Saratoga Independent School celebrated the graduation of fourteen 8th grade students on June 14. Photo provided by Brooke Rouse.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Fourteen 8th graders at the Saratoga Independent School (SIS) celebrated their graduation on Friday, June 14.
Head of School Robert Ahrens highlighted the achievements, perseverance, and growth of the class of 2024. “Be confident in your abilities, be courageous in the face of challenges, and be compassionate in all your interactions,” Ahrens said. “The world needs your talents, your creativity, and your leadership.”
Students will continue their education at local high schools, as well as PTECH and Early College Career Academy (ECCA), Northfield Mount Hermon (MA), Albany Academies, Brown School, Emma Willard, Proctor Academy (NH), and Academy of Holy Names.
GANSEVOORT — An inaugural Construction Summer Camp for middle school girls will launch next month, thanks to the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition. The camp aims to break down gender barriers in the construction industry.
“By hosting this unique camp tailored specifically for middle school girls, we aim to cultivate their interest in construction early on, providing them with the skills, confidence, and support they need to pursue rewarding careers in this traditionally male-dominated field,” said Doug Ford, president of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, in a statement.
The camp will take place on July 22-26 at the Whitbeck Construction Education Center in Gansevoort. Campers will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities and learn how math, technology, science, and design apply to construction. They will tour local businesses and contraction sites. The camp culminates in a Construction Olympics.
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville Central School District announced its top high school graduates of 2024 earlier this month. The recognition honors graduating students with an average of 96 or higher. 26 students from the Class of 2024 made this year’s list.
Valedictorian: Mallory Sickles
Future Plans: Mallory will attend Clemson University and study communications.
Salutatorian: Jenna Hart
Future Plans: Jenna will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point majoring in life science, pre-med track.
Madisyn Awilow
Future Plans: Madisyn will attend SUNY Delhi and study veterinary science technology.
Taylor Barraclough
Future Plans: Taylor will attend Cornell University and study animal science.
Sophie Bodnar
Future Plans: Sophie will attend Flagler College and study early childhood education/psychology.
Anika Buff
Future Plans: Anika will attend LeMoyne College and study biology.
Meghan Cowles
Future Plans: Meghan will attend Hudson Valley Community College and study architectural technology.
Carter DeBusk
Future Plans: Carter will attend University of New Hampshire and study environmental sustainability.
Kathryn Elder
Future Plans: Kathryn will attend University of Alabama and study criminology/criminal justice.
Martin Flanders
Future Plans: Martin will attend Alfred University and study pre-health.
Eleanor Hughes
Future Plans: Eleanor will attend Williams College and study political science.
Jaedus LeForge
Future Plans: Jaedus will attend SUNY Plattsburgh and study digital media production.
Nate Levin
Future Plans: Nate will attend Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Hunter College and study political science & psychology.
Presley MacNaughton
Future Plans: Presley will attend University of Tampa and study communication and media studies.
Reilly McCormick
Future Plans: Reilly will attend LeMoyne College and study nursing.
Mary McGloine
Future Plans: Mary will attend Plymouth State University and study meteorology.
Joshua Merrill
Future Plans: Joshua will attend Rochester Institute of Technology and study chemical engineering.
Brenna Moran
Future Plans: Brenna will attend North Carolina State University and study aerospace engineering.
Austin Mosher
Future Plans: Austin will attend Clarkson University and study aerospace engineering.
Victoria Piteri
Future Plans: Victoria will attend Rutgers University-Camden and study business management.
Keira Rogan
Future Plans: Keira will attend Hamilton College and study literature and creative writing.
Ryan Stark
Future Plans: Ryan will attend SUNY Cortland and study pre-physical therapy.
Olivia Swinton
Future Plans: Olivia is taking a gap year.
Emily Tavares
Future Plans: Emily will attend Syracuse University and study broadcast and digital journalism.
Anthony Tyler
Future Plans: Anthony will attend SUNY Geneseo and study psychology.
Sophia Wahl
Future Plans: Sophia will attend SUNY Cortland and study early childhood education.
Ollie’s Bar & Grill at 120 Broad Street in Schuylerville celebrated its recent opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony last week hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Photo via the chamber’s Facebook page.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The owners of Saratoga’s Broadway Deli in downtown Saratoga Springs will soon open a new venture: Bibulous, a full-service dessert and cocktail bar that will be located at 35 Henry Street.
“[Bibulous Saratoga] will feature a rotating selection of seasonal homemade desserts as well as a few savory bites,” wrote co-owner Daniel Chessare in a social media post. “Waiting for a reservation? Stop in for a glass of wine and cheese plate. Then swing by after dinner for a little dessert and a nightcap before heading home.”
Chessare said he hoped the business would be open later this summer. Updates will be posted to the Bibulous Saratoga Facebook and Instagram pages.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – RISE Housing and Support Services is celebrating a year of success at the Adelphi Street Shelter in Saratoga this week.
RISE reported the following accomplishments in the past year at the shelter:
Served 38,325 meals
Assisted 160 unhoused individuals
Moved 98 individuals to permanent housing
Navigated 799 instances of services requested
Executed an average of a 6 month stay for each individual
The shelter is able to house 34 residents, and there are more than 20 on a waiting list.
Of the individuals who have transitioned out of the shelter, 23.7% of guests moved into fully independent apartments, 12.9% moved in with friends and/or family, 11.8% moved into housing for either mental health support, or substance use support, and 4.3% moved into Veteran Supported Housing.
The average length of stay at the shelter for an individual moving into permanent housing is approximately 6 months.
“We so appreciate all that our community partners have done to support RISE in making the County’s first year-round, low-barrier shelter such an overwhelming success,” Lindsey Connors, Associate Executive Director at RISE said in a statement.
The organization specifically credited community support provided by Sonny and Julie Bonacio and Meg Kelly of Bonacio Development.
“We are eternally grateful to everyone who was able to join us in celebrating all the lives touched and personal progress attained at the shelter throughout the last year,” Connors said.
A 34-year-old woman was taken into custody June 18 on the suspicion of a hit-and-run incident during which a city police officer was injured.
The driver, Theresa H. Travis, is a Greenfield resident and was located and arrested in Warrensburg.
Travis is accused of fleeing a traffic stop in Saratoga Springs in a blue Dodge Caravan, and in the act of fleeing, dragging a police officer who was in conversation with her during the stop.
“The minivan vehicle took off and tried to escape and dragged Sgt. (Adam) Dingmon for a bit,” Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said, addressing the incident during the June 18 City Council meeting.
“He was taken to Albany Med where I understand he is in stable condition, so I want to keep Sgt. Dingmon’s family in our thoughts and prayers,” Coll said. Sgt. Dingmon was treated for his injuries and subsequently released to recover at home with extended treatment and recovery time.
At the time of her arrest, Travis was being sought for two Bench Warrants, one issued by Schenectady County Court and the second by Saratoga County Court, both for failing to appear with sentences pending. She was charged with felony assault, reckless endangerment and criminal impersonation – both misdemeanors, and numerous vehicle and traffic law charges.
The Saratoga Springs Public Safety Department expressed gratitude to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, who assisted in locating and apprehending the suspect, as well as the public for their support by sharing social media posts and providing information.
“Lastly, we are especially grateful for our public safety partners at the Saratoga Springs Fire Department who took immediate and exceptional care of our officer.”
At the hour of 6 a.m. yesterday, a tall, stalwart young fellow, 6 feet in his stockings, and with muscles tough as steel wire, stood at the corner of 59th St. and 8th Ave. He was about to start for Saratoga…
– On a Bicycle To Saratoga, New York Times, July 4, 1879. –
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Wentworth Rollins set off on a 52-inch Columbia high wheel bicycle from 59th Street and 8th Avenue in New York City bound for Saratoga Springs. The N.Y. Times chronicled the trip in a series of articles, calling his journey “the longest ever made here on a bicycle.”
“Rollins was among the first, and quite possibly the very first, bicycle tourists in America,” said Ed Lindner, Advocacy Chair for Bikeatoga, “and he chose to ride to Saratoga.” The trip was challenging. Bad roads and bad weather forced Rollins to walk in some places and to take the train for parts of the trip. But he arrived in Saratoga Springs in early July, 1879, and summer visitors reportedly flooded out of the hotels to gawk at him.
Rollins visited Saratoga for more than two weeks before continuing his journey west, cycling more than 1,300 miles, and earning the title of “king of bicyclists in America.”
“We want to celebrate the fact that he chose to ride to Saratoga Springs,” Lindner said.
At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday June 26 Saratoga nonprofit Bikeatoga will unveil a new historical marker celebrating Rollins’ ride. The marker, funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, will be installed in front of the GAP store at 341 Broadway.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ashley Bernath, then known as Ashley Johnson grew up in Saratoga Springs and today makes her home in Massachusetts with Ryan Bernath and their two daughters.
Last October, the Bernaths’ then three-month-old daughter, Lucy, developed COVID and was admitted to a Massachusetts hospital with respiratory distress. While at the hospital, the girl developed Gastroparesis, a feeding aversion, and a secondary respiratory illness that required extended hospitalization.
Lucy, whom is nicknamed “Little Lulu,” remained in the hospital until December, when she received a gastrostomy tube. Today, she is still nourished via feeding tube and requires full-time attention and the support of the Mass General Hospital Aerodigestive team, but is doing better.
The Bernaths were finally home with their two girls, and feeling like they could see the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
This past May, after a few days of limping around the house, Ashley and Ryan’s older, 2-year-old daughter Charlie went to get X-rays for an injured foot. What was found instead was a broken femur. Less than a day later, a doctor announced the diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Two-year-old Charlie has cancer.
A site was created to help with the expenses that will be accumulated over the coming months, and a posting on the fundraising platform Spotfund set $150,000 as a goal. To date, more than $120,000 has been donated. (For more on this, go to: spotfund.com and type The Bernath Family in the search box).
A local fundraiser will take place from noon – 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 at King’s Tavern on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs. For reservations, call 518-441-1103.
Contributions will go toward Little Lucy’s many doctors visits, (physical therapy, weekly nurse visits, and monthly visits at MGH to maintain weight and strength) in addition to the enormous financial burden the Bernaths will soon face in the wake of Charlie’s Leukemia diagnosis.
The Saratoga County Bar Association last week held a swearing-in of new officers at its installation dinner at McGregor Links County Club.
During the ceremony, Judge James Walsh, Saratoga County Supreme Court Justice, administered the oath of office for the following officers: Hon. Francine Vero: President, Scott Iseman: Vice President, Gordon Eddy: Treasurer, Anthony Morelli: Secretary
Francine Vero, Saratoga Springs City Court Judge, also presented the outgoing president, Shawn Lescault, with a plaque for his leadership and service to the bar association.
Saratoga County Bar Association Swearing-In Ceremony. Photo provided.
