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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Raymond C. Arnold Sr.

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

MIDDLE GROVE — Raymond C. Arnold Sr., 83, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2022. He was born July 9, 1939, to parents Caroline (Belau) Arnold and Millard Arnold Sr. 

Ray lived a simple life, growing up on a small farm with a big family. He married Barbara (VanWagner) Arnold on October 27, 1962. In 1963 he began working for General Electric, fabricating and assembling steam turbine engines until his retirement in 1997. Ray had a passion for working with his hands and helping others. He had many hobbies including tractors and model trains. He proudly built both of his homes and helped his children with theirs.

Ray was a loving and devoted family man who will be missed dearly. 

Along with both of his parents, Ray was predeceased by his siblings Millard, Alfred, Mildred, Charles, Richard, Caroline, and Donald. Ray is survived by his loving wife Barbara of almost 60 years, as well as his three children Terri (Art), Ray Jr. (Lorrie), and Mike (Yvonne). He is also survived by his 12 grandchildren, Erica, Tim, Justin, Danielle, Aayla, Jenna, Nick, Aaron, Jordan, Rachel, Mikayla, Jason, and several great-grandchildren. 

Relatives and friends gathered to remember him on Sunday, October 16 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs  (518-584-5373). 

A graveside service was held Monday, October 17 at the North Milton Cemetery. 

The family would like to thank the Wesley Health Care Center staff for their care and support as well as Paul Cameron for his kindness and words of faith.

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

Seasonal Shifts Offer Opportunities to Experiment   

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Food.

We know and love/hate the vagaries of fall: sun and warmth, then rain and chill; mornings in the 30s; afternoons in the 70s. We await those first hard frosts with worry about our gardens even as we wonder at Nature’s beauty amid it all. 

Fall’s seesaw weather patterns are showing up these days at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, where pumpkins, potatoes, and frost-tolerant mustard greens share space with peppers and tomatoes. If you like to eat with the seasons, you can enjoy summer and fall together.

I used to fear hard frosts as early as September. Those frosts would kill the vines that give us squashes, peppers, and tomatoes. Now, with changes in our climate patterns, these plants often make it through mid-October, and their fruits might remain fresh into early November. 

Adapting our diets to these shifting patterns allows for a new array of flavors. 

Keep some sweet, mild, and hot peppers on your countertop, along with the garlic, onions, ginger, lemongrass, and turmeric at the market now. When it’s time to create a stir fry, soup, stew, or a dish like meatloaf, try replacing the dried black and crushed red peppers from most recipes with fresher, plumper green bell or frying peppers.

Many farmers’ market regulars have come to enjoy shishito peppers, blistered with a little oil in a hot skillet. Padron peppers offer a similar sweet-with-a-kick flavor with a more sustained warm burn. Both work well as a snack or can add a spicy edge to stews, casseroles, and risotto. 

Green tomatoes are abundant now, partly because our warmer fall lets outdoor plants keep producing fruits. These fruits seem less buggy than their summer counterparts but are not ripening red because, in part, of diminished daylight. Still, a tomato is a tomato and can be eaten green.

Consider a green tomato sandwich, with slices of a firm, plump green tomato in between toasted and buttered slices of artisanal bread with perhaps a bit of cheese and spicy mustard greens. Or keep a few on the counter to chop up and toss into whatever happens to be cooking. Their moisture helps keep other ingredients from drying out, and their tangy taste complements other flavors. Green tomatoes can replace tomatillos in taco fillings, salsas, or chili Verde. 

And at least one meal of fried green tomatoes is an October must-have.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at High Rock Park. The farmers’ market will move to the Wilton Mall on November 5. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

13th Annual Scotties’ Closet Back for Another Year

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA —The Ballston Spa Middle School is set to host “Scotties’ Closet” on Saturday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., this event marks their 13th consecutive year. This school community event provides gently used clothing, books, coats and shoes to about 300 students, families and individuals annually. It is organized by middle school social workers, along with parent representatives and school and community volunteers. All items donated by the school community are provided free to students, families and members of the community. “This annual community event would not be possible without the tireless efforts of school and community volunteers who donate, sort and merchandise all the items in the cafeteria,” said BSCSD in a statement. Until October 24, the school district has set aside marked bins in school lobbies where people can donate items. Because winter months are fast approaching, snowpants, boots, coats and hats are in high demand. Please contact the middle school for additional information at 518-884-7200 or email cjones@bscsd.org to volunteer.

BSCSD School Psychologist Receives NYASP Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

(L-R) NYASP Chapter F Representatives Calyn Kessler and Eliane Keyes presented the award to Chelsea Cangeleri along with Ballston Spa’s CSE Chairperson Meghan Zito at a recent October Board of Education meeting. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA — The New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP) is a statewide organization that represents the profession of School Psychology. Their mission is to serve children, their families and school community by promoting psychological well-being, excellence in education and sensitivity to diversity through best practices in school psychology. 

Earlier this month, the Ballston Spa Central School District, which is located in NYASP’s Chapter F, which encompasses the counties of Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren and Washington had their school psychologist recognized. Chelsea Cangeleri of the Ballston Spa Middle School recently received the Chapter School Psychologist of the Year Award.  Ms. Cangeleri has led initiatives related to mindfulness, trauma response, data and behavior and crisis intervention in the school since 2006. Ms. Cangeleri also contributes to the field of school psychology by supervising interns and school psychology practicing students. “These, and many more accomplishments, are all above and beyond her daily responsibilities as a valued school psychologist,” said the Ballston Spa district in a statement. 

The Chapter School Psychologist of the Year Award is presented by local chapters to individuals who spend the majority of their time (75%) providing direct services to children and their families. Each local winner becomes the chapter nominee for the NYASP Frank Plumeau School Practitioner of the Year Award. Additional information is online at www.nyasp.org.

Ballston Spa High School Sophomores to Visit TEC-SMART Facility at HVCC

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

TECSMART’s Grand Opening at HVCC. Photos provided.

BALLSTON SPA —On Friday, October 21, sophomores at Ballston Spa High will be given a tour of Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facilities in hopes to pique their interest in a career revolving manufacturing and alternative energies. Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facility in Malta features more than a dozen state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories to train students to enter the STEM-related workforce. The TEC-SMART or Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies, has become a critical component of not only HVCC’s curricula but also the local economy in Malta with Global Foundries also being located there. The goal of TEC-SMART is to prepare students for a new economy that promotes job growth, environmental sustainability and technological innovation. Through TEC-SMART, Hudson Valley is producing a workforce to serve major employers including General Electric, SunPower Inc., Solar City and of course, Global Foundries. 

This partnership between HVCC and Ballston Spa High School has been in existence for over a decade. The Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School in Malta was developed by the Ballston Spa Central School District in partnership with HVCC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in 2011. It now has over 50 partners from business and industry, higher education, and non-profit and government agencies. The Clean Tech ECHS was awarded a NYS P-TECH grant which expanded opportunities for students in the program to take college coursework in one of several career pathways. Students in the program create solutions to real world problems during their experiences in the program while collaborating and connecting with business and industry partners. They also enroll in college coursework with college professors at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART in Malta (at no cost to families). Some of the career pathways include clean energy, community health navigation/public health, cybersecurity, engineering sciences, entrepreneurship and surgical technician. 

On Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. an information night for prospective students, currently in 8th grade, who are interested in joining the Clean Tech ECHS P-TECH Program will be offered at Ballston Spa High School. School district leaders, parents and 8th grade students interested in learning more about the program are invited to attend. The agenda for the evening includes presentations from current students and program staff. For more information and to register, please visit the website at www.bscsd.org/domain/839 or contact ECHS Program Coordinator Adrienne Snow at asnow@bscsd.org.

October 21 – 27, 2022

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

7 Bemis Heights Rd., Saratoga Springs • $485,000

BALLSTON

Robert Vitti sold property at 53 Sherman Way to Dominick Spinella for $739,000

Barbera Homes Kelly Farms LLC sold property at 22 Stablegate Dr to John Guarneri for $500,108

BDC Cornerstone LLC sold property at 75 Cornerstone Dr to Robert Williams for $415,669.

BDC Cornerstone LLC sold property at 75 Cornerstone Dr to Charlotte Williams for $331,995.

BDC Cornerstone LLC sold property at 71 Cornerstone Dr to Stephen Olshan for $349,340.

JKM Builders LLC sold property at 4 Stonebridge Dr to Dale Josephson for $402,773.

SARATOGA

Cerrone Construction  sold property at 215 Patriot Hill Dr to Francis Smith for $451,800

Edgar Smith sold property at 128 Franklin Beach Rd to Michael Walsh for $890,000.

Dominick Spinella sold property at 107 Trask Lane to Daniel Mulledy for $870,000.

Christian Babcock sold property at 252 NYS Rt 32 to Aaron Ethier for $192,870.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Stephen Snickles sold property at 46 Curt Blvd to Schworm Enterprises Inc for $120,000

Schworm Enterprises Inc sold property at 46 Curt Blvd to 46 Curt Blvd. Land and Trust for $159,900

Luciano Properties LLC sold property at 18 Jenna Jo Ave to Kevin Brooks for $225,000 

Daniel Quinn sold property at 39 Jane St to Vicky Oakley for $725,000

Vicky Oakley sold property at 39 Jane St to Brian Nicoll for $725,000

Linda Rodriguez sold property at 32 Vichy Dr to James Hendricks for $375,000.

James Sheker sold property at 26 Arrowhead Rd to Mary Alice Viola for $727,000.

Harry Monroe sold property at 82 Ludlow St to Craig Nelson for $450,000

Angela Decker sold property at 7 Bemis Heights Rd to Matthew Ivory for $485,000.

Nicholas ONeil sold property at 154 Hathorn Blvd to Sarah Besson for $320,000.

Regatta View LLC sold property at 9 Dartmouth Way to Karen Zanni for $554,233

Norine Wagner sold property at 281 West Circular St to Gail ODoherty  for $280,000

Stephen OShea sold property at 7 Cottage St & Park St to Vincent Latera for $1,224,000.

Buff Rd LLC sold property at 9 Buff Rd to John Fox for $150,000.

Mitchell Berg sold property at 125 Union Ave C-208 to Manuel Choy for $202,210

Ronald Field sold property at 87 Railroad Pl #203 to Sarah Marshall  for $561,200

WILTON

Trojanski Custom Builders LLC sold property at 9 Sydney Hill Rd to Steven Quesnel for $972150.40

GW Luxe LLC sold property at 29 Stone Ridge Rd to Justin Gibson for $559,430

Jeffrey Purner sold property at 42 Whispering Pines Rd to Randy Mitosinka for $120,000

Maureen Ireland sold property at 1 Killarney Ct to James Kehoe for $540,000

National Museum of Racing Hires Jessica Cloer as Museum Curator and Matt Reichel as Museum Educator

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has named Jessica Cloer as Museum Curator and Matt Reichel as Museum Educator. 

Jessica Cloer comes to the museum with more than a decade of experience working in museums. She began her career sharing the story of America’s founding as a park ranger at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Since 2013, Cloer has been a registrar at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Texas A&M University, Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, MA, Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, and the Stanley Museum of Art at the University of Iowa. A graduate of Smith College in Northampton, MA, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, Cloer went on to earn a Master of Liberal Arts from Harvard University. 

Matt Reichel worked in the field of education in New York’s Capital Region for five years prior to joining the Museum. Upon graduating from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, Reichel taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, Saratoga Central Catholic and the Saratoga Film Academy.  Following his undergraduate studies, Reichel earned a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He has also worked at the New York State Museum in Albany. 

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, visit racingmuseum.org or call 518-584-0400. 

Drs. Karen Hu and Juliann Lajoie Join Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Eye Care

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ophthalmologists Karen Hu, MD, and Juliann Lajoie, MD, have joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Eye Care. The practice provides comprehensive eye health services, including ophthalmic surgery.

Dr. Hu comes to Saratoga Hospital after completing a fellowship at Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she completed an internship at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California and a residency at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. 

Dr. Lajoie grew up in Queensbury and has connections to the Albany Med Health System, of which Saratoga Hospital is a member. A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Lajoie earned her medical degree from University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and completed an internship and residency at Albany Medical Center. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. 

 “With Drs. Hu and Lajoie, we add two very talented physicians to our highly skilled team,” said Richard Falivena, DO, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital. “In this most competitive environment in years, their decision to choose Saratoga Hospital is a testament to the reputation of our medical group and the quality of life in our community.”

 Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Eye Care is located at 3050 Route 50, Saratoga Springs.

Sensory Six Celebrates 9th Year Anniversary

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sensory Six, a commercial and residential interior design firm located in Saratoga, recently celebrated their 9th year in business. Located at 8 Butler Place in Saratoga, the team is led by founder and president Sandra Fox. Fox calls Sensory Six’s design philosophy “21st Century Zen” with a focus on organic lighting and modern finishes. “As we enter our 9th year in business, we want to thank our talented team for their incredible work and our amazing clients and vendors who have allowed us to create such distinctive spaces for all to see and enjoy! We are truly grateful and can’t wait to see what this next year brings us,” said Sensory Six in a statement. 

For more information on Sensory Six, or to view some of their past work, visit: sensorysix.com.

“Love Our Locals” Campaign Returns

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA – In a show of support to local business owners and non-profit organizations throughout Saratoga County, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is kick-starting their “Love Our Locals” campaign for another year. What started as an effort during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown in 2020, the campaign (then called “Save Our Locals”) was a community driven initiative to shop local, dine local and hire local in order to support the many small businesses, artisan shops and local contractors that embody Saratoga’s business culture.  

This year, with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ostensibly waning, the campaign is back for another year. Only this time, it is called “Love Our Locals.” The idea is simple, patrons who spend or donate $20.22 or more to participating vendors, non-profits or service providers and share their receipt with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce via email (loveourlocals@saratoga.org) will be put in a running to win a $100 gift to a host of other local businesses.

 The event begins on October 21 and runs throughout the remainder of the year, ending December 31.  Winners will be selected weekly and will be announced across the Chamber’s social media channels. Winners will also be notified separately via email as to how to claim their gift card. Saratoga County businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to hang up a “Love Our Locals $20.22” poster in a prominent spot to remind customers, clients, and employees about how they can support the Saratoga community. For more information on how to participate or how to support the community, please email loveourlocals@saratoga.org.