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Author: Jonathon Norcross

16 Years Later, the Saratoga Consignment Studio is Still Thriving

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


A sample of some of Saratoga Consignment Studio’s past inventory at its showroom in Saratoga Springs. Photo provided. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nearly two decades ago, Bonnie Grolley visited a small consignment shop while vacationing in the Cape. The store lit up an idea that changed her life.

“I was thinking to myself the minute that I left that literally it was something that was sorely needed in our area, but on a much larger scale,” Grolley said. 

About a year later, Grolley’s idea became a reality and the Saratoga Consignment Studio opened in Ballston Spa. Before long, the store had outgrown its first home and was relocated to a 10,000-square-foot showroom on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs.   

The studio’s consignment process is a relatively simple (and popular) one. Someone interested in selling a well-maintained piece of used furniture can contact Bonnie. If she’s interested in selling the piece, it will be displayed in both the physical showroom and the business’ online inventory. This process gives shoppers access to items that are both less expensive and more unique than what they might find at a typical furniture store.

“I am vetting every single thing that comes into the store,” Grolley said. “It’s imperative to me that what we select is something that I clearly think I can sell. I’m looking for things that are ready to go into someone’s home.”

Grolley’s search for new pieces is a constant one. She said she has new inventory coming in every day and several appointments on the books every day as well. All that work and attention to detail is her responsibility, though perhaps one day that will change.

“I’m looking to bring someone on that we can capitalize on those aspects of things; someone who can help me do the curating so that we’re always on point when it comes to what we offer everyone,” Grolley said. 

In the meantime, Grolley runs both the brick-and-mortar store and the online shop. She ships online orders all over the country while also working with in-store customers from Vermont, Connecticut, and all across the Capital Region.

“We’ve been doing this since 2008, so we’ve built a pretty significant reputation,” Grolley said. “Interior designers are very familiar with the store and they know they can come here and get their clients high-quality inventory at a fraction of the price it would cost new.”

To learn more about the Saratoga Consignment Studio or to view their current inventory, visit www.scsdecor.com. Their showroom is located at 3306 South Broadway and is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Saints WinMike Beson Memorial Tournament

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic boys basketball team vanquished  reigning Class D State Champions North Warren Central 68-50 to win the annual Mike Beson Memorial Tournament last week. 

Senior Tyler Hicks led all Saints scorers with a whopping 30 points, while Jasyn Thompson added 11. Ryan Gillis and David Redgrave each contributed 6 points apiece. For his efforts, Hicks was named the tournament MVP while Thompson made the all-tournament team.

In addition to beating North Warren on November 30, Spa Catholic also walloped Loudonville Christian 51-28 the previous day. In that game, Redgrave led Saratoga scorers with 12 points while Thompson chipped in 11.

The Saints will next take on Berne-Knox-Westerlo at home on Sunday, December 8 at 3:30 p.m. Then they’ll hit the road for a Tuesday, December 10 game at Hoosic Valley.

Black Horses Gallop to Syracuse for Class C Championship

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


The Schuylerville varsity football team poses for a team photo after winning the state semifinals on November 30. Photo via the Schuylerville Central School District. 

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity football team advanced to the New York State Class C championship after defeating Valhalla in the state semifinals 24 to 7. The championship game will be played against Salamanca on Saturday, December 7 at Syracuse University’s JMA Wireless Dome.

The Black Horses began their playoff run with a dominant 45 to 6 win over Gouverneur on November 22 for the Class C regional title, then bested Valhalla on November 30. Prior to that, they won the Class C Super Bowl 35 to 21 over Cobleskill-Richmondville.

Schuylerville hasn’t lost a game since September 20, when they fell to Warrensburg/Lake George/Bolton by only two points. Their record stands at 12-1 on the year.

The undefeated 13-0 Salamanca Warriors will be a tough opponent, though the Horses have a slight edge in their scoring average this season, netting 43.4 points per game to the Warriors’ 41.6. Salamanca’s victories in the playoffs thus far have been fairly one-sided, with a 34 to 13 win over Chenango Forks on November 30, and a 42 to 20 win against East Rochester-Gananda the week prior.

The state Class C title game in Syracuse will kick off at noon. A student spectator bus will leave Schuylerville High School at 8:30 a.m. on December 7. To attend, students need to return a permission slip and provide proof of a purchased ticket to the main office by Thursday, December 5. Game tickets are $12.50, with advance purchase highly encouraged. Spectator parking will cost $20 in the Stadium West lots.

700-Unit Albany-Saratoga Speedway Development Stalled By Malta Town Board

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


A conceptual plan for the proposed Camber Ridge development in Malta includes hundreds of residential units, senior housing, and retail space. The development would replace the existing Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Route 9. Image via Five Corners Development. 

MALTA — Plans for a 700-unit development that would replace the Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta were derailed on Monday night when the Town Board decided not to move forward with a public workshop that would include further discussion of the project. The board held a vote on the matter, with two members voting “yes,” two voting “no,” and one abstaining.

“I’m concerned we’re missing out on an opportunity but that’s the rule of the board,” said Town Supervisor Cynthia Young, who voted “yes.”

Members of the board, along with a number of residents who spoke during the public comment period, were skeptical of the project due to its size and potential impact on traffic along Route 9. Some, both at the meeting and in local Facebook groups, have also lamented the loss of the speedway, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.

The speedway’s current owner, Howard Commander, said via a real estate agent who spoke at the December 2 town board meeting on his behalf, that he “fully” supported the proposed project. Commander decided to sell the speedway due, in part, to the financial challenges of maintaining and operating the track.

Sumeet Gupta of Five Corners Development laid out the broad strokes of his proposed development, Camber Ridge Malta, in a ten-minute presentation. He said he was approached by a broker hired by Commander, who had been trying to sell the land for years. 

“Over the last four or five months, we’ve spent a considerable amount of time going out to the community and getting feedback from as many people as possible,” Gupta said. “We’re not done with being in front of the community and making sure their feedback is heard, which is a critical part of our process.”

Gupta said the development would incorporate the need for a strict workforce housing program, senior housing, retail amenities, and community benefits (which could include things like a pool and splash pad, a year-round community center for seniors, walking trails, and a daycare center). Proposed rents for the development would range from $1,326/month for a 1-bedroom unit to $1,838/month for 3 bedrooms; prices which are below current market rates.

The Albany-Saratoga Speedway sits on a 50-acre parcel along Route 9 North in Malta. The track originally opened in 1965 and features racing on Friday nights from April through September. Racing is still set to occur at the track in 2025, though the speedway’s future is uncertain after that.

A prior, unplanned presentation outlining the proposed Camber Ridge development at a Malta Town Board meeting in June was met with resistance, prompting meeting attendees to call the presentation “totally inappropriate” and “absolutely ridiculous.” The presentation had interrupted many Malta residents who wanted to speak about a proposed State Police barracks in the town’s Luther Forest neighborhood.

Saratoga Now HasIts Own Color

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Pantone, a company that creates colors used in a variety of industries, has partnered with Saratoga Spring Water to create Saratoga Signature Blue, a new color inspired by the water brand’s glass bottles.

“A powerful force in design, blue is a dependable, timeless color family known for tranquility, while reminiscent of the sea and sky. The feelings evoked and the connection to nature make it the perfect choice to become Pantone’s Saratoga Signature Blue,” the company said in a social media post debuting the new hue.

Saratoga Spring Water bills itself as a premium bottled water company that traces its history back to 1872, when water from a natural spring in Saratoga was bottled under the name “Saratoga Vichy.” Today, the source of the company’s water supply appears to primarily come from Maine and/or Vermont.

Thanksgiving: A Travers-Winning Horse Struck By Lightning

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


Copies of the book “The Travers: Saratoga’s Midsummer Derby, 1864 – 2023” are displayed on the bar inside the Canfield Casino. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — There can be a lot to worry about during the Thanksgiving holiday. Will the turkey be too dry? Will the loose-lipped uncle rant about politics at the table? How bad will the traffic be on 87? No matter what concerns race through one’s mind this Thursday, at least getting struck by lightning won’t be one of them.

Such was the shocking (pun intended) near-disaster that befell Thanksgiving, a racehorse stabled at Saratoga, in the summer of 1937. The story of Thanksgiving’s brush with electric death was uncovered by authors Brien Bouyea and Michael Veitch while conducting research for their latest book, “The Travers: Saratoga’s Midsummer Derby, 1864 – 2023.”

At a November 14 event at the Saratoga Springs History Museum promoting the release of the book, Bouyea relayed the striking story.

“The trainer rushed into his barn and found many of his horses stumbling in a daze and others collapsing. Thanksgiving had been struck by lightning and was unconscious on the ground,” Bouyea said. “Miraculously, Thanksgiving lived and he recovered. He even raced that summer at Saratoga, finishing sixth in the Albany Handicap.”

Thanksgiving returned to the Spa City the following year to compete in the Travers Stakes. He won, and his time of 2:03.60 was the fastest in the Midsummer Derby since Man o’ War in 1920 (who ran a 2:01.80).

Perhaps more impressive was Thanksgiving’s trainer, Mary Hirsch, who was the first female trainer to win the Travers. In fact, she would remain the only woman trainer to win the Travers until Jena Antonucci won with Arcangelo in 2023.

“The story of Mary Hirsch and Thanksgiving was one of great historical magnitude and unique elements, but it garnered only standard newspaper coverage at the time,” Bouyea said. “Many accounts of the 1938 Travers never mentioned the name of the 25-year-old trainer or the horse’s remarkable path to the race. That’s just the way writing was back then. It wasn’t as big of a deal as it should have been.” 

At the tender age of 22, Hirsch was the first woman to earn a trainer’s license. She was also the first to run a horse in the Kentucky Derby, in 1937. She learned much from her father, the legendary trainer Max Hirsch, who was often given credit for Mary’s hard work by members of the press who may not have taken the idea of a female trainer as seriously as they should have. 

Both Mary and Thanksgiving’s remarkable tales are but two of many told in Bouyea and Veitch’s new tome, which is currently for sale at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, where Bouyea works as the director of communications. 

From Malta to the Moon: What Will Happen to the Historic Rocket Test Station?

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


Malta Town Historian Paul Perreault delivers his “From Malta to the Moon” presentation at the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa on November 12. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

MALTA — The Saratoga Battlefields are a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, commemorating the famed “turning point” of the American Revolution. The Saratoga Race Course draws about one million fans each year, carrying on a tradition that began during the Civil War. But one local historic site, arguably just as important as the previous two, remains inaccessible, even to those curious enough to seek it out.

The Malta Rocket Test Station was the beginning of America’s journey to the moon. The 165-acre property — populated by large gantries, dozens of buildings, and underground bunkers — was once home to hundreds of scientists and staffers who worked tirelessly to develop the technology needed to send humanity to another heavenly body. From 1945 until the mid-1960s, it was where rockets roared, causing what felt like small earthquakes in nearby homes.

The site is currently owned by GlobalFoundires, a semiconductor manufacturing company headquartered in Malta. Thus far, the company hasn’t announced any plans to allow visitors onto the site, though some remain hopeful that could change.

“The people who work for GlobalFoundries are on the cutting edge of technology today,” said Paul Perreault, Malta’s town historian, at a presentation delivered at the Brookside Museum on November 12. “You would think of all the people engaged in business, they would respect the people who were on the cutting edge of technology back in the 1940s.”

Perreault said he believes there are safe ways for GlobalFoundries to allow visitors to have a better understanding of the groundbreaking work once done on the site.

During the Cold War, General Electric employees from Schenectady were searching for a test site where rocket research could be performed. They found the Luther Forest Preserve, a 7,000-acre preserve that, at one time, was the largest privately owned preserve in the entire country. 

GE claimed 165 acres of Luther Forrest and surrounded it with a one-mile security zone. In 1945, GE built their rocket test station. They used the location to assemble rocket engines and conduct stationary ground tests. After five years, thousands of firings had been conducted.

Although the Malta site has been somewhat forgotten in favor of more glamorous Space Age locales such as the Kennedy Space Center and the NASA Johnson Space Center, that may soon change. Perreault said that a British TV production company interviewed him for a special about the test station, due to be released sometime early next year (additional details will be posted to the Brookside Museum website when available).

“To me, that is how the Malta Rocket Test Station is going to get the recognition it deserves,” Perreault said. “Not by us talking about it, but by it being on television. So today, that’s the most exciting part of the story.”

But for now, the facilities on the site remain largely dormant, continuing their slow decay. 

How Olympic Athletes are Made in Saratoga Springs

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


Lauren O’Connor competes in the women’s quadruple sculls B final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo via US Rowing.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Imagine being separated from your home and family for 260 days of the year. Imagine waking up at 5:15 a.m., having hard physical labor from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., working from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., enduring more physical labor from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., then more work from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Then you sleep, wake up, and do it all over again — hundreds of times. Your compensation for much of this work is exactly $0.00.  

This might sound like the brutal conditions of some foreign prison camp, but it’s just a day in the life of Saratoga rowers hoping to make it to the world stage. Their grueling but wildly successful training regimen has resulted in three appearances in the Olympics, multiple stints in the World Championships, and participation in the PanAm games, with a World Cup and more international events tossed in for good measure.

Despite all the hardship necessary to become an elite rower, the rewards can be extraordinary. Lauren O’Connor, one of nine members of Saratoga’s Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast (ARION) program, made her Olympics debut at the 2024 games in Paris. 

“We sat and watched men’s gymnastics with Simone [Biles] and Jordan Chiles and they were explaining men’s gymnastics to us,” O’Connor said during an event at the Saratoga Springs Public Library earlier this month. “[We sat] with the entire women’s rugby team as they’re just watching their sport being played. It was very cool to get that information from the person that is literally the best in the world at it.”

“It’s kind of crazy to think about, in this mile-and-a-half-square little village, there’s the accumulation of the world’s best athletes,” added ARION Coach Eric “Cat” Catalano.

O’Connor and fellow Saratoga rower Kristi Wagner (who was also at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo) both finished ninth overall in their respective events in Paris. Wagner and her partner Sophia Vitas finished ninth in double sculls, while O’Connor was ninth in the quadruple sculls. Wagner and Vitas previously placed fifth in double sculls in Tokyo. At the end of September, both O’Connor and Wagner were invited to the White House to celebrate their achievements.

To prepare for her first Olympics, O’Connor said she spent about 85% of her time from November 2023 until September 2024 living in hotel rooms as she traveled the globe training and competing.

“If you didn’t qualify at the World Championships the year before, you then have to qualify at the final Olympic qualification regatta, which is always in Lucerne, Switzerland in May,” O’Connor said. “So you have to qualify in May and then the Olympics are at the end of July. You have to peak twice within a very short amount of time…That’s probably the most amount of racing you will do in such a short amount of time ever in our sport.”

O’Connor’s (and Wagner’s) long journey to the world stage, where they compete against the most talented athletes alive, began in Saratoga Springs.

“Olympians are being made here,” said Catalano. “These guys are pretty amazing athletes. It amazes me. I was thinking, how can I explain what these guys do. This morning, we just had a 20K row, which is about a half-marathon, and that was the morning practice. That was about an average morning practice, and then they do something similar in the afternoon. I was thinking, I’m a casual runner and when I get geared up for a half-marathon, it’s like [for them] that’s just morning, and then they have breakfast.”

Catalano, who assisted the US team at the 2023 World Championships, began coaching at the Saratoga Rowing Association in 1998. After a brief stint at Harvard/Radcliffe, he returned to Saratoga as the association’s executive director and head coach. In 2016, following the Olympic Trials, he launched the ARION program.

The program’s facilities include both a boathouse and a training center located in Saratoga Springs. Outside of the winter months, rowing is done in Fish Creek and on Saratoga Lake. Those interested in applying to or donating to ARION can visit arion.saratogarowing.com.

Saratoga Native Anthony Weaver Praised for Role with Miami Dolphins

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


Saratoga Springs native Anthony Weaver has impressed NFL analysts in his role as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator. Photo via the Miami Dolphins.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mina Kimes, an ESPN football analyst, and former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth recently had flattering things to say about Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator and Saratoga Springs native Anthony Weaver. The comments came after the Dolphins defeated the Los Angeles Rams 23 to 15 in a Monday night matchup on November 11.

“I thought [Miami] had a fantastic game plan for the Rams,” Kimes said on an episode of her podcast. “I just came away from this really impressed with Anthony Weaver to be honest, because that’s a very, very difficult matchup against [Rams Head Coach] Sean McVay and his offense. I felt like the Dolphins defense really got the better of them.”

“It was rare to find the Dolphins out of position or out of place or uncomfortable,” added Foxworth. “It’s a credit to old people like me. We’re still good. We have value.”

Thus far this season, the Dolphins’ defense is ranked third among all NFL teams on third downs, with a conversion rate of only 32%. Their passing defense is ranked eighth in the league, allowing 8 touchdowns and an average of 191.3 yards per game. Miami also ranks tenth overall in defensive metrics, allowing an average of 305.8 total yards per game.

Weaver’s journey to the NFL began at Saratoga Springs High School, where he joined the junior varsity team in 1995. The following year, he was promoted to varsity, where he played offensive guard. By the time he was a senior, he was being actively recruited by colleges with elite football programs.

After an accomplished college career at Notre Dame, Weaver was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played in Baltimore for four years, then joined the Houston Texans for another three years. During his playing career, he had 200 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and 57 assisted tackles.

Weaver began his coaching career as defensive graduate assistant at the University of Florida, then had a stint at the University of North Texas before heading back to the NFL. In 2012, he became the New York Jets’ assistant defensive line coach. He then became defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before going back to Baltimore, where in 2022, he was promoted to assistant head coach.

Weaver soon attracted attention from teams around the league, and in January of 2024, he interviewed with both the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Commanders for their vacant head coaching positions. Ultimately, he ended up being hired by the Miami Dolphins as the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Saratoga Students-Athletes Celebrate National Signing Day

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


Saratoga Springs High School student-athletes pose together on the stage of the Teaching Auditorium during National Signing Day. Photo via the Saratoga Springs City School District.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs High School student-athletes celebrated National Letter of Intent Signing Day on November 13, announcing to a crowded auditorium which college they plan to attend and why they chose the school. 

Of the 19 soon-to-be graduates, 11 are bound for Division I schools. The destinations included, among others, Columbia University, Wesleyan University, Siena College, Fordham University, and the University of Tennessee.

“This is such an incredible reflection of our school district, of our community, of our parents, of the outstanding coaches that we have that work with our student-athletes throughout the year,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton. “I look at the names of the colleges and universities represented here today and it proves not only do our students excel out on the fields, but they’ve separated themselves in the classroom as truly being student-athletes.”

The 19 student-athletes who participated in the Fall National Signing Day event were:

Jenna Amodio – Lacrosse at Siena College

Janie Baringer – Lacrosse at College of Holy Cross

Owen Blaisdell – Cross-Country and Track at Northeastern University

Kaela Borelli – Rowing at Sacred Heart University

Jacqueline Cutting – Softball at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Charlotte Drabek – Field Hockey at Wesleyan University

Addison Kenney – Swimming at Central Connecticut State University

Othmane Kerroum – Cross-Country and Track at Wesleyan University

Madeline Lebed – Rowing at Marist College

Thomas McNamara – Baseball at Wesleyan University

Emma  Murray – Soccer at Haverford College

Ellie Ott – Gymnastics at Utica University

Darren Pasek – Cross-Country and Track at Columbia University

Layla Pertchik – Volleyball at SUNY Oneonta

Anthony Sanchez – Swim and Dive at Fordham University

Lily Sica – Rowing at University of Tennessee

Carter Sica – Golf at Manhattan University

Tucker Zeh – Football at University of Rochester

Averill Zimmer – Lacrosse at Longwood University