SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Skidmore College softball program has announced four new players who will join the Thoroughbreds this fall as part of the class of 2028.
The newcomers include Cayla Schubmehl, a left-handed pitcher from Catholic Central High School in Troy; Shayne Cleeve, a right-hander from Newark Academy in New Jersey; Isabel Moreno, an outfielder from Wachusett Regional High School in Massachusetts; and Delaney Swain, a middle infielder from the Pingry School in New Jersey.
The Skidmore softball team is looking to rebound from a tough season in which they finished 9-27 overall and 3-11 in their conference.
John Ellis and Amanda Ellithorpe were recognized by the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education for their years of service. Photos via the district website.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — At the final regular business meeting of the school year on June 20, two outgoing Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education members were honored by their colleagues.
Amanda Ellithorpe, who had been with the board for three years, and John Ellis, who served for nine years, both received special recognition by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton and Board President Tony Krackeler.
To commemorate their tenures, Ellithorpe and Ellis will have their names engraved on bricks outside the main entrance to the high school. They also received gifts and cards from the board.
“You’ve brought so much wise perspective and understanding of employees,” fellow board member Dr. John Brueggemann told Ellis. “We’re going to lose a lot of institutional memory and a lot of distinctive perspective when you go.”
“I always appreciated how both of you…you are who you are. There’s no veneer. I appreciate how real you are,” said board member Connie Woytowich.
Two new members will join the board for the upcoming school year: Deb Amory, a professor at Empire State University, and Matt Kopans, a development officer for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. Krackeler said that Amory and Kopans would begin their orientation on June 21. Woytowich will also return to the board after winning reelection in May.
Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa High Schools celebrated their 2024 commencement ceremonies this week at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Photos via the SPAC live stream.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa High Schools both celebrated their Class of 2024 commencement ceremonies at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) this week, with the Scotties gracing the SPAC grounds on Tuesday afternoon and the Blue Streaks following suit on Wednesday morning.
Speakers at both events praised graduates for persevering through the COVID-19 pandemic and for giving back to the community.
Ballston Spa
The Ballston Spa commencement ceremony opened with the high school ensemble performing an orchestral rendition of the Coldplay song “Clocks,” perhaps a nod to the young adults reflecting on the passage of time.
In a speech, Student Government President Catherine Miller praised her class for its open-mindedness. “The ability to question and appreciate the opinions and ideas of others made for a strong and respectful learning community,” Miller said.
“The changes coming will not be easy,” Miller added. “There will be days when you want to give up, but you won’t.”
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Valedictorian Brooke Cearley echoed Miller’s comments about challenging but exciting times ahead for her classmates. “It’s time to be uncomfortable and face change and walk into the unexpected,” Cearley said.
After all the diplomas were handed out to the Ballston Spa graduates, air horns and golden confetti filled the air in celebration.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs showcased its talented musicians and singers as attendees filled the SPAC amphitheater on Wednesday morning. 448 students gathered for the 151st high school commencement ceremony.
Speakers emphasized the Class of 2024’s commitment to bettering their community. The graduating class donated more than 180 pints of blood to the Red Cross; and on Seniors Giveback Day, more than 600 hours of time was donated to local nonprofits.
“Your school spirit and care for each other are what define you as a group of students,” said High School Principal Michelle Tsao.
Before diplomas were handed out, some students received special recognition. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton honored the six graduates who will go on to serve in the armed forces. Principal Tsao also awarded the 113th annual Yaddo Medal, which she called “the most prestigious award given by our school district,” to students Carlie Friedman and Adam Brown.
A moment of silence was observed for Anthony Stefanacci, a student who tragically passed away last month. Anthony’s tearful parents went up on stage to receive his diploma, as well as a medal honoring his civic engagement.
After being presented with their diplomas, the graduating class tossed their caps into the air in celebration of their achievements.
The “conceptual plan” for the proposed, mixed-use Camber Ridge development in Malta, which would replace the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Image via the development’s website.
MALTA — A plan to build retail stores and hundreds of residential units on the current site of the Albany-Saratoga Speedway was met with resistance at a Malta Town Board meeting earlier this month.
During the June 3 meeting, representatives from Five Corners Development and The NRP Group delivered a lengthy presentation about their proposed mixed-use Camber Ridge development during the public comment period, which is usually reserved for town residents to make three-minute statements. The NRP Group’s Jonathan Gertman said he hoped the presentation would “shock and delight” the town.
After the presentation went on for about 20 minutes, Councilperson Barbara Conner interrupted to say that she had no idea the presentation was going to happen and that discussion of the Camber Ridge development wasn’t on the agenda. “I don’t know anything about this and I feel a little blindsided,” Conner said. “I’m looking at some of our friends and neighbors out there who have things to say to us and I don’t think this is the right time, and I would’ve appreciated knowing we were going to have this kind of presentation.”
A meeting attendee blasted the developers’ presentation, calling it “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.
The nearly 50-acre Camber Ridge development is set to include “some element of senior housing, some element of multifamily housing across mixed incomes, as well as the potential for affordable home ownership,” according to the June 3 presentation.
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A conceptual plan showed buildings that would house a brewery, commercial space, apartments, townhomes, green space, and a courtyard/amenity area.
“This multiphase mixed-use project aims to transform the recreational site into a vibrant community consisting of housing, retail, community amenities, and walking trails,” said a statement on the Camber Ridge website.
The development would replace the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, where racing may no longer occur after the 2025 season. The developers said they planned to keep the track’s legacy alive to “appease race fan enthusiasts.”
It will be some time before the project can be fully approved by the town. The developers are making a formal proposal this summer and hope to reach the site plan approval process by the end of next year.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Racecourse will return to the national stage this summer thanks to FOX’s “Saratoga Saturday” TV coverage. Starting Saturday, July 20, FOX will broadcast some of this season’s biggest races, including the Travers Stakes and the Whitney Stakes.
Below is the schedule for this year’s “Saratoga Saturday” program on FOX.
GLENS FALLS — The Glens Falls Dragons, a collegiate baseball team with a number of players from Saratoga County, has had a rough start to the 2024 season. As of June 19, their record stood at 3-10-1. Despite this, a number of players have stood out for their individual performances.
Justin Gouveia, a sophomore outfielder, is hitting .313 with 4 doubles and a triple in 11 games. Cody Meier, also a sophomore, is batting .300 with 5 stolen bases.
On the mound, southpaw starter Alfonso Lombardi has a 2.57 ERA across 14 innings, tallying 11 strikeouts and only 2 walks. Senior Orlando Leon has also impressed, with a 3.17 ERA in 11.1 innings.
Where the Dragons really seem to shine is on defense, where they have two players who rank within the top six league leaders in fielding percentage. Caden Bernardo, from Glenmont, New York, and Zowen Collins, from Cobleskill, both have a 1.000 fielding percentage on the year. Bernardo also has 46 putouts in 45 innings of play.
Elsewhere across the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL), East Greenbush native Zach Eldred has been doing his best Shohei Ohtani impression, hitting .367 and maintaining a 1.84 ERA in 3 starts. Reliever Jesse Kuzmich, from Greenwich, has a perfect 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. And Troy’s Jacob Lapham has a 1.63 ERA and 16 K’s in 11 innings.
Another PGCBL team, the Amsterdam Mohawks, who were league champions in both 2023 and 2022, also feature a number players from the Saratoga region, including Zach Eldred (East Greenbush), Parker Aikens (Niskayuna), Manny Santos (Amsterdam), James Redick (Clifton Park), Mason Veronezi (Burnt Hills), and Ben Huckans (Amsterdam).
The Mohawks and Dragons will face off on Friday, June 21 at the East Field in Glens Falls at 7 p.m., and again on Saturday, June 29 at the Rao Family Stadium in Amsterdam at 6:35 p.m.
The Catie Hoch Foundation’s Teeing Off On Cancer Golf Classic will take place at the McGregor Links Country Club. Photos via the foundation’s website.
WILTON — When nine-year-old Catie Hoch was alive, she wanted other kids battling cancer to find ways to have fun. Shortly before she passed away, she made a list of her favorite “fun” places that other kids could go to. It was this list that led to the creation of the Catie Hoch Foundation, which for decades has been raising money for kids with cancer, in part via events like the upcoming Teeing Off On Cancer Golf Classic.
“It’s a great day,” said Gina Peca, Catie’s mom and a co-founder of the foundation. “It’s just so much fun, and you can see the golfers’ commitment to our cause.”
Nearly 200 people attended last year’s event, which typically raises between $85,000 and $100,000 annually. The funds are sent to families with children being treated for cancer, in the form of cash or gift cards for basic necessities such as gas, groceries, and shopping.
“Our golfers know that they’re truly making a difference,” Peca said. “This money isn’t going to go into the atmosphere. It’s directly helping the kids and their families.”
In keeping with Catie’s desire to have fun, the tournament includes prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and best foursome. There’s also a putting contest and a golf ball launcher.
The action all takes place at the McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton, which shuts down the entire course for the event. A morning flight begins at 7:30 a.m. and an afternoon flight starts at 1 p.m.
Launched more than two decades ago, the Catie Hoch Foundation has attracted nationwide attention, thanks in part to a 2003 “Time” magazine cover story about the Harry Potter book series, and its author J.K. Rowling.
“A friend of mine somehow got in touch with [Rowling] and she and Catie emailed back and forth,” Peca said. When Rowling heard that Catie had about two weeks left to live, she called and read to her from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” which at the time hadn’t yet been published. A year later, Peca said, Rowling donated $100,000 to the foundation.
“It was just amazing,” Peca said. “This [foundation] is a way to keep Catie’s memory alive and to really make a difference for these poor families. Having been there, we know what they’re facing.”
The Teeing Off On Cancer Golf Classic will take place at the McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton on Saturday, September 7. For more information or to register, visit www.teeingoffoncancer.org. Those not interested in playing golf can also contribute by being a sponsor, sending a gift, or donating funds.
The Ballston Spa girls relay team of Gabrielle Bozeth, Harriet Healey, Tatiana McCray, and Petrina Zborovszky pose in front of Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania. Photo via Assistant Coach Matt Germann’s @CoachGermann X account.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa High School girls track and field team put together an impressive showing at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2024 meet at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field in Philadelphia last weekend.
The relay team of Gabrielle Bozeth, Harriet Healey, Tatiana McCray, and Petrina Zborovszky finished 14th in the 1600 sprint medley, 18th in the 4×200, and 23rd in the 4×100. According toAssistant Coach Matt Germann, the results included two new school records. “These four continue to amaze me,” Germann wrote after the event.
Ballston Spa runners also made appearances in elite boys events at the Adidas Track Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina last weekend.
Devin Hemraj placed 20th in the 110m hurdles prelims. Kala’i Makanani was 50th in the 400m dash finals, and 106th in the 200m dash prelims. Michael Stamper also finished 128th in the 100m dash prelims.
Headshot of Jackson Hornung via the Vancouver Canadians website.
VANCOUVER — Jackson Hornung, the first Skidmore College alum to be drafted by a professional sports team, socked a two-run homer in the first inning of a Vancouver Canadians game on Sunday. The game went into extra innings, although the Canadians (the High-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays) fell short in the contest, 5-4.
The ex-Thoroughbred has continued to bolster his numbers throughout his first season in High-A. His .630 OPS in May improved to .668 by mid-June, and his fielding percentage at the catcher position this season was .996. He’s also played nine games at first base.
FORT ANN — Upstate New York has long been known for its water, from the Catskill Mountain watershed that supplies New York City with clean drinking water to the mineral springs that gave Saratoga Springs its name. Now, there’s a new local water company on the scene that sources its product from an artesian aquifer in the Adirondacks.
Realm, a premium water brand, will be officially unveiled at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City later this month. Its water source in Fort Ann, about 30 miles north of Saratoga, is said to be “98% uncontaminated” and “untouched by natural and human pollutants,” according to the company’s press release. Owners Mark and Joe Miller have spent the last seven years trying to bring the water to market.
“Water is the most essential element and we cannot survive without it. We understand the importance of providing and protecting natural resources, which is why Realm means so much to us,” said Realm’s CEO Todd Kletter in a statement.
Starting this fall, Realm will be available in still and sparkling varieties, packaged in glass bottles. Consumers will be able to purchase the bottles via the brand’s website.
