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Author: Jonathon Norcross

At 61, Local Businessman Excels at Spartan Races

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

Bob West of Saratoga Springs won first place in the 60+ age group at the 2023 Fenway Park Spartan Stadion 5K. Photos provided by West.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Spartan Races are considered the hardest on the planet, but for one 61-year-old Saratoga Springs businessman, they’re just another exhilarating weekend.

“I’ve never, ever been happier than these last few years since I was racing,” said Bob West, president of Old Saratoga Restorations. “I attribute it directly to the hard work, which is just putting in that daily grind and then putting out as much effort as I possibly can.”

West has participated in more than 100 Spartan Races all over the country, completing 1,851 obstacles at a distance of over 640 miles. In the 60+ age group, he’s won dozens of races, including most recently the Vermont Spartan Sprint 5K on September 15. And despite competing against much younger foes, West has placed as high as 11th overall. As of press time, he was ranked third in the 2024 National Series.

West said he’s long been interested in adrenaline rush-inducing sports. At 14, he started racing motocross. In his 20s, he took up surfing. Later, he gave mountain biking a shot. But he wasn’t especially interested in running until he stumbled upon posts about Spartan Races on Instagram.

“Wow, this is freaking crazy, man,” West thought when he learned about Spartan racers. “Who the hell runs these things? I wonder if I could do that.”

West’s first race was a bit of an accident. He intended to sign up for a 5K that included 20 obstacles, but he instead competed in a 10K with 28 obstacles that are progressively harder as the race goes on.

“It was pretty brutal and I was beat down pretty hard because I failed a bunch of it, but when I finished and I recovered a couple hours later, I was just blown away at how I felt. I felt amazing, like holy shit this was so hard but I got through it,” West said.

West said he was struck by how his fellow Spartan racers celebrated each other’s achievements rather than viciously competing against one another to score a victory. That camaraderie helped reel him in, and he’s been participating in Spartan races ever since.

West said the hardest race he’s competed in thus far is the Vermont Spartan Beast 21K at the Killington Ski Resort, otherwise aptly known as the Killington Beast.

“My first race, I wanted to quit many times and I almost did. I sat down at one point and decided that I was done, I couldn’t finish it,” West said. “I was on my hands and knees crawling up the hill because I was really not prepared for it.”

West stared down the Killington Beast once again on September 14, this time placing second in his age group. It was another difficult task checked off of his to-do list.

“I definitely proved to myself that I’m one of the top three or five guys in the country at racing Spartan,” West said. “I guess my message is that finding something that is hard to do and rewarding at any age is really important. I just think that if there’s no effort in, there’s not much of a reward out.”

Tonko Introduces Sports Betting Bill 

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko speaks during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on September 12. Photo via the press conference livestream.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), whose district includes the Saratoga Racecourse, has introduced a bill that aims to rein in mobile sports betting. 

In a press conference held outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on September 12, Tonko and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) touted the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act. 

In an effort to create less addictive mobile sports betting apps, the legislation would require states to meet minimum federal standards in the categories of advertising, affordability, and artificial intelligence.

“Every single moment of every sporting event across the globe has become a betting opportunity,” Tonko said. “That’s resulted in a frightening rise in gambling disorder, which has in turn enacted a horrific toll on individuals, many of whom have lost their home, job, marriage, and their lives. We have a duty to protect people and their families from suffering the tremendous harm related to gambling addiction.”

Tonko compared the effects of gambling addiction to heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse. He said he’d heard “countless stories of lives destroyed by sports gambling.” He stressed that he did not want to ban sports betting, but rather make it safer for the public.

“This is about harm reduction of a known addictive product that is on sale 24/7,” Tonko said.

In addition to prohibiting all proposition bets featuring college and amateur athletes, the SAFE Bet Act would:

Prohibit sports betting advertising from being broadcast between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Prohibit sports betting advertising during live sporting events

Prohibit sports betting advertisements designed to induce gambling with “bonus,” “no sweat,” “bonus bets,” or odds boosts, or similar promotions

Prohibit reckless or purposeful targeting of problem gamblers, individuals suffering from gambling disorder, or individuals ineligible to place a bet, including those under 21 years of age

Prohibit operators from accepting more than 5 deposits from a customer in a 24-hour period

Prohibit operators from accepting deposits via credit card

Require operators to conduct ‘affordability checks’ on customers before accepting wagers in excess of $1,000 in a 24-hour period or $10,000 in a 30-day period and verify that proposed deposits do not exceed more than 30 percent of the individual’s monthly income through the application of a reasonable lender standard

Prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to track individual player’s gambling habits 

Prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to create individualized offers and promotions to customers

Prior to officially introducing the legislation, Tonko earlier this year outlined the content of the SAFE Bet Act.

He previously authored the Betting on our Future Act, which would have banned all online and electronic advertising of sports gambling.

Saratoga Girl Makes US Open Appearance

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


Nayana Shankar from Saratoga Springs helps present trophies to the women’s singles finalists at the US Open Tennis Championships in New York City. Screenshot via the ESPN broadcast.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nayana Shankar, a nine-year-old tennis player at the Saratoga Regional YMCA Wilton Branch, made an appearance at the US Open Tennis Championships in Queens last weekend when she helped present the trophies to the women’s singles finalists. 

Following the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula (a Buffalo native whose parents own the Buffalo Bills), Shankar carried out the trophy awarded to the second-place Pegula. Former tennis player and ESPN analyst Mary Joe Fernández introduced Shankar as a “future American tennis champion.” After Shankar brought the trophy to the podium, tennis legend Billie Jean King appeared to tell her that she did a “good job.” 

Jed Murray, the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s director of tennis, said Shankar was nominated to participate in one of the the United States Tennis Association’s Orange Ball Early Development Camps. While there, Murray said, she showed “exemplary behavior” and earned a chance to present a trophy.

“It was a pretty amazing experience,” Murray said. “She was still pretty shocked that she got to be in that position where the whole stadium is seeing her and they announce her name like that.”

Despite her recent brush with fame, Shankar was back at the YMCA on Tuesday to continue honing her tennis skills.

Goose’s Journey From SPAC Lawn to SPAC Stage

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment.


Peter Anspach, the keyboard player for the jam band Goose, watches a Phish concert from the SPAC lawn in 2013. Ten years later, he appears on the SPAC stage with Goose. Photos via Anspach’s Instagram account. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The jam band Goose played two nights at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SAPC) last weekend, marking the high point of a journey that took the band from the SPAC lawn to the SPAC stage. 

In 2013, Goose keyboardist Peter Anspach attended a Phish concert at SPAC, camping out on the lawn with thousands of fellow fans. In a three-night run from July 5 to 7, Phish debuted their original song “Yarmouth Road” and presented rousing renditions of their hits “Tweezer” and “Character Zero.” 

A decade later, when Goose took the SPAC stage for the first time, Anspach couldn’t help but celebrate the occasion.

“We’re so excited to be here,” Anspach said. “This place means a lot to us.” Later, when performing an encore, he added, “some of us have seen a lot of shows on that lawn right there and I’ll tell you what, it feels great to be on the stage. So thank you so much for making it happen. Hopefully we come back for multiple nights some time.” 

His hopes came true last weekend, when Goose’s two-night stay included a blissful version of “Hungersite” and the second-ever performance of “Big Modern!,” a new original song.

Prior to the shows, several members of the band stopped by the Saratoga Spa Golf Course for “Goose on the Green,” a sold-out charity event that raised funds for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. The event was another indication of how much Saratoga has meant to the group.

“The band has a different kind of energy when they’re playing a venue like SPAC, which means so much to them personally,” said Ryan Storm, host of the Goose-focused podcast “Almost Always There.”

In 2018, more than a year before their breakthrough set at the Peach Music Festival, Goose opened for the Ryan Montbleau Band at Putnam Place in downtown Saratoga. At that show, they played songs such as “Elizabeth” (which was the opener for their SPAC show on September 6) and “Arcadia” (which is now one of their most popular tunes).

Five years later, after playing SPAC for the first time, Anspach wrote in a social media post that the venue “definitely lived up to the hype. Such a surreal experience playing with my best friends in one of the most influential venues I’ve ever been to.”

Goose has become one of many jam bands to make SPAC a regular stop on their summer and fall tours. The Dave Matthews Band has played SPAC 49 times. Phish has played there 24 times, most recently in August of last year. In 1985, the Grateful Dead famously drew the largest-ever SPAC crowd of more than 40,000 Deadheads.

In 2023, Goose’s first SPAC show was, at the time, the band’s largest-ever headlining performance. Hopefully, they’ll have many more opportunities to break the record.

Community Grieves Sudden Loss of Ballston Spa Athletic Director  

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


Photo of Ballston Spa High School Athletic Director Dave Sunkes receiving the 2018 Wellspring Changemakers Award via Saratoga.com. 

ALLSTON SPA — David M. Sunkes Jr., the Ballston Spa High School Athletic Director, died suddenly last weekend. Sunkes had served the district for more than two decades and was mourned by former students and community members when they learned of his passing.

“This loss has deeply affected our Ballston Spa community, and we are struggling to come to terms with this tragic event,” wrote Superintendent of Schools Gianleo Duca in a letter. “I know that some of you had a close relationship with Dave, and his presence in our schools and at our athletic events will be deeply missed. We are all stunned by the news of this loss.”

“Dave had provided a steady hand in especially the rebound of Scotties Athletics post-Covid shutdowns, and I know without a doubt he had a front-row seat for today’s Ballston Spa Football game at Brewster. He will be greatly missed,” said Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi in a Facebook post.

Superintendent Duca said that the district would be honoring the Sunkes family’s request for privacy, and thus did not immediately provide further information about the unexpected loss.

Sunkes is survived by his wife Carrie and three sons.

Following the announcement of Sunkes’ death, there was an outpouring of affectionate tributes on Facebook. 

“I probably wouldn’t have graduated high school without his help; he was a role model to so many young men and women,” wrote Devin, a former student. “Anyone who ever played for him knew how much he loved us; what a tremendous loss for Ballston Spa.”

“Mr. Sunkes was a true ally to me, and my entire family,” wrote Riley. “He treated me like gold, and never judged me once for who I am. He was kind, compassionate, and fair. He was a wonderful asset to our community, and the world. May he find peace, and his family as well. May they heal in due time, and cherish his loving memory.”

“Our two youngest had Coach Sunkes guiding them in school, the gym class, and in football,” wrote Jeff, a parent of Ballston Spa students. “His motivation driven by humor or timely sarcasm was instrumental in shaping our children. I know this news will devastate many and my heart goes out to his family.”

Sunkes was the recipient of the 2018 Wellspring Changemakers Award. He was credited with bringing the “Coaching Boys Into Men” program to Ballston Spa schools. The program promoted respectful behavior among student-athletes with the goal of preventing abuse, harassment, and sexual assault.

A mass of Christian burial for Sunkes will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday, September 13 at St. Mary’s Church on Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa. Burial will follow in Ballston Spa Cemetery.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help Sunkes’ wife Carrie and his three sons. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $20,000 had already been raised. To make a contribution, visit http://bspa.news/sunkes.

Rustic Pizza Carries on Family Legacy

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


Rustic Pizza & Eats photo provided by Brian Brumley.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An award-winning pizza recipe created in the 1950s has been resurrected at Rustic Pizza & Eats, which opened in Saratoga Springs in July.

“As much as I did not want to get back in the restaurant business, I’m doing it for [my mom], for her family,” said Rustic Pizza owner Brian Brumley.

Brumley is the former owner of Spring Street Deli, which he ran for nearly three decades before deciding he wanted to scale back. “I put 28 years of my life into it,” Brumley said. “It was very good to me. I just felt like it was time to sell and move on, create something a little smaller”

Brumley downsized with Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf, which is located right next to Rustic Pizza. The mini golf course famously hosts “Puff Puff Putt” events that allow adults 21 and older to use marijuana while aiming for a hole-in-one. But the call to carry on his family’s legacy compelled him to open up a pizzeria next door.

Brumley’s grandfather opened a restaurant in Amsterdam, New York in the 1940s, then turned the business over to Brumley’s uncle, Tony Centi, in the 50s. Centi created a pizza recipe that was named “Best in the Great Northeast” for multiple years. He sold his famous pies at the Crystal Bar & Restaurant. But in 2013, Crystal closed, and it seemed as if the recipe would be gone forever. 

Brumley said his mom, the last living sibling of his uncle, wished that the recipe would survive. And so Brumley opened Rustic Pizza after securing the recipe from a cousin.

Brumley said his mom is “ecstatic” that new generations will be able to enjoy the Centi family’s creation. “It’s an honor to be asked to carry on the tradition of such a great legacy,” he said. 

Brumley classifies the pies as “bar pizza,” which has a crust akin to Chicago-style in that the sauce and lightly browned cheese go to the edge. Culinary magazine Bon Appétit describes bar pizza as recalling “a pre-gourmet pizza era.”

“[The recipe] really is unbelievable, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my family,” Brumley said.

Rustic Pizza & Eats is located at 556 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs, next to Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf.

Raw Milk Drives Ballston Farm’s Success

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


he Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston has been growing exponentially over the last handful of years, its owners said. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

BALLSTON — Sara and Chuck Curtiss, the married couple who run the Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston, have found success by providing a product that’s unique to Saratoga County: raw milk.

“The raw milk has had quite a drive and it’s constantly increasing,” Chuck said.

“Our customer base has grown so quickly,” Sara said. “Each year, the business has gone up like 30% one year, 40% one year, 70% during COVID, 30% last year, and then this year we’re at 40%.”

As the business continues to grow, so too does the farm itself and its product offerings. A creamery is currently being built that will allow Willow-Marsh to produce its own yogurt and once again make its own raw milk cheese.

According to RealMilk.com, the closest locations where one can purchase raw milk products are in Canajoharie and Ghent, both of which are at least a 45-minute drive away from the Ballston area. For most Saratoga County residents, Willow-Marsh is their closest raw milk dealer.

Raw milk, simply put, is unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a process by which raw milk is heated up in an effort to eliminate pathogens and extend the product’s shelf life. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unpasteurized milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that “consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations.”

Although not widely available, the production and sale of raw milk is legal in New York State, under certain conditions. The state requires all raw milk dealers to obtain a license in order to sell raw milk directly to the public, and the milk can only be sold on the farm where it is produced.

Chuck said his farm is subject to monthly, unannounced inspections in which the milk, water, cheese, and cows are all assessed.

“We’re held at a higher level of everything; cleanliness, equipment maintenance, stuff like that,” Chuck said. “We really have to be careful, be clean, and protect that.”

“When we are educating customers about the raw milk and the inspection process, they’re always like, ‘oh, the government.’ They complain, ‘that’s awful,’” Sara said. “I’m like no, actually our inspectors are super nice, considerate, and want what’s best for the public.”

Raw milk advocates argue that the taste and nutritional benefits of raw milk are significantly better than the pasteurized variety. The Raw Milk Institute, which Willow-Marsh links to on their website, states that raw milk contains a “variety of essential nutrients, fats, proteins, anti-inflammatory and digestive enzymes, bioavailable vitamins, and minerals.” 

“We have a lot of customers telling us their doctor, their chiropractor, or their holistic dentist sent them here,” Sara said.

As for the taste, “it’s sweet,” Chuck said. “It’s like drinking ice cream.”

Of course, it’s not just dairy products that fly off the shelves in the farm’s store. Beef, veal, and Mangalitsa pork are hot items. The store is also stocked with fresh local produce, honey, maple syrup, and handmade goods such as candles and jewelry.

The fifth-generation family farm used to primarily sustain itself by supplying Stewart’s Shops with milk. But it has since diversified and secured the valuable raw milk license. It also hosts a wide variety of events, including this summer’s “Big Gay Family Bash,” sound baths, bonfires, candle-making workshops, and the upcoming first-ever garlic and music festival on October 12.

The Willow-Marsh Farm Store is located at 343 Hop City Road in Ballston Spa and is open Wednesday through Sunday. 

Stanley Cup Visits Saratoga

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


The Stanley Cup on display at the Jockey Silks Porch at the Saratoga Racecourse on Saturday, August 31. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Amidst the hustle and bustle of a Saturday afternoon at the track, you’d be forgiven for missing an unusual sight: the NHL’s Stanley Cup being driven down East Avenue on a golf cart.

Such was the scene on August 31, when Vincent “Vinnie” Viola, the principal owner of the Florida Panthers, brought his team’s championship trophy to the Saratoga Racecourse. The Cup was on display for about an hour, and visitors were able to take photos with it for free.

“We are grateful to Vinnie Viola for bringing the iconic Stanley Cup to Saratoga Racecourse, an appropriate setting where champions compete every summer,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O’Rourke in a statement. “We thank the Florida Panthers organization for allowing us to share in the celebration of their success.”

Viola, in addition to owning the Panthers, owns the thoroughbred racing operation St. Elias Stable, which produced the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. In 2016, the billionaire businessman was briefly President Donald Trump’s pick for the United States Secretary of the Army, before he withdrew from consideration.

The Stanley Cup last visited Saratoga in 2015, thanks to upstate New Yorker Kevin Dineen, who was assistant coach of the Chicago Blackhawks during their championship season.

Local Mullet Champ’s Long Hair Falls Short in 2024 Contest

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


Photo of Stillwater’s Scott Salvadore via the USA Mullet Championships. 

STILLWATER — Scott Salvadore, a Stillwater resident and two-time USA Mullet Champion, placed second in the adult men’s category of this year’s best mullet competition. Salvadore had been hoping to earn a three-peat with his locks, which he calls “The Lord’s Drapes.”

The 2024 mullet champion, Todd Grubb of Michigan, was announced on the The Pat McAfee Show on August 29. Despite placing second, Salvadore earned more votes than Grubb, beating him by a count of 3,739 to 2,387. But Grubb had a higher judges score and raised considerably more money for charity, both of which are factors in determining the annual mullet champ. 

“Win or lose we must remember that this is the God show, not the Scotty show,” Salvadore wrote in a Facebook post. “These Lord’s Drapes are more than just a haircut to me, they are a symbol of my faith in Christ. These Drapes are unique witness to the transformation power of Jesus!”

Salvadore is the owner of Salvadore Services LLC, a Stillwater-based landscaping company that specializes in outdoor living spaces. He also owns Salvadore Firewood Company.

Goose Nearly Trampled at Saratoga Race Course

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.


SARATOGA SPRINGS — If only horses could honk. 

A misplaced goose was nearly trampled to death during the fourth race at Saratoga on August 28. The feathered fella apparently survived the attack, judging by a frame-by-frame video analysis, though he likely suffered some pummeled plumage. Fox Sports analyst Acacia Courtney Clement also reported that the gander withstood the equine assault.

The goose in question is not to be confused with Spa Infield Goose, the popular X account that chronicles the daily goings-on at the track. Nor should it be mistaken for Goose, the jam band that’s playing at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on September 6 and 7.