. Our Culinary Arts Camp, in its 6th year, offers students the opportunity to become Young Chefs and will learn professional cooking techniques and kitchen management. Among the items prepared, will be traditional homemade specialties, as well as international favorites. The course will also focus on sanitation, basic cooking methods, and having fun with food. We also support Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day that came to Saratoga in the summer of 2012. The Culinary Camp is open to students in grades 3–12, with a special week dedicated to students in grades 9–12. The camp is hosted at the F. Donald Myers Education Centers Professional Culinary kitchens. Our Project Chinese Summer Immersion Camps are part of the Language and Cultural Research Center, which focuses on initiatives that increase the language proficiency, language diversity, and cultural awareness of the students in our component districts. Combining the fun of summer camp and enrichment of language immersion, this component is the culmination of the year’s activities. This unique opportunity is offered in Saratoga Springs for three weeks in July. (New students interested in joining Project Chinese are also invited to explore Chinese language and culture via a summer camp experience.) The camp is offered at two locations, The F. Donald Myers Center and the Ballston Spa High School. Our STEM Academy Summer Camps offer students the opportunity to discover Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In an effort to help build the regional talent pipeline and increase science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming for students without breaking the bank, districts are utilizing the BOCES STEM Academy to build capacity and develop innovative, project-based STEM courses. This is a hands-on camp that offers a project-based learning activity to fully engage students in STEM programs. Course offerings range from Amazing Robotics, Wildlife Wonders, and Mad Science of the Capital District to Chemistry for Kids. The camp will be offered at two locations F. Donald Myers Center and Maple Avenue Middle School. Check our website for complete details and participating schools. For further details please contact: Kim Wegner, Instructional Support Services: Curriculum & Differentiated Instruction at (518) 581-3580 or email: kwegner@wswheboces. org Visit our website: www.wswheboces.org/summercamp
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Summer Camp Guide
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Couple Celebrates 70th Wedding Anniversary SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Community residents Omar Herrick (left), 90, and his wife Gloria (right), 87, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a special dinner at Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, April 10. Originally from Maine, the couple were high school sweethearts who wed in Portland, Maine. in the spring of 1943. A job transfer relocated the couple to South Glens Falls in 1971. After retiring to Tampa, Florida for 27 years, the Herricks returned to South Glens Falls in 2009 before relocating to Wesley Health Care Center in August 2012.
Take a look at this week’s newest club members!
ABIGAIL
AUDREY
HARRISON
JACK
SYDNEE
ISABELLA
TOWNSEND
Tooth Fairy Club is sponsored by:
Nicole M. Byrne, D.M.D Pediatric Dentistry 659 Saratoga Road Gansevoort, New York 12831 (518) 226-6010
Engagement SARATOGA SPRINGS — Alban and Barbara Molineaux of East Greenbush are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Susanna Molineaux of Troy, to Charles James “CJ” Morrison II of Saratoga Springs, son of M. Lynn and the late Charles J. Morrison of Saratoga Springs. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Columbia High School and The College of St. Rose with a degree in education. She is employed at the C.H. Evans Brewing Co. The groom-to-be is a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School and The College of St. Rose with a degree in Business and Human Resources and is employed as a manager at the
It’s A Boy! Tim and Jeannie Fontaine of Gansevoort are proud to announce the birth of their son, Ryan James Fontaine, who was welcomed into the world March 13, 2013 at 10:24 a.m. at Saratoga Hospital. Ryan was born weighing 8 lbs., 4 oz. and was 21.5 inches long. The proud maternal grandmother is Mary Hudson and the paternal grandparents are Jim and Kate Fontaine. Congratulations to the Fontaine family!
West Sand Lake Hannaford. A November wedding planned.
Engagement
is
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Michael Powell and Cheryl McKenzie of Queens and Elmont, N.Y. proudly announce the engagement of their daughter Mackenzie Michelle Powell to Shawn Cole Engelbrecht, the son of Eric and Bonnie Engelbrecht of Hubbardsville, N.Y. Mackenzie is a preschool teacher in Saratoga Springs, having graduated from the College of Saint Rose with a Masters in Education. Shawn is a veteran of the United States Army and is currently a fulltime student studying criminal justice. The wedding is being planned for May 31, 2014.
Kelly Phillips Receives Girl Scout Award
From left to right: Bruce Phillips, father; Ken Woodcock, Elks Exalted Ruler; Kelly Phillips, Gold Award Girl Scout; Sue Phillips, mother.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge 161, which has honored many Eagles Scouts, held a ceremony for the first time to honor a Girl Scout in getting her Gold Award, the highest Girl Scout ranking. For her Gold Award project, Kelly put together a program all about fire safety. She has presented this program to children in school, other Brownie troops and at the Girl Scout Expo held at Skidmore College last May.
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
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A Voice For Veterans: Saratoga County Rural Preservation Company
by Jackie Kingsland for Saratoga TODAY The homeless—Individuals without shelter or a place to call their own—a wide-spread problem across the country. Veterans—men and women who have served our country and sacrificed to ensure our safety and freedom. Homeless veterans—two words that should never be included in the same sentence. A travesty. Those service members once walking in stride, dressed in uniform, their heads held high, focused; and for one reason or another, now find themselves seeking shelter, warmth and a place to rest their somber bodies. Some of these veterans are well educated, attended Harvard University; others owned businesses, have families, children; others served as generals in the United States Army. Many returned from war unable to transition into civilian life, suffering from issues such as post-traaumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or have substance abuse problems, still others simply are trying their best and lack support or resources to change their lives and make ends meet. Whatever the reasons for these homeless veterans, providing support, access to benefits, resources and a helping hand should be in the forefront of our minds and bullet points in business plans. In Saratoga County, a non-profit organization exists contributing in many ways to assist with the needs of our veterans. Saratoga County Rural Preservation Company (SRPC), located in Ballston Spa, (518) 8850091, www.Saratogarpc.org, is an established organization staffed with dedicated persons, some retired and former military members and a few who were once residents of the housing facility. “The community support has
been incredible,” states A.C. (Budd) Mazurek, Executive Director of the SCRPC. “We have raised over $110,000 in donations from the community within one year. Many of the donations were to help improve the back room of the residence. We had over 100 volunteers to assist with the improvements.” Formed in 1983 under a grant with the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the SPRPC has progressively developed over the years. The non-profit has expanded to include services for homeless veterans such as transition housing (both male and female veterans), permanent housing for veterans and their families, employment and training assistance with the organization’s specialists who work directly with veterans in Saratoga County as well as four others counties in the area, to help them find meaningful, long-term employment. Rental assistance programs, mortgage assistance for affordable housing, in addition to life-skills programs are also offered through case management for benefit advocacy, treatment programs through the Veterans Administration (VA) and medical/dental care. Even more compelling in terms of community support was especially illustrated when the Guardian House was formed in October 2011. Saratoga County supervisor, Joanne Yepsen, and Town of Ballston supervisor, Patti Southworth, were part of a committee which helped create the Guardian House facility, which is specifically designed for homeless female veterans. The residence was funded by a VA grant of $212,000, plus $300,000 from individuals within the region. There were many VA requirements to prepare the shelter, they were satisfied and the residence has successfully provided a home to many female service members. Since the opening, they have served 17 women and currently have 11 in residence. The SCRPC has added a case manager to meet the growing demand, with two now on staff. “There is a two-year maximum stay for these women. Many are dealing with sexual trauma and domestic violence,“ stated Mazurek. “We are pleased with the early success in helping these serving women move towards self-sufficiency.”
The Saratoga County Rural Preservation Company partners with many agencies such as the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) (www.va.gov), Department of Labor (www.labor.ny.gov) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). If you are a veteran who is homeless or you know of a homeless veteran, there are three key factors to consider: First, contact the SCRPC (it doesn’t matter your status or circumstance, they will try to assist with veterans’ needs); secondly, investigate the Veterans Administration to determine eligibility; and lastly, the support to help veterans is overwhelming. There is a Memo of Understanding issued for housing, homeless and domestic violence services through the organization. “Refer to the Shelters of Saratoga if the house is full,” Mazurek explains, “There is a referral network to help veterans. That is why it is so important to contact the VA to determine eligibility. Sometimes it is not the right fit, but we will always try to find them a home.” According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are alarming numbers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Homelessness among these veterans has more than doubled over the past two years often from the effects of PTSD, TBI and a slowing economic factor. Transitioning to civilian life, readjustment to family, looking for employment or continuing their education after multiple tours of duty, some with injuries, doesn’t come as easily and can contribute to homelessness. With the organization’s mission to provide for low income housing needs and advocate for all veterans, Mazurek, who is also a Vietnam veteran, feels it was the best decision he ever made to join the team at the SCRPC. “Five of the staff were once residents of the shelter, and hired because they could do the job. They are the living example of a journey to a better life,” he said. To that end, two more success stories include a female veteran who came to the organization with children—housing and employment were a high priority. The staff was able to assist the veteran with securing a good paying job and
soon after the veteran and her children were placed into permanent housing. Another veteran came to the SCRPC seeking shelter and was found temporary housing and immediately began a job search. The organization found him a temporary position which allowed for longer term residency. The temporary position led to permanent placement and then to more permanent housing. This veteran continued to perform well in his position. To conclude, there are approximately 175-225 homeless veterans in the Capital Region. That’s 225 too many. Hire a veteran, help them, and give those service men and
women an opportunity to better their life. They sacrificed for ours. The Saratoga County RPCVETHELP has been selected to participate in a Home Depot/Facebook Aprons to Action Program contest. RPC-VETHELP provides a transitional home for homeless female veterans who are striving to regain independence. If they win the contest in April, they will use the $25,000 to provide additional living space and office space for veterans currently seeking employment and completing school work. Go to http://appsfacebook. com/apronsinaction/ and vote for Saratoga County.
20 It’s where NEED to be.
YOU
Publication Day: Friday
Ad Copy Due:
Wednesday, 12 p.m.
Space Reservation Due: Monday, 5 p.m.
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
It’s where NEED to be.
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Publication Day: Friday
Ad Copy Due:
Wednesday, 12 p.m.
Space Reservation Due: Monday, 5 p.m.
MISCELLANEOUS MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NY REAL PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTION: May 22nd @ 11AM, America’s Best Value Inn, Amsterdam, NY. 800-292-7653. Free brochure: www.HAROFF.com DIVORCE $349 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared. Includes poor person application/waives government fees, if approved. One signature required. Separation agreements available. Make Divorce Easy - 518-274-0380. GET A FREE VACATION as well as IRS tax deduction BY DONATING your vehicle, boat, property, collectibles to DVAR. Help teens in crisis. Call: 1-800-338-6724 Attend College Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer and Financial
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GARAGE SALES MONTHLY INDOOR CRAFT/ FLEA MARKET. Sunday, April 28th from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Wilton Elks Club; Rt.9 Maple Avenue in Saratoga. Maple Avenue Firehouse, Rt. 9, Saratoga. Sat. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. To benefit the American Cancer Society as part of the Relay for Life. Enjoy a local DJ while you shop. Over 100 people cleaning out their houses to donate items.
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fun and games Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Puzzles
See puzzle solutions on page 28
Across 1 __ squad 5 Sharp fasteners 10 Line of movement 14 In a while 15 Go back to the beginning, in a way 16 Spread unit 17 One lingering in Edinburgh? 20 Hoglike mammals 21 “I could __ horse!” 22 Touch 23 Stravinsky’s “The __ of Spring” 25 DX ÷ V 26 “__ a rip-off!” 27 Some Athenian physicians? 32 Black gold 33 Big Bird buddy 34 DOD subdivision 35 Really feel the heat 37 Plus 39 Carpenter’s tool 43 CD conclusion? 46 Charge carriers 49 Fury 50 Berlin sidewalk writing? 54 Valiant son 55 Heavenly altar 56 Hockey Hall of Famer Mikita 57 Sum (up) 58 Personal time? 60 Some govt. investments 64 Fancy singles event in Stockholm? 67 New coin of 2002 68 One may work with a chair 69 Vivacity 70 Church section 71 Angling banes 72 Oh’s role in “Grey’s Anatomy” Down 1 Humongous 2 Worshipper of the Earth goddess Pachamama 3 Condo cousin 4 Complete 5 British university city 6 Legal issue 7 “Off the Court” author 8 Separate 9 Post
Level: 1
2
3
4
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk
4/24/13
© 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
See puzzle solution on page 28 10 Links standard 11 Like citrus fruit 12 They might make cats pause 13 Chef’s array 18 57-Across’s wheels 19 Military surprises 24 First name in humor 27 Tar 28 Sea inlet 29 One who observes a fraternal Hour of Recollection 30 Source of invigoration 31 One leaving a wake 36 Mess up 38 Self-recriminating cries 40 Have a health problem 41 Hindu title
At the Movies with Trey Roohan It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
What were your teen years like? Sleepovers, baseball and paper routes? For a startling many, the teen years are the exact opposite of that. But, when all that stress becomes too much to handle, what do you do? Craig Gilner (played by Keir Gilchrist) is a sixteen year-old who’s contemplated suicide many times. One night, he dreams of riding his bike to the Brooklyn Bridge. In the dream, before he can jump, his mother (played by Lauren Graham), father (played by Jim Gaffigan) and little sister appear on the bridge. After a brief conversation, Craig loses his balance and falls to the water below. He wakes up after that and heads to the nearest emergency room. The admitting nurse, who was on the phone at the time of Craig’s arrival, hears him state that he intends to kill himself and simply hands him a clipboard with attached admitting forms. While sitting in the waiting area, a man in scrubs in a lab coat (played by Zach Galifianakis) strikes up a conversation and then leaves abruptly. When he is actually examined, his doctor (played by Aasif Mandvi) does not believe that Craig is a threat to himself but Craig is adamant and, as such, is admitted for evaluation. The part of the hospital usually reserved for mentally ill teens is undergoing renovations so Craig is placed with the adults. His roommate, a middle-aged Egyptian named Muqtada (played by Bernard White) rarely leaves his bed and has not left his room in weeks. The initial shock provokes feelings of “buyer’s remorse” in Craig but the hospital staff is not permitted to release him without evaluating him, which will take several days. In that time he becomes acquainted with other patients such as fellow teen, Noelle (played by Emma Roberts) and the man he encountered in the waiting room, Bobby (Galifianakis) who regularly leaves the ward, without permission, dressed in scrubs to avoid being escorted back. I love this movie. Gilchrist masterfully portrays, in my opinion, a young adult grappling with issues that are far beyond his comprehension who is trying desperately to conceal that at the same time. Graham as the caring, over-emotional mother is someone we feel great sympathy for. Zach Galifianakis, for the first time in his acting career, scales back on the eccentricities we usually see in him and, surprisingly enough, shows talent as an actor. It seems odd that the least eccentric character that he’s ever portrayed would be a mental patient, but that doesn’t make it any less true. To sum up, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a near-brilliant film and I would advise anyone who found my review intriguing in the slightest to see it at their earliest possible convenience. (7.8/10) For comments and questions, contact me at movies@roohanrealty.com.
42 Sweetie 44 Muscat native 45 Some Roman Catholics 47 Babbles 48 Perspective 50 Mature 51 Adds to the database 52 __ Detroit: “Guys and Dolls” role 53 Like some tree trunks 54 Having no clue 59 Peel on “The Avengers” 61 King who succeeded 59-Down 62 Swedish model Nordegren in 2004 nuptial news 63 Tough going 65 Buck’s mate 66 Hosp. test
Writing the Right Word by Dave Dowling Accuracy in word choice is a key to effective communication. This quick weekly tip will help you filter the confusion in some of our daily word choices. Qualitative, Quantitative Qualitative refers to the characteristics or properties of quality, and quantitative refers to the measure of something. Qualitative data is information that is not clearly quantifiable, such as a scientist’s observations, the taste of something, or a videotape of an interview.
Quantitative data can be counted, such as the temperature of a liquid, the number of petals on a flower, or the amount of salt in a gallon of seawater.
Dave Dowling is the author of the The Wrong Word Dictionary and The Dictionary of Worthless Words. Signed copies are available for purchase at the gifts and home goods store, Homessence on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
food
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
23
Rare and Native Plants Return to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market
With so many gardeners ready to get to work this spring, we’re taking a break from providing a recipe this week to instead feature the story and plants of Wild Things Rescue Nursery, which will be at the outside Saratoga Farmers’ Market in High Rock Park beginning Wednesday, May 1st (3–6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 4th (9 a.m.–1 p.m.). When Dawn Foglia was hanging out in the backyard with her mother and Papa, her mother’s father, she would often help with the extensive vegetable and flower gardens. Seeds for family favorite plants weren’t easy to find. “I remember Papa sending to Germany for kohlrabi seeds,” she said. Today, Dawn is still seeking out seeds. Dawn calls herself a fifth generation German gardener and she’s
Trillium is a specialty at Wild Things Rescue Nursery, which grows 24 of the different species of the 36 known to exist in the United States.
also a second generation farmers’ market vendor. What had started out as a backyard hobby for her mother, Joanne, eventually became a farmers’ market business in the 1980s. Dawn remembers accompanying her mother to the original Troy farmers’ market, where they offered fresh and dried flower arrangements. After receiving a degree in fine arts, Dawn found herself walking down a different garden path. She and a friend used to trudge into the woods ahead of loggers and dig up unusual
plants that might be destroyed. Now 15 years later, her aptly named “Wild Things Rescue Nursery” is known throughout the area and beyond for its unique collection of rare and native plants and the seeds she collects and exchanges with other enthusiasts. “Like my mother’s did, my business also started as a hobby,” she said. “I became obsessed with plants, and was drawn more and more to the native plants, especially the precious woodland species.
When I learned how to propagate them, the hobby blossomed into a full-time business.” Anyone who visits Dawn’s nursery will see her artistic abilities on display in the extensive beds that surround her home. She rattles off the names of plants, using common and scientific names with equal ease, but she prefers the scientific, because common names often apply more than one plant variety. One of Wild Things’ specialties is the Trillium. “In addition to many varieties of trillium, we feature a wide variety of native prairie plants because birds and butterflies need their nectar, and they can serve as host plants for some insects’ larvae,” she explained. Among her smaller woodland plants are golden seal, ginseng, waterleaf and Virginia bluebell. In boggy areas, she grows native orchids and pitcher plant. Another specialty at Wild Things is plants with variegated leaves. Lowered amounts of chlorophyll in sections of the leaves result in splashes of pale green to nearly white or yellow-green, which
Slice, Dice and Everything Nice
by John Reardon for Saratoga TODAY Hello my foodie friends! Dr. Russrev and his wife Lynn came over recently and they noted how many knives I have and asked: What are they all for? Which knife is the best? Is it price that determines it or is it the name? I told them it is the one that best fits and feels good in your hand. Not because it can cut a penny or a tin can. We don’t eat those items. It is the one that holds its edge but can also be sharpened easily. Now of course when I was talking to them I was doing my best Crocodile Dundee impression. “That’s not a knife! THAT’S a Knife.” Here are four knives that I recommend you start with.
Chef ’s knife (also called cooks knives) (6 “to 10”) The 8” is my choice. It is called the all-rounder for professional and hobby chefs, suitable for chopping herbs, cutting vegetables, slicing and dicing fish and meat. The curved blade allows for a nice rocking motion. Practice with this knife and you will get better and better. Also remember to use your steel to keep it sharp. Paring knife (3” to 4”) The 3.5” is my choice. It is used for cleaning, paring, peeling and slicing small fruit and vegetables. It is also used to prepare intricate garnishes. The paring knife is a very efficient extension of thumb and finger. This helps to give good leverage.
Bread knife (8” to 10”) The 9.5” is my choice. It is used for cutting bread or any other food of soft substance with a tough skin or crust. The aggressive scalloped edge cuts hard crusts effortlessly and evenly. Do not cut meat or fish with this scalloped or serrated edge knife, as it will not produce an even slice with those foods. Do not use steel with this knife—it’s not necessary and may damage the edges. It should stay sharp for at least five years if not abused. Santoku knife with hollow edge (5” to 7”) (In Japanese Santoku loosely means: “Three Virtues”— slicing; dicing; and mincing). The 7” is my choice. The Santoku knife, fitted with the Razor Edge, is the all-rounder for the Asian cuisine for preparing fish, meat or vegetables. This is my favorite knife. It slices tomatoes paper thin and it cuts boneless meat and fish into small pieces. The specially contoured edge is perfect for chopping vegetables and the wide blade doubles as a spatula. Use your steel regularly as it can dull easily. Whichever knife you choose, make sure you practice with it. Learn how to hold it so you feel the weight and balance and it becomes an
extension of your hand. Stop in and see me anytime and I will show you personally. Remember to use quality tools and keep them sharp, and your tasks will become easier and fun. As always my friends, remember: “Life Happens in the Kitchen” Take care, John and Paula
contrast brightly with the traditional dark green. Some varieties of variegated plants are wild goldenrod, forsythia and burnet (Sanguisorba) a distant relative of the rose. As if this collection weren’t large enough, Dawn is now propagating uncommon native trees and shrubs, such as choke berry (Aronia), Sassafras, spice bush (Lindera), Virginia magnolia, and witch hazel (Hamamelis). In addition to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Dawn hosts gatherings of gardeners at her place in Valley Falls (northern Rensselaer County) and works with garden designers. On May 5 she’s hosting the annual Plant Swap (for only potted plants), which has two simple rules, “Bring one, take one,” and no swapping prior to 10 a.m. Complete information about the swap is on the nursery’s Facebook page.
PULSE
24
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
‘Saratoga Seven’ Organize Area’s First Mom Prom Benefit by Chelsea DiSchiano Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — After a full year of planning, the “Saratoga Seven”—made up of local friends Maureen Maciariello, JeanAnn Dennis, Joanne Sole, JoAnn Berrigan, Jan Perrotta, Gail Veitch, and Suzi Ingmire—is putting the finishing touches on the
first-ever Saratoga Mom Prom. The Mom Prom, which has its roots in Michigan, was founded in 2006 and has since spread to different states throughout the country as it grew in popularity with women’s groups—in 2012, more than 40 Mom Proms took place throughout the U.S. This year, Saratoga Springs will host its very own Mom Prom, an idea that was sparked when the ladies of the “Saratoga Seven” were inspired after attending Schenectady’s Mom Prom last April. “We were driving back from the event in the pouring rain, and one of us said, ‘We ought to do this in Saratoga!’ and all of us fools in the backseat said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a great idea—let’s do it!’” said Gail Veitch, one of the event organizers, as she laughed at the memory. “So last May, we had our first planning meeting for the event and now here we are.” Although the event is new for the Saratoga Springs area, the Mom Prom organizers have already seen success—the event already sold out of tickets six weeks ago, a feat which both Veitch and Saratoga Seven member Suzi Ingmire said they owe to Elizabeth Witbeck, who offered to design their website for them. “Liz is a master—when they say webmaster, she really is one because we didn’t have any idea on what to do and we really relied on her,” Veitch said. “If it hadn’t been for her we wouldn’t have been this successful at this point. We sold out six weeks before the event and 90
From left to right, JeanAnn Dennis, Maureen Maciariello, JoAnn Berrigan, Suzi Ingmire, Joanne Sole, Jan Perrotta, Gail Veitch
percent of our sales were through PayPal on our site, so had it not been for the website we would not be sold out right now.” Due to popular demand, the Mom Prom will have 164 attendees, 14 over their original cutoff point of 150 women. “We had no idea [it would sell out],” Ingmire said. “We thought 150 would be a good starting number but we had no idea what to expect.” “We probably could have gone to 250 people,” Veitch added. “We had so many people wanting tickets and not realizing they needed to get their tickets so early—usually people aren’t even thinking about buying their tickets for an event that’s six weeks away, so that was surprising to everyone.” Veitch and Ingmire said the Mom Prom will be chock-full of tacky dresses and hairdos, contests, raffles, food, a cash bar and plenty
of music from every genre—they’ll even play music from the 1940s for the women in their 80s and 90s. “We’ll have a mix of all different music for everybody—our DJ has the ability to pull out just about any song you can name,” Veitch said. “We purposely make our dresses look tacky and try to make it as fun as we can—you see all kinds of things. There’s flip flops, bare feet, four-inch heels, crazy jewelry, crazy hairdos—you see a little bit of everything. You get into it and it’s just so much fun. It’s a laugh riot.” Though it’s a ladies only event (“Not that we have anything against men—it’s just a ladies dancing, crazy kind of night!” Ingmire said), there will be life-size cardboard cutouts of male celebrities like Elvis, Patrick Swayze, and even Larry the Cable Guy. In typical prom fashion, a prom queen will be decided on at the event in a three round elimination: walk, dance, and talk. “First, they’ll have to do a walk where they walk around the dance floor so everyone can see them and we’ll weed out some at that point. Then they have to dance to a song the DJ picks out and we’ll weed out a little more in that round and then we’ll end up with three finalists who will have to answer the question of why they
think they deserve to be prom queen,” Veitch explained. “We’ll have a panel of judges that will choose who wins, and the winner gets a tiara, a sash and flowers to wear that night along with a very nice gift basket, and she’ll get a free ticket to next year’s prom and her duties are to crown next year’s Mom Prom winner.” There will be plenty of gift baskets, ranging in price from $400$600 that will be raffled off at the event with the help of the prom’s major sponsors, including Saratoga Hospital, Advantage Press, Myrtle Street OBGYN, and the McGregor Links Country Club. All of the money raised from the raffles will be donated to buying a medical massage chair for the Breast Health Center at Saratoga Hospital in Wilton. “I think most of us probably go there or will go there for mammograms,” Ingmire said. “Breast cancer is something that affects every family nowadays—everybody knows somebody or has someone in their family or friends who have been affected by breast cancer, so we figured we would get a good outpouring of people for this event and we did.” “We decided we would always choose a children’s or women’s recipient, so it all just came together as a perfect opportunity for us to help them,” Veitch added. “It can be very uncomfortable and nerve-wracking to be in that waiting room, especially if you’re waiting for a biopsy or test results. They try to have a waiting room that relaxes you and eases the tension of those uncomfortable experiences, so that’s really important.” The Saratoga Mom Prom will take place at the McGregor Links Country Club Saturday, April 27 from 7–11 p.m. For more information on this year’s event or for updates on next year’s prom, visit www.saratogamomprom.com.
PULSE
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
25
Q&A with Wild Adriatic: On Facial Hair, Live Shows and World Domination by Chelsea DiSchiano Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — I recently got a chance to sit down with the hilariously rambunctious members of local 518 favorite, Wild Adriatic. The Queensbury natives are known for their 60s and 70s sound (the vibe is completed with the most ambitious afro I’ve ever seen on a 23-year-old bass guitarist), energetic and boisterous live shows and seem to be one of the area’s most promising local acts. The band includes vocal leader and guitarist Travis Gray (who has an awesome falsetto and guitar skills), drummer Mateo Vosganian (characterized by his impressively long beard), and bass guitarist Rich Derbyshire (as earlier mentioned, the bassist with a larger-than-life afro). The band is currently keeping busy recording demos and writing songs for their new album, which they hope to release by early next year, and playing shows often—this weekend they’ll be one of the highlights at the much-awaited MOVE Music Festival in Albany. Saratoga TODAY: How did you guys meet and form Wild Adriatic? Travis: Mateo and I grew up in same neighborhood—we played in a band when I was 14 and he was 16, and then he went off to college and we both played in other bands. Rich went to Queensbury High School with us—he’s the baby of the band, and we’ve known him for a long time but didn’t play with him until about a year and a half ago. Then I ended up coming back around to play with Mateo again in 2011 and found Rich in August of 2011, so it all just came together randomly. Mateo: Our first real push was our Lock and Key EP. When we put The Lion EP out, we were figuring out what the hell was going on and how to make music, and then the second EP was like, ‘Alright, we might be alright,’ and now we’re going to make a record that I think is going to be okay. Hopefully we make one that’s good one day—I think we’ll get there [laughs]. ST: Your band gives out a definite 60s/70s vibe. What draws you to that type of sound? Travis: For one, I think it’s just really good. We are big fans of it, so we like to play stuff that’s reminiscent of it.
Left to right: Rich Derbyshire, Travis Gray, and Mateo Vosganian. Photo courtesy of Ashley Nizolek.
Mateo: I like its simplicity, and I like the fact that music and technique have come a long way since then. I listen to drummers that played back then and they played really cool, really thoughtful, all-aboutthe-song-itself parts, and they’re just there to serve the song and the music—but they play with this technique that’s genuine and not quite refined. So now I get to play that kind of music, but with a refined technique. We get to play music we love, but we have a different take on it because we play with updated styles. ST: Your live shows are super energetic. How do you guys prepare to keep up onstage? Travis: I work out a lot—got to keep that endurance up. I do a lot of bike riding so I don’t run out of breath when I sing [laughs]. Mateo: I’m a drum teacher and I play an open mic every week, and we practice two to three
times a week and play shows two to three times a week, so I’m playing all the time—I really just love to play drums. Rich: When I practice I’m kind of jumping around anyway— at home I’m always jumping around. It’s weird—if you ever come to my house and I’m practicing, it’s going to be weird [laughs]. Mateo: A big thing for us is video, too. We will go for a long stretch of shows where we videotape every show and then watch it and say, ‘Oh, we suck,’ or we’ll notice, ‘Oh, that was really cool and kind of accidental,’ and we’ll try to repeat that and just add it in to our next show. Rich goes nuts—he joined the band and just goes crazy. He’s so reserved, but he gets up on stage and goes nuts. ST: Mateo, you have a massive beard. Rich, you have a massive
‘fro. You guys want to tell me more about how that happened? Rich: This ‘fro started as a joke, actually. We filmed our music video for our song “Letter” and the director wanted me to grow an afro. It was barely there, and we filmed it and I figured I’d leave it for the CD release which was around the corner, and then thought I’d cut it after. But then I was like ‘Well, I’ve had it this long, so I might as well keep it.’ I didn’t know I could do this and now it’s here and I’m just working with it. Mateo: The same exact thing happened with me. I was like, ‘My face is getting really dirty, but I’m not doing anything or need to get a haircut anytime soon,’ so I just let it happen. And then I went on tour, and it was three years before I cut my hair or even touched my beard with a pair of scissors. And by the way, No Shave November is bullcrap—it’s No Shave Life, everyone knows that. The best charity you can have is a beard on your face. ST: What is your songwriting process like? Travis: I do the writing, but we do a little collaboration—somebody will usually throw out an idea, like Mateo threw out some lines for Lock and Key. Mateo: If something isn’t working
out, we’ll all throw out things. In the past, we haven’t scrutinized lyrics as much, but sometimes we get to the point where we’re recording a song and we’ll be like, what have you even been saying that whole song? Sometimes I’ll have words in my head that Travis wasn’t even singing. Travis: Yeah, sometimes what people thought I was saying is better than what I was actually saying. Sometimes it’s just better. ST: Where do you see yourselves headed as a band? Mateo: Two words: world domination. I would love to just make a living off of this band—I’m talking a working-at-a-crappyretail-job, 40-hours-a-week kind of living. I want just enough. Rich: If I could not have to work at my retail job anymore, I would be so pumped. This is just so much more fun—I don’t want to stand and be miserable on a sales floor eight hours a day. Mateo: Being miserable in a van on tour would be better than that! Right now this is a side thing, but our goal is world domination, and the side thing to Wild Adriatic is more Wild Adriatic, and then we try to work whenever we can and have personal relationships. But instead we mostly just rock and roll.
PULSE
26
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Saratoga Central Catholic Presents Annie, Jr. Ryan Montbleau Band Plays Putnam Den with Richard James & The Name Changers
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The popular heroine takes center stage in the longtime, ever-popular musical, Annie Jr. The familiar characters from Annie are back, including Miss Hannigan, Oliver Warbucks, Grace Farrell and the loveable mutt Sandy. Join us in a plot sure to please the masses. The play is directed and choreographed by Saratoga Central Catholic’s Pat Douglass, and the actors of the evening are none other than the middle school’s students. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the door. Adults are $7, Students and seniors at $5, kids under 5 are free, and all
proceeds benefit the Saratoga Central Catholic Performing Arts Program. Saratoga Central Catholic School is a Catholic, co-educational, diocesan school located in Saratoga Springs, New York, serving students in grades six through 12. They strive to provide the highest quality education while encouraging students to serve and respect others, think critically, and be compassionate, responsible, and confident citizens who are capable of adapting in an interdependent world. As schools around our nation are canceling their performing arts programs due to
financial hardships, Saratoga Central Catholic High School’s program is growing. They believe that a strong program, especially the triumph of being on stage and perfecting a script, is a strong reassurance of self worth and achievement for our students. The influence of theater prepares their students to face the numerous obstacles of life’s journey. The play will take place April 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. and April 28 at 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Parish Center, located at 64 Hamilton Street in Saratoga Springs. For more details, call (518) 587-7070.
Ryan Montbleau Band. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The popular Boston-based blues/roots rock act the Ryan Montbleau Band returns to Putnam Den on Friday, April 26 in front of what will surely be one of the larger crowds on that downtown Saratoga venue’s spring calendar. Another Bostonbased group, Richard James & The Name Changers, open the 18+ show at 9 p.m. $15 tickets are on sale at www.PutnamDen.com, and the price goes up to $17 on the day of the show. If recent history is any indication, Friday’s upcoming Ryan Montbleau Band show at Putnam Den will draw one of the larger crowds on that popular live music club’s spring concert calendar. It will also offer some fresh New Orleansinspired surprises to those attending. From the 2004 genesis of its first public performance at the former Club Caroline locally, the Boston-based blues/roots rockers have since grown a huge, loyal fan base nationally (including the US Virgin Islands), performed at many of the country’s top festivals and even opened amphitheater shows for Dave Matthews.
Expect a full house when the band returns to their favored venue as part of their current national tour on Friday, hitting the stage after a 9 p.m. start by Richard James & The Name Changers. Songs for Montbleau typically need to simmer. In his 10-year career, this gifted singer and his limber band have built their catalog the old-fashioned way: by introducing new songs to their live set, then bending and shaping them over dozens of performances before committing a definitive version to the hard drive. At 35, he’s a late-bloomer who’s right on time. Montbleau didn’t start singing and playing guitar in earnest until he was in college. Later, working at the House of Blues in Boston, he began playing solo sets there as a warmup act. His band came together naturally, over time, planting strong roots in coffee shops, folk venues and rock clubs before converting audiences on an outdoor festival circuit that now stretches across the country. Through word of mouth and repeat visits, the band has built a devoted following from the Northeast to Chicago, Seattle and Austin.
PULSE
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
week of 4/26-5/2 friday, 4/26:
saturday, 4/27:
Marcus Benoit Band, 9 pm
Kings English, 10:30 pm
Mike LaPoint, 9 pm
On Your Mark, 9 pm
The Schmooze, 9 pm
Forthlin Road, 9 pm
Al Parrish and Dave Gunning, 8 pm
Out of the Box, 6:30 pm
Beach Party Express, 9 pm
Aaron Carter w/Astro Safari USA, 9 pm
Radio Junkies, 8:30 pm
Mikki Bakken, 8 pm
Headwall, 5:30 pm Static, 10:30 pm
Karaoke Contest Finals, 10 pm
@ 9 Maple Avenue - 583.2582 @ Bailey’s - 583.6060
@ Bentley’s - 899.4300
@ Caffè Lena - 583.0022 @ Gaffney’s - 583.7359
@ Irish Times - 583.0003
@ JP Bruno’s - 745.1180
Marcus Duo, 9 pm
@ JP Bruno’s - 745.1180 @ The Mill - 899.5253
@ The Parting Glass - 583.1916
@ Primelive Ultra Lounge - 583.4563 @ Putnam Den - 584.8066 @ Ravenswood - 371.8771
@ The Rusty Nail - 371.9875
One More Time (Daft Punk Tribute), 7 pm @ Upstate Concert Hall - 371-0012
@ The Mill - 899.5253
The Shames, 9 pm
sunday, 4/28:
Al Santoro Trio, 6:30 pm
Wildwoodstock 2013, 12 pm
Ryan Montbleau Band, 9 pm
Opeth & Steven Wilson, 6:30 pm
@ The Parting Glass - 583.1916
@ Primelive Ultra Lounge - 583.4563 @ Putnam Den - 584.8066
Rusty Edge, 8 pm @ Ravenswood - 371.8771
Cryin’ Out Loud, 8 pm @ Vapor - 792.8282
@ The Parting Glass - 583.1916
@ Upstate Concert Hall - 371-0012
monday, 4/29: R5, 6 pm
@ Upstate Concert Hall - 371-0012
saturday, 4/27: thursday, 5/2: Jon LeRoy Trio, 9 pm
Steve Candlen, 8 pm
@ 9 Maple Avenue - 583.2582
@ Irish Times - 583.0003
Ubuntu, 9 pm
Jeff Walton, 6 pm
@ Bailey’s - 583.6060
Live Entertainment, 9 pm
@ The Horseshoe Inn - 587.4909
@ Bentley’s - 899.4300
open mic nights:
Jeannie Laverty, 8 pm
Sun. Open Mic, 7 pm
@ Caffè Lena - 583.0022
Nouveau Jazz Beat, 10 pm @ Circus Café - 583.1106
Rick Bolton, Sherri Nolan, Arlin Greene, 9 pm @ Gaffney’s - 583.7359
Gravity, 9:30 pm @ Irish Times - 583.0003
@ Bailey’s - 583.6060
Tue. w/Rick Bolton, 8 pm @ Gaffney’s - 587.7359
Wed. Open Mic, 8 pm @ Putnam Den - 584.8066
Thur. Open Mic, 7 pm @ Caffè Lena - 583.0022
Thur. Open Mic, 10 pm @ Circus Café - 583.1106
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SPORTS
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Community Sports Bulletin Bolen, Kossor, Martin Capture Bronzes at Pan Ams SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA — Brad Bolen, 24, Nick Kossor, 27, and Hannah Martin, 24, from the Glenville based Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) all won bronze medals Pan Am Judo Championships in Costa Rica, April 19–20. Martin and Kossor are Burnt Hills High School graduates. Martin started the JMJC off the first day, April 19, by taking a bronze medal at 63kg in her first Pan Am Championship appearance. She posted a 3-1 record on the day. Martin dropped her first bout to Diana Velasco (Columbia) then strung three straight wins together beating Yennifer Dominguez (Guatemala), Andrea Gutierrez (Mexico) then Wisneybi Machado (Venezuela) in the bronze medal match. This result moves Martin up nine spots from No. 24 to a career high No. 15 on the world ranking list, which currently qualifies her for the 2013 World Judo Masters in Tyumen, Russia May 24–25. The World Masters invites only the top 16 athletes in each weight class. Martin would be notified of an official invite following the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary next weekend. If Martin were to qualify, she will be the first athlete from the JMJC to do so.
Hannah Martin and Coach, Jason Morris. Photo provided
Springettes Return From Championships
The Family Who Fights Together
Photo courtesy of Eric Jenks
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Alliance Saratoga Instructor Jesse Bruchac, along with his father, Joseph and brother, James, took gold medals in their divisions during the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s New York International Open at Nat Holman Gymnasium in New York City, Saturday, April 20. For 70-year-old patriarch Joseph Bruchac, this was his first grappling tournament since his years as a Cornell wrestler in the 1960s. There were over 800 competitors at the Open this year and Alliance Saratoga members took home four medals, including a bronze by blue belt Eric Jenks.
Skidmore’s Mendoza Named Tennis Performer of Week
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Regional YMCA Springettes attended the New York State YMCA Gymnastics Championships on April 20 and 21 in Cortland. There were nine YMCA teams present from all across New York State and over 250 competitors total. In the team competition, the Springettes placed second at level three, first at level four, first at level five, first at level six, first at level seven, first at level eight, third at excel gold, and second at excel platinum. Among the successful individual results was Hallie Glannon (level nine), who placed first on the vault, bars, beam, floor and all-around.
Send your sports stories or briefs to Brian Cremo, Sports Editor at brian@saratoga publishing.com
Puzzle solutions from pg. 22
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore’s Nataly Mendoza went 4-0 at No. 1 singles and doubles during a same-day double header against Rochester and Ithaca, earning the Liberty League Performer of the Week award, April 22. The senior, and San Francisco native, defeated two regionally ranked opponents in singles, both in the third set tie breaker. She beat Frances Tseng of Rochester 5-7, 6-4, (10-2) and Cristina Nunez of Ithaca 7-6 (7-5), 0-6, 10-8. She teamed up with Lee Ford for two decisive wins in doubles beating Tseng/Genbauffe of Rochester, 8-4, and Nunez/Salladay, 8-1.
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
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Information you can understand and apply to play better golf everyday.
Scotty Cameron Is Smarter Than You
by Fred Fruisen for Saratoga TODAY
Here’s a golfing tale with which we’re all familiar. If it doesn’t describe you, it surely describes one of your golfing buddies.
So, you’ve just bought a new Scotty Cameron because you can’t make a four-foot putt to save your life. It sure is pretty. Not only that, it’s a status symbol. It’s proof that not only are you a serious golfer, but one of taste as well. You can’t wait to show the guys because they’re going to want one too. They’ll envy you. Status, baby! That’s what it’s all about. You go to the course and one by one each of your friends sees, inspects and takes a few whacks with your new baby. Everyone is drooling over her and telling you how good she feels. The attention is intoxicating. You’re a star. So you now go to play your round and, as you approach each green, everyone in your group has their eyes squarely on you—because now you’ll make everything. Right? As the round goes on and the short ones fail to drop, you can sense your friends’ disappointment because it’s the same old story. You’re still one of them. You have been exposed. Your buddies know there is no magic cure in that stick. You use your same tired excuses,
“I’ve just got to get used to it,” and, “It’s a little different than my other Scotty.” Then one of your friends asks, “What are you going to do with your old putter? Can I buy it from you?” You respond, “Which one? I have a garage full of them.” Boom. The light bulb finally goes off. You realize that your putting is not getting any better. You’ve struggled with the same problem for as long as you can remember. You’re not so much a golfer now as you are a “club collector.” You own enough putters to start a putt-putt course. You cry out in desperation, “Why don’t I ever get better?” ~ The End ~
you.
I hate to break it to you, but it’s
When I give a putting lesson, the very first thing I look at is whether the putter is soled properly. Sounds basic, but rarely do I see the putter sitting on the green the way it was designed to sit. Scotty Cameron and other top club designers have dedicated their working lives trying to make putting easier for all golfers, both amateur and pro. However, not one of them I know of has ever designed a putter that wasn’t intended to be soled squarely on the ground. Yet, on the course I see more toes in the air then you’d see at a morgue. So then the question I ask is, “Why do you do that?” If you don’t sole the club properly, you are in essence voiding the warranty with any putter. Club designers like Scotty Cameron are craftsmen. If he saw you using his
creation incorrectly, he’d be sad. Don’t undo his genius. There are many reasons golfers miss putts, but if you don›t set the club properly on the ground before it ever starts in motion, you›re fighting a losing battle — emphasis on losing. When the toe is in the air, many things are going wrong. For one thing, you’re probably standing too far from the ball, which means the ball isn’t directly under your eyes as almost every teacher in the world encourages. If you are too far from the ball and your toe is in the air, you will pull many putts. When you get tired of pulling putts, your hands will say, “This stinks. I don’t want to do that.”
Then you will begin to push putts. After your confidence has completely eroded away, you will find yourself standing over three and four footers wondering things like, “Who am I? Where am I?” Then, it’s off to Dick’s Sporting Goods! You think, “Maybe I can buy my way out of this funk.” Fact of the matter is, all of your putters work. The problem is that most golfers adjust the putter to their own faulty set-up. So, here’s the lesson: Sole the putter flat on the ground, then adjust your stance and hands so that the putter stays soled properly. It’s pretty easy. Just keep inching in a little closer to the ball until the putter head is perfectly flat. Some of you will feel too close to the ball, but you’re not. If you feel too close, it’s only because you were too far
away to begin with. In the proper position, you’ll use your hands less, your big muscles more, and you’ll hole tons more putts. All golfers need to come to terms with the fact that they can’t buy their way out of bad mechanics. Do me a favor. Next time you get the urge to blame your putting woes on your current putter, call me. I’ll give you a putting lesson that will make you fall in love all over again with your trusted friend. It’ll be cheaper, too. We’ll talk a lot more about putting soon. Fred Fruisen is the Coach of Golf. He is a PGA Professional and Head Coach at Skidmore College. For more lessons go to his website, coachofgolf.com. For personal instruction call (518) 565-7350.
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SPORTS
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
Under the Microscope—The Life of Coaching by Damian Fantauzzi for Saratoga TODAY The watchful and critical eye of coaching is more invasive in today’s world of athletics because of scrutiny by the media and the public. In this modern era, there is such a high degree of parental involvement in youth sports that it can lead to a positive or negative impact on coaching.
Last week, I wrote about the Mike Rice situation, the former head basketball coach at Rutgers University. He was abusive to his players, which was brought to the forefront by a whistleblower, so to speak, who had posted a YouTube video of his conduct. There is no excuse for the way he treated his players. He was dead wrong with his practice of mistreatment and disrespect toward them—it was bullying. I fear this will be an ongoing scenario throughout the world of sports for years to come. People today are more aware of their rights and how the bullying techniques practiced by employers, coaches, teammates and peer pressure groups are detrimental and should be addressed. This is a change from years ago. A new environment in amateur sports, changed from the 1970s and before, is one of our country’s oldest organizations, the American Amateur Union (AAU). It has trickled eastward from the Midwest in the last couple of decades. Presently, the AAU organization is so big that it’s possibly crumbling the wall of the eliteness of scholastic sports. Here’s the new picture of off-season sports: what used to be an environment
of programs designed by local coaches in sports, like basketball, AAU has usurped the numbers of students ready for team play. It has moved in to take the numbers. This is not a criticism of the program. It’s a picture of how scholastic sports have changed because of AAU. There are many pros and cons relating to AAU programs, especially for the players, and the effect it has had on scholastic coaches. The AAU is a productive organization that can benefit the players. The athletes get to play a lot, they’re not idle, and the more they compete the better they might become. Some of the drawbacks for the players can mainly be in the cost. Some players might not get to play because they can’t afford to. There are some cases, and more than not, when there are sponsors for the athletes and teams that may have financial limitations, AAU is a scenario of “pay to play.” This can become a double-edged sword. The good thing is that the lesser talented kids can get on a team that suits their skills and that gets them playing time. A negative outcome may result when it comes to trying out for the scholastic team.
There can be a feeling of entitlement that was created via AAU play, and that could develop into a negative scenario for those who thought that they just might be better than they really are. This can create the delusion of stardom and that’s where the idea of being entitled can sprout. The parent of a child who experienced success on that AAU team, might have the impression that their child is being treated unfairly by the scholastic coach. This becomes a wedge between the scholastic coach, the player and his or her family, which can get really ugly. My observation comes from both sides, especially from a scholastic level of coaching basketball for almost four decades and a brief time as an AAU coach. With some elite AAU teams, it’s like coaching an all-star team, because there could be a makeup of many different exceptional athletes who come from various schools. So the parents and athletes who are involved in AAU can become a critic of the school coach and problems can develop about playing time or position on the team. On occasion, the microscope comes out and the school coach becomes second guessed on what is going on with a family’s player. Parents are their child’s best cheerleader and support but often forget the coach knows his or her sport in depth. Often, when misunderstanding ensues, there is complaining to a school administrator or the athletic director. There are cases of disrespectful rhetoric and possibly prejudicial accusations that can sometimes be blown out of proportion. A coach can become a victim of slander or highly scrutinized for his or her strategical philosophy, actions and words. I have seen, in some instances, where a coach’s family has become the target of critics. Being a coach now is a more difficult job in the world of teaching children because of these added pressures. If one isn’t prepared for this, it can become a coaching nightmare.
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Week of April 26 – May 2, 2013
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Addison Headed to SUNY Search for Equine Medical Director Begins Adirondack Hall of Fame QUEENSBURY — Robert “Bob” Addison, SUNY Adirondack’s first Director of Athletics, will be inducted as the charter member of the SUNY Adirondack Athletic Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 7, during the college’s annual Sports Recognition Night. The event will be held at 6 p.m. in the Scoville Learning Center auditorium and is free and open to the public. As a charter member of the Hall of Fame, Bob will be honored with a plaque, which will be displayed in the lobby of the SUNY Adirondack gymnasium. Five members of the first Hall of Fame class will be inducted during Homecoming Weekend on October 12. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to honor our deserving athletes, coaches and contributors,” SUNY Adirondack athletic director John Quattrocchi said. “Bob is the man who started it all.” A native of Akron, Ohio, Addison joined the SUNY Adirondack (then Adirondack Community College) faculty in 1962. He served as professor of physical education and athletic director for 38 years until his retirement in 1990. Addison developed the college’s physical education programs, including the first co-ed programs, and introduced intramural sports. He coached basketball, cross-country, softball and helped design the college’s athletic facilities on the new Bay Road campus, which opened in 1967. He also taught classes in volleyball and badminton and the New York State coaching certification class. His first two hires as athletic director were Bob Harris, who coached tennis, gymnastics and
Robery Addison will be inducted as a charter member of the SUNY Adirondcak Athletic Hall of Fame, on May 7.
skiing, and Ben Davis, who coached men’s basketball. He says his most memorable athlete he ever had was Doug Luke, who later went on to coach the Cambridge High School football team to six trips to the state finals in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, including a Class C state title in 1999. Addison is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and is most proud of his World War II service as a member of the 1st Battalion Fifth Marines, an elite amphibious light infantry unit known as Edson’s Raiders. The unit saw action in the Battle of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands, in which 300 of the unit’s 2,400 members were killed in action. Bob continues to visit high school history classes around the area to talk about his war experiences as part of the Veterans Program. For more information on this event, please call Director of Athletics John Quattrocchi at (518) 743-2269.
SCHENECTADY — The New York State Gaming Commission and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine announced the framework and formal search for a New York State Equine Medical Director, April 18, to oversee the health and safety of horses at all New York State Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks. The Equine Medical Director position will be established cooperatively between the Gaming Commission and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The model of joint oversight by New York State and Cornell combines Cornell’s commitment to advancing the health and well-being of animals and people with the efficient and inclusive regulatory powers of the Gaming Commission. The creation of the position is a key recommendation of the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, which was formed at the request of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo last year in the wake of 21 equine fatalities during Aqueduct’s 2011-12 Winter Meet. “New York State has moved quickly to adopt the recommendations of the Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, including the hiring of an Equine Medical Director,” David Skorton, President of Cornell
University and Chairman of the NYRA Reorganization Board, said. “Cornell is proud to be a part of the effort to usher in a new, improved era of stewardship. In addition, NYRA stands ready to assist in the search and implementation of this important position in any way needed.” The New York State Equine Medical Director will be responsible for all aspects of equine health, safety, and welfare at New York racetracks and will directly advise the Gaming Commission members and staff regarding all related issues, including: equine
medication policies, the safety and condition of racetrack facilities and surfaces, supervision of all on-track regulatory veterinarians and the New York State Equine Drug Testing Program laboratory, including equine testing procedures, compliance with all regulatory veterinary protocols, and analysis of incidents and the necropsy program. A significant component of the position will involve ongoing education regarding research findings relevant to enhancing equine health and safety, and communication of best practices to all segments of the racing community and the public.