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I n d e p e n d e n t

Volume 8 • Issue 49 • December 13 – December 19, 2013

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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • (518) 581-2480

Sharon’s Winning Hand Iconic Creativity, On Deadline, Since 2000

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — To begin with, there’s the creative talent, without which nothing would follow.

Then there is the motivation to give back to the community where you yourself were raised; where generations before and after in your family make their home.

Finally, there is the delivery of the creative message, on deadline. Year after year. It’s something that a deadline journalist can specifically appreciate, but the product is one that all can enjoy.

Meet Sharon Bolton. She

Hard Times In Malta Ethics Complaints Move Up The Ladder To State Attorney General

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY

“I don’t care what happens to me.

This kind of stuff must stop.”

- Lynda Bablin

MALTA — Saratoga TODAY has exclusively learned that Lynda Bablin, Malta town tax receiver, has filed a complaint with New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office alleging improprieties in the way the Malta Town Board has attempted to circumvent her original ethics complaint, which was initiated on September 11.

Saratoga TODAY has received documents, which in

See Malta pg. 6

See Sharon pg. 9

Photo by MarkBolles.com

Torres Reflects On State Championship

See Streetwalk pg. 12

First Night Spotlight: Betsy and the Byegons See First Night pg. 29

Inside TODAY Blotter 3 Obituaries 5 Wilton Food Pantry

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Food 14,15 Gigs 28 32

Pgs. 20-22 Weekend Forecast FRIDAY

27|16 SATURDAY

34|25

Q.

See Torres pg. 36

Photo Page: Victorian Streetwalk From Above And Ground Level

Community Corner

by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Blue Streaks 2012-13 ice hockey state championship banner was officially unveiled Friday, December 6, with the help of last year’s team members Tyler Bullard and Pat Coyne. It was the second state title in program history and head coach Dave Torres “remembers every moment” of it.

When you think of names like Tyler Bullard, Dakota Smith, the Flynn brothers (Matt and Ryan), what are some of the words

Featured Stories

SUNDAY Photo by MarkBolles.com

28|3

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Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

St. Clements Christmas Concert -Tuesday, December 10 Photos by MarkBolles.com

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013 Paul J. DeCrescenzo, 23, of Route 9N in Greenfield Center, was arrested December 5 and charged with second degree criminal contempt and second degree aggravated harassment.

DeCrescenzo was arrested on a warrant at 8:37 a.m.

Terence John Witkop, 28, of Twin Lakes Road in Lake Placid, was arrested December 8 and charged with second degree burglary and fourth degree criminal mischief. Witkop was arrested at 5:49 a.m. after officers responded to a suspicious person call.

David J. Pieniazek, 40, of Juniper Drive in Ballston Spa was arrested December 7 and charged with DWI, a BAC more than .08 percent and failure to keep right. Pieniazek was arrested at 4:05 a.m. following a traffic stop.

Jesse W. White, 33, of Hughes Road in Middle Grove, was arrested December 7 and charged with DWI, BAC more than .08 percent, refusal of a prescreen test, failure to keep right, operation of vehicles with safety seats and belts and consumption of alcoholic beverages. White was arrested at 3:55 a.m. following a traffic stop.

Thomas J. Bowe, 46, of Russell Road in Schuylerville, was arrested December 7 and charged with speeding, DWI, BAC more than .08 percent and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation. Bowe was arrested at 2:29 a.m. following a traffic stop.

Elizabeth M. Mitchell, 22, of Broad Street in Schuylerville, was arrested December 7 and charged with an unsafe lane change, speeding, operating an unregistered motor vehicle on the highway, DWI and a BAC more than .08 percent. Mitchell

was arrested at 1:42 a.m. following a traffic stop.

Juan J. Munguia, 24, of Jefferson Terrace in Saratoga Springs, was arrested December 6 and charged with third degree criminal trespassing. Munguia was arrested at 8:49 p.m. following a trespass complaint Thomas A. Ford, 28, of 18 Ferdella St. in Moreau, was sentenced to three and a half years in state prison, five years post release supervision and restitution of $417.75 plus a surcharge, concurrent with one year incarceration on petit larceny in Saratoga County. Ford pled to the charge of second degree attempted robbery on October 11.

John J. Shannon, Jr., 26, of 331 Rowland St. in Milton, was sentenced to three years in the state prison and five years post release supervision.

Shannon pled to the charge of second degree assault on August 30.

Tammara L. Savage, 31, of 12 Horner Drive in Halfmoon, was sentenced to five years probation and restitution of $15,558 plus surcharge on December 6.

Savage pled to the charged of third degree welfare fraud on October 4.

Lawrence P. Brisson II, 34, of 33 Swan St. in Schenectady, was sentenced to one and a half to three years in state prison.

Brisson pled to the charge of first degree criminal contempt on October 11.

Jake L. Nelson, 22, of Deer Run Drive in Hudson Falls was arrested December 10 and charged with failure to stop at a stop sign, DWI and a BAC more than .08 percent. Nelson was arrested at 3:08 a.m. following a traffic stop.

BLOTTER Paul F. Gorgen, 61, of Alpine Meadows in Porter Corners was arrested December 11 and charged with failure to keep right, refusing a prescreen test, DWI and a BAC more than .08 percent, following a traffic stop at 1:05 a.m.

Cory R. Carson, 46, of 29B Coachman Square in Clifton Park, pled to the charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree and DWI on December 5. Sentencing will be January 29 at 1:15 p.m. Carson was originally arrested for the charges on August 2, 2012.

William H. Thompson, 30, of 331 Rowland St. in Milton, pled to the charge of second degree attempted criminal mischief on August 15 and was sentenced to one and half to three years in state prison on December 5.

Alison M. Young, 39, of 130 Bunzey Mtn. Road, was sentenced to five years probation along with an ignition interlock device and a $1,000 fine on December 5, after pleading to the charge of DWI, October 3. Young was originally arrested May 25.

Kevin J. Guthorn, 53, of 3 Garrison Lane in Ballston Lake, was sentenced to one year in the Saratoga County Jail and an ignition interlock device for three years as a condition of discharge on December 5.

Guthorn pled to the charge of DWI on October 3 and was originally charged with the crime on July 11.

Kelly L. Kvasnack, 50, of 5 Deer Run Drive in Ballston Spa, was sent to time served and five years probation to include drug treatment court on December 11.

Kvasnack pled to the charge of DWI on October 10 and was originally charged with the crime on June 29.

Steven A Prevendoski, 22, of 33 Orenda Springs Dr. in Saratoga Springs, pled to the charge of third degree criminal mischief on December 11. He will be sentenced on February 25.

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Brian J. Bennett, 41, was sent to one year local imprisonment and charged a $375 fee on December 11 after pleading to the charge of first degree criminal contempt October 16.

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week in Review

Glenville Man Charged With GlobalFoundries Bomb Threat

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MALTA — A man working at GlobalFoundries allegedly left a note saying there were bombs on the Fab 8 site the morning of Monday, December 9, causing 3,000 construction employees to evacuate off the campus and halting operations for the day.

Robert Thomas, 25, allegedly posted the note around the common area at the chip fab construction site that said explosives were on the scene.

The note was found sometime before 9:45 a.m. and no

one was harmed in the incident, as no bombs were ever found at the Luther Forest Technology Campus.

Thomas, a resident of Glenville, was charged with falsely reporting an incident.

The charge is a felony that could carry with it a four-year prison sentence, maximum. He was arraigned in Malta Town Court and sent to the Saratoga County jail without bail.

GlobalFoundries continued operations on Tuesday.

Court Verdict: Drue Sentenced to 5–15 Years

BALLSTON SPA — Dennis Drue, of Halfmoon, has been sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for claiming the lives of Christopher Stewart and Deanna Rivers, and for seriously injuring both Bailey Wind and Matt Hardy, last December in an Interstate 87 car accident.

On Thursday, December 5 all families were present for the incident’s final proceeding.

Drue, who has a past history of reckless driving, had pleaded guilty to 58 charges in this incident, 52 of which were felonies.

In this specific incident, Drue was intoxicated, high and texting while behind the wheel.

Among those present at the hearing included Regina Stewart, Chris Stewart’s mother. She spoke

to Drue and explained directly to Drue the horror she felt as she traveled the highway all night in a vain search for her son.

Drue made a short apology and noted that every time he watches football, he thinks of Chris. He was then handcuffed and led to the county jail.

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Pro-Casino Group Hosts Launch Meeting SARATOGA SPRINGS — Destination Saratoga presented its opinion on bringing a new casino to Saratoga Springs at a press conference on We d n e s d a y, D e c e m b e r 11 at Lillian’s Restaurant.

Destination Saratoga, formed by community members and local business owners and funded by the Saratoga Casino & Raceway, started forming the idea of expanding the facility a few weeks ago.

Citizens group Saratogians Against Vegas-style Expansion (SAVE) previously spoke out against the possible addition of a new casino in Saratoga Springs.

The next public forum in regards to the plans for an added casino is set for Monday, December 16 at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center. This bi-partisan forum has been organized by The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

Destination Saratoga members have said that any extension to the Saratoga Casino & Raceway would be contained within the present 160-acre campus and run by the same local owners who have been there since 2003.

The racetrack casino has directly put forth $16 million in aid to Saratoga County since 2007.

Quad/Graphics Co-Founder Betty Quadracci Dies

SUSSEX, Wis. — Betty Quadracci, the co-founder of printing giant Quad/ Graphics and a champion of the arts, passed away on Monday, December 9 at

Brian Cremo 581-2480 x 206 Sports Editor, Obituaries, Briefs, Education brian@saratogapublishing.com Trina Lucas 538-1190 RSVP, Events and Benefits trina@saratogapublishing,com Calendar Cindy Durfey 581-2480 x 204 cdurfey@saratogapublishing.com Photographer Mark Bolles 490-1757 mbolles@photoandgraphic.com Distribution Kim Beatty 581-2480 x 205 kbeatty@saratogapublishing.com

the age of 75, the printing company said in an announcement.

Quadracci co-founded Quad/ Graphics in 1971 with her late husband Harry. The company now has 25,000 employees worldwide at more than 65 printing facilities. Quad/Graphics’ plant in Saratoga Springs has been in operation for 27 years and is one of the city’s largest employers.

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Dorothy Theresa Knorr

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Dorothy Theresa Knorr, 80, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 4, as a result of an automobile accident in Clifton Park.

She was born on October 15, 1933, in Albany, to the late Harry Schramm and Adeline Geary. She married Gerald Knorr in 1958 and raised her family in Saratoga Springs.

She was a wife of 55 years and beloved mother and grandmother. She retired from the State University of New York at Albany after 18 years of service. She was an artist and loved to knit and crochet and sold her wares at local craft fairs.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Gerald; son, Gerald, Jr.; daughter, Theresa Knorr and son-in-law Adolfo Suero; daughter Charleen Knorr; brother, Harry Schramm, sister-in-law, Denise, sister-in-law, Rosemary; daughter-in-law Fran; grandchildren, Mickey Knorr and wife Shannon, Heather Elie and husband John, Timothy Dow, Jordan Dow, Nina Knorr, Aron Knorr and great grandchildren, Kiara, Sophia, Madelyn, Martin, Mason and soon to be, Alexis Dorothy Lee.

Mary T. Macia Jurcsak SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mary T. Macica Jurcsak, 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 8 at Saratoga Hospital.

Mary retired from the New York State Tax and Finance in Albany and loved to crochet, collect dolls, garage sale and frequent the casino. She especially loved the Amish Country.

Mary was the loving daughter

of the late Mary and Frank Macica. She is survived by her siblings, Victoria Domaszewicz, Robert Macica, Albert Macica, and Margaret Suire.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband George “Jud” Jurcsak, sister Seal Hubinsky, brother Edward Macica and sisters Fran Bena, Veronica Reulet, and Betty Bena.

obituaries

Natalie (Nettie) A. Colamaria Cummings

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Natalie (Nettie) A. Colamaria Cummings passed away peacefully on Monday, December 9, surrounded by her loving family.

Born February 15, 1919, on Ash Street in Saratoga Springs, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Angelina Di Rienzo Colamaria. Nettie, a 1937 graduate of St. Peter’s Academy, was employed at the Van Raalte Company, Glickman’s, Saratoga Men’s Shop, the General Electric Company and as a waitress in the family business, Colamaria’s Restaurant, from 1932 through 1974.

On February 9, 1946, Nettie married William (Bill) Cummings, Sr., of Schuylerville. They both enjoyed 45 years together, raising their four children, participating

Saratoga Council 246 Knights of Columbus and Saratoga Assembly 745 Fourth Degree Assembly. He will be remembered as a husband and father, devoted to his family with honor, integrity and a strong work ethic.

Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Elizabeth (Kloss) Ferrara; three children, Patricia, John and James and their spouses; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 13 in the Church of St. Peter.

Burial will follow in the family plot at St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Avenue.

in community organizations, spending time with family and friends and wintering in Punta Gorda, Florida.

A member of St. Clement’s Church and life member of Court McLaughlin No. 422 Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Nettie was also a member of the Junior Civic League and Saratoga Vicariate Ladies of Charity.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband Bill, her son William (Billy) Cummings Jr.; her siblings and their spouses, (infants) Dorothy and Vincenzo, Lillian (Evaldo) Palmetto, Victoria (Edward) Shea, James (Florence) Colamaria, Anne (Robert) Mackay and Frank McManus.

She is survived by her sister, Marie McManus; her children, Carol Catone (Stewart Hatch), Michael (Jo-Ann) Cummings and Susan (David) Waghorn; foster daughter, Helen Ryle; six grandchildren, John and Larry Catone, Melissa Pecora, Brian Waghorn, Matthew and Kristen Cummings; seven great-grandchildren, Riley and Jordan Catone, Hanna, Emily and Isabel Pecora, Haley and Mackenzie Waghorn and several nieces and nephews.

Nettie’s family would like to thank the staff at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home, The Home of the Good Shepherd Memory Care and Evergreen Adult Day Care for the overwhelming care, compassion and love extended to her over the last several years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 13 in St. Clement’s Church on Lake Avenue and burial will follow in the family plot at St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Avenue.

Barbara E. Lane

John S. Ferrara, Sr. FORT MYERS, Fla. — John S. Ferrara, Sr., 98, formerly of Saratoga Springs, passed away Monday, December 9 in Fort Myers.

Born on March 29, 1915 in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late John S. and Mary Polletta Ferrara and was raised and resided in Saratoga Springs most of his life. He was the last surviving sibling of four brothers and five sisters growing up in Saratoga Springs.

Employed at Ashton Fuels for many years, he also worked in the mutual department at the Saratoga Raceway for over 50 years, where he had many friends. He was an active member and former usher in St. Peter’s Parish and he was an honorary life member of

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Barbara E. Lane, 75, of Greenfield Center, passed away Thursday, December 5 of a sudden illness at Saratoga Hospital.

Daughter of the late Stanley and Elsie (Groll) Lake, Barbara was born on April 8, 1938 in Manhattan.

The Lake family moved to Amityville in 1952 where Barbara graduated from Amityville Memorial High School in 1955. She worked at Glen Cove Hospital as a lab technician. She was married to Gary Meyers Ziegenfelder from 1957 to 1978. She then attended Grumman Data Systems where she received her computer programming certification. She married John Lane in 1986 and they moved to Greenfield Center in 1987. Barbara worked for many years as a computer programmer for Jardine Group Services and Davis Vision of Schenectady.

Barbara was a passionate volunteer for the causes she cared about. She was a Girl Scout leader in her earlier years with her sister Nancy in Amityville, Long Island. In the 1960s, she modeled positive race relations for young people. She spent years working for the Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation as a research assistant. Even as her mobility waned, she continued to stay involved by being a patron of a child through PLAN International USA and supporting the arts at SPAC. She traveled in the U.S. and abroad and enjoyed reading, especially philosophy, playing Sudoku, using Facebook, and spending time with her family and friends.

She is predeceased by her sister, Nancy Peterson (Lake) and survived by her husband, John Lane; her beloved daughters, Lisa Newkirk (Larry) and Susan Castagna (Joseph); grandsons Larry Newkirk Jr. and Willie Garrett Newkirk. She is also survived by a niece, Erica Peterson Evans, a nephew, Bryan Thomas Peterson (Jeanine) and great-nephew Harrison Peterson, “adopted” grandson Anthony Hall, as well as many relations and longtime friends.

Barbara’s memorial service will be held on Saturday December 14 at 3 p.m. at Compassionate Funeral Care, in Saratoga Springs, where family and friends are welcomed to call (518) 584-4844 from 2-3 p.m. prior to the service.

To view the full version of the obituaries vist the archive section of SaratogaTODAYonline.com It is the policy of Saratoga Today to publish Obituarires as a service to our readers.

Please send your obituaries to obits@saratogapublishing.com

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Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Town of Malta Whistle Blower Moves Ethics Continued from Page 1

Lynda Bablin

some cases were notarized; email trees and other supportive materials from Ms. Bablin that appear to indicate that the town board sought ways to avoid acting on her complaint.

Ms. Bablin’s original complaint was regarding the conduct of Town Clerk Flo Sickels. As reported in Saratoga TODAY on November 1, the town of Malta’s

ethics committee, in a 7-0 vote, found that Ms. Sickels had “… solicited on multiple occasions, employees to make a political contribution, through time, effort, endorsement or signature” on behalf of the Malta Republican Committee during town working hours. The ethics committee’s findings also noted, among other things, that more than one town employee described specific examples of behavior by Ms. Sickels that they believed were retaliatory against people who objected or did not comply with her requests.

This report was issued by the ethics committee on October 28, which is a significant date: The Malta Town Board, which installed the original guidelines for filing and processing procedures, had given themselves up to 45 days to act upon the ethics committee’s findings. They could accept, modify or reject

the findings which called for Ms. Sickels’ censure on those two counts. 45 days from October 28 is December 12 – yesterday.

Ms. Bablin claims that the town board instead concentrated on procedure instead of substance. “Keep in mind, these were procedures that the town board itself had approved. They were listed in the employee manual. I used their guidelines,” Ms. Bablin said. “And I followed everything I was given to the letter.”

During the next regular meeting on November 6, the town board held an executive session, which is closed to the public, to discuss the ethics committee’s findings.

In the public portion of the meeting, town board members (with Councilperson Tara Thomas recusing herself from all discussions, public and private, because she is Ms. Sickels’ daughter) discussed ancillary recommendations by the ethics committee, such as an overhaul of the ethics section of the employee manual.

There was by no means universal agreement among board members as to whether any changes were necessary.

Councilpersons Maggi Ruisi and John Hartzell indicated that procedures for filing complaints were very clear. However, the town board did agree that the ethics committee should have the advice and counsel of Attorney Christine Karsky to them at least for the balance of the year. Ms. Karsky had previously advised the ethics committee on other matters (though not on Ms. Bablin’s complaint up to this point.)

But there was no public finding on the merits of Ms. Bablin’s

Original Complaint Filed by Lynda Bablin on September 11.

original complaint at that November 6 meeting.

A key point is that the ethics committee proceedings are largely done in secret in order to protect the confidentiality complainants.

A member of the ethics committee had contacted Ms. Bablin on November 3 to say that it would be advisable that 1) she have her complaint form notarized, with her address and contact information and 2) that she state in writing that she was signing her complaint under penalty of perjury.

“This was my understanding anyway,” Ms. Bablin said, “so I had no problem doing what was requested, even though these requirements were not specified when I had originally filed my complaint in September.” The now-notarized form was completed and dated on November 13 and sent back to the ethics committee via snail mail.

What makes this interesting is that, though Malta town code chapter 11, section 18, subsection

C that Ms. Bablin referenced does state that a complainant attest to the facts under threat of perjury, it does not specify a notarization requirement.

Ms. Bablin was working with the knowledge that she had at the time, and immediately responded to the request for the additional notarization and information almost immediately when requested.

It would appear that the town board either had no idea, or perhaps chose to ignore that such a contact and those subsequent actions had transpired though, for on November 18, five days later, at a special town board meeting for the purpose of discussing the ethics committee findings, the town board in a resolution remanded the complaint back to the ethics committee, stating that: “WHEREAS the Town Board wishes to provide the Ethics Committee with legal assistance and to ensure that the procedures required by Town Code Chapter 11, Section 18 are followed,

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

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Complaint up to NYS Attorney General specifically: 1) that the complaint be signed under penalty of perjury; and that 2) that “clear and compelling evidence is used as the standard of proof rather than “weight of the evidence”; and further that, though not specifically required by 11-18 (emphasis added) the subject of the complaint should be provided with a copy…”

In response to this, Ms. Bablin read a statement to the town board at the November 18 meeting which said in part: “There was a so-called established process for filing complaints with the committee at the time the complaint was made. Those processes were followed to a tee. Now you are

trying to retroactively change the process that was in place at the time in the hopes of coming to a different result…. In my opinion you are doing nothing more than shooting the messenger because you didn’t like their findings…. This Board is doing everything in their power to bury this complaint…”

Later, Ms. Bablin amplified “The three things they cited were non-issues. The first, I had already done five days before.

Second, the ethics committee voted unanimously twice.

Doesn’t a 7-0 vote indicate that the evidence the ethics committee received was “clear and compelling? The final requirement of notifying the complainant

is something completely new — and in fact, in this case Flo was offered a copy, which she refused.”

After the remand, Lynda Bablin gathered her documentation and waited. After nearly another month of waiting for any result, she knew her next step was clear: next stop, Attorney General.

Her complaint was received and acknowledged by the AG’s office. She was told it would be three to five weeks before they are able to begin the process of examination.

One other fact worth noting at this juncture is that all the members of the Malta Town Board are Republicans, including

November 18 Malta Town Board Resolution Sending Ethics Complaint Back to Ethics Committee with Lynda Bablin’s Notations.

Flo Sickels.

But Lynda Bablin is also a Republican, an elected official whose term runs through 2015.

The State Attorney General, however, is a Democrat.

2014 should be an interesting year in the Town of Malta.

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Education

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Community Does Their Part To Help Students Stay Smart

by Andrea Barry For Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Foundation for Innovative Learning, although new this year, is looking to do big things.

The foundation was originally comprised of concerned citizens within the district who saw the meaning behind having a dynamic education system. Together, they then teamed up and raised money that would eventually fund innovative learning ideas that were not accounted for in the school budget.

The grants range anywhere from $500-$5,000 and on Tuesday

were awarded to three chosen individuals.

The first grant winner was elementary school music teacher, Maura Neagu. Neagu suggested the grant money be put toward purchasing special kits known as “Goldie Blox.”

Included in these kits are toys that a girl typically would enjoy.

What is unique about the kits is that they are designed with the intentions of encouraging more girls into the fields of math and science through a project-based learning style. In a Goldie Blox, toys such as dollhouses come with an instruction manual as to how the parts can be assembled.

“Girls don’t just have to play with dolls,” said Michael Picirillo, superintendent of schools.

The grant will be roughly $1,000 and 20-30 kits are expected to be purchased.

At the middle school level, grant money will be issued to obtain a class set of ukuleles. The ukulele, not too complex of an instrument, is something that everyone can enjoy playing. Music teacher, John Doyle, grasped this opportunity and used it to expand upon the number of students who are involved musically. The grant will be for $1,470.

The third and final individual selected to receive grant money was Leann Donelan. Donelan envisioned that the money would be used to aid her class’ trip to Washington, D.C. The $2,000 grant would not only fund the travel, but also assist in her class teaming up with Garnett River to create a website based on the students’ experiences. Courtesy of the grant, a unique learning opportunity is launched As seen, Saratoga Foundation for Innovative Learning allows for students to partake in additional educational opportunities and ensures a better quality learning experience. It is their mission to fund innovative ideas that further learning in this community.

Saratoga Foundation for Innovative Learning is made possible through the help of fundraisers and donations.

“The foundation’s main objective is to obtain $100,000 in one calendar year,” said Picirillo.

Thinking ahead, the foundation only hopes to expand from

here. This past vote consisted of a board having to choose three applicants from 17, but in future years, the board is hoping for that number to increase.

Fundraisers are anticipated to be held more, and grant money, if all goes accordingly, will increase as well.

What’s Happening In School This Week?

December 13

Saratoga Springs City School District Caroline: Picture retakes offered Dorothy Nolan: “Good Citizens” breakfast for students K–5; Kindergartners make Greenfield: Kids Night Out, 5-8 p.m.

Ballston Spa Central School District None Schuylerville School District Grades K-5 Progress Reports sent home with students PEP Holiday Fun Night, 6:30-8 p.m., Elementary School

December 16

Schuylerville School District None

December 18

Saratoga Springs City School District HS concert: Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Choraliers, 7:30 p.m.

Greenfield: Holiday Breakfast, K-2; Grade 3 Concert, Grade 5 Orchestra, 6:30 p.m.

Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education Mtg., HS Library, 7 p.m.

Schuylerville School District Grades 5, 6 Advanced Band/ Chorus Winter Concert, 7 p.m., HS Auditorium (snow date: December 19)

Saratoga Springs City School District None December 19 Ballston Spa Central Saratoga Springs City School District School District MS/HS Interim Reports Mailed Maple: Grade 6-8 Band Concert, MS Winter Concert, 7th Grade, 7:30 p.m.

HS Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Division: Dress-Up Day Schuylerville School District Geyser: Holiday Sing-Along Greenfield: Holiday Breakfast, Board of Education Meeting, 7 Grade 3-5 p.m., Administration Building Lake: Holiday Sing-a-Long, 9:45December 17 10:30 a.m Saratoga Springs City Ballston Spa School District Central School District None MTN Winter Conert, 7 p.m.

Ballston Spa Schuylerville School Central School District District MS Winter Concert, 6th Grade, PEP Popcorn Sale, lunch periods, HS Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Elementary School

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Sharon’s Winning Hand continued from page 1

provides all the components of that unique skill-set and talent necessary to be First Night Saratoga’s poster artist for the past 11 years; and 14 of the posters since 2000.

We got her to share some insights and comments while looking at the First Night poster exhibit at the Saratoga Arts Council, 320 Broadway, which you too can see until after the New Year.

This is a big deal, because Sharon is someone so in demand and busy these days that she didn’t even have time to show up for the First Night press conference where her latest poster was revealed on December 2!

“I’m very grateful to my employer, Ambrosino Design.”

Sharon said. “First and foremost, Owner Larry Ambrosino has been a supporter of First Night Saratoga from day one. I was fortunate to be assigned my first poster (for the 2000 celebration) as a freelancer in 1999, and it led to me being hired there! So I have a warm spot in my heart for First Night.”

“Since then, Ambrosino has donated my time to work on the annual poster as if it were a retail agency account,” Sharon said, which gave her the ability to use Ambrosino’s facilities toward the creation.

Ambrosino donates the time. Sharon donates the unique annual vision and brings it to life.

“The first couple of years, beginning in 2000, I was playing with a mix of mediums.” Sharon notes. It’s not easy to pick a favorite from a collection sometimes, although “I’d say 2002 would be my choice, because Rick (Bolton, her husband) was actually the model for the adult in that illustration.”

“Later, beginning in 2004, I started accelerating and ‘punching out’ the color more,” Sharon continues, “the inspiration for the designs came from a combination of Celestial Seasonings tea boxes and wine labels” the latter being products of her non-volunteer work at Ambrosino Design.

Then in 2011, coincidently around when Saratoga Arts assumed the presenter’s role from

the YMCA of Saratoga “I went digital, using the full spectrum – paint, photoshop and pencil.”

Sharon concludes.

This year’s poster, reflecting the theme “Color Me First Night,” is that perfect combination of color splash and flash we have come to expect. In this case, a glowing white moon is painted by a fairy-like artist, and the moon comes to life like someone getting dolled-up for…New Year’s Eve perhaps.

In order for the artwork to be replicated on several thousand buttons, posters and brochures in time, Sharon needs to have the artwork completed by early to mid-October. But “I push the deadline each year,” she says. “I always have a million ideas in my head, and of course I want this year’s to be better than the last.

I tend to do my best work when I’m busy. I need multiple projects going to make each the best they can be.”

“There are times that I am facing an impending deadline,” Sharon said, “and, really, I’ve got nothing. But a fast-approaching deadline is a great motivator.”

Spoken like a good deadline journalist, Sharon. Which reminds me. It’s time to write this up – press time is a-looming. So I’ll end this by saying thanks to Sharon – a fabulous talent that whose work on behalf of First Night Saratoga helps to make each year’s celebration a little more festive and a lot more colorful.

9

10

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

2014 Festival Of Trees Photos by: Randall Perry Photography / Scott Bergmann

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Photos by Deborah Neary

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

13

Wilton Food Pantry Utilizing Innovative Donation Medium

by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY

WILTON — Through the holiday season, from now until January 7, donating to the Wilton Food Pantry has never been easier.

The WFP applied for and won a Google non-profits grant, which is an in-kind grant allowing WFP to the use of certain Google products and apps. The OneToday feature was just launched by Google in late April.

WFP OneToday allows people to contribute $1 to the cause by just the push of a button with “less effort and expense than it takes for a cup of coffee.”

“It will help because it makes virtually anyone a donor and that dollar is significant,” said Wilton Food Pantry board member and founding member Dennis Towers.

“It’s an easy way to do it. You don’t have to walk a dollar any place, you don’t have to mail a dollar any place.

You can do it in a chair or in your car—wherever you are. That one dollar allows us to purchase 6.25 pounds of food…It allows virtually everyone from anywhere to be part of this home-grown solution.”

By going to the WFP OneToday website (onetoday.google.com/p/ a1Ezv1Cy?c=5270661576523776), a donator just needs to “click to donate $1,” sign into their Google account and accept. The OneToday link is also on the WFP website, Facebook page and Twitter @ WiltonFoodPntry.

The 100 percent volunteer, nonprofit food pantry services strictly Wilton. Ten percent of the Wilton

community faces food insecurity, 35 percent of which are children.

Already noticing a positive “snowball effect,” through people sharing the link for the good cause on Twitter and Facebook, Towers noted that the WFP has received donations from as far as Phoenix already.

The new medium for donating to the food pantry is young. It’s new as of last Friday, December 6.

“It’s neat and we’re the first ones in the area to use this,” Towers said. “It’s an innovative thing for a

non-profit…We are utilizing the web and social media aspects as well and it seems like a viable vehicle to allow affordable charitable giving by just about everyone. I could give you a dozen industry names for it, but it is quite simply how a snowball becomes a snowman—everyone keeps it rolling.”

Towers, who is the Creative Director/Brand Strategist for McKinley Griffen Design & Advertising, stressed the need to look out for one another in the community. This is just an easy

CDTA Teams Up With Underground Railroad History Project

RENSSELAER – CDTA, manager of the Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station, has teamed up with Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region in order to bring local Underground Railroad history to the public.

Located in the main concourse of the Rensselaer Train Station, a seven foot tall, three sided kiosk contains information and visual images of people,

places and events related to this significant chapter in the history of Albany, the Capital Region and New York State.

Based upon the research conducted by Paul and Mary Liz Stewart, historians and co-founders of Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc., Albany and the Capital Region were hotbeds of abolitionist activity prior to the Civil War.

According to Paul Stewart, “Letters, narratives, newspaper articles and broadsides tell us a much more complex and comprehensive story of Underground Railroad activity than we routinely hear about. They provide us with a new interpretation of a very old story. ” The Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station will host the kiosk through February 2014.

way to do so.

“This is our home, these are our neighbors in need,” Towers said. “We have a responsibility to help.”

Whether you can share the link on twitter, Facebook or email, the smallest contribution will help the WFP, who experienced

a dramatic 44 percent increase in food distribution from this past September to November.

To donate more than $1, visit the WFP’s website at www.

WiltonFoodPantry.org or mail tax deductible donations to the WFP at PO Box 2383, Wilton, NY 12831.

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food

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Beef To Savor From Longlesson Farm BUSKIRK – If you read the sign highlighting the many cuts of beef sold by Longlesson Farm at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, you may start daydreaming of a hearty stew, a carefully cooked steak, or a perfect burger.

Bob and Melanie Mason’s 450acre Longlesson Farm in Buskirk (northern Rensselaer County) is not far from the Vermont border.

Bob and Melanie work together with their daughter and son-inlaw, Shannon and Christophe Robert. The family raises the Angus herd for meat and also sells bulls for breeding.

About 120 Angus cattle graze on the pastures and are

never fed any grain. They also never have growth hormones or eat any GMO (genetically modified organism) crops. Cattle are rotated between different fields on the farm, so they always have something fresh to eat. This system of rotational grazing is great for the cows and helps build the soil in an environmentally sound way.

“People sometimes wonder what grass-fed cattle eat in the winter, when the pastures are covered with snow. The answer at our farm is that they eat hay, harvested from our own fields.

That, with some extra minerals and salt, is all they need to stay healthy. If we ever have to treat an animal with antibiotics due to a temporary health issue, they aren’t marketed until the drugs have moved out of their system,” explains Christophe.

This is the farm’s first season at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

The farm sells rib-eye, NY strip, sirloin and London broil steaks, as well as chuck steaks and roasts, stew meat and short ribs and shanks that are especially popular in the slow-cooker during the winter season. It also sells free-range roasting chickens and treats for dogs, including bones and puppy liver treats.

“We believe that in this time of questionable mass production, the future of local pasture-raised beef is bright. Our goal is to produce breeding stock that is ‘fit not fat’ and freezer beef especially suited to this market,” notes Melanie.

“We raise our herd slowly, allowing them to reach two or three years of age, which is when they have a great beef flavor that is so different than industriallyfarmed beef. You really can taste the difference in our 100 percent purebred Angus beef. The key is to cook it properly, with steaks cooked to rare or medium

rare. Cuts such as chuck, stew beef, shanks and short ribs are ideal for the slow cooker,” she continues.

Consumer interest in grassfed beef has grown in the past several years, with more customers trying to avoid eating beef that is raised in large feedlots called confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). There are health benefits as well to eating grass-fed beef: it is reported to have more healthy fats (Omega-3s) than commercially-farmed animals, as well as higher levels of CLAs (conjugated linoleic acids)

and vitamin E. “We name our cows and give them a good life. Our butcher is Eagle Bridge Custom Meat and Smokehouse, a USDA inspected facility. They have also been inspected and have received the Animal Welfare Approval, which guarantees safe and humane treatment of all animals,” states Christophe.

Longlesson Farm has many recipes to offer its market customers, from Sumatran Beef Ragout to Beef Stew to these slow-cooker Cider Braised Short Ribs. Stop by their stall and talk to Christophe for some more ideas!

Cider - Braised Short Ribs Ingredients

*Ingredients available at Saratoga Farmers’ Market 4 lbs. meaty short ribs* 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 1/2 cups apple cider* 1 cup beef broth 1/4 cup dark brown sugar 3 Tbsp. tomato paste 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar* 1 tsp. prepared horseradish 1 cup dried cranberries 1 onion*, chopped 2 cloves garlic*, chopped

Directions •Heat oil in a large skillet and brown ribs well on all sides.

Transfer to slow cooker.

•In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients and pour over ribs, stirring to coat. Cook on LOW for 8-9 hours, stirring once about halfway if you are present. (If not, it will be fine without being stirred.)

•When the ribs are fork tender, transfer to a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Skim and discard as much fat as possible from the sauce.

Transfer juices to a small pitcher or gravy boat for serving.

Longlesson Farm in Buskirk brings Angus beef to Saratoga Farmers’ Market each Saturday.

What’s the Plan?

by John Reardon for Saratoga TODAY

Hello my Foodie Friends!

My late Uncle Cass’s favorite phrase when he entered the room was “What’s the Plan?”

He had a great sense of humor and was great at telling jokes. He would bring my Aunt and cousins over our house or we would bug our mom and dad to go over their house every week. Uncle Cass was the last of one of my Dad’s great pals! There were four of them and we actually called them the four horsemen and the rat pack.

It was my Dad, my three

uncles; Cass, Woofy and Billy and they were best friends. The Moms also were inseparable and all of the cousins could not wait to see each other. The names of all of our houses belonged to the kids. We beg our Dad to go to Bobby, Jackie and Mike’s house or Jimmy, David and Mark’s house. They were never named after the parents.

When we got together the kids ran toward each with screeches of hello! The parents had hugs for each other and also rules for the kids. Stay in the yard and don’t go wandering. The Dads got together

•About 10 minutes before serving, heat the broiler in oven. Broil about 4” from heat for about 5 minutes until crisp. (Watch them carefully!) Transfer to serving platter and serve with the pitcher of juices.

around the barbeque grill and started cooking and telling funny stories. The kids didn’t get them but we laughed anyway because they did. The mom’s took over the kitchen and starting cooking the veggies and desserts. They also had a lot of laughs poking fun at the Dads acting like great chefs around the grill.

It was all about family and having a great meal together. My Dad and the Uncles had a reputation of being hell raisers in their younger days and somehow turned into distinguished

gentlemen in their senior years.

They never stopped hanging out together and with the passing of my Uncle this past week the boys are back together again. I am sure there must be a great party going on in heaven. As soon as my Uncle Cass got there I bet he walked right up to Jack Reardon and said hello boys “What’s the Plan?” Here’s a toast to Family and the Four Horsemen!

Remember my Foodie Friends “Life Happens in the Kitchen” Take Care, John and Paula

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

food

15

Sneak Peak: New Stadium Menu On Tap

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS – How do you make a great thing better? Offer more of it.

The two Stadium Cafés (389 Broadway and 112 Congress Street, Saratoga Springs) are doing just that by increasing their menu options and launching a new menu design which should be in place by next weekend.

“We’ll have all your favorites from before – wings, crabcakes, kobe burgers are still on the menu,” Proprietress Chris Harmon said. “We’ve just increased the options.”

Indeed. For instance, A popular item is calamari, and next week you can have it prepared three ways: tossed with balsamic and parmesan, buffalo style and salt and pepper with marinara sauce. The new arugula salad menu item would pair well with each, as would the new grilled salmon salad.

But they really kick it up with the burger offerings: eight new options to try. “We would try some new burger combos and put them on a one-day special, and people went for them in a big way,” said Chef Joe Shea, “so we decided to offer all of them every day.”

Included in the new burger options are the Stadium “hot mess” burger - complete with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, sweet potato fries bacon, jalapenos, pickles and Russian dressing; the breakfast burger with smoked bacon, red onion, cheddar cheese and topped with a fried egg; pulled pork and salmon burgers

and four other similarly inventive combos. “We’ll be starting a new burger club card soon as well,” Chris said. “Buy eight burgers and get the next one free.

Once we get the new menu rolling, we’ll have another round of daily specials – a ‘build your own’ burger, for instance.”

That will be soon to come, but in effect on the day the new Stadium menu’s debut is an everyday, permanent 10 percent discount (with valid ID) for military, Skidmore and Empire State College personnel on all items.

It’s even printed on the new menu’s cover.

“We’ll have a lot of other theme nights and promotions planned,” said Chris. For more informationvisit the stadiumcafes.com

WILTON — fin - your fishmonger, has opened a second venue at 3057 Rt. 50 in the Town of Wilton. The space, which formerly housed the Bon Ton Fish Market, is the second location for the Guilderland-based fresh, sustainable seafood vendor. fin – your fishmonger began operations just outside of Albany, at the Delmar Farmers’ Market in August, 2011. Within weeks, the business had developed a customer base that requested owners Peter Kenyon and Dora Swan, to continue selling their fresh seafood through the winter months.

Thanks to the generosity of small business owner, Jon Phillips, the Phillips Hardware parking lot in Delmar became the winter home for the refrigerated fish truck, where the couple sold their seafood each Saturday morning.

Soon after, another parking lot location was secured, this time at Con-Rel on Carman Road in Guilderland, after property owner Kevin Relyea, who also owns Carman Wine, invited the couple onto the space.

Kenyon and Swan bring in fresh seafood from Fish Pier in Boston. The fish is not

Stadium Proprietress Chris Harmon and Head Chef Joe Shea show off some of their new menu items. Chris is holding a pretzel stick with salsa y queso dipping sauce and is seated with a pineapple-bacon burger. Chef Joe is holding the new breakfast burger.

Between them is a new grilled salmon salad and their signature Saratoga Chips. Photo by MarkBolles.com

Saratoga Brueggers to Reopen Soon

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The third Brueggers Bagel Bakery in the nation, at 453 Broadway, Saratoga Springs is poised to reopen shortly.

The bakery was damaged severely by two storms and was

forced to close for quite some time while effectuating repairs. “It was a long haul, but it also gave us an opportunity,” noted Bruggers’ Albany Area Manager Tim Neider. “In honor of our 30th anniversary, we did more

than repair. We gave the place a thorough renovation from end to end.”

“We are extremely excited to be back open in Saratoga.” Neider continued. For more information visit brueggers.com

flash-frozen at sea or at the Pier and arrives to the shop fresh.

Alaskan Copper River salmon is flown to fin via Albany Airport from Cordova, Alaska where it arrives fresh, just 16 hours out of the frigid waters. fin is an all-sustainable source for seafood in the Capital Region. Sustainable seafood is either caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term vitality of harvested species and the well-being of the oceans and avoids overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing methods. Fin also keeps updated

on the changes in sustainability ratings. For example: muchloved monkfish, “poor man’s lobster”, recently came off the avoid listing and sells out quickly at fin.

The couple is also committed to supporting other small businesses that are from the surrounding communities by offering their products in both fin – your fishmonger locations: Saratoga and Star Plaza, 2050 Western Avenue, Guilderland.

Shop hours are Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The shop will also

be open on Sundays through the summer months. fin – your fishmonger can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at www.finshops.com.

Award-Winning Fishmonger Opens In Wilton

16 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: Morn. 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.

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

Ballston Spa United Methodist Church 101 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa 885-6886 Services: Sunday 10 a.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., Corinth 654-9255; 792-0271 Services: Sunday at 10 a.m.

Bethesda Episcopal Church

Corinth United Methodist Church

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

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

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

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

Services: Sundays 10 a.m.

Christ Episcopal Church

Cornerstone Community Church 516 Park Ave., Mechanicville 664-5204 Pastor Frank Galerie mycornerstonechurch.org 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

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

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

Services: Sunday: 9:30 a.m.

Christian Restoration Ministries

First Baptist Church of Saratoga Springs

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

45 Washington St., Saratoga Springs 584-6301 Services: Sunday: 11 a.m.

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013 First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa 202 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa 885-8361; bspabaptist.org Services: 10:30 a.m. worship 9 a.m. Sunday School (all ages) First Presbyterian Church of Ballston Spa 22 West High St., Ballston Spa 885-5583 Services: Sunday 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 www.galway-unitedmethodist-church.com Services: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

(9 a.m. in July and August) Grace Brethren Church 137 W. Milton Road, 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 p.m. Good Times Restaurant, Lake Rd. 2nd floor; Friday 7:30 p.m. Saratoga Chapel, Eastline & Lake Rds; Sunday 10 a.m. Glenville Senior Center, 32 Worden Road

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

Church Service - 11 a.m.

Prayer Meeting Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013 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 Road, ­­ Saratoga Springs 580-1810; newlifeinsaratoga.org.

Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

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.org Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Handicapped accessible.

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

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

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

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

Handicapped accessible.

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, Quaker Springs 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. 3 881-1505; 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 and 11 a.m.

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

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

Handicapped accessible

RELIGION 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, a Rock City Falls 893-7680; sjoegctr@nycap.rr.com 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 583-4153 Services: Sunday 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School at 9:15 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 Road, Saratoga Springs 584-3720; saratogaumc.com.

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

Handicapped accessible.

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 9 & 10:30 a.m.

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

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

Temple Sinai 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-8730 www.saratogasinai.org Shabbat Services: Friday 6 p.m.

Preceded by 5:30 p.m. Oneg.

Handicapped Accessible.

17

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

Childcare: 6 months–4 years and expanding Handicapped accessible.

The Salvation Army/ Worship, Service & Community Center 27 Woodlawn Ave., Saratoga Springs 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. Patti Molik-Pastor Services: Sunday 9&11 a.m.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs 624 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-1555; uusaratoga.org Services, Nursery Care, and Religious Education: Sundays 10 a.m.; Youth Group: Sundays 11:30 a.m.

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

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

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

18

BUSINESS

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Fingerpaint Expands Creative and Account Teams

Ken Hocker

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Fingerpaint (fingerpaintmarketing.com) announces the addition of Ken Hocker to its creative team and Tessa Schraven to its account service team.

Ken Hocker brings more than a dozen years of design experience to Fingerpaint’s creative team. As art director at McMurry/TMG, Hocker oversaw and produced print and online publications for national and international accounts including PNC and Nationwide Insurance. Prior to joining McMurry, he served as a multimedia artist and designer with Media Logic, where he specialized in commercials, brand videos and 3D imagery for clients in the financial, retail and healthcare industries. He also spent 6 years as designer and then senior designer with Taylor Design.

Hocker earned a BFA in graphic design from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Tessa Schraven joins Fingerpaint’s account service team from the Albany Medical Center Foundation, where she helped support gift planning and corporate relations. Schraven is skilled in project management and event planning, as well as grant and proposal writing. Prior to the Albany Medical Center Foundation, Schraven was at interactive design studio 2ndNature, where she assisted with the agency’s business development and social media efforts.

Schraven holds a BA in journalism and mass communication/English from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont.

“Ken and Tessa both bring a proven ability to deliver high-caliber work within tight time frames,” notes Fingerpaint Founder Ed Mitzen. “We are thrilled to have them join the Fingerpaint family.”

Malta Med Emergent Care Receives Highest Accreditation in Diagnostic Imaging Procedures MALTA — Malta Med Emergent Care, a partnership between Albany Medical Center and Saratoga Hospital, has earned American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation for meeting the highest quality and safety standards for three diagnostic imaging modalities.

Malta Med received the ACR accreditation for computerized tomography (CT scanning), MRI and ultrasound following a rigorous review of personnel qualifications, facility equipment and quality-control procedures.

“This achievement recognizes Malta Med’s commitment to providing patients with the highest levels of care and safety, and to ensuring that every patient receives the best treatment possible from highly qualified personnel,” said Dr. Richard Falivena, medical director, Malta Med Emergent Care.

A joint venture of the two hospitals, Malta Med Emergent Care opened in June to give area residents an alternative to hospital emergency rooms for all but the most serious medical circumstances. Malta Med also provides routine urgent care.

In addition to diagnostic imaging, Malta Med Emergent Care provides real-time specialty consultation with specialists at Albany Med and Saratoga Hospital. A helipad and ambulance bays ensure fast transit for those requiring hospital care.

For more information about Malta Med, visit www.maltamed. org Albany Medical Center, northeastern New York’s only academic health sciences center, is one of the

largest private employers in the Capital Region. It incorporates the 734-bed Albany Medical Center Hospital, which offers the widest range of medical and surgical services in the region, and the Albany Medical College, which trains the next generation of doctors, scientists and other healthcare professionals, and also includes a biomedical research enterprise and the region’s largest physicians practice with more than 400 doctors. Albany Medical Center works with dozens of community partners to improve the region’s health and quality of life. For more information visit www.amc.edu Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider. The only acute-care facility in Saratoga County, the hospital has a medical staff of over 450 physicians and other credentialed providers, offering care in a broad range of medical specialties. In keeping with its emphasis on quality, Saratoga Hospital was the first in the Capital Region to earn Magnet Designation for nursing excellence. Hospital facilities include: Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Hospital Nursing Home, Wilton Medical Arts, Saratoga Surgery Center, Saratoga Community Health Center and the Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center. The hospital’s physician practice, Saratoga Regional Medical Group, includes primary care physicians and specialists in endocrinology, hematology oncology, internal medicine, nephrology, occupational medicine, pain management, psychiatry, pulmonary medicine and surgery. For more information, visit www.saratogahospital.org.

Tessa Schraven

Exhibitor Booths Available for Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show February 28-March 2 SARATOGA SPRINGS – Limited space is still available for exhibitors at the Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show, which will be held Friday, February 28, through Sunday, March 2, at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The show will feature over 100 exhibitors throughout the first floor of the City Center, with a wide range of home improvement, outdoor living, family recreation and lifestyle products and services, as well as great prizes.

By securing a booth, businesses can exhibit their goods and services to thousands of people expected to attend the show.

The show is managed by the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club to raise funds for the club’s significant donations to community organizations, youth scholarships, and international humanitarian aid.

The Home & Lifestyle Show hours at the City Center will be Friday, February 28 from 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $1 for kids 5-12, under 5 free.

The remaining booth space is available for prices starting at $765. Further information about the show and exhibitor opportunities is at www.rotaryhomeshow.com.

Any business interested in a booth should call Charles Wait, Jr. at (518) 932-1367 or email booths a l e s @ rot ar y h om e s h ow. c om .

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

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Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

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Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

fun and games

Puzzles Across 1 Gem weight unit 6 Three-line Japanese poem 11 Container for Peter Pan 14 “You __ busted!”

15 Past prisoner, for short 16 Prefix for a lifesaving “Pen” 17 “Why bother?”

19 Bit of Morse code 20 Trivial gripe 21 Stow cargo 22 “57 Varieties” brand 24 Purr former 25 Plane for a small airstrip, briefly 27 “Why me?”

33 Entire 34 Neeson of “Schindler’s List” 35 Carps at 37 Blubber 38 90-degree pipe piece 39 Clinton’s vice president 40 Johnson of “Laugh-In” 41 Island dance 42 Beast with one hump or two 43 “Why worry?”

46 Pet food brand with a ProActive Health variety 47 Chimpanzee, e.g.

48 Equally strange 51 Northwestern pear 53 Revolutionary Guevara 56 Logician’s proof ending 57 “Why not?”

61 Spoon-bending Geller 62 Musical Merman 63 Eucalyptus-eating marsupial 64 Civil War prez 65 Students’ hurdles 66 Kick out Down 1 Abel’s older brother 2 Class for potential painters 3 Remainder 4 Residue in a smoker’s tray 5 “You missed the deadline” 6 Pay attention to 7 Wheel-supporting shaft 8 Cold bagful for a party

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See puzzle solutions on page 37

Level: 1

2

3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO SATURDAY’S PUZZLE

12/9/13

© 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

See puzzle solution on page 37 9 Bout enders, briefly 10 Without footwear 11 “Star Wars” warrior 12 Neat as __ 13 Big name in hotels and crackers 18 Hiker’s route 23 Stretch out 24 Phone screening service 25 Underwater experiment site 26 Tiny Dickens boy 27 Pier 28 Do-it-yourselfer’s book genre 29 Indigenous Alaskans 30 Grand Roman home 31 Judd of country music 32 “Snowy” heron 33 Fighter’s org.

36 Salt, on the Seine

41 Partner of haw 42 Baked treat often wrapped in fluted paper 44 Gizmo 45 Brewer’s kiln 48 Greenish-blue 49 Balkan native 50 Drooling toon dog 51 Red root vegetable 52 Lubricates 53 Bloke 54 Ice fishing access 55 List-shortening abbr.

58 Suffix with Wyoming 59 Old videotape type 60 Fenway team, for short

Writing the Right Word by Dave Dowling Accuracy in word choice is a key to effective communication. This quick weekly tip will help you filter the confusion in some of our daily word choices.

Veneer, Venire Veneer is a very thin layer of material or a superficial manner.

We applied a veneer of walnut to the ugly pine table.

Their dissatisfaction was disguised by a veneer of friendliness.

Venire is a prospective juror panel from which a jury is selected.

Ten members of the venire received instructions from the court.

Dave Dowling is the author of the The Wrong Word Dictionary and The Dictionary of Worthless Words. Signed copies are available for purchase at the gifts and home goods store, Homessence on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

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LOCAL BRIEFS seniors from February 1 to April 15 at various sites in Saratoga County.

No experience is required. For further information, visit www. aarp.org/taxaide or call (518) 3731076.

Gavin Park Pickleball Indoor Pickleball has begun at Gavin Park and runs from now until April. Players of any experience level can participate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m. Three to six courts will be available each session. Participants may bring their own equipment or may use the park’s. Players must register, in person, at the Gavin Park Office, 10 Lewis Drive, Wilton. Doors open at 9 a.m. No regular commitment is required. Cost per person, per day, is $3. For more information call (518) 584-9455.

Northshire’s Book Angel Program Underway The Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs announced the annual Book Angel Program that endeavors to put books into the hands of children who otherwise do not own or have access to them.

Northshire solicits names from area schools and organizations, requesting that age, grade, interests, and reading levels be included so that a match can be made between a child and a book.

Anonymity is protected at all costs.

For every five books purchased for the program, Northshire Bookstore donates one. Our booksellers then wrap all of the books, and deliver them just in time for Christmas. For more information on this program or on Northshire Bookstore Saratoga, call (518) 6824200 or 1-855-339-5990, or visit the Northshire Bookstore website at www.northshire.com.

Winter Activities Brochure Available The Town of Malta Department of Parks, Recreation and Human Services Winter Activities Brochure is available online at www.malta-town.org and at the Malta Community Center.

Registration is underway for winter classes and programs.

Classes, new sports programs and special events are scheduled to begin in December. Call the Malta Community Center at (518) 8994411 for more information.

Seeking Tax Assistance Volunteers TaxAide is seeking volunteers for the coming tax season. TaxAide volunteers answer questions and prepare and file returns for low to moderate income taxpayers and

Gavin Park Open Gym Open gym for basketball at Gavin Park has begun, running weekdays from 3–5 p.m. for all ages. Open gym can accommodate up to 20 players and operates on a first come, first served basis. There is no charge for participation. Children ages 10 and under must have an adult with them at all times. All participants are required to sign in, each afternoon. For more information call (518) 584-9455.

Saratoga Recreation Winter Registration The Winter Registration at Saratoga Recreation is open and offering Youth Basketball League, Jr. Sluggers, Introduction to Ice Skating, Box Lacrosse, Golf World Clinic and a 3v3 tournament.

For more information call (518) 587–3550, ext. 2300.

Intro to the Internet for Absolute Beginners Saratoga Springs Public Library presents “Intro to the Internet for Absolute Beginners” on December 20 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Students in this two-session course learn to use browser hyperlinks, search engines and tabbed browsing. A brief tour of email and the library website are also covered. For more information call the Saratoga Springs Public Library at (518)5847860, ext. 250.

Santa Live on the Air Waves Santa will be live on the radio talking to local kids from 8-10 a.m. on 101.3 FM on December 21.

Kids can call (518) 899-3000 these mornings to talk with Kris Kringle.

Saratoga County Chamber Workshop The Saratoga County Chamber will host a three part workshop with Ray Patterson of the Stakeholders, Inc. to provide additional information to nonprofits about recruiting, training, supporting evaluating and celebrating their volunteers.

This training series is in addition to the many workshops, seminars and collaborative meetings regularly held for area nonprofit management staff and will be brought to the Chamber members free of charge. The sessions will be held on the second Thursday in December, February and April from 8–10 a.m. at Saratoga Bridges. Reservations can be

made directly through the Chamber at www.saratoga.org.

The Puppet People Present: A Christmas Carol A Charles Dickens holiday classic, this show features beautiful handcrafted marionettes, shadow puppets, gorgeous masks, lavish costumes, vivid sets, a professional soundtrack that includes many holiday favorites and a giant 9-foot parade puppet. This program is for ages five and older. Shows are at 11a.m., 1p.m. and 3 p.m. on December 27. For more information call the Saratoga Springs Public Library at (518)5847860, ext. 250.

DanceFlurry Saratoga Contradance Contras, squares, and couples dances will take place December 28 from 8-11 p.m. (lesson for beginners at 7:30 p.m.) with Michael Kernan at First Baptist Church, 45 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs. With music

by Quickstep, all group dances are taught and newcomers are welcome. No need to bring your own partner. Wear sneakers or other soft-soled shoes only. Price is $10 for students, $7 for seniors and $6 for children under 15. For more information contact (518) 8990105 or visit www.danceflurry.org.

After School Program Registration Begins The Saratoga Springs Public Library offers a drumming workshop (grades K-3), “City by Design” (grades K-3), “Hola La” (ages 3.5-5), “Hola La” (grades K-2), “Chinese Language and Culture” until December 30.

Registration for these programs is in-person and in-district only. Beginning December 30, registration will be taken by phone or in-person and will be open to out-of-district patrons. For more information call the Saratoga Springs Public Library at (518)5847860, ext. 250.

Town of Malta Family Fun Night The first ever Family Fun Night at the Malta Community Center will be on Friday, January 3, from 6-8 p.m. For just $15 per family you will enjoy a KidzArt corner, basketball free play in the gymnasium, an inflatable obstacle course, family Zumba, a community center scavenger hunt, demos from swing, tai chi and martial arts instructors, and more.

Pizza, popcorn, and refreshments are available for purchase.

Pre-registration is requested

by December 27, but drop-ins

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013 are welcome. Please wear gym shoes. Call the center for more information at (518) 899-4411.

Introductory Stress Reduction Classes An introductory Saratoga Stress Reduction program class will be held January 7 from 5:15–6:45 p.m. at 58 Henry St. Remaining classes meet eight subsequent Tuesday nights from 5:15–6:45 p.m. from January 7 to March 4. An all-day retreat for this class will be Sunday, February from 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. There are also introductory Saturday morning classes from 8:30–10 a.m. (January 11 to March 8). To register call Dr. Selma Nemer at (518) 581-3180, ext. 307 WSWHE BOCES to Offer Free Preschool Education The Washington-Saratoga-WarrenHamilton-Essex BOCES offers a free preschool as part of its Early Childhood Education program at the F. Donald Myers Education Center on 15 Henning Road.

Under the guidance of veteran teacher Cathy Goodwin, the preschoolers will work directly with high school students studying early childhood education.

Children ages 3 and 4 years old are eligible. They must be fully toilet trained. Enrollment is limited to 18 children. There are two sessions: 8:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Classes begin on Tuesday, January 7. Transportation is not provided.

For more information on the program at the Myers Center is available by calling Cathy Goodwin at (518) 581-3647.

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce 96th Annual Dinner From 6-9:30 p.m., January 30, the Chamber will recognize 25 and 50-year anniversary members and volunteers that dedicate their time to the overall mission of the Chamber, the Board of Directors and staff. In addition, the Chamber will be honoring the Saratoga 150 committee and recapping the 150th year of racing this past summer. Tickets for the event at the Saratoga Springs City Center (522 Broadway) are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10. If interested, contact Keith VanVeghten through email at kvanveghten@saratoga.org or Denise Romeo at dromeo@ saratoga.org.

Win Your Wedding Contest If you have a romantic, quirky, funny, or unique wedding proposal story, the National Museum of Dance wants to hear from you.

Submit your proposal story in 250

words or less along with a photo, or a two-minute video (using a Youtube or Vimeo link) for a chance to win your wedding. All submissions must be received by February 28. The story with the most likes on the Dance Museum’s Wedding Facebook page on March 20 will win a wedding package valued at over $15,000 from some of the capital region’s best wedding vendors. The winning couple will be announced March 21. Contact info@dancemuseum.org or (518) 584-2225, ext. 3001 for more information or to submit your story.

Bank Hosts Teddy Bear Drive to Benefit Hospital All Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company offices are collecting new, unused teddy bears now through Thursday, December 19, to benefit children at Saratoga Hospital’s Emergency Room.

Donations will be delivered to the hospital, which distributes teddy bears to young patients in the E.R. Due to hospital requirements, previously used teddy bears cannot be accepted. For more information about the teddy bear drive, stop by any Saratoga National Bank office or call (518) 583-3114.

Breakers Club at Gavin Park Gavin Park will once again offer Breakers Club, a school break program for children, grades K - 5. The December Holiday Breakers Club will run from Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The December Holiday Breakers Club program fee is $35, per day, for Wilton residents and $45, per day, for non-residents. The enrollment fee includes gym activities, crafts, movies, bingo, and outside fun (weather permitting), as well as a light afternoon snack and drink.

Registrations may be completed online at www.townofwilton. com, or by going to https:// apm.activecommunities.com/ wiltonrecreation. Registrations may also be completed by downloading and completing the registration form (available online) and mailing it, along with a check made payable to Town of Wilton, to: Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Dr., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Town of Malta Basketball Camp Chris Cordes, from One on One Basketball, will instruct this basketball camp held at the Malta Community Center during Holiday break (December 30 to January 3, no camp January 1). Campers

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

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

ages 8-14 will receive four days of expert instruction presented in a fun and low-pressure environment.

Camp includes instruction in all aspects of fundamentals, while learning concepts in teamwork and sportsmanship. Games, contests, prizes and a T-shirt will be provided for all who attend. Register by calling the center at (518) 8994411 or for more information.

Registration is due by December 26.

New Year’s Day Ski Bowl Party The North Creek Ski Bowl party will be January 1 and include skiing, boarding, tubing and family fun with live entertainment to bring in the New Year from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Call (518) 251-2411 or goremountain. com for more information.

Frostbite Cruise Lake George Shoreline Cruises offers a cruise on Lake George with entertainment and refreshments, January 1 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Call (518) 668-4644 for more information or visit lakegeorgeshoreline.com.

Celebrating Women in Nature With an opening by local photographer Deborah Neary, the event is on Saturday January 11 from 4-8 p.m. at the Roosevelt Baths & Spa in Saratoga Springs.

Celebrate our beautiful natural world and meet the women who made these photographs possible. Refreshments and light fare donated by Putnam’s Restaurant of the Gideon Putnam Hotel. Wine will be available for purchase. Local musicians, Jackie Callahan and Clem Marino will be performing their original music.

Sarah Hopkins will be giving Tarot readings. Complimentary chair massage, make-up application, eye treatments and foot massage will also be provided by Roosevelt Baths & Spa. Other prizes include spa service of choice and mineral baths. For all enquiries and to RSVP, email djdn. photos@gmail.com.

“War Horse” Premieres at Proctors The National Theatre of Great Britain’s epic “War Horse,” winner of five 2011 Tony awards including Best Play, will make its premiere at Proctors, January 15-19. Tickets are on sale now and are available by calling (518) 346-6204, going

LOCAL BRIEFS

online at www.proctors.org, or visiting the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street Schenectady.

giveaway will be awarded on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. For more information call (518) 7926092 or visit a-awa.com.

free on Gore Mountain on January 26, starting at dusk. Call (518) 2512411or visit goremountain.com for more information.

Winter Classic XX Girls’ Hockey Tournament The Glens Falls Recreation Center presents the Winter Class XX Girls’ Hockey Tournament, January 1720. One of the oldest and largest girls ice hockey tournaments in New York, hosting teams from Northeast states, Ontario and Quebec, the event will raise money for local charities. Games will also be played at thee Glens Falls Civic Center. Visit adirondacknorthstars. com for more information.

Spice up Your Winter With Wine Tasting Adirondack Winery in Lake George is hosting a free wine tasting on January 18 and 19.

Spiced mulled wines, gourmet food, cheese and chocolates will be available on that Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.4 p.m. Call (518) 668-9463 or visit adirondackwinery.com for more information.

Intro to Ice Skating Signups The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department is currently taking signups for their eight week Winter Intro to Ice Skating program. This program is open to everyone ages 3 and up. If you’ve never skated before or are looking to build upon skills already learned, this is the program for you. Classes will be held Tuesday afternoons and evenings and Saturday afternoons beginning Jan 4. Program cost is $40 for Saratoga Springs city residents and $70 for those living outside the city. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Recreation Department’s web page at www.SaratogaRec.com. You can also register in person at the Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue. Call the Recreation Department at (518) 587-3550, ext.

2300 or email recreservations@ saratoga-springs.org with questions or for additional information.

Purple Tie Affair Coming to Saratoga The first annual Purple Tie Affair will be held on January 18 at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs. From 7-11 p.m., guests will enjoy delicious food, drinks, a silent auction and dancing with entertainment by The Accents Band. A multi-purpose celebration, proceeds from the event will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), while a large focus of the night will highlight corporate teams and individual recruitment for Team in Training (TNT), the athletic endurance program that raises funds for LLS cancer research and patient services. Tickets for A Purple Tie Affair are $55 per person or $100 per couple in advance and can be purchased online at www.purpletieaffair.org.

Make sure you visit A Purple Tie Affair’s Facebook and Instagram pages to see photos of some of the events available to participate in. For more information contact Danny Arnold (518) 495-2594 or email apurpletieaffair@gmail.com.

Dreamzzz: Adirondack Theatre Festival Winter Gala Performance The 20th Annual Adirondack Theatre Festival Winter Gala Performance will be January 25 at the Charles R Wood Theater in Glens Falls. Celebrate an enjoyable evening with ATF. There will be entertainment by high caliber New York City musical theatre performers. Food and beverages from area restaurants, and the region›s most unique silent and live auctions will also be present starting at 7 p.m. Call (518) 8740800 or visit atfestival.org for more information.

Torch Run: Fireworks Fireworks will be on display for

SS High School Collecting iPods for Good Cause Students at Saratoga Springs High School hope to share the gift of music with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients at local nursing homes by donating iPods that will

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be loaded with music evoking memories of younger, happier days.

The Generation Outreach Club has set up donation boxes at the high school and Dorothy Nolan Elementary School, as well as local businesses, including Saratoga Salsa and Spice Company, Impressions of Saratoga, Eddy’s Beverage (EBI), and The Mohawk Paper Company.

Donations of headphones, not ear buds, are needed, and cash donations, as well as checks written to “Generation Outreach,” are also requested. The mailing address is Saratoga Springs High School, 3 Blue Streak Blvd., Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12866.

The Sunday Club An informal weekend club for high-functioning teens on the Autism Spectrum to get together socially and play board games is provided on December 22 from noon to 3 p.m. for ASD teens who are self-sufficient. No registration necessary. For more information email michelleo@nycap.rr.com.

English Spoken HereBeginner Classes Register with the Literacy Volunteers office in the Saratoga Springs Public Library by calling (518) 583-1232 or come in person Tuesday or Friday for free classes open to adults from other countries.

Adirondack Phantoms Hockey: Dax’s Big Birthday Bash See Adirondack Phantoms hockey host the Albany Devils at the Glens Falls Civic Center on January 18, starting at 7 p.m. For “Dax’s Big Birthday Bash.” This is the night to celebrate Dax and The Northway Rivalry continues Call (518) 4803355 or visit phantomshockey.com for more information.

Bridal Day Weekend Plan your day with the area’s leading professionals at Dunham’s Bay Resort in Lake George.

Engagement party and girls night out, two levels, with after party is offered until midnight on Saturday, January 18. Prizes will be given away at both these events and you must be present to win. The bridal show will be on Sunday, January 19 and a free wedding package

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

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Family Friendly Event

Friday, December 13 Luncheon With Michael Carrol The Holiday Inn, 232 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Noon – 1:30 p.m. The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with Northshire Bookstore to host a luncheon featuring Michael Carroll, author of “Fearless at Work and The Mindful Leader.” For more information visit, www. northshire.com or call (518) 682-4200.

13th Annual Santa’s Playland Open House 2077 Route 9, Round Lake, 5:30 – 9 p.m. Santa and his reindeer will be joining Quick Response for the 13th Annual Open House. Bring the whole family to view a winter wonderland.

While onsite hop aboard one of their “Quick Express” trains or take a ride on a horse drawn wagon. Come see the new look of the displays. All displays have been converted to LED lighting.

And of course don’t forget the entire event is free including refreshments. This is a two day event and in case of cancellation will be held Dec 20. For more information call (518) 899-7090.

“A Christmas Carol” The Musical Saratoga Music Hall, 3rd floor City Hall, Saratoga Springs, 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 14th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Adults $10, Children $5 All tickets sold at the door, doors open half hour before show time. This is a great show for the entire family, presented by Saratoga Children’s Theatre. For more information call (518) 580-1782 or visit www. saratogachildrenstheatre.org.

Local Authors and Artists Reception Impressions of Saratoga, 368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 7 – 9 p.m. Dottie Pepper, Author & Pro Golfer – with her series of “Bogey Balton” books. There

calendar will be a special purchase opportunity for you this evening.

Karin Vollkommer, Artist – with her collection of Victorian style Saratoga images, including her 2014 holiday edition of “Betting on a Very Merry Christmas”.

Receive free gift personalized for you. For more information call (518) 587-0666.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga Springs, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Mr. Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of the greatest chocolate factory in the world, has decided to open the doors of his factory to five lucky children and their parents.

In order to choose who will enter the factory, he devises a plan to hide five golden tickets beneath the wrappers of his famous chocolate bars. Come discover the true meaning of teamwork, self-confidence and self-esteem.

The delicious fun of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory awaits you.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children. For more information and additional performances visit, www.homemadetheater.org.

Enough Said Saratoga Film Forum, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 7:30 p.m. Written and directed

by Nicole Holofcener (Please Give), the film is a sharp, insightful comedy that humorously explores the mess that often comes with getting involved again. Rated PG 13.

Also showing on Sunday at 3 p.m. For more information call (518) 584 3456 or visit, www. saratogafilmforum.org.

Saturday, December 14 34th Annual Curtis Lumber / WGY Breakfast and Photos with Santa Curtis Lumber, Rt. 67, Ballston Spa, 7 – 10 a.m.

Proceeds benefit the WGY Christmas Wish. Round up the family and join us for a scrumptious breakfast and free photos with Santa from Panza’s Restaurant for a $5 donation to the WGY Christmas Wish.

WGY will be hosting a LIVE radio broadcast with on air personalities Chuck, Kelly and Santa. Plus, enter to win one of three great prizes courtesy of Curtis Lumber. You would win

a giant, overstuffed 8’ stocking with toys or a giant teddy bear with a small Radio Flyer Wagon filled with toys. Each prize is valued at over $175 each.

Visit www.WGY.com for more information.

Breakfast with Santa American Legion, 23 Pleasant St., Ballston Spa, 8:30–11 a.m.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 234 is hosting Breakfast with Santa Claus. Enjoy breakfast and bring your cameras for pictures with Santa. For more information call (518) 885-7236.

Holiday Breakfast Hubbard Hall, 25 East Main St., Cambridge, 9 or 11 a.m.

In this popular annual community event, Hubbard Hall celebrates holiday traditions from around the world. This year, experience the tastes, sights, sounds and stories of Spain. Performance features music, dance, puppetry, storytelling and more, and includes continental breakfast with home-baked delicacies of Spain and your choice of coffee, tea or milk. Two seatings are offered: choose 9am or 11am. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 members and $5 students. Call for details (518) 677-2495 or order tickets online at www.hubbardhall.org.

Annual Cookie Walk Malta Presbyterian Church, 118 Dunning St., Malta, 10 a.m.

Browse through tables in our Fellowship Hall of homemade holiday cookies and treats (including Nut fee and Gluten free items). Price is $10.00 per pound (to the nearest quarter pound). Come early for best selection. For more information call (518) 899-5992 or visit www. maltapresbyterianchurch.org.

Open House at the Shirt Factory The Shirt Factory Arts & Healing Center, 71 Lawrence St., Glens Falls, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Shop locally-made in one stop with the many studios, shops and galleries of The Shirt Factory and guest artists and artisans in our hallways.

During this event, we are having our Shopper’s Advantage Promotion: We are giving one lucky shopper a big gift basket of handmade items and gift certificates valued at hundreds of dollars! For every $25 spent during open house, shoppers earn a chance to win. For

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013 more information visit, www. shirtfactorygf.com.

Christmas Cookie Sale Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, 349 Eastline Road, Ballston Lake, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and December 15, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Select from a delicious assortment of home baked Christmas cookies, made with love by the ladies of the church. $10 per container, tied with a ribbon, ready for gift giving, or to take home and enjoy. For more information call (518) 8854681.

Chicken Parmigiana Dinner Trinity United Methodist Church, 155 Ballard Road, Wilton, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Chicken Parmigiana, Salad, beverage, dessert. Kids entrée’ available. Cost by donation.

Take-outs available. Handicap accessible. For more information call (518)584-9107.

4th Annual Holiday Open House Clifton Park Center, 22 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park, 4 – 6 p.m. Come join in the fun and get in the holiday spirit.

Get pictures with Santa, enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, sing along with the WTRY strolling holiday carolers, and meet Santa’s live reindeer. Plus, enter great giveaways, take advantage of great specials, and stop by the Oldies 98.3 booth to make your own holiday ornament. For more information call (518) 371-7467.

West Mountain Open House West Mountain Ski Area, Queensbury, 6 – 9 p.m.

Over the past weeks, a lot of improvements have been made at West Mountain, thanks to our new management team. There’ll be complimentary refreshments, live entertainment, free raffles, as well as other surprises, so bring your family and friends.

For more information call (518) 636-3699 or visit www. westmtn.net.

Christmas Vacation Ballston Spa High School Auditorium, 220 Ballston Ave., Ballston Spa, 6:45 p.m.

The free monthly classic film is presented by Ballston Spa Film Festival. Chevy Chase celebrates the holidays in Clark Griswald style in this 1989 Christmas installment of the vacation series of comedy misadventures. All he wants is the perfect Christmas

for his family, but nothing is easy for Clark. For more information visit www.bspafilm.org.

Local Authors and Artists Reception Impressions of Saratoga, 368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 7 – 9 p.m. Jerry Bradley, Photographer – with his beautiful collection of cards and prints featuring Saratoga Landmarks and scenes at their best. Receive a free limited edition Impressions Saratoga Notecard.

Dave Patterson & Charlie Kenzel, Tour Guides Extraordinaire – with their tour book and new Saratoga Calendar for 2014 “Saratoga Now and Then”. For more information call (518) 587-0666.

Sunday, December 15 Breakfast with Santa Malta Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Firehouse, Hearn Road, Malta, 8 a.m.- noon This event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Breakfast Buffet Saratoga-Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Rte. 9, Saratoga Springs, 8:30 – 11 a.m. Fruit Cocktail, French Toast, pancakes, potatoes, breakfast sausage and ham, corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, juice, coffee and tea. Donation requested: Adults $8, Seniors/ Military (ID required) $7.

Children 5 – 12 $6, Under 5 free, take-outs $8.For more information call (518) 584-2585.

Breakfast with Santa The Hearth at Wayside, 104 Wilton Rd., Greenfield Center, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the lodge which will include scrambled eggs, French toast sticks, maple bacon, sausage and Mrs. Claus’ famous home fries and an assortment of bakery fresh breads, coffee, milk, juice. Enjoy a horse drawn ride with Santa over the river and through the woods to the Wayside Inn we go, followed by hot cocoa and butter cookies, baked by Santa’s Elves, out by the bonfire. Afterwards, wander through out wonderland of sweets and confections at Santa’s North Pole Sweet Shop.

Admission is $12 for ages 12 and up, $6 for ages 4 – 11 and children ages 3 and under are free. Receive $1 off each child’s

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

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013 admission with a non-perishable food item to be donated to a local food pantry. For more information call (518) 321-5920.

Where’s Charlie Dickens Trivia & A Christmas Carol Capital Repertory Theatre, 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, 1:00 p.m.

Scheduled Sunday talk will feature Patrick Barlow, adapter of A Christmas Carol as well as the Broadway smash The 39 Steps, will participate in a special edition of Behind-theScenes, a pre-show chat with the REP’s Producing Artistic Director Maggie MancinelliCahill. The talk will be followed at 2 p.m. by a ticketed matinee performance of A Christmas Carol, starring Broadway’s Kevin McGuire as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Complimentary light continental breakfast begins at 12:30 p.m. in the lobby and the presentation runs 1 - 1:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information call (518) 445-7469 or visit www.capitalrep.org.

Flying Fingers Holiday Concert Saratoga Springs Public Library, H. Dutcher Community Room, 2 – 3 p.m. Enjoy a holiday musical sign language performance by the Flying Fingers Sign Language Troupe. Led by Kassey Granger and sponsored by the Lions Club, the group features children ages 6-16. They will entertain you with a variety of songs and teach some simple signs so you can “sing along.” No registration is necessary. For families and children ages 5 and up. For more information or other events at the library visit, www. sspl.org.

Movie Event: “Arranged” Congregation Shaara Tfille, 84 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs, 7 p.m. “Arranged” is the story about Rachel is an Orthodox Jew and Nasira a Muslim of Syrian origin. Both are young teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. They are also both in the process of having their parents arrange their marriage.

With family pressures on one hand, a rejection of traditional values by the outside world on the other, they have to rely on each other to get through this difficult time. They make a very unlikely duo for any place other than Brooklyn. For more information call (518) 584-2370.

Monday, December 16 Alzheimer’s: The Savvy Caregiver, Session 5

Saratoga Springs Public Library, Susman Room, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

The Savvy Caregiver Program is a free, five-session training series for family caregivers. For most family caregivers, caregiving itself is a new role, one for which training is needed, just as you would receive training for any new job. The Savvy Caregiver Program helps caregivers better understand the changes their loved ones are experiencing, and how to best provide individualized care for their loved ones throughout the progression of Alzheimer’s or dementia. For more information visit www.sspl.org.

Song Swap with Jeff Walton Saratoga Springs Public Library, H. Dutcher Community Room, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Local favorite, singer songwriter and performer extraordinaire, Jeff Walton will lead an all-acoustic song swap.

Bring your guitar, bring your ukulele, bring your harmonica.

Get off your couch and come down and share your music. All abilities and ages are welcome.

No registration required. For more information or other events at the library visit, www.sspl.org.

Folk Music: Lessons and Carols Christ Church, Corner of Rte 50 and Route 67, Ballston Spa, 7:30 p.m. The concert is anchored by folk music legends John Kirk and Trish Miller of Greenfield Center with special guests Dan Berggren and Kerry Ryer-Parke, and includes Field Horne of Saratoga Springs, Kristin McCabe of Charlton, and Theresa Bruno of Ballston Spa. Plaintive and little-known carols drawn from Celtic, African American, and Early American traditions are the trademark of the “Festival of Lessons and Carols”. The concert is free and takes place by candlelight. For more information call (518) 885-1031.

Town and Gown Movie Night Saratoga Film Forum, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 7:30 p.m. The feature film is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, one of the great horror movies of the Silent Era and a classic of the German Expressionist movement.

A carnival comes to a tiny

calendar German town, with some creepy featured attractions. Have the brilliant hypnotist, Dr. Caligari, and the sinister somnambulist under his control, something to do with the serial murders in the village? Will the hero, Francis, solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? Our “Town & Gown” series, now in its third season, introduces Film Forum moviegoers to Skidmore educators whose work has been profoundly shaped by fine cinema, and invites talk about a movie of their choice. For more information call (518) 584 3456 or visit, saratogafilmforum.org.

Tuesday, December 17 Organ Concert Series Proctors Theater, 432 State St. Schenectady, Noon Featuring Greg Klingler, Al Moser & Ed Goodemote. MVP invites all Capital Region residents and visitors to attend a free noontime organ concert featuring “Goldie”, Proctors mighty Wurlitzer Organ on the Mainstage at Proctors.

These seasoned musicians will demonstrate the marvels of “Goldie”, an 18 voice, threekeyboard instrument that includes a full set of percussion Instruments and a grand piano that can be played from the organ console. Since the installation of Goldie, Proctors has maintained a chapter of the American Theater Organ Society, which provides the services of the Organists who perform Proctors noontime concerts, as well as the crewmembers who maintain Goldie. For more information visit www.proctors.org.

Monthly Piroghi Sale Christ the Savior Parish, 349 Eastline Road, Ballston Lake, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Potato/cheese, sauerkraut, and Farmer’s cheese piroghis may be ordered. With holidays coming soon, please get you orders in as soon as possible, Call (518) 363-0001 to order.

Wednesday, December 18 Guided Mindful Meditation Saratoga Springs Public Library, Susman Room, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Take a break from the daily grind and clear your mind with guided Mindful Meditation led by

professionals from One Roof Holistic Health Center. Sessions are free and open to the public, and will be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Everyone is welcome!

For more information (518) 5847860 ext. 250 or visit, www.sspl.org.

27

Upcoming Town Meetings Town of Ballston:

Thursday, December 19 Holiday Event Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co., 171 S. Broadway, Saratoga, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Main Office of Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company is teaming up with SaratogaArtsFest to host a holiday extravaganza to benefit various community groups.

The event will include bagels, pastries, hot cocoa and coffee in the morning; a soup cookoff for lunch; local musicians performing throughout the day; a Malta Ridge Fire Department truck; a kids’ activity table with holiday art projects and a visit from Santa. There will also be a food drive for the Franklin Community Center and a bake sale and raffle to benefit SaratogaArtsFest. For more information call (518) 583-3114.

Five Men. Your Questions.

Honest Answers One Big Roof Holistic Center, 433 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 7 – 9 p.m.

Calling all women who ever wondered what men were really thinking. If you’ve had questions, but never dared ask, tonight’s your night. I have invited 5 men to speak to us and to answer any and all questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about - What men really want - How they feel about relationships - What motivates them - What turns them off - What they want more of. If you’ve ever wondered, come with a girlfriend to this once in a life time event. Cost is $20. For more information call (518) 727-5458.

Ballston Town Hall 323 Charlton Road (518) 885-8502 www.townofballstonny.org 12/18: Planning Board, 7 p.m.

Village of Ballston Spa: 66 Front Street (518) 885-5711 www.ballstonspany.org 12/23: Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m.

Town of Greenfield: 7 Wilton Road (518) 893-7432 www.townofgreenfield.com 12/24: Planning Board, 7 p.m.

Town of Malta: 2540 Route 9 (518) 899-2818 www.malta-town.org 12/19: PlanningBoard, 6:30 p.m.

Town of Milton: 503 Geyser Road (518) 885-9220 www.townofmiltonny.org 12/18: Town Board, 7 p.m.

12/26: Zoning Board, 7 p.m.

City of Saratoga Springs: 474 Broadway (518) 587-3550 www.saratoga-springs.org 12/16: Zoning Board, 7 p.m.

Town of Saratoga: 12 Spring Street, Schuylerville (518) 695-3644 www.townofsaratoga.com 12/18: Planning Board, 7:30 p.m.

Village of Schuylerville: 35 Spring Street (518) 695-3881 www.villageofschuylerville.org 12/16: Board of Trustees, 6:30 p.m.

Town of Stillwater: 881 N. Hudson Avenue Stillwater, NY 12170 (518) 664-6148 www.stillwaterny.org 12/16: Planning Board, 7 p.m.

12/19: Town Board, 7 p.m.

Town of Wilton:

Blood Drives December 13, 1 p.m.-6 p.m.

Wilton Emergency Squad, 1 Harran Lane December 14, 8 a.m.- noon 6 Clancy St., Schuylerville

22 Traver Road (518) 587-1939 www.townofwilton.com 12/18: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m.

12/26: Zoning Board, 6:30 p.m.

Saratoga County Board of Supervisors: 40 McMaster St, #1 Ballston Spa, NY 12020 (518) 885-2240 www.saratogacountyny.gov

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

PULSE

28

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

week of 12/13-12/19 friday, 12/13:

saturday, 12/14:

Darren Lyons Trio, 9 pm

On Your Mark, 9 pm

@ 9 Maple Avenue - 583.2582

Summit, 8 pm @ Bailey’s - 583.6060

Jeff Brisbin, 7 pm @ Maestros - 580.0312

Shady Rill, 8 pm @ Caffè Lena - 583.0022

Watchdog, 10 pm @ Caroline St. Pub - 583.9400

Rick Bolton, Sherri Nolan, Arlin Greene, 9 pm

@ The Mill - 899.5253

sunday, 12/15: The Heatons/Schenburger + Dimario, 8 pm @ Caffè Lena - 583.0022

monday, 12/16: Chris Carey/Tim Wechgelaer, 7 pm @ One Caroline - 587.2026

@ Gaffney’s - 583.7359

Dj Dingz, 10 pm @ Irish Times - 583.0003

Rusty Old Guys, 9 pm @ The Mill - 899.5253

Marcus Ruggiero, 8 pm @ Ravenswood - 371.8771

Joe Nacco Band, 8:30 pm @ The Rusty Nail - 371.9875

Third Rael, 6 pm

@ The Saratoga Winery - 584.9463

saturday, 12/14: Todd Nelson’s TN3, 9 pm @ 9 Maple Avenue - 583.2582

tuesday, 12/17: Rich Ortiz, 10 pm

@ Caroline St. Pub - 583.9400

Open Mic. Night w/Rick Bolton, 9 pm @ Gaffney’s - 583.7359

Jeff Brisbin, 7 pm @ Maestros - 580.0312

wednesday, 12/18: Jeff Walton, 7 pm @ Maestros - 580.0312

Masters of Nostalgia, 9 pm @ One Caroline - 587.2026

Full Circle, 8 pm

thursday, 12/19:

Spoiler, 9 pm

Open Mic, 8 pm

Karaoke, 10 pm

Open Mic, 8 pm

@ Bailey’s - 583.6060

@ Bentley’s - 899.4300

@ Circus Cafe’ - 583.1106

Spuyten Duvvil, 8 pm @ Caffè Lena - 583.0022

Master Cylinders, 10 pm @ Caroline St. Pub - 583.9400

Acoustic Circus, 9 pm @ Gaffney’s - 583.7359

The Hearters, 8 pm @ Ravenswood - 371.8771

Out Past, 8:30 pm @ The Rusty Nail - 371.9875

@ Circus Cafe - Open Mic

@ Caffè Lena - 583.0022

Jeff Brisbin, 7 pm @ Crown Grill - 583.1105

New Artist Showcase, 9 pm @ Gaffney’s - 583.7359

Jeff Walton, 6 pm @ Horseshoe Inn - 587.4909

Steve Candlen, 7 pm @ Maestros - 580.0312

Karaoke, 10 pm

@ Saratoga City Tavern - 581.3230

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

PULSE

29

HEAVENS TO BETSY! She’s Everyone’s Bestie!

ig ot l The ByeGons. (l to r) Joe Treiber, George Cannon, Betsy Cannon, Tom Keller.

Because all the ByeGons, including Ms. Betsy, Tom Keller (guitar), Joe Treiber (bass), and George Cannon (drums) have the pedigree.

Plus, it’s the oldies. And nearly everyone likes them.

If you’re into jazz, you like the oldies. If you’re into country, you like the oldies.

Surf music? Sure!

Metal? Maybe.

Rap? Probably.

The roots of classic rock ‘n’ roll were spawned from what most now call the oldies. And that’s what the ByeGons deliver.

So Betsy married PastElle sound man George and somehow meandered up to this region with a stop in Riverdale along the way.

Having kids, the whole deal. You hear what I’m saying? And Betsy, well, the good mother grows restless with the kiddo’s and decides

PastElle Pedigree from back in the day. Lisa, Lizette + Betsy.

that after they leave that “I’m going to get fit and not be a trophy mom anymore,” she laughs.

Fast forward and behold the finished product— yoga instructor at the Saratoga Y and private trainer by day, front singer for the music she loves at night, with the former sound man George now her drummer.

“I’m performing the exact music I want,” Betsy says, and it’s easy to believe. All you have to do is close your eyes and remember…

Sp

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Back before (but not too much before) you had ‘Jenny from the Block’ you had ‘Betsy from the Nabe’ – the neighborhood being Hoboken, New Jersey. Happy Days personified.

And so we harken back to the days the Ronettes, the Chiffons, the Shirelles, the Shangri-Las and so many others that lit up stages and screens around the world. The girl groups with the ‘do’s, sometimes in chiffon, maybe even a poodle skirt or two.

And if you were lucky, you got to see the PastElles perform.

Set against a backdrop of NJ summers at the shore, WCBS-FM 101 playing the old school stuff, preferably with Cousin Brucie behind the mike. A time of nostalgia. And you pull into the club and there they were.

Your best girl or guy at your side, the way it’s gonna be forever. And your other gf ’s on stage: Lisa, Lizette and Betsy. It was the time of the oldies, and this trio was selling it, man.

Well, I never saw the PastElles, but I can hear them in my head.

Because I saw Betsy and the ByeGons a few times recently.

And I hear the roots that Betsy Cannon developed long (but not so long) ago.

And that’s why it says here you should put this group on your First Night dance card.

ht

by Arthur Gonick Saratoga TODAY

Betsy and the Byegons

Empire State College Rotunda 2 Union Avenue Shows at 9, 10 and 11 p.m. betsyandthebyegons.com saratoga-arts.org

PULSE HMT Opens Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

30

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater (HMT) celebrates the holiday season with Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, dramatized by Richard R. George from the story of Roald Dahl. The show, partially underwritten by Stewart’s Shops, is suitable for the whole family and runs weekends December 13 through December 22 at the Spa Little Theater in Saratoga Spa State Park.

Mr. Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of the greatest chocolate factory in the world, has decided to open the doors of his factory to five lucky children and their parents. In order to choose who will enter the factory, he devises a plan to hide five golden tickets beneath the wrappers of his famous chocolate bars.

Come discover the true meaning of teamwork, self-confidence and self-esteem. The delicious fun

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

that is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory awaits you.

The cast of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory includes Alan Edstrom as Willy Wonka, Scott Brown as Charlie Bucket, Austen Halpern-Graser as Mike Teavee, Gabrielle Vuillaume as Veruca Salt, Jacklyn Parker as Violet Beauregarde, Matthew Boyce as Augustus Gloop, Michael Wilcox as Grandpa Joe and Winnie Bowen as the Narrator. The ensemble of 27 is rounded out by a pool of talented local actors of every age.

The design team for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory includes Director Kirk Starczewski, Scenic Designer Michael McDermott, Lighting Designer Jaime MartinezRivera, Costume Designer Linda Bertrand, Properties Designer Maura Pickett and Sound Designer KC Conway.

Performances are on

Left to Right: The Oompa Loompas (Karleigh MacMillan, Ava DuBoff, Morgan Dreher, Nathan Teetz) with Willy Wonka (Alan Edstrom)

December 13 and 20 at 7:30 p.m., December 14, 15 and 22 at 1 p.m., and December 21 at 1 and 4:30

p.m. General admission tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children age 12 and under. For

reservations or more information visit www.homemadetheater.org or call HMT at (518) 587-4427.

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

PULSE

31

Classical Superstar Itzhak Perlman to Headline August Program With The Philadelphia Orchestra AT SPAC

Photo Courtesey of Lisa Marie Mazzucco

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Violin virtuoso and classical music icon Itzhak Perlman will be the featured guest artist for the August 20 performance of The Philadelphia Orchestra during its residency at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) next year.

Winner of 15 Grammy Awards and four Emmy Awards, the Israeli-born Perlman will perform dual roles for the performance, taking center stage as violinist and the podium as conductor. The news was announced Thurday as the kick-off to SPAC’s “Building of a Season” programming announcement series which is featured each Thursday at www.spac.org.

“Itzhak Perlman, arguably the finest violinist of our time, will return to SPAC’s stage for what will undoubtedly be one of

the most thrilling events of our season,” said Marcia J. White, SPAC’s President and Executive Director. “It will be an unforgettable evening.”

Born in Israel in 1945, Itzhak Perlman was denied conservatory admission at age three because he was too small to hold a violin. Instead, the young Perlman taught himself using a toy instrument. After initial musical training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, Perlman came to New York and was propelled into the international arena with an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Following his studies at the Julliard School, Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, he has appeared with every major

orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the world.

During the past ten years Perlman has also appeared on the conductor’s podium and through this medium is connecting in new ways with audiences.

He has performed as conductor with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic.

On television, Perlman has appeared not only in PBS performance and documentary specials and series such as Live from Lincoln Center, but on popular shows including The Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, The Tonight Show and various Grammy Awards telecasts. He collaborated with film composer John Williams in Steven Speilberg’s Academy Award winning film Schindler’s List in which he performed the violin solos, and can also be heard as the violin soloist on the films Hero and Memoirs of a Geisha. He currently holds the Dorothy Richard Sterling Foundation Chair at the Julliard School, where he has been on the faculty since 1999.

Mr. Perlman performed as part of the first inauguration of President Barack Obama. Other notable appearances and honors include a 2007 performance at an official State Dinner for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and a 2012 official State Dinner honoring Israeli President and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree Shimon Peres. In 2003, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation.

Saratoga National Bank Main Office To Host Holiday Event SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Main Office of Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company is teaming up with SaratogaArtsFest to host a holiday extravaganza on Thursday, December 19 to benefit various community groups.

The event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 171 South Broadway will include bagels, pastries, hot cocoa and coffee

in the morning; a soup cook-off for lunch; local musicians performing throughout the day; a Malta Ridge Fire Department truck; a kids’ activity table with holiday art projects; and a visit from Santa.

In addition, there will be a food drive for the Franklin Community Center and a bake sale and raffle to benefit SaratogaArtsFest.

For more information about the Main Office event on December 19, please call (518) 583-3114.

Saratoga National Bank provides banking, investment, insurance and other financial services through seven Saratoga County locations. It is rated a 5-Star Superior institution by BauerFinancial.

Perlman, who last appeared at SPAC in 2007, will perform Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor. The remainder of the program will be announced at a later date.

Tickets to SPAC’s 2014 Classical Season will go on sale to SPAC members in February and to the public in March.

Details will be available on spac. org in the coming weeks.

32

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Ballston Spa Robotics Team Receives Grant Take a look at this week’s newest club members!

Willy

Michael

Alivia

Bergen

Tooth Fairy Club is sponsored by:

Nicole M. Byrne, D.M.D Pediatric Dentistry 659 Saratoga Road Gansevoort, New York 12831 (518) 226-6010

The Ballston Spa High School’s Robotics Team 3044 hosted a kickoff event to this year’s Robotics Competitions for students and their parents as part of their community service this year. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa High School Robotics Team 3044 was recently selected to receive a 2014 NASA Robotics Alliance Regional Challenge Grant. The grant supports the team’s registration fee (up to $5,000) for the New York Tech Valley Regional that will be held on March 13-15, 2014 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.

Team 3044 is one of 10 teams to receive the Regional Challenge Grant and one of 88 veteran teams nationwide to be selected for a NASA Grant.

Superintendent Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. announced the award at a recent Board of Education meeting and expressed appreciation to those who wrote the grant request.

“Team Mentor David Torrey, together with Coach Greg Roberts

and Science Coordinator Diane Irwin, put a lot of time and effort into coordinating an outstanding proposal as part of this competitive national funding opportunity,” Dragone said. “We are thrilled to continue to secure outside resources for our robotics programs.”

In addition to the grant, the team has once again received generous support from Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), the lead sponsor of the Robotics team since its rookie year, to fund the team’s participation in the annual US FIRST Robotics competition. The $6,000 in funding, combined with additional corporate sponsorships and team fundraising, will allow the district’s team to design and construct a robot according to this year’s specifications, participate in regional competitions and continue to expand the robotics initiatives to additional students in the district.

The team is anticipating and preparing for the announcement of the 2014 challenge that will take place on January 4. They are

planning to compete in both the New York Tech Valley Regional Competition and the Finger Lakes Regional Competition this year.

FRC Team 3044 had their rookie season in 2009 with 18 students and four mentors and has since grown to over 40 students and 15 mentors this school year. The working philosophy of Team 3044 is to provide the opportunity for all students to grow into talented and productive young men and women who will be tomorrow’s innovators and leaders. This past year, the team and their alliance partners won the WPI Regional Competition and were able to participate in the FRC Championship Tournament in St. Louis, Missouri.

Take a look at the team’s webpage via the district website at www.bscsd.org or contact Science Coordinator Diane Irwin at the Ballston Spa High School at (518) 884-7150 for additional information on robotics initiatives in the Ballston Spa Central School District.

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

33

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36

SPORTS

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Torres Recalls Special Group, Special Bond

continued from page 1

that come to mind when you think of last season’s team?

Gamers. Great kids.

Competitors. Intense. Sensitive.

Lifelong friends. Tyler (Bullard) and I probably stay in contact once a week.

Would you say it’s safe to say last year’s run was dominant?

Six postseason games, four shutouts and outscoring opponents 27-3?

You don’t realize that until someone mentions it.

Someone says, “Hey you outscored them 27-3,” and it’s like, “Wow, we did?” The Flynn boys, they were just fantastic in the playoffs. They really turned up their game. It just all jelled at the right time. It was a lot of fun. It’s still a fresh memory.

Does getting a taste of a championship win make you any more hungry for a second one?

Not right now. We’re looking at it one game of a time.

We knew what it took to get there the last two years. You can’t think ahead. It’s not healthy. You don’t know what tomorrow brings.

We’re just looking to get points in the standings. Once playoffs start, we’re looking to get home ice advantage, which is huge for us.

What was one thing you learned last season?

I learned that last year’s group was a very special group of young men with a high level of maturity. A lot of selflessness.

They were all about team. They really didn’t care about individual accomplishments. It was a family atmosphere and we just cared for each other and supported each other. That’s why we were successful. We didn’t have bickering or drama. We were just so focused on winning every single period, every single game, that everything else was secondary.

As you see players come and go in high school, do you think the 2012-13 team had a closer bond than any other?

I’ve been coaching a long time. I coached back when we made it to the state championship in 1993 and that was a special bond, that team. But this team is together forever. It’s a special group of kids who will forever remain in contact. The bonding in the locker room was incredible.

From our pasta parties to us going to Chipotle and getting a meal for free to going to Utica and just having a good time, going to the

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Design by MarkBolles.com

Pittsford and Rochester area and just hanging out in the hotel with each other. It’s a special group and the parents are a fantastic group and very supportive people. You have to thank the parents. They raise their kids and lend them to me and it’s already there.

How about those rings?

Every single boy and coach got a championship ring and the kids helped design them.

I had their input. I gave them a template with three different styles from Jostens.

Where do you keep your ring?

At my house in the box that it came in. I wore it to the first game we had here and I wear it on special occasions. It’s

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a piece that people talk about—a conversation piece for sure. It’s a special piece of jewlerly and you will have it forever. Not everyone has one. Like I told the kids, “You 15 guys in the locker room have championship rings and no one else in this area has one of those. You might not appreciate it now, but down the road you will appreciate what you have.”

People say championships require luck. Do you agree?

We were lucky to stay healthy. That’s part of it. We didn’t have many injuries that lasted long.

Ryan Flynn came injured the first week of tryouts—broke his knee cap.

But he worked his way back into the lineup. There’s always luck involved.

We definitely dominated every

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suburban council and had a lot of shutouts.

(The Blue Streaks had nine shutouts last season, which included blanking Shenendehowa three times and a 5-0 win over McQuaid in the state title game.)

Have you felt teams coming after you this season?

A. Oh yeah. The Mamaroneck (Section I) game on Friday (December 6), we felt the bull’s-eye. I think our kids might have been hyped up because of the banner and the first home game. I don’t think the kids were prepared and maybe it’s partially my fault. It’s a game, if we played our game, we should have one…

You don’t realize the significance of [the state title] until a team

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like Mamaroneck comes here and beats you on their ice and they’re celebrating like they won the Stanley Cup. I think it’s a good game to lose because we learned a lot from it and the resiliency and that attitude of the guys who came back and beat a tough St. Joe’s team on Saturday.

What have you tried to preach to this team to get you back in the Frozen Four?

You have to harp on putting your expectations to the side. Put them on the backburner and worry about what’s best for the team. Right now we have four good lines that can skate every day and that’s what I’m looking for. We have 12 guys who can put the puck in the net.

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Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

SPORTS

Community Sports Bulletin Lake Placid Winter 2014 Event Season Schedule

LAKE PLACID — Below is a rundown of many of the events on the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority winter 2013-14 events calendar. Dates and schedules are subject to change.

Dec. 28: Holiday Festival on Ice Skating Show Jan. 5-11: North American Cup Bobsled and Skeleton Jan. 10-11: ISI Figure Skating Competition Jan. 15-18: FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup

The world’s best freestyle skiers return to Lake Placid to compete in the FIS freestyle World Cup. Action will take place at the Olympic Jumping Complex and Whiteface Mountain. The jumping complex will host the men and women’s aerials competitions, where athletes twist and soar as high as 60 feet in the air before landing, while Whiteface, in Wilmington, will be the site of the moguls’ competitions. This is the final World Cup event before several nations, including the United States, select their 2014 Olympic teams.

Jan. 25: Lake Placid Loppet and Kort Loppet

Nordic skiers will converge on the cross-country ski trails at Mt. Van Hoevenberg to compete in the 32nd Lake Placid Loppet. Open to classical and freestyle skiers, the Loppet is a 50K race (31 miles) through the 1980 Olympic ski trails. The vertical climb is just less than 3,700 feet.

The 25K Kort Loppet, also open for classical and freestyle skiers, features a vertical climb of 1,850 feet. The Lake Placid Loppet is part of the American Ski Marathon Series.

Feb. 7-9: 34th Empire State Winter Games Feb. 12: U.S. Ski Jumping Competition Feb. 12-16: Nor/Am Aerials Feb. 18: Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Feb. 22-23: North/Am Biathlon March 9-15: U.S. College Ski and Snowboard National Championships March 17-22: FIBT Sliding School March 20-22: ECAC Men’s Hockey Championship Tournament

The ECAC Hockey championships return for the first time to Lake Placid since 2002. The winner of this tournament receives an automatic bid to play in the NCAA championship tournament. Last season, ECAC schools Yale and Quinnipiac squared off in the national title game, with the Bulldogs coming away with their first national crown. The ECAC Men’s Hockey championship tournament will be played on the famed Herb Brooks Arena 1980 Rink.

March 24-29: FIBT International Bobsled Racing

For more information on ORDA’s Olympic venues and events, visit www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

Division Street Turkey Hoop Shoot Winners First Night Saratoga 5k Run

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 16th Annual First Night Saratoga 5K Run, presented by the Saratoga Arts, will be held on Tuesday, December 31 at 5:30 p.m.

The run is limited to the first 1,500 registrants and there is no day-of race registration for the run that has sold out for each of the past 12 years.

A ChronoTrack B-Tag computerized scoring system will be used at the event.

The USA Track and Field certified course starts and finishes on the Skidmore College Campus.

Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers as well as the top three male and female finishers in five-year age categories. All finishers will receive a First Night commemorative medal.

Refreshments will follow the race and both showers and restrooms will be available in the athletic complex.

Registration is $30 and as of Tuesday, December 10, there were 100 spots available.

Save time by registering online, or download an application and map at www.

The Division Street School’s Annual Turkey Hoop Shoot winners for the annual fundraising event held on November 13 were (front row, l-r) Ethan Maruska, Connor Herbst and Arianna Avila, as well as (back row, l-r) John Gleason, saratoga-arts.org There is no additional fee for registering online.

Mateo Avila and Hutton Snyder.

For further information contact First Night Saratoga at (518) 584-4132.

Send your sports stories or briefs to Brian Cremo, Sports Editor at brian@saratoga publishing.com

Puzzle solutions from pg. 23

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SPORTS

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Auburn Football: The Eye Of The Tiger

by Damian Fantauzzi for Saratoga TODAY In 2006, there was a high school football coach in Springdale, Arkansas by the name of Gus Malzahn, who, like many coaches, dreamed of being in the big time.

Understand that there are few college coaches who have moved from the high school level directly into a position of head coach at a Division I school. A high percentage of coaches in any sport at a collegiate level earn their position as

head coach from advancing from a former college player to an assistant while maintaining aspirations for future advancement.

For a high school coach, it might require him or her to quit their scholastic position and start at the bottom with hopes of moving into the ranks as a possible assistant coach. The latter, is a more accurate journey for Auburn’s Gus Malzahn.

Here is a brief biography on Malzahn’s coaching career. From the high school ranks of Springdale, he was recruited as a package deal with two of his high school athletes to the University of Arkansas in 2006, where he became the offensive coordinator. After a year, his two former high school players transferred from Arkansas. That same year, Malzahn, moved to Tulsa University in Oklahoma, where he became the offensive coordinator for 2007-2008.

In 2009, he took a position at Auburn University as offensive coordinator for the Tigers and 3 years later, in 2012, he became the head coach at Arkansas State, where

his team went 9-3. As fate would have it, in 2012, Auburn fired their head coach, Gene Chizik, who had won the NCAA national championship in 2010 followed by two dismal years.

Auburn focused on getting Malzahn back, but this time as head coach and he, of course, moved back to the school as its new coach.

At Auburn University, Coach Malzahn and his team upset and shocked the former No. 1 team in the nation, Alabama’s Crimson Tide, coached by the legendary Nick Saban. What does fate mean?

Fate has defined itself to Malzahn.

Auburn’s last two regular season games had amazing finishes, with fictional type endings.

The big upset of Alabama was during the NCAA’s rivalry week, with the Tigers 100-plus yard touchdown (unofficially 109 yards)

by Cornerback Chris Davis. The touchdown return came off of a missed 57-yard field goal attempt

by Alabama with just one second left in the game.

The previous week, Auburn

defeated the University of Georgia Bulldogs, in the last 33 seconds, on a deflected pass reception by Ricardo Louis to win the game.

Against Georgia, the Auburn Tigers were behind 38-37. It was fourth and 18 from their own 27-yard line that resulted in a 73-yard miracle deflected pass for a Tiger touchdown.

Like Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!”

My question is, “How many miracles do you get in a lifetime?”

After last weekend, the Tigers are now the reigning SEC Champions, defeating No. 5 Missouri, in a high scoring game of the SEC Championship, 59-42.

Continuing the making of a story about a miracle season, last weekend No. 2 Ohio State, with 24 consecutive wins over two seasons, lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship game, 34-24.

The developing miracle continues for Auburn and Malzahn, as they prepare to take on No. 1 Florida State in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game in

Pasadena, California, on January 6.

This will be Auburn’s second BCS Championship appearance in four years.

Gus Malzahn and his Auburn Tigers have given the NCAA one of the greatest years in college football that I can remember. I hope the game on January 6 has the excitement of what has happened over the last couple weekends.

This year, the game of college football has all of the hype and excitement that it promises. Part of the hype is what a former high school football coach has done in his career by living the dream— a dream of miracles and a dream come true.

I am looking forward to the BCS title game from Pasadena, and I wish Coach Malzahn the best.

Florida State is an awesome team, but in a one-game championship, anything can happen. Who knows, the miracle may not be over for Auburn and its coach.

To FSU: beware of the “Eye of the Tiger” and a team that might be guided from above!

Saratoga TODAY'S Star Athletes Sponsored By Walton’s Sport Shop

Adhem Elsawi

Photo Courtesy of East Carolina Media Relations

East Carolina • Senior • Offensive Lineman Saratoga Springs graduate Adhem Elsawi was named to the 2013 Conference USA All-Academic team, as a member of East Carolina’s football team.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 308-pound offensive linemen is in his senior year at ECU and was also on the All-Academic team last year.

Elsawi, 22, has played both the guard and tackle slots. He opened up his final season as the starting right tackle, after making the transition from the left side.

Heading into the season as a 2013 First Team Preseason All-Conference USA selection (Phil Steele’s College Football Preview Magazine), Elsawi helped the Pirates to a 9-3 record.

He was a three-year letterman and team captain at Saratoga Springs and a three-time first team all-area performer. He also earned fourth team all-state honors as a senior member of the Blue Streaks 2008 squad that won seven games.

Carly Boland

Shenendehowa • Sophomore • Guard/Forward Carly Boland dropped in a season high 22 points in a 70-33 win over Burnt Hills on Tuesday, December 10.

The 6-foot sophomore is averaging just shy of 20 points per contest in Shenendehowa’s first three wins, as the Plainsmen have started off undefeated while outscoring opponents by an average of 30 points.

Boland was a crucial piece of the puzzle on last season’s varsity team, after making the jump from playing freshmen ball as an eighth grader.

Boland is looking to capitalize on last year’s sensational season when she averaged 15 points, eight boards, three assists, three steals and three blocks per game en route to Shen’s 14-win season.

Keep an eye out for Boland to surpass her career high of 26 points in a game this year, as the sophomore has come back taller and even more dominant in the short season thus far.

Photo by Allan Barger. www.extremeteam.ifp3.com

Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013

Boxing Barcia Brothers Advance

(l-r)Local boxers Michael Barcia and Joseph Barcia are on to regionals.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Brothers Joseph and Michael Barcia both claimed medals for their performance in the ring at this past weekend’s Silver Gloves.

Michael, 12, won a split decision over Marcus Floyd, 13, of Buffalo. Joseph Barcia, 14, defeated Gregory O’Neil, 15,

of Rochester in a unanimous decision.

Both brothers advance to the regionals, which take place the first week in January with a chance to go to Missouri for nationals. They will be training five days a week with Saratoga Boxing’s Tyrone Jackson and Andy Ferragon.

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To suggest Star Athletes or to contact Saratoga TODAY about youth, high school, college or professional sports, email sports editor Brian Cremo at brian@saratogapublishing.com

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Week of December 13 – December 19, 2013