Women of Influence 2021
Author: Saratoga TODAY
County Lowers Hunting Age
County Lowers Firearm Deer Hunting Age to 12
BALLSTON SPA — The county this week voted to approve its participation in a pilot program that allows a hunting license holder who is 12 or 13 years of age to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzle loading firearm.
The activity must take place “in areas where and during the hunting season in which such implements may be used,” as well as when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or mentor, according to the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors’ resolution.
In his 2021-22 budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo included legislation that would allow 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow. Shortly after the budget was signed in April, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors promptly initiated action to hold a public hearing and vote on a Local Law authorizing county participation in the pilot program. The public hearing was held just prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday afternoon.
“Youth hunting has been a priority for me almost since I first took office,” Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner told the Board prior to their vote. “We have a good program for youth hunting that I hope will be the foundation for a permanent program as we move forward.”
The new legislation will be treated as a pilot for upstate counties through 2023. New York had been the only state to not authorize young hunters to use such weapons for larger game.
“This is an exciting development for the youth hunters in Saratoga County. Hunting is a formative activity for many families in our community, and we look forward to providing new opportunities for our young hunters to safely and effectively learn techniques to grow and improve their hunting season experience. We encourage the public to educate themselves on new and existing guidelines as we welcome the deer hunting season,” said Todd Kusnierz, Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
The new deer hunting guidelines were included in this year’s New York State Budget to enhance the economic opportunities of the local hunting industry and cultivate a strong initiation of new hunters.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors for joining this statewide initiative, young people in Saratoga County will have the opportunity to safely learn to use crossbows and firearms and engage in these outdoor activities and traditions,” Sen. Jim Tedisco told the board.
In line with the new legislation requirements, each qualified county is required to “opt-in” on the adoption of the new program for 12 and 13-year-olds. If completed and notified by June 1 the accepted counties’ decision will be published in the DEC’s annual hunting and trapping regulations guide. The final date to notify officials is Sept. 1.
Saratoga Springs City School District Budget Vote and Board of Election Results
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Residents of the school district approved the proposed $134,623,813 school budget for the 2021-2022 school year by a vote of 3,318 to 1,152.
The budget is balanced through a combination of state aid, property taxes, and fund balance, and included a tax levy change of 2.25%. It is in line with the District’s Pathway Vision and enhances academic programs and services such as the addition of an English as a New Language teacher, resources for ELA curriculum renewal, expansion of the extended school year program, a 1:1 device for incoming ninth graders, and a tech support position.
Also passed by a vote of 3,449 to 1,017 was Proposition 2, the bus bond proposition to spend an estimated $1,165,000 on six 66-passenger buses, three 30-passenger buses, 2 24-passenger buses, and one service vehicle. State aid will reimburse the district for approximately 40%.
District residents also voted to elect three candidates to the Board of Education for three-year terms. Connie Woytowich received 2,851 votes. John Ellis received 2,344 votes. Amanda Ellithorpe received 2,251 votes. Casey Putnam received 2,232 votes. Christina Kraszewski received 2,208 votes.
*Please note that the budget vote and Board of Education election results were unofficial at the time this was written. They were reviewed and verified at the Board of Education meeting on May 19.
Karen Susan Stevens
March 13, 1952 – May 10, 2021
ALBANY – Karen Susan Stevens went peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2021, at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY.
Karen was born on March 13, 1952, in Saratoga Springs. She was the only daughter of James E. and Theresa (Hebert) Stevens, who predeceased her.
Karen graduated from St. Clement’s Grade School, received a diploma from Saratoga Springs High School, and she was on the dean’s list and graduated cum laude from Adirondack Community College with an associate degree in psychology. She also attended Skidmore College and the College of St. Rose.
Karen lived independently with mental illness her whole life and was a hero to many that knew her! Until a few years ago, when she needed some living assistance, she was a lifelong resident of Saratoga.
Karen, like her mother, was always a fashion plate when she left the house, always well put together, very personable and well liked. Also like her mother, she would sometimes don clown attire as “Sparkles the Clown” and “clown around” with her mother or maybe without clown attire singing with the Young at Heart Chorus, directed by her mother, in various venues around the Saratoga area.
When she was ten years old, she acted in Summer Stock at the Spa Summer Theater, appearing in Finian’s Rainbow, Teahouse of the August Moon, South Pacific, Carousel, and later she was a member of the Glens Falls Operetta Club appearing in Fiddler on the Roof and High Spirits.
Karen started dance training at the age of four and studied under several famous dance instructors, such as The Brianskys, Melissa Hayden, Edward Villela, Paul Sanasardo, Alvin Ailey, The University of Utah Dance Co., Phyllis Latin, and Michael Steele.
Karen did volunteer work in geriatrics at Saratoga Hospital, where she visited and did art projects, gave an occasional manicure, directed sing-alongs with patients and assisted the head of the volunteers in showing films on Wednesday nights. Her efforts there earned her an award for being an exceptional volunteer.
On June 13, 1985, Karen received a Certificate of Completion from VO-TEC Center in office procedures and Word Processing.
Karen did volunteer work and dance therapy at Glens Falls Mental Health Clinic and Saratoga Mental Health Clinic for which she was named in Who’s Who in American Colleges for 1992. She choreographed at Adirondack Community College and was offered a position there as dance instructor. These associations helped her to know just how to interrelate with people with various forms of mental handicaps.
Karen also worked as a sales representative at Montgomery Ward, office worker and switchboard operator at VO-TEC in Saratoga, and a waitress and night maid at the Gideon Putnam Hotel.
Karen worked at Unlimited Potential, a workshop business, where she learned a variety of woodworking skills. She also learned the art of flower arranging and some library skills. She was a painter and did paintings and wooden plaques that were used as a decorative display in the agency’s store front and offered for sale. She eventually became a receptionist and front office worker. Among the awards she received at UP were as the most dependable worker, Worker of the Month for February 1990, and Worker of the Year for 1990.
Karen volunteered at the Book Bag, the resale shop at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, for many years in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In 2003 she won the Marie Madden Award for her dedication to the job.
Karen volunteered at WIC in the 1990’s. Seeing the little ones that were helped through this program gave her great joy and helped her to keep a healthy and objective outlook on life.
Karen was a member of the Saratoga Junior Civic League, Homemade Theatre, the Sweet Adelines, and the Capital District Psychiatric Center Mental Health Players performing throughout the Capital District bringing awareness to the public through improvisational role-playing dealing with issues relating to mental illness, mental health services, and community problems. She acted as both a performer and consultant.
Karen is predeceased by her parents, her youngest brother, Patrick, who was born on her birthday eight years after her, her maternal aunts, Alice Maher in 2001, Matilda DiNovo in 2007.
Karen is survived by two brothers: Thomas of Dallas, TX; Joseph (Janie) of Bothell, WA; one uncle, Leo Hebert of Vero Beach, FL; a niece, Cindy Stevens Thenhaus of Renton, WA; a nephew, Robert Stevens (Rachel) of Mill Creek, WA; a step-nephew, Ryan Orth (Gail) of Burien, WA; and a step-niece, Christa Orth (Ali Cotterill) of Brooklyn, NY, and five great nieces and nephews, Leilah and Jaidyn Thenhaus, Garnet and Edgar Orth, and Rhiannon Stevens.
The family will have a celebration of life later TBD. You may go to www.burkefuneralhome.com to sign the guest book, leave a sentiment and post pictures.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Saratoga Senior Center, 5 Williams St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (https://saratogaseniorcenter.org/donate/) or to NAMI Eastside in Redmond, WA.( https://nami-eastside.org/donate/).
#DiscoverNYDairy
CLIFTON PARK — The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition (NYAAC) presented a $1,000 check on Friday, May 7 to Shenendehowa Middle School students and Technology Teachers Andy Mink and Rock Travis, for volunteering to help build life-size cow displays. The dairy cows are part of a statewide effort to educate New Yorkers on all things dairy. The cows will be traveling across the state beginning in June, which is National Dairy Month. A total of 12 students participated in the effort to build the bases for the cows.
The cows were picked up from the school on Friday, May 7 by NYAAC Executive Director Eileen Jensen. They are now traveling to Central New York to be delivered to artists who were selected through an RFP process to paint the cows, highlighting dairy farms, dairy products, and farm facts.
Once complete, the cows will kick-off #DiscoverNYDairy – a social media campaign aimed at highlighting the faces and farms behind our food, and to educate New Yorkers on all things dairy. The cows will visit well-known landmarks, destinations, and restaurants across the state. The cows will travel from Central New York down to Long Island and back up again, stopping at familiar places where dairy products are sold to help New Yorkers discover delicious dairy products, and the faces and farms that help get those products to our kitchen tables.
How to #DiscoverNYDairy
NYAAC’s Discovery NY Dairy campaign will launch on social media during National Dairy Month in June. You can follow along on NYAAC’s social media pages.
Athlete of the Week: Hannah Decker
Congrats to this week’s Athlete of the Week – Hannah Decker!
Hannah is a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, and is in the final year of her competition dance season. She competes for the studio, Spa City Dance and the Arts in Ballston Spa, where she is also an instructor and has a mini group of little ladies competing in tap with her choreography.
Hannah has been competing in dance since she was nine years old, and dancing since she was four years old. Her primary craft is tap dance, but she also competes in group lyrical, jazz, and contemporary dance styles. Just this year alone, she has received many awards and judges’ individual recognitions at her competitions. She is performing two tap solos this year, as last year’s dance competition season was canceled due to the pandemic. She placed 1st in her senior solo category, and received a “Tap Attack” judge’s shoutout at the Power Dance competition that was recently held at the Saratoga Hilton. She has been recognized for her performance style and excellence in entertainment with her tap solos. In the fall of 2020, she was awarded the “total package” special award for her tap solo performance. Her group dances have done exceptionally well this year in competition too, and she loves performing with this group of ladies.
Outside of dance, she is an honors student and a member of the National Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society. She will be attending the University of New Hampshire, intending to study secondary education with a focus in biology and the life sciences. She aspires to dance on the college dance team at UNH too.
Stillwater Varsity Boys’ XC Are League Champions
STILLWATER — On April 27, the Stillwater Varsity Boys’ Cross-Country Team claimed the title of Wasaren League Champions for only the second time in the program’s history. Led by the efforts of sophomore rookie Dan Patrick, the boys won decisively over runner-up Berlin/New Lebanon. Members of the team in order of finish: Dan Patrick, Will Lutz, Michel Ghorayeb, Frank Perniciaro, Nevan Doubleday, Adam Conklin, Amoun Ghorayeb, and Gabe Williams. Coach McClements credits the team’s success to the effectiveness of the team to “pack up” and the great chemistry between the athletes. No seniors on this team, so they look forward to continued success in the Fall season.
Varsity Baseball and Softball Teams Take the Field
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local high school varsity baseball and softball seasons get underway.
SCC v. Waterford Varsity Baseball
Saratoga Central Catholic Varsity Baseball picked up their second win of the season in their first Wasaren League game, beating Waterford 8-5 on Saturday, May 8 at home. For Saratoga Central Catholic, Anthony Barile went 2 for 5 with a triple and a run scored. Chris Gill went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a sac fly for an RBI. Ben Hajos went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Waterford’s Gavin Bodah went 1 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs. Winning pitcher Tyler Weygand threw four innings and gave up 2 hits and 1 earned run. He walked 5 and struck out 8. Saratoga Central Catholic’s overall record improves to 2-0. Waterford’s record falls to 1-1.
SCC v. Berlin/New Lebanon Varsity Baseball
Saratoga Central Catholic Varsity Baseball blanked Berlin/New Lebanon, 10-0, in an away non-league game on Monday, May 10. Pitchers Pierce Byrne and Charlie Greiner combined on a two-hitter. Byrne, a 7th grader, gave up one hit over 4 innings, with 9 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 1 hit by pitch. Ryan McCarroll went 1 for 3 with a triple, 1 RBI, and a run scored. Aidan Crowther went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Anthony Barile went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Dylan Mulholland went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Berlin/New Lebanon’s Matt Corsey went 2 for 2, both singles. Saratoga Central Catholic’s overall record improves to 3-0. Berlin/New Lebanon’s record is 0-2.
SCC v. Berlin/New Lebanon Varsity Softball
Saratoga Central Catholic Varsity Softball beat Berlin/New Lebanon in a close game, 3-1, away on Monday, May 10. Molly O’Reilly played outstanding on the mound, pitching seven innings with 13 strikeouts and one earned run. Freshman Calliegh Sisk was behind the plate for all seven innings. First baseman Ryleigh Dempsey had the go ahead single in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Saints ahead. The game ended with a great catch by freshman Rylee Cornell who came off the bench in the fourth inning. The Saints league record is 2-0, and their overall record is now 2-1.
Saratoga Springs v. Ballston Spa Varsity Baseball
Saratoga Springs Varsity Baseball had a 3-1 win over Ballston Spa on Monday, May 10. Saratoga Springs’s P. Deschaine went 2 for 2 with 1 run scored. A. Teator went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. N. Joly went 1 for 3 with 1 run scored and an RBI. S. Hudson went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Ballston Spa’s C. Checca went 2 for 4, E. Hodnett went 1 for 3, and A. SantaBarbara also went 1 for 3. Winning pitcher A. Teator pitched 4 innings, giving up 2 hits and 1 earned run. He struck out 5 and walked 5. E. Hodnett was the losing pitcher of record.
Saratoga Springs v. Ballston Spa Varsity Baseball
Saratoga Springs Varsity Softball lost 20-7 against Ballston Spa on Monday, May 10. For the Scotties, J. Russell went 4 for 6 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBIs. P. Witalec went 2 for 4 with 1 run scored and 3 RBIs. T. Russell went 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. A. Piscitelli went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. For the Blue Streaks, M. Vaughn went 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored and 2 walks, G. Cornell went 1 for 2 with 1 run scored and 2 walks, and B. Labate went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs. Winning pitcher L. Wiltsie pitched 6 innings, gave up 5 hits and 1 earned run. She struck out 6 and walked 1 batter. Saratoga’s pitcher B. Labate got the loss, giving up seven earned runs in three innings, striking out 3 and walking 3.
