PERTH, Australia — Kell Berliner from the Jason Morris Judo Center in Scotia finished in seventh place at the Perth Open on Oct. 30, 2022, in Perth, Australia.
Berliner advanced to the quarterfinals of the Open, falling to Germany’s Lukas Vennekold in overtime. This finish jumped the 28-year-old Berliner up to a world ranking of #77 in the 81-kg weight class.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Shahid Mushtaq Khan, MD, has joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Cardiology. An interventional cardiologist, Dr. Khan specializes in using minimally invasive procedures, such as cardiac catheterization, to diagnose and treat heart conditions.
Dr. Khan has considerable clinical and research experience, including cardiovascular appointments at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, JFK University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Raritan Bay and Old Bridge Medical Centers at Hackensack Meridian Health, all in New Jersey.
“Our interventional cardiology program continues to grow and earn recognition for our commitment to best practices—two factors that enable us to attract experienced physicians like Dr. Khan,” Richard Falivena, DO, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital said in a press release. “Saratoga Hospital and our community are fortunate to have Dr. Khan on our team.”
Dr. Khan earned his medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan, and completed residencies in nuclear medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.
He is board certified in multiple specialties, including internal medicine with subspecialty certifications in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology; echocardiography; and nuclear cardiology.
He is accepting patients at Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Cardiology at 254 Church St., Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Local Socialite, Philanthropist and Fashion Icon, Michele Riggi is moving (literally) on to the next phase of her life.
With the recent announcement of sale of her longtime home on North Broadway, the Palazzo Riggi, Michele will be relocating soon. “I’m embarking on a new life…I sold my Saratoga home yesterday!” Riggi stated.
Moving is never easy, but in Michele’s case it is a little more daunting. Along with personal and household items, Michele stated quite emphatically, “ I want to sell all my gowns. If I need one I’ll just buy a new one.”
The once President of The National Museum of Dance and Hall of fame, Michele wore a minimum of six gowns a year for Saratoga and NYC galas as an advocate and supporter of the Arts, Animals and myriad fundraisers here and abroad.
The Michele Riggi Estate sale of exquisite one-of-a-kind gowns, special occasion dressing and hats galore (most custom made), has started at Saratoga Trunk. Many still with tags, many never worn and all in pristine condition.
As owner Natalie Sillery shared, “This elegant and glamorous collection runs from sizes two through six with a few other sizes mixed in. Designers include Don O’Neill’s ‘THEIA ‘ brand, Escada, Badgley Mischka, Carmen Marc Valvo, Jovani and many more too numerous to mention.”
With all the weddings, charity events and galas back on post-covid, it’s a perfect opportunity to shop for your own one of-a-kind gown. “Great taste never goes out of style!” Sillery added. “We wish Michele all the best in her new journey moving forward.”
Saratoga Trunk is located at 493 Broadway, open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 518-584-3543 for appointments and more information. Walk-ins are always welcomed.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Botanicals Organics Spa & Store has a new location, and a new name.
Formerly located on Henry Street, the store has relocated to 130 Excelsior Avenue Suite 106, and is now known as ‘Botanicals Spa,’ according to a press release.
“One of the major reasons for our move was to have a setting closer to nature, as well as better parking,” said owner Franesa Pyle in the release. “Our new location is set on the Spring Run Nature Trail, and we have designated parking now just for our business.”
The new location has been designed as a “concept spa,” where customers feel as if they are walking into nature.
“Our new spa build is modern, but also keeps with a theme of nature-inspired decor, such as tree installations, living walls, and water features,” Pyle said in the release.
Botanicals Spa will offer the same services at the new location, including facials, massage, waxing, body treatments, lash and brow services, energy healing, and more. All products used at Botanicals are plant-based and non-synthetic.
“We will be making the transition of our move in different stages,” said Pyle in the release. “Firstly, our spa will be open beginning Nov. 4, and then our retail and apothecary Blending Bar will open in the weeks to come.”
The Blending Bar and spa store give customers the opportunity to have bath, body, and skin care products custom-blended by on-site ‘SpaTenders,’ according to the release.
Botanicals Spa held its grand opening ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 6-9 p.m. at the new location on Excelsior Avenue. Singer/songwriter Sean Rowe performed at the opening, and catering was provided by Thorn + Roots.
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. “
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
