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Volume 7 • Issue 30 saratogatodaynewspaper.com

Horses and Heroes

by Daniel Schechtman Saratoga TODAY

photo by MarkBolles.com • Saratoga TODAY

Rebecca Morrison makes her connection at Saratoga War Horse.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Ian Morrison was looking for help. An active member of the armed forces, an Army Captain who flew over 70 missions as an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot in Iraq and a graduate of West Point Academy, it was clear to both Ian and his wife, Rebecca, that something was wrong when he returned home.

“It was like Ian couldn’t remember who he was,” said Rebecca, a 25-year-old native of Grand Prairie,

Texas, with an educational background in psychology. “He wasn’t there.”

Ian wasn’t sleeping. For months he looked for help, and with the support of his wife, he visited an R&R clinic, spoke with a flight surgeon, began seeing a therapist and regularly spoke with Rebecca about his difficulties re-assimilating into civilian life.

Still, “It was so hard for him to get help,” said Rebecca. “There are so many things he tried to do. Two days after Christmas he went back

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Conflict between the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority (SSHA) Board of Commissioners and city council has reached new heights with the board continuing to ignore council requests for information.

The back and forth started when city commissioner of finance, Michele Madigan, proposed a

Olympics Begin pg 5 Tourism Taxes pg 8 Hats Off pg 9

See Veterans page 6

RSVP

Housing ABOVE Authority?

by Christina James Saratoga TODAY

Inside TODAY...

unanimously approved communication and compliance plan for the SSHA at the May 15 city council meeting. The plan outlined the board’s obligation to present city

council with detailed information regarding SSHA employee salary and compensation for the council’s approval.

The housing authority board

“I believe this board feels that they’re above the city and that the city has nothing to do with it. We don’t feel the same.”

John Franck Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts

responded to the council’s request in the form of an 11-page letter with a two-page addendum. Despite the length of the response, city council wasn’t exactly satisfied with its contents.

“I would have preferred a response in which they were more open to coming forward with the salaries,” commented Madigan. “I believe it’s been well-established by public housing law 32 that local

pgs 10-11 Historic Homes pg 12 Business pg 13 Winner’s Circle pgs 19-23 Sports

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Julio A. Romero, aka “Black,” 30, of 14 Eastview Dr., #3, Watervliet, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class-C felony. Romero was arrested July 19, 2011, in Halfmoon and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing September 20.

Daniel J. Green Jr., 32, of 22 Stone Rd., Clifton Park, pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree attempted assault, a class-E felony.

Green was arrested May 15 in Halfmoon and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing September 20.

John S. Bouchard, 38, of 60 Harrison Ave., Apt. 8, Hudson Falls, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated, a class-E felony.

Bouchard was arrested March 16 in Wilton and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing September 20.

Timothy E. Savage, 29, of 12 Second St., Waterford, pleaded

guilty to a charge of first-degree criminal nuisance, a class-E felony.

Savage was arrested May 21 in Waterford and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing September 21.

convicted August 8, 2005, of firstdegree sexual abuse, a class-D felony, for which he had been sentenced to six months in Saratoga County Jail and 10 years of probation.

Yancy D. Cook, 31, of 352 Malta Ave., Ballston Spa, was convicted on two counts of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle, a class-E felony.

Cook was arrested May 3, 2011, in Malta and has been sentenced to four months in Saratoga County Jail on each count, concurrent, and mandatory use of an ignition interlock device for three years as a condition of discharge.

James G. Jones, 33, of 341 Hamilton St., Apt. B, Albany, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class-C felony.

Jones was arrested February 24, 2011, in Saratoga Springs and has been sentenced to three and a half years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision.

Eric J. Welch, 38, of 149 County Rte. 75, Mechanicville, was resentenced July 19 by Judge Jerry J. Scarano to two years in New York State Prison with credit for time served and three years of postrelease supervision, probation terminated, after admitting to a violation of probation. Welch was originally

Jackie L. Clark, 44, of Kathy’s Cottages, Chalet E, Lake George, pleaded guilty to a charge of fourthdegree grand larceny, a class-E felony. Clark was arrested March 15 in Wilton for incidents that occurred from February 14 – February 15 and has been sentenced to six months in Saratoga County Jail and five years of probation, concurrent with Warren County.

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Michael J. Barone, 41, of 900 Rock City Rd., Milton, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree attempted criminal possession of stolen property, a class-E felony.

Barone was arrested November 1 in Milton for an incident that occurred October 4 and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing October 2.

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Rebecca K. Breaux, 39, of 34 Waterbury St., Saratoga Springs, pleaded guilty to a charge of thirddegree criminal mischief, a class-E felony. Breaux was arrested May 12 in Saratoga Springs and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing September 18.

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WEEK IN REVIEW Tempered By Memory Sculpture Arrives at High Rock Park

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SARATOGA SPRINGS – The long road for the massive, twisted steel structure pulled from the wreckage of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center came to its final resting place July 24, as the Tempered by Memorial sculpture was raised and placed in downtown’s High Rock Park. The steel from beams supporting the Twin Towers was obtained through the New York City Port Authority specifically for the installation.

Reaching 24-feet-high and weighing 28,000 pounds, the structure was assembled in Gansevoort over a year ago, when a mild controversy bloomed over where it should be placed. The decision was eventually made to place the sculpture in High Rock Park, when the original location in front of City Center on Broadway was determined to be too small. Mayor Scott Johnson proposed a spot in front of the Visitors’ Center on Broadway, before city residents came out against that idea and formed a group to find a more feasible location.

The site is still being improved, as more accent pieces and paths will be created before an official dedication ceremony in September.

Man Injured in Fall at SPAC SARATOGA SPRINGS – As concertgoers filed out of Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) following a performance by Nickelback, a 22-year-old man was injured when he fell down a 40-foot embankment near the venue’s parking lot.

A SPAC security guard witnessed Kenneth Beaudette, of Tupper Lake, outside the gate and shined a flashlight in his direction, prompting Beaudette to take off on foot. That’s when he tripped over the lip of a gorge and tumbled down the hill towards the parking lot along Route 50. The man was pulled from the gorge by a team of emergency workers and was transported to Albany Medical Center. Beaudette was released July 25 after staying for overnight observation.

Early reports claimed a man was “seriously injured,” but a SPAC representative said Beaudette’s injuries were limited to “multiple contusions and abrasions.” The incident occurred during Nickelback’s performance, and it’s unclear whether Beaudette was a ticket holder or was attempting to sneak into the concert.

This is the second report this month of injuries in the SPAC parking lot, as earlier this month during the jam band Phish’s three-night stay, a nude woman reportedly “under the influence of something” was taken to the hospital after she fell from a 25-foot light pole and suffered multiple broken bones.

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012 Man Charged with Assaulting 3-month-old SOUTH GLENS FALLS – A 23year-old man has been charged with felony assault after allegedly breaking a 3-month-old boy’s collarbones.

Christopher M. Fosmer, of South Glens Falls, was left in charge of a friend’s son the evening of July 18 when the alleged assault occurred.

The child was brought to Glens Falls Hospital where medical workers discovered the two fractured clavicles. The hospital staff would then file a report with the New York State Child Abuse Hotline.

Fosmer is charged with seconddegree assault, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. The child has been placed into temporary custody with the state’s Division of Social Services.

Bail has been set at $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond.

Woman Arrested For Allegedly Bilking Youth Soccer Club SARATOGA SPRINGS – A Gansevoort woman was arrested July 23 after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from the Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club (SWSC) while serving on its board of directors. According to the New York State Police, Melody Holiday, 52, was questioned about the thefts before being placed under arrest.

She was charged with two counts of second-degree possession of a

TODAY

forged instrument and third-degree grand larceny, both felony charges.

Authorities added that SWSC president Robert Turner reported a check for $4,350 missing May 8.

Turner says the club’s new treasurer, David Eddy, noticed that their reimbursement check from Capital District Youth Soccer Club (CDYSC) had not been deposited into their account.

Holiday had been serving as the club’s registrar, and when asked about the check she claimed not to have received it. Turner and Eddy contacted CDYSC, which reported back that the check had been altered to be deposited in an account labeled “Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club Registrar,” which was not controlled by the club.

Police say they have video footage of Holiday accessing that account, which was opened at a bank the club does not have an account with.

SWSC sent an email to their around 850 members informing them of Holiday’s arrest, which stated none of their programs would be affected, and that the club is still in a “sound financial position.”

Holiday is still being investigated and could face more charges down the line or increased charges stemming from her initial arrest. She was arraigned in Wilton Town Court and released. Holiday is expected to appear in Saratoga Springs City Court as well, for one crime allegedly committed within city limits.

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

EDITORIAL

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Olympic Moments: Let the Games Begin “The Olympics remain the most compelling search for excellence that exists in sport, and maybe in life itself.”

Dawn Fraser Australian swimmer and seven-time Olympic gold medalist

Chad Beatty Publisher

It is that time again, where champions are made and dreams are dashed in the blink of an eye.

Yes, I am talking about the 2012 Olympic Games which run from July 27 – August 12.

The games originated in Greece back in 776 B.C. when city-states gathered to honor Zeus, and the competition for the best athletes began. Today, athletes from over 200 countries gather to once again do battle, but now they fight to honor their country and the indomitable human spirit.

There is just something about the Olympic Games that brings out my raw emotions and stirs a primal element inside me.

Whether the Americans win or lose, I feel like I am there winning or losing with them.

Obviously, I have my favorite sports to watch (wrestling, judo, gymnastics, swimming) but all of the competitions keep me on the edge of my seat.

These athletes are the best physical beings the human race has to offer; they are the best of the best. Most of them have trained since childhood, sacrificing the kind of simple pleasures that most of us take for granted.

Hundreds and thousands of hours in the gym are par for the course.

Injuries that would sideline most of us are nothing but a training problem to them.

I am not sure why I am so stirred by the games, perhaps it is

my own competitive nature.

Perhaps it is because I understand how much they sacrifice. The thought of humans pushing their bodies beyond what others say is physically possible gives me chills.

When gymnast Kerri Strug stuck her landing in 1996 despite a severe ankle injury, I, along with the rest of the world, cried tears of joy. When swimmer Michael Phelps won 16 Olympic medals in 2006, I sat there in amazement. When I watch videos of wrestler Dan Gable’s matches in 1972, where he won the gold without surrendering a single point to anyone on the planet, I wonder what inside him allowed him to push so hard. Gable trained eight hours-a-day, seven-

“I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.”

Mia Hamm American soccer player and two-time Olympic gold medalist

days-a-week to prepare!

Of course, who could forget the “Miracle on Ice” from the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, which Sports Illustrated named the “Top Sports Moment of the 20th Century.” If you aren’t familiar with it, the underdog American team made up of amateur and collegiate players defeated the heavily-favored and mighty Soviet team, who had won nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament since

1954. It was truly AMAZING! What sets these athletes apart from the rest of us? The mind quits long before the body, so how do they push their minds so far? I have no idea how they do it, but I know that I will continue to watch them, cheer for them, and cry for (and with) them for the rest of my life.

If you are reading this editorial on July 27, then you still have the opportunity to capture the Opening Ceremonies taking place in London. For those of you who witnessed the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, you know that London has a tough act to follow.

The opening ceremonies were absolutely stunning. With a popu-

lation of over 1.3 billion people, China set a new bar and put on a show that will be forever burned in Olympic memories. I hope you enjoy this year’s Olympic Games and add some of your own favorite memories that you can share with your children and grandchildren in the future.

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Veterans Find Hope Through War Horse continued from Page 1 to in-processing. They checked his teeth, took his blood pressure, asked him if he was going to kill himself and sent him on his way. He sat the entire day in a waiting room to do that. The week before he died he started seeing a therapist and I asked him how it went. He said they just gave him a quick anti-anxiety pill.”

On March 21, 2012, after months of sleepless nights and little relief, Rebecca asked her husband to call the Pentagon’s 24-hour crisis hotline. He did, only to be put on hold for over 45 minutes.

The Army Captain took his own life later that day. He was 26 years old.

Ian’s suicide is not an isolated incident. More soldiers have taken their own lives since the start of the Afghan War than have died during combat. A recent study commissioned by the U.S. Army, entitled “Losing the Battle,” notes that from 2005 – 2010, one soldier took his or her own life at a rate of once every 36 hours. This year alone, the numbers have increased by 18 percent, accounting for nearly one soldier lost by suicide each passing day.

While over $2 billion has been spent by the government to turn the tide, the numbers keep climbing.

Soldiers keep dying.

But Rebecca is hoping to change all that.

The Morrison’s story was picked up by authors Mark Thompson and Nancy Gibbs for Time Magazine (“The War on Suicide,” July 23, 2012), a heartbreaking article that sheds light on just how widespread the suicide epidemic has become.

Shortly before its publication, Rebecca traveled to Washington D.C. to speak at a suicide prevention conference in June. There she met Bob Nevins, Saratoga resident, Vietnam War veteran and cofounder of Saratoga War Horse.

Nevins, said Rebecca, left an immediate impression on her.

“I was telling her how courageous she was to come out and really speak on behalf of her husband,” said Nevins. “Nobody is paying attention to this stuff because they don’t like to. The way she put it to the conference, she got their attention. We’re not going to let this continue.”

Nevins’ program, Saratoga War Horse, pairs retired, world-class Thoroughbred race horses with vet-

erans struggling to re-assimilate into civilian life, fostering a unique bond between equine and soldier.

The program takes advantage of a horse’s natural tendencies as a herd animal, one who seeks leadership and approval from those around it, to facilitate a connection between the giant animals and their veteran counterparts. For dozens of veterans who have participated in the program so far, the experience is powerful, often difficult to describe.

As one participant put it, “It’s like a light goes on and you feel a little warmth with that horse. You don’t want to let it go… You are just a little bit of a different person now then you were before you walked in.”

The fledgling program is witnessing astonishing results and overwhelmingly positive feedback – so much so that the V.A. has taken notice. And so has Rebecca.

“Watching videos on the website – [the veterans] remember who they are,” Rebecca observed.

“Even before my husband passed away – if I was having a bad day or something as a kid, I would just go bury my face in my horse’s neck or go for a ride, and it just gets your brain out of whatever it is you’re

Ian Morrison, back at the barn in Texas. stuck on,” said Rebecca.

Rebecca took riding lessons from an early age, and received a scholarship to ride on the equestrian team at Stephen F. Austin University. Ian knew how much she loved horses – “He had a really great way with them,” she said, and together the two bought a horse which Ian named “Ike.” “He always made it a priority for me to have a horse,” said Rebecca.

Her mother, Pam, noted that Ian had even painted a picture of a horse for Rebecca as her wedding present.

“When he was with the horse, he was calmer,” she said.

After Ian’s death, Rebecca left the care of her horses with another trainer while she took time to recover. One month later, on her birthday, she decided to visit the barn.

“It was a really, really bad time,” said Rebecca. “And my horse – that was actually the first time I really rode him, because he was so young and he was getting broken and everything. But he pretty much saved my life,” she said. “It was exhilarating. I felt like I was alive again.”

For Rebecca, there’s something poetic and extremely personal about using horses to help other struggling veterans and their families. After hearing about Saratoga War Horse, she traveled to Saratoga Springs to witness the program

photo provided

first-hand, arriving Tuesday, July 24.

From its founding, Nevins has hoped that Saratoga War Horse would serve as a national model to help reach a greater number of struggling veterans. With luck and a bit of funding, this is exactly what Rebecca hopes to do.

“I would like to take this to Fort Lewis and the Fort Hood base,” she said. “Those are two of the biggest bases, and if we had something nearby – if even we could get it to where we could help 100 people this year – then 100 families don’t have to lose their dad or their husband.”

“I think maybe,” she added, “my lot in life is to help people.”

Saratoga War Horse is a service provider structured to accept private and public funding through The Equus Effect, a 501(c)3 entity.

Contributions to The Equus Effect are used to support a permanent facility for the War Horse program, and to sponsor all veterans who wish to participate and attend. All contributions are 100 percent tax deductible. To support the program, checks designated for “The War Horse Project” can be mailed to: The Equus Effect, 37 Drum Road, Sharon, CT 06069.

To learn more about Saratoga War Horse, visit www.saratogawarhorse.com.

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Housing Authority continued from Page 1 legislative bodies have the approval authority over certain salaries paid to the housing authority.”

According to public housing law, the authority can fill the various positions that it requires, determine the qualifications and duties of each position and, “subject to the approval of the local legislative body,” decide each position’s compensation. “[City council] got an 11-page response not answering any of their questions,” said Commissioner of Accounts John Franck. “I personally am very disappointed but not surprised at all. I believe this board feels that they’re above the city and that the city has nothing to do with it. We don’t feel the same. We feel that the law is pretty clear.”

The board’s chairman, Eric Weller, instead saw the request as an opportunity to defend the SSHA and its board’s decision-making process.

“We were accused of a number of things,” said Weller. “The public

perception was that we hadn’t done what we should have done and it seemed to me that a full answer was required for that. We then faced a series of charges that were brought against us by members of the city council and we felt we should respond to those before we went any further.”

Among those charges were concerns with what was regarded as exorbitant hikes in the salary of SSHA Executive Director Ed Spychalski.

In five years, Spychalski’s pay rate nearly doubled, with him making close to $152,000 in 2011.

“In 1981, it was decided that the pay of the executive director should be comparable to the pay of the principal of the local high school,” said Weller, who was not a party involved with the decision. “That’s what we were supposed to be abiding by. When we hired Ed Spychalski, about six years ago, he pointed out that [rate] was not being met. Over the next few years we

tried to honor that supposed comparability standard and raise his salary to the level of the local high school principal.”

At the time of Spychalski’s appointment as executive director, the principal of Saratoga Springs High School had been employed by the school district for 19 years.

“I think since [Spychalski’s hire] the principal may have retired,” said Weller. “I haven’t seen the latest figures of what his salary was before he retired, but we had every reason to believe it was somewhere up around $130,000. So when we got to that level, because we recognized that Ed was doing a superb job, we decided to recognize that in the form of a one-time 5 percent bonus.”

Since the board stopped presenting compensation and salary information to the city council in 2000, and the city council didn’t actively require them to, the SSHA’s executive director’s pay has been increased multiple times on the

basis of a “supposed” agreed-upon standard.

“His salary, based on any comparability study, is way over what he should be paid, but the board feels that they are in control over it,” said Franck. “They don’t want anybody telling them what his salary can be, and that’s where we’ve been butting heads over the last six, seven months.”

The dispute of authority between city council and the SSHA board has led to an audit by the New York State Comptroller’s Office and a freeze on all SSHA salaries, and Weller said that once the audit’s results come in, they will be ready to more thoroughly respond to city council’s request.

“The audit was ordered because of all these charges and allegations,” said Weller. “And we thought, ‘Well, we don’t think we did anything wrong, but let’s wait for the New York State Comptroller’s Office to run their audit and we will find out. Maybe we did do something inadvertently wrong, but let’s find out.’ Then we will look at the total picture and respond.”

Weller expects results from the audit sometime in August.

In the meantime, the salary freeze has spawned rumors among city officials of a possible SSHA employee unionization, and the board itself is divided on how to communicate with city council.

“I have no knowledge of [unionization talks],” said Weller. “But I am sure that certainly some of the employees are unhappy because of the salary freeze that we enacted.

My understanding is that as soon as we get the audit report from the comptroller’s office and if everything is fine, then we are free to make some adjustments.”

In an attempt at transparency, the newest SSHA board member, Ken Ivins, former city commissioner of finance, called for several resolutions to be added to the board’s July 19 meeting agenda, including a request that Weller make a salary presentation at the next city council meeting. The board voted 4-2 against him.

“They shut him down,” said Franck. “They wouldn’t allow him to bring it to the table. That was very disappointing.” “[City council] has full information on salaries and budgets,” said Weller. “I don’t see an issue there.”

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EDITORIAL

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Saratoga County Short-Sheeted in Bed-Tax Revenue Todd Garafano, President, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau Todd Shimkus, President, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Jan Chesterton, President, NYS Hospitality & Tourism Association

Saratoga County has long been recognized as one of America’s great vacation destinations, especially during the summer track season. Unfortunately, Saratoga County right now is losing out on taxes being collected from hotel room nights sold through various online reservation websites. But fortunately, the local tourism industry and Saratoga County officials are working together to change this and to level the playing field between local hotels and online travel agencies.

The issue came to light when Cindy Hollowood, general manager of the Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs and chairperson of the NYS Hospitality and Tourism Association, returned from a trip to Washington D.C. where members of

NYSHTA, along with their colleagues from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, educated legislators on what has become an issue nationwide. As a result of the information they obtained and subsequent local research, officials in Saratoga County are drafting legislation to force online travel agencies like Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and others to pay their fair share of taxes.

Similar to other destinations around the country and around the world, Saratoga County and the City of Saratoga Springs has a small surcharge on all hotel rooms and other lodging, creating special revenue that helps promote Saratoga as a tourist destination. In this way, tourists visit, pay a modest occupancy tax on their hotel room, and these funds help advertise Saratoga as a world-class travel destination. This vital program has been a booming success for the tourism industry.

Currently, these online travel companies buy rooms from hotel owners at a wholesale rate. The online travel companies mark up the prices of the rooms and re-sell them

to online customers. However, the online companies then remit the occupancy tax based on the wholesale rate, not the actual rate they charge customers. The difference between the wholesale and the retail occupancy tax collected from the consumer is then kept by the online travel agency. Reservations of hotel rooms through online travel agencies continues to grow each year and as a result, the tens of thousands of dollars the county has already lost will continue to grow and multiply if this loophole is not closed and the online travel agencies pay less than local hotels.

The online travel companies, however, are not eager to give up this revenue and have been seeking total amnesty from the taxes they should be paying. Their lobbying arm, the Interactive Travel Services Association, has been in Saratoga County recently, spreading misinformation about this issue. Despite the aggressive pushback by the online travel companies to obtain a tax preference, Saratoga County has demanded that these companies remit taxes based on the retail price,

just as the hotels have always done.

Saratoga County deserves to be paid what is owed to them. This is not a new tax. This is not a tax on local residents and local business owners. The reality is that this law has been in effect for 35 years and all of the funds are reinvested into the community to promote business growth and development within Saratoga County. These and other activities provide residents with

employment opportunities and a number of other tangible benefits.

We support the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the City of Saratoga Springs for their leadership on this issue. We urge local residents and business owners to thank their local and county elected officials for seeking to create a fair and level playing field in the way occupancy taxes are collected from the online travel agencies.

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Saratoga Crowns 2012 Hat Contest Winners Photos courtesty of Adam Coglianese, NYRA SARATOGA SPRINGS – The fashionable festivities at Saratoga Race Course were filled with excitement as the Spa capped off its first weekend of the 144th summer meet with the 21st annual Hat Contest.

The millinery mayhem unfolded on the track apron where more than 150 participants turned out to compete in the contest’s three distinct categories: Uniquely Saratoga, Fashionably Saratoga, and for younger patrons, Kreative Kids.

Following the day’s fourth race, Julie Potter, of Duanesburg, was crowned the winner of the day’s most celebrated category, “Uniquely Saratoga,” which recognizes whimsical and creative hats.

Potter received the grand prize of a $500 betting voucher, a $100 gift card to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa and a silver trophy.

The day’s most popular category, “Fashionably Saratoga,” brought 78

stylish contestants to the competition each donning their most beautiful h a t s .

Following the third race, Ve r o n i c a Martin, of G r e a t Barrington, Mass., was named the day’s most fashionable contestant and awarded Uniquely Saratoga winner: a $100 betting Julie Potter voucher, a $100 gift card to the Gideon Putnam row during the first category of the Resort and Spa and a silver trophy. afternoon, “Kreative Kids,” which Camryn Dunn, of Clearwater, is reserved for ages 18 and under.

Florida, who was in town to visit Dunn received the prize of a $50 her grandparents from Latham, gift card to the Gideon Putnam claimed the title of most stylish Resort and Spa and an oversized youngster for the second year in a Saratoga Race Course chocolate

Kreative Kids winner: Camryn Dunn bar.

The day’s winners were selected by a panel of judges, including Kristi Barlette, social media strategist and host of the Times Union lifestyle blog “On the Edge”; Matt Baumgartner, local restaurateur and

Fashionably Saratoga winner: Veronica Martin host of the blog “Friday Puppy”; Mary Darcy, co-founder and editor of Capital Region website AllOverAlbany.com; as well as Kevin Rush and Randi Tyler, cohosts of the Morning Crew Show on WRVE 99.5 The River.

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Trina Lucas Thunder & Glory On the eve of opening day, Saratoga Automobile Museum celebrated racing of another kind.

Famed NASCAR driver Bobby Allison welcomed 250 supporters to the museum’s Thunder & Glory Gala on Thursday, July 19.

Guests enjoyed vodka and moonshine tastings amidst the current exhibit presented by Chevrolet, Moonshine to Millionaires: NASCAR History, Heroes & Technology. Sue Bouchey and Trish

Hope Happens Fasig-Tipton was the scene of Monday’s fundraiser for the American Cancer Society HopeClub.

Close to 250 guests gathered for “A Night in Tuscany,” chaired by Ann Marie Lizzi, Thomas Gallo III and Joslyn McArdle. This year’s event celebrated the expansion of the Led Duke Family Center of the American Cancer Society and honored Mary Louise “Chick” Led Duke.

Festivities kicked off with cocktails and a Pristine vodka station. To put everyone in a Tuscan state of mind, tenor David Sutton performed a breathtaking opera serenata before Mistress of Ceremonies Yvonne Perry took the stage. For Perry, the evening was personal as she shared her own cancer experience. Now, four years from diagnosis, she expressed her gratitude for family and friends that have helped her through the physical trials and emotional fallout, noting that unfortunately, there are many who don’t have that support. “But the good people at HopeClub work hard to make sure no

Ianniello, who chaired the event with her husband, Tony, were spotted increasing bids on coveted auction items. Packages included bottles from the Richard Childress Winery, gourmet cheesecakes, a Kyle Petty NASCAR jacket, autographed exhibit banners, and, of course, Bobby Allison paraphernalia. Others were holding out for the live auction featuring a NASCAR track experience and fantasy car drives with Jim Taylor and Charlie Montano, chairman of the museum board.

A delightful breeze set the stage for dinner outside, served by Angelo Mazzone and his team. Seen in the buffet line were Senator Neil Breslin, Virginia Payson, David Coli, Sam and Linda Palazzole, Frank Viva, and several members of the museum board, including Racemark founder Bob Bailey and his wife, Ginger, Michael Okby and Joe Tardi. Alan Rosenbloom was there too, after

touring Lake George that day on a 1927 Gar Wood with Allison, who was still talking about the adventure.

He marveled about the boat’s beauty and speed, stating that they went “about 50 miles per hour, though that classic could probably have done 70 or 75.” Once a racer, always a racer!

The annual gala, themed to complement each summer’s exhibit, raises funds to support educational goals, including awareness about the past, present and future social and economic impact of the automobile, according to Tony Ianniello.

Susan Carbonaro, executive director of the Saratoga Automobile Museum, added, “Much of the technical and design programming is geared toward children, encouraging them to interact and work together.

Cars require teamwork, especially when being built, and the museum programs can be fun learning opportunities.”

“Moonshine to Millionaires” features a dozen historic race cars, from Herb Thomas’ 1952 Hudson Hornet to the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet that carried NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt to a Brickyard 400 win.

The exhibit runs through November 25 and showcases upcoming visits by NASCAR’s Ron Hornaday, Kyle Busch and Richard Childress. For a full schedule and to learn more, visit www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

one faces this devastating illness alone,” Perry affirmed.

A brief video paid tribute to the significant contributions of Don Led Duke, who was instrumental in the 2010 merger of Gilda’s Club Capital Region with the American Cancer Society that formed HopeClub.

According to his wife, Chick, “[Don] understood the demographic shifts that will result in the number of cancer survivors doubling in the next 12 years. His vision for this new organization was to achieve long-term sustainability and to make the merger a showcase of innovation and community spirit in the Capital Region.”

The program continued with a ‘Mission Auction’ raising bids at three levels to sponsor members of HopeClub from ‘Kids Club on the Go’ at Albany Medical Center’s Pediatric Oncology Unit, to the teen program “Look Good…Feel Better” and the new HopeClub Salon, providing women with mastectomy bras and false eyelashes after hair loss.

Then the tone lightened with a traditional live auction. Within minutes, $16,000 was raised from just five packages, thanks to Mary Beth

O’Brien and her son-in-law, Dan Klaus, who, at $3,600, won a friendly bidding war with Steve Bouchey for dinner prepared by Dan and Ellen Hogarty and served by Kimberly and Stu Jones and Sheila Hogarty Fontenot. Golf for four at the world famous Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, earned a second round of golf when it hit $2,500, and in the end, donors Jared and Sherrie Abbruzzese and BBL Hospitality added a second package for the dueling bidders, resulting in two final bids of $4,000 each by Paul Kasselman and Bob Marzoli.

The night continued with a silent auction, the music of TS Ensemble and a delicious Tuscan buffet by Mazzone Hospitality. Spotted sipping wine amidst the sunflowers were Ron Olinsky, Steve Miller, Alyce Ashe, Neil and Jane Golub, Molly Brindle, Greg and Suzanne Grande, Peggy Jacobsen, Maura Gannon, Carrie Hillenbrandt, Leah Slocum, Bob and Martha Blackman, Jeff Pfeil, Theresa and Richard Sleasman, and Stan Smith. In the end, threatening thunderstorms held off for HopeClub to raise $85,000.

TODAY

Photos Provided

Top Left: Bobby Allison and Ron Hedger; Top Right: Eric King with Sue and Steve Bouchey; Middle: Alan Rosenbloom, Ginger and Bob Bailey, Michael Okby and Lee Miller; Bottom: Tony and Trish Ianniello, Event Co-Chairs, with Karin and David Wren

Photos by Deborah Neary for MarkBolles.com

Top Left: Auction winners Becky and Paul Kasselman; Top Right: Kimberly Jones and George Kansas; Bottom: Mark and Beth Tooker, Mia and Tom Gallo, Meghan Murray and Bob Hope

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

They Wore White Close to 500 attendees donned white last Saturday for Saratoga Bridges’ annual White Party at Fasig Tipton. Beth Alexander, who chaired the fundraiser with close friend Julie Bonacio, declared how much she loved the event, in part because, “It’s so beautiful to see everyone in white.” The pair was exquisite in unique THEIA gowns from Saratoga Trunk.

Guests were greeted with champagne and cocktails, courtesy of Diageo, so the mood was already high when Sammy the Bugler announced the start of the live auction. Saratoga TODAY’s own Chad Beatty, president of Saratoga Bridges Foundation Board, took to the podium, while Sonny Bonacio worked the floor to rally bidders.

Seen in the auction round were Beth Smith, Dr. Mark Moreau and his

wife, Carole, Heather and Brian Straughter, Marne Onderdonk, Keith and Debbie Atlas, Sandra Beattie Trunzo, Mandy D’Andrea Whelan and Jayne and Emmett McCarthy.

Charles and Candace Wait were the lucky winners of a Palladium diamond ring donated by deJonghe Original Jewelry. Frank Adams Jewelers donated David Yurman earrings that went to Michael and Stacie Arpey, and David Meyers generously bid $15,000 on a home project makeover from Bonacio Construction. Tom and Connie D’Ambra not only took home the Buckets and Beers Party for 20 from Hattie’s Restaurant, but also the Lady Godiva artwork that inspired this year’s event invitation. The original torn cardboard collage was a collaborative effort of Saratoga Bridges’ Creative Endeavors artists, Adam and Shannon. Their pride, and the confidence they’ve gained in their

Photos by Mark Bolles.com

Event chairs Beth Alexander and Julie Bonacio (both in THEIA from Saratoga Trunk) with Saratoga Bridges executive director, Valerie Muratori

John and Kerry Conley with Susan and Tom Salice

creative ability, shone on their faces as they held up the piece for the crowd.

The sea of white flowed outside for a silent auction, music by The Grand Design and fun dinner stations featuring sliders and Cuban sandwiches, summer salads and ice cream novelties for dessert. After dinner, several attendees enjoyed handrolled cigars from James & Sons Tobacconists. Roaming about the crowd, photographer Heather BohmTallman captured it all, encouraging people to have fun at her crazy booth too. Chris and Melissa Zieker struck a pose, as did Natalie Sillery and Rebecca Beers. Michele Riggi jumped in also, after arriving from SPAC where she and husband, Ron, had witnessed the unveiling of Lew Swyer’s star on the Walk of Fame.

Others whitening the night were Ed and Tracey Lenz, Kate and Andrew Jarosh, Kimberly Adams Russell, Chris and Kelly Armer, Lisa and Chris Kieper, Savino Ferguson, Baroness VonFerg, Lola Livingston, Marilyn Kletter, Tim Seeley and Rhiana Leigh.

Alexander stated, “Julie and I have loved helping Saratoga Bridges brand the White Party. It’s quickly become one of the must-attend benefits of summer, with no wonder.

Fasig-Tipton provides the ideal venue, and when you add décor by Michael Panza and Fine Affairs, beautiful flowers from Gretchen and Jim Squires at Schrade’s Posie Peddler, and the seamless coordination of Mazzone Hospitality’s Kevin Sykes, you have a perfect evening.

We’re so grateful they’ve brought our vision to life.”

Heather Varney, development and foundation coordinator for Saratoga Bridges, reports that the event net a record $89,000, thanks to their season presenting sponsor, The Adirondack Trust Company and White Party presenting sponsors DIAGEO and CDPHP. Additional supporters included Coca-Cola, New Country Toyota Scion, The Bonacio Group, Stewart’s Shops, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

RSVP

Spotlight

What to do? What to wear? Blue jeans, ‘80s faves, icy cool summer wear, disco gold… the RSVPs this week require some fun wardrobe changes.

On Friday, July 27, the National Museum of Dance's New Action Committee presents Blues, Brews, & BBQ. Enjoy delicious BBQ from PJ's BAR-B-QSA and craft beer tastings from Saratoga Brewery with the music of Blues Noir, Tristan Chase and Low N’ Lonesome. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (518) 5842225, ext. 3005 or online; they will also be available at the door. For details, visit www.dancemuseum.org.

Special Olympics New York will hold the 22nd annual Satins, Silks & Stars Gala on Saturday, July 28, at the Saratoga Hilton. The 1980s themed event will include a silent auction, cocktails, dinner and dancing to ‘80s tribute band, the Ronald Reagans. To learn more, contact Brian McDonald at (518) 388-0790, ext. 108 or bmcdonald@nyso.org.

Tuesday, July 31, will be dark on the track but sparkling around town.

Start with the Fashionable Fillies Luncheon, this year at the National Museum of Dance. The fun, flirty event includes a silent auction and fashion show, courtesy of Pink Paddock and Violet’s and Stella’s of Saratoga. Proceeds benefit The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation and the National Museum of Dance. For reservations, call (518) 226-0609 or visit www.tjcis.com.

Then, it’s Polo by Twilight, the 33rd annual Palamountain Scholarship Benefit for Skidmore College. The evening at Saratoga Polo features live and silent auctions and a delicious dinner catered by Skidmore’s renowned Dining Services Department, not to mention a lively polo match. This year, the celebration will also honor Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson as

Eric Miller, Gloria Ford, Matt and Mary Doheny, Maureen McAuliffe

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the college presents the couple with the Lucy Skidmore Scribner Medal.

Reservations may be made online at www.skidmore.edu/palamountainbenefit.

Start August with Fire and Ice, the 30th annual Summer Benefit Auction for Saratoga Hospital on Wednesday, August 1. Always a fun party, the invitation prohibits suit coats and ties! The event kicks off at 6 p.m., with the infamous live auction at 7 p.m. Join event chairs Mylea Aldrich and Colleen Carlson for cocktails, an incredible array of food, and, of course, the auctions.

For details and to preview the items up for bid, visit www.saratogacarefoundation.org.

Equine Advocates hosts its annual gala Thursday, August 2, with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a live auction and sit-down dinner at the Saratoga Springs City Center. This year’s honorees are George Strawbridge, Jr., owner of Augustin Stable; Lael Stable owners, Gretchen and Roy Jackson; and jockey Edgar Prado. To learn more, visit www.equineadvocates.org.

Come to Studio PRIME, A Disco Inferno, on Saturday, August 4!

Chairs Margie and Michael Rotchford will welcome you to the grounds of Saratoga National Golf Club for this divine event benefiting Medical Missions for Children.

The spotlight will shine on New York City’s The Dennis Collins Band and food by Prime at Saratoga National. For information and reservations, visit www.mmfc.org.

And on Sunday, August 5, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation hosts An Evening for the Thoroughbred, a gala event celebrating Ogden M. Phipps for his efforts and influence on racehorse welfare, safety and retirement.

Carolyn Conley and Tom Durkin will host the benefit at Saratoga Springs City Center, which includes a silent auction, cocktails, dinner and dancing. A live auction will showcase stallion seasons and unique experiences.

Up-to-the-minute details can be found at www.trfgala.com.

Rhiana Leigh, Tim Seeley, Ryen VanHall, Nicholas Russell

Let us know about your event, cause or celebration. ‘RSVP’ to trina@saratogapublishing.com.

SARATOGA

12

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

The House Built Backward

by Hollis Palmer for Saratoga TODAY Even as Harry Pettee was building the grand house at 595 Broadway, he probably understood that his tenure within its walls would be limited.

What he knew, but did not share with anyone else, was that he was planning to disappear.

Harry Pettee was the major stockholder and the chief executive of one of the carbonic gas companies that flourished in Saratoga at the turn of the last century. His company had been pumping the water south of the village, (Saratoga was a village at the time) extracting and bottling the carbon dioxide and sending the bottled gas to New York City. There, local bottling companies added the gas to the city’s water to make soda.

Unfortunately, the pumping of the water in Saratoga lowered the water table, causing the natural springs in the city to go dry. Without the springs, the city lost one of its most precious resources. Out of desperation, the city used the power of eminent domain to take Pettee’s property. That property is now a portion of the Saratoga Spa State Park.

The story of Harry Pettee is one in which lore has replaced the truth. It is said that he was the mayor of the city who embezzled the city’s money and disappeared – a great story, but unfortunately, it’s not true.

The truth is that Pettee was the second mayor of the city (Saratoga was a village until 1915) and as the house was being completed he was in the process of embezzling money from his own company. Perhaps because many of the stockholders were prominent citizens of the city, it felt like he stole the city’s money.

It all started in May 1923 when the local newspaper broke the story that Pettee had disappeared with an estimated $320,000 (a sizable amount for 1923.) His salary at the time was

Photos by Hollis Palmer

$25,000 per year. The next day the story was in the New York Times and within days the story of the missing executive who absconded with his company’s money was covered in newspapers all across the country.

When Pettee disappeared, he left a note saying that he was boarding a Europe-bound ship and was going to jump overboard. The police investigated every option. Even though Pettee lacked a passport, they checked with various cruise lines and the many plants he operated across the country. They even followed his mistress. Pettee simply could not be found. It appears his wife was the only one to believe the note – though it was probably just wishful thinking on her part.

For years there would be Pettee sightings in places such as New Orleans, San Francisco and New York City. With each sighting, detectives would be sent to investigate.

Although Pettee was never seen again, the detectives did have the frequent opportunity to travel at the expense of the people.

It is from Wiswall Alley that the most unique aspect of the house can be seen. Looking over the stone fence that lines the alley, one can see four grand columns and a two story porch – obviously designed to be the front of the house. What cannot be seen from the street is the grand stairway which greats guests who enter through the door between the pillars.

With what was originally the sun porch on the north side, it is obvious the house was built backward! The only logical explanation for the setup is Pettee’s state of mind, and that maybe out of anger he arranged it so that everyone who rang the bell on Broadway came to the servants’ entrance.

Pettee would never be seen again, however, his wife, Agatha, would maintain the house as her residence until her death in November 1933.

The Pettee house at 595 Broadway Her obituary appeared on the same page as a story about the racially charged Scottsboro boys’ trial in Alabama and expectations about the Roosevelt presidency.

Since the Pettees had no children, the house was left to her niece, Agatha Quintana, who had cared for Mrs. Pettee as her health failed.

Originally from Brooklyn, Miss Quintana would marry Charles B. Kilmer, a member of one of the most prominent families in Saratoga. A veteran of World War II, Kilmer was a senior industrial consultant in the State Department of Commerce. He was president of the local Rotary Club and a member of the local Masonic Temple. The Kilmers would reside in the house for over three decades. Charles would die in 1964, just three years after his father.

Unlike some of the other houses in

this series, this house was never cut up into apartments or went through a period of serious decline. Perhaps being built as a scandal brewed was enough trauma for the property.

Current owners, Kerin Colbert and Jera Meren, consider themselves fortunate to live in a gracious home where they can take advantage of Pettee’s both porches, which are on the back of the house.

Interesting side notes on the Pettee and Kilmer families: In Mrs. Pettee’s obituary she is referred to as “a woman of much charm and pleasant social qualities.” More importantly, “She bore her painful illness and adversities with courageous spirit,” an obvious reminder of what happened with her husband.

In addition to his other civic associations, Kilmer was also a member of the Society for the Detection of

Photo by Hollis Palmer

Horse Thieves.

Mrs. Kilmer was active in the PTA. She was instrumental in the creation of the original North End Playground near the new Skidmore campus.

The house was featured on the show “If Walls Could Talk” on HGTV. Part of the show focused on a portion of the basement floor which was left wooden instead of cement. The question was if under that section of the basement floor Pettee hid the money. On the show the floor was removed and the money was not there. The studs, however, were spaced perfectly to hide liquor that had been made illegal by the Volstead Act. The books by Hollis Palmer are available at Crafters’ Gallery and The Saratoga Springs History Museum.

BUSINESS

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

One Family, Two Sisters and an Eye for Fashion: Whitney Cooper Co. and Gotta Have It!

by Daniel Schechtman Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS - One sister specializes in scarves, belts Saratoga hats and sterling silver jewelry; the other in pocketbooks, fashion jewelry, hair accessories and umbrellas.

Though each sister maintains ownership of their own unique company - the Whitney Cooper Company is owned by Jean Sharkey, while Gotta Have It! is owned by Mary Beth Sharkey these two local sisters have joined forces to bring Saratoga the latest and greatest in fashion accessories, each complementing the other during regular trunk shows at the Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Saratoga.

“It’s funny, because while we have two separate companies, she just took another avenue,” said Mary Beth. “So Jean and I, we’re obviously sisters, but we’re different individuals too. But we’re very good friends, and we work very well together. So we decided to work as a team.”

To that end, both sisters will be displaying their unique, affordable and trendy fashion accessories during trunk shows at the Hampton Inn, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. through September 3.

“I love fashion accessories, but I really couldn’t find items in this area that were well made and very stylish at a reasonable price,” said Jean.

To combat higher prices, the Sharkey sisters decided to hold regular trunk shows, as opposed

photos by MarkBolles.com

Mary Beth and Jean Sharkey, pictured lower right, owners of Gotta Have It! and Whitney Cooper Company, respectively. to owning a traditional storefront. Using this model, Jean noted that both companies are able to save money on overhead costs, helping to sell high-quality products at reasonable, affordable prices.

From handbags to scarves, Saratoga hats to fashion jewelry, the Whitney Cooper Company and Gotta Have It! offer their clients, “products with a little flare, the up-and-coming trends,”

business briefs Grand Illusions Relocates to Railroad Place SARATOGA SPRINGS Grand Illusions Hair Salon is making the move from its current location on Caroline Street to 81 Railroad Place, a move owner Carole Levine will make as of August 1. Levine will be partnering with Muriel Gurren, owner of Progressive Mode Hair Studio, which is already situated at 81 Railroad Place.

Levine, who is hoping to stretch out a bit more at the larger location, will now be able to offer manicures and pedicures, as well as the services of a massage therapist.

No downtime is expected at either salon between the move.

DBA Recognizes Local Wine Spectator Magazine Award of Excellence Winners SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Downtown Business Association (DBA) has recognized several local restaurants awarded for their excel-

said Mary Beth. “We try out everything ourselves first to make sure it’s the best quality, and we’re constantly talking with our clients to understand what they’re looking for.”

To learn more about the Whitney Cooper Company or Gotta Have It!, visit www.facebook.com/WhitneyCooperComp any, where the sisters provide constant updates about their upcoming trunk shows.

lent wine selections by Wine Spectator magazine. Winners include Chianti Il Ristorante of 18 Division Street; Longfellows Restaurant of 500 Union Avenue; The Olde Bryan Inn of 123 Maple Avenue; Sperry’s Restaurant of 30 ½ Caroline Street; Wheatfields Restaurant of 440 Broadway; and The Wine Bar of 417 Broadway.

The Award of Excellence is given to restaurants that “offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the member in both price and style. Those listed offer at least 100 selections.”

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SARATOGA

RELIGION

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

Adirondack Friends Meeting 27 Saratoga Ave., S. Glens Falls 793-3755, AdirondackFM@ nycap.rr.com; www.adirondackfriendsmeeting.org Regina Baird Haag, pastoral minister Services: 10:30 a.m. Sunday The Alliance Church 257 Rowland St., Ballston Spa 885-6524 Services: Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

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

Assembly of God Saratoga 118 Woodlawn Ave., Saratoga

Springs 584-6081 Services: Sunday Worship 10 a.m., coffee served at 9:45 a.m.

Bacon Hill Reformed Church 560 Route 32N, Bacon Hill 695-3074 • Rev. Janet Vincent Services: Worship service 10 a.m.

Sunday School 10 a.m.

All are welcome.

Handicapped accessible Baha’i Community of Saratoga Springs 584-9679; 692-7694; usbnc.org.

Ballston Center Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 58 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa 885-7312; ballstoncenterarpchurch.org Services: Sunday Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

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

Bethesda Episcopal Church 41 Washington St., Saratoga Springs 584-5980 Services: Sunday 6:30, 8 & 10 a.m.

Church of Christ at Clifton Park 7 Old Route 146 371-6611; cliftonparkchurchofchrist.com Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Christ Community Reformed Church 1010 Route 146, Clifton Park 371-7654; ccrc-cpny.org.

Services: Sundays 10 a.m.

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

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

Congregation Shaara Tfille 84 Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs 584-2370; saratogasynagogue.org Services: Saturday 9:30 a.m., Monday & Thursday 7:30 a.m., third Friday each month 7:30 p.m. Handicapped Accessible Corinth Free Methodist Church 20 Hamilton Ave. 654-9255; 792-0271

Services: Sunday at 10 a.m.

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

Cornerstone Community Church Malta Commons 899-7001; mycornerstonechurch.org Associate Pastor Paul Shepherd Services: Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Community 2001 Route 9 Round Lake 877-8506, ccorpusc@nycap.rr.com Services: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.; Weekday Masses: MondayFriday 9 a.m.

Eastern Orthodox - Christ the Savior 349 Eastline Road, Ballston Spa 786-3100; xcsavior@yahoo.com.

Services: Sunday: 9:15 a.m.

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

First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa 202 Milton Ave. (Rt. 50) 885-8361; fbcballstonspa.org Services: 10:15 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Ballston Spa 22 West High St. • 885-5583 Services: Sunday at 10 a.m.

Full Gospel Tabernacle 207 Redmond Road, Gansevoort 793-2739 Services: Sunday 10 a.m.; Bible Study: Thursday 6:30 p.m.

Galway United Methodist Church 2056 East Street (at intersection of Route 147), Galway 882-6520

TODAY

www.galway-unitedmethodist-church.com Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

(9:00 a.m. in July and August) Grace Brethren Church 137 W. Milton Rd., Ballston Spa 587-0649 • Rev. Dan Pierce Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Handicapped accessible.

Greater Grace Community Church Pastor David Moore 899-7777, thechurch@ggccmalta.org Services: Wednesday 7:30 pm. - Good Times Restaurant, Lake Rd. 2nd floor;. Friday 7:30 pm - Saratoga Chapel, Eastline & Lake Rds; Sunday 10am - Glenville Senior Center, 32 Worden Rd. Greenfield Center Baptist Church 30 Wilton Rd., Greenfield Center, NY 893-7429 Services: Sunday School for all ages - 9:45 a.m.

Church Service - 11 a.m.

Prayer Meeting - Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

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

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

Jonesville United Methodist 963 Main St., Clifton Park 877-7332 Services: Sunday 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.; Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

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

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

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Malta Presbyterian Church Dunning Street, Malta • 8995992 Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Malta Ridge United Methodist Church 729 Malta Ave., Ext. • 5810210 Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

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

Handicapped accessible New Horizon Church 150 Perry Road, Saratoga Springs 587-0711 Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

New Life Fellowship 51 Old Gick Rd., Saratoga Springs 580-1810; newlifeinsaratoga.org.

Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.noon Childcare is available at all services.

NorthStar Church Shenendehowa High School West Auditorium, Clifton Park 371-2811; northstarchurch.com Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Old Saratoga Reformed Church 48 Pearl St., Schuylerville oldsaratogareformedchurch.or g Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Handicapped accessible.

Old Stone Church (American Baptist) 159 Stone Church Rd., Ballston Spa 583-1002 Services: Sunday: 9 a.m.

Adult Sunday School; 10:30 a.m. Service; 11:45 a.m.

Coffee & Fellowship in Living Stone Hall; Wednesday: noon potluck luncheon; 1 p.m. choir rehearsal; 2 p.m.

Bible Study Group

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

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

Handicapped accessible.

River of Hope Fellowship 100 Saratoga Village Blvd.

Malta Cmns., Ste. 3, Malta 881-1505; riverofhopefellowship.com Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

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

St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church 231 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs 584-6122.

Services: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 8, 9:30, 11:15 a.m. & 5 p.m.

St. George's Episcopal Church 912 Route 146, Clifton Park 371-6351; stgeorge@csdsl.net Services: Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 8 & 9:30 a.m.

St. Isaac Jogues Roman Catholic Chapel Route 9P (4 miles south of bridge over Saratoga Lake Outlet), Saratoga Springs 935-3449 Services: Saturday 6 St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church 3159 Route 9N, Greenfield Center 893-7680; sjoegctr@nycap.rr.com; www.stjosephschurchgreenfieldcenter.org Services: Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Handicapped accessible

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church 167 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa 885-7411; stmarysbsta.org Services: Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon. Handicapped accessible St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church 771 Route 29, Rock City Falls 893-7680; sjoegctr@nycap.rr.com; www.stjosephschurchgreenfieldcenter.org Services: Sunday 8:30 am.

Handicapped accessible.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 149 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs 584-0904 Services: Saturday 5 p.m. with Holy Communion.

Sundays 8:30 & 11 a.m. with Holy Communion.

St. Peter Lutheran Church 2776 Route 9, Malta • 5834153 Services: Sunday mornings 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

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

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

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

Saratoga United Methodist Church Henning Rd., Saratoga Springs 584-3720; saratogaumc.com.

Services: Sunday 9 & 10:45 a.m. Handicapped accessible.

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

Shenendehowa United Methodist 971 Route 146, Clifton Park 371-7964 Services: Sunday 7:45, 9 & 10:45 a.m.; Acts II Contempory 10:45 a.m.

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

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

Temple Sinai 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-8730 www.saratogasinai.org Services: 5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat 6:00 p.m. Services Handicapped accessible The Salvation Army Worship, Service & Community Center 27 Woodlawn Ave., Saratoga Springs

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584-1640; Mail-P.O. Box 652 Captain Aaron A. Boone, Sr. Captain Amber S. Boone Commanding Officers/Ministers Services: Sunday School 10 a.m.; Praise & Worship 11 a.m.; Trinity United Methodist Church 155 Ballard Rd., Gansevoort 584-9107 tumcwilton.com Rev. Gail Falsetti-Pastor Services: Sunday 10 a.m.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs 624 North Broadway 584-1555; saratoga-uu.org Services and Nursery Care: Sundays 10 a.m. Religious education classes resume in September.

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

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

Wilton Baptist Church 755 Saratoga Rd, Wilton 583-2736; wiltonbaptist@gmail.com; wiltonbaptistchurch.com Services: Sunday Service 11 a.m.

Old Stone Church American Baptist Affiliated

159 Stone Church Road, Ballston Spa, NY

W

ill hold their Third Annual Revival on Wednesday, August 8, Thursday, August 9, Friday, August 10

Starting at 7 PM with snack being served at 6 PM If you have any questions regarding this program, please call Pastor Howard Sheffey at 518-356-8069 or cell phone 518-986-1142 or email hsheffey@nycap.rr.com.

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OBITUARIES Ross R. “Dick” Crankshaw

Middle Grove, NY - Ross R. “Dick” Crankshaw passed away Monday, July 23, 2012. He was 71.

Born March 14, 1941, he was the son of William and Almedia M. (Cole) Crankshaw.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1957-1959.

Dick was predeceased by a grandson, Nicholas Clute.

He leaves his loving wife of 20 years, Donna M. (Walrath) Crankshaw; son, Richard (Ying) Crankshaw; two daughters, Teresa (Eric) Hayner and Louise (Carl) Clute; a step-son, Michael (Lee Barbato) Mathusa; a step-

daughter, Amy (John) Sgueglia; grandsons, Joshua, Joseph, Aarron and Brendon Hayner, Adam and Benjamin Clute, Zaccaria and Jacob Crankshaw and Alex Sgueglia; special granddaughter, Adrianna Mathusa; five great-grandchildren; father in-law, Donald Walrath; sister in-law, Betty Walrath; brothers, William (Gayle), George (Marilyn) and Charles (Patricia) Crankshaw; three sisters, Sandra Vouga, Maryann (Ray) Schaver and Donna (Rick) Mussey; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be private and at convenience of the family. Burial will be at Middle Grove Cemetery.

SARATOGA

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012 TODAY

Deborah Jean Spadafore Ballston Spa, NY – Deborah Jean Spadafore, 61, passed away Wednesday, July 18, 2012.

Debbie will be joining her middle son, Mark, who passed away in March 2011; brother, Eddie Steinbach; and her parents, the late

Charles and Mary Steinbach.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; twin sister, Diane; and sons, Mike and Tim. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, July 23, 2012, at St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs.

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 Eric Havens at ehavens@saratogapublishing.com.

HELPING HANDS The NY Horse Park Needs Operation Adopt A Rebuilding Together your Support!

Soldier Needs your Saratoga County’s The New York Horse Park facility will provide the public Votes!

Non-Gala Event with a wide range of equine activities which are informative, competitive and recreational in nature, such as clinics, seminars, demonstrations, programs for riders with disabilities, horse shows, cross-country events, polo, dressage, hunt races, steeplechasing, rodeos, driving shows, combined driving marathons and trail riding. This means new jobs and green space!

On August 12, from 7-10 p.m., come and enjoy the first annual New York Horse Park Texas BBQ and find out more about all the park’s developments.

The BBQ is being held at the Saratoga Winery, 462 State Route 29, Saratoga Springs.

It will be a festive evening of great food and wine. To get tickets online, visit www.nyhorsepark.org.

Help the State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU) support local members of the armed forces by casting your vote for Operation Adopt A Soldier in SEFCU’s online competition. Three nonprofit organizations are competing for the top spot and a grand prize of $15,000. The second-place organization will receive $10,000 and the third $5,000.

Operation Adopt A Soldier is hoping to use the $15,000 to send over 1,000 packages to troops overseas.

Visit www.sefcu.com/5kVote/ to cast your vote today!

It is summer in Saratoga, and for many that means gala invitations galore in the mailbox.

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (RTSC) once again is offering everyone an opportunity to avoid another commitment by attending their Non-Gala Event. Rather than go to the expense of a dress, tuxedo, shoes, babysitter and tickets, stay home and donate the money you save to RTSC! Donations will be used to buy building materials for home repairs helping our neighbors in need. For more information, visit www.rtsaratoga.org or call (518) 587-3315.

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Community Corner

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Future Construction Leaders of New York State Graduates Twenty-three mid-career construction leaders graduated from the Future Construction Leaders of New York State Program (FCLNYS) on Saturday, July 14. The program is designed to assist members of AGC NYS in developing future construction company managers and leaders. The yearlong program helps teach participants the issues involved in managing a construction business in New York State. Students have an opportunity to learn, in a structured environment, what they might otherwise spend years learning from personal experience.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012-2013 class. Applications are due by November 16, 2012, and the first class is scheduled at the AGC NYS Construction Industry Conference in December 4-6 in Saratoga Springs. Visit the AGC NYS website for an application at www.agcnys.org.

Brooke D. Youngwirth joins Carter Conboy Carter Conboy is pleased to announce the addition of associate attorney Brooke D. Youngwirth to the firm. Ms. Youngwirth is a 2007 cum laude graduate of the University of Miami and a 2010 magna cum laude graduate of Buffalo Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree.

At Buffalo Law School, Ms. Youngwirth was vice president, judge and senior member of the Jessup International Moot Court Board, a Fasken Intramural Moot Court finalist, and a member of the Niagara Cup Moot Court Competition Team where she was named a Top 25 Oralist in 2009. Prior to joining Carter Conboy, Ms. Youngwirth interned with the Medical Society of the State of New York and for the Honorable Jerry J. Scarano, Saratoga Supreme Court and County Court judge. She was an attorney for a large property law firm in Rochester, New York, and an independent contractor researching legal issues related to medical malpractice claims.

Ms. Youngwirth is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and focuses in the areas of civil litigation defense, employment law, and professional liability law. She is a native of Saratoga County. About Carter Conboy: Founded in 1920, Carter Conboy, with offices located in Albany and Saratoga Springs, New York, serves clients in upstate New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Callahan-Christman Announce Engagement Robert Callahan and Randall Christman announce that they are engaged to be married. Randall Christman, an employee of Lowe’s Saratoga, is a graduate of Niskayuna High School and Robert Callahan, who currently works at Dusty Memorys Antiques, is a Mohonasen Senior High School graduate. No date has been set for the wedding.

REWARD For the return of a black leather 2012 appointment book lost on Broadway in Saratoga Springs last week.

Irreplaceable information.

Name and contact information inside cover.

E m a i l hedelman@nycap.rr.com with any information.

Katherine Bedard Announced to Dean’s List at RIT Katherine Bedard of Saratoga Springs has been named to the dean’s list for the spring quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology. A third-year student in RIT’s college of imaging arts and sciences, Katherine is studying media arts and technology.

Katherine is the daughter of Ray and Evelyn Bedard and a 2009 graduate of Saratoga Central Catholic High School.

To achieve this recognition, Katherine maintained a grade point average of 3.40 or above with no grades below a “C.” The dean’s list is not long at RIT, and to be included is a mark of distinction.

Congratulations, Katherine!

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SARATOGA

FOOD

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Add some heat to deepen the flavor of this summertime favorite:

CHILLED GAZPACHO!

The farmers’ market is bursting with fresh vegetables just right for making gazpacho–the perfect healthy, summer food, that’s flavorful and low in calories. Gazpacho is a favorite dish for many, with the classical version calling for a purée of fresh vegetables to make a nutritious and delicious cold soup.

However, the perfect may have been perfected, with heat added two ways. Instead of using raw vegetables, try grilling them to deepen the flavor of the soup while adding a little smoky char. Half of a poblano pepper gives a subtle extra kick. Be sure to allow extra time to prepare the soup, because the grilled vegetables take several hours to cool.

Better yet, make it a day ahead and chill overnight to allow the flavors to blend into a spicy but cool soup.

(Note: All vegetables should be available at the Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market, as are the cheeses.)

Ingredients (For four servings.)

1 whole fresh poblano pepper 4 large tomatoes, halved 1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise 1 medium summer squash,

quartered lengthwise 1 green pepper, topped, quartered and de-seeded 1 red onion, quartered Salt and pepper 2 cloves of garlic, diced ¼ cup fresh basil 1 tbsp. fresh oregano 1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced 2 tsp. lemon juice 1 tbsp. Ballston Lake Apiary’s Honey Balsamic Vinegar ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)

Directions 1. Heat the grill to high. Coat grill grates with cooking oil.

2. Place the poblano pepper on the grill and cook until blackened on all sides. Put the pepper into a container or paper bag and close so the steam will loosen its skin.

3. Salt and pepper the tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, green pepper and onion and put them onto the grill, or into a grilling basket.

Cook, turning once, for 4-5 minutes,

or until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred. Remove and set aside.

4. Scrape the skin from the poblano pepper, then core and remove seeds. Use only half the pepper; freeze the rest for another recipe.

5. Purée all the grilled vegetables (including the half-poblano), adding the garlic, basil and oregano.

Depending on the size of your food processor or blender, you may have to work in batches. Pour the puréed mixture into a large bowl and cool completely to room temperature.

6. When cool, stir in diced cucumber and lemon juice. Refrigerate, covered for 2-24 hours.

7. Stir before serving; drizzle each serving with balsamic vinegar, and, if desired, sprinkle with cheese.

WINNER’S circle

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Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Saratoga TODAY’S Guide to the 2012 season at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York

Sunday July, 29 Saratoga Baseball Cap Giveaway

Approaching August: Week Two at Saratoga

Brendan O’Meara As the first full week approaches its close, the Travers Stakes narrative begins to gather steam for eligible 3year-olds.

The 3-year-old colts are just four weeks out from the Grade I $1 million Travers and there are three key preps to get there.

First up is the $100,000 Curlin Stakes running July 27 at Saratoga Race Course. Street Life, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby, Jim Dandy and Travers winner Street Sense, is the favorite at 5-2 breaking from post three. Trained by Chad Brown, Street Life breezed five furlongs in 1:01.87 at Belmont Park July 22.

Jose Lezcano has the mount.

Street Life enters the Curlin off of a fourth-place finish in the Grade I $1 million Belmont Stakes, won by the now retired Union Rags. He finished third in both the Peter Pan and

Wood Memorial.

Also entered for the Curlin is Robert LaPenta’s Easter Gift. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito conditions the son of Hard Spun who zipped through five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.83 over at the Oklahoma track July 19. In Easter Gift’s last effort, he finished second in the Grade III Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park.

“He’s only made three starts, but obviously, Saratoga’s the spot, so the Curlin’s the spot,” said Zito.

Easter Gift drew the five-hole and is 7-2 on the morning line.

The eight-horse Curlin field leads into Saturday’s feature, the Grade II $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes. Run at nine furlongs, the Jim Dandy is the traditional Saratoga prep for the Travers.

Heading up the Jim Dandy field is the Bob Baffert-trained Liaison. This Indian Charlie-colt finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and has run twice since. He finished second in the Grade III Affirmed at Hollywood Park and was three-quarters of a length short from winning in the Grade II Swaps, also at Hollywood Park. Liaison earned a 102 Beyer speed figure in his last effort. He’s training well and looks like the horse to beat.

“Liaison worked really well today,

and we thought he earned his trip to the Jim Dandy,” Baffert said from Del Mar after Liaison worked 1:12 4/5 for six furlongs with Paynter.

“Martin Garcia worked him and said he really felt great.”

Baffert’s horse Paynter, second in the Grade I Belmont Stakes to Union Rags, will likely run in the July 29 Grade I $1 million Haskell

Street Life

Invitational at Monmouth Park. Paynter set the pace and nearly took the field wire-to-wire before giving up the fence and the lead to John Velazquez and Union Rags.

Originally Baffert’s horse Bodemeister, who finished a courageous second to I’ll Have Another in both the Kentucky Derby and

Preakness Stakes, pointed to the Haskell. A barn-wide illness made Bodemeister miss training and thus the Haskell, though he still remains an option for the Travers August 25 at the Spa. Zito sends out Fast Falcon in the Jim Dandy after saddling Easter Gift

Photo Provided by NYRA.com

20 the day before. Zito didn’t have any horses run in the Triple Crown races, a rarity for him, but it looks as though the second half of his year could be promising.

“By the one horse running Friday, and Fast Falcon Saturday, it still gives us hope, and it’s very nice,” said Zito. “You know, for the first time not being in the Triple Crown in

winner’s a long time, and I always say this, I’m lucky and blessed. When you miss a year or two, you’re supposed to. That’s just the business. I’ve been blessed, so I’m happy. I’m certainly happy to get back into this deal. Like I always say, God’s been good to me, and getting me back into the second half of the season would be great.”

Alpha, who missed the Belmont Stakes because of a fever; Teeth of the Dog, winner of two consecutive stakes races; and Gemologist are also probable Jim Dandy starters.

Winter Memories gears up for Diana Winter Memories, winner of last year’s Grade II Lake George at Saratoga, cranks up to Grade I-company in the $600,000 Diana on the

circle

turf.

Winter Memories drilled five furlongs on the Oklahoma turf track in 59 seconds and change and has his trainer, Jimmy Toner, thinking repeat. “[She’s running] nice and comfortable, so we’re very happy with her,” said Toner. “We’re good to go.

Every time she runs, you get excited, and the way she runs is exciting.”

In 2011 at Saratoga, she won the Grade II Lake George and placed fourth in the Grade II Lake Placid.

Once she arrived at Belmont Park last fall, she won the Grade I Garden City.

Winter Memories finished second

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

in her latest to Tapitsfly in the Grade I Just a Game June 9. Tapitsfly will face Winter Memories for a rematch in the Diana.

Tapitsfly, trained by Dale Romans, looked fit and ready in her latest workout.

“I hope that she’ll relax as well as she did in the Just a Game,” said Romans. “Our plan for her this year was to get her to really relax and come from a little off the pace, and then we got to the Just a Game, a Grade 1, and there was no speed, so we threw that out the window. I doubt there will be enough speed to run with her here, so she’ll probably do the same thing.”

Shackleford to target Forego, not Whitney The multiple Grade I race winning colt Shackelford, once considered for the one and one eighth mile Whitney Invitational Handicap, will prep for the Grade I seven-furlong Forego Stakes at the end of the meet.

After his grueling win over Caleb’s Posse in the Grade I Met Mile, trainer Dale Romans needed to give his Forestry colt some extra time.

“He came out of the Met Mile a little bit tired,” said Romans. “It took him a little longer to get back on his feet, and we were going to have to rush him to make the Whitney. This will work out well. We know his career is winding down. He’ll probably have three more starts and we’re going to try to make them all count.”

While running in the Forego, he’ll likely clash with 2011 Forego winner Jackson Bend, the horse that most recently finished fourth in the Grade III James Marvin on Opening Day. “He’s great this morning, but he was mad yesterday,” trainer Nick Zito said. “He just doesn’t want to run outside. He loves to run on the fence; he loves to split horses, but that’s the way it went. We’ll try to regroup and hopefully come back in the Forego.”

How they came out

Shackleford

Photo Provided by NYRA.com

Winners of last week’s big stakes races came out in good order.

Godolphin’s horse Questing exited the Grade I Coaching Club American for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

“She looked great this morning and is happy,” McLaughlin said.

“Obviously, we’ll look at the [Grade I] Alabama. It’s in four weeks. I wish there was a little more time, but things look promising if she’s doing this well.”

Grade II Sanford winner Bern Identity came out of the juvenile race without a scratch for trainer Kelly Breen. The Grade I Hopeful Stakes is an option for this colt on the closing day of the 2012 meet at Saratoga Race Course.

winner’s circle No Longer An Urban Cowboy Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Marilyn Lane The likely betting favorite in a state-bred maiden race on the Monday, July 30, Saratoga Race Course card will be the sentimental favorite for half the county. I asked Mr. Cowboy’s syndicate manager how she felt about this and JoAnn Pepper replied, “It’s like a 45-year-old dream come true to have a horse running in Saratoga.” Pepper's dream is doing more for racing’s image than you can possibly imagine, and through Mr. Cowboy, many people are having the ride of their lives.

It all came about rather accidentally. Before JoAnn and Mark Pepper opened Old Friends at Cabin Creek-The Bobby Frankel Division, a retirement home for Thoroughbreds, the couple ran a boarding farm. A chestnut foal was born there in the spring of 2009. “He struggled to take his first breath and for three days was too weak to be left unattended.

On the fourth day he went outside the barn for the first time. He walked like a drunken sailor,” Pepper recalled.

When he was still quite young, a bloodstock agent gave the unnamed colt to the Peppers’ in

lieu of a board bill. Pepper’s plan was to keep this youngster right there – to allow him to become an “old friend.”

In his yearling year, the colt grew to be big and strong, and at the same time he started looming larger and larger in the hearts of those around him. Pepper explained, “I don’t know exactly how we decided to form a racing partnership; conversations just started amongst all of us.” The ‘all of us’ would include a dedicated staff of volunteers who help out at Old Friends.

“It was Cowboy’s second birth-

day when we signed a contract,” Pepper said. January 1 is the official birthday for all Thoroughbreds, no matter what the date of their actual birth. It has become a tradition for Old Friends to throw a party to celebrate this universal birthday. After the 2011 party, Mr. Cowboy had 20-plus owners. Most had never dreamed of participating in the ownership of a horse.

Asked how he got his name Pepper answered, “His mom’s name was I’m a Real Cowgirl – I started calling him Mr. Cowboy when he was just a baby.”

Courtesy of Connie Bush

No longer an urban cowboy- he's a serious race horse.

21

22 One of his owners, Bobbie Cromer, told me about his early education. “Bill Allyn came to the farm the summer of 2011 and taught Cowboy how to accept tack and eventually a rider.” She went on, “It was so cool. Every time Bill came to take Cowboy in the

winner’s

circle

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

round pen for his lessons, all of the other horses came to the front of their paddocks to watch – like they remembered when they went to school.”

Quizzed a little further, Cromer gushed, “It feels like it’s your child – I know it sounds crazy, but

Mr. Cowboy in action on the Oklahoma Track. he knows what love is. It’s the way he was raised. I think he feels safe and that’s why he tries so hard.”

Cowboy went from the farm to

prep school at the Oklahoma Training Track. He breezed through with aplomb and in November made his first start at Aqueduct. It was less than an auspicious beginning, so the group decided to give him some time off to mature and gain a little weight.

Pepper said, “The time off was good for him. When we sent him back to the track he looked really good and gelding him seemed to have helped his focus.” This time he joined the H. James Bond stable at Belmont.

I asked Bond about the horse

Courtesy of Connie Bush

and his owners and he happily offered, “The excitement of this group is contagious; they love horses as I do. Their main concern is first and foremost that the horse is OK.” He added, “He’s a neat horse to be around and I think he feels the vibes of all the love that surrounds him. Those people all helped to mold him.”

Bond is a regular guest and supporter of Old Friends. One of his former stars, Travers and Whitney winner Will’s Way, resides there.

Bond says his biggest concern with training a horse with so many

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

local owners is, “Will there be enough room in the winner’s circle for all of them?” Mr. Cowboy is already a winner. If he happens to add victories on the track that will just put icing on the cake.

Bond said, “He’s an over-achiever, tries hard to please at everything he does. He has a lot of confidence.”

I personally met Mr. Cowboy through my friend Janelle Schmidt. She’s a volunteer at Old Friends at Cabin Creek. We work on other projects together and she keeps me posted about Cowboy – he’s one of her favorite subjects.

I asked Janelle to capsulize her ownership experience and she smiled wryly and said, “I own just a tiny bit of him,” but went on to say, "It is difficult to put into words the impact my association with Mr. Cowboy has made on me. From the time I met him as a yearling, playing with his cone and entertaining everyone, to having him recognize and greet us as he entered the paddock at Belmont, watching him grow and take on the role of a professional

winner’s

has been amazing. Being a part of Cowboy's journey has given me the chance to meet some amazing people who I am proud to now be able to call my friends. Though we come from many different walks of life, and I doubt our paths would have crossed without this common bond, I think it is safe to say that our ultimate goals are the same; let's go on the ride of our lives with Cowboy, as long as he stays happy and safe as he travels down it."

Everyone I talked to reminded me that one of the main reasons they got involved is knowing that this horse has a retirement spot ready for him at any given time, once racing is no longer the right thing for him.

Mr. Cowboy has come a long way since his drunken sailor days.

The colt that nearly failed before his first breath has breathed vibrant life into a whole group of people. They are a fine example of compassion and responsibility.

When the colt needed time, he got it, and one can rest easy knowing he will always have all he needs

circle

23

to live out a happy life. Those around him didn’t give up when he ran poorly last year, or when the rider fell in a freakish rail incident in his first start this year. His next out he rewarded his people with third money, and in his most recent start he finished a game second.

I asked Pepper if she plans to race others, and without hesitation she replied, “Oh no, not ever. It’s too scary – I mean it is so intense.

Every time he races I become flooded with emotions; it’s almost unbearable. It is more than just the excitement. It feels something like what I imagine a military family feels when a loved one is deployed. You feel so proud, but you can’t help but be afraid for them, the dangers.” Pepper’s voice trailed off and she added, “I just want him to be safe; I love him so much.”

The popular urban cowboy deserves to be the favorite on Monday – it’s time to test the elasticity of the winner’s circle at the Spa.

JoAnn Pepper and Mr. Cowboy

Courtesy of Connie Bush

SARATOGA

24

L A LOC fs brie

Tang Museum Family Day Tang Museum, Skidmore College Every Saturday, children ages 5 and up with an adult can enjoy a brief tour of a current Tang exhibition followed by a handson art activity. Free and open to the public from 2-3:30 p.m. For reservations and information, call (518) 580-8080.

Saratoga Tours

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Springs

Food

The regularly scheduled walking tours start every Saturday, May-October, at 12:30 at the farmers’ market and private tours can be arranged for groups of four or more at any time throughout the year.

Cost of the tour is $40 which includes all tastings—more than enough for lunch. The tours last about two and a half hours and cover about a mile of walking.

Custom tours are available and can be tailored to the client’s requirements. More information is available at www.saratogaspringsfoodtours.com or by calling (518) 803-4181.

Saratoga Hospital Announces August Schedule of Childbirth Classes Saratoga Hospital will host the following childbirth series of classes in August. Registration is required.

• Childbirth Preparation August 4, from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. This one-day program provides information on fetal development, nutrition, exercise, the birth process, coping skills, breathing techniques, epidural and medication options, variations in labor, newborns and postpartum.

• Infant Care August 18, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

For expectant and adoptive parents, this one-day course provides information about wellness and illness, feeding and nutrition, having fun with your baby, day-

care, bonding and infant massage, safety, baby’s senses, growth and development, infant crying, newborn characteristics, behavior and temperament, daily care, and health care for the infant.

• Childbirth Refresher August 13, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

This class is for individuals who have already experienced childbirth and would like to review childbirth preparation and techniques or would like to work toward a more positive birth experience.

• Expectant Parents Evening August 16, from 7-9 p.m.

This program introduces prospective parents and family to our Childbirth Preparation course and includes a guided tour of our family-centered birthing unit.

For more information or to register, visit www.saratogahospital.org or call (518) 580-2450 or 1-866-580-2450 (toll-free).

Single Parents of the Capital District Calling single parents ages 30s – 70s (with young or adult children) - Parents Without Partners (PWP) meets at 6:45 p.m, August 4, for their singles orientation and open house at the Shenedehowa Adult Community Center, at Clifton Commons.

Learn more at www.meetup.com/PWP796 or by calling (518) 348-2062.

Antiques Show and Sale at the Adirondack Museum The show will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12. Visitors interested in an early buying opportunity can visit on Saturday from 8-10 a.m. Tickets will be available at the door. For additional information, visit w w w. a d i r o n d a c k m u s e u m . o rg or call (518) 352-7311.

Saratoga Arts needs volunteers Pick up an application to volunteer online at www.saratogaarts.org/opportunities or stop by The Arts Center at 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs.

Trinity United Methodist Church Invites Children to SKY. A summer event for kids called Sky will be hosted at Trinity

United Methodist Church, 155 Ballard Road in Wilton, from August 13 to August 17. Each day concludes with a Fly Away Finale—a celebration that gets everyone involved in living what they’ve learned. The event takes place from 9 a.m.-noon each day.

Call Meagan at (518) 584-9107 to pre-register or for details.

“Visión - a look at life behind the scenes” Benefit and Photography Exhibition On Tuesday, August 7, Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council will celebrate the fifth annual, “Visión~a look at life behind the scenes” benefit for the Latino Community Advocacy Program. The annual event, held on the clubhouse porch of the Saratoga Race Course, is an opening reception for EOC’s ongoing black and white photography project “¡Estamos Aquí!” (We Are Here).

For more information, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.saratogaeoc.org/vision.

Copper Trout Gallery Announces August Show The Copper Trout Gallery at Cambridge Lantern Works in Cambridge will continue its first season with a show entitled “Pairs,” opening Wednesday, August 1 and continuing until August 26.

An opening reception for the show will be held from 4-7 p.m.

Saturday evening, August 4.

Refreshments will be offered, the public is invited to attend. For more information, call (518) 6778797 or visit www.cambridgelanternworks.com.

Equine Light Tuesday

System

Dan Sumeral, known horse trainer and author from Virginia, will be demonstrating the unique diagnostic and therapeutic Equine Light System Tuesday, August 21, from 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. at the 4H Training Center on Middle Line Rd., Ballston Spa. A userfriendly, state-of-the-art and effective-on-all-horse-breeds system that delivers a photodynamic light shown to accelerate healing, and decrease pain and inflammation in a drug-free manner. This is free lecture and demonstration.

Register prior with Lynn at (518) 268-9542, knotdr@juno.com.

Talent Wanted The Town of Malta Parks & Recreation Department is holding auditions. Performing artists wishing to share their talent in the Malta Community Day Show, “Spotlight on Malta,” can audition by appointment the week of August 6-10. Call or email Elyse Young, artistic director, for further details at (518) 899-4411, ext.

305 or email theater@maltatown.org.

Summer Enrollment Underway

is

Now is the best time to invest in your child's educational future!

The King's School is the most affordable private Christian school in the region. Designed around the Multiple Intelligence Model, the school’s Pre-K through 12th grade classes, explore, nurture and celebrate every child's thrilling awareness of their uniqueness, abilities and gifts! The King’s School’s 100acre Adirondack campus is located at 6087 Rt. 9N, Lake Luzerne.

An open house is taking place August 30, from 3-8 p.m. For more information or to schedule a tour, call (518) 654-6230 or visit www.kingsschool.info

Third Annual Country and Bluegrass Jamboree Wednesday, August 8 will be the third annual Country and Bluegrass Jamboree at Little Theater on the Farm, 27 Plum Rd., Fort Edward. The Jamboree runs from noon-10 p.m. with each of the five bands playing two sets, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Suggested donation is $10. Vendors are welcome and should call (518) 747-3421.

Raffles and refreshments will be available. For more information, the schedule of performances and directions, visit www.littletheater27.org.

Here Lies Saratoga's Past: Greenridge Cemetery Part I Sackett Gates, Lincoln Ave., Saratoga Springs On Sunday, July 29, starting at 10:30 a.m., Gloria May will give a tour of the Greenridge Cemetery.

Participants can view the beautiful crypts and mausoleums, and discover the history of some of Saratoga's most prominent citizens. For more information, call (518) 587-5030 or visit www.saratogapreservation.org

Send your local briefs to Eric Havens at ehavens@ saratogapublishing.com before Monday at 5 p.m. for Friday publication

upcoming town meetings Town of Ballston: Ballston Town Hall 323 Charlton Road 885-8502 www.townofballstonny.org 7/31: Public Hearing, 7 p.m.

Public Hearing, 7:15 p.m.

Town Board, 7:30 p.m.

8/1: Zoning Board, 7:30 p.m.

Village of Ballston Spa: 66 Front Street 885-5711 www.ballstonspany.org 7/30: Village Board, 7:30 p.m.

Town of Greenfield: 7 Wilton Road 893-7432 www.townofgreenfield.com 7/31: Planning Board, 7 p.m.

8/2: Town Board, 7:30 p.m.

Town of Malta: 2540 Route 9 899-2818 www.malta-town.org 7/30: Town Board Agenda, 6:30 p.m.

Town of Milton: 503 Geyser Road 885-9220 www.townofmiltonny.org City of Saratoga Springs: 474 Broadway 587-3550 www.saratoga-springs.org Town of Saratoga: 12 Spring Street, Schuylerville 695-3644 www.townofsaratoga.com Village of Schuylerville: 35 Spring Street 695-3881 www.villageofschuylerville.or 8/1: Board of Water Management, 7 p.m.

Town of Stillwater: 66 East St., Riverside Mechanicville, NY 12118 www.stillwaterny.org 8/2: Town Board Agenda, 7 p.m.

Town of Wilton: 22 Traver Road 587-1939 www.townofwilton.com 8/2: Town Board, 7 p.m.

Saratoga County Board of Supervisors 40 McMaster St., # 1 Ballston Spa, NY 12020-1985 (518) 885-2240 www.saratogacountyny.gov 7/30: Public Hearing, 8 a.m.

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

living

27 - Aug 2 July

events Ongoing Events Tails and Terpsichore Exhibit National Museum of Dance, 99 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs An exhibit about the many occurrences where animal and dance themes become intertwined.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 20 November 24 (518) 584-2225

Oklahoma Training Track Tours The National Museum of Racing, 191 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs This walking tour covers approximately one mile and lasts for one and a half hours. $10; 8:30 a.m.

June 2 - October 27 (518) 584-0400, ext. 120

Saratoga Artisans and Crafters’ Market High Rock Pavilion Thursdays, June 8 - August 31 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

(518) 461-4893

Tang Museum Concerts: UpBeat on the Roof Tang Museum, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs A different artist performs every Friday through August 31 at 7 p.m. on the Tang Museum rooftop patio. For more information, call (518) 580-8080

Concerts in the Park Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa From now until August 28.

Thursday evenings 6-8 p.m. For more information, visit www.ballston.org

History, Legends, Lore and More Saratoga Springs Visitors Center From now untill September 2. Here you will explore the oldest park in the state and learn why it was one of America’s earliest resort destinations. This tour departs the Visitor Center daily at 10:30 a.m. rain or shine. For more information, call (518) 587-3241.

The Philadelphia Orchestra SPAC, Saratoga Springs From August 1 - 18. The Philadelphia Orchestra's live sound dazzles the soul and inspires the spirit. For more information, visit www.spac.org.

Friday, July 27 Saratoga Choral Festival SPA Little Theater A concert open to the public at 8 p.m. All seats $25. For more information, visit www.saratogachoralfest.org.

Saratoga Springs Antiques Show City Center Introducing a new show offering antiques including classic American and European furniture, pewter, silver, Oriental carpets, folk art and pottery as well as fine art.

For more information, visit www.barnstar.com.

Saturday, July 28 Spa Park Garden Tour Saratoga Spa State Park Visit Spa Park for a tour of the bountiful gardens at the Route 9 entrance of the Avenue of the Pines. Caretakers of the gardens, Dan and Joan, will be there to answer your gardening questions.

The rain date is July 29. For more information, call (518) 584-2000, ext. 150.

All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet Eagle Mills Cider Co & Family Fun Park Half price admission to Family Fun Park with breakfast purchase.

Cannot be combined with discounted combo pack rates. For more information, call (518) 8838700.

CALENDAR

Sunday, July 29 Shakespeare in the Park Congress Park, Saratoga Springs Free performance of “Twelfth Night” at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.saratogashakespeare.com.

National Dance Day Celebration 99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs Bring your family and friends and get ready to MOVE! Adults $6, seniors/students $5, kids under 12: free! Refreshments will be sold. A portion of the proceeds raised will be donated to the Dizzy Feet Foundation. For more information, visit www.dancemuseum.org.

Monday, July 30 Family Bat House Building Saratoga Spa State Park build wooden bat houses and learn about New York’s nine bat species. You'll measure, mark and hammer together your own standard bat house which can be used to keep bats out of your house and in the wild. Registration is required.

Fee is $10 per family. For more information or to register, call (518) 584-2000 ext. 150

Building Buzz for Your Business Tec-Smart Campus of Hudson Valley Community College, Malta A course for business owners interested in increasing the visibility of their companies in tough economic times will be held from 7 - 9 p.m.

To register, call (518) 629-7339.

Tuesday, July 31 Summer in Saratoga Craft Fair Congress Park, Saratoga Springs Rain or shine event benefits the Saratoga History Museum. Takes place from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, call (518) 4398379.

Italian Cuisine Cooking Class Gore Mountain, North Creek Class includes group and one-onone instruction, aprons and side

towels, a family-style meal and a recipe booklet to take home.

Reservations recommended. For more information, call (518) 2512411.

Wednesday, August 1 The 30th Annual Summer Benefit Auction The Polo Meadow at Saratoga Casino & Raceway This year's event hopes to raise $400,000 for a Community Health Resource Center. For more information, call (518) 583-8340.

Puppet Potpourri Saratoga Springs Public Library 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. This fun festival of frolics is the Puppet People's original variety show accompanied by musical favorites.

For more information, call (518) 584-7860, ext. 3.

Thursday, August 2 Silks & Saddles - Party For A Cause Vapor Night Club at Saratoga Casino & Raceway Benefit fundraiser for the Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County's Adult Equine Program. 7 - 11 p.m. For more information, call (518) 885-8995.

Video Game Design Lab Saratoga Springs Public Library Teens, learn some basics of video game design in this hands-on workshop using an easy-to-learn video game design program. Bring a flash drive if you would like to save your game. Open to teens grades 6-12. For more information, call (518) 584-7860.

Upcoming Events Big Truck Day Maple St. School, Saratoga Springs On August 3 come see all kinds of big trucks. $5 for kids; $1 for adults.

For more information, call (518) 584-5540.

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Schenectady Greenmarket and the Chefs’ Consortium for a new and unique event: Grow, Buy and Eat Local. One big, long table will be set up in the Arcade. The exciting evening is focused on farm-totable awareness and supporting local farmers and food artisans. For more information, call (518) 3466204.

VFW Ladies Auxiliary Garage Sale VFW Post 420, 190 Excelsior Ave., Saratoga Springs On August 4 at 9 a.m. a huge sale to support veteran programs and to send packages overseas to the troops is taking place. Enjoy the air conditioned comfort at Post 420 in the hall. For more information, call (518) 669-0364.

Farmers’ Markets Saratoga Springs High Rock Park Wednesdays 3 - 6 p.m.

Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. www.saratogafarmersmarket.org

Greenfield Center Middle Grove Park on Middle Grove Rd. Fridays 4 - 7 p.m. www.greenfieldhistoricalsociety.com

Ballston Spa Wiswall Park on Front St. Thursdays 3 - 6 p.m.

Saturdays 9 a.m. noon www.ballston.org

Burnt Hills / Ballston Lake Corner of Lake Hill Rd. and Route 50 Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Malta Outstanding in the Arcade Proctors Theatre, 432 State St., Schenectady On August 4 join Proctors,

Community Center Tuesdays 3 - 6 p.m. www.saratogafarmersmarket.org

Send your calendar items to Eric Havens at ehavens@saratogapublishing.com before 5 p.m. on Monday for Friday publication.

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SARATOGA

PULSE

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Local Gigs Week of 7/27-8/2:

Send listings to entertainment@saratogapublishing.com

Friday, 7.27:

•Forthlin Road, 9 pm

•Marcus Benoit Band, 9 pm

•Azzaam Hameed, 7:30 pm

@ 9 maple avenue - 587.7759

•High Peaks Band, 9 pm @ bailey’s - 583.6060

•The Schmooze, 9 pm @ bentley’s - 899.4300

•Ray Murray & the Bomb Squad, 8 pm @ caffè lena - 583.0022

•Funk Evolution, 9 pm @ dango’s - 587.2022

•Erin Harkes Band, 9 pm @ gaffney’s - 587.7359

•Master Cylinders, 7:30 pm @ irish times - 583.0003

•Vivid, 7:30 pm @ paddock lounge - 330.2426

•Hair of the Dog, 8 pm @ the parting glass - 583.1916

•Gianni Russo, 6:30 pm @ primelive ultra lounge - 583.4563

•Maze (post Allman Brothers show), 11 pm @ putnam den - 584.8066

•The Blue Olives, 7 pm @ tang - 580.8080

•Soul Session, 8 pm @ vapor - 581.5772

@ the parting glass - 583.1916 @ panza’s - 584.6882

•Out of the Box, 6:30 pm @ primelive ultra lounge - 583.4563

•Skeletons in the Piano, 9 pm @ putnam den - 584.8066

•DVDJ Reel, 9 pm @ vapor - 581.5772

Sunday, 7.29: •Special Creek Bluegrass Band, 7 pm @ caffè lena - 583.0022

•Master Cylinder, 8 pm @ dango’s - 587.2022

•Woodstone, 8 pm @ gaffney’s - 587.7359

•Jeff Strange, 9 pm @ the parting glass - 583.1916

Thursday, 8.2: •Slow Burn, 8 pm @ dango’s - 587.2022

•Soul Session, 8 pm @ gaffney’s - 587.7359

•Joe’s Boys, 8:30 pm @ the parting glass - 583.1916

Saturday, 7.28:

•Stone Revival Band, 9 pm

•Arch Stanton Quartet, 9 pm

•Party for a Cause, 9 pm

@ 9 maple avenue - 587.7759

•The Resonators, 9 pm @ bailey’s - 583.6060

•Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, 8 pm @ caffè lena - 583.0022

•Vivid (from CT), 9 pm @ dango’s - 587.2022

•Virgil Cain, 9 pm @ gaffney’s - 587.7359

•Harmony Rocks, 9:30 pm @ irish times - 583.0003

•Off the Hook, 10 pm @ jp bruno’s - 745.1180

•Master Cylinder, 7:30 pm @ paddock lounge - 330.2426

@ putnam den - 584.8066 @ vapor - 581.5772

Open Mics: •Sun. Open Mic, 7 pm @ bailey’s - 583.6060

•Mon. w/Steve Candlen, 8 pm @ irish times - 583.0003

•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

PULSE

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Schuylerville’s Laffer Gallery Presents ‘Rocks and Raku’ SCHUYLERVILLE - Local artist Erik Laffer and The Laffer Gallery will present a new exhibition for the 2012 Saratoga Race Course season entitled “Rocks and Raku,” running from August 10 September 16.

The Laffer Gallery will be holding a reception for their new exhibi-

tion Friday, August 10, at 96 Broad Street in Schuylerville. The reception and display will feature artwork by Teri Malo and Jill FishonKovachick.

Painter and New England native, Teri Malo creates magnificent, textured landscapes that primarily explore a sense of place from the

photo provided

The Laffer Gallery, located at 96 Broad Street in Schuylerville.

Blackstone Valley to the coastal New England areas. Malo’s artwork can be seen in many public and private collections, including The Blackstone Group, The Ritz Carlton Hotel, The Marriott Hotel, Baystate Medical Center and Otis Elevator.

Jill Fishon-Kovachick is a renowned local clay artist and owner/director of the Saratoga Clay Arts Center located in Schuylerville. Fishon-Kovachick utilizes raku, sagger and high fire techniques to create subtle yet resplendent tones of earth and sky in her work. In her own words, “[The] natural coloration reflected in my work brings everything together for me.”

The Laffer Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery and custom frame shop owned and operated by artist Erik Laffer, showcasing nationally established and emerging contemporary artists working across a variety of mediums.

Exhibitions ranging from realism to abstraction rotate every 4-6 weeks, with opening receptions for each exhibit.

Guests are invited to join the artists Friday, August 10, from 6 - 9 p.m. for the exhibition’s opening reception, featuring a night of fine art, hors d'oeuvres and great conversation at The Laffer Gallery,

27

located just minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs.

The Laffer Gallery summer hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. or by appointment. The gallery will be closed for business on Mondays.

To learn more about the gallery, call (518) 695-3181.

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PULSE

SARATOGA

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Nickelback, Bush Rock SPAC

by Andrew Marshall Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS – There are few acts in the world as polarizing as the Canadian rock act Nickelback.

Though they released their first album themselves back in 1996, their music didn’t catch on until their 2001 release “Silver Side Up,” which contained the band’s first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit “How You Remind Me.”

The band was a moderate success, but it was their singer’s association with one of the biggest superhero movies of all time that would catapult them to superstardom. Frontman Chad Kroeger teamed up with Josey Scott, the vocalist from the similarlymaligned-yet-less-successful rock band Saliva, to record the track “Hero.” The song was featured on the soundtrack for 2004’s Spiderman 2, which ultimately grossed $787 million worldwide. The accompanying

exposure led to the song peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominating Top 40 radio station playlists for the majority of the summer.

Since then, Nickelback has churned out radio-friendly rock hits at a startlingly consistent rate, to the tune of 21 million records sold in the United States alone, and over 50 million worldwide since 1996. Their status as icons in pop culture extends past just mainstream radio, as their song “Burn it to the Ground” is featured as the opening theme song to WWE Monday Night Raw and was included in the video game Rock Band.

One could argue all their exposure has done just as much to promote the band’s image has it has to dilute it.

While business is good, Nickelback seems to have assumed the role of “most despised band” which was vacated upon the breakup of Creed.

A simple search of the band’s name on Twitter invites hundreds of contempt-filled statements, including comparisons to car crashes and idle threats of breaking the radio – all made within 30 minutes of my initial search.

So which is it? Personally, I have a pretty good idea as to why people don’t like Nickelback. I wanted to know what the other side saw; the side that made the band into the CDselling juggernauts who are invited to play at the NHL All Star Game. That opportunity presented itself as Nickelback, along with late-90s alternative darlings Bush, were the latest to grace the stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center July 24.

Opening the show as previously mentioned was the English grunge act, Bush. The band is now mainly a vehicle for handsome lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Gavin Rossdale, as the rest of the band had only been playing together since 2010, or about

photo by MarkBolles.com

“Look at this Photograph” of Nickelback performing at SPAC. 13 years since Bush’s heyday. The band played a mixture of songs from their debut album Sixteen Stone, including “Machinehead” and “Everything Zen.” At one point during their set I found it strange that Rossdale had put down his guitar and was only providing the vocals, which I’d never seen him do. It made much more sense, as he then took off running down the aisles at SPAC, out and around to the lawn, where he doubled back and ran across the balcony – all while singing the song. They followed this up with a cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together,” which was mainly sang by the audience as Rossdale’s microphone had seemed to stop working midway through his jaunt around the amphitheatre.

The band closed with Rossdale onstage alone playing their biggest song, the tragic-yet-peaceful “Glycerine,” before closing with their first single, “Come Down.”

Finally, it was time for the main event. Nickelback, to their credit, had one of the more elaborate stage setups of any concert I’ve attended at SPAC. The band came out and played in

photo by MarkBolles.com

Gavin Rossdale leads Bush as Nickelback’s opening act.

front of a massive LED screen and detonated more than enough pyrotechnics, almost like you’d see at a WWE event. Kroeger and his bandmates might put some people off by taking their job description as “rock stars “a bit too seriously, but at the very least, their stage presence was lively and fun.

There were moments that certainly grated on me. Kroeger’s insistence on not only taking shots of liquor between every song, but talking about how cool it made him just came off as juvenile. His interaction with his fans bordered on patronizing, as if they should have felt really special to get singled out by Chad Kroeger at a Nickelback concert. Kroeger’s glorification of alcohol went so far as to dedicate their anthem to blacking out, “Bottles Up,” to a boy in the audience celebrating his 13th birthday.

At one point, before they played their hit song “Photograph,” Kroeger left the stage to play the song on a riser about 15 feet above the rest of the band for some reason. Couple that with the giant video board behind them projecting the image of giant, spinning, golden factory gears behind them and I sat in bewilderment as the rest of the crowd went berserk.

If you were a fan of Nickelback, I guarantee you were absolutely thrilled with their performance. While Kroeger might be off-putting to some, it’s clear that the band’s popularity is not an accident. People were streaming toward merchandise booths, where merchants were selling $35 T-shirts by the box load. At the end of the day, the band packed one of the finer venues in the state and made a lot of money in the process.

I’m sure that makes it a lot easier to deal with their detractors.

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

PULSE

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The Philadelphia Orchestra Returns To SPAC August 1-18 SARATOGA SPRINGS - Three weeks of dazzling repertoire, famed guest conductors, superstar soloists, a multimedia event and exciting pops programs will highlight Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s (SPAC) 2012 residency by The Philadelphia Orchestra, August 1 - 18. Highlights of the season include SPAC’s welcome of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the

dynamic music director designate of The Philadelphia Orchestra; performances by classical superstars including Lang Lang and Yo-Yo Ma; appearances by renowned guest conductors, including Saratoga debuts

by David Robertson and Gianandrea Noseda; and the multimedia movie screening of the beloved film classic, “The Wizard of Oz.”

photos provided

Left: The Ebene Quartet. Top right: Huge crowds gather to see The Philidelphia Orchestra at SPAC. Bottom middle: (photo by Chris Lee) Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts The Philadelphia Orchestra. Bottom right: Lang Lang on piano.

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PULSE

SARATOGA

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Original play ‘American Soup’ Hits Arts Center August 3 - 12 “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”

- Andy Warhol

by Daniel Schechtman Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS When playwright Mary Jane Hansen first began writing “American Soup,” an original play following the lives of two American families, interspersed with scenes and observations from famed artist Andy Warhol, she did so with one particular actor in mind: John McGuire.

McGuire, who bears more than a passing resemblance to the late artist, puts his heart and soul on the line as Warhol, who struggles to find meaning and understanding in the changing world around him.

“This is a labor of love,” said McGuire, who reprises the role following performances in Troy, Sweden, Italy and Queens.

“Anytime as an actor I get a role for somebody who was real - boy do I have a lot of responsibility. I really have to be as close to accu-

rate and as faithful as possible, because that portrayal has meaning to people all over the place.”

Stretching from the 1950s through the 1990s, the production follows both the artist and the two American families as they live through the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the moon landing, the Vietnam War, the Ali-Frasier fight and more, all set to live music popular from each decade.

“It tells the story of the angst of that time, and how the families progress - from growing up together to falling in love, falling out of love - through tragedy and through the Vietnam War,” said Ron Holgate, Tony-Award winning actor with the production and Saratoga Springs resident.

Holgate, who plays opposite his wife, Anny DeGange (who play’s Holgate’s stage wife in “American Soup”), takes on the role of Tony Marcello, patriarch of the family and owner of a family restaurant in Queens, New York. Marcello fights for decades to keep the restaurant going while raising two daughters, holding his family together during a violent and turbulent period in American history.

“It’s a show that I think everyone of a certain age can identify with, because they’ve all lived the same existence that these two

photo provided

John McGuire takes on the roll of Andy Warhol in “American Soup.” families have lived,” said Holgate. “It’s nostalgic, in a way, but it’s also about the problems you have with your own families.

We all tell the same kind of stories, and that’s what this show is about.”

The production, which runs August 3 - 12 at The Arts Center in downtown Saratoga Springs, is presented by Creative Place International (CPI), founded by William and Patricia Snyder.

With a home base in Saratoga Springs, CPI also holds regular workshops for young, aspiring thespians. Classes include not

only acting and performing workshops, but writing workshops as well, giving young artists the foundation they need to create their own theater productions.

CPI strives to present original plays accessible to family audiences in Saratoga Springs. To learn more about CPI, visit www.thecreativeplaceinternational.org or call (518) 584-7780.

To purchase your tickets for “American Soup,” visit www.brownpapertickets.com and search “American Soup.”

PULSE

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

New York City Ballet Dancer Teaches Master Class at Myers Dance Center SARATOGA SPRINGS - The New York City Ballet’s summer season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center may have come and gone, but professional dancer Wendy Whelan gave aspiring dance students a lesson that will last a lifetime Thursday, July 19 at the Myers Dance Center.

Whelan, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, took some time between performances to teach a master class for intermediate-advanced levels at the Myers Dance Center.

“I am so excited to have Miss Myers and her excellent staff and dancers in Saratoga,” said Whelan of the master class. “I

have worked with them for many years performing in their annually sold-out performances of the “Nutcracker” at Proctor’s and am thrilled to be able to teach a class.”

To learn more about the Myers Dance Center, located at 153 Regent Street, Saratoga Springs, visit www.myersnortheast.org.

photo by MarkBolles.com

Wendy Whelan teaches a master class at the Myers Dance Center.

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Seeking Talent for Town of Malta Productions MALTA - The Town of Malta Parks and Recreation Department is looking for local talent in two upcoming productions.

Local performing artists wishing to share their talents in the Malta Community Day Show, “Spotlight on Malta,” may audition by appointment during the week of August 6 10. Singers, dancers and other variety acts are encouraged to try out.

For those interested in joining the Spotlighter’s Theater Troupe’s production of “King Midas and the Palace of Gold,” actors may

audition by appointment from August 26-27. The performance is held in December.

To schedule an audition, call or email the artistic director, Elyse Young, at (518) 899-4411, ext. 305 or theater@malta-town.org.

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PULSE

SARATOGA

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Skidmore’s Upbeat on the Roof Series

photo by MarkBolles.com

Street Corner Holler perform during Upbeat on the Roof.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – In the midst of celebrating their 12th season, the Upbeat on the Roof summer series at the Tang Museum features the region’s most diverse and eclectic musical talent. The display of styles ranges from experimental pop to Americana folk.

Street Corner Holler, a traditional raw blues band influenced

by Blind Willie McTell, Son House and Robert Johnson, performed July 20. Their approach to classic blues combines original material alongside covers of traditional folk music.

Up next for Upbeat on the Roof is a more contemporary approach to blues and jazz music, with The Blue Olives – regulars at the Chicago House of Blues – bringing their brass and funk to the Tang July 27. The tight vocal harmonies and bombastic horn section will have you tapping your feet and shaking your hips in no time.

The modern jazz group Brian Patneaude Quartet will be appearing August 3 for Upbeat on the Roof. The quartet has become one of the more celebrated jazz acts in upstate New York, blending modern jazz styles with accessible melodies and harmonic textures. Their music appeals to both the casual listener and jazz aficionados.

Down the line for Upbeat on the Roof is the alternative-country group Steven L. Smith Band playing August 10; Three Gals and Their Buddy Larry (with special guest Sam) will bring some folk rock to the Tang August 17; Deja Voodoo Boys will bring you to the Bayou with some New Orleans-inspired swing August 24; and finally Bryan Thomas’ acoustic soul act rounds out the month, playing August 31.

For more information about the Upbeat on the Roof summer concert series, visit www.tang.skidmore.edu and click on “Events.”

PULSE

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

Come to the Cabaret at Spa Little Theater

by Daniel Schechtman Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS - Ask Brian Cassier about the Great American Songbook and he’ll argue it isn’t just about Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael and Cole Porter.

“It also encompasses the great American songwriters of the 60s and 70s - Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Joni Mitchell and Peggy Lee,” said Cassier. “It’s expanded in the folk/rock and roll genre as well.”

It’s these great artists, mixed with old standards and favorites, that Cassier and company will be bringing to the Spa Little Theater for “Live From the Algonquin,” beginning August 19 - 28.

Cassier, who has performed at SPAC for nearly 20 years during the ballet and jazz festival, is joined by the “Crown Prince of Cabaret” Steve Ross, jazz icon Wesla Whitfield and Tony Award-nominated actor Bob Stillman for seven performances that stretch the traditional definition of cabaret, appealing to younger and older audience members alike.

“We’re really trying to bring together the greatest American music ever written,” said Cassier.

“Everyone from Irving Berlin to James Taylor. We’re really trying to get that music out there in an atmosphere that’s really comfortable for anyone from the age of 20 to 80.”

Steve Ross will open the series with his take on the works of Irving Berlin, the great Americana icon of traditional cabaret. Ross will be followed by Wesla Whitfield, who celebrates the singer and songwriter Peggy Lee - the artist most commonly known for her version of “Fever,” but whose influence was much more far-reaching. Bob Stillman will close the series by mixing songs by George Gershwin with Van Heusen and Jon Denver, further expanding the Great American Songbook.

Along with great music, each show will include carefully scripted moments that put each song and performer into a greater context, shining a light on the backstory and the meaning behind each song.

“The one thing I always found is when you lay out where a song came from, what it was written for and about, the listener can understand

photos provided

Top: Brian Cassier joins (bottom) Wesla Whitfield, Steve Ross and Bob Stillman for Cabaret From the Algonquin at the Spa Little Theater. the context and become involved emotionally,” said Cassier. “And that’s what we focus on when we’re writing all of these shows. And afterward you just say, ‘wow, I never knew that. I didn’t understand how that really affected him or why he wrote it.’”

A new addition to this year’s show includes a special performance by Wesla Whitfield on Travers Night typically a dark day at SPAC. “There hasn’t been a [show] on

Travers Night for years here,” said Cassier. “We decided, if people don’t want to go bar hopping after the races, they can come by and listen to the Peggy Lee Songbook.”

The Travers Night show will include a post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, champagne and light refreshments.

Tickets are now on sale for “Live From the Algonquin.” To purchase your tickets or to learn more about each show, visit www.SPAC.org.

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PULSE

SARATOGA

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

‘Blues, Brews and BBQ’ Fundraiser at the National Museum of Dance SARATOGA SPRINGS - It’s all Blues, Brews and BBQ at the National Museum of Dance Friday, July 27 from 8 p.m. - midnight, a fundraising event celebrating the arts and the always beautiful Saratoga summers.

The evening will include music

from three different blues artists.

Tristan Chase is a Texas native/NYC-based artist that combines elements of blues, folk and soul. Chase presents a vintage sound with a sexy modern touch, a retrofusion of sorts. Also performing in Saratoga’s own Blues Noir, one of

the finest original blues bands in the Northeast, having played with the likes of Pintop Perkins and at venues such as the original Nectar’s and the Cooperstown Blues Train. Low N’ Lonesome, two fingerstyle/acoustic blues guitar players and songwriters, will perform top-notch originals, as well as blues-based classics.

There will be craft beer tastings sponsored by the Olde Saratoga Brewery as well as a bourbon whiskey tasting, organized by D’Andrea’s Liquor. The event also includes an open bar of beer and wine. While enjoying the outstanding music selection, guests will dine on the area’s favorite barbecue: PJ’s Bar-B-Q-S-A.

A classic photobooth, provided by Saratoga Photobooth Company, as well as other amusements will also be on hand.

Admission is $65 at the door and $50 for museum members. Tickets are available by phone, (518) 5842225, ext. 3005 or at the museum’s website www.dancemuseum.org.

This is a 21 and older event.

The proceeds raised will be used to fund K-12 arts programming at the museum.

“We want to provide fun events for young people while helping the

museum grow,” said Thomas Dragonette, event chair. “We keep our ticket price low so you can treat yourself to dinner, drinks and great entertainment, but also give back at the same time.”

For more information about the museum’s current exhibits and upcoming events, visit www.dancemuseum.org or call (518) 584-2225.

The National Museum of Dance is located at 99 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs and is currently open to the public Tuesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SARATOGA

TODAY

PUZZLES PUZZLES PUZZLES

Sudoku

Crossword

See puzzle solution on page 37

Scrabblegram

Movie Review

See puzzle solution on page 37

The Dark Knight Rises

ACROSS 1 Anthony’s talk radio partner 5 Kindergarten lessons 9 Some carpets 14 Struggle at the finish 15 Combustible mineral 16 Put off 17 The “Iliad” film version for kids?

19 Burgundy capital 20 Great Society agcy.

21 Rio greeting 23 One of the Spice Girls 24 Coming-of-age film about DNA? 28 Gp. in a ’50s labor merger 29 Anticipate 30 Online self-image 32 Calendar abbr.

33 Superhuman 36 Bob Marley prison film?

43 Best Actress winner for “The Queen” 44 Sushi topping 45 Theme of Grisham’s “A Time to Kill” 48 Arise 52 First Amendment subj.

53 Epic poet-left-behind film?

56 Composer Khachaturian 58 Pin cushion?

59 Miami’s Marino 60 References, often 62 Shakespearean holiday film?

67 Modern read 68 Blunted blade 69 Flirt 70 Town near Bangor, in many King works 71 Tend 72 Kitchen addition?

DOWN 1 Frequently, to Frost 2 It’s something to shoot for 3 Life-changing promise 4 Fictional donkey 5 Broadway opening?

6 Rude welcome at the park 7 Chocolate substitute 8 In a feline way 9 Not irr.

10 Reagan Cabinet member 11 Utterly hopeless

You sacrifice your name, your body and the love of your life to achieve one goal. You achieved it, but someone later puts those achievements at risk. What do you do? Come out of hiding or run?

Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale) has abandoned the cape and mask so that Batman could never be arrested and prosecuted for the crimes committed by Harvey Dent that he took the fall for. He’s been living like a recluse for eight years while Commissioner James Gordon (played by Gary Oldman) has all but extinguished violent crime in Gotham. Gordon wants to reveal the truth during a celebration honoring Harvey Dent but decides the city isn’t ready for it. At that same celebration, a congressman is abducted and, while investigating the crime, Gordon is shot. The patrolman who rescues him, John Blake (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is promoted to detective and told he’s to report directly to the Commissioner. Blake (Gordon-Levitt) knows Batman’s true identity and pleads with Wayne to once again don the cape and mask. Commissioner Gordon echoes those sentiments when Wayne, incognito, visits him in the hospital. The villain, a terrorist and mercenary intent on destroying the city, is Bane. Bane (played by Tom Hardy) was once a member of the League of Shadows before being expelled by his and Bruce Wayne’s mentor, Ra’s al Ghul. Bane was hired by a competitor of Wayne Enterprises, John Daggett (played by Ben Mendelsohn). We’re also introduced to a master thief working with Bane, Selina Kyle (played by Anne Hathaway) who is, of course, Catwoman, though she’s never addressed by that name.

I was a latecomer to Nolan’s new take on the Batman story. I saw “The Dark Knight” in theaters, but I didn’t catch “Batman Begins,” the first film in the series, until it began airing on cable. Once I did, I bought the DVD. I bought “The Dark Knight” on DVD the day of its release. Bale as Batman was amazing in the first two films and he is just as good, if

At The Movies With Trey Roohan

Gasoline Alley

35

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

“Decide right now what nice thing you can do for somebody else.” anonymous

Words to know: harlequin - n, A conventional buffoon of the commedia dell'arte, traditionally presented in a mask and parti-colored tights. Adj, Having a pattern of brightly colored diamond shapes.

See puzzle solutions on page 37

12 Reverent hymn 13 Higher in rank 18 Neptune’s realm 22 2006 Whirlpool acquisition 24 Whiskey order 25 Diagram with relatives 26 Exclude 27 Mean business 29 Org. providing arrangements 31 Cry of disgust 34 Elephant tail?

35 Seller, presumably 37 Nice friend 38 Entrée 39 1983 Keaton film 40 Turkey is always next to it 41 Do, for example

42 “Wow” 45 Like the five films in this puzzle’s theme?

46 Oxygen-consuming organism 47 Hue and cry 49 Memorable telestrator user in NFL broadcasts 50 Sighed word 51 Generic 54 Normand of the silents 55 Military camp 57 “Is it just __ ...”

61 Shade of blue 63 Mens __: criminal intent 64 Bit of carping 65 Big bang cause 66 Dump

not better, in the third. Hardy as Bane is nowhere near as mesmerizing as Heath Ledger’s interpretation of The Joker, but he is far more intimidating. Hathaway as Catwoman is the best version of this character that I have seen to date. Of course, the other versions, portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry, were beautiful but one-dimensional. I was hoping this film would be better than its predecessor. Perhaps it’s the notion that this means the story is over, but I thought “The Dark Knight” was the best in the series. That said, Rises is brilliant and anyone who’s seen the previous films should see this latest one as soon as possible. (8.6/10) For comments and questions, contact me at movies@roohanrealty.com.

Broom Hilda

Animal Crackers

36

SARATOGA

CLASSIFIED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

HELP WANTED

FOR RENT

TODAY

FOR RENT WILTON McGregor Village Apts.

SUMMER SPECIAL - 1ST MONTH FREE 2 bdrm, 1 bath. Cats only.

(A/C avail) 518-886-8013 All 1st flr. units includes features for persons w/disabilities required by the Fair Housing Act. Now $775/month.

AUTOMOTIVE for sale

REAL ESTATE Popular Fast Food FranchiseEstab. 5 years in Saratoga.

Loyal following. Sales $672K. Motivated owner. Only $105K. CBAI (518) 459-9070

OPEN HOUSE, SUN. 12-2P

ATTN: COMPUTER WORK. Work from anywhere 24/7.

Up to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/ mo. Full Time. Training provided. www.workservices3.com Albany, NY Area Athletic Republic Training Franchise! Turnkey business includes: equipment, build-out, established customer base, protected territory. Perfect for sports medicine pros. Call 518-879-4002, Jack@AthleticRepublicCP.com

MERCHANDISE Privacy Hedge, Windbreak, Cedar Tree, Evergreen Mail Order $7.50, Delivery, Installation Other Species Available! Services Available in NY, NJ, & New England. CALL 1-800-889-8238 or 518-314-1446 discounttreefarm.com Dining Room Set Table w/4 cushioned chairs & china cabinet w/lighting. White Washed Oak, Asking $300.00. Call 791-5691

GARAGE SALE Yard Sale The Old Wayside Inn, Greenfield EVERYTHING MUST GO! Antique sleigh, pipe organ, furniture, restaurant supplies, unique china, etc…August 3, 4 & 5th / from 8am 104 Wilton Rd., Greenfield Garage Sale 4 Wampum Drive, Geyser Crest Sat 7/28 & Sun 7/29, 9 – 4 Household items, no kids stuff Ragtime Stuff for Sale.

4084 Route 9N. Month of August, Mon.-Wed. 10-? Antiques, collectibles, funky stuff, cast iron.

Check it out! Watch for signs.

SERVICES

Business Service Directory cleaning

Clean As A Whistle Professional Residential Cleaning From our shining customer service, to your sparkling clean home, you can count on Clean As A Whistle!

Reliable. Insured. Bonded 518-894-4476 Reach the most readers with Saratoga TODAY Classifieds! Call 5812480 TODAY!!

decorating ELEGANT INTERIORS Custom painting and wallpapering. Residential/ light commercial. Faux finishes. Custom Molding.

Free estimates fully insured/ ref. Evenings & weekend schedules avail.

When attention to detail matters. Greg Perreault (518)366-5743

handyman services Dry wall repair, Painting, Cleaning Services, Junk Removal, Dump runs, Clean Outs.

495-5539 or 421-5938

small engine repair Adirondack Equipment Repair Snowblowers, Chain Saws, Lawn Equipment. Pick up & Delivery 581-3809 87 Old Schuylerville Rd, Saratoga Springs, 12866

Tree Service Residential Tree Service Tree Removal & Cabeling Iron Horse Tree Service 518-677-5878

PETS KITTENS - 2 beautiful, orange, male kittens. Born 3/13/12. Inseparable.

Very good with people, love to play indoors/outdoors. Good loving homes only. $20/ea. Call Walter. 518331-6173 (c) or 518-608-5084 (h).

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE OPEN HOUSE, SUN. 12-2P

GARAGE SALE CRAFT/GARAGE SALE VENDORS WANTED - The Saratoga-Wilton Elks Ladies Auxiliary is looking for market vendors for an indoor market to be held once a month at the Lodge, 1 Elks Lane, off Rte.9 Maple Avenue, Saratoga, on Sundays from 11 to 3:30 pm.

Admission is free and the cost for an 8 foot table space will be $15 each paid in advance. Doors will open to set up at 9:30 am. The next dates are June 24, September 23, October 28, and November 25, 2012.Come and enjoy; for an application or to answer any questions please call Linda at 289-5470 or Debbie at 885-6506. The money is used for our ongoing community donations.

1998 Chevy Express 3500 Box truck • 84,136 miles • 6 brand new tires • Anti-lock brakes • Bucket seats with new seat covers • $5900 Call 587-4500 and ask for Stephen Towne

37 LUTHER RD, SARATOGA SPRINGS

Attention all Globalfoundries employees relocating! Look no farther... Immaculate colonial set back on almost 5 acres only minutes to plant, dowtown saratoga and saratoga lake.

Long private driveway and professionally bricked entry enhance your first impression of this lovely home. Open floor plan, exposed natural beamed ceiling and brick fireplace welcome you upon entry. Updates include windows, security system and wood stove hookup. Very peaceful setting with everything you need just minutes away. Exit 12 of the northway, east on dunning, right on 9P to Luther Rd. $314,900 Robert P Goldey 605-3110 bobgoldey@heerrealty.com

17 ELTINGE PL, GLENVILLE Custom split ranch in a lovely family neighborhood. 4 bdrms, 2 full baths. Bright vaulted LR w/brick fp, gleaming hardwood floors, slider to deck and beautifully landscaped backyard. Sub-level has family room, spacious master, full bathroom, laundry and door to yard. Also has a big clean basement for storage and spacious 2 car garage..You will fall in love with the gardens! The pride of ownership is apparent in this wonderfully maintained home. $224,900 Jane W Mehan 587-4500 jmehan@roohanrealty.com RoohanRealty.com

SARATOGA

TODAY

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

SPORTS

37

Community Sports Bulletin Northern Titans take AABC Babe Ruth State Championship

Update on the Expansion at Saratoga Regional YMCA’s Wilton Branch

The Northern Titans, an age 15-and-under Eastern New York Travel Baseball team with players from Saratoga, Ballston Spa and Schenectady, won the AABC Babe Ruth State Championship last week by beating South Colonie 4-0 at Cook Park, in Colonie, New York.

The winner of this tournament advances to Surprise, Ariz., for the AABC World Series or can elect to play in the AABC Super Regional Tournament in Brooklyn scheduled for August 1-3, 2012. The team is coached by Ballston Spa High School varsity baseball coaches Kevin Sheremeta and Mike Hubbs.

Photo Provided

Photo Provided

Top Row (from left to right): Andy Marotta, Mike Angelini, Shane Winkle, Jimmy Bennett, Matt Koebbeman, Coach Kevin Sheremeta, Coach Mike Hubbs.

Front Row: Justin Decker, Ian Hauser, Grant Touhey, Tim Fitzgerald, Joe Canty, Brady Fallon, Brandon Gwinner.

Send your sports stories or briefs to Andrew Marshall, Sports Editor at amarshall@saratoga publishing.com

Puzzle Solutions from pg. 35

The addition to the YMCA’s Wilton Branch is almost fully enclosed by steel and the structure of the portico is essentially finished. Currently, construction workers are busy installing the hollow plank flooring on the second floor. The purpose of the hollow planks is to help deaden any sound that would be transferred between floors.

“The progress is unbelievable,” says Chris Defibaugh, Wilton branch director as he surveyed the construction site July 12.

Phase 2 of the Wilton Branch expansion began in April 2012 and is expected to be completed by this fall. The Saratoga Regional YMCA believes that this expansion is necessary to meet the needs of the local communities, serve individuals and families in search of well-being and continue to cultivate stronger relationships.

For more information on this project, contact Kelly Armer at (518) 583-9622, ext. 106. If you would like to contribute to the YMCA’s capital campaign, visit their website at www.saratogaregionalymca.org.

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SPORTS

SARATOGA

Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

TODAY

Who Does the NCAA Think They’re Punishing?

Damian Fantauzzi Talk about painful consequences, the NCAA is punishing Penn State University for Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse crimes. That's like blaming every gun owner in Aurora, Colorado, for the theater massacre of last week. Other

sanctions include a fine of $60 million and a four-year ban from any postseason play. Does the tuition go up for the student body? So does that mean that the students are as guilty as the authorities, including the late Joe Paterno, for shielding Sandusky? Is the NCAA punishing the whole state of Pennsylvania, as if they are guilty by association? It sounds like they are, because I feel that the penalties are an extreme case of overkill. This may be a move in desperation by the NCAA president, Mark Emmert, and the board of directors feeling pressured into responding.

The crime will be justifiably paid for through the judicial system, and the university will be liable for tens of millions of dollars in civil suits. Every normal American has voiced their opinion about Sandusky's sickness, and what they would like to do this predator – as well as those who were responsible for not preventing this monster from assaulting more young boys. The NCAA has also issued a reduction of scholarships to the maximum allowance of incoming players from 25 to 15 a year. Any entering or returning player is free to transfer without restrictions (others can maintain their scholarships and simply choose not to play.) The NCCA also vacated all victories from 1998-2011, and Paterno is now no longer the winningest college football coach in history. He now sits 12th all-time after losing those 111 victories. There is also a five-year probationary period along with the hiring of an academic monitor by the NCAA. That last part I really don’t get; Penn State University is well known for its academics and the percentage of athletes graduating with degrees. The school’s new president, Rodney Erickson, signed a consent agreement with NCAA and "accepts the penalties."

One article that I read on the Internet went something like: “Penn State's sanctions worse than 'death' because the program will be crippled for years.”

Sanctions or no sanctions, Penn State will be crippled and with the NCAA's punishments it will make it very difficult for the new head football coach, Bill O'Brien, to recruit. How does he sell a practically defunct Division I football program that has been reduced to bare bones?

It's a curse for the new guy, but where does he go from here?

What does he have to offer potential recruits? The last 15 years were swept under the carpet. How does he assure parents that their sons are going to be in a safe environment? What does he say to a freshman about

being able to play in postseason bowls, when they can't for four years? Where's the light at the end of the tunnel? Coach O'Brien has his hands full trying to convince kids that Penn State can have what it once had.

The mighty statue of Paterno has met its fate. It's gone for now, maybe for good, but I would like to think not forever.

For a while, there were students surrounding the figure to protect it from vandals. They can now go back to their quarters and study for summer exams, if they're not too distraught to focus. This is what interests me - the affect the sanctions will definitely have on the student body as a whole. I have a niece who will be entering her junior year at PSU in a few weeks, and for what it's worth, Joe Paterno still means something to the kids on campus. As wrong as he was for not revealing his longtime friend's crime, he will always be the Nittany Lions icon. Paterno will still be a positive entity for the students and alumni; he will still be the winningest college football coach in their minds and hearts. My personal feeling is that when the dust settles, maybe in the future, the statue will be returned to its place on campus.

I know there are people and children out there who have been or are being used and abused by sexual predators.

These are cruel, wicked and inhuman people who prey on the innocent and need to be brought to justice. We have all heard stories of abuse throughout history, from education, domestic life and religion.

There are many of these abusers who are walking freely in today's society. These monsters have the ability to intimidate their victims with fear and power, like Sandusky did. Some of these perpetrators have been shielded by the cloth. The people who are aware of these criminal acts need to uncover their eyes or else be held accountable if it is allowed to continue.

These atrocities have been going unpunished for centuries,

throughout the dark side of humanity. Good people need to step forward and break their silence to protect the innocent victims from abuse or they also will become part of the guilt, like the authorities at PSU did.

My question or questions to the NCAA: Why hand down a punishment of this magnitude that affects so many people who were unaware and had nothing to do with Sandusky's crimes? There are a large number of Nittany Lion fans undeserving of the severity of these sanctions - the players, the student body, the community, merchants of State College (the city adjacent to PSU) and the whole state of Pennsylvania. There are other punishments that could have been sanctioned against the school that wouldn't have such a universal impact on the bystanders. PSU's board of trustees cleaned their dirty laundry by firing the people of authority who used poor judgment concerning Sandusky’s acts of abuse and they will learn their fate in judiciary hearings.

Maybe it's a punishment that went too far, and seems unfair to the many people who are connected to and love PSU. An example being all of those games, the 111 wins from 1998 - 2011, were reversed as losses, what does that say to the players of those lost years.

That their efforts never happened? As a coach, I have never punished my team for something that one or two players might have done - it's unfair. Don't misunderstand my position: I feel that those who are guilty, and especially Sandusky, will get what they deserve. The blame has become like the Black Plague of the mid-1300s. Too many people are paying the price for a really bad bacterium! The Sandusky victims need to be justly rectified with the hope that there won't be any fallout of blame for Paterno’s fall from grace! They have suffered enough.

SARATOGA

TODAY

s m a e r D k c a d n o r i Ad Week of July 27 - August 2, 2012

To ise t r e v Ad ntact: Co Cindy Durfey cDurfey@ saratogapublishing.com 581-2480 ext. 204

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‘American Soup’ page 30

Local Gigs page 26

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BUSH See Page 28

Photos by MarkBolles.com

pulse

Week of July 27 August 2, 2012

Vol. 7 • Issue 30 • FREE • Saratoga TODAY

NICKELBACK

Take over SPAC