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Section 2 Champions – Saratoga Girls’ Lacrosse Wins Section 2 Class A Title

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

Photo provided by Jennifer Furze. 

SCHUYLERVILLE —Carly Wise opened the scoring just seconds into the game, and the Saratoga Springs varsity girls’ lacrosse team never looked back en route to a 8-5 victory over Shaker in the Section 2 Class A Championship on Wednesday.

Wise scored three goals to lead the Blue Streaks, with Faith Britton scoring twice. Allie Shamberger had a goal and two assists, with Janie Baringer adding a goal and an assist. Emery Judge also scored a goal for Saratoga, while goaltender Jenna Amodio made 10 saves.

Shaker hung with Saratoga early on, tying the game at 2-2 with 16:41 left in the first half on a goal by Ava Scattareggia, but back-to-back Blue Streak goals by Britton gave Saratoga a 4-2 lead entering halftime.

Wise scored early in the second half to extend the lead to 5-2 before Emery Judge quickly followed with a goal of her own, giving Saratoga a 6-2 advantage.

Shaker was able to get within two goals, with tallies by Sarah Bette and Kacie Pilla cutting the lead to 6-4 with 14 minutes left, but the Blue Streaks held strong defensively before pulling away in the final minutes.

Wise scored her third goal with 6:11 left to extend the lead to 7-4, and Shamberger followed with a goal to make it 8-4 with four minutes remaining. Lauren O’Hagan scored for Shaker with 1:03 left, but the Bison were unable to mount a rally further, with Saratoga sealing an 8-5 victory.

It is the first Section 2 title for Blue Streaks’ head coach Jennifer Furze, in her first season leading the varsity team, and the first for the Saratoga girls’ team since 2018.

Saratoga (14-5) will play the Section 1 Class A Champion in the NYSPHSAA Sub-Regionals at 7:30 p.m. on May 30 at Schuylerville High School.

Memorial Day Ceremony at Saratoga Commemorates Those Who Have Served

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

SARATOGA — The Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery holds its 24th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony Saturday, May 27. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. with a cannon salute. 

“We’re going to honor and commemorate the service of the men and women who served. We’ll have a full-blown ceremony with a rifle salute, we have cannons here, music, song, speeches, replay presentations,” says Scott Lamb, cemetery director at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, located in the town of Saratoga. 

Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery is New York State’s sixth national veteran’s cemetery and the 116th in the National Cemetery Administration. There are currently over 26,000 interments, which began in July 1999, over its 350 acres, 90 acres of which have been developed. 

Saturday’s ceremony will include Master Sgt. John Leavitt, U.S. Army retired Vietnam Veteran as Keynote Speaker. Special guests also include WWII Veteran Ken Bailey, and Korean War Veteran Paul O’Keefe. 

The ceremony is open to the public. 

“It starts at 11 and we ask you give yourself a little extra time to get here a bit early,” Lamb says. “It is a well-attended ceremony and usually 1,500-plus attend. It’s a beautiful ceremony and we’re supposed to have beautiful weather. If you’re looking for a very relaxing ceremony, to sit in a chair, listen to some songs and hear a few people speak and commemorate and remember our men and women who have faithfully served, it’s a great place to do it.” 

The cemetery was renamed after the late Congressman Gerald Brooks Hunt Solomon, who advocated for the cemetery to be in Saratoga. 

“It was originally going to be in the Utica-Rome area. Congressman Solomon advocated for it to be here, close to the Saratoga battlefield,” says Lamb, a Navy Veteran who served from 1990 to 1998. Solomon was buried at the cemetery Oct. 31, 2001. Three months later, President George W. Bush signed legislation renaming Saratoga National Cemetery as the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.

The ship’s bell from the USS Saratoga, CV-3, was installed as a memorial at the cemetery in 1999. The USS Saratoga was launched in 1925 and spent 20 years at sea, including action during World War II. An American gray granite memorial was erected in 2001 to honor veterans from Saratoga County. The American Veterans (AMVETS) donated a carillon in 1999, and a granite and bronze memorial was erected in honor of U.S. submariner veterans in 2002. The cemetery also has a walkway that features a variety of memorials erected by veterans and fraternal organizations in honor of events and fallen comrades.   

More than 1.4 million veterans live in New York and more than 225,000 reside in the Albany/Saratoga area. Many of the questions the national cemetery in Saratoga is asked comes from veterans inquiring whether they are eligible for burial there. 

“A lot of veterans don’t realize that they are eligible, along with their spouse, if married, and any dependent children. You don’t need to have served in war – you just have to have been honorably discharged and most folks don’t know that,” Lamb says. “There is some paperwork involved, and we encourage folks to look at that. I’m a veteran myself, and I did it to see how long it took. It was a very easy process, and I got an official letter back that basically says I’m deemed eligible for burial when the time comes.” 

When a Veteran, service member, or family member qualifies for burial in a VA national cemetery, they receive certain burial benefits at no cost to their family. “After you come through the cemetery everything is paid for by the government – that’s the opening and closing of the gravesite, the placing of the headstone or marker, the perpetual care, the maintenance – all paid for, for you and your spouse,” Lamb says.  

The cemetery in Saratoga conducts approximately 1,300 interments a year and has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains. Since 1999, the cemetery counts a total of about 26,000 interments and has ample space for expansion. Eligibility information for veterans may be found at: www.va.gov/burials-memorials/eligibility.

Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery is open daily from dawn to dusk and is located in the town of Saratoga. For more information go to: cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/geraldbhsolomonsaratoga.asp. Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/gbhs_saratoganatcem, and Facebook: facebook.com/NatCemSaratoga.  

Schuylerville residents approve district budget for 2023-24

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

SCHUYLERVILLE — Residents of Schuylerville Central School District voted Tuesday to approve the district’s budget for the 2023-24 school year by a vote of 515 in favor and 102 against.

The budget totals $38.4 million, and carries a 0.63% spending decrease with an estimated tax levy increase of 1.98%.

“On behalf of the Board of Education and administration, I’d like to thank the community for their support,” said superintendent Gregg Barthelmas in a statement released by the district. “The 2023-24 budget is one that maintains the district’s strong level of academic opportunities for all students, with a focus on mental health prioritization. It is our goal to present taxpayers with a fair and balanced budget. Schuylerville CSD has always been known for its high-quality education and the passage of this budget continues to preserve that for our students.”

District residents also elected three candidates to the SCSD Board of Education. Jamie Martin (514 votes) and Michele Renner (426 votes) were each elected to serve five-year terms, while Shaun Cumm (320 votes) was elected to a one-year term.

Martin is a graduate of Schuylerville High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Villanova University and a postgraduate certificate at Russell Sage College, and currently works as a registered dietitian at Hudson Headwaters Health Network.

Renner is a resident of Schuylerville and has a son in the high school, as well as two older sons who graduated from the district. She has worked as an elementary teacher for 28 years, and currently works at Geyser Road Elementary School in the Saratoga Springs City School District.

Cumm is a resident of Gansevoort and graduated from South Glens Falls High School. He works as a physician’s assistant at Glens Falls Hospital for Adirondack Cardiology. Cumm has been a volunteer for the South High Marathon Dance for over 20 years, and has coached a variety of youth sports.

Ballston Spa Voters Approve $104M Budget, Pass Propositions

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

BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa Central School District residents voted Tuesday to approve the district’s budget for the 2023-24 school year, and also voted to approve two propositions.

The proposed budget is $104,232,811, and was approved by an unofficial vote of 941 in favor to 348 against. The school vehicle replacement proposition (Proposition II) passed by an unofficial vote of 970 in favor to 316 against, and the Ballston Spa Public Library proposition (Proposition III) passed by an unofficial vote of 1,043 in favor to 245 against, according to results made available by the district.

The 2023-24 budget contains a 5.7% increase in expenditures from 2022-23, and a tax levy of $58,016,479, a 3.1% increase from 2022-23.

The school vehicle replacement proposition (Proposition II) will allow the district to spend up to $965,000 to purchase and replace school buses and vehicles. The Ballston Spa Public Library proposition (Proposition III) will allow the district to collect and contribute $62,102 to the public library for expenses of operation.

District residents also elected three candidates to three available seats on the BSCSD Board of Education on Tuesday. Matt Dreher (929 votes), Katie Whittemore (893 votes), and Julia Routbort Baskin (826 votes) each were elected to the BSCSD Board of Education.

Each candidate will serve a three-year term. 

Whittemore was re-elected to the board for a second term, having first been elected in 2020. She has twice been elected vice president of the board. Whittemore has two children in the district, and has worked as a mathematics teacher at Shenendehowa High School since 2006.

Baskin was elected for her first full term, having been appointed to the board in September 2022 following the resignation of Wayne Evans Jr. She works as Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness at Skidmore College, and has two children who attended the district. She has lived in Ballston Spa for 19 years. 

Dreher was re-elected for his second term on the board, having first been elected in 2020. He is a graduate of Ballston Spa, and has two children who attended the district. Dreher works as a Senior Caseworker for Adult Protective Services at the Saratoga County Department of Social Services, and is a board member at the Christian Childhood Center at St. Paul’s.

SSCSD voters approve budget, appoint three candidates to BOE

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

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs City School District residents voted Tuesday to approve the district’s budget for the 2023-24 school year, and voted to pass the district’s bus bond proposition.

The proposed budget totals $142,718,530, and was approved by an unofficial vote of 4,213 to 1,204. The bus bond proposition was approved by an unofficial vote of 3,971 to 1,009, according to the district. The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the results of the budget vote and election  at its meeting on Wednesday.

The budget features a tax levy change of 2.75%, below the local tax cap of 2.77%.

The bus bond proposition authorizes the district to spend an estimated $1,525,000 for the purchase of six 66-passenger school buses, four 30-passenger buses, and a 25-passenger bus with wheelchair lift. 40% of the purchase would be reimbursed by aid from New York State.

Residents also voted to appoint three candidates to the district’s Board of Education to serve three-year terms.

Beth Fogarty Braxton (3,679 votes), Tony Krackeler (3,581 votes), and Anjeanette Emeka (3,412 votes) each were elected to serve on the SSCSD Board of Education.

Krackeler is the current president of the Board, which he has served on since 2020. The CEO of Krackeler Scientific, he has three children in the district.

Emeka was elected for her third term on the Board, having served since 2017. She works as Director of Academic Review at SUNY Empire. Emeka has been elected president of the Board twice, and vice president once. 

Braxton was elected to her first term on the Board. She works as Associate Professor of Counseling and Division Chair at SUNY Adirondack. Braxton is a native of Saratoga Springs, and her mother taught in the district for over 30 years. She has three children in the district.

SAVING PFC. GAGNON

Written by Christopher Carola on . Posted in Featured, History.


Saratoga County family lost 2 of 6 sons during WWII.
Photo: The Gagnon brothers in the Summer of 1944. Photo provided by The Saratoga County History Roundtable.

On July 1, 1944, as World War II raged in Europe and the Pacific, a Western Union telegram arrived at the Saratoga Springs home of Aurora Asheych notifying her of the death in combat of her 21-year-old son, U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Joseph Leonard Gagnon.

Two months later, she received word that another son, Army Pvt. Victor Francis Gaynor, 19, was reported killed in action in France.

Earlier that year, all six of Aurora’s sons were in the military. From oldest to youngest:

William “Billy” Gagnon, Air Force; Stewart Frederick “Stanley” Gaynor, Army; Roger L. Gaynor, Army; Joseph Leonard Gagnon, Marine Corps; Victor Francis Gaynor, Army; Francis Alfred “Freddie” Gagnon, Marine Corps.

With the deaths of Joseph Leonard in the Pacific and Victor in Europe, that left four of Aurora’s sons still in uniform, including Freddie, who at 17 years old was fighting on the island of Saipan, where Leonard, as he preferred to be called, was killed on June 16, a day after the invasion of the Marianas Islands began.

According to an article published in the Saratogian in the summer of 1944, Freddie enlisted at 17 with the permission of his mother, who “did not believe at the time he would see active service at so an age.”

But with fighting on multiple fronts as the Allies closed in on the German and Japanese homelands, the U.S. military faced a manpower shortage heading into 1944. Teenagers fresh out of high school were being rushed through boot camp and sent to the front lines with minimal advanced training. Such was the case for young Freddie. According to that same Saratogian article, he was “sent to the South Pacific after basic training and saw almost immediate action.”

Freddie was assigned to the same outfit as his brother Leonard, the 4th Marine Division, which landed along with the USMC’s 2nd Division at Saipan on June 15, 1944. After Leonard was killed the next day, Freddie learned of the death and attended the burial on the island, according to the Saratogian.

After Aurora was informed of Leonard’s death, she “appealed directly” to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, asking that Freddie be sent back to the U.S., according to the Saratogian. It must have worked, for that same Saratogian story reported that Freddie, recently promoted to private first-class, had just completed a 31-day furlough at his mother’s Saratoga home at 236 Ballston Ave. His next posting was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The six Gagnon brothers were all born in northern New York, near the Canadian border, to Louis Gagnon and his wife, Aurora Hainault. The couple also had three daughters: Aurora, Theresa and Marie.

In the mid-1930s, the family moved from Clinton County to Saratoga County. Eventually, all nine Gagnon children went to live with their mother’s brother, Victor Hainault, and his wife, Anna, in Greenfield Center. By the time WWII started, the children’s parents had divorced and their mother had remarried to Walter Asheych, a Russian immigrant who owned a large home on Ballston Avenue.

At some point, Stewart, Roger and Victor started going by the last name Gaynor. Family members still don’t know why.

While Leonard’s body was buried in a Marine Corps cemetery on Saipan, the location of Victor’s remains was unknown. Military records from his unit show he was reported missing as of Aug. 10, 1944, after being hit by artillery fire while out on a patrol with two other soldiers.

When Army Graves Registration Service units began searching European battlefields after the war for American soldiers whose remains hadn’t been recovered, they found out what had happened to Victor’s body.

According to U.S. military records from July 1946, Victor Gaynor and two members of his armored unit were killed outside a village near France’s west coast. German troops buried the two other Americans, while the village’s mayor buried Victor nearby, marking the grave with a cross topped by the dead soldier’s helmet. Victor’s dog tags were found with his remains.

In September 1946, the Pentagon notified Aurora Asheych that Victor’s remains had been found and reburied in an American military cemetery in Europe. A month later, his uncle, Victor Hainault, wrote to the Pentagon to inquire if any of his nephew’s personal items would be returned.

“I brought him up from the age of 8 mos (sic), until he entered the Army and I want to ask you a favor, if he has any personal belongings,” Hainault, by then living in Saratoga Springs, wrote in a letter dated Oct. 16, 1946. “Would you forward them to me?”

Earlier that year, Congress authorized a program to return the nation’s WWII fallen to the U.S. for reburial, should the families choose that option. Another option was to have their loved one re-interred in new American military cemeteries being constructed in Europe and the Pacific.

Aurora Asheych chose the first option.

In 1948, after she had filled out the required paperwork, her two fallen sons returned to Saratoga County for reburial within two months of each other, Victor’s in April and Leonard’s in June. Funeral services for each were held at St. Peter’s Church, followed by burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs.

A large headstone with the Gagnon and Gaynor names marks the family plot where Victor and Leonard are buried under separate markers. Also buried there are brother Stewart, killed at 36 in a fire at his family’s Saratoga Springs home on Sept. 21, 1956; sister Aurora Gagnon Hill, who died in 1991 at 68, and their father, Louis Gagnon, who died at 64 in Buffalo, NY, in March 1951, after being struck by a hit-and-run driver.

Aurora Asheych’s husband Walter died in 1947. She married for a third time to Eugene Groulx. Aurora died at 76 in November 1974. Her obituary said she was a registered nurse and Gold Star Mother. She’s also buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery, not far from her ex-husband and three sons.

Freddie Gagnon, the last of the six Gagnon/Gaynor brothers to serve in WWII and the last surviving sibling, died at 89 on April 1, 2015. He and Pauline, his wife of nearly 70 years, lived in Saratoga Springs, where they raised their four children.

Saratoga Catholic’s Alphonse Lambert Records 600th Career Win

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

Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball coach Alphonse Lambert earned his 600th career win on Saturday as the Saints beat Schuylerville 12-1 in the championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament. Photos by Dylan McGlynn

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Longtime Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball coach Alphonse Lambert earned his 600th career win on Saturday, as the Saints beat Schuylerville 12-1 in the championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament.

The Saints’ head coach since 1988, Lambert has compiled a career record of 600-213 over 35 seasons, and has led the Saints to 15 league championships and five Section 2 Championships. He is a member of the St. Peter’s / Saratoga Central Catholic Hall of Fame, and the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.

As Lambert himself said, “That’s a lot of baseball.”

He was quick to credit his players and fellow coaches, saying, “I just enjoy coaching these kids.”

“I’ve had some great, great young people that have played for me, and great coaches,” said Lambert. “I always said that I never threw a baseball, I never hit a baseball, and I never scored a run. It’s been all the kids, and the coaches. … The kids have bought in over the years, and that’s why our program is where it’s at.”

The Saints beat Corinth 9-2 in the opening round of the tournament on Saturday morning, setting up the championship matchup with Schuylerville, the defending Section 2 Class B Champions.

Saints’ freshman pitcher Pierce Byrne shut down the Black Horses’ offense, and Saratoga Catholic used a balanced attack at the plate to pull away in the middle innings, sealing a five-inning mercy-rule victory.

Aidan Crowther was 2-3 with a triple and four RBIs, while Ryan Gillis went 3-3 with three singles and an RBI. Ronan Rowe and Byrne each went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, while Kihl Kelly and Tyler Weygand were each 1-3 with an RBI. Carson Moser and Kameron Cox both added RBIs for the Saints.

Lambert said coaching is something he has “always wanted to do,” and emphasized how much SCC means to him.

“I work at the greatest school around, and I work with the greatest people around, and I teach the best kids around,” said Lambert. “That’s just always been my thought. If they open up my chest and they operate, they’re going to see purple and gold blood. That’s what they’re going to see.”

Lambert also said it was “very special” to earn his 600th victory with his current group of players, saying many of them began attending his baseball camps at young ages.

“I’ve had these kids since they were five, six, seven years old, a lot of these kids,” said Lambert. “They came up as young, young kids for me. To watch them develop and compete against juniors and seniors is very rewarding.”

Saints’ sophomore catcher Hunter Fales said Lambert “means a lot” to him, noting he first attended the coach’s baseball camp as a sixth-grader.

“He’s been one of the most important people in my life since I moved here,” Fales said. “I went to his camp, and that was when I first met him. I knew I was going to love playing for him ever since. … He loves this team, and we all love him, so it’s easy to function.”

“He was the reason I was on varsity for so long. He believed in me,” added freshman pitcher Pierce Byrne, who is in his third season with the varsity squad. “He means a lot to me.”

While there was some time to reflect following Saturday’s milestone victory, Lambert and the Saints quickly refocused for sectional play, which begins Friday. Saratoga Catholic finished the regular season 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the Wasaren League, earning the top seed in the Section 2 Class C Tournament.

Saratoga Catholic will host #8-seed Waterford-Halfmoon (7-13 overall, 5-11 Wasaren) in the opening round of the sectional tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday.

With the Saints riding a 10-game winning streak heading into sectionals, Fales said the team is playing with confidence as they prepare for the postseason.

“I think our whole team is very confident right now,” Fales said. “Swinging the bat, playing defense.”

Lambert said the team’s goal heading into sectionals is to simply “win each inning.”

“We’re not going to get the cart ahead of the horse,” said Lambert. “We’ve got to win each inning. That’s our goal, is to win the inning.”

School Board Vote: May 16

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

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District will hold its annual school budget vote and Board of Education election on Tuesday, May 16. Voting will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for all eligible voters. Polling places will be available at the Caroline Street, Division Street, Lake Avenue, Geyser Road, Dorothy Nolan and Greenfield Elementary Schools, according to the district website.

There are five candidates running for three positions on the board, all of which are three-year terms.

Tony Krackeler

Krackeler is the current president of the SSCSD Board of Education, and is seeking a second term. He has three children in the district, and has lived in Saratoga Springs for 22 years.

Krackeler said school board work is “a labor of love,” and spoke of working to improve culture and climate within the district. He said the proposed budget for 2023-24 includes additional mental health and social services, and noted his wish to continue providing free meals to students regardless of ability to pay.

“I’ve definitely tried to make the most of what has felt like a quick three years. Inexplicably to some, I’d very much like to do this work for another term,” said Krackeler. “Good boards are composed of rational, collegial, and collaborative people who don’t need limelight or credit. I think I’m all of these things, and I think good boards are also served well by consistency, by people who have been able to build enduring relationships with the superintendent, teachers, and support staff.”

Krackeler voted against the motion to hire two additional SROs for the district in January. At the forum, he said “a full-spectrum view” must be applied for school safety, noting that SROs, along with counselors, social workers, monitors, and other school personnel all play a part in school safety. 

“I’m asking the voters of the district to give me three more years to apply the things I’ve learned, and continue the many relationships I’ve nurtured for the good of all our students,” Krackeler said.

Sharon Dominguez

Dominguez has lived in Saratoga Springs since 2007, and has a child in the high school. She has volunteer experience for various organizations involved with backstretch workers at the Saratoga Race Course, she said, among other volunteer work. 

“These experiences have helped me appreciate the value of working together to ensure all stakeholders are represented, meaning their voices and ideas are heard and considered during the decision making process, and work collaboratively with my colleagues to find a solution that will best serve those stakeholders,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez noted the importance of listening to teachers’ needs, and said parents should have access to books and materials to help “foster a healthy relationship and respect among all stakeholders.”

She also spoke in support of school resource officers, saying she was “thrilled” when the board voted to approve the hiring of two additional SROs for the district in January.

“School resource officers’ presence is essential for promoting a safe learning environment,” said Dominguez. “SROs are continuously building positive relationships with students, serving as mentors and role models.”

She said if elected, she would focus on safety, mental health, “a fair education for all,” preparing students for post-graduation, and building a strong partnership with the district community. 

Anjeanette Emeka

Emeka is running for her third term on the board. She has previously been elected vice president of the board, and has twice been elected as the board president. She is also currently vice president of the Adirondack Area School Board Association, and said she would hope to continue improving board governance practices if re-elected.

“I want to support all of those who work in our district to make the education every day happen. I want to work with our superintendent while holding the administration accountable. I want to be a small piece of bringing the best possibility for a great education to our students,” Emeka said.

Emeka cited the importance of following the district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policy to frame decisions.

“Along with equity and inclusion, we have to have belonging. If we don’t belong, and if our students don’t feel like they belong, then they can’t learn,” said Emeka.

Emeka said she feels the district “does an excellent job” dealing with school safety. She had previously voted in support of SROs for the district, but voted against a motion to hire two SROs for the district in January. She also spoke of supporting teachers in an effort to help the district attract and retain educators.

“I do look forward to being reelected, because I bring to the table authenticity, not agenda,” Emeka said. “I serve with care, not chaos, and I am dedicated to the success of this district.”

Beth Fogarty Braxton

Braxton is a native of Saratoga Springs, and said her mother taught in the district for over 30 years. She has three children in the district, and works as the division chair of the SUNY Adirondack counseling department as a licensed mental health counselor.

Braxton said she has experience providing mental health services to students, and would look at many issues in the district through the lens of mental health. She spoke of the importance of the district’s DEI policy, saying it is “rooted in respect of others, and creating a sense of belonging for all members of a community.”

“I hold a belief that all children deserve to learn in an environment that is free of stigma and discrimination,” Braxton said.

She also said it is important to include teachers in mental health discussions, saying the teacher shortage is one of the reasons she chose to run. Braxton said one major part of school safety is “recruiting and retaining caring and highly skilled staff, educators, and administrators,” but did not say whether she supports the hiring of SROs.

“In my workplace, I teach. I taught through the pandemic,” said Braxton. “The pandemic, I feel like, acted as an accelerant to some of the issues we were seeing in the classroom. … While the board cannot impact the day to day operation of what’s happening in the buildings, the board can absolutely set the tone around those conversations and make this a priority as we discuss creating a safe and welcoming school culture for everyone.”

Joseph Sabanos

Sabanos is a graduate of SSHS, and currently serves on the Town of Greenfield Planning Board. He has a daughter who will soon be attending Greenfield Elementary, and said he is running “for the students who struggle.”

“I’m running for the students who’ve failed a class. I’m running for the students who have tripped and fallen, and who need that extra support,” Sabanos said. “In addition, I’m running for the teachers and faculty who choose to see the potential in every student, and who go above and beyond to encourage each student to find their path towards a successful and productive future. I’m running to give back to the district, which has given so much to me.”

Sabanos also commended the hiring of two SROs in January, saying that “schools and buses should be the safest places possible for every single occupant.” He said that he has no specific agenda, and would look to approve upon things such as transparency and efficiency within the board.

“I do not seek drastic change, or anything particular I’m looking to accomplish. What I’d like is to improve upon the board,” said Sabanos. “I think that I could help to do that, because I think that I bring a pretty diverse background and a good sense of representation of our community.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS LITTLE LEAGUE HOSTS OPENING DAY CEREMONY

Written by Dylan McGlynn on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


Players and coaches sit on the Majors Field during the Saratoga Springs Little League opening day ceremony on May 6.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Little League held its opening day ceremony on Saturday, kicking off yet another season at West Side Recreation Park.

The ceremony was originally scheduled for April 29, but was delayed due to weather. Players and coaches ran onto the Majors Field as each team was announced during the ceremony. 

The Little League Pledge was read by Ethan Booth, and the national anthem was sung by SSHS student Abby DeGregory. The league’s 12-year-old players received jackets donated by Janet Fitzpatrick, who donates customized jackets each year to players who age out of SSLL. Fitzpatrick is sponsoring two SSLL teams this year. 

SSLL president Derrick LeGall spoke, thanking those in attendance.

“I am humbled, I am honored to be here today,” said LeGall. “Thank you for coming out today. Last week just wasn’t meant to be, but today, the gods are smiling down on us. We have a beautiful day, and I want to say welcome to each and every one of you.”

LeGall thanked coaches, parents, and families, saying, “You make this possible.” He also thanked the SSLL Board of Directors for their dedication.

“One of the things that make us so great is the people that are standing behind me and around me,” LeGall said. “I had somebody text me two days ago, they used to be a coach and a parent in this league, and they said, ‘I rode by the fields, and they look amazing.’ And it’s because of these folks back here that help keep these fields playable and safe for each and every one of the kids.”

He also addressed the players, encouraging them to follow their dreams and ignore negativity.

“Each one of you have dreams, dreams that one day you will make it to the major leagues,” said LeGall. “Dreams that one day, you will become a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, or maybe a teacher. Please know that your dreams are attainable. Don’t let anyone discourage you from reaching those goals.”

He emphasized that the league’s focus is on building character and creating memories for each kid.

“We are not trying to create major league baseball players here,” LeGall said. “We are trying to build character for good citizenship. … That’s what it’s all about. Getting along and getting together.”

LeGall also highlighted the current varsity baseball team at Saratoga Springs, saying eight players on the varsity squad played Little League at West Side Rec. Blue Streaks’ senior infielder Orion Lansing threw out the ceremonial first pitch to SSLL player Jude Miller at Saturday’s ceremony.

“So kids, continue to follow your dreams,” said LeGall. “One day, I’m hoping to see you on our varsity team.”

City Looking to Site 24/7 Homeless Shelter on Adelphi Street by June 1

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

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city is looking at securing a public-private partnership with the locally based RISE Housing and Support Services to provide a year-round, low-barrier, 24/7 interim homeless shelter at 4 Adelphi St. by June 1. 

That shelter will be in addition to any other potential future shelter plans that may be decided upon this summer.  

The Adelphi Street building is the venue that served as the last city winter-seasonal temporary shelter. That lease, which was $8,000 per month and involved the Shelters of Saratoga organization, expired April 30.  In previous years of operation, Saratoga County as well as the State have provided some level of funding support for shelter operations. 

The agreement was to be discussed at length and voted on by the council earlier this month, but the item was pulled from the table after the council deemed an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the project would first be required. That initial draft agreement stipulated the city provide funds to operate the interim shelter from the date of execution to Dec. 31, 2023, and pledged sufficient monetary resources to fully fund the operations of the facility “for the 2024 Fiscal year and such future years as required.” It is not known how that potential agreement may differ when the proposal is returned to the table. 

The RFP, issued May 10, states the city seeks to obtain proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to operate a temporary low-barrier homeless shelter within the City of Saratoga Springs. Additionally, it specifies that the city anticipates awarding a 6-month contract for the remainder of 2023 and a subsequent one 1- year contract with up to three 3 additional 1-year renewal periods.

The opening of bids received has been scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, after which the City Council may hold a special meeting – although a special meeting has yet to be announced – to meet the June 1 deadline.

Several details, including financial, need to be worked out before the agreement is made.          

“We still believe that June 1, 2023 is a realistic goal for this first-of-its-kind for the city unhoused at this location,” city Mayor Ron Kim said, adding that “this is in addition to whatever Code Blue or Shelters of Saratoga would do. This is not to replace it.”

The Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness is currently searching for a permanent site for a homeless shelter and navigation center, and is anticipated to provide its recommendations to the City Council in July. 

The mayor additionally thanked Sonny and Julie Bonacio “for stepping forward as generous benefactors to make this 24/7 shelter a possibility for our community.”   

RISE Healthy Housing and Support Services (“RISE”) is a nonprofit organization, which has worked to prevent homelessness for the past 45 years and has provided assistance to homeless individuals in Saratoga County since 2017.