Early voting begins at six poll locations in Saratoga County on Saturday, Oct. 28.
BALLSTON SPA — There are 21 municipalities contained within Saratoga County. Five of them will have contested supervisor races on Nov. 7.
There are 23 Supervisors representing Saratoga County’s 21 municipalities; 19 municipalities are each represented by 1 supervisor. Two municipalities – Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park – are each represented by 2 supervisors. Supervisors represent their municipality at the county level and are elected to that seat by voters in their own specific municipality.
Political Party Affiliation Breakdown
• 21 of the 23 current Supervisors are affiliated with the Republican Party, while 2 current Supervisors are affiliated with the Democratic Party.
• 1 Democrat and 16 Republican supervisors (in a total of 16 county municipalities) are either running unopposed or have no election taking place this year and so are expected to return to the seat in 2024. The remaining five county municipalities will be hosting contested races for six total seats.
• There are approximately 175,000 registered active voters across the entirety of Saratoga County. Registered Republicans account for 35.8% of those voters, 29.6% are registered as Democrats, and 27.6% are registered to vote as unaffiliated with any party. The remaining 7% are comprised of those registered with the Conservative, Working Families or other party lines.
Contested county Supervisor races:
James Sullivan (D) vs. Ian Murray (R,C) – town of Saratoga;
Cynthia Young (D) vs. Mark Hammond (R,C) – Malta;
Jessie Fish, Jr. (D, M.U.) vs. Theodore Kusnierz, Jr. (R,C) – Moreau;
Toni Sturm (D) vs. John Lant (R, C) – Wilton.
In Saratoga Springs, voters have a choice of three candidates from which to select two supervisors to represent the city at the county level.
They are:
Gordon Boyd (D, WF); Matthew Veitch (R, One Saratoga); Michele Madigan (D, One Saratoga).
Running unopposed
– Supervisor races:
Eric Connolly, R-Ballston; Diana Edwards, R-Day; Kevin Tollisen, R,C – Halfmoon; Scott Ostrander, R,C – Milton; Jean Raymond, R-Edinburg; Joe Grasso , R,C – Charlton; Willard Peck, R,C – Northumberland; Clifton Park Town/County Supervisor Philip Barrett R,C, Clifton Park County Supervisor Angela Thompson R,C; Kevin Veitch R-Greenfield; Thomas Richardson D-Mechanicville; David Ball R,C – Waterford; C. Eric Butler R-Corinth; Arthur Wright R-Hadley.
There are no supervisor races on the ballot in the towns of Stillwater, Galway and Providence – although those towns do have other votable seats on the ballot, as well as ballot proposals.
Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect perform at Woodlawn Commons for the Wesley Community on Oct. 25, 2023. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” goes the old joke which first appeared in print during the 1950s. It offers up the punch line: “Practice, practice, practice.”
Conversely, how do you get from Carnegie Hall to Saratoga Springs? Head northwest on W. 57th St. toward 7th Ave. using the Hudson River as your guide on the 183-or-so-mile journey.
This week, the Wesley Community welcomed Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect to its campus for an afternoon program of classical music at Wesley’s Woodlawn Commons.
The performance was staged in recognition of the intergenerational connection of classical music between the young musicians and the senior residents to showcase how intergenerational connections allow youth and seniors to share experiences through mutually beneficial activities.
“We’re always thrilled to bring cultural events to our residents,” said Wesley Community CEO J. Brian Nealon, as the five-piece ensemble glided their bows across their respective string instruments or performed with hands across the piano keys of the room’s baby grand.
The musicians are based out of Carnegie Hall and are part of a fellowship program in partnership with Julliard School, The Weill Music Institute, the New York City Department of Education. They are currently engaged in a five-day residency at Skidmore College. It is a local residency first established in the fall of 2007.
“We had the opportunity through a board member who works at Skidmore to make this connection for us,” Nealon said. “Our residents love these types of programs and over the years we have been able to avail ourselves of Skidmore’s friendship and help to provide those types of services.”
Ensemble Connect is a two-year fellowship program that prepares extraordinary young professional classical musicians for careers that combine musical excellence with teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership, according to the Carnegie Hall guidebook.
The group performs its own series at Carnegie Hall and has regularly appeared at The Juilliard School’s Paul Hall and other venues throughout New York City, as well as presenting dozens of interactive performances in schools. Ensemble Connect alums have gone on to perform, teach, and engage with communities in 53 countries around the world.
While on campus at Skidmore, the fellows offer master classes, lessons, and class demonstrations, as well as play side by side with students of the Skidmore College Orchestra, read student compositions, and stage a live performance. Their concert programs include world premieres commissioned by Carnegie Hall. They perform Friday, Oct. 27 at Zankel Music Center.
“It works both ways. Our residents also go over to Skidmore and avail themselves of the programming that Skidmore has,“ Nealon said Wednesday afternoon, as the ensemble performed 18th century works of Austrian composer Franz Schubert and Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, and George Gershwin’s 20th century jazz standard “Embraceable You,” as a group of about 40 Wesley Community residents looked on.
The Wesley Community is a 37-acre, not-for-profit agency which serves the needs of the elderly, as well as active seniors, adults and pediatrics. Eleven buildings dot the campus that more than 600 residents call home; about 125 independent living and assisted living residents are at Woodlawn Commons – where this week’s performance was held – another 225 are at Embury Apartments and approximately 250 at Wesley Health Care Center – the campus the nursing home.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education has approved the appointment of law firm Harris Beach, PLLC to investigate allegations made in a letter by Safe Athletes For Everyone, which contained statements from former student-athletes and parents claiming “a toxic culture of alleged abusive coaching,” within several of the district’s athletic programs.
The letter was sent on Oct. 2 by attorney Martin Greenberg, representing Safe Athletes for Everyone, to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa, Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young, and NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas.
Many allegations in the SAFE letter were made anonymously. It also included a statement from 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning, who referred to the running program as “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.” Other statements were included from Ann Marie Pendergast, parent of a former girls varsity soccer player. Pendergast had described the team’s culture as “demoralizing and unhealthy.”
At the Oct. 24 Board of Education meeting, several current and former student-athletes, as well as parents of student-athletes, spoke strongly in support of district athletic programs, with many saying their experiences did not reflect complaints that were described in the letter. A majority of speakers at the meeting spoke regarding the school’s running program.
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunities this team has provided to my girls. They have empowered and supported countless young ladies,” said parent Jennifer Hart.
Dan Sacco, a 1992 Saratoga graduate, said his time with the running teams was “easily the most formative and memorable part of (his) high school career.”
“I think what makes my experience a little different than some of the other speakers is that not only did I have a great experience, but I’ve had over 30 years of looking back and fondly remembering that experience,” said Sacco. “To now have that publicly portrayed as a toxic environment, when my memory has all been positive, isn’t something that I feel like I can sit back and not respond to.”
Valerie Belisle, a parent, said she has “nothing negative to say about the program,” saying they helped to teach life skills such as perseverance and integrity.
At the meeting on Tuesday, District Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton read a statement released by the district, stating in part that the review from Harris Beach would examine complaints made in the letter and how they were handled, as well as audit the culture of current athletic programs.
“The process outlined above will be thorough and deliberative. It will be given the resources and time required for a first-rate examination,” part of Patton’s statement read. “The results and recommendations will be carefully considered by the Board of Education and shared with the community.”
“As educators, we are entrusted with the awesome responsibility of educating and attending to the wellbeing of all our students and student athletes. This is a responsibility we share with their parents and families and with our dedicated teachers, coaches and staff members who give of themselves to help our young people rise to their full potential,” Patton’s statement continued. “It is important to everyone involved in our athletic program that our community has confidence in the program’s integrity and excellence. Allegations such as these deserve to be taken seriously and not allowed to linger unanswered. We believe this comprehensive, independent review will benefit our athletic program, our school district, and our students, and we ask that all involved support this process with their full cooperation.”
Members of the Ballston Spa varsity boys golf team pictured at the Section 2 Class A Boys’ Golf Championships on Oct. 12. Photo provided.
HALFMOON — Thanks to a balanced effort, the Ballston Spa varsity boys golf team brought home a title on Oct. 12, capturing the 2023 Section 2 Class A Boys’ Golf Championship.
The Scotties were led by eighth-grader Jeffrey Fumarola, junior Sam DiNallo, and senior Chris Desmond, the team’s top three finishers. Gavin Tribley, Alex Wade, and Nate Hill also contributed strong rounds to the sectional victory.
The Scotties’ top five finishers advanced to state qualifiers, where Fumarola was able to earn a spot at the state championships in June. The team’s finish recapped one of the strongest years in program history, including an 11-2 record in Suburban Council matchups.
“The team performed great,” said Fumarola. “We got help from a lot of the boys. Sam (DiNallo) really stepped up, MVP. I can’t wait for states, it’s going to be fun.”
Entering the sectional tournament, head coach Ben Eldridge said his message to the team was to “control what you can control,” saying that while the Scotties’ golfers certainly had championship aspirations, he hoped to focus mainly on the process.
“I didn’t want that to be something they thought about. Because we talk a lot all year, even if it’s not your best round, every one or two fewer (strokes) you can come up with, that helps the whole team,” said Eldridge. “So the message was just more about going out, taking it one shot at a time, three holes at a time, and just play your game, and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.”
The Scotties’ last team sectional title came in 1990 as a member of Class B, Eldridge said. While junior M.J. Fink added that golf is a “very mental game,” Eldridge credited the team for their ability to remain level and consistent throughout the fall season.
“So many guys that could play well,” Eldridge said. “And in general, we were pretty consistent all year.”
Eldridge made note of several golfers who stepped up at sectionals, including DiNallo, who he said was the team’s MVP at the Section 2 Championships. He also credited the senior trio of Wade, Desmond, and Tribley for finishing their high school golf careers on a strong note.
“To get that their senior year, hopefully they’ll remember it,” said Eldridge. “It was pretty cool. I was proud of them.”
At state qualifiers, Fumarola placed third overall, earning a spot among the top nine finishers on the Section 2 State Championship team. Wade and Tribley each advanced to the final day of qualifiers as well, earning top-20 finishes.
Fumarola qualifying for the state championships marked something of a full-circle moment for head coach Eldridge, who qualified for states as a Ballston Spa golfer three times himself, in 1997, 1999, and 2000.
“It’s so cool,” Eldridge said of Fumarola qualifying. “He’s just a great kid, and he’s fun to play golf with. It’s nice to be good at golf. It’s even cooler that kids like him and Kieran Cummins at Shaker, they’re just great kids. Their state team is pretty solid, a lot of good kids. They’re going to have a ball. Jeffrey’s going to fit right in with them. They’ll do well.”
Eldridge and several players also emphasized that the season was simply an enjoyable experience. Eldridge noted that the team was larger than in years past, with 13 student-athletes listed on the varsity roster.
“At tryouts, it was just a lot of fun. We ended up keeping a bunch of guys,” said Eldridge. “It was a very different feel this year, with having all those other guys on the team. … It was cool.”
“Even when some of us didn’t play well, we had our teammates and the fun environment after the round,” Tribley added.
Eldridge noted Fumarola will continue to work on his game throughout the winter in preparation for states. He added that this fall season was a “win-win” combination, with the Scotties having not only an enjoyable group, but also a successful one.
“They’re awesome. It’s so much fun,” said Eldridge of the team. “It’s what you always hope to get, and rarely do, is that perfect storm of good kids, good season. Feel lucky as a coach.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education has approved the appointment of law firm Harris Beach, PLLC to investigate allegations made in a letter by Safe Athletes For Everyone, which contained statements from former student-athletes and parents claiming “a toxic culture of alleged abusive coaching,” within several of the district’s athletic programs.
The letter was sent on Oct. 2 by attorney Martin Greenberg, representing Safe Athletes for Everyone, to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa, Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young, and NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas.
Many allegations in the SAFE letter were made anonymously. It also included a statement from 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning, who referred to the running program as “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.” Other statements were included from Ann Marie Pendergast, parent of a former girls varsity soccer player. Pendergast had described the team’s culture as “demoralizing and unhealthy.”
At the Oct. 24 Board of Education meeting, several current and former student-athletes, as well as parents of student-athletes, spoke strongly in support of district athletic programs, with many saying their experiences did not reflect complaints that were described in the letter. A majority of speakers at the meeting spoke regarding the school’s running program.
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunities this team has provided to my girls. They have empowered and supported countless young ladies,” said parent Jennifer Hart.
Dan Sacco, a 1992 Saratoga graduate, said his time with the running teams was “easily the most formative and memorable part of (his) high school career.”
“I think what makes my experience a little different than some of the other speakers is that not only did I have a great experience, but I’ve had over 30 years of looking back and fondly remembering that experience,” said Sacco. “To now have that publicly portrayed as a toxic environment, when my memory has all been positive, isn’t something that I feel like I can sit back and not respond to.”
Valerie Belisle, a parent, said she has “nothing negative to say about the program,” saying they helped to teach life skills such as perseverance and integrity.
At the meeting on Tuesday, District Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton read a statement released by the district, stating in part that the review from Harris Beach would examine complaints made in the letter and how they were handled, as well as audit the culture of current athletic programs.
“The process outlined above will be thorough and deliberative. It will be given the resources and time required for a first-rate examination,” part of Patton’s statement read. “The results and recommendations will be carefully considered by the Board of Education and shared with the community.”
“As educators, we are entrusted with the awesome responsibility of educating and attending to the wellbeing of all our students and student athletes. This is a responsibility we share with their parents and families and with our dedicated teachers, coaches and staff members who give of themselves to help our young people rise to their full potential,” Patton’s statement continued. “It is important to everyone involved in our athletic program that our community has confidence in the program’s integrity and excellence. Allegations such as these deserve to be taken seriously and not allowed to linger unanswered. We believe this comprehensive, independent review will benefit our athletic program, our school district, and our students, and we ask that all involved support this process with their full cooperation.”
Members of the Ballston Spa varsity boys golf team pictured at the Section 2 Class A Boys’ Golf Championships on Oct. 12. Photo provided.
HALFMOON — Thanks to a balanced effort, the Ballston Spa varsity boys golf team brought home a title on Oct. 12, capturing the 2023 Section 2 Class A Boys’ Golf Championship.
The Scotties were led by eighth-grader Jeffrey Fumarola, junior Sam DiNallo, and senior Chris Desmond, the team’s top three finishers. Gavin Tribley, Alex Wade, and Nate Hill also contributed strong rounds to the sectional victory.
The Scotties’ top five finishers advanced to state qualifiers, where Fumarola was able to earn a spot at the state championships in June. The team’s finish recapped one of the strongest years in program history, including an 11-2 record in Suburban Council matchups.
“The team performed great,” said Fumarola. “We got help from a lot of the boys. Sam (DiNallo) really stepped up, MVP. I can’t wait for states, it’s going to be fun.”
Entering the sectional tournament, head coach Ben Eldridge said his message to the team was to “control what you can control,” saying that while the Scotties’ golfers certainly had championship aspirations, he hoped to focus mainly on the process.
“I didn’t want that to be something they thought about. Because we talk a lot all year, even if it’s not your best round, every one or two fewer (strokes) you can come up with, that helps the whole team,” said Eldridge. “So the message was just more about going out, taking it one shot at a time, three holes at a time, and just play your game, and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.”
The Scotties’ last team sectional title came in 1990 as a member of Class B, Eldridge said. While junior M.J. Fink added that golf is a “very mental game,” Eldridge credited the team for their ability to remain level and consistent throughout the fall season.
“So many guys that could play well,” Eldridge said. “And in general, we were pretty consistent all year.”
Eldridge made note of several golfers who stepped up at sectionals, including DiNallo, who he said was the team’s MVP at the Section 2 Championships. He also credited the senior trio of Wade, Desmond, and Tribley for finishing their high school golf careers on a strong note.
“To get that their senior year, hopefully they’ll remember it,” said Eldridge. “It was pretty cool. I was proud of them.”
At state qualifiers, Fumarola placed third overall, earning a spot among the top nine finishers on the Section 2 State Championship team. Wade and Tribley each advanced to the final day of qualifiers as well, earning top-20 finishes.
Fumarola qualifying for the state championships marked something of a full-circle moment for head coach Eldridge, who qualified for states as a Ballston Spa golfer three times himself, in 1997, 1999, and 2000.
“It’s so cool,” Eldridge said of Fumarola qualifying. “He’s just a great kid, and he’s fun to play golf with. It’s nice to be good at golf. It’s even cooler that kids like him and Kieran Cummins at Shaker, they’re just great kids. Their state team is pretty solid, a lot of good kids. They’re going to have a ball. Jeffrey’s going to fit right in with them. They’ll do well.”
Eldridge and several players also emphasized that the season was simply an enjoyable experience. Eldridge noted that the team was larger than in years past, with 13 student-athletes listed on the varsity roster.
“At tryouts, it was just a lot of fun. We ended up keeping a bunch of guys,” said Eldridge. “It was a very different feel this year, with having all those other guys on the team. … It was cool.”
“Even when some of us didn’t play well, we had our teammates and the fun environment after the round,” Tribley added.
Eldridge noted Fumarola will continue to work on his game throughout the winter in preparation for states. He added that this fall season was a “win-win” combination, with the Scotties having not only an enjoyable group, but also a successful one.
“They’re awesome. It’s so much fun,” said Eldridge of the team. “It’s what you always hope to get, and rarely do, is that perfect storm of good kids, good season. Feel lucky as a coach.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Fall Festival will be held in downtown Saratoga Springs 12–3 p.m. Oct. 21. Entertainment and festivities will take place on Caroline Street and extend out on Maple Ave and Putnam Streets.
The annual event, presented by the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association will feature trick-or-treating throughout downtown, the Pumpkin Roll down Caroline Street, face painting, balloon twisting, live entertainment, a petting zoo and a scavenger hunt.
Starting at noon, participating businesses will be candy-ready, and the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs will start orchestrating the Pumpkin Roll down Caroline Street. Sunnyside Gardens donated pumpkins for volunteers to hand out to kids at the top of Caroline Street. The kids will then roll them down the hill as hay bales donated from Vincek Farm will be placed throughout the street.
Live entertainment and Kettle Corn as well as additional entertainment, face painting, jugglers and clowns, a petting zoo and balloon twisters will be located down and around Caroline Street.
For more information visit: saratogaspringsdowntown.com.
Samples of signage anticipated to soon be welcoming visitors to the city of Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Council Meeting: Oct. 17. Mayor Ron Kim led a moment of silence for the nation of Israel and a remembrance of civilians lost and those being held hostage, and the council’s four-hour meeting concluded with the board’s unanimous approval of a resolution condemning “atrocities committed by the terrorists of Hamas,” and the “unqualified support of the State of Israel and the Israeli people.”
Tuesday night’s meeting marked the final official gathering of council members prior to the Nov. 7 election; all five council seats and both city supervisor positions are to be voted upon, and new two-year terms will begin January 2024.
Democrat mayor Ron Kim is running for re-election. Both challengers to the mayoral seat – Republican candidate John Safford and One Saratoga candidate Chris Mathiesen, as well as Supervisor candidate Michele Madigan (D, One Saratoga), and local Democratic Party Chairman Otis Maxell spoke during segments where public comment was allotted. City Republican Committee chairman Michael Brandi released a statement that said litigation was served on the City at the Council meeting, and that he had commenced court proceedings to compel the city to address two FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests he is accusing the city of ignoring.
Welcome to Saratoga Springs
City Supervisor Matt Veitch offered a presentation showcasing new signage anticipated to be placed at entry and exit points in and out of Saratoga Springs in the near future.
“When you travel out of the city of Saratoga Springs you always see a sign welcome to the next town – welcome to Wilton, welcome to Greenfield – and it’s always bothered me as a native Saratogian that we don’t do the same thing on our side,” Veitch told the council.
The welcome signs that do exist display a variety of styles, fonts and sizes, Veitch pointed out. The new signs – large ones at major thoroughfares such as the exit 14, exit 15, and Route 9 entrances to the city, smaller ones to be placed on the more rural entry and exit points, will have more uniformity and consistency in style. The front side will feature a welcome for people coming in to the city, and a “thank you for visiting” text will appear on the back.
Veitch said he worked with city DPW Commissioner Jason Golub, as well as the county Public Works department among others and that the county set aside funds for the signs to be created. The large signs will be put out for bid by the county, Veitch added.
Free Pop-Up Health & Wellness Clinic for the Creative Community
Finance Commissioner Dillon Moran announced a Free Pop-Up Health Clinic will take place 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Caffe Lena.
Services will Include: Vision Care Clinic Including Exams and Eyewear, Custom Molded Earplugs, Blood Pressure Screening, Dietician Consultation, HEPC/HIV Screening, Insurance Navigation, Cancer Screening Services
Saratoga Hospital volunteer medical professionals will provide testing, evaluation, health & wellness education, as well as assistance obtaining access to ongoing care during a one-day pop-up clinic, free to anyone in the creative community. This includes artists, musicians, designers, photographers, filmmakers, writers, and all others who work in a creative capacity.
The goal of this service is to enable individuals in the creative community who are uninsured or underinsured to access healthcare in a trusted environment so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life.
For more information, go to: caffelena.org/health-clinic/.
City Connections
Jen Dunn, of the city Planning Department, delivered a 15-minute presentation regarding the department’s Missing Links Sidewalk Program. Dunn defined “Missing Links” as stretches of city pathways where sidewalks lead nowhere and discussed the remedies to fill in those gaps.
Missing Links Program Brings 1.8 Miles of New Sidewalks to the City Saratoga Springs, New York, October 17, 2023 – Mayor Kim congratulates the Planning Department on the, which strives to fully connect downtown to more neighborhoods and places in Saratoga Springs.
Between 2022 and 2023, the project completed 1.8 miles of ADA compliant sidewalk segments and crosswalks within a one-mile radius of the City’s urban core. The majority of the project’s funding was provided by a $1.52 million grant through the 2019-2024 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). After reimbursements are received later this year and next, the ultimate cost to the city will be approximately $382,000.
Jury Verdict in Mount vs. The City of Saratoga Springs
A few hours prior to the start of the Oct. 17 meeting, the jury in Mount vs. The City of Saratoga Springs, after a two-week trial, ruled in favor of the city. During the council meeting, city Mayor Ron Kim spoke about the trial outcome, with slight variations to the commentary released to the press earlier in the day.
“Darryl Mount’s death 10 years ago was a tragedy. The loss of a young man and fellow Saratogian left a void in our community,” Mayor Kim said. “I’m glad a jury finally had the opportunity to weigh the evidence and reach a decision, and I am gratified the city will now not face further liability. It’s always been my view that because of the failure to conduct an investigation 10 years ago into the death of Darryl Mount, a jury trial was the only way for a final decision to be made. Jury trials are a foundation of our democracy, as much as voting is. Clearly, the jury deliberated, listened to the facts, listened to the adversarial proceeding and rendered a judgement. It is unfortunate that we had to wait 10 years for this decision.”
A resolution declaring the City of Saratoga Springs a Safe Haven for Trans Youth was tabled with the understanding it will be brought to the table for discussion and vote at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 8.
Milton’s current town center, including businesses such as Hannaford and Dunkin’ Donuts. Photo by Ryan McHale, Orion Media.
MILTON — Plans to expand the Town of Milton’s town center continue to move forward.
The proposal was set forth by Malta Development Co., and is currently undergoing a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), said Tom Samascott, president of Malta Development Co. He noted the plans are still in “early stages,” saying the company has been working with the Town to develop the proposal.
The development, identified as ‘Mill Town Centre’ in filed plans, would extend Trieble Avenue further north, adding businesses and residential property to Milton’s town center, located near the Saratoga County Airport. The town center plaza currently features businesses such as Hannaford, Juicy Burger, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
The plans call for roughly 50,000 square feet of commercial property, and just over 500 apartment units, Samascott said. Wayne Samascott, vice president of Malta Development Co., said the plans currently include six mixed-use buildings, featuring commercial property on the first floor and two stories of apartments above.
The plans also include three commercial pad sites, with Samascott saying “a full-service restaurant” would be a good fit for one of the sites.
“On one of the pad sites, we’d love to get a local family-style restaurant,” said Tom Samascott.
He also mentioned the possibility of businesses such as a pharmacy or coffee shop at these sites. The proposal also calls for 10 additional residential buildings, each with first-floor parking and three stories of apartments above.
Another major aspect of the project are its community spaces. Samascott said the plans currently include a clubhouse, which offers amenities including a swimming pool, fitness area, meeting rooms, catering kitchen, and more. Samascott also mentioned other amenities such as an outdoor projection area, outdoor grills and firepits, walking trails, and a dog park.
The commercial properties would be mainly focused around Trieble Ave, which would have sidewalks added for walkability and connect with the Hannaford plaza, Samascott said. He noted they hope to begin work on the project next year.
“Once we get more definite plans, a little further along with the town, then we can start marketing and start reaching out,” Samascott said.
The plans would be constructed in phases, and would take several years to complete. Samascott said while the phases are not yet finalized, the first phase of construction would include the clubhouse and several mixed-use and residential buildings.
“We’re hoping to start next year. There’s a lot still to go through,” said Samascott. “Besides town approval, then you have (the) Department of Health, and the state approvals.”
Samascott noted the Town of Milton has “been great to work with,” noting it is exciting to advance a long-envisioned plan to expand the town center concept.
“They’ve been waiting for something like this. So they’re pretty happy about it,” said Samascott. “It’s an exciting project, that’s for sure.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — With less than two weeks until sectionals begin, the Saratoga Springs varsity girls swim and dive team has certainly been enjoying a season to remember.
Entering this week, the Blue Streaks have dropped just one meet all season, remaining undefeated until a narrow 94-92 loss to Niskayuna on Oct. 3. Saratoga head coach Josh Muldner said that the team’s current group “has really stepped up to the occasion” this year.
“This group has just been a dynamic, fun, enthusiastic group of girls,” said Muldner. “Our seniors this year have really stepped up. But what has been really cool to watch is that we’ve got a lot of girls who’ve put in the work in the offseason, and our depth is as good as it’s been in years.”
He credited the team’s three seniors, Jillian Ferrie, Hannah Szymanski, and Angelina Damiano, for “leading the charge” this season, and emphasized the Blue Streaks have also received contributions from many of their athletes, also including Addison Kenney, Gianna DiMaggio, Saturn Cogan, Ella Nacheman, and Maggie Trautner, among others.
“I’ve been able to move girls around and put them in different events throughout the course of the season, and still win meets,” Muldner said. “That’s, in large part, due to the fact that we’ve got a lot of depth from our younger girls, who can swim almost anything. That’s really, really cool.”
Ferrie qualified for the NYSPHSAA state tournament in the 100-yard breaststroke on Oct. 7 at the Shen Breast Cancer Invitational, with a time of 1:07.81. Ferrie is one of several Blue Streaks with returning states experience, having competed along with Trautner, Kenney, and Victoria Gvozdeva in relay events at last year’s state tournament.
“There’s been so many kids who have taken that next step,” said Muldner.
Muldner also emphasized how the team has come together during the season, saying the Blue Streaks’ squad is full of “great human beings.” The Saratoga team is set to host a Swim-A-Thon event on Saturday to raise money for the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center and 2023 Saratoga graduate Olivia Allen, Muldner said.
“This group has just been a dynamic, fun, enthusiastic group of girls,” Muldner said. “Not only are they all-stars in the classroom, they’re great human beings who give me everything that they’ve got when they’re at that pool.”
The Section 2 Championships are set to begin on Nov. 2, with the start of diving events. Preliminaries for swim events begin on Nov. 3, with the finals taking place the following day.
Muldner noted the Blue Streaks’ competition will be challenging, saying the Suburban Council consists of “some of the best competition in the state.”
“Niskayuna, Shen, Bethlehem, amongst others, will be very tough competitors at sectionals,” Muldner said. “We’re going to go in and try to put together our best game.”
Throughout the season, the Blue Streaks have been focused on the process, with Muldner saying “the outcomes will be there” if the team is able to do the little things correctly.
“If you focus on good turns, if you focus on the approach on the board, the outcomes will be there. But you’ve got to trust the process,” Muldner said. “That’s kind of been our mantra this year, ‘Trust the process.’”
