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Author: Jonathon Norcross

Ballston Spa Education Board Approves Budget; Voters Will Decide Budget’s Fate and Select Education Board Members on May 21

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

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District’s Board of Education approved a proposed 2024-2025 budget of $107,179,996 last week.

There are three Community Budget Presentations being offered for district residents to learn more about the proposed budget. The presentations are scheduled for Monday, May 13 at the Ballston Town Hall; Tuesday, May 14 at the Malta Community Center; and Wednesday, May 15 at the Milton Community Center. All of the presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m.

District residents can vote on the budget on May 21 from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Residents of Malta can vote at the Malta Town Hall, while residents of Ballston, Milton and Charlton will vote at the Ballston Spa High School.

Voters will also choose two Board of Education members from three candidates: Jason Fernau, Fabrizia Rodriguez, and Tim Turbiak.

Jason Fernau was elected to the Board of Education in May 2018 to a three-year term and re-elected in May 2021. He was selected as the President in July 2021, 2022, and again in July 2023, after previously serving as the Vice President of the Board. He also currently serves on the WSWHE BOCES Board of Education. He is a Ballston Spa High School (BSHS) graduate and has been a resident in the district for over 45 years. He is the parent of two BSHS graduates, a son and a daughter. In his position statement, Fernau wrote that he was “committed to setting expectations for instructional excellence, safe and welcoming school environments, positive partnerships with our local Town and Village governments, fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers, and making sure that every student is engaged and challenged in their educational journey.”

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Fabrizia Rodriguez has more than 13 years experience advocating and representing families as an attorney with a focus on Child Welfare Laws and Immigration Law. Additionally, Rodriguez has experience in grant writing for Capital District BOCES and Centro Civico Inc. She served as a Parent Liaison for the Amsterdam School District and supported initiatives to enhance communication and involvement between school and family. Rodriguez has been residing in the Town of Ballston since 2018, and is the proud mother of two sons, a fifth grader and a third grader at Gordon Creek. She is the current Vice President of Ballston Spa Community Youth Football Inc. In her position statement, Rodriguez wrote that if elected, she would “advocate for modernized resources and tools to best support our staff in developing outstanding Ballston Spa citizens.”

Tim Turbiak was elected to the Board in May 2021 and began his three-year term in July 2021. During his time on the Board, he has served on the Policy Committee for the last two years, and as the liaison to the PTAs over the last 3 years. Tim moved to the area in 2019 from Brooklyn. Over the years he has helped organize a number of fundraisers, helping organizations such as Toys for Tots, Meals On Wheels, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He currently resides in Ballston Spa with his wife Eliana and their two children. In his position statement, Turbiak wrote that if re-elected, he intends “to help build on that progress as well as address the new challenges we face. I will advocate for policies and practices which promote inclusion, limit – if not remove – obstacles which may affect learning, and encourage our students to come to school and want to learn. I will support the district in providing the resources needed so each student has their individual needs met, and accomplish the ultimate goal to obtain a meaningful diploma.” 

In addition to the budget vote and education board member elections, there will be three additional propositions on the ballot. Proposition 2 is for School Vehicle Replacement in the amount of up to $1,075,000 to purchase and replace school buses and vehicles. Proposition 3 allows the district to spend up to $595,000 to replace two bus lifts in the district’s Transportation Facility. Proposition 4 is for the Ballston Spa Public Library in the amount of $63,344 towards the expense of operating the public library.

Saratoga Students Win Physical Education Award

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Education.

Lira Bonitatibus and Louie Longobardo pose with their awards at a ceremony in Albany last month. Photo provided by Lexie Bonitatibus.

ALBANY — Two Saratoga Springs High School seniors were awarded the Capital Zone High School Student Leadership Awards in Physical Education at the Italian American Community Center in Albany last month. 

Lira Bonitatibus and Louie Longobardo were recognized for their “high level of physical performance, scholastic achievement, exceptional leadership qualities, and outstanding service to the school or town/city community,” according to the Capital Zone. The students were nominated by Saratoga Springs High School physical education teacher Kelsey Allen.

Bonitatibus will attend Clemson University in the fall to study health sciences in the field of health promotion. Longobardo will attend SUNY Brockport to study physical education.

Former Saratoga Coach Continues “Act with Respect Always” Mission

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Coach Rich Johns, a former tennis coach at Saratoga Springs High School, continued his “Act with Respect Always” program with a series of speaking engagements over the last few months.

In April, Coach Johns spoke at a Saratoga Springs Rotary Club meeting, as well as the New York State Recreation and Park Society’s annual conference at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. Late last year, he also spoke at Hoosick Falls High School. 

According to Johns, “Act With Respect Always” is a pay it forward movement stressing the importance of one’s personal character. In his speeches, Johns introduces several concepts, including:

• The 99% (What’s Your 99) and the 1% (Accept The 1), a personal character assessment plan that aims to bring the concept of mindfulness to everyone

• The Visible Project, which encourages everyone to send notes of gratitude to a friend, relative, teacher, or anyone else that has shown them kindness

• The Solid Five (Who Are Your Solid5), or five people who can be relied upon for non-judgmental physical and emotional support

BSpa Baseball Team Wins Game at Cooperstown, Visits Hall of Fame

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

COOPERSTOWN — The Ballston Spa varsity baseball team beat the Mohonasen Warriors 8 to 3 at the historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York on Saturday morning. The team also visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum while in town.

Doubleday Field is named after Civil War Major General Abner Doubleday, who was reportedly born in a small house that still stands in downtown Ballston Spa. (The home is now the site of the Real McCoy brewery.) Although Doubleday was once thought to have invented baseball, there’s no substantial evidence that he had anything to do with the creation or popularization of the game.

Skidmore Alum Crushes 3-Run Homer in Pro Game

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

VANCOUVER — Jackson Hornung, the first Skidmore College alum to be drafted by a professional sports team, cracked a three-run dinger last month for the Vancouver Canadians, the High-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

In a game against the Spokane Indians, Hornung extended his hitting streak to six straight games before crushing the 0-2 pitch over the center field wall. Hornung finished the night with two hits and three RBI. 

The former Skidmore Thoroughbred has upped his numbers from last year, when he played for the Low-A Dunedin Blue Jays in Florida. As of May 3, he had a .630 OPS with 12 hits and 6 walks in 51 total at-bats.

Adirondack Thunder Win Playoff Series, Advance to Next Round

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondack Thunder, an ECHL ice hockey team affiliated with the New Jersey Devils, beat the Maine Mariners at home, 2-0, in th decisive game 7 of the Kelly Cup Playoff North Division Semifinals last week. After winning the series, the Thunder advanced to the North Division Finals to take on the Norfolk Admirals.

In game 7, goalie Isaac Poulter stopped 21 shots for the shutout, while Ryan Wheeler and Tristan Ashbrook scored the Thunder’s two goals.

In game 1 against the Admirals last Friday night at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, the Thunder fell, 7 to 4.  Ryan Smith scored two goals in the contest. His second goal came at the end of the second period, putting Adirondack ahead 4-3. But Norfolk erupted offensively in the third, scoring four goals and taking the first game of the series.

Game 2 on Saturday was a closer contest but the Admirals got the better of the Thunder once again, scoring three goals in the final period to take the W, 5 to 2. Yushiroh Hirano and Tristan Ashbrook contributed Adirondack’s two goals. 

Down 2-0, the Thunder traveled to Norfolk for game 3 on Wednesday night. 

Skidmore Riding Team Finishes Third in National Championship

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

MILL SPRING, N.C. — The Belmont Stakes isn’t the only horse show in town.

The Skidmore College riding team finished third overall with 39 points at the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championship in North Carolina last weekend.

Skidmore narrowly lost out to Sacred Heart University, which took second place with 41.5 points. Savannah College of Art and Design were crowned national champions with 59 points.

“We are very proud of this team’s hard work and dedication,” Head Equestrian Coach Belinda Colgan told Saratoga TODAY. “It is a pleasure to coach these outstanding individuals who demonstrate such wonderful sportsmanship and camaraderie.”

Among individual Skidmore competitors, Kenya Sanders finished fourth, Harper Sanford was third in the Team Open Equitation on the Flat, and Isa Jensen was sixth in the Team Intermediate Equitation on the Flat. Skidmore’s horse “Crosby” also won high point horse of the show.

To reach nationals, the Thoroughbreds first captured the Zone 2 Region 3 Championship with a score of 48 last month at Long Island University – Post.

Saratoga Lacrosse Team Honors Olivia Allen’s Memory, Raises Funds for Childhood Cancer Research

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

The Saratoga Springs and Jamesville-DeWitt girls varsity lacrosse teams honored the memory of Saratoga grad Olivia Allen before a game last week. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was a bright, beautiful day in Saratoga Springs when two lacrosse teams took the field. But something was different about this game. Opposing teams wore matching shirts that displayed yellow ribbons. An American flag flew at half-mast. Handwritten notes tied to a fence bordering the field offered tributes to someone the community had lost.

On a seemingly typical Monday afternoon, the Saratoga Springs and Jamesville-DeWitt girls varsity lacrosse teams paid tribute to Olivia Allen, a recent Saratoga grad who succumbed to leukemia in March. Silently, they completed 47 passes back and forth, a symbolic gesture recognizing the 47 children who are diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States. 

“On March 28, Olivia left a legacy of strength and determination,” said Blue Streaks Coach Jennifer Furze while standing at midfield. “Liv’s heroic story is being heard and felt throughout the entire country. It is truly a testament to the beautiful human being she was.”

The remarks were deeply personal for Furze, whose daughter was best friends with Olivia. Months ago, Furze and her team began planning a collaboration with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation’s LaCROSSe Out Cancer campaign. Then, Olivia passed away. Since then, Furze said her team has been passionate about aiding the foundation. 

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“I think it’s been a really great outlet for their grief,” Furze said. “They’re channeling the way that they’re feeling, their emotions, into positivity. Because that’s ultimately what Liv stood for.”

On behalf of both teams, Coach Furze presented a $10,000 check to the foundation. It took the teams only three weeks to raise the donated funds. The money will aid efforts to find cures for pediatric cancers.

According to Bonnie Lattimore, the foundation’s director of strategic partnerships, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for kids, but only 4% of federal funding for cancer research is devoted to children. “We try to do anything we can, like partner with Saratoga Springs lacrosse or other organizations, to try to fill that funding gap, and they’ve done a fantastic job.” Lattimore said that $50 funds about one hour of research. “This has a huge impact for pediatric cancer.”

Olivia Allen graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 2023 and planned to attend Florida State University to study nursing. She played for the Blue Streaks field hockey and gymnastic teams.

Below the lacrosse field’s scoreboard, next to the half-mast flag, was an artful blue and yellow display that read “Live Like Liv.”

Donna Barton Brothers Embraces the Belmont

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When Donna Barton Brothers retired from horse racing in 1998, she was the second-winningest female jockey in the country by money earned. Since then, she’s become one of the sport’s most prominent advocates, using her talents as a broadcaster and reporter for NBC Sports to explain the complicated world of horse racing to the masses.

“We have a lot of language that is specific only to our sport,” Brothers told Saratoga TODAY, “and it doesn’t make people want to know more about our sport if we constantly use language that excludes them from understanding what we’re talking about.” 

On June 4, she’ll bring her explanatory skills to “Embrace the Belmont,” an event at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame that aims to teach the Saratoga community about its upcoming Triple Crown race. 

“I just wanted the people who are in town and the ones most affected by the Saratoga circus coming to town every year, to have an event for them,” Brothers said.

Fox Sports analysts Acacia Courtney Clement and Maggie Wolfendale will join Brothers at “Embrace the Belmont” and discuss all things Saratoga, which ranks as Brother’s second-favorite track in the country.

“Saratoga is such an iconic venue,” Brothers said. “When you walk in and look at that structure, you feel the 100 years plus of history ingrained in the wood.”

Brothers said that much like Keeneland in Louisville, Kentucky, people in the Saratoga paddock “still have a deep reverence for the sport.”

That reverence is part of the reason why Brothers said people in the horseracing industry are eagerly anticipating this year’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. But there are some aspects to this year’s race that insiders are less excited about, such as the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) decision to run the event at a mile and a quarter instead of the traditional mile and a half.

Brothers also said that there’s been a push in the industry to change the Triple Crown schedule to make each race about a month apart, with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness on the first Saturday of June, and finally Belmont on the first Saturday in July. Brothers said NYRA has been resistant to these proposed changes.

“I think it was a little bit surprising that they were willing to change the distance so quickly without any sort of discussion with people in the industry, but yet they seem to have very little willingness to change the dates, the spacing, of the Triple Crown races,” Brothers said.

Nonetheless, Brothers said that the primary response among horseracing insiders to this year’s Belmont is excitement.

“We love the history of horse racing and we love that some things will never change. But it’s also fun to have a little bit of excitement and have things shaken up just a little bit here and there,” she said.

One organization that has shaken up the industry a bit is Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, organizers of the “Embrace the Belmont” event. Brothers visited the nonprofit’s facilities in March and came away impressed.

“They’re helping people who are marginalized in one way or another, and they’re treating those people in a proven, effective way,” Brothers said. “I think that kind of work is very important but also very underrated.”

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga rescues retired racehorses and matches them with humans who can benefit from equine-assisted therapy. Some of those who benefit include both adults and children with mental illness, veterans, families, couples, and victims of domestic violence.

In support of the organization, Brothers will emcee “Embrace the Belmont” on Tuesday, June 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the National Museum of Horse Racing and Hall of Fame. To learn more about the event or to purchase a ticket, visit thsaratoga.org/events.

Lake Ave Elementary Celebrates 100 Years

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Education.

A group of Lake Ave Elementary staff and students pose on the school’s steps alongside a representative from Congressman Paul Tonko’s office, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, Senator James Tedisco, Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When the Palladian-style Lake Avenue school building opened in 1924, no students crossing its entrance knew about the Great Depression or World War II or Beatlemania. 100 years later, the Saratoga Springs City School District is celebrating the history of Lake Ave Elementary with a bevy of proclamations and celebrations.

On April 30, Lake Avenue School Day was officially declared by a representative from Congressman Paul Tonko’s office, State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, State Senator James Tedisco, and Mayor John Safford. The group gathered outside at the corner of Lake Ave. and Regent St. to issue their decrees.

“The history of this school is so long and so great,” said Mayor Safford. “It kind of reflects this wonderful little city that we call our own.”

After the city’s former high school burned down, the Lake Ave building replaced it. The first graduating class was in 1924, and the building remained the city’s high school until 1965. It was briefly transformed into a junior high until 1972, when it then became the elementary school that it remains today.

In celebration of 100 years, an open-house style community event will be held at the school on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Attendees can peruse a historical exhibition, take a guided tour of the building, play two-square games, listen to live music, enjoy some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or Nally coffee, and shop for limited edition centennial merchandise. The event will also feature food trucks, face painting, and a book fair. 

For more information about the festivities, visit www.lakeavepta.com/events/centennial.