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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Golub Over Scirocco in Saratoga Springs DPW Election

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

Jason Golub was elected Commissioner of Public Works by city voters.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the Spa City race to elect the Commissioner of Public Works, Democrat Jason Golub defeated Republican candidate Anthony Scirocco, Jr.  garnering 6,818 votes to Scirocco’s 5,322.  

More than 12,000 votes were registered for the city council seat, marking a greater than 30% increase in overall votes compared to the numbers tallied for any one of the five council seats during the last election in 2021.      

Golub is currently filling the seat on an interim basis through 2022. He was unanimously selected by the four sitting members of the City Council in May to temporarily fill the position that became vacant as a result of the death of longtime DPW Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. One of his sons, Anthony Scirocco, Jr. received the support of the local Republican Committee and ran for the position to follow in his late father’s footsteps.

The election will fill the DPW seat for the calendar year 2023 – the remainder of the elder Scirocco’s 2020-elected term.

There are places in the country where political preference and blind acceptance to a party’s ideals tears at the jigsaw of a community’s fabric. But, despite an us-versus-them mentality that is elsewhere pervasive, as well as an effort by some activated operatives pecking away like hens atop their social media connected keyboards seeking to create divisions – this is not one of those places. Here, there seems to be a simpler set of rules at play in comparing the candidates: Who are they? What sort of experience do they have? Who is the best person to get the job done?  

To Golub, the goals related to his seat on the council in 2023 remain the same as when he first auditioned for the council appointment, earlier this year. 

“For me, it’s the same as when we started. What is that 21st century vision of DPW? While we’re always going to do that core DPW – remove your snow, remove your leaves –  it’s really about how can we drive the infrastructure in the city? Energy. Parks. Bike lanes. It could be how we partner with the state and federal government. There’s so much that DPW can drive and that’s where I want to focus,” said Golub, attending an Election Night gathering of Democrats at The Inn at Saratoga – a historic Broadway venue that first began operating as a boarding house in 1847.

Appointed to the position in May, Golub has now secured his first bonafide election victory. Bitten for the first time by the parliamentary bug, could a life-road in politics be awaiting him in the future? 

“Who asks that question the night that you win? “ he says with a laugh. “I don’t know the answer to that. Tonight, I’m enjoying this. I enjoy serving the community and I would like to continue to do that. “

Songs By Heart To Bring Music To Memory Care Centers In The Capital Region

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Describing what it calls the first opera company in the nation to provide a certain type of therapeutic memory care to its local community, Opera Saratoga is offering an interactive music program for residents in memory care centers in the Capital Region. 

The company has recently hired two singers and two pianists for their Songs by Heart program. Musicians are trained in therapeutic techniques such as mirroring, making direct eye contact, swaying to the beat, and holding hands with residents throughout the program. Singers encourage residents to join in with singing, clapping, and moving, as well as to engage in conversation centered around the musical selections. 

Opera Saratoga plans to start serving facilities in a seven-county service area, from south of Albany and north up to Lake George. 

Music is pulled from popular music from the 1920’s – 1950’s and includes familiar songs like ‘Take me out to the ball game’, ‘Home on the range’, ‘Edelweiss’, and many other popular, folk, and patriotic songs familiar to residents. 

Each of Opera Saratoga Songs by Heart artists have been trained by Songs by Heart’s artistic administrator, Emily Becker, and board-certified Music Therapist, Jenny Cook. Becker and Cook have trained about 150 musicians across the county. This is the only Songs by Heart program in New York State.

For more information about the new initiative or to sign up for a demo session at a specific Memory Care center, contact Opera Saratoga’s Senior Program Manager of Education and Community Outreach, Melissa Howe, at 518-584-6018 or mhowe@operasaratoga.org.

Nuance Donates to Wellspring

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Photo provided.

MALTA — Nuance, A Boutique Salon, recently donated a portion of their October retail sales to Wellspring in Malta in support of Domestic Violence Awareness month. Salon owner, Holly Garofano, along with her staff, were thrilled to present a check for $250 to Wellspring and receive a tour of their state-of-the-art facility.

“It has always been a high priority for our company to support amazing organizations in our own community,” said Holly. “Through our work with our guests we have become increasingly aware of the growing need for more awareness and support for survivors of relationship and sexual abuse. We are grateful to have Wellspring providing such a vital service in Saratoga County.”

Wellspring supports survivors by providing emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline and counseling, long-term housing assistance, case management and much more. Nuance looks forward to continuing to support Wellspring in the future. If you or someone you know needs help, call them 24/7 confidentially at 518-584-8188

Nuance, A Boutique Salon is a full-service salon located at 513 Rte 67, Malta. To schedule an appointment or for more information visit www.nuanceboutiquesalon.com or call 518-400-1575.

Toys For Toga 10th Annual Fundraiser

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In conjunction with Saratoga Restaurant Week, Discover Saratoga, DeCrescente Distributing Company, Druthers Brewing Company, Death Wish Coffee Company, and Quick Response are teaming up for the 10th Annual Toys for Toga campaign.

Now through Dec. 4, members of the local community can donate new, unwrapped toys at participating locations. This year, more than 70 Saratoga County restaurants, bars, retail stores, hotels, and more have a Toys for Toga toy collection bin in their lobby. 

All toys and monetary donations will be distributed equally to Franklin Community Center, CAPTAIN Community Human Services and Mechanicville Area Community Services Center in time for the holidays, according to a press release.

“With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s so important to give back,” said Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga, in the release. “We are honored to be part of Toys for Toga again this year, and we hope to see the local community participate in collecting toys for the children of Saratoga County.”

Last year, Toys for Toga collected more than 3,000 toys and $7,000 for local youth. 

A full list of drop-off locations is available at discoversaratoga.org. A “Toys for Toga 2022” page on GoFundMe is also available for those who wish to make monetary donations: www.gofundme.com/f/toys-for-toga-2022.

Discover Saratoga, known as the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, is an economic development engine for this community. Their mission is to contribute a positive impact on the local economy by promoting and marketing Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County as a world-class destination for meetings, conventions, and groups. For more information about Discover Saratoga, please visit discoversaratoga.org.

Soroptimist Is Accepting Applications for The 2022-23 – Young Women Making A Difference Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Soroptimist International of Saratoga County (SISC) is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 2022-23 Young Women Making a Difference Award which honors young women between the ages of 14 and 18 for their volunteer activity. Applicants who have demonstrated initiative in both identifying a problem and trying to solve it as well as achieving noteworthy accomplishments as volunteers in the community are encouraged to apply. Volunteer actions that benefit women and girls are especially valued. 

Application submissions are due to SISC by Dec. 15.

The online application can be found at soroptimistsaratoga.org. 

Winners are eligible to receive up to $500 for themselves and up to $500 for the charitable organization of their choice.  For questions about the Award or the application, contact: makeadifferencesaratoga@gmail.org.

SISC is part of an international women’s organization with 72,000 members in 121 countries and territories. Soroptimist is a volunteer service organization with the goal of helping women and girls achieve economic empowerment.  For more information about the organization, visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org or the Soroptimist International website at www.soroptimist.org.  

“Grant’s Ghost” Premiere Nov. 18-20

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

CAMBRIDGE — Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education presents the world premiere of Grant’s Ghost, by Warren Schultz, on Nov. 18-20. 

In the waning days of his life, President Ulysses S. Grant was broken. Having lost his family fortune in a bad business deal and dying of throat cancer, Grant turned to the one thing he possessed of value to save his family: his own story. 

Over weeks and months in upstate New York, Grant raced against time to complete his memoir before his life came to an end. With one final creative act, he saved his family, restored their fortune, and passed on his life story for generations to come. 

But what if his memoir didn’t tell it all? What if secrets were missing? What if Grant actually wrote two memoirs? In Grant’s Ghost, local playwright Warren Schultz portrays Grant’s last days, as Ulysses S. Grant worked with Mark Twain to complete his memoir, struggled with his past, and envisioned a brighter future for his beloved country.

Grant’s Ghost runs Nov. 18-20, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20. Tickets are $25 Adults and $10 Students ages 18 and under.  Hubbard Hall is located at 25 E. Main St., Cambridge. For more info, call: 518-677-2495. 

Locally Grown and Heading for The Big Time

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.


This Norway Spruce in Queensbury has been selected as the 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Photo: Rockefeller Center.com. 

QUEENSBURY — A Norway Spruce, which has stood in Queensbury since approximately the early 1930s will be headed to New York City on Nov. 12, after its selection as the 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The tree stands 82 feet tall and weighs 14 tons.  

Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center and selector of the annual Manhattan Christmas Tree, first saw this year’s tree in May.    

“Someone sent me a photo of a tree in Glens Falls, so I went to go check it out. On the way to go see it, I passed another tree in a vacant lot [in Queensbury], and thought to myself, ‘I need to come back to this tree,’” Pauze told Rockefeller Center Magazine.  “After I finished with the other tree, I went back, walked up and down both sides of the street, and took a few pictures. I then did some calling around to find out who the owner of the tree was and made an appointment to inspect it closer… When I got closer, I knew it was perfect… I figured, let’s get this one to Rockefeller Center.”

Saratoga Winter Club to Host Annual Saratoga Cup Nov. 12

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Winter Club will hold their annual Saratoga Cup and Northeast Series I Short Track Speed Skating Meet on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink. Admission is free and open to the public. Speed skaters from the Capital District as well as from Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey and beyond will compete at this East Coast tradition. It is the first time in the Saratoga Winter Club’s history that there is a female Race Director for the Saratoga Cup. Race Director Karolina Quinn said, “I’m very excited to be the first female Race Director in the history of our club, and it’s a role I take very seriously. I’m learning so much along the way and am having fun too! I will say that since joining the club several years ago, I’ve met and worked with several women who would be outstanding Race Directors, so while I may be the first, I’m sure I will not be the last.” 

Warm-ups on race day will begin at 8 a.m. with racing commencing at 9 a.m. Racing will continue until around 4 p.m. Breaks will be taken to resurface the ice. “With Speedskating being the fastest human-powered sport in the world, the short track races are definitely very entertaining. During our Saratoga meet the races will be very quick and maintain constant action. At this meet you’ll see athletes from across the age and experience spectrum competing against one another, and supporting each other too, which is probably why so many athletes compete in the sport throughout their lives,” said Quinn, whose son will be competing in the meet along with other local kids, teenagers, and an adult from the Saratoga Winter Club. 

Want to be part of the action? Volunteers are still needed to help with office positions including timers and judges. It’s a way for local high school students to fulfill community service hours in a fast-paced, exciting environment. Contact swc.skt.fst.brn.trn@gmail.com for more information. The Saratoga Winter Club has been an institution in Saratoga since the late 1800’s. It has produced world-class speed skaters including more than half-a-dozen Olympians, including SWC Head Coach Amy Peterson Peck who is a five-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist.

Saratoga Regional YMCA Bestows Past Board Chair The Esteemed Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.


Photo (left to right): Sue Commanda, Board President, Saratoga Regional YMCA Rick Schumaker, former Saratoga Regional YMCA Board President and Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award Recipient Bill Dake, Chairman Stewart’s Shops and Saratoga Regional YMCA Board of Trustee Member Scott Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Saratoga Regional YMCA. Photo provided

SARATOGA SPRINGS —On Thursday, Oct. 13, the Saratoga Regional YMCA hosted its second annual Impact Celebration at the Saratoga Hilton to celebrate and reflect on its success with staff, volunteers, donors, board members and community partners. During the celebration, SRYMCA awarded its former Board President and CFO of the Fort Miller Group, Rick Schumaker, the prestigious Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award. 

The Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award recognizes those who have displayed outstanding leadership for the Saratoga Regional YMCA and its community. It is named after Dr. Frederic J. Resseguie, who in 1957 donated his home on 509 Broadway to assist the YMCA in reopening in Saratoga Springs. Rick is only the seventh recipient of this award since its beginning in the early 1970’s, with past recipients including major YMCA and community partners such as Nancy Lester and Michael Toohey. 

Chairman of Stewart’s Shops and past recipient, Bill Dake, presented Rick with the award and reflected on many of his successes during his decade of service under the Saratoga Regional YMCA. Rick joined the Y’s Board of Directors in 2012 and went right to work, playing a vital role in several growth opportunities for SRYMCA such as the Outdoor Expansion at West Ave to implement their new outdoor pavilion, Adventure Ropes Course, and numerous play spaces and activity areas for summer camp and programming to utilize. Rick was also vital to the 2018 Malta Capital Campaign in partnership with the Saratoga Hospital and has continued to help SRYMCA reach its annual fundraising campaign goals across its association. 

Now, Rick is on the Board of Trustees for SRYMCA and continues to be one of their vital voices in the community. He and the Fort Miller Group have provided leadership gifts for their Annual and Capital Campaigns cumulating to over $500,000 during his time on the board, and now are major donors of the West Ave Capital Campaign with the Saratoga Senior Center. The Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award is a well-deserved honor for Rick, who has and will continue to be a major ally for the Saratoga Regional YMCA. 

Saratoga Springs Fire & Police Square Off for Holiday Hockey Classic

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

 Photo provided

SARATOGA SPRINGS —On Saturday, Nov. 19, the Saratoga Springs Firefighters IAFF Local 343 will be hosting the Saratoga Springs Police PBA in the annual Saratoga Springs Fire & Police Holiday Hockey Classic. The game will be played to benefit the Franklin Community Center’s Holiday Assistance Program. 

This program has been essential in providing local families assistance during the holidays. The hockey game and toy donation associated with it has the goal to ensure that every child in the area has the opportunity to wake up on Christmas morning to a present waiting for them. The game has seen continued growth with increased support each year it has been played. 

This year’s game will be held at the Weibel Ice Rink (30 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs) with doors opening at approximately 6 p.m., after the conclusion of the Skidmore College game against Southern Maine. Gametime is scheduled for 7 p.m. Admission to the game is free with the donation of a new and unwrapped toy (or monetary donation). The game will include raffling items from various sponsors; King’s Tavern, Panza’s on the Lake, Skidmore Hockey and the Adirondack Thunder, with all proceeds going to the Franklin Community Center. If you would like to donate but can not attend the game on Nov. 19, toy collection boxes are open at the following locations: Saratoga Springs Fire Department Station 1 at 60 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs Fire Department Station 2 at 166 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs Police Department at 5 Lake Avenue, Kings Tavern at 241 Union Ave and Panza’s on the Lake at 510 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs. 

If you have any questions please contact Chris Stewart at 518-338-2664 or email at ssfd159@yahoo.com.