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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Saratoga Catholic’s Alphonse Lambert Records 600th Career Win

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball coach Alphonse Lambert earned his 600th career win on Saturday as the Saints beat Schuylerville 12-1 in the championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament. Photos by Dylan McGlynn

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Longtime Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball coach Alphonse Lambert earned his 600th career win on Saturday, as the Saints beat Schuylerville 12-1 in the championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament.

The Saints’ head coach since 1988, Lambert has compiled a career record of 600-213 over 35 seasons, and has led the Saints to 15 league championships and five Section 2 Championships. He is a member of the St. Peter’s / Saratoga Central Catholic Hall of Fame, and the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.

As Lambert himself said, “That’s a lot of baseball.”

He was quick to credit his players and fellow coaches, saying, “I just enjoy coaching these kids.”

“I’ve had some great, great young people that have played for me, and great coaches,” said Lambert. “I always said that I never threw a baseball, I never hit a baseball, and I never scored a run. It’s been all the kids, and the coaches. … The kids have bought in over the years, and that’s why our program is where it’s at.”

The Saints beat Corinth 9-2 in the opening round of the tournament on Saturday morning, setting up the championship matchup with Schuylerville, the defending Section 2 Class B Champions.

Saints’ freshman pitcher Pierce Byrne shut down the Black Horses’ offense, and Saratoga Catholic used a balanced attack at the plate to pull away in the middle innings, sealing a five-inning mercy-rule victory.

Aidan Crowther was 2-3 with a triple and four RBIs, while Ryan Gillis went 3-3 with three singles and an RBI. Ronan Rowe and Byrne each went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, while Kihl Kelly and Tyler Weygand were each 1-3 with an RBI. Carson Moser and Kameron Cox both added RBIs for the Saints.

Lambert said coaching is something he has “always wanted to do,” and emphasized how much SCC means to him.

“I work at the greatest school around, and I work with the greatest people around, and I teach the best kids around,” said Lambert. “That’s just always been my thought. If they open up my chest and they operate, they’re going to see purple and gold blood. That’s what they’re going to see.”

Lambert also said it was “very special” to earn his 600th victory with his current group of players, saying many of them began attending his baseball camps at young ages.

“I’ve had these kids since they were five, six, seven years old, a lot of these kids,” said Lambert. “They came up as young, young kids for me. To watch them develop and compete against juniors and seniors is very rewarding.”

Saints’ sophomore catcher Hunter Fales said Lambert “means a lot” to him, noting he first attended the coach’s baseball camp as a sixth-grader.

“He’s been one of the most important people in my life since I moved here,” Fales said. “I went to his camp, and that was when I first met him. I knew I was going to love playing for him ever since. … He loves this team, and we all love him, so it’s easy to function.”

“He was the reason I was on varsity for so long. He believed in me,” added freshman pitcher Pierce Byrne, who is in his third season with the varsity squad. “He means a lot to me.”

While there was some time to reflect following Saturday’s milestone victory, Lambert and the Saints quickly refocused for sectional play, which begins Friday. Saratoga Catholic finished the regular season 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the Wasaren League, earning the top seed in the Section 2 Class C Tournament.

Saratoga Catholic will host #8-seed Waterford-Halfmoon (7-13 overall, 5-11 Wasaren) in the opening round of the sectional tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday.

With the Saints riding a 10-game winning streak heading into sectionals, Fales said the team is playing with confidence as they prepare for the postseason.

“I think our whole team is very confident right now,” Fales said. “Swinging the bat, playing defense.”

Lambert said the team’s goal heading into sectionals is to simply “win each inning.”

“We’re not going to get the cart ahead of the horse,” said Lambert. “We’ve got to win each inning. That’s our goal, is to win the inning.”

Berkshire Bank Names Andrew Webb Senior Vice President of Private Banking in Capital Region

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Photo provided by Berkshire Bank.

ALBANY — Berkshire Bank has announced Andrew Webb has joined Berkshire’s Private Banking team as senior vice president (SVP). He will serve the greater Capital Region and surrounding areas in New York to provide flexible solutions, expert advice, and swift, concierge-level personal attention.

Webb’s work with the Private Banking team will further support Berkshire’s ongoing commitment to clients and provide relationship management to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals.

For more information visit www.berkshirebank.com.

Roohan Realty Welcomes Jordan Golisano-VanNeil

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.


Photo provided by Roohan Realty.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Roohan Realty has announced that Jordan Golisano-VanNeil has joined the team as a Marketing Assistant. She will be creating and sharing content on social media, as well as writing blog posts.

Jordan was born and raised in Rochester and graduated from Siena College in 2023 with a degree in Marketing and Communications. She discovered her love for marketing when she was in high school and is now proud to be starting her career at Roohan Realty. 

Saratoga National Bank Appoints Alina Serradimigni to Saratoga Main Office Branch Manager

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Photo provided by Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company has welcomed Alina Serradimigni as Vice President and Branch Manager of the Saratoga Main Office.

Serradimigni will oversee daily operations, provide quality customer service and develop banking relationships to help individuals and businesses reach their financial goals. She brings more than 10 years of banking experience to the position.

The Republic of Moldova native attended Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in banking and finance. 

Serradimigni currently lives in Glens Falls and is an active member in her community. She serves as Vice President of St. George Orthodox Church and Treasurer of Adirondack Greek Festival Committee.

Trojanski Builders DevelopingCustom-Home Neighborhood in Wilton

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Homes in Rose Terrace, a custom-home neighborhood in Wilton developed by Trojanski Builders. The Grande Highlands neighborhood will be a similar development, the company said (Photos provided by Trojanski Builders).

WILTON — Trojanski Builders, a custom home construction company based in Saratoga Springs, has begun work on a new neighborhood of high-end homes in Wilton called Grande Highlands.

The neighborhood is located off Edie Road and will feature custom homes, with owner Dave Trojanski saying houses are built to meet the needs of the homeowners. Trojanski Builders has also developed a similar neighborhood, Rose Terrace, located a short drive away off Louden Road.

“It’s a custom development, so all the homes are custom,” said Trojanski. “We basically meet with each homeowner and design the house to meet their needs. It’s all done on an individual basis.”

Trojanski said the neighborhood will consist of 38 custom homes, each with lots of roughly one acre. He said prices will start around $800,000. 

“We’re actually building one in there, and we’ve applied for two more permits,” Trojanski said. “I think we have seven contracts in there right now.”

Grande Highlands is located in the Town of Wilton and the Wilton tax base, and receives water from the town. The neighborhood is located in the Saratoga Springs City School District and comes with Saratoga Springs addresses.

“It’s Wilton tax base for the town, which is a big plus,” said Trojanski. “And Saratoga schools. That definitely sparks interest.”

Trojanski Builders is a family-owned company, with Trojanski saying he works alongside his wife, Sarah, who is the head of sales for the company’s developments, and nephew Josh Thomas. 

Trojanski said he expects the neighborhood will take roughly five years to build out, and said sale prices for the neighborhood so far have ranged between $800,000 and $1.6 million. 

Although he noted that the construction process has been slowed due to labor shortages and increased cost of materials, Trojanski said business has been “steady” for the company.

“We haven’t really seen a downturn,” said Trojanski. “Our intention, in a couple of months, is to have an open house there. … We’re pretty happy with the way it is.”

Property Transactions May 12 – May 18, 2023

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

5 Linden Dr Hudson Falls was listed by Christine Hogan Barton of Roohan Realty and sold for $185,000.

BALLSTON

BDC Cornerstone LLC sold property at 91 Cornerstone Dr to Cheng Wee Goh for $349,000

Hootman LLC sold property at 12 America Way to Richard McCann for $601,175

James Wilson sold property at 32 Outlet Rd to Leo Nugent for $659,500

Luann Silvestri sold property at 41 Cornerstone Dr to Meagan Melo for $379,000

CORINTH

Corinne Akerley sold property at 128 Stark Rd to Mathieu Strait for $415,000.

Raymond Lake sold property at 9 Hill Ave to Anthony Jones for $175,000

Full Gospel Fellowship sold property at 308 West Maple St to Ronald Bovee for $160,000

Todd Zinn sold property at 65 Fuller Rd to Benjamin Ellsworth for $352,500

GREENFIELD

Kenneth Provost sold property at 57 Daniels Rd to Ivan Andrllanov for $375,000

MALTA 

Malta Land Company LLC sold property at 8 Americas Cup Court to Charles Mahserjian for $820,531

Belmonte Properties LLC sold property at 31 Village Circle South to Frederick Bahr for $573,892

Nationstar Mortgage LLC sold property at 45 Walden Glen to Jason Marcello for $234,000

Belmonte Properties LLC sold property at 47 Village Circle North to David Bushman for $620,773

Vicki Foss sold property at 5 Collamer Dr to Richard Jennings for $233,000

MILTON

John Seebold sold property at 716 Adams Circle to Cugini Properties LLC for $231,000

Joanna Reese sold property at 6059 County Farm Rd to Jason Whalen for $310,000

Bryan Pisarski sold property at 288 Milton Ave to 288 Milton Ave LLC for $605,000

Robert Leary sold property at 28 Knollwood Hollow Terrace to Maribeth Sublich for $317,500

SARATOGA

Karin Vollkommer sold property at 22 Ironwood Dr to William Schork for $520,000

Kyle Kordich sold property at 7 Burgoyne St to Wilmington Savings Fund Society for $240,012

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Boghosian Brothers Inc. sold property at 40-42 Park St to Ross Guida for $924,200

Kevin Roberts sold property at 2 America Way to Nelson Dellis for $890,000

Walter Thorburn sold property at 115 Union Ave Unit R 106 to Emelia Diedrich for $277,500.

Naylor Property Holdings sold property at 62 Sarazen St to Gary Mincer for $650,000

Marcus Farone sold property at 9 Spa Circle to Melissa King for $655,000.

Denise Donlon sold property at 62 Belmont Dr to Deirdre Duke for 350,000.

WILTON

Rehab Home LLC sold property at 76 Woodard Rd to Robert Fucinato for $545,000.

Ronald Whalen sold property at 7 Beverly St to Paul Moyeri for $380,000

David Rowe sold property at 2 Pulver Blvd to Alex Connors for $150,000

Allyson Morrissey sold property at 7 Donna Dr to Canella Homes Inc for $120,000.

Janice Porter sold property at 19 Sheffield Rd to Cody Nizolek for $500,000

Code Blue Season 2022-23: Open 169 Nights, 81 Days; 11,125 Meals Served

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Code Blue Shelter, that serves the winter shelter needs of people facing street homelessness in the Saratoga Springs area, recently wrapped up the 9th season. 

In 2022-23, Code Blue offered 61 nightly cots at the temporary 4 Adelphi St. shelter. 271 unduplicated guests sought shelter from October 2022 until it closed in April. Shelter utilization rate was 87%. Over 11,000 meals were donated by area restaurants and civic organizations. Community volunteers spent 600 hours providing guest assistance throughout the season.  

The program is operated by Shelters of Saratoga in accordance with NYS Emergency Measures for the Homeless During Inclement Winter Weather. The regulation mitigates the effects of inclement winter weather, and the resulting impacts of such weather on individuals experiencing homelessness, as the responsibility of each social service district.   

Staff case management provided guest navigation services to those interested which resulted in 23 clients placed in housing, 22 transferring to SOS’ year-round emergency shelter, and 12 seeking treatment. 

The 4 Adelphi Street lease with Saratoga County ended on April 30 and SOS has worked continuously to site a permanent shelter within the city, according to a statement released by the organization. Each location has been blocked, including the last effort to open a daytime Navigation Center at 5 Williams St. The next Code Blue location will be announced later this summer.  

Shelters of Saratoga opened the low barrier Code Blue winter shelter in 2013 after the freezing death of Nancy Pitts. The agency has operated programs designed with the ultimate goal of ending a person’s homelessness in the city since 1991. In addition to operating 9 seasons of Code Blue, the agency manages the Emergency Shelter on Walworth Street which provides 24/7/365 housing-focused shelter as well as 11 supportive housing units. 

For more information about Shelters of Saratoga visit: www.sheltersofsaratoga.org

Hannah Arendt Virtual Discussion Slated For May 18

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents a Zoom panel discussion of the 2013 film Hannah Arendt, by Margarethe von Trotta, at 7 p.m. on May 18.  

Arendt coined the phrase “the banality of evil” to describe the ordinariness of the Holocaust’s perpetrators; a thinker and writer, often referred to as a philosopher, considered herself a political theorist. She was struck by the danger of thoughtlessness and spent her life thinking about thinking.

The German-born Jewish American intellectual and Jewish activist covered the infamous Nazi SS officer Adolf Eichmann trial in Jerusalem for The New Yorker magazine in 1961. 

“Arendt’s articles and her later book, Eichmann in Jerusalem, across the years became something to defend or condemn,” said Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of SJCA. “Her work unleashed a civil war amongst intellectuals. She was cursed as a self-hating Jew, a Nazi lover, and damaged her friendships.”

Trotta’s film has been praised for portraying thinking on-screen in a manner that is not boring. Hannah Arendt herself remains controversial even today.

Registration is required for the zoom discussion event at sjca.sjcf@gmail.com

Greenfield Offers Residents Program May 15 to Educate Parents On Identifying Teenage Drug-Use And Narcan Training/Distribution

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

GREENFIELD — The Town of Greenfield will open its community center to any parents looking for an education on identifying teenage drug use on May 15 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. 

The Prevention Council’s “Right Under Your Nose” program provides a nuts and bolts demonstration of how a parent can recognize signs of current drug culture and trends. Greenfield is the first municipality to hold the program, which is typically held at schools throughout the region.

The program will be held at the Greenfield Community Center, 25 Wilton Rd. in Greenfield and is open to residents and non-residents. The program will be offered first-come first served to a maximum of 75 people (adults only), or to secure a spot you can register in advance by calling 518-893-7432 ext. 307.

Participants will walk through a mock teen bedroom and try to identify signs of drug or alcohol use or drug culture. At the program, Greenfield Ambulance will share a 15-minute training on how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to use a Narcan rescue kit. Free Narcan rescue kits will be distributed. The nasal spray, Naloxone, is administered to reverse the effects of an opioid. 

The Town of Greenfield is home to 8,200 residents in Greenfield, Porter Corners, Middle Grove, Lake Desolation and Maple Ave. It spans more than 41,000 acres of land bordering the Adirondacks and is the largest town in Saratoga County, by square mile.