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Author: Saratoga TODAY

DRC: Fire Station 3, New Mixed-Use Building and 10 Townhomes

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Design Review Commission – one of three city Land Use Boards – resumes in-person meetings at City Hall at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7. 

Current applications under consideration include: advisory opinions of a proposed Fire Station – which would be the city’s third – at Henning Road, an extension request regarding an advisory opinion of the Unified Development Ordinance, or UDO, and an architectural review of a new mixed-use building and 10 townhomes as part of the Excelsior Park Development. 

The meeting marks the first in-person DRC meeting in the newly reopened City Hall. These are the general meeting guidelines: 

• Applicant presentations to the Board will be limited to 15 minutes. 

• Public comments from the audience during public hearings will be limited to 3 minutes.

• All speakers will be timed to ensure compliance.

• Individuals may not donate their allotted time to other speakers.

• Please be respectful to the speakers while they are addressing the Board.

• Comments to the Board should relate specifically to the application under consideration and the review criteria.

• All written comments will be distributed to the Board and made part of the public record.    

City Police on Violence: The Cost of Safety

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Assistant city Police Chief John Catone anxiously drummed his fingers atop the council table inside the newly reopened chamber at City Hall. A room of reporters assembled for the press briefing waited for him to find his words. 

“Today I am speaking directly to the people of this city,” Catone said, looking over the rim of the pair of eyeglasses perched atop his nose. 

“How can we, in Saratoga Springs, make sure we don’t become a destination location known for violence,” he said. “We’re at a seminal moment in this city’s history. We can become a city known for its violence, or, we can stop it immediately by everyone getting on board and working together.”    

The press briefing was prompted by a series of incidents that have occurred in downtown Saratoga Springs during the past few weeks.

Most recently, a 2 a.m. weekend altercation on Caroline Street saw a fight break out involving 15 to 20 people; a 26-year-old man suffered a stab wound to his torso and some rounds from a handgun were discharged into the air, causing the crowd to flee. The incident may potentially be related to gang-on-gang violence, or perhaps may be retaliatory action connected with a knife-related episode on Caroline Street last month, police said. Authorities have recovered a “ghost gun,” two spent rounds and a live round. There are people of interest, police said, and some “are known gang members.” As of this week, no one has been charged.   

“The last three weekends down there have looked like Travers Weekend,” said Catone, referring to the racecourse event that typically draws massive crowds downtown in late July. “So, from this weekend through Labor Day Weekend we’re going to approach it like every weekend is Travers Weekend. That’s the approach we’re going to have
to take until we get conformity, until we get cooperation, and until we end the violence that’s been going on.” 

Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton said current city police staffing levels are at 67 and anticipated the department could use an additional 20 in number. With COVID-related cutbacks affecting city finances, however, that’s a tough get. 

The city police department has engaged in conversation with a range of agencies – State Police, the county sheriff’s department, the FBI, State Liquor Authority, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Albany Police Department and Crime Analysis Center – among them, to formulate a plan to address the recent acts of violence in Saratoga Springs. 

“We’re going to do everything in our power, with our partners, to saturate the downtown area with a strong police presence,” said Catone, assigning blame for the incidents on several factors including a narrative of “hate, lies and disinformation” that unfavorably labels and demonizes police, city political hopefuls running for election in November who have attached themselves to that narrative, and the failures of state leaders and legislators, all serving to create a changed mindset that embolden criminals, he said. 

“The shooting was only a small part of the whole mess this weekend,” said Catone of the late Friday-early Saturday incident on Caroline Street.  “On Saturday night, many of those gang members returned and they brought more people with them, and they’ve become emboldened,” he continued. “They literally walked up to our officers, looked them in the face, and said: ‘We’ll be back next week, with more people.’ OK. Let’s be clear about how this is going to go: we are not going to back down.”

Saratoga’s history is littered with stories of mayhem that occurred over more than a century and included gangland shootouts, political payoffs and corruption that generally concluded in the mid-20th century when open illegal gambling in the city came to an end.

In his three-and-a-half decades with the department, Catone said current conditions have provided the most violence he has seen in his career. Statistical evidence will be compiled at summer’s end to provide summer-to-summer comparisons to learn whether there has been an overall uptick in recent times, Dalton said.    

“At the end of the day we have to make a commitment to public safety one way or the other, and that comes with a price tag. That’s a community decision about how we’re going to do that,” Catone said. “How do we stop the violence? It’s going to take a community effort of working together. You are either with us, or you are not. If you’re not, then you’re part of the problem.” He called upon local and regional tourism and business agencies to step up. 

“When you put 10, 12, 15 officers down there and you have 5,000 people who are in bars drinking all night long – and some of which comes from an element that we quite frankly don’t support being here – 10, 12, 15 officers is not going to fix that problem. So, what do you do? Do you shut the bars down at two o’clock? Do you add another 50 police officers on a Saturday night? The cost of being a destination location carries a price tag with it and this community has to decide what the price tag is…we have to decide, what are we doing? Are we picking safety, or are we going to just be all about the money and then whatever happens, happens,” Catone said. 

Local Golfer Off To PGA Jr. Nationals

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Clarkie Carroll, a local athlete and 2021 Saratoga Springs graduate, is headed to the Jr. PGA Championships on July 12. 

Carroll started playing golf in his pre-teen years after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Unable to play lacrosse or other contact sports because of the chemotherapy and hip surgery he underwent, Carroll took up golf instead. 

“I golf pretty much every day now,” said Carroll. “It has become a part of my daily routine.” 

Practice pays off. Not only has Carroll played on the varsity golf team at Saratoga Springs when they won three consecutive Sectional Titles, but he made the state team in 2019 and was a Section II All-Star this past year. 

July 5 and 6, Carroll competed against 30 other young golfers in the NENY (Northeastern New York) Jr. PGA Championships at the Town of Colonie Golf Course. He went 74-64-138 to win the championship by 9 strokes.

“It felt good to finally have stuff click,” Carroll said about this experience playing in the tournament.

And it must have been an experience trying to balance end-of-the-year high school events and golfing, as Carroll’s high school prom was right after his first round of the NENY Jr. PGA Tournament. 

“I hustled back [after prom],” he said. “Thankfully I had a late tee time, so it all worked out.” 

Carroll is currently ranked as the top Northeastern New York player of the year (Boys 16-18) on the NENY PGA Jr. website. He advances to the Jr. PGA Championships, July 12 – 15, at Kearney Hills Golf Links in Lexington, Kentucky. 

“There will be a lot of really good competition there,” said Carroll. “I’m excited to go.” 

Saratoga Springs Graduates 495

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Spring’s Class of 2021 walked across the stage at SPAC in a traditional ceremony without COVID restrictions on Friday, June 25. 

At Saratoga Springs High School’s 148th commencement ceremony, 495 students graduated as the Class of 2021. They are headed to 164 different colleges and universities in 33 states over five different countries. Five members of the class have made the commitment to serve the country in the Navy, Army, and Coast Guard. 

The Class of 2021 President, Kendal McCloskey, opened the ceremony with cheers from the crowd early on in her welcoming speech:

“It was not so long ago that this moment, along with so many other senior moments, seemed unlikely to become a reality,” said McCloskey. “Through the hard work and dedication of so many citizens around the world, and our own perseverance and commitment, we are able to gather for this celebration together, in person, instead of a long line of slow-moving cars and the inevitable glitch of a Zoom call.”

Following an announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo just over a week before the ceremony took place, students and guests no longer had to follow strict COVID restrictions and requirements. All were welcome to attend without a ticket, when previously each graduate was limited to two tickets for guests. There was no assigned seating in pods, no social distancing or capacity requirements, and no proof of vaccinations or negative test result required. However, masks were required to be worn by unvaccinated persons, per NYS Department of Health regulations. 

“Just a few weeks ago we were not sure if this celebration could be possible,” said Michael Patton, Superintendent of Schools. “The dedicated members of our high school graduation committee have been working extremely hard for the past several months, exploring and planning every possible scenario for today.”

The graduation rehearsal on Tuesday, June 22 and the graduation ceremony on Friday, June 25 were the first times the Class of 2021were all together this school year. And there was a very popular word used amongst the speakers to describe the graduating class – resilience. 

“You have successfully navigated one of the most challenging times that public education has ever faced,” said Patton to the graduating class.

Graduates and faculty alike gave great thanks to the community in their speeches. 

“We will always be shaped by this community,” said Julian Silva-Forbes, Salutatorian. “That might be a 9th grade lunch table turning into a lifelong group of friends, a favorite elective turning into a college major, or a volunteering experience turning into a favorite career. The lessons we learned from each other and from our great teachers will always be a part of us.”

Silva-Forbes encouraged his peers to continue to create a community in the places they land after graduation. English teacher Jill Cowburn put together a video in which Saratoga Springs graduates from the last decade congratulated this year’s graduating class, gave them advice, and welcomed them to the working community. 

The Class of 2021 further showed their appreciation for the community by giving $500 each to the Class of 2022, 2023, and 2024, and $500 to the school newspaper, The Lightening Rod, as their Class Gift. On behalf of their peers, the Class Officers spoke on how they are hoping to “ensure that future generations of Saratoga Springs High School students can have as memorable of an experience as we did.”

Jason Zheng, Valedictorian, shared some of the fond and funny memories that the class had during their high school journey at Saratoga Springs, and as they matured into the leaders they are today.

“Look back to your childhood dreams, countless aspirations, and the ‘I want to be this when I grow up.’ Look back to any time in your life when you were truly happy and recapture that moment,” said Zheng. “Then set out on this new chapter of your life and accomplish whatever you told yourself you would accomplish when you were little – that is a true leader.” 

Airport Upgrades? Saratoga County Explores Options

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For its 80th birthday, Saratoga County Airport may be getting a facelift. 

Initially developed in 1942 and designated as necessary for national defense, the county airport was built as a Civil Aeronautics Administration project. Fed by a small two-lane road, the airport consists of two 4,000-foot runways with parallel and connecting taxiways and houses a main metal hanger that was built about 60 years ago. 

Two recent unrelated events – the announcement of available funding in a new Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Initiative, and land adjacent to the airport potentially becoming obtainable for purchase – may literally alter the landscape of the airport in the near future. 

What it does not mean, officials quickly point out, is a physical expansion of airport runways.   

In late May, Gov. Cuomo announced $250 million would be made available as a new upstate airport economic development and revitalization initiative, with $230 million targeting projects that promote and accelerate improvements at upstate commercial passenger service airports, and $20 million to be allocated to support safety, infrastructure, and economic development projects at smaller airports. 

The planning, design and construction of terminal expansion or rehabilitation is listed as one example of activities eligible for funding. 

“There have been some major renovations down at LaGuardia, and at JFK, so the governor is saying to upstate airports: hey we don’t want to leave you out and we’re happy to fund some improvements,” said Matthew Veitch, city Supervisor, and chairman of county Buildings and Grounds Committee which counts the airport as among its responsibilities. 

“We feel one of the things our airport lacks is a good terminal building. The idea would be to enhance the airport with some sort of better terminal for both – the experience of people arriving in Saratoga County and also for the people who are waiting there for people to arrive,” Veitch said. 

Saratoga County Airport is one of 24 public-use airports eligible for the competition, which also includes the Adirondack Regional Airport, the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, the Schenectady County Airport and the Albany International Airport Authority. Funding applications are due by Sept. 15. Candidate projects will be evaluated on their ability to meet eligibility criteria and also be ranked in a scoring process.

“The minimum award is $5 million, and we would be looking at something north of that,” said Chad Cooke, the county’s commissioner of public works. “We’re at that (discussion) stage right now, where we’re refining ideas moving forward.” The county’s DPW has operated the airport since the Airport was turned over to the county in 1969. 

The revitalization initiative could potentially fund improvements to the airport’s warehouse-looking terminal building, as well as site a café and business center. 

Runway Protection Zones

A second aspect of discussion related to the airport are runway protection zones. 

“The immediate thing we’re looking at is related to safety at the airport,” Veitch said. “There are a couple of properties located within what is called the runway protection zone. The FAA requires us to look at those areas and evaluate them for safety purposes.  At the end of the runway is a trapezoidal shaped area we try to keep clear of any obstructions if there would be an issue of a plane having to land outside of the runway area. This could be houses, trees, anything higher than a certain point. We’re asked to evaluate those areas, and if possible, acquire property to keep those areas clear of obstruction.” 

Cook says the zones – which are basically flat land buffers around the airport – have always existed, but two of the specific have become available for acquisition. “When this happens the FAA always encourages airport owners to seek acquisition of those properties, essentially so you can maintain vegetation growth so planes can safely descend and climb when approaching or leaving the runway.” 

One property is on Rowland Street and has a home on it. Were the county to purchase it, the land would be cleared and the existing structure potentially taken down. “Would we try to forcibly acquire that? We wouldn’t do that. We would only do it if it was available for purchase,” Veitch said.    

The other property, a roughly 20-acre undeveloped parcel, is located on the northwest side of the airport, adjacent to Stone Church Road. Only a portion of the entire parcel is located in the runway protection zone, and were the county to purchase it, Veitch said that the property could possibly be left as open space and used for public use such as trails. 

“We are in discussions with the FAA right now about seeking reimbursement through grant funds for those (potential) purchases. These types of arrangements are something supported by the FAA typically, but the county would need to pay for them first and seek reimbursement,” Cooke said. 

“We would know going into this if the FAA was going to support that and it’s typically about making an aeronautical justification for purchasing the property., so anything that’s inside the Runway Protection Zone is a pretty easy case to make for purchasing that. If you’re purchasing a property that’s partially in the Runway Protection Zone, the FAA may make that a bit more difficult in terms of justifying purchasing the entire piece versus the piece that’s just in the Runway Protection Zone. So that’s where we are right now, in discussions with them about that,” Cooke said. 

During the county’s Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting in June, Turner Bradford, senior engineer at McFarland-Johnson, explained to the committee that the purchase of both parcels would potentially be 95% reimbursed – 90% by the FAA and 5% by DOT. While the county would be required to initially pay for the purchase, under this formula, it would essentially be paying 5% in costs after reimbursement.   

Milton Town Supervisor Benny Zlotnick expressed concern about the county potentially expanding the airport if it acquires the properties. Veitch said the current airport master plan does not include expanding the runways or making them longer in any way.

“One of the things we’re not doing at the airport – and we should make this clear – we’re not expanding our runway area or making it longer. So that limits the type of plane that can come to Saratoga County – smaller jets and smaller propellor planes, those kinds of things. We’re not looking at commercial service or any kind of airline coming here. It’s really the same kind of operation, with a better experience.” 

The county Buildings and Grounds Committee meets Tuesday, July 6 at 4:30 p.m.  To listen in, call 1-978-990-5145, Access Code: 1840389. A full county board meeting next takes place in Ballston Spa on July 15. 

Grosso Receives Rich Johns Tennis Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs High School senior Nick Grosso is this year’s recipient of the Rich Johns Tennis Award. The award was presented to him at the Blue Streaks Sports Award Ceremony on June 17 by Rich Johns himself. The Rich Johns Tennis Award goes to the most outstanding boys’ tennis players. 

“There could not be a more deserving young man to receive this award,” said Rich Johns. “Not only has Nick rewritten the record books as a tennis player, but has shown tremendous character throughout this high school career.” 

Ticket Sale Dates & Dining Reservations for 2021 Meet at Saratoga Race Course

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced ticket sale dates for all hospitality areas, including tickets for individual days, for the 2021 summer meet at the Saratoga Race Course, which opens Thursday, July 15 and continues through Monday, Sept. 6.

Grandstand season passes and NYRA Bets gift cards will be available for purchase at more than 150 participating Capital Region Stewart’s Shops on Monday, June 21.

Grandstand season passes will be available for $50 through July 18. A season pass provides fans with admission to all 40 days at Saratoga Race Course. Season passes do not include reserved seating. Grandstand season passes may be purchased online at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Clubhouse season passes are $75.

Stewart’s Shops is also the exclusive retailer of NYRA Bets Gift Cards, which are available in $50 denominations and can be used to bet Saratoga Race Course and hundreds of other tracks online with NYRA Bets. NYRA Bets Gift Cards are available at Stewart’s Shops through Sunday, Sept. 5. 

Please visit stewartsshops.com for locations. 

Single-day tickets for reserved seats in the Clubhouse, Grandstand, and The Stretch will be available via Ticketmaster.com on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 a.m. 

Single-day reservations for tables in the Fourstardave Sports Bar, Miller Lite Picnic Paddock, and The Rail at the 1863 Club will be available via Ticketmaster.com on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 a.m. 

Single-day dining reservations in the Turf Terrace, The Porch, and Club Terrace will be available via Ticketmaster.com on Wednesday, June 30 at 10 a.m. 

Season and weekly ticket plans are currently on sale at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Group hospitality reservations are currently available via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or by phone at 844-NYRA-TIX. Tables in the Festival Tent may be reserved via Ticketmaster.com. 

For more information about hospitality and dining areas at Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

AIM Services Croquet on the Green Event Aug. 3

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — AIM Services, Inc., one of the area’s largest providers of support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, announced the Eighth Annual Croquet on the Green Tournament & Garden Party is scheduled for Aug. 3 at Gavin Park in Wilton. 

Croquet on the Green Tournament & Garden Party, AIM Services’ signature summer event, is an outdoor party and amateur croquet tournament with teams of two, and is open to all ages, abilities, and skill. The event was successfully reinvented in 2020 because of COVID-19 and still raised more than $44,000 through a virtual “play on your own” activity that also helped support local businesses at a time where they needed it most. AIM is excited to be back in-person this year, with added surprises and an impressive list of sponsors. 

The annual Croquet on the Green event is officially sanctioned through the United States Croquet Association (USCA). Knowledgeable Croquet players will be on hand to guide the game. 

Returning this year is the event’s Honorary Chairman, Retired Hall of Fame Jockey, Ramon Dominguez. Sponsors and Honorary Committee members will attend a special pre-event party, The Hour of Potential, with Dominguez and other major supporters. 

“Among the people who receive services from AIM are those with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs),” said Dominquez. “As a jockey who had to retire early due to a head injury, I know that AIM gives people with TBIs a chance at living their most independent life possible.” 

Nearly 54 million people annually experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

Formed in 1979, AIM Services, Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit organization providing residential and community-based services to people with physical and intellectual disabilities, including those with traumatic brain injuries and those who are looking for nursing home transition or diversion. 

For more information on how to support AIM Services’ Croquet on the Green contact Marissa Romero at
mromero@aimservicesinc.org or visit www.aimservicesinc.org/events/croquet.

DEC’s First Archery Range Opens in Wilton

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

WILTON — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the opening of the Saratoga Sand Plains Archery Range in the town of Wilton on Thursday, June 17. The public archery range, formerly known as Parcel 45 Wildlife Management Area, is the first of its kind in New York State and will provide a unique recreational opportunity for both novice and expert bow hunters and archers. 

The 50-yard archery range has 16 targets, eight adult lanes ranging from 15 to 50 yards, four youth lanes ranging from five to 20 yards, and four lanes accessed by an elevated platform ranging up to 40 yards. The elevated platform simulates shots from a tree stand when deer hunting and allows archers to practice shots from known yardages and angles, promoting safer shot placements for both urban and rural settings. Archers must use a full body harness and connect to the carabiners on the platform while using the elevated stand. 

“DEC’s first-ever archery range, Saratoga Sand Plains will encourage more New Yorkers to take up archery as a sport and help prepare hunters for the hunting season,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “New and experienced bow and crossbow users will appreciate this opportunity to enjoy the recreational aspects of New York’s archery heritage. The range will also benefit the local community, and DEC thanks the town of Wilton and our other partners for their help to develop and open this new facility. 

The range was funded with approximately $15,000 with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program, New York State, and the town of Wilton. DEC worked closely with the town of Wilton on all phases of the project. The town donated time and materials, and town equipment helped clear trees and stumps, build the parking area, and construct the elevated platform. 

The archery range is close to several schools that participate in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and is a convenient location for the Saratoga County 4H Shooting Sports Program and DEC’s bowhunter education classes. 

The archery range is free and will be open and maintained year-round for public use during daylight hours. To protect public safety, visit www.dec.ny.gov for the rules and regulations that apply.