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Tackling Chronic Absenteeism: “It’s All About Relationships”

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Education, Featured.

Class room tables and chairs with Paper documents of exam test on desk in examination school while blur asian girls students taking reading for testing in classroom school, Student uniform in Thailand

GANSEVOORT — David Torres has been combating absenteeism in Saratoga County schools for more than 30 years. In that time, he’s developed a one-word mantra that could be helpful to any educator hoping to keep kids in the classroom: relationships.

“I’ll say it over and over again: relationships, relationships, relationships. Building relationships, positive relationships, with students and their families,” Torres told Saratoga TODAY. “Gaining that trust with students and their families that you can trust someone from the school to help you out.”

Torres was an attendance supervisor in the Saratoga Springs City School District for 28 years. He now serves as the community outreach liaison for the Corinth Central School District. On Monday, he hosted a School Attendance Symposium at the WSWHE BOCES Student Support Center that focused on improving chronic absenteeism in Capital Region schools.

Torres said that in his many interactions with students from across the region, he’s encountered a number of issues that contribute to chronic absenteeism: bullying, boredom, mental health struggles, and medical problems, to name a few. But ultimately, each student, he said, has their own reason for avoiding school. 

“Every family is different and we have these generic school attendance policies and they’re all well and good, but when it really comes down to it, each individual is absent for their reason. It belongs to them,” Torres said. “You’ve got to break it down and really gain trust with parents and kids.”

The New York State Education Department defines chronic absenteeism as a student missing at least 10% of school days within one academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions.

Earlier this month, a report by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli stated that chronic absenteeism rates increased significantly as schools transitioned back to in-person learning after the COVID-19 pandemic and remained high during the 2022-2023 school year.

“Chronic absenteeism has been linked to lower grades, lower standardized test scores, and increased risk of dropout,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Students who chronically miss classroom time often fall behind. Reducing chronic absenteeism will be essential for turning around pandemic-era learning loss. School districts need to engage students, families, and their communities to address this troubling issue.”

Engaging students and families may be easier said than done, however, especially if school personnel lack the necessary experience for building the kind of relationships that can make a difference in students’ lives.

“It would be nice if the New York State Education Department mandated community outreach people so districts can get funds for that, but they don’t,” Torres said. “[Community outreach is] more difficult  when you have to teach social studies, math, English, science, P.E., and other required subjects.”

Although the challenge of combating chronic absenteeism may seem daunting, Torres said significant improvements are being made in Corinth, which reached its goal of a 90% graduation rate in only two years. 

In Saratoga Springs, data released earlier this year showed that chronic absenteeism rates among 1st through 8th graders declined from 17.8% in 2021-2022 to 15.5% in 2022-2023. Similarly, rates among 9th through 12th graders declined from 28.1% in 2021-2022 to 25.5% the following school year. 

The district attributed the declining rates, in part, to the use of ParentSquare, a service that sends automated absentee notifications and allows parents to communicate directly with attendance clerks. In July of this year, the Schuylerville Central School District also began using ParentSquare.

“It’s not impossible to change behavior and change how people look at school education,” Torres said. “[One parent’s] kid went from 44 absences in first grade to having perfect attendance in second grade. It’s incredible. It’s very rewarding to hear from parents and from former students that when they were 16 or 15 or 14, I made an impact. Even though I might not have seen it then, I see it now when they are parents of their own kids.”

Paid Parking in Spa City: Here To Stay, or Gone Tomorrow?  

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —More than two dozen downtown business owners convened at City Hall last week to meet with city Mayor John Safford. The group of entrepreneurs largely expressed displeasure with the inaugural paid parking system the city implemented during the summer season, and pointed to the paid parking plan as a cause for lost sales revenue while requesting its planned return for summer 2025 be terminated. 

How successful their plea was, has yet to be determined, however.    

“We are asking that the paid parking program in Saratoga Springs be halted,” said John Nemjo, owner of Saratoga Outdoors and Life is Good Saratoga, on Broadway. 

“My intention right now is to try it for another year,” said Mayor Safford, whose response was largely met with groans of disapproval from those in attendance. 

In early 2024, the City Council unanimously approved a paid parking project slated to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The plan would charge motorists coming to the city from outside Saratoga Springs $2 per hour to park at six city-owned parking garages and surface lots, while local residents would be provided free parking passes.

The anticipated seasonal revenue for 2024 was approximately $1.6 million, with expenses estimated at about $450,000, resulting in an estimated first year net gain of over $1.1 million. Of that, the city says it would re-invest $100,000 of the revenue gained in the Downtown Business Association. 

In real-time application, the program didn’t go into effect until mid-June and generated just over $275,000. The project cost about $144,000 to implement the first year – nearly $124,000 of which was for the one-time purchase of equipment, according to city DPW manager Michael Veitch, who also noted any potential income coming from parking ticket fees was not included in the figures. 

The near $131,000 net revenue produced for the city was far below its $1.1 million net projections. As such, it appears the $100,000 earmarked for DBA won’t be coming. 

“We were told we weren’t going to get it,” said Heidi West, owner of Lifestyles Saratoga, Caroline + Main, and Union Hall Supply Co.  

“Promises were broken, (and) the revenue forecast – totally unrealistic.” Nemjo added. 

The merchants say paid parking is a deterrent to their nearby, non-city resident customer base coming into town, and that having a ticking time limit imposed upon visitors who do park keep from walking around town and taking full advantage of the multitude of the city’s offerings.     

“The thing is the city needs revenue,” Mayor Safford told the group, explaining he is opposed to raising taxes, but that Saratoga Springs faces a problem where income is not meeting expenses. “The city is in that situation. You guys are the creative ones,” the mayor said, tossing the baton of inspiring revenue generating ideas to business owners. “Maybe we need some feedback: if not paid parking, how can we solve this problem?”   

“Why would you need to balance your budget on the backs of the small business owner?” responded one business operator in attendance. “We need to be competitive with all the other communities that exist around here, and if people have to pay to park here, we’re not competitive anymore.”   

“The city’s financial gain should not be at our expense. You’re hurting us and it will hurt the city in the long run if this keeps up,” Nemjo said.   “I think people would come back in great numbers if you did suspend it for next year. What we are asking is that the paid parking program in Saratoga Springs be halted.”  

“I’d like them to pause it for at least a year. Right from the start, we had ideas about what the program would look like, told them all the problems that might occur and – here we are. It’s all happened,” West added. “My hope is that they will listen to us as the small business community listened to the people who live here and really hear what’s being said: people really don’t want this.” 

The mayor and the downtown business owners agreed to have more dialogue in the future and exchange ideas about where to go next. The plan is set to go into effect Memorial Day 2025. Veitch estimated revenue for a full-seasonal program in 2025 at $465,000. Just over 13,700 parking permits were issued to residents, and downtown business employees. Library patrons are also included in the permit-issued tally.  

Timeline: How We Got Here

December 2023 – City Council presentation. Proposal of a seasonal tourism parking program would charge visitors for parking at three city-owned parking garages, two surface lots and implement time-limited parking on some downtown streets beginning May 1, 2024 and extend through Sept. 30. On-street permits would provide free parking for residents and downtown business employees. The program is estimated to return nearly $2.5 million in revenue to the city. 

February 2024 – City Officials provide an update. The plan, changed in name from “Tourism Parking” to “Seasonal Parking,” looks to implement a program to affect more than 2,000 existing parking spaces (1,300 on-street and 800 in garages and lots) in the downtown area located east and west of Broadway, with Broadway remaining unchanged. Anticipated first-season gross revenue: just over $2 million, offset by about $750,000 in costs, leaving a net income of just over $1.2 million. Some of those initial costs would be first-year implementation expenses, so the city’s net income could conceivably be higher in future years. 

March 2024 – Following a presentation to more than 50 downtown business owners, the city announces it has made “streamlined adjustments in response to great stakeholder feedback.” The new proposal suggests seasonal paid parking in garages and atop surface lots only, with plans for on-street paid parking altogether eliminated. The plan is also looking at a shorter timeframe compared to the initial May 1-Sept. 30 proposal. Implementation is now proposed for Memorial Day to Labor Day.

April 2024 – A 65-minute Public Hearing is held regarding the proposal at City Hall. Plan includes both free permit (for downtown businesses owners and city residents) and paid parking (for those outside the city limits) in six city-owned garages and surface lots only. Visitors can pay $2 an hour to park in the garages and surface lots. 

Anticipated seasonal revenue for 2024 expected to be approximately $1.6 million, with expenses estimated at about $450,000, resulting in an estimated first year net gain of over $1.1 million.

Of that, the city says it will invest $100,000 of revenue gained in the DBA (“a dedicated marketing professional for the Downtown Business Association”), $50,000 into Parking Structure Capital Reserve, $75,000 into a Downtown Improvement Reserve, and $40,000 into a Recreation Parking program. 

The City Council votes 5-0 to unanimously approve the plan. An online portal where residents and downtown business owners may apply for permits is anticipated to roll out by the end of April. 

“We have a three-month period here to see how it works and I think it’s worth doing,” said Mayor John Safford, adding that some of the revenue generated will be earmarked to help resolve homeless issues, although how much of, or where those funds would be applied was not specified. 

May 2024 – The city public library announces its parking lot with approximately 75 spaces will go to a paid parking scheme during the summer, with provisions made to allow city library cardholders to continue to park free of charge during the library’s normal hours of operation. The Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved a pair of measures during its May 7 meeting, allowing the proposal to come to fruition, and estimates the library lot is anticipated to return approximately $52,000 in revenues. 

The city also announces its previously anticipated Memorial Day garage and surface lot pay plan has been pushed to a post-June 9 start, following the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes.  The pay station plan eventually gets underway in mid-June. 

Early voting begins

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Early voting gets underway Saturday, Oct. 26 at six polling sites in Saratoga County. All voters may vote at any poll site. 

Early Voting is just like voting on Election Day. Early voters privately mark and scan their ballot. Early voting results are counted, tabulated and included in (unofficial) election night totals.

Early voters are provided with nine days to vote in person prior to Election Day. Early voting dates and hours of operation are provided by local County Boards of Elections.

Voters who have applied for an Early Vote by Mail or Absentee Ballot are not permitted to vote on the voting machines, but may be issued an Affidavit Ballot.

Voters who cast a ballot during Early Voting will not be allowed to vote on Election Day. 

To see a list of early voting polling site locations and times of operation.

Saratoga Springs Approves Jan. 28 “Special” Election for Vacant Council Seat 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —It is the day some of the music world’s biggest stars came together to record the song “We Are The World,” and the day of tragedy when millions watched NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger explode shortly after liftoff on live TV. January 28 marks the date Jackson Pollock was born, the date W.B. Yeats died, and in 2025 will potentially be the day when voters in Saratoga Springs head to local polls to elect a member who will fill the City Council’s vacant fifth seat. 

The City Council on Oct. 15 approved a resolution to request a “special” election be held Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 to elect a Commissioner of Public Works/City Council member. 

The Jan. 28 proposal now heads to the Saratoga County Board of Elections to seek the approval of county election commissioners Cassandra Bagramian (D) and Joseph Suhrada (R) and onward for the ultimate approval from the state Board of Elections. 

The Commissioner of Public Works is departmentally responsible for oversight of Saratoga Springs’ street and highway maintenance, its buildings and grounds, and for ensuring that the water system provides sufficient quantities of safe potable water, among other duties. 

The position also plays a role in the legislative body of city government by placing the commissioner at the City Council table. The Council proposes and enacts legislation and establishes policy for the city. The mayor and four commissioners form the five-member City Council, and having five members is key in potentially acting as a tiebreaking vote in any deadlocked city-related decisions at the table where majority rules.    

The seat has been vacant for two months. Prior DPW Commissioner Jason Golub announced his pending resignation in mid-July with a departure date in mid-August. The remaining four-member City Council had been unable to come to majority consensus regarding how it should proceed to fill the seat, until this week’s agreement on a “special” election date.  

Additional resolutions aimed at finding a temporary solution by appointing someone as DPW Commissioner/City Council member, however, were unsuccessful. Those plans sought to first appoint members to an ad hoc committee to invite, interview and recommend – in a non-binding way – qualified candidates to assist the council in determining who would meet their ultimate approval. A revised version may potentially be presented at the council’s next scheduled meeting in early November.  

The term of the seat to be filled, like all current City Council seats, would be active through Dec. 31, 2025.   

A Guide to October Mischief

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Calendar, Featured.

Haunted Saratoga Ghost Tours

Come walk with us and hear the stories of Haunted Saratoga. Hear the stories that have lived on in our city for hundreds of years. They will enchant, entertain, and perhaps even scare you. Our 90-minute-long walking tour will take you in search of the countless ghosts rumored to haunt the city. Total walking distance is less than a mile, covered at a very leisurely pace so that you can enjoy Saratoga’s many infamous ghosts and haunted locations. The tour covers parts of Congress Park and downtown Saratoga Springs. Specific meeting instructions will be sent by email when the tours are booked. Friday and Saturday through October. Cost is $22 adults, $10 kids under 12. HauntedSaratogaTours.com

ANNUAL ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW FUNDRAISER

Get ready to do the time warp once more! RISE Housing and Support Services is thrilled to announce the third annual Rocky Horror Picture Show fundraiser happening on Friday, October 25, at 6 p.m., at the Universal Preservation Hall, 125 Washington St., Saratoga Springs. This year, the venue will once again transform into a scene straight out of Dr. Frank N. Furter’s mansion, as attendees enjoy a unique and interactive viewing of the cult classic film. The event begins with a special VIP cocktail hour, complete with passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations provided by The Adelphi, an open bar, and live music by Stretch. A brief speaking program then, it’s showtime—get ready for a night of thrilling audience participation! For tickets or more information, visit https://www.riseservices.org/event/rocky-horror-picture-show/

ZOMBIE ZIPS – A NIGHT OF TERROR

Mountain Ridge Adventure, 300 Weatherwax Rd., Schenectady. Your nightmare begins with a corpse-guided tour along a serial killer infested forest to then be hauled into the trees among complete, utter horror. Once in the trees you will be launched in complete darkness … alone, afraid and vulnerable … along a screaming steel cable hundreds of feet along Mountain Ridge Adventure’s awesome Zip Line Park. ZOMBIE ZIP LINING is intended for mature audiences ONLY. Ages 14 and above will be strictly adhered to.  Friday and Saturday nights through October 26. For more information, visit mountainridgeadventure.com 

HAUNTED CORN MAZE

Are you wondering what comes out at night in the corn maze? Stop by and enter our Field of Screams Friday and Saturday nights in October to find out! You will never experience anything quite like the Field of Screams! Every twist and turn in the maze will hold a new surprise for you. As you navigate your way thru the corn maze, with just a flashlight to light your way, anticipation and fear will build inside of you. There are demons and ghouls around every bend…masked men with chainsaws following behind you…haunted buildings within the maze to pass thru…and many more surprises that will make you laugh and cry. Open Dusk until 10 p.m. (last ticket sold 9:15 p.m., no exceptions). For more information, visit Schuylerfarms.com

NIGHTMARES AT LIBERTY RIDGE FARM

At Nightmares at Liberty Ridge Farm, you will find a variety of haunted attractions, all full of the scariest monsters and creepiest creatures you can dream up. Each attraction is scarier than the one before, and they’re sure to leave everyone who enters trembling with fear. Featuring multiple haunted attractions for the price of one! Farmer’s Haunted House, Field of Screams, Underground Tunnel, 3D McCobb Manor. Forest of Fear. Screams begin at 7 p.m. Last admission sold at 9:30 p.m. Farm closes after all guests have completed Nightmares. Liberty Ridge Farm, 29 Bevis Road Schaghticoke, NY 12154. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit LRFnightmares.com. 

FIELD OF HORRORS

Located at 100 Farrell Rd., Troy. Field of Horrors offers several different attractions for the price of one! Check out Return of Mummy’s Curse, The Crypt, Insanity, Condemned Manor, and more, including the “Walking Trail of Terror.” Field of Horrors is not recommended for children under 10. Strobe lights are in use throughout the premises. All fog machine liquid is water based. This is not a handicap accessible facility. October 11-13: 6:30 – 11 p.m, October 18-20, October 25-27, November 2 (Extreme Scare Night): 6 – 11 p.m. Gates close at 11 p.m. and you need at least 2 hours to get through all attractions. For more information, visit fieldofhorrors.com.

HAUNTED HAYRIDE 

Each wagon has a narrator on board to guide the way through the darkness. Around each and every corner there’s a frightful scene and behind each and every tree lurks an uninvited guest waiting for you! The woods are filled with terror and surprise, an atmosphere sure to make you scream. At the conclusion of the hayride, your journey will continue on foot into Brutality, a post-apocalyptic compound. Then, you’ll come to Blood Moon Farm (see what lurks among the rows!). Next up is The Last Inn, a residence that is known for a disappearing guest or two and a vicious staff. Then enter the Doom County FEARgrounds, a carnival where there will be no fun and games. Your destination is Slaughter Swamp, a dangerous environment straight out of the bayou. Book your reservation now online or by calling 518-884-9122. October 11-13, October 18-20, October 24-27, and October 31 – November 2. For more Information, visit https://doublemhauntedhayrides.com/reservations/

Ghosts of Saratoga Trolley Tours

Thursday, October 17, 7 – 8:30 p.m. A unique 90-minute guided trolley tour of numerous ghostly locations in Saratoga, including the second floor of the famed Canfield Casino. Pursue the stories of Saratoga that make the city a portal of paranormal activity. Led by local historian Charlie Kuenzel, the stories are derived from research by noted ghost hunter David Pitkin and other paranormal investigators.  Get on board for a fun filled evening of eerie entertainment! Join us if you dare! Advanced reservations only.  Due to the macabre material, this tour is recommended for adults only. For their safety, please leave your pets at home. No food or alcoholic beverages on board the trolley – water only please! You’ll be transported in the comfort of a beautiful trolly but please dress according to the season –costumes are welcomed! Please call the Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center: 518-587-3241, Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

3rd Annual Witch Walk & Dance

An exciting community event blending fun, philanthropy, and Halloween spirit, returns to Saratoga Springs on Saturday, October 19. Hosted by Witch Walk SOSA (Southern Saratoga), this event will raise crucial funds to support local animal rescue efforts while offering participants a magical day filled with entertainment, costumes, and more. Participants are encouraged to wear their best witch costumes and join the enchanting walk and dances through downtown Saratoga Springs. The festivities will begin at 37 High Rock Ave, Lower-Level Parking Garage, and culminate in a lively celebration featuring local vendors, live performances, and Halloween-themed activities. For full details about participation, donations, or sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://www.discoversaratoga.org/witch-walk-sosa/ or contact Phaedra aka Wylda “Head Witch” at witchwalksosa@gmail.com or 518-882-9286.

Greenfield Fall Festival 

October 20 at Brookhaven Golf Course, 333 Alpine Meadows Rd., Porter Corners. The free event includes an Oktoberfest 5K at 10 a.m. (register at skireg.com) and is followed by a full afternoon including trick or treating to decorated golf carts sprinkled on the course, Giant Pumpkin and donut eating contests, live music, food specials, a live animal show and more. The afternoon festivities are from 1 to 5 p.m. Interested businesses, families and other groups may reserve a golf cart to decorate and handout candy. Call 518-893-7432, ext. 307 to reserve a cart and participate in the fun. No registration is necessary to attend the free event.

Twilight Greenridge Cemetery Tour

“Madness, Murder, Untimely Deaths, and Strange Coincidences”. Join tour leader Gloria May to get in the spooky Halloween spirit by exploring Greenridge Cemetery at dusk. This tour meets at the Sackett Gate entrance on Lincoln Avenue, Saratoga Springs, at 5 p.m. on October 22. Tours last approximately 90 minutes, require walking and standing on varied terrain and are held rain or shine. Tours will be limited to thirty and tickets must be purchased in advance.  The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members. Foundation Members with stroll passes must call the office in advance to reserve their spot.  For additional information on this autumn stroll or to purchase tickets to any of these upcoming tours visit the website saratogapreservation.org, call 518-587-5030, or email Administrative Assistant, at admin@saratogapreservation.org.

ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE FOR CHARITY

The Fraternal Order of Eagles #2486’s Annual Haunted House is back on Friday, October 25, 6 -10 p.m. and Saturday, October 26 from 5 – 10 p.m. at 80 Main St., South Glens Falls.  Admission is free but donations are encouraged to help local charities and families in need. Don’t be a Scaredy Cat, bring your friends and family for a scary good time! 

STILLWATER FALL FETIVAL

Saturday, October 26, Noon – 4 p.m. Various locations in Stillwater. Walk through the Village while trick-or-treating and playing games for free! Some organizations have food, some have snacks, all have the goodies! Make sure to come in costume and bring your crowd-friendly animals too! Haunted firehouse, Trunk-or-Treat, and so much more!

TRUNK & TREATS

A free event hosted at the F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga Springs, October 26, 2 – 5 p.m. Trucks from local businesses will roll down to the education center at 15 Henning Road in Saratoga Springs, gather in the parking lot and give out treats to the public. Additional food items will be available for purchase. Back hoes, excavators, dump trucks, cement trucks, ladder truck, tow plow and tractor trailers will be some of the many types of trucks on display. WSWHE BOCES alumni and staff will also participate by decorating their vehicles. For more information about the event, email SBitzer@dwswheboces.org. 

Annual Boo2You Halloween Festival

Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. Children and their grown-ups are encouraged to attend in costume to trick-or-treat and enjoy the festivities. This event is rain or shine, unless the weather is unsafe.  Activities include trick-or-treating at downtown storefronts and along the sidewalks, live dance performances by local dance groups, music by DJ Young Pete, free pony rides and more! The majority of the action will take place along Glen and Ridge Streets, and in City Park, all in Downtown Glens Falls. 

Halloween Ghost Tours of the Canfield Casino

Join our ghost tours on October 30, 5 – 7 p.m., for a spine-tingling journey! Step into the Canfield Casino, Saratoga Springs’ most haunted and historic landmark, for a Halloween experience you’ll never forget! Historic and Haunted: The Canfield Casino isn’t just any old building—it’s one of the most haunted places in America! Featured on Ghost Hunters and named the 4th Most Terrifying Place in America by the Travel Channel, this is where history and the paranormal collide. Eerie Atmosphere: Feel the chills as you explore darkened corridors and shadowy corners where the spirits of the past still linger. The very air inside seems to whisper of untold stories and ghostly encounters. Tours are limited and sell out quickly, so don’t wait! For just $25 per person, you can embark on a journey through the haunted halls of the Canfield Casino. Pick your preferred time slot and get ready for a hauntingly unforgettable experience.

FRIGHT FEST

Fright by Night – Be very afraid. We’ve heightened the fright this year at Six Flags. Come if you dare. No costumes for guest over the age of 12. For days, times and ticket information, visit https://www.sixflags.com/greatescape/events/fright-fest

Boo Fest by Day

Explore spooky fun for all ages every Saturday and Sunday through October 27. Family favorite coasters and park rides in the daylight,  trick-or-treating around the park and activities while exploring what the park has to offer. Free admission for kids under 2 yrs. old. https://www.sixflags.com/greatescape/events/kids-boo-fest

Spa Catholic Soccer Squad Has Miraculous Season

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


Saratoga Central Catholic girls soccer coaches Brian Venn and Tony Nucera pose alongside the team prior to their “pink” game against Mekeel Christian Academy on Monday afternoon. Photo by Super Source Media.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Perhaps it’s fitting that the Saratoga Central Catholic girls soccer team is called the Saints; it’s a small miracle that the team exists in the first place.

While other Spa Catholic sports have modified, junior varsity, and varsity teams, the girls soccer program has been struggling just to put together one varsity team, Coach Brian Venn said.

“Sometimes we don’t have enough for a full roster,” Venn said. “Our first couple of games this year, we didn’t have enough subs, so we were sometimes playing shorthanded.”

Despite the team struggling to recruit enough players to take the field, they’ve managed to win 7 games this season and have a realistic shot at finishing with a .500 winning percentage.  And some of the Saints’ notable on-field contributors include several girls who had never even played organized soccer before.

“Word of mouth is powerful, especially for kids that have never played before,” Venn said. “Having their friends say, ‘don’t be nervous, don’t have anxiety, just come out and have fun.’”

One senior, Emily Sylvain, decided to sign up for soccer despite not having much experience on the field. At the Saints’ October 14 game against Mekeel Christian Academy, she was the squad’s starting striker.

But Sylvain isn’t the Saints’ only success story. Senior captain Sydney Caracci is one of the team’s leaders in both goals and assists. Sophomore captain Addison Quail leads the team in assists and is credited with helping first-year players. Senior Grace Venn, a second-year captain, solidifies the middle and right sides of the team’s defense, while also offering guidance to younger players. And juniors Ava Brown and Allison Fuller are poised to become standouts next year as the team continues to grow, Venn said.

The biggest success story, however, may be Coach Venn and Co-Coach Tony Nucera’s determined efforts to revitalize the school’s soccer program.

“[The goal] is to make Spa Catholic a destination for soccer, not only girls, but boys as well,” Venn said. “I think a lot of our planning is going to have to do with creating a smaller pipeline where we can look at some of the other, not only diocese schools, but also public schools, and make it more appealing if your daughter or son is playing soccer to come to Spa Catholic. Up until this year, we really haven’t had the momentum to make it a soccer destination and that’ll take four or five years, I’m sure.”

In the meantime, the Saints are focused on winning their final game of the season. If they do, they’ll enter the postseason as a third or fourth seed, something the team hasn’t done in nearly a decade.

It would be just another small, unexpected miracle for the Saints.

Saratoga Pinball Wizard Hopes to Open Playable Museum

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


Pinball machines at the Saratoga Silverball Show in 2023.
 Photo provided by Lonnie Linen.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When Lonnie Linen was only a teenager, his father died in a car accident. Linen felt lost, unsure of what to do in life. But his father left something behind that would awaken a lifelong passion.

“[My] dad had some slot machines in his house,” Linen said, “and so I took them and I renovated the basement and I made a game room. I was like, I’ll put dad’s slot machines there so I always see them and think of him.”

The touching homage to his late father sparked an idea in Linen: what if he got a pinball machine to add to his collection?

“I found a machine,” Linen said, “it was like a $150. It was falling apart. It was all rotten. The cabinet was all water damaged. It was held together by three-inch lag screws. It was beat.”

At the time, Linen worked at the now-closed RadioShack on Ballston Avenue in Saratoga Springs. He hauled his new prize to work and his boss allowed him to keep the machine in the store for a while.

“My buddy at the time, Ed, was like ‘I hope you have space. It’s never just one. They will multiply.’ I was like, dude I am a broke college kid. I have nothing. And he was like, ‘you’ll find a way.’ Sure enough, he was right. Now I have 60 of them.”

Linen’s sizable collection includes the 1980s medieval fantasy-themed “Sorcerer,” the rare “Deadly Weapon,” the classic “Fish Tales,” “Spectra IV” (a square-shaped cocktail game that spins around), “Caveman” (a pinball machine with a video game inside it), and the ultra-rare “Safety Zone.”

One machine that Linen hopes to add to his lineup is a 1948 “Saratoga,” manufactured by Williams. The game’s backglass features artwork of dressed-up ladies during Saratoga’s Gilded Age, sauntering through a garden outside a grand hotel. “Saratoga” was the first machine to feature thumper bumpers or pop bumpers, which used a metal ring to repel the ball. In other words, Saratoga already has its own unique place in pinball history. 

Now, Linen hopes to make Saratoga a pinball capital by opening an interactive museum that would host his collection and allow visitors to play the silver ball. Considering the Saratoga area is already home to one-of-a-kind museums such as the X-Files Preservation Collection (which features an X-Files pinball machine) and the National Bottle Museum, perhaps a pinball museum would fit right in.

Because Linen has been collecting and repairing machines for nearly a decade, the proposed museum’s maintenance would be handled by him and a few other local techs. As the organizer of the annual Saratoga Silverball Show, as well as the Saratoga Pinball League (hosted on Sunday afternoons at the Wow! Arcade in the Wilton Mall), Linen also has the requisite experience running pinball events. 

Linen said he hopes the museum would capture a “joyful essence” that he finds lacking at many entertainment centers and arcades around the country. 

“Trying to run a business and make money gets in the way of our mission: to bring the retro nostalgic joy back to older generations, and give future generations a chance to experience it firsthand,” Linen said. “My focus, and the mission of Saratoga Silverball/Saratoga Pinball Museum is to get people into pinball and build a scene in upstate New York.”

Linen is currently trying to raise $7,500 to cover the museum’s initial legal and startup fees. 

To learn more about the museum or to make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-launch-the-saratoga-pinball-museum


An advertisement for the Williams “Saratoga” pinball machine, circa 1948. Image via the Internet Pinball Machine Database. 

Schuylerville Soccer Squad Has Strong Start

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville boys varsity soccer team launched into the new season with four straight shutouts last month, demonstrating impressive play on both sides of the ball.

“Playing team defense and limiting opportunities on our goal is what we are always looking to do,” Head Coach Dave Gauci told Saratoga TODAY. “It’s a pretty versatile group that has knowledge of the game.”

Gauci called first-year keeper Asher Harrison “tremendous” and also praised Nate Lanfear and Willem Foster. “We have some young guys in some important positions so we are looking for them to develop fast,” Gauci said.

The team’s shutout streak began with a September 18, 4-0 victory against Scotia-Glenville. In that contest, Alex Renner and Nate Lanfear both earned a goal and an assist to lead the Black Horses. Colden Harrison and Dom Letzring also found the net.

That game was followed by a 1-0 win at South Glens Falls. The lone goal came during the second half, when Justin Nolazco-Lopez found a streaking Alex Renner for the winning score. Harrison had 6 saves.

The next two shutouts against Corinth and Hudson Falls were both dominant victories. The Black Horses won 6-0 and 7-0, respectively. Against Corinth, Nolzco-Lopez had a hat trick within the first 25 minutes of play. In the Hudson Falls game, Nolzco-Lopez scored another two goals while Harrison notched his fifth total shutout of the season.

The Horses’ four-game shutout streak ended on September 30 when they tied Queensbury, 1-1. The team then lost twice in back-to-back games against Colonie Central and Amsterdam, but rebounded with yet another shutout, 5-0, on October 7 against Stillwater.

In the latest shutout, Harrison picked up 3 saves while Matt Delassio, Tazio Helmig, Alex Renner, Willem Foster, and Luke Abrami all scored goals.

Schuylerville is next scheduled to play Glens Falls on the 9th, Gloversville on the 11th, and Greenwich on the 12th.


Schuylerville competes against Stillwater in what would become a shutout victory for the Black Horses. Photos by Super Source Media.