Author: Saratoga TODAY
Judo Meets Sumo
NEW YORK — The Jason Morris Judo Center’s Nicole Stout, who is the #1 US player at 78kg, showcased Judo to a crowd of over 500 people on June 23, taking on former top-five professional sumo wrestler Somoyama at the Sumo and Sushi event held in New York City.
Along with being invited to this distinctive event, Nicole Stout got to meet a sumo legend, Konishiki, the first foreigner and US citizen to reach Ozeki, the second highest rank in professional sumo.
Skidmore Grad Hornung Drafted by Blue Jays
Photo provided by Skidmore College Athletics.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College alum Jackson Hornung was selected in the 16th round (484th pick) of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hornung is the first Thoroughbred athlete to be drafted by a professional team, according to a release on the Skidmore Athletics website.
“We couldn’t be happier for Jackson, as this is an incredible accomplishment for him and our entire program,” said Skidmore baseball coach Ron Plourde in the release. “He’s done everything the right way and is in this position because of his abilities, work ethic and great attitude. We wish him continued success in his professional career!”
Hornung was an NCAA Division III All-American, and was twice named Liberty League Player of the Year, the release states. In 98 career games, Hornung recorded a batting average of .430, with 22 home runs, 106 RBIs, and a .540 on-base percentage, according to his profile on the Skidmore Athletics website.
In his senior year, Hornung hit .424 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs, leading the Liberty League in slugging percentage and on-base percentage, the release states. A native of Ashland, Massachusetts, Hornung has played for both the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League and the North Shore Navigators of the New England Collegiate Baseball League this summer.
SCC Coaches Host Saints Baseball Camp
Photo by Super Source Media Studios
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The first session of the Saints Baseball Camp was held last week, hosted by Saratoga Central Catholic varsity baseball head coach Alphonse Lambert and assistant coach Dale Long, Jr.
Current and former SCC players also assist with instruction in the camp, according to the camp’s registration form. The second session of the camp will be held August 7 to 10 at West Side Recreation Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.
2nd Annual Rock The Lake Music Festival at Lake George Aug. 11-12
Photo: Harley Davidson that once belonged to AC/DC’s Brian Johnson will be onsite at the Lake George Music Festival.
LAKE GEORGE —“Rock The Lake” 80’s music festival returns to Lake George for a two-day outdoor concert event on Aug. 11- 12.
Rock The Lake, brought back by music promoter E1PRESENTS, features a lineup of tribute bands providing attendees with performances that pay homage to some of the greatest artists and songs of the 80’s.
In addition to the sounds, the Harley Davidson of Brian Johnson (AC/DC) will be onsite, offering opportunities for fans to have their picture taken next to the autographed Harley that Johnson owned and rode.
Lineup:
On Friday, Aug. 11 from 3-10 p.m.: Broken Clover (90’s alt rock); BrokenHearted (Tom Petty Tribute); Monsters Of Rock (80’s hair metal); and Tommy V Live (arena rock).
On Saturday, Aug.12 from 1-10 p.m.: Beatin’ The Odds (The Skynyrd Experience); Led Sabbath (Zeppelin/Black Sabbath); Run Rabbit Run (Pink Floyd tribute); The Ultimate Journey Experience by LEGEND; KISSTORY (KISS Tribute); and Back In Black (AC/DC Tribute).
Food vendors and merchandise will be available, and a large VIP tent will be available for VIP ticket holders. Event is rain or shine. For ticket information and additional details, please visit www.e1presents.com or follow on Facebook @e1presents. Online tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com. E1 PRESENTS Box Office 518-792-0996.
Upbeat On The Roof at The Tang 7/27: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra; Craft-Kits for Kids
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The 22nd season of Upbeat on the Roof continues Thursday, July 27, with Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra.
The music begins at 6 p.m. on the lawn outside the Tang, and kids can pick up a craft-making kit starting at 5:30 p.m. The series is presented by the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.
Performances take place on the lawn outside the Tang and are free and open to the public. Visitors are invited to bring picnic blankets, camping chairs, and their own food and drink to make it a night. Free parking is available off Perimeter Road, next to the museum.
New this year: Tang Art Educators will offer craft kits for kids starting at 5:30 pm. This week’s craft is Make & Shake Tambourines. Participants are invited to use paper plates to create colorful tambourines! All projects are suitable for children aged 5 and up, with adult supervision recommended. Materials will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Formed October 1980 in Amsterdam, NY, this 12-piece orchestra led by the Bronx-born bassist Alex Torres has performed its original blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bomba, Plena, and Latin Jazz at hundreds of festivals, performing arts centers, and events.
Note: There has been a schedule change. Zan & the Winterfolk, originally scheduled to appear August 3, will now perform August 10; Veena Chandra, originally scheduled to appear August 10, will now perform August 3.
The upcoming Upbeat on the Roof schedule:
•July 20: Hot Club of Saratoga, gypsy jazz
•July 27: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra
•Aug. 3: Veena Chandra
•Aug. 10: Zan & the Winterfolk
•Aug. 17: Nathan Meltz and the House of Tomorrow
The Museum will be open before and after the concert.
Summer Sunday Stroll of Saratoga Spa State Park
Summer Sunday Stroll. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation will lead a “Spa Complex” Summer Sunday Stroll, at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 23.
Linda Harvey will lead a tour of the Spa Complex in the Saratoga Spa State Park, a National Historic Landmark.
The Spa Complex was developed with the goal to increase both therapeutic and recreational use of the park. Between 1932-1936, multiple buildings were constructed – the Hall of Springs, Simon Baruch Administration and Research Center, the Roosevelt Bath Houses, Victoria Pool, the Gideon Putnam Hotel, and a bottling plant.
The construction also included a comprehensive landscape plan that included scenic trails, the Avenue of the Pines, formal walks, and scenic vistas. This tour meets outside of the Hall of Springs located at 108 Avenue of the Pines.
The “Spa Complex” Summer Sunday Stroll is sponsored by the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park, a non-profit organization that supports and enhances the parks’ historic, natural, and recreational resources. The Friends group will also be partnering with the Foundation on a three-hour bike tour on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Saratoga Spa State Park.
Next Sunday, July 30, Executive Director Samantha Bosshart will lead the tour “Summer Cottages of North Broadway.”
For additional information or to purchase tickets to any of the upcoming strolls or upcoming events, visit www.saratogapreservation.org, call 518-587-5030, or email Nicole Babie, Membership & Programs Director, at nbabie@saratogapreservation.org.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs
NipperFest Music & Arts Festival July 22
SCHENECTADY — The NipperFest Music & Arts Festival returns for its second outing featuring Billboard AAA Top 40 artists Jocelyn & Chris headlining a one-day event that promises to highlight over a dozen Capital Region performers on two stages at Music Haven from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 22. The venue is Central Park in Schenectady.
Jocelyn & Chris, along with their band, have charted five consecutive commercial radio singles in the Billboard AAA Top 40, taking two records to #1 on the Relix Jambands Top 30, and appeared nationally on NBC’s Today Show. The siblings, both graduates of Harvard University, have recorded eight albums and perform coast to coast.
Last year’s inaugural NipperFest attracted more than 2,500 local music fans— soaking in the sunshine and great tunes while enjoying our creative community with headlining sets from The Figgs, Super 400, Sirsy, and Sawyer Fredericks.
“We’re so excited to bring NipperFest back to Music Haven, or as I prefer to call it, Music Heaven!” said Nippertown’s Jim Gilbert. “This year’s line-up highlights the seemingly infinite amount of talent we have right here in our backyard.”
The diverse lineup includes many up-and-coming local bands, including Precious Metals, Brule County Bad Boys, The Sugar Hold, Hold On Honeys, E-Block, Carolyn Shapiro, Jimi W, Margo Macero, ShortWave RadioBand, Lucas Garrett, Angelina Valente, Barbie Barker, Deb Cavanaugh, Rhoseway, Camtron5000, and Sofia Corts.
The family-friendly festival has a play area for the youngest festivalgoers. Festivalgoers can explore trails, play frisbee golf, go swimming in the large community pool, and pick up eats from any of the half-dozen local food trucks.
The Barn at NipperFest, a curated space, lets attendees explore paintings, sculptures, crafts, and more, adding an extra dimension to the festival. Find Nippertown on Facebook.
Saratoga Voices Names New Artistic Director
Noah Palmer, new Artistic Director of Saratoga Voices. Photo provided.
Saratoga Voices’ Board of Directors has announced that Noah Palmer will be the chorus’s new Artistic Director.
Palmer is the group’s sixth director in the organization’s 53-year history, including the decades when the chorus was known as the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society.
“I work with many ensembles across New York’s Capital Region as a pianist and conductor,” said Palmer, a native of Baltimore who graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Music and earned a master’s degree from the Mannes School of Music in Piano. “I trained as a pianist, worked as a freelance opera pianist and coach in New York City and with regional opera companies, then moved to the Capital Region where I now work with choruses, orchestras, and opera companies in many different capacities.”
For more information about Saratoga Voices and plans for the coming concert season go to: Saratogavoices.org.
July 21 – July 27, 2023
Friday, July 21
Seeing Through the Lens of Orra Phelps ?
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton | 9 – 10 a.m.
Join our interns for a walk at the Orra Phelps Preserve and share the respect and love for nature that made Dr. Orra Phelps the wonderful naturalist she was. Learn about her amazing life and see the beauty of the Orra Phelps Preserve in the summer. Registration is suggested. To sign-up, call 518-450-0321, email: info@wiltonpreserve.org or visit wiltonpreserve.org.
Friday Night Arts Markets ?
Beekman Street Arts District, Saratoga Springs | 5 – 8 p.m. Galleries and shops open with refreshments, visiting artists, craft demonstrations, live music, and ice cream! (Weather permitting/rain will cancel). Next market, August 4.
Saturday, July 22
Saturday Morning Social
National Museum of Racing, 191 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs
9 – 11 a.m. | Free admission from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. thanks to the sponsorship from Tracy Egan and Fortune Realty Group. There will be complimentary coffee and doughnuts courtesy of Stewart’s Shops and water courtesy of Saratoga Water. The morning program will feature a book reading and signing by Maddy Zanetti, author of “Upset, the Original Dark Horse,” as well as an appearance by Upset, the miniature horse. There will also be a handicapping seminar by Tom Amello of Trackfacts and Maria Billis of Young Living will be on hand with her clean lifestyle and healthy home premium products. Free to attend, books and products are available for purchase.
Music in the Park ?
Middle Grove Town Park, 428 Middle Grove Rd., Middle Grove
3 – 7 p.m. | Presented by the Town of Greenfield Historical Society. Five Bands: Elizabeth Conant; Bonnie Greco; New American Cuisine; Out of Reach; Saratoga Springs High School Fiddle Club. Bring along your family, friends, and folding chairs and enjoy the talented musicians who have donated their time to benefit our Historical Society. This is a FREE event. Donations are greatly appreciated as they help us
“Keep Greenfield’s History Alive for Our Future Generations!” Food and drink will be available for purchase, provided by the Middle Grove United Methodist Church. Questions? Call Patti at 518-428-9343.
Sunday, July 23
“Spa Complex” Summer Sunday Stroll ?
Meets outside the Hall of Springs, 108 Avenue of the Pines,
Saratoga Springs | 10:30 a.m.
Linda Harvey will lead a tour of the Spa Complex in the Saratoga Spa State Park, a National Historic Landmark. Between 1932-1936, multiple buildings were constructed – the Hall of Springs, Simon Baruch Administration and Research Center, the Roosevelt Bath Houses, Victoria Pool, the Gideon Putnam Hotel, and a bottling plant. The construction also included a comprehensive landscape plan. For additional information or to purchase tickets to any of the upcoming strolls or upcoming events, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org, call 518-587-5030, or email Nicole Babie, Membership & Programs Director, at nbabie@saratogapreservation.org.
Annual 4-H Market Auction
Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 162 Prospect St., Ballston Spa
Noon | This year there are 9 youth selling lambs, turkeys, and chickens in the auction. Community members and local businesses are invited to come bid at the auction. The bidders are invited for a preview of the sale and registration at 11:30 a.m. The Market Auction will begin at Noon. Early bidder registration is available now. Contact Rylie Lear McLenithan, 4-H Animal Science Educator, at 518-885-8995 or rjl287@cornell.edu to register or with questions. Saratoga County 4-H is excited to offer this new program in the animal science department.
Saratoga Summer Concert Series ?
War Memorial in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs | 7 p.m.
The Saratoga Summer Concert Series will take place Sundays in July and Tuesdays in August. Each concert will be approximately 90 minutes. Rain Location: Inside the Heritage Area Visitor Center, located at 297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. This week’s performer – Skippy and the Pistons – Hometown band offering music for everyone. Sponsored by Kayak Shak and DZ Restaurants.
Monday, July 24
Blood Drive
Saratoga Casino Hotel Ballroom, 342 Jefferson St., Saratoga Springs
Noon – 6 p.m. | Schedule an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code SARATOACASINO, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Thanks to Discovery, all who come to give blood in July will receive a Shark Week T-shirt.
Tuesday, July 25
Grand, Gilded & Glorious: A Saratoga Stroll ?
297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 10:30 a.m. – Noon | Saratoga Springs was a playground of the rich and famous during the 1800s. This summer, visitors and residents alike can experience stories of the Spa City in the Gilded Age on a newly updated 90-minute guided walking tour presented by the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center and the Saratoga Springs History Museum. Led by experienced, knowledgeable guides, this tour takes participants from the historic Visitor Center through Congress Park and concludes with a full tour of the elegant 19th-century Canfield Casino. Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. – noon, $20. Tours run rain or shine. For reservations, please call 518-587-3241.
Grief and Loss Support and Discussion Group
Saratoga Senior Center,
5 Williams St., Saratoga Springs
2 p.m. | Whatever type of loss you have suffered, there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Coping with the loss of someone or something you love is one of life’s biggest challenges. The purpose of this group is to provide friendship, understanding, and hope. For more information, call 518-584-1621.
Midsummer Celebration ?
Clifton Park Halfmoon
Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Come out for a family night of fun at the library. Bring a blanket or chairs, have a picnic on the Back Lawn, play some games and enjoy the show. Muddaddy Flats Food Truck. Purchase dinner from this mobile quesadillary. Lawn Games: play oversized games before the show. The Storycrafters – 6:30 pm: Take a trip around the world with this dynamic duo as they share stories and songs in their interactive musical program All Together Now. All ages welcome. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org.
America’s Turning Point Presents: Revolution on the Hudson ?
Stillwater Riverfront Park,
1940 US Route 4 Stillwater
6 – 8 p.m. | Revolution on the Hudson is a summer speaker series aimed at inviting the public to enjoy our beautiful public parks along the Hudson River while learning about our revolutionary past. Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the grounds. 18th century living historians will answer questions and provide demonstrations before the program begins at 7 p.m. 18th Century toys and games along with replica colonial clothing will be available for children to try. Please bring your own chairs. There will be cannon firing as part of this demonstration. Speaker: David Pitlyk, Revisiting the Battle of Bennington
Wednesday, July 26
Freezing Fruits & Vegetables: Hacks to Ensure Quality
Saratoga Farmers Market,
High Rock Park, Saratoga Springs
3 – 6 p.m. | Freezing is one of the easiest and least time-consuming methods of food preservation. Most foods retain their natural color, flavor, and texture better than when other methods of food preservation are used. Diane Whitten, Cornell Cooperative Extension Nutrition Educator and Certified Master Food Preserver, will share information on freezing fruits and vegetables and hacks to ensure quality, with 15–30-minute presentations at 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00 p.m. Get more information by calling Diane Whitten at 518-885-8995.
Galway Photography Club
Galway Public Library,
2112 East Street, Galway | 6 p.m. Award-winning photographers Scott Stoner and Denise Hackert-Stoner presenting: Picturing Nature: A Practical Guide to Nature Photography. This workshop, suitable for all levels of photographers with a variety of equipment, covers subjects including light, composition, and focus, and how they apply to close-ups, landscapes, and wildlife photography. Please register for this event by calling the library at (518) 882-6285. Anyone interested in photography regardless of their level of experience is encouraged to attend these relaxed and friendly gatherings. For more information contact: Dave Waite at davewaitefinearts@gmail.com
Free Concert Series ?
Malta Community Center, Front Lawn, 1 Bayberry Dr., Malta
6 – 8 p.m. | Featuring: Annie & the Hedonists. A band with a great lead singer and tight harmonies, covering an eclectic mix of acoustic blues, vintage jazz and swing, and folk roots America. Bring a picnic supper, blanket and /or chairs and enjoy! Rain or shine.
Ham Dinner Take-out
Saratoga-Wilton Elks Club,
1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs
4:30 – 6 p.m. | Take out only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order. 518-584-2585. Menu: baked ham, Au Gratin potatoes, vegetable, apple sauce, roll, tossed salad. Dinner for 2 – $30. (Cash only).
Thursday, July 27
Greenridge Cemetery: History and Symbolism
Canfield Casino, Congress Park
1 E. Congress St. Saratoga Springs | Join Saratoga Springs History Museum for this program. The Museum’s Director of Education, Jacqueline Bunge, will discuss the many symbols found on the gravestones, monuments, and mausoleums in historic Greenridge Cemetery. The cemetery’s rich history and early burial, mourning and funeral customs will also be featured. Admission: Free for History Museum Members, $10 for non-Members. Tickets and more details: www.saratogahistory.org/events. And save the date for the Museum’s Greenridge walking tour on Sept. 16! 518-584-6920.
Dramatic Presentation “Katrina Trask’s Legacy”
Wiawaka Center for Women, 3778 State Route 9L,
Lake George, NY | 7 p.m. Katrina Trask, eminent author, philanthropist, and founder of Yaddo, founded the Wiawaka Holiday House in 1903. The historical narrative is accompanied by costumed dramatic readers. Presentation tickets are $20; presentation and 6:00 p.m. dinner is $35. For information and reservations, please call 518-668-9690, or visit wiawaka.org/womens-empowerment-lecture-series.
