Award winning luxury house by Witt Constrution, featured in last year’s Showcase of Homes tour. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee is now busy planning this year’s edition of the area’s premiere new home tour. Celebrating its 27th year, this annual community tradition has contributed nearly $1.5 million dollars to our local charities.
The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event will be held on 4 days over two spectacular weekends this fall on October 7-8 & October 14-15 featuring the regions finest, award-winning builders showcasing their new construction. We are excited to announce this year’s dates and look forward to presenting an outstanding line-up of magnificent homes on display in Saratoga County this fall.
Be a part of the area’s premiere new home tour!
The Showcase of Homes Committee will have an extensive marketing and promotional campaign, which will include official media sponsors in newspapers, magazines, television, online, social media and more! If you are interested in entering a new home in the event or becoming a showcase sponsor, please contact Barry Potoker, Executive Director at 518.366.0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org.
The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. Last year with only 5 homes on the tour $48,000 was raised for these charities. Through this event, the Saratoga Builders Association has now contributed nearly $1.5 million for our two designated local charities. For more information, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Follow us this year on our BLOG & FACEBOOK for all the details and updates!
About Saratoga Builders Association
The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the wellbeing and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County.
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. welcomes attendees at the 17th Annual Saratoga County Planning & Zoning Conference (Photo provided).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Planning and Economic Development Department held its 17th Annual Planning and Zoning Conference on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Saratoga Springs City Center, bringing together more than 600 planning and zoning professionals from across New York State. The event is the largest industry conference in the State of New York.
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said, “Saratoga County is proud to hold this informative event each year for planning and zoning professionals and volunteers throughout New York State to learn best practices from their peers. We thank our event sponsors, speakers, moderators, and attendees for helping us grow this conference year after year.”
The day-long Conference included 16 educational and informational courses taught by experts in the planning and zoning fields. Participants included members of planning boards, zoning boards of appeals and municipal staff from around New York State.
The Conference offered a wide range of introductory to advanced courses, covering a variety of topics including industry trends, best practices, case law update, transportation, land use, conservation, and even a fun, informative “Land Development Jeopardy” session in the format of the popular television game show.
The Conference also meets within one day of the New York State four-hour Mandatory Continuing Education requirements for Planning and Zoning Board members.
The Saratoga County Planning and Zoning Conference entails a large geographic area with 13 counties and more than 75 municipalities in attendance. Approximately 40 speakers and moderators participated to bring interesting content to the attendees. Additionally, 23 exhibitors and vendors combined with 11 sponsors helped to make the event a success for all that attend.
GUILDERLAND — The Saratoga Springs varsity wrestling team put forth a dominant effort at the Section 2 Division 1 Class 1 Individual Championships, with five Blue Streaks placing first in their weight classes, and ten advancing to the Section 2 Division 1 Championship meet.
Taylor Beaury, Gordon Murray, Gianni Delgado, Lorenzo Paleschi, and Patrick McKinley all earned first-place finishes in their respective weight classes. Chase Matter, Vito Spadafora, and Kyle Edwards placed third in their weight classes, while Danny Dacey earned a fourth-place finish for the Blue Streaks.
Hayden Passaretti also placed fifth for the Blue Streaks at 132 pounds. All ten wrestlers will advance to this weekend’s Section 2 Division 1 Championships at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.
At 126 pounds, Beaury pinned Colonie’s Jacob Podeswa in the quarterfinals, defeating Arcangelo Losee of Shenendehowa by a 4-0 decision in the semifinals. Beaury beat Shen’s Brandon Deuel by an 8-0 major decision in the championship match.
Murray won at 152 pounds by pinning Niskayuna’s Jake Relation in the quarterfinals, earning a 16-4 major decision over Shaker’s Nick Arier in the semifinals. In the championship, Murray pinned Shen’s Nick DiMonda at 1:42.
At 160 pounds, Gianni Delgado earned three straight pins to open the bracket, defeating Elijah Roe (Colonie), Evan Relation (Niskayuna), and Hamidullaha Faqeer (Albany). Delgado earned a 13-5 major decision over Shaker’s Donovan Deguire in the championship match.
In the 189-pound bracket, Paleschi pinned Niskayuna’s Nathan Wuttke in the quarterfinals and pinned Schenectady’s Anthony Paradine in the semifinals before a 12-4 major decision victory over Quincy Bonville of Bethlehem in the championship match.
McKinley, in the 215-pound bracket, pinned Shaker’s Nicholas Whyte in the quarterfinals before earning an 11-2 major decision over Guilderland’s Antonio Cipollo in the semifinals. McKinley won the championship match with a 12-7 decision over Colonie’s Jaydon Aquirre-Hamlin.
Saratoga had the most individual winners of any team in Class A, and had the second-highest team score (210.5 points).
24th annual Saratoga Chowderfest will take place Saturday, Feb. 11. Artwork provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 24th Annual Chowderfest, one of the area’s most highly anticipated events of the year, is set to take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 in downtown Saratoga Springs.
Attendees of the fun, family-friendly event will have the opportunity to enjoy 4 oz. samples of chowder for $2 at participating Saratoga County establishments and vote for their favorite. Chowderfest features more than 80 vendors.
“Chowderfest is back,” said Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri. Discover Saratoga is a coordinator of the event. “We’re excited to return to the original model, a one-day event, which has received very positive feedback from participating locations.”
This year’s event will feature live music at various locations, Dog Lover Rescue’s pet adoption across from the Saratoga City Center and free Death Wish Coffee samples on Caroline Street.
Kids’ activities include Balloon Gal Jenny and face painting by Miss Stacey’s Faces at the Saratoga City Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway will also be at the Saratoga Springs City Center running a model train and hosting a coloring contest for the kids to win free tickets on the train. Other kids’ activities scheduled are drop-in crafts at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, literacy-based programs at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, and Character Creations by Erin Joyce will be providing face painting at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Take a picture with Chester the Chowda-Bear at Saratoga Candy Company from 12 -2 p.m.
Avoid parking challenges and jump on the free shuttle running from the Saratoga Casino Hotel (Crescent Ave parking lot) to Congress Park. The 3 shuttles will run from 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Official Chowderfest Guides, which include a list of participating chowder vendors and activities, can be picked up at participating locations on the day of the event, including the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center and the Saratoga Springs City Center.
Voting will take place online at www.discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest/vote. Only one vote per device will be accepted and voting closes at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center at 6:30 p.m.
Stay warm during the event with an official Chowderfest beanie ($10) and long-sleeve shirt ($10 or $12 for XXL), which will be sold at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center and the Saratoga Springs City Center.
For more information, including a list of participating chowder vendors, visit discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest or call 518-584-1531.
Sea Shadows, the 2022 Saratoga Harness Horse of the Year. She is trained by 2022 leading trainer and Horseperson of the Year Melissa Beckwith and driven by Hall of Fame Driver Wally Hennessey. Photo by Melissa Simser.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Live harness racing has returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 82nd season beginning Saturday, Feb. 4. The 2023 schedule will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December.
“We’re expecting some great racing this year,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “We have over $18 million in purses, averaging $120K in purses per program.”
In addition, the track will be hosting NY Sire Stakes races starting in June, featuring the best New York bred horses in the state who will race for over $1 million in purses. The premier event of the season will be the 14th Annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace with a $250,000 purse on Saturday, July 22.
“As in the past, we’re confident this race will attract a field of top pacers looking to break the track record of 1:48:4 set by Dancin Yankee in the 2014 Gerrity,” Iovino said.
The winter, spring and fall schedule will include matinee racing on Sunday, Monday and select Tuesdays, post time 12 p.m. and Saturdays, post time 5 p.m. The summer live racing schedule will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with a post time of 6:45 p.m.
For a complete live racing schedule, go to www.saratogacasino.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration is now open for the upcoming Saratoga Miss Softball season until March 5.
Saratoga Miss Softball is open to girls aged 4 to 16, and there are no residency requirements. Games are played at Veterans Memorial Park at 10 Adams Rd in Saratoga Springs. There are four levels offered: T-Ball (ages 4-5), Mini-Minor (ages 6-8), A Level (ages 9-12), and AA Level (ages 13-16).
To register or find more information, visit saratogamiss.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Men’s Baseball League is looking for players ages 28 and over for the upcoming season. The season runs from May through August. For more information, call or text 518-470-7894 by March 1.
SCHENECTADY — Numerous athletes from the Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa varsity indoor track teams took home championship wins at the Section 2 Indoor Track Championship Meets at Union College on Jan. 28 and 29.
Eight athletes from Saratoga won Section 2 Division 1 titles across five events. Sheridan Wheeler won the Section 2 Division 1 Girls Championship in the 3,000-meter run, while Amelia McBain won the sectional title in the pole vault.
The Blue Streaks’ team of Anya Belisle, McKinley Wheeler, Heidi Berglund, and Emily Bush won the Section 2 Division 1 Girls Championship in the 4 x 800 relay. Genevieve Duchaussee won the Section 2 Division 1 Girls Championship in the shot put, and Mason Talarico won the Section 2 Division 1 Boys Championship in the 1,600-meter run.
Ballston Spa saw six athletes win Section 2 Division 2 Championships in a total of six events.
Scotties’ senior Isaiah Hannah captured the Section 2 Division 2 Boys Championship in both the 45-meter dash and the 50-meter hurdles, while Harriet Healey won sectional titles in both the 300-meter dash and the 600-meter run.
Healey was also a part of the Scotties’ sectional-winning 4 x 200 relay team, along with Petrina Zborovsky, Anna Zito, and Livia Wiltsie. Madalyn Wilson won the Section 2 Division 2 Girls Championship in the 1,500-meter race walk.
See below for a list of top finishers from both schools:
Saratoga Girls
The team of Anya Belisle, McKinley Wheeler, Heidi Berglund, and Emily Bush won the Section 2 Division 1 Championship in the 4 x 800 relay (10:06.35). Amelia McBain won the Section 2 Division 1 Championship in the pole vault (12’ 3”), also placing fifth in the 50-meter hurdles (8.37) and the triple jump (34’ 0.5”).
Sheridan Wheeler took home the Section 2 Division 1 title in the 3,000-meter run (10:12.33), with McKinley Wheeler in second (10:21.72) and Berglund fifth (10:59.59).
Genevieve Duchaussee won the Section 2 Division 1 title in the shot put (33’ 11”). McKinley Wheeler placed third in the 1,500-meter run (4:49.77), with Sheridan Wheeler in fourth (4:50.27).
Bush finished second in the 1,500-meter run (4:43.59) and third in the 1,000-meter run (3:04.70). Duchaussee placed third in the 300-meter dash (43.74) and seventh in the 600-meter run (1:45.92). Belisle finished fourth in the 1,000-meter run (3:05.55) and eighth in the 600-meter run (1:47.77), while Natalie Wilding took eighth in the 1,000-meter run (3:22.72).
Claire Braxton finished third in the pole vault (8’ 0”), while Leah Harden and Sloane Mulcahy tied for fourth in the high jump (4’ 8”). Lily Collins placed 10th in the 300-meter dash (47.85).
Saratoga Boys
Mason Talarico won the Section 2 Division 1 Championship in the 1,600-meter run (4:31.52). Owen Blaisdell took second place in the 1,000-meter run (2:46.26), while the team of Aidan Slavett, Nathaniel Providence, Alex Lansford, and Charles Dybala finished second in the 4 x 400 relay (3:54.80).
Ethan Straughter placed second in the long jump (19’ 8.75”) and sixth in the 45-meter dash (5.92), while Connor Varian finished third in the 300-meter dash (40.18). Thomas Isenovski took third place in the 3,200-meter run (10:13.42), with Hudson Shaw fifth (10:19.03) and Max Vogel in 10th (10:55.35).
Joao Dos Anjos Neto finished third in the pole vault (12’ 0”) and fifth in the long jump (18’ 6.5”), while Michael Briscoe placed fourth in the pole vault (10’ 0”). Dybala was fourth in the 600-meter run (1:34.30), with Gianangelo Lanza in sixth (1:36.41).
Caleb Yuhasz took sixth in the 1,600-meter run (4:56.32), while Evan Rando placed seventh in both the high jump (5’ 2”) and triple jump (37’ 1”). Samuel Bernd placed fourth in the shot put (39’ 3.5”), while Luke Dacey finished 10th in the 1,000-meter run (2:59.28).
Ballston Spa Girls
Harriet Healey won the Section 2 Division 2 Championship in the 300-meter dash (43.40) and the 600-meter run (1:45.53), also winning as part of the Scotties’ 4 x 200 relay team with Petrina Zborovsky, Anna Zito, and Livia Wiltsie (1:57.03).
Madalyn Wilson won the Section 2 Division 2 crown in the 1,500-meter race walk (10:26.67), also taking third in the 3,000-meter run (11:32.65). Wiltsie took third in the 45-meter dash (6.43), with Zborovsky fourth (6.47).
Zborovsky also placed seventh in the long jump (13’ 3.5”), with Ashley Beck sixth (14’ 0.75”). Zito finished seventh in the 50-meter hurdles (9.37) and ninth in the 300-meter dash (47.65).
Sarah Himmelwright finished second in the 1,500-meter racewalk (10:39.22), with Amy Taylor in third (10:39.46).
Ballston Spa Boys
Isaiah Hannah won the Section 2 Division 2 Championship in the 45-meter dash (5.74) and the 50-meter hurdles (7.18). Hannah, along with Kala’l Makanani, Alijah Burgess, and Michael Stamper, placed second in the 4 x 200 relay (1:45.07).
Makanani also finished second in the 300-meter dash (39.93) and ninth in the long jump (17’ 0.5”). Stamper placed third in the 45-meter dash (5.93), while Silas Bashant took fifth place in the 600-meter dash (1:35.56) with Jacob Armer (1:36.25) in eighth.
Armer also finished 10th in the 1,000-meter run (2:57.38), while Joseph Sabatino took seventh place in the high jump (5’ 2”). Joseph Fodera finished eighth in the 1,600-meter run (5:00.69), with Matthew Meerdink in 10th (5:07.48).
Schuylerville’s Macey Koval (12) looks to drive to the hoop during the Black Horses’ 57-52 win over Amsterdam on Feb. 1. Photo by Super Source Media Studios.
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity girls basketball team held on for a big 57-52 victory at home over Amsterdam on Friday, powered by 24 points from senior Macey Koval.
The Black Horses jumped out to an 18-13 lead after one quarter, but the Rams hung around, cutting the deficit to 32-29 at halftime. Schuylerville used a strong defensive third to push the lead back to six, and held on through the fourth for a 57-52 victory.
Koval led all scorers with 24 points in the win. Amanda Pflieger had 13 points for Schuylerville, hitting a trio of three-pointers, while Lauren King added nine points. Anika Buff had eight points, with Sophie Bodnar adding three points for the Black Horses.
Annika Fedullo led Amsterdam with 16 points in the loss. Felise Fowler added 11 points, while Natalee Agresta and Rosalie Sculco each had 10 points. Liana Brown added three points, while Sharazade Cooper had two points for the Rams.
Schuylerville turned its momentum into another win on Monday, cruising past Gloversville 56-30 on the road. The Black Horses are 10-8 overall, and have won five straight games.
Amsterdam hosted Broadalbin-Perth on Monday, falling 53-45. The Rams are 9-8 overall, and will play South Glens Falls in the Foothills Showcase on Feb. 12.
Photo provided by Schuylerville Central School District.
SCHENECTADY — The Schuylerville girls’ indoor track team won the Foothills League Championship at Union College on Jan. 22. Every athlete scored either individually or in a relay, while the team won 8 of the 16 events contested. In addition, several athletes broke Schuylerville school records throughout the season in various events.
The Black Horses girls’ team finished with a team score of 134 points, with second-place Scotia-Glenville finishing with 114 points.
“The team has put in a tremendous amount of work this season, often training in difficult weather conditions,” said Assistant Coach Justin Vianese. “They have approached every challenge with a positive attitude. Their efforts have enabled them to realize their goals, whether a personal record, school record, or team championship. It’s great to see the athletes believe in themselves and know their hard work has paid off.”
See below for results and records from the Schuylerville varsity track teams:
Kiera Rogan: Rogan holds the new school record for the 3000m, with a finishing time of 10:28:66. Rogan beat the previous record by 26 seconds during the Dec. 10 Tri County Indoor Track League Meet at Union College. Rogan also holds the new school record for the 1500m, with a finishing time of 4:50:83. Rogan beat the previous record by 15 seconds.
Nikki Stark: Nikki Stark set the new school record for the 50m hurdles with a time of 8.70. Stark broke the old record of 9.14 from 2016. Starks also holds the new school record for the 200m hurdles with a time of 30.24. Stark broke the previous record by more than 9 seconds at the Jan. 8 Ed Cepiel Invitational in Springfield, MA.
Ryan Stark: Ryan Stark holds the new school record for the indoor triple jump with a jump of 34’ 1”, eclipsing the old record of 34’ 1/2”. Stark beat the previous record at the Armory High School Holiday Classic in NYC on Dec. 29.
Meaghan Lynch: Meaghan Lynch set the new 45m school record with a time of 6.53 seconds. Lynch beat the previous record of 6.54 seconds at the Foothills League Championship at Union College on Jan. 22.
