Author: Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Shredders, a non-profit that promotes youth cycling and outdoor activities in Saratoga Springs, built and donated 30 bikes to the city’s school district this week as part of a new Bikes in Schools program.

The bikes, along with helmets, are for use in grades 2-5. Financial support for the donation was provided by Saratoga County Supervisors Tara Gaston and Matthew Veitch.

The Bikes in Schools program is designed to enhance the physical education curriculum by integrating cycling into the daily activities of students across the district’s six elementary schools. Additional program initiatives include:

• Professional Development: The district’s physical education teachers have undergone specialized training, developed by Saratoga Shredders, to teach and manage the cycling program.

• Rotating Fleet: A fleet of bikes will rotate among the six elementary schools in the district, ensuring equitable access.

• Curriculum Integration: The program includes a curriculum that covers basic cycling skills, safety rules, and the health benefits of cycling, tailored to meet the needs of young learners.

The Bikes in Schools program will roll out this spring, with full implementation expected across all elementary schools by the end of the academic year.

“We are thrilled to partner with Saratoga Springs City School District to bring this exciting program to life,” said Anna Laloë, Executive Director of Saratoga Shredders, in a statement. “Our goal is to not only teach kids how to ride but also to instill a passion for the outdoors and physical fitness that will last a lifetime.”

The program was kicked off with a collaborative event on April 15. Saratoga Shredders and the district’s physical education staff joined forces to assemble the donated bikes.

Saratoga Shredders is nearing its fundraising goal for the next phase of the Bikes in Schools program at Maple Avenue Middle School. These programs promise to make a lasting impact on the students and the broader Saratoga Springs community by promoting physical activity and accessibility to cycling for all. 

To learn more about the Bikes in Schools program, or to support the next phase of the program at Maple Avenue Middle School, visit https://saratogashredders.com/bikes-in-schools.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Schools Education Foundation is hosting a charity pickleball tournament on May 11 at the East Side Recreation Park in Saratoga Springs.

Play will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Coed teams of all skill levels are welcome. To register for the event, scan the QR code in the accompanying flier image. 

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Saratoga Schools Education Foundation. To learn more about the organization, visit saratogalearning.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Skidmore College ice hockey team will join the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) as an associate member beginning in 2025-26. 

The 2024-25 season will be Skidmore’s 27th and final as a member of the New England Hockey Conference.

“Skidmore has enjoyed a competitive relationship with many of the SUNYAC hockey schools, and we look forward to strengthening those opportunities and developing a similar relationship with those that we have not yet competed against,” said Skidmore Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Director Gail Cummings-Danson in a statement. “Being located in the same general geographic footprint as the current membership makes for a natural partnership and will preserve our commitment to competing at the highest level of Division III men’s ice hockey.”

In addition to Skidmore, Hobart and William Smith Colleges also joined SUNYAC. Other members include Buffalo State, SUNY Canton, SUNY Cortland, Fredonia State, SUNY Morrisville, Oswego State, Plattsburgh State, and SUNY Potsdam. 

Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Skidmore is 12-4-1 (.735) against SUNYAC teams.

THE BRONX — East Greenbush native Kevin Smith was promoted to the New York Yankees’ major league roster last weekend after infielder Jon Berti was placed on the 10-day injured list. Smith wore number 74. He had previously been assigned to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders before being called up. 

Smith made his Yankees debut in the tenth inning of game two of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, pinch running for Giancarlo Stanton.

SCOTIA — Athletes from the Jason Morris Judo Center in Scotia participated in both the Garden State Classic in Wayne, New Jersey, as well as the New York Open, which was held at the historic New York Athletic Club.

Ari Berliner competed for Team USA at the New York Open in 66kg and helped them earn a bronze medal, tying Germany and beating Poland and Canada. 

Ramon Hernandez, Melissa Myers, and Kyle Tran all won gold medals at the 14th Annual Garden State Classic. Hernandez and Myers also won “Most Outstanding Player” awards. Tran won gold in the 66kg U21 division, while Hernandez won the elite 81kg category. Myers also captured the 78kg title.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — This week, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the purse schedule for the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Racecourse, which will take place from Thursday, June 6 until Sunday, June 9.

“The 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will offer purse levels commensurate with the stature and importance of this historic event,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations, in a statement.

• Open maiden special weights will feature a purse increase of $10,000 to $100,000

• New York-bred maiden special weights will enjoy a $10,000 increase to offer a purse of $85,000

• The open non-winners of two categories will be increased by $13,000 to offer a purse of $115,000

• The non-winners of one category will be upped by $10,000 for a purse of $110,000 

• The New York-bred non-winners of one category will be boosted by $10,000 to $90,000

For the complete purse schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/horsemen/.