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Author: Dylan McGlynn

Saratoga Springs Little League 11U & 12U All-Star Teams Advance to State Tournament

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Sports.


Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It has been another successful summer for the Saratoga Springs Little League, with both its 11U and 12U All-Stars teams qualifying for the New York State Little League Tournament yet again.

The Saratoga Springs 12U squad made its return to states in grand fashion, allowing just nine runs total across 11 games en route to the state tournament. Head coach Chris Lansing said the team’s pitching and defense were “fantastic” on the way to states.

“We did really well. My pitching was fantastic, my defense was fantastic,” said Lansing. “We kind of struggled to hit early in a lot of games, but came on in the fourth or fifth inning.”

Lansing, who said he began coaching the team during the fall of their 10U season, said that the current group of 12U players is the first from Saratoga Springs Little League to qualify for the state tournament for three consecutive years.

“We’re actually the first Saratoga Little League team to go to states with a group at (ages) 10, 11, and 12,” Lansing said. “And in fairness, there were a couple teams a few years ago that could’ve done it, probably had a good shot, but the COVID year kind of wiped that out for them.”

He said it was “meaningful” to be able to return to states with the team.

“I’m so proud of the boys,” said Lansing. “It was really important to me to come back here, and let them soak it in that last year. … I really felt like they deserved it.”

The 12U team opened pool play of the state tournament on Monday, falling 5-2 to Massapequa. Lansing said despite the loss, he felt the team “hung in there.” The squad bounced back on Tuesday, defeating Penfield 5-3. 

The Saratoga 12U team finished pool play Thursday with a game against East Greenbush that ended after press time. Check saratogatodaynewspaper.com for updates on Thursday’s results.

Lansing said he emphasized to the team to “have fun,” noting one of his main goals was for the team to enjoy the experience.

“I really just have been preaching for them to have fun and soak it in, because this is obviously the last time they’re going to come here,” said Lansing after Monday’s game. 

The Saratoga 11U team finished 5-0 in district play, defeating Mechanicville-Stillwater in the District Championship to advance to the state tournament. 

While the 11U All-Stars were eliminated following an 8-2 loss to Harrison District on Sunday, head coach T.J. Jordan said the experience was ultimately a chance for the team to “enjoy the moment.”

“It’s like life,” said Jordan. “You live it one day at a time, and enjoy it, because the next day’s not guaranteed.”

Jordan said the team enjoyed their time at states, saying, “These kids are great.”

“We drew that late game the first day, so we kind of just hung out, playing cards,” Jordan said. “I enjoy spending time with them, and they love hanging with each other.”

The 11U squad earned wins over Mechanicville-Stillwater, Rotterdam-Carman, and Scotia-Glenville en route to the district title. Jordan highlighted the matchup against Scotia-Glenville, noting that Saratoga trailed 3-2 before rallying to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

“We have this weird tradition where we take away on the coin flip,” said Jordan. “Win or lose, we take away. In that particular game, we were down 3-2 going into the top of the sixth. It was our last ups, we laid a bunt down and ended up coming back and winning 4-3 that game.”

The team opened its state schedule with a matchup against Penfield, falling 12-0, prior to its elimination matchup against Harrison.

While the team was unable to come away with a win, Jordan said it was “great” to be able to bring the squad back to states after coaching the Saratoga Springs 10U team to the state tournament last summer.

Lansing said the Saratoga Springs Little League program as a whole is “super strong right now.”

“I think that says a lot, and I think the program is incredibly strong,” Lansing said. “I think baseball in Saratoga is really strong right now.”

Camp Abilities Saratoga Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Sports.

Photos provided by Camp Abilities Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Camp Abilities Saratoga, a week-long summer camp offering adaptive sports and recreational opportunities for children and teens who are blind or visually impaired, returns July 30 to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Hosted at Skidmore College, the camp is a service project of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, and initially began in the summer of 2014, said Immediate Past President John McDonald. 

McDonald described the camp as “an active educational sports camp” for blind or visually impaired children and teens. The camp is open to ages 10 to 17, and has hosted roughly 215 campers in its 10 years, McDonald said.

“It’s multi-faceted, really, what we offer to them,” said McDonald. “It helps build their self-esteem, their confidence, introduces them to the world of adaptive sports, and all of the things and opportunities that sports bring to them.”

The camp also offers kids an opportunity to experience a week away from home in a college-like setting, with McDonald noting the camp may also be the first time that many younger campers are spending time away from home.

“With that whole week together, they’re spending time with their peers, who have the same challenges that they do,” McDonald said. “They’re on a college campus for a full week, so it gets them that opportunity to kind of feel like what it would be to go away to college. It’s just huge, what those offerings are for the campers.”

Campers participate in a wide variety of adaptive sports throughout the week, including soccer, baseball, track and field, tandem biking, judo, swimming, and more. McDonald emphasized that all sports offered at the camp are adaptive.

Campers also travel off-campus for activities around the city, with McDonald listing examples such as bowling at the Saratoga Strike Zone, kayaking on Saratoga Lake, and visiting the Saratoga Ninja Lab in Malta.

McDonald emphasized that the camp is free to attend, with a variety of fundraising efforts that help campers attend at no cost to them or their families.

“Through our fundraising and grant-writing, the camp is 100% free for campers,” said McDonald.

McDonald said the camp receives strong support from businesses in the local community.

“Locally, we get a lot of support,” said McDonald. “We do a program at the Ninja Lab. We do skating at the ice rink. In the past, we’ve done golf at Saratoga National.”

McDonald also noted that Jason Morris of the Jason Morris Judo Center initially began working with the camp in its first year, saying judo is “a very popular event with the campers.”

While the camp is a service project of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, McDonald also said many other area Lions Clubs step up to offer their support each year, including the Ballston Spa, Greenfield, Duane, and Glens Falls Lions Clubs among others.

“A number of them do dinners for us in the evening,” McDonald said. “There’s probably 20 clubs that, in some way, either financial or hands-on, help support the camp.”

The camp’s nightly dinners are also donated by local businesses and organizations, with McDonald saying Mama Mia’s, P.J.’s BAR-B-QSA, and the Ballston Spa and Greenfield Lions Clubs are among those who are providing meals this year.

Campers are set to arrive Sunday, July 30. The camp runs throughout the week, with campers staying in dorms on the Skidmore College campus. A majority of camp activities are held on the Skidmore campus, with transportation arranged for the off-campus activities.

The camp will hold a picnic in the Saratoga Spa State Park on Friday, McDonald said, and conclude on Saturday, Aug. 5, with a closing ceremony where parents can arrive to observe their children participating.

“We do a closing ceremony, and then the parents get to see the kids in some of the sports they’ve participated in,” McDonald said. “Another big part of the camp is (that) we do an assessment of the camper’s skills, and how they’ve progressed.”

McDonald said the assessments are sent to both the children’s parents and their school.

“Lots of times, kids don’t get the opportunity. They may be in a school system that doesn’t provide the opportunities for them,” said McDonald. “That assessment … it shows that these students, while they might be blind or visually impaired, it doesn’t mean they can’t participate.”

McDonald said it is reaching 10 years is “a huge milestone” for the camp.

“This just fits perfectly with what we’re looking to do as Lions,” McDonald said. “To reach that milestone, it’s a huge accomplishment that we’re very, very proud of.”

Speckled Pig Brewing Opens Rooftop Patio

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business.


Photo by Dylan McGlynn.

BALLSTON SPA — Speckled Pig Brewing Company has continued to expand its offerings, celebrating the opening of its rooftop bar and patio in mid-June.

R.J. Elliott, a partner at Speckled Pig, said opening the rooftop “was always a goal,” noting the plans were taken into consideration when initially renovating the interior. 

“When we started renovating downstairs, we framed it up and were ready to go to build on top of it,” said Elliott. “We made sure that everything was structurally sound to go up another story.”

This allowed construction to move quickly, with Elliott saying the patio took just over a month to complete.

“It was really quick,” Elliott said. “We framed out most of it in a weekend, and then did some finishing touches. But it didn’t take much longer than a month to go from no rooftop to having customers.”

“We wanted to obviously maximize the potential for the summer,” added Larry Heid, a partner at Speckled Pig. “Hopefully in the fall, we’ll put down some propane heaters for little fire pits. … Probably cap out at a Halloween party.”

The patio has become a popular spot, with Elliott saying it tends to fill up at the same time as the brewery’s interior.

“This is actually kind of proving to be the late-night hangout spot,” said Heid.

“Even when it’s raining, people are up here under the umbrellas,” added Elliott. “It’s been crazy.”

The patio was designed with a more modern look than the brewery’s interior, which Elliott said is by design. It offers views of downtown Ballston Spa, overlooking the intersection of Milton Ave and Washington St.

The brewery has recently begun offering hard seltzer slushies made from their own seltzers, brewed in-house with a variety of flavors. They offer eight beers upstairs in addition to the 12 options offered inside.

“A couple of the beers overlap, but there’s also stuff that you only get upstairs too,” Elliott said. “Lighter beers, stuff you want to enjoy out in the sun.”

The partners said it has been rewarding to see the community response since opening the patio.

“The first impression is really cool,” said Elliott. “Everybody has the same reaction when they walk up. … You don’t expect to see this up here.”

Let the Skating Begin

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

Photo by Super Source Media Studios.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City of Saratoga Springs celebrated new renovations to the East Side Recreation Skatepark on Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking improvements to the park.

The park has been updated with concrete, replacing the former metal ramps. It features a concrete bowl, mini-ramp, manual pads, ledges, flat bars, and more, said Brad Siedlecki of Pillar Design, who designed the park.

Benj Gleeksman, vice president of local nonprofit ON DECK Saratoga, said it was “amazing” to see skaters at the upgraded park on Thursday.

“Just to finally see it done, I don’t know how to describe it. I’m so excited,” said Gleeksman. “But the thing that I’m most excited about is seeing how happy it makes other people. I love skating it, but I love sitting on the bench and just watching kids enjoy it.”

The renovations were priced at just under $446,000, according to a presentation by John Hirliman, the city’s Administrative Director of Recreation. ON DECK Saratoga raised and contributed roughly $70,000 to the project through fundraising and support from the local community.

The park was constructed by Artisan Skateparks. While speaking to those in attendance, Gleeksman noted that the park features pink and brown colors, in a nod to the Silly Pink Bunnies, which he said is an international skateboard community that began at the East Side Rec skatepark in the early 1990s.

“So it’s been over 30 years of Silly Pink Bunnies. They started here,” said Gleeksman to those in attendance. “There’s hundreds of them skateboarding all around the world.”

He offered thanks to Siedlecki and Pillar Design, and to Artisan, who he said completed the park’s construction a month ahead of schedule.

Belinda Colón, president of ON DECK and Gleeksman’s wife, thanked the Saratoga Springs City School District, which owns the property, as well as the Mayor’s Office, City Council, the Saratoga Institute, Spring Street Gallery, and the local artist community.

Gleeksman offered thanks to local businesses such as Stewart’s Shops, Darling Doughnuts, and Death Wish Coffee, who he said provided $25,000 of matching donations.

He also thanked Scotia-based Town and Country Skateboards and Albany-based Seasons Skate Shop, as well as Fran Love-Aveta, who ran Jah Skate Shop on Caroline Street and was in attendance at Thursday’s ribbon-cutting. 

Hirliman offered thanks to ON DECK, the school district, and to the City Department of Public Works, who demolished the former metal bowl. He said it was “great to see” skaters enjoying the updated park.

“It’s pretty surreal,” said Hirliman. “It’s amazing to see it completed, and see how many kids are skating right now.”

Gleeksman said construction took roughly two months to complete. He noted that ON DECK held numerous events to help raise awareness and funds for the skatepark.

“As the fundraising started to gain momentum, we started to grab the attention of the business community,” said Gleeksman. “Darling Doughnuts stepped up, Smashburger stepped up, Death Wish stepped up huge.”

He noted it was meaningful to see the support from the local community, saying that to him, the skatepark is “more than just a place to come and go skate.”

Gleeksman said the park can attract tourism, and also hopes it will inspire other local communities to follow Saratoga Springs’ lead.

Andrew Cecala, a local skater who said he has been coming to the park for 20 years, noted the updated park is “very smooth.”

“I’m ecstatic,” said Cecala. “It’s like having a skatepark in your backyard. It’s awesome.”

20-year-old skater Reymond Garcia said it was “really exciting” to see people of all ages enjoying the park.

“The renovation just brought everybody,” Garcia said. “It makes me so happy to see, because there’s just all ages here. … It’s what you want to see out here. It’s really exciting.”

Russell’s Deli Listed For Sale

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business.

Photo by Dylan McGlynn

BALLSTON SPA — After 15 years in Ballston Spa, Russell’s Deli has been listed for sale.

Operated by Russell and Judy Shapiro, the deli initially opened at 303 Milton Ave in 2008, according to their website. Russell Shapiro said that while the business has been very successful, the couple is looking to “slow down.”

“It’s just time,” said Shapiro. “I’m not going to fully retire, but I want to slow down.”

He emphasized that although they are selling the property, Russell’s Deli will remain open until it is sold.

“We are not closing,” Shapiro said. “This is not shutting down. We are open. When we sell it, we sell it.”

The current location is the fourth Russell’s Deli, with Shapiro saying two locations were formerly operated in Pleasantville, and another in White Plains. The couple eventually moved with their three children, leading to the Ballston Spa location. 

The deli is listed for $599,999, Shapiro said. He noted it is “a great location,” on Milton Ave at the edge of downtown Ballston Spa.

“We sit 20 feet from the street, and it’s the main thoroughfare in and out of Ballston Spa,” said Shapiro. “It’s a great location for somebody to continue with our deli or whatever they see fit to do.”

Shapiro said the past 15 years have been “very busy,” with the couple noting that they have made many friends in the community through the deli.

“We’ve made lots of friends and relationships,” Shapiro said. “We’ve seen other people and their kids grow up that were coming in here in their strollers and car seats, and now they’re married. … It’s pretty cool. We’ve made a lot of relationships.”

“A lot of people are pretty sad that we’re selling the place, but again, we keep telling them, ‘We’ll be here until we sell it,’” he added.

“Our customers have become our friends. They’re not just customers,” added Judy Shapiro. “I think we are unique in that way. You don’t just walk in here to get a sandwich. You have a conversation, and we actually genuinely care about our customers. And they care about us. It goes both ways. It’s been a wonderful relationship.”

Those interested in inquiring about purchasing the deli can contact the deli at russellsdeli1@gmail.com, said Shapiro.

Milton Tavern Launches Soft Opening

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business.


Photos by Dylan McGlynn

MILTON — A new restaurant and bar has opened its doors in Milton, with the Milton Tavern launching a soft opening on Wednesday.

The Milton Tavern is located at 430 Geyser Rd. The building, which is the former home of Jay’s Bar and Grill, was taken over by current owners Micah Henzel and Joseph Muia III in March.

Henzel formerly worked as a sous chef at Nanola in Malta and Henry’s Tavern in Ballston Spa, while Muia III spent a decade working at Dozer’s Bar and Grill in Milton. Now, the two are combining their experience into a new venture.

“So I’ve got the restaurant experience, Joey’s got the front-of-house experience,” said Henzel.

It is the first venture as owners for the pair, who “gutted” the restaurant during renovations, Henzel said.

Henzel, who also owns MJG Construction Group, said the bar has new tables and chairs, and a newly renovated kitchen, patio, and bathrooms. 

“The only thing that stayed is the original bar,” Henzel said.

The renovations moved quickly, with Henzel saying they initially entered the space in March.

“I was here 12 hours a day for pretty much three months,” Henzel said.

Henzel said the Milton Tavern will offer 14 beers on tap, as well as selections of wine and bourbon. Their food offerings include a variety of New England bar pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and wings. The tavern also serves nachos, chips and dip, salads, soup, and a variety of entrees, including grilled hanger steak and grilled marinated chicken breast according to their menu.

Henzel added that the bar will be “neighborhood-friendly,” also offering a kids’ menu.

“We’ve got prosecco on tap, so we think that’s going to be a big seller,” said Henzel. “We’re going to have a claw machine for the kids, and dartboards. It’s going to be a nice neighborhood place.”

The Milton Tavern will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Henzel also said they will consider adding a brunch option “when football season starts” in the fall. 

Henzel, who is an area native and also said he worked at restaurants such as Longfellows and Olde Bryan Inn while growing up, said it is meaningful to establish a business in the community.

“It’s great.” Henzel said. “I love Saratoga. It’s my favorite town in America.”

Recreation Spaces throughout Saratoga Springs Receiving Upgrades

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

A rendering by KOMPAN of a 6,000-square foot playground at
Veterans Memorial Park. Photo from Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission presentation.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Recreation and athletic facilities throughout Saratoga Springs are about to receive upgrades totaling north of $1 million.

The City will be undergoing improvements at a variety of recreational spaces, including a new skate park at East Side Recreation Park, a new “destination” playground at Veterans Memorial Park, and a new playground and bathrooms at Waterfront Park on Saratoga Lake.

The East Side Rec Skate Park originally opened in 1989, making it the oldest municipal skate park in New York, according to the city. Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim said while the skate park has been well-utilized, it “needed those improvements.”

“The City had put this in their capital budget last year, so we wanted to move forward on it,” said Kim of the skatepark. “So that’s really exciting.”

The renovations cost roughly $446,000, according to a presentation on Rec Department projects by Administrative Director of Recreation John Hirliman. Approximately $70,000 was raised by local nonprofit group ON DECK Saratoga.

“I think it’ll be well-utilized,” said Kim.

Veterans Memorial Park, located near Geyser Elementary School, is also set to receive a major overhaul. The park will be equipped with nearly $870,000 worth of improvements, including a 6,000-square foot playground and a 2,300-square foot inclusive playground, the presentation states.

“John Hirliman’s idea, and the Rec Commission, was to really have a destination playground,” said Kim of the Veterans Memorial Park plans. “It’s really going to be an impressive sort of facility once it’s constructed. People will come throughout the city to come and enjoy it. So that’s really exciting.”

The playground renovations were designed and will be installed by KOMPAN, a manufacturer of commercial playground equipment based in Austin, Texas, their website states. Construction is set to begin in August, according to the presentation.

“This is a little more modular, in the sense that we’re really purchasing equipment that’s going to be constructed on-site,” Kim said. “It is going to be done fairly quickly, too.”

The main playground will include a pendulum swing, a giant custom mega tower, custom wave net, a net ‘fishing’ bridge, and spinners, the presentation states. The inclusive playground is set to include a wheelchair carousel, fully-inclusive ramp, dolphin spring toy, and a spinner. 

A three-bay swing set will also be installed, including two standard seats, two infant bucket seats, and an inclusive basket. The upgrades also include an expanded clubhouse and renovated bathrooms.

“They’re also rehabbing bathrooms and some facilities out there, so there are some additional enhancements other than the playground,” Kim added.

The City has partnered with the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works and the Saratoga Springs Friends of Recreation for the improvements, the presentation states. Construction at Veterans Memorial Park is expected to last approximately 60 days.

At Waterfront Park on Saratoga Lake, improvements include a new playground and bathrooms, and are estimated at roughly $150,000, excluding new fencing, benches, and signs. The bathrooms are estimated to cost $10,000, the presentation states.

Kim said the park is heavily utilized in the summer, and noted the goal of adding additional amenities to the space. He said funding for the park’s bathrooms were included in the City’s capital budget.

“This is probably the most-used park in a very concentrated time period,” said Kim. “The number of people there, particularly now that it’s hot, is pretty significant.”

The playground will be designed and installed by GameTime, a commercial playground company based in Fort Payne, Alabama, and is expected to begin in mid-fall, according to the presentation. Construction is expected to last roughly 30 days.

In addition, the Scott T. Johnson Rec Center is also set to receive upgrades in the form of a new multi-use court. The total cost, including paving, is estimated around $160,000, the presentation states. The court is designed and will be installed by KOMPAN, with construction set to begin in August and last roughly 15 days.

“They have a huge demand over there,” said Kim of the Johnson Rec Center, located at 15 Vanderbilt Ave.

The City is also currently seeking proposals for the development of a bike park on Weibel Ave near the city’s ice rinks. 

“I think one of the things that we’d love to do is have that area serve as multi-sport,” said Kim of the Weibel Ave location.

Kim mentioned that there have also been calls to add a third ice rink, saying the City is considering hiring a landscape architect to examine if the land on Weibel Ave could accommodate both an additional ice rink and the bike park.

“With hockey, I’m advocating that we take a look at whether or not the County would pitch in,” Kim said, noting that the Weibel rinks serve a large populace outside of the city. “There’s probably just as many Greenfield, Wilton people that are taking their kids over to skate.”

Kim credited the Recreation Commission for their work on the projects, saying it’s “very satisfying” to advance them further.

“John Hirliman, the rec director, and the Recreation Commission, have done a really good job in bringing these things forward,” Kim said. “Whether it’s the rec center, the hockey rink, our waterfront, it’s clear they’re important pieces to the services that the City provides. I’m really happy that it’s all coming together and we can address these things, because people utilize them.”

Saratoga Catholic Hires Abby Arceneaux as Varsity Softball Coach

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Sports.

Saratoga Catholic varsity softball head coach Abby Arceneaux (right) pictured during her time as head coach at The College of St. Rose with former player Savanna Livero-Tyler (left) (Photo provided by Abby Arceneaux).

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic softball program will be led by a familiar face to Capital Region softball fans.

Abby Arceneaux, former head coach at The College of St. Rose and standout player at Mechanicville High School and Union College, has been announced as the next head coach of the Saints’ varsity softball team.

Arceneaux’s partner, Shea Bromirski, is head coach of the Saratoga Catholic varsity boys basketball team, and Arceneaux said she thought the school would be “a good fit.”

“I love how Coach (Alphonse) Lambert runs (things) as an athletic director,” said Arceneaux. “I saw that with Shea, and how he supported him and the student-athletes. … It was all about finding a good fit. I knew how much Shea enjoyed coaching there, and I really liked the girls I had spoken with.”

Arceneaux served as head coach at St. Rose from 2014 to 2022. Prior to starting her coaching career, Arceneaux was a standout as a player at Mechanicville High School and Union College. 

Arceneaux was twice named NYS Class C Player of the Year, and helped lead Mechanicville to three state championships. She finished her collegiate career as Union’s all-time leader in numerous categories, and has been inducted into the Mechanicville, Union College Athletics, and New York State Softball Halls of Fame, according to her bio on the St. Rose Athletics website.

She served as an assistant coach at Union and at Cornell University, and served as pitching coach at Siena College for three seasons prior to becoming head coach at St. Rose. 

Now, after a year away, Arceneaux has returned to coaching. But while she took a year off, she was still involved in the game, helping assist her father, Don Arceneaux, and Mechanicville varsity coach Jim Kenyon coach a travel team.

“It was really nice, taking a step back and watching a lot of games,” Arceneaux said. “You’re so used to being on the field, so taking a step back made me really appreciate (it), and kind of changed my mindset. It kind of filled my tank back up.”

The Saints have a young team, with the entire squad set to return in 2024 after they competed without any seniors on the roster this spring.

Arceneaux said she has already begun working with several players on the team, and as a former college coach, said she is also looking forward to assisting players with the recruiting process.

“One thing I’m really excited to bring to the table is guidance on the recruiting process, from beginning to end,” Arceneaux said. “In talking with their parents, I’m like, ‘Ask me as many questions as you want.’”

Arceneaux said she is excited to be “an asset” to the student-athletes in the recruitment process. Bromirski will also be working with Arceneaux as an assistant coach, she said.

“And not just for the softball girls, too. I understand that a lot of the softball players play multiple sports,” said Arceneaux. “Whatever they want to do at the next level, if any of them do, I’m going to be there to help them.”

Arceneaux said she has begun working to set up optional workouts for the program, and said the team’s goal is “to get better each day in practice.”

“If we’re going to get better each day in practice, we’re going to win more games,” said Arceneaux. “There’s a few seniors, I want to give them the best senior year that they can possibly have, while really building up the seventh and eighth-grade girls and all the returners for the varsity team.”

“As coaches, I’m confident that we’re going to give them the tools, the knowledge, and the skills, and help them get better, to do that,” Arceneaux added. “And they want it. The bunch that I’ve talked to, they want to win. They believe that we have a core that can really bring us there. Our goal is to win, but just be better. Every day, get better.”

Firecracker4 Road Race held on July 4

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Sports.


Photo by Dylan McGlynn.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — FC4 Events hosted the annual Firecracker4 Road Race in downtown Saratoga Springs on July 4.

The Firecracker4 Road Race is in its 17th year, held each Independence Day in downtown Saratoga. It is the longest and largest Independence Day race in the Northeast, according to a press release.

The four-mile course started on Broadway in front of the Saratoga Springs City Center, taking runners through the city.

New Organization Helping Malta Businesses Connect

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Business.

MALTA — A new organization is helping small businesses in Malta connect, with the establishment of Malta Business Works.

The group operates similarly to a chamber of commerce, but with a focus on local Malta businesses, holding monthly meetings, helping businesses network, and giving back to the community. David Rosenberg, co-owner of Brix Wine & Liquor and a member of the Malta Business Works board of directors, said there are currently 17 members in total.

“We do our absolute best to stay true to helping businesses grow,” said Rosenberg. “The networking opportunity for just Malta businesses has been a very big plus for those who do participate in our events. Talking about things such as hiring, merchant services, insurance needs.”

Malta Business Works hosts meetings on the second Thursday of each month, which are open to the public and free to attend, Rosenberg said. The group’s meeting on June 8 featured a presentation from Malta-based doctor Dan Sooriabalan and Enduring Nutrition owner Kevin Conklin.

Rosenberg said the meetings allow local business owners a chance to network and talk through common issues with each other.

“You have a place to go, to gather around and talk about similar issues,” Rosenberg said. “They may not be the same type of issues, but it’s easier to appreciate that you’re not alone in your situation. … It’s good to know that others feel the same struggles and can get the same benefits from each other.”

The group held its initial interest meeting in December 2021, and has grown steadily since. Rosenberg said he organized the initial meeting, and named Kim Hickock of Marketing Kangaroo, Cynthia Quade of Signature One Realty, Jim Trainor of Trainor Law PLLC, Shelly Walker of Finishing Touches, and Alison Halpin of Maltavista Optometry as others who have also been involved.

“We all just kept the ball rolling,” said Rosenberg. “We’ve gotten ourselves organized to the point where we’re now a membership group. We ask for a small $50 membership fee…and are also putting together some community events, including participating in Malta Community Day.”

Rosenberg said the organization emphasizes the importance of giving back to the local community.

The group held an official kickoff event, ‘Malta Business Works Monday,’ at the Malta Community Center on May 15. Rosenberg said they are planning for two events in the fall, as well as plans to participate in Malta Community Day, Small Business Saturday, and for a holiday decoration and tree-lighting ceremony.

“What I have seen is the business community supporting the business community,” said Rosenberg. “I think it’s tremendous. I think we all have gotten to the point where we enjoy staying within the town we live in to do business, or where we’re doing business to shop also.”

Malta Business Works’ next meeting will be July 13 at 8:30 a.m. at The Sugar Fairy Bakes at 2110 Ellsworth Blvd in Malta.