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Author: Aidan Clark

Ballston Spa Girls’ Soccer Beats Shenendehowa, “It’s Been Such a Long Time”

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

(Courtesy of Aidan Clark)
Coach Thomas Rogan on the Ballston Spa Sideline Versus Shen (Courtesy of Aidan Clark)

Girls’ soccer Suburban Council contender Ballston Spa bested rival Shenendehowa at home on Tuesday night. In head coach Tom Rogan’s second season with the Scotties, the goal is to win the Suburban council for the first time in program history. 

A 2-0 scoreline to Ballston Spa conceals the fact that Shenendehowa played a large part of the game in their opponent’s half, creating scoring opportunities that would find the back of the net on another day. 

The deadlock stood for over an hour into the game until captain Leah Szmarz struck a free kick 25 yards from goal under the jumping wall of Shen, finding Meave McLoughlin with only the goalkeeper to beat at the back post. 

Minutes later with Shen pushing for an equalizing goal, the ball was cleared to Szmarz, who found enough time and space at the top of the box to turn the last defender. Her dribble took her to the right of the goal, favoring the goalkeeper. However, a crisp knee-height shot caused the goalkeeper to parry the ball into the path of crashing Abby Werner. 

Ballston Spa was then able to manage the ever-running clock by congesting their defense and chasing long balls to the opposing corner flag until the final whistle from the referee. 

The Scotties currently have a perfect 2-0 record and are second in the Suburban Council. 

Still, Coach Rogan advised caution in his postgame team talk. 

“It’s a wonderful win, but the suburban council is an incredibly deep and difficult league,” Rogan said. “We have to play Shaker on Thursday and if you go down there and you’re enjoying the win too much, Shaker will beat you.”  

The team was apt to receive this message from their coach, who boasts nine section titles over 26 seasons with Bethlehem and was inducted into the New York State High School Girls’ Soccer Hall of Fame prior to the season.

For captain Abby Werner, this win is an indication of progress and possibility. “Shen is obviously a very good team, and we ourselves are also very good,” she said. “It feels really good to win since it’s been such a long time since we’ve been able to pull through with this win. It makes me really excited to see what our team can do during sectionals and hopefully move on towards a state championship.”

The 2026 Saratoga Race Course Season in Review

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Sports.

Some may be happy it’s over, some are glad it happened, others are sad it won’t return, but one thing is for sure: this summer meet was the longest in the race course’s 163-year history. The original meet was scheduled for 51 days, however heavy rain caused a cancelation on Wednesday, July 29. After 50 racing days, the Saratoga Race Course concluded as usual on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. 

Highlights from the historic season include:

• Paid attendance exceeding 1 million fans for the 11th consecutive year and total wagering handle of more than $900 million.

• The Grade 1 Travers Stakes featured a deep and accomplished field headlined by Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo. However, it was the Brad Cox-trained Leading Change who emerged victorious under Manny Franco in front of a crowd of 47,659 on Saturday, August 29.

• Reigning Horse-of-the-Year, Sovereignty, returned to Saratoga Race Course with an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Saturday, August 8. With his Whitney victory, Sovereignty earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

• Manny Franco claimed the Angel Cordero, Jr. title as leading rider; Chad Brown captured the H. Allen Jerkens training title; and Klaravich Stables secured the meet’s leading owner title.

• Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher earned his 6,000th career victory in North America during the summer meet, when Versailles Road captured the finale on Whitney Day, Saturday, August 8.

• Jockeys Luis Saez and Hall of Famer Javier Castellano reached significant career milestones during the summer meet, recording the 4,000th and 6,000th victories of their respective careers.

• Fans enjoyed FIFA World Cup 26 Viewing Parties bringing the excitement of the global soccer tournament to the Spa during the summer meet.

• Saratoga welcomed on Whitney Day members of the United States Women’s Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team, Haley Winn and Hayley Scamurra, along with Katie Million, the team’s general manager.

• The second annual Corgi Cup returned to Saratoga, bringing dozens of four-legged competitors and their enthusiastic supporters to the Spa. Kona, a five-year-old Corgi from Smithtown, NY, was this year’s winner.

• Saratoga hosted its second annual NYRA STAR Kids Day, featuring a wide variety of family-friendly activities and attractions for its youngest fans, and its traditional Military Appreciation Day and First Responders Day to celebrate and honor those who serve our nation and our communities.

Those locals who perpetually avoid the eccentricity elicited by the horse racing scene can return to their normal activities now. 

Next year the newly constructed Belmont Park will reopen downstate, and the Belmont Stakes will return to its home after spending the past three years occurring in Saratoga. 

This means the racing calendar will slim down to 40 days next year. 

While some locals may revel in the fact that next year the racing season will slim down, it is undeniable that the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival brought an unprecedented economic surge into the region.

“Prior studies report the Saratoga Race Course has a $370 million economic impact over a 40-day meet, which means about $9 million per day. With 50 racing days this year, our region likely experienced a more than $450 million economic benefit from the extended meet and the chance to host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga one last time. Local business owners from our retail and hospitality sectors report that it was a busy summer in Saratoga, and city sales tax collections were up this year through June and July versus prior years,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “The question everyone’s now asking is ‘What do we do to top this in 2027?’ That is perhaps the best indicator of how vital the summer meet is to our local and regional economy.”

Make-A-Wish Benefit Concert at UPH

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Entertainment.

(LaMP featuring Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and Scott Metzger)
(Photos courtesy of Make-A-Wish Vermont and Northeast New York)

On Tuesday, October 6, Oteil Burbridge, and LaMP will be performing together for the first time at the Universal Preservation Hall in support of Make-A-Wish. Burbridge, a celebrated bassist with the Allman Brothers Band and Dead & Company along with Vermont-based trio LaMP, featuring Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and Scott Metzger promise a rare musical partnership, blending world-class artistry with spontaneous collaboration.

“I’m so excited to share the stage with Russ, Ray, and Scott on this upcoming run for such a great organization,” said Oteil Burbridge. “I’ve participated in Make-A-Wish since the Allman Brothers days, but it has been a long time. This is a rare opportunity to join LaMP and see what flavor of musical brew we can conjure up. Don’t miss this one if you’re within striking distance.”

All proceeds from the tour benefit Make-A-Wish Vermont & Northeast New York. Operating from Wishing Spaces in Shelburne, Vermont and Saratoga Springs, New York, the chapter has granted nearly 3,500 wishes since 1986.

Make-A-Wish President and CEO of Vermont & Northeast New York, Jamie Hathaway, says the money raised from the concert will go directly towards granting wishes to children aged 2.5 to 18 years old, “in the hopes that a wish can inspire hope, strength and joy in the healing process. And to bring agency to children who often feel they don’t have control of a lot of things in their lives,” said Hathaway. 

A common misconception of Make-A-Wish is that they only grant wishes to terminally ill patients. However, anyone can refer a child in critical condition at wish.org/refer.

“What I often say to people is don’t worry about whether or not a child qualifies. That’s our job to figure it out. What’s very important to know is we serve children with critical conditions and there are a number of conditions that qualify,” Hathaway said. 

Tickets for the concert start at 90 dollars and can be purchased at wishbenefit.org.

Spa Catholic’s Ladies Soccer: From Verge of Dissolution, To Lofty Ambitions

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

Three years ago, the Saratoga Central Catholic Ladies Soccer team was at risk of dissolving due to lack of coaching. Fortunately, Brian Venn, whose daughter plays for the team, volunteered to step into the head coach roll.

When Venn along with assistant coach Tony Nucrea took over in 2024, the team won eight games and were knocked out in the quarterfinals of sectionals. That was an improvement on the 1-15 record the team had the year before.

Last year the team won nine games and made it to the quarterfinals of sectionals, a qualifying improvement. 

“When we set out to do this three years ago, we thought to ourselves, first we have to build stability in the program. We have to get the younger athletes,” Nucera said. “So we have that stability now. We started with 11 or 12 and now we have 11 underclassmen, which is almost equal to what we had when we first started.” 

This year Coach Venn has challenged the team to play 20 games.

“If we play 20 games that means we are in the state tournament and we won a sectional title,” Venn said. 

Talking to the players who have played on the team for the past three years, it’s easy to see how the program has grown to have lofty ambitions.

“Being open and welcoming to everyone and treating them like how I was first brought onto the team. Being new, it was scary at first, so just being there for them and say, ‘if you ever need anything even outside of soccer in general, you’re going through something, I’m always there,’” said senior captain Addison Quail, who is one of the team’s only full-time soccer athletes. 

At a school with an average class size of 29, most of the athletes play other sports and were recruited by their friends.

That was the case for senior goalie Grace Schaefer, who brought her softball bag to last week’s soccer practice.

“Because I’m a catcher in softball, I’m constantly catching things, so I might as well try goalie and see how that goes. I was good at kicking the ball, I was good at blocking it and then it just stuck,” Schaefer reflected on her three years on the team.”

Basketball is senior midfielder, Sophia Ryan’s primary sport, who led the team to Spa Catholic’s first ever Section 2 basketball title last winter. 

“A couple of my friends were playing [soccer], and I had played when I was younger, so I was like I’ll try it out,” Ryan said. “I started playing softball too just to help the team out because they needed players.”

Since the team has seen a revitalization from fresh coaching and enthusiasm from players, the parents have reciprocated. Every year, Cooperstown Distillery hosts a parents-only fundraising event in support of team. This allowed the team to purchase new jerseys in 24’ and afford an independent schedule. 

This year, Skidmore College has invited the team to play three games Friday night games under the lights, highlighting how far the program has come. 

Over the summer the team has been practicing two times per day in preparation for the season, and because they want to spend all the time they can with their friends. 

The ladies kick off their season Labor Day weekend at a Bolton Landing tournament.

League games begin September 8 against Hadley Luzere, hopefully picking up their first of 20 wins this season!

Golf Icon, Dottie Pepper, Brings Contemporary Christian Music to her Hometown

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Entertainment.

Dottie Pepper’s Backyard Concert Featuring Josh Baldwin Two Years Ago
(Courtesy of Dottie Pepper)

Golf fans may remember Dottie Pepper’s dominant outing at the 1999 Nabisco Dinah Shore tournament where she shot a record 19-under par to win her second major title. Followers of the sport may recognize Pepper from her extensive commentating career on the Golf Channel and CBS.

Some may not know that the Saratoga native was the first ever walking reporter allowed at the Masters in 2020. 

Now Pepper says she has received a tap on the shoulder. 

Through a culmination of efforts, Pepper, along with Peggy McQuade has organized two unique contemporary Christian concerts in her hometown of Saratoga. 

This calling, Pepper said, she really started listening to during the pandemic.

“I would not have considered myself much of an active Christian until probably more toward a decade ago. But this whole Christian music thing for me kind of blew up [my faith],” Pepper reflected. During “the Covid Summer we were the first major sport to go back on television. I essentially drove across the county, and I was by myself and this music kept me rooted and positive.”

Two years ago, Pepper hosted a concert in her backyard featuring Josh Baldwin, a Christian singer-songwriter. 

Since that informal gig, Pepper, Baldwin, and David Leonard, an artist in the same genre as Baldwin, have been trying to coordinate schedules to bring their music to the Spa City.

This year those efforts come to fruition; on September 19 Baldwin and David Leonard are coming to the Universal Preservation Hall for “Voices to God.” 

Additionally, on September 11, the inaugural “Worship in the Pines” is coming to Saratoga Performing Arts Center. This all-day festival of contemporary Christian artists is one Pepper hopes becomes an annual event like Jazz or Outlaw Fest. 

“I think there’s an element that music becomes a more powerful messenger than the spoken word,” Pepper said. “It’s more about getting the music and the message out of a particular building and out among the masses. That is what we’re trying to do here, especially to bring this music to Saratoga.”

For more information on the lineup for “Worship in the Pines” or to buy tickets go to, worshipinthepines.com. To purchase tickets to “Voices to God” go to, atuph.org.

Dolly Parton’s  Legacy Prevails in the Capital Region

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Entertainment.

The passing of Dolly Parton has seen a national outpouring of sorrow and gratitude. This was evident in that the New York State Department of Transportation displayed lyrics from her 1973 single, Jolene, on Interstate 87. 

President Trump even ordered all flags on government buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of Dolly Parton, an honor rarely given to private citizens.

Parton epitomized the rags to riches American dream.

She was born in a one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children born to Robert and Avie Partons. Dolly’s parents filled their home with traditional mountain-folk music which formed the foundation for Dolly’s eventual stardom. 

Parton was said to have written her first song at six years of age and performed on local television by age 10. She released her first album, “Hello, I’m Dolly” at 21. 

The country star performed at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in 1979 and 1983. 

But possibly her most lasting legacy will be founding the Imagination Library, a children’s literacy program.

As of 2023, the Imagination Library mails books to one in seven children under the age of five years old in the United States monthly. 

“Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my Daddy,” Parton wrote on the Imagination Library website. “He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.” 

In 2024, United Way of the Greater Capital Region partnered with the Imagination Library and has distributed over 275,000 books to over 15,000 children in the Capital Region.

“Dolly was a larger-than-life American icon whose impact will live on in every book placed in the hands of a child through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. We are incredibly honored to partner with her organization. We will always admire Dolly for her passion and dedication to making this world a better place. May her family be comforted with the knowledge of the number of lives she has improved,” said CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region, Peter Gannon.

Any child under the age of five years old can enroll to be sent a book every month at no cost to families. To enroll in the program, visit: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/.

Workforce Housing Proposed in Ballston Spa, Residents Have Reservations

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Business, Featured.

Rendering of the Proposed Tannery Commons Development
(Courtesy of Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi)
Ariel Photo of the Current Tannery Commons Site at 125 Bath Street, Ballston Spa (Courtesy of Aidan Cahill)

On Wednesday, Aug 26, residents of the Village of Ballston Spa voiced concerns about a proposed 168-unit residential complex in the Village’s central business district. 

The developers are seeking a special permit from the zoning board to move forward with construction at 125 Bath Street. The location is currently considered a brownfield site and will require developers to work with the New York State Department of Environment Conservation to decontaminate the site before construction.  

Attorney John Cromie, whose office sits across the street from the proposed development site, submitted his grievances to the Zoning Board. 

“Citing 168 units does not tell the full story. A better metric is the number of bedrooms. 255 to be exact. It is very possible 450 to 500 people will be present at any one time – 10% of our village’s population,” Cromie said in a written statement.

He continues, “It is estimated the two peak hours will produce 151 trips. There are about 16 hours during which most people are active. It is not unreasonable to estimate upwards of 600 more cars will pass by neighboring homes each day.”

An independent engineering consultant conducted a traffic analysis and concluded “traffic generated by the proposed Tannery Commons development can be accommodated by the existing roadway network with minimal impacts to traffic operations.”

Ballston Spa Zoning Member, Kamran Parwana, noted the data used in the analysis was collected on December 3, 2024, a Tuesday which had snowfall. 

“I find the traffic study to be optimistic,” Parwana told the representatives of Blue Ridge Cascade and the NPR group.

This sentiment garnered a prolonged applause from the 70+ residents in attendance. 

“To rely on those numbers from almost two years ago and the growth coefficient is 0.5% annual growth. If we look at the number of large developments that have been in the process of being built that use Milton Ave and Ballston Ave as major thoroughfares, I’m really concerned that growth rate does not reflect what’s really here,” Parwana said. 

Some community members were in favor of increased housing in close vicinity of Front Street.

“Potential residents of this community would be the ones who would be using that business district. I think it would be a real enhancement for the village to have people living close to [the central business district] that could use say, the Iron Roost for breakfast,” Kathlyn Rooney reasoned.

The project will be workforce housing, targeting librarians, restaurant workers, and police officers as potential residents. 

To be awarded the special permit, the project must pass three tests outlined in zoning code 205-72.

First, the development shall be in harmony with the surrounding district

Second, the traffic to and from the housing complex will not be hazardous or inconvenient to the surrounding neighborhood.

Third, the location, height and landscaping of the buildings shall not hinder the development or impair the value of adjacent buildings.

The plans include three buildings: a four-story building along Gordon Creek, a three-story building along Bath Street, and a four-story building on the back of the property. 

Also in the blueprints is a pocket park on Bath Street with a trail along Gordon Creek which could connect to the Jim Tedisco Trail behind the property. 

The developers also stated they would reconstruct the sidewalk along Bath Street and implement extensive landscaping, leaving adequate greenspace. 

Public comments on the proposal are due to the Zoning Board by September 16 at pbzbcomments@ballstonspa.gov.

The next Zoning Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30 at the Ballston Spa Elk’s Lodge at 10 Hamilton Street. 

iRun Saratoga is Bringing a Half Marathon Back to the Spa City

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

The inaugural iRun Half Marathon is fast approaching; the starting gun is set to fire at 8 a.m. in Congress Park Sunday, September 20th. The 13.1-mile course will take runners by Saratoga Race Course, around the Casino, and through the State Park via Spring Run Trail, Railroad Run, Beekman Street, Nelson Ave, Fifth Ave, and ending at High Rock Park. 

Jamie Mastroianni and her husband Anthony founded iRun Local in 2014 to foster a community of runners in Saratoga. After the Saratoga Palio Half Marathon was discontinued in 2020, the Mastroiannis wanted to fill the void for a half marathon in Saratoga. 

“Being at the store and also working alongside our race director, Jessica Hoppridge, who’s well connected in the running community, there’s been this longing for a half marathon in Saratoga,” said Jamie Mastroianni. 

The half marathon is USA Track and Field certified and will be tracked using ARE Event Production allowing personal timing for each runner. 

The top three male and female runners from each age group will be honored at the award ceremony at 10 a.m. The age group are as follows: 14-U, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+. All half marathon finishers will receive a medal at the finish line. 

After the race, participants can make their way to Druthers on Broadway for a beer included with registration. 

A portion of the proceeds will go towards the BPM Heart Foundation, which provides financial assistance to patients and family members dealing with cancer treatment. The foundation was created in honor of Druthers founder, Brian Martell, who passed away from leukemia last year.

The race is still looking for volunteers to help facilitate the race. There are also sponsorship opportunities available. For more information, to view the course map, and to register for the race go to, https://irunlocal.com/content/irun-saratoga-half-marathon. 

Golden Tempo Leads Betting Lines as Favorite for the Travers Stakes

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Entertainment, Sports.

Golden Tempo After Winning the Belmont Stakes (Courtesy of Dom Napolitano)

The Travers Stakes, which is the oldest stake race for three-year-olds in the country, is set for Saturday, Aug. 29. The race is named after William Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course. Traver’s horse, Kentucky, won the inaugural race in 1864. 

This year’s betting favorite is Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, Golden Tempo, at 5/2 odds. The Travers will be Golden Tempo’s first start since the Belmont Stakes, following recovery from a bacterial infection which caused him to miss the Jim Dandy.

Jim Dandy winner and closest betting rival, Renegade, sits at 3/1 odds. Renegade started as the Kentucky Derby morning line favorite and led momentarily in the stretch. However, a last to first surge saw Golden Tempo take the Derby. 

The previous Travers winner, Sovereignty, also won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Will Golden Tempo be able to match Sovereignty in the Travers? The bookies seem to believe. 

Each year the Saratoga Canoe, which floats in the infield pond, has been painted with the Travers-winning owner’s colors. This tradition started in 1962 when patrons returned to the race course to find the original blue paint had been covered with the colors of Calumet Farm, whose horse Beau Prince won the year prior. 

Tune into the Travers, post time 6:35 p.m., to find out what color the canoe will be next year. 

The Saratoga Regional YMCA Commemorates 160 Years with a Community Time Capsule

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Entertainment.

Community Members, Elected Officials, and YMCA Executives Commemorating 160 Years of the Saratoga Regional YMCA (Courtesy of Aidan Clark)

On Wednesday, Aug 26, the Saratoga Regional YMCA celebrated its 160th anniversary with a community gathering and the dedication of a time capsule enclosed with memories from members set to be opened on its 200th anniversary. 

The capsule contains photographs, historical information, and reflections that capture the Saratoga Regional YMCA in 2026, documenting the programs, people, accomplishments, and values that define the organization today. The time capsule will be placed in one of the columns in the Saratoga Regional YMCA on 290 West Ave. 

One YMCA member, Dora Lee Stanley, said the YMCA saved her life.

Stanley took swimming lessons at the YMCA for the first time in her life at 70 years old. In her first lesson the instructor taught her a valuable lesson in the water: don’t panic.

She would be put to the test during a safari in South Africa. On the safari she was on a boat taking pictures of crocodiles and water buffalo when she fell overboard.

“Luckily the crocodiles weren’t very hungry,” Smith said in between laughter. “The people on the boat said that when I fell the heard of buffalo took off.”

But smith remembered what she learned at the YMCA: Don’t Panic!

Her swim lessons allowed her to float long enough for the boat to turn around to rescue her.

“These stories remind us that the YMCA is not simply a building or a collection of programs,” said Allison D’Antonio, Saratoga Regional YMCA CEO. “It’s a community. A place where a single decision, a single class, or a single conversation can shape the course of a person’s life in ways they never expected. That’s the true legacy of the Saratoga Regional YMCA.”