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Off To Nationals – Local Teens Qualify for National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships

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

Amber Cook (left), Paige Cook (middle), and Rachel Wilbur (right)
qualified for the 2023 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in
Grand Island, Nebraska. Photos provided by Kim Wilbur.

BALLSTON SPA — Three local teens are heading west in June, competing at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska. 

Amber Cook, Paige Cook, and Rachel Wilbur, members of the 4-H Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, all qualified for the National Championships after competing at the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships. Amber Cook will compete on New York’s Shotgun team, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will each compete on New York’s Archery team.

Paige Cook said it is “overwhelming, but exciting,” to clinch a spot at nationals.

“Yeah, it’s definitely overwhelming. But we’re all definitely blessed to have this opportunity and be able to experience this,” Wilbur added. “Very excited. We’re all working pretty hard at everything.”

The girls are also the first group from Saratoga County to even compete at the state championships, much less advance to nationals. Wilbur and Amber Cook competed at the state level in 2019, and all three girls competed in 2021 before qualifying for nationals at the 2022 State Championships.

“(In) 2019, we were the first ones to go out to the state competition, and now we’re the first ones from Saratoga County to go out to nationals,” said Amber Cook.

Kim Wilbur, mother of Rachel, said she is “so proud” of the girls, a sentiment that was echoed by the Cook’s parents. Renee Janack, mother of Amber and Paige Cook, pointed out that the girls are competing in fields that have been traditionally male-dominated.

“Proud just keeps coming to my mind,” said Kim Wilbur. “It’s exciting to see what the future holds.”

“It seems like such a cliche, I just keep saying how proud we are,” said Janack. “Not only are they the first going from Saratoga County, they’re young women. … It’s very male-dominated, so it’s thrilling to watch them grow as a team.”

Wilbur and Paige Cook both qualified for nationals at the New York State Championships in September. However, neither were certain they would make the cut.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it,” said Paige Cook.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to make it either,” added Wilbur. “I really just went in there with an open mind, like, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’”

Of course, both qualified for nationals, with Wilbur finishing second and Cook third overall.

Amber Cook, however, initially qualified for nationals in May 2022, but didn’t discover this until after her teammates had clinched their spots.

“I didn’t find out until after they did, in September. I was very surprised,” said Amber Cook. “I really did not think I was going to qualify, so it was just very exciting and I’m very proud of myself for being able to.”

Amber Cook will be joined on New York’s Shotgun team by qualifiers from Dutchess and Chemung counties, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will compete alongside a qualifier from Wyoming County on the New York Archery team.

Competitors will be scored individually, with their scores added up to generate overall county and state scores. 

“We all go out there and shoot individually,” said Wilbur. “So we’re scored individually, and then all together as a team at the end.”

The group is currently in the process of fundraising for the trip, with Wilbur saying it will cost about $3,000 per girl for the travel alone. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships will be held from June 25 to 30 in Grand Island, Nebraska.

“(We’ve been) getting together and just making sure everything is very precise, so we can go out to different stores and even just individual people and do group fundraising,” Wilbur said. “We’ve been in the process of that for a few months now. It is a lot of work to do fundraising, especially this big.”

“It’s a long process,” added Paige Cook. “We’re mostly preparing to start in the next couple weeks, because getting the names and the emails and all that has taken quite a long time.”

The girls’ parents are also chipping in any way they can. Jeff Breedon, father of Amber and Paige, is an instructor at Saratoga County 4-H along with Janack and Kim Wilbur.

“Every one of us brings a different strength to the team,” said Breedon. “That’s how we’ve succeeded, I think, so well. If something needs to happen, one of us knows how to do it.”

And the time spent in 4-H has also helped the trio become closer, which Janack emphasized as one of the strengths of the program. 

“That’s the beauty of 4-H, it’s a county-wide thing,” Janack said. “You have youth coming from all over who would have never met each other, would never have known how awesome their friendships are going to be. This is truly going to be a lifelong friendship between these three.”

Wilbur agreed, saying that while the girls knew each other before joining 4-H, the club has “really sparked that friendship in all of us.”

“I don’t even consider them my teammates, they’re just my family now,” said Wilbur. “That’s what 4-H has brought to us. It’s definitely a blessing.”

PDT Market To Open in Downtown Saratoga Springs

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

Chef Adam Foti. Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new market in downtown Saratoga Springs is preparing to open soon.

PDT Market is “six to eight weeks” away from opening its new location at 55 Railroad Place, said owner Adam Foti, who described PDT Market as a “specialty grocery store,” with many other offerings.

“There are seven aisles of a grocery store,” Foti said. “So as far as people being able to come in and grab things like eggs, butter, milk, flour, the sort of staple things, as well as specialty things, like brands and things you may not find at other places.”

PDT Market will feature deli, seafood, and produce areas, along with a grab-and-go station, charcuterie station, flowers, personal items, and more. The market will also have a full-service bar with beer and wine on tap.

Foti said the new location, “just seemed like the right kind of space and time for us as a brand.”

“When we saw that Price Chopper announced last year in February that they were leaving, we thought this was a great space for all the things we wanted to bring together in the manifestation of all the things that I am and we are as a brand,” said Foti. “All the food bits and pieces, but also a space where people can be immersed in our brand, and transported, hopefully, to some other place.”

Foti said the store has been designed to be “really aesthetically pleasing.”

“Our brand lives in this sort of French and Italian-inspired place, and specifically our ques that we take from a design and food perspective are more like Provencal and Tuscan,” said Foti. “What that means to us is upscale comfort food, in a way. It’s not fussy, but it’s food made really well from scratch ingredients with a limited amount of things in it.”

Foti said the grab-and-go section will offer prepared sandwiches, salads, protein bowls, and more. The deli area will sell sliced meats, paninis, and custom sandwiches, while a hot bar will also be available with items such as macaroni and cheese.

The meat and seafood area will feature “super fresh” seafood, said Foti.

“Out of the ocean and into the store in a day to two days max,” Foti said. “Other prepared foods there, by the pound, things that you would find at a normal deli area, like macaroni salad, potato salad, pre-made entree things that people can just go home and heat up.”

PDT’s full-service bar will offer beers on tap, craft cocktails, and wine. Foti said the bar has a limited menu, and said they will also sell their own private coffee blend, pastries, and baked goods. The bar area can also be rented out for private events.

The store will also feature a build-your-own charcuterie station, and offer cooking classes to the public. Foti named regions of Italy and France as possible themes for the classes, and said they typically run about 90 minutes. Classes through June are open for registration on www.pdtmarket.com. 

“We do all the chopping and cutting. You come in and do the fun part, which is cook,” Foti said. “Then you can get drinks from the bar, hang out with friends, and have a good time. So it’s sort of our version of Paint and Sip, but you get to eat and sip.”

PDT began as a catering company, and Foti said they will continue to offer catering services. The company formerly had a physical location in Ballston Lake, where they offered what Foti described as “lifestyle products.” 

Now, in Saratoga Springs, PDT will be able to offer much more.

“In this case, there’s so many different types of food experiences that you can have in this space,” said Foti. “Whether it’s truly need-based, where I just need to get eggs, milk, and bread or whatever. … There’s that piece, but there’s so many other components to it.”

PDT is currently in the process of hiring employees, Foti said. As the store gets closer to opening, he said it is “really exciting” to see his vision come to fruition.

“I’m a super passionate person about the things I do,” Foti said. “Nothing fulfills my soul more than to have people smile and laugh while they’re eating, and just enjoy themselves. … That’s what sort of drives me, and why we do what we do every day.”

Foti said he hopes PDT will be an inclusive space “where everyone can come and enjoy us in whatever way they want to.”

“We hope, and we know, that there’s a community here already that will like what we have to put out there,” said Foti. “We feel that this type of concept is missing right now in this market, so we feel like this could be a great space where people could come together.”

Saratoga County Drug Overdoses on the Rise

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


Saratoga County data published this month in the New York State Department of Health County Opioid Quarterly Report. 

BALLSTON SPA — A Public Health Advisory was issued Jan. 20 by the Saratoga County Department of Health reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses – 10 in all including one fatality – during a 7-day period between Jan. 13-18. Six of the 10 cases involved males and the overall ages ranged from 17 to 41.

The local advisory coincides with the New York State Department of Health’s County Opioid Quarterly Report for January 2023 – released this week, noting a statewide 14% increase in 2021 overdose deaths involving opioids, compared to 2020. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported a 30% increase in overdose deaths nationally. 

The state report, published quarterly, provides information about county-level health impacts related to heroin and opioid use and enables local communities to better respond to the opioid crisis. 

Findings comparing state totals for 2021 to 2020 data:

-14% increase in overdose deaths involving opioids, with 4,766 deaths in 2021.

-12.6% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses, with 10,430 visits in 2021.

-30.2% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses other than heroin, including illicitly produced opioids such as fentanyl, with 5,137 visits in 2021.

-11.8% increase in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) naloxone administration encounters, with 19,139 in 2021.

Fentanyl is involved in the majority of overdose deaths in New York State and is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, according to the state DOH. 

Saratoga County says it has targeted responding to the opioid epidemic a priority. The County previously announced it will utilize Opioid Settlement Funds to expand efforts to mitigate the growing influence of drugs and addiction in local communities, through a variety of programs and investments. 

“The County has multiple efforts underway to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse, to provide preventative and treatment measures to residents, and to provide law enforcement the tools and resources needed to combat the growing influence of drugs and alcohol in Saratoga County,” according to a statement released Jan. 21. 

Last Sunday, the county DOH partnered with the Clifton Park and Halfmoon Emergency Corps to distribute free Naloxone Overdose Rescue Kits and provide Naloxone training in Clifton Park. Approximately 105 two-pack kits were distributed during the event. More than three dozen more kits have been requested since the event via the county’s website, according to a county spokesperson. 

Naloxone – which works on opioids such as heroin, prescription pain medications and fentanyl – is a safe medication that can save someone’s life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Anyone interested in obtaining a Narcan kit can fill out a request form at: saratogacountyny.gov/narcan/. 

Saratoga County also notes the existence of New York State’s 911 “Good Samaritan Law,” which allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness someone overdosing. 

Everyone — regardless of age — who seeks medical help for themselves or someone else during an overdose is protected by the 911 Good Samaritan Law. Specifically, that law protects: Possessing controlled substances up to and including A2 felony off¬enses (anything under 8 ounces); Possessing alcohol, where underage drinking is involved; Possessing marijuana (any quantity); Possessing drug paraphernalia; and Sharing drugs. The law does not protect: A1 felony possession of a controlled substance (8 ounces or more); Sale or intent to sell controlled substances; Open warrants for your arrest; and Violation of probation or parole. 

The State also continues to advance 25 Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) with over 81 sites statewide. SEPs address the needs of New Yorkers who use drugs and lead in the distribution of naloxone to New Yorkers vulnerable to overdose. The State’s 14 Drug User Health Hubs have been built upon the foundations of the SEPs. These centers focus on reducing overdose by providing easy access to buprenorphine, building safety plans with people who have experienced a non-fatal overdose and equipping participants with naloxone.

SCDOH and Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have developed a Substance Use and Mental Health Resource Directory that individuals and families can use to find area recovery and support resources. The 35-page directory is available via the county website at: saratogacountyny.gov.  

Local residents requesting more information or seeking answers to questions regarding help with opioids/substance abuse may send their inquiries to:  opioids@saratogacountyny,gov.  

Permanent Homeless Shelter: Problem Solved, Problems Arise

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

The Saratoga Senior Center on Williams Street in Saratoga Springs, on Jan. 25, 2023. The site is proposed to house a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter, tentatively slated to open in the late spring. A meeting will take place Monday at Saratoga Central Catholic School. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Plans are underway to site a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter at the soon-to-be-vacated Senior Center on Williams Street. 

City Mayor Ron Kim originally announced the comprehensive initiative to address the city’s homelessness last October, and the City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the project. 

The location is the longtime home of the Saratoga Senior Center, a structure developed by the city on city-owned property in the 1970s. The timeline of the shelter’s opening is tentatively slated for late spring, and is dependent on the components of the existing Senior Center relocating to a new venue at the Saratoga Springs YMCA property at 290 West Ave. 

The search for a permanent shelter site has been ongoing for nearly a decade. The Williams Street plan is something city officials and Saratoga County officials began discussing early in 2022. The current lease for the temporary Code Blue shelter on Adelphi Street runs through April 30 at a cost of $8,000 per month. 

The city resolution approved in October calls for the development of “a state-mandated Code Blue Shelter, a navigation center, and a full-time low-threshold shelter on the property.” 

The specific definition of a “low barrier shelter” and of a “navigation center” vary from state-to-state. Recent legislation in California details “navigation centers” as providing temporary room and board while case managers work to connect homeless individuals and families to income, public benefits, health services and permanent housing or other shelter. 

Meanwhile, having a “low barrier” points to things such as eliminating curfews and not requiring background checks, sobriety or mandatory treatment. 

It is not clear at this time whether any of these points would be put in effect in Saratoga Springs. 

The Dilemma

Some members of the nearby Saratoga Central Catholic School have expressed concern regarding the siting of a “low barrier” shelter in close proximity to children. The topic “caused an uproar” when it came up for discussion during a general meeting last week staged by the Saratoga Central Catholic Security Committee. 

“As a committee, we have been talking about the homeless shelter on-and-off for a little while,” said committee member Kevin Zacharewicz. “We’re religious people, we’re Catholic people, so we’re not against the homeless shelter; we’re just against the location of the homeless shelter. We don’t feel that it should be basically touching the property, or be near our kids, our school,” he said. 

The group met with Shelters of Saratoga Executive Director Duane J. Vaughn on Dec. 20, Zacharewicz said. “We talked about that it would be between basically 40 people on the average a night in the summertime, and 60 people an average a night in the wintertime. … We talked about if he does any background checks on his clients, the homeless. He kind of said no.

“We have to help these people out. We get that,” Zacharewicz said. “We understand all this, but again, the location is just not the right mix, and it caused an uproar, obviously, at the school meeting.” A meeting regarding the matter is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 in the school gymnasium. 

City Mayor Ron Kim said this week that discussions with local school and church officials are ongoing and that the city is cognizant of mitigating any impact the center may have on them, and how that materializes is a matter to be decided with future conversations.    

“Code Blue” shelter and shelter services are provided to the homeless community whenever inclement winter weather temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, inclusive of National Weather Service calculations for windchill. Motivated to action in the wake of the death of a city woman exposed to a winter’s elements on a December night in 2013, a temporary homeless emergency shelter was launched in Saratoga Springs that Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Parish Center. A series of temporary winter shelters have followed. 

In addition to becoming a permanently sited 24/7 “Code Blue” shelter, the city had expressed some interest in also pursuing the possibility of adding about 40 affordable housing apartments in an adjacent space on the parcel that would assist residents in their transitioning process – a continuum of care with the ultimate goal of helping people move from homelessness to sustained housing on their own.        

(Reporter Dylan McGlynn contributed to this report.)

B’Spa Wrestlers Dual Meet Champs!

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

Photo by Heather Whipple. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team pulled out a pair of huge victories on Tuesday, defeating Saratoga Springs and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake to win the Section 2 Division 1 Dual Meet Championship and clinch a spot at the state championships.

It is the first-ever Dual Meet championship for the Scotties, who beat Saratoga 33-29 in the opening round before coming away with another narrow victory in the championship, defeating Burnt Hills 34-33.

Ballston Spa will compete as a team at the NYSPHSAA Dual Meet State Championships, held Jan. 28 at SRC Arena in Syracuse. 

See below for results from both matches:

Ballston Spa 33, Saratoga 29

(102) Quinton Warlikowski (B-Spa) def. Kyle Edwards (Saratoga) by pin at 4:15

(110) Ralph Keeney (B-Spa) def. Chase Matter (Saratoga) by pin at 2:26

(118) Tristan Hinchcliff (B-Spa) def. Luke Stoutenburg (Saratoga) by 10-4 decision

(126) Taylor Beaury (Saratoga) def. Mason Insogna (B-Spa) by pin at 1:12

(132) Cameron Hinchcliff (B-Spa) def. Trey Edwards (Saratoga) by 11-0 maj. decision

(138) Danny Dacey (Saratoga) def. William O’Connor (B-Spa) by 9-2 decision

(145) James Capasso (B-Spa) def. Hayden Passaretti (Saratoga) by 8-1 decision

(152) Gordon Murray (Saratoga) def. Benjamin Roberson (B-Spa) by pin at 2:13

(160) Connor Gregory (B-Spa) def. Gianni Delgado (Saratoga) by technical fall, 18-3 at 4:45

(172) Vita Spatafora (Saratoga) def. Brennan Livingston (B-Spa) by 11-3 maj. decision

(189) Lorenzo Paleschi (Saratoga) def. Jacob Perkins (B-Spa) by 10-2 maj. decision

(215) Darrien Insogna (B-Spa) def. Jack Dacey (Saratoga) by pin at 0:26

(285) Patrick McKinley (Saratoga) win by forfeit

Ballston Spa 34, Burnt Hills 33

(102) Brody DiCaprio (Burnt Hills) def. Quinton Warlikowski (B-Spa) by 5-3 decision

(110) Gavin Whipple (B-Spa) def. Dylan Posson (Burnt Hills) by pin at 1:26

(118) Ralph Keeney (B-Spa) def. Tyler Whiteley (Burnt Hills) by pin at 2:52

(126) Cameron Hinchcliff (B-Spa) def. Ben Taylor (Burnt Hills) by pin at 4:22

(132) Liam Carlin (Burnt Hills) def. Tyler Perkins (B-Spa) by pin at 0:21

(138) Gabriel Goss (Burnt Hills) def. William O’Connor (B-Spa) by pin at 1:25

(145) Colin Carlin (Burnt Hills) win by forfeit

(152) Joshua Warland (Burnt Hills) def. James Capasso (B-Spa) by pin at 0:24

(160) Connor Gregory (B-Spa) def. Howard Bearce (Burnt Hills) by pin at 2:44

(172) Jacob Perkins (B-Spa) def. Thomas Pawlinga (Burnt Hills) by 11-3 maj. decision

(189) Samuel Martin (Burnt Hills) def. Brennan Livingston (B-Spa) by 12-6 decision

(215) Darrien Insogna (B-Spa) def. Julian Goss (Burnt Hills) by pin at 0:16

(285) Santino Mareno (Burnt Hills) def. Cole Donnelly (B-Spa) by 5-1 decision

Saratoga Senior Chudy Nominated for McDonald’s All-American Game

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

Saratoga Springs senior Natasha Chudy is pictured after scoring her
1,000th career varsity point during a game against Section III’s Bishop Kearney last season (Photo provided by Robin Chudy).

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Currently in her fifth year of varsity basketball, Saratoga Springs senior Natasha Chudy is no stranger to receiving recognition for her work on the court. This winter, however, Chudy received recognition on a national scale, as she was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.

“I’m definitely really honored to have this nomination,” said Chudy. “It’s super important. I think it’s really cool to be in that category, and people looking at me and what I’ve worked for.”

Blue Streaks head coach Robin Chudy, who is also Natasha’s mother, said it has been “wonderful” to watch her daughter progress through the years.

“As an eighth-grader coming on our varsity team, it’s kind of neat to see where she is now,” said Robin Chudy. “And I think it’s a testament to her hard work, and all the practices and things that she’s put into her game, which is great. It’s really nice to see such a really big accomplishment come her way. Even to be nominated is just really remarkable.”

The Blue Streaks’ dynamic senior first joined the varsity team as an eighth-grader, and quickly joined the team’s starting lineup. In the five years since, she has reached 1,000 career points, become the team’s all-time leading rebounder, and been named to a pair of All-State teams. 

And now, she’s received national recognition. This season, Chudy is averaging 18.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. She led Saratoga in all three categories as a junior, averaging 22.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in the 2021-22 season.

While her numbers certainly jump out, Robin Chudy said she is most impressed by Natasha’s role as a “team player.”

“She knows when to make the pass, she’s not selfish at all. If you watch her when she’s sitting on the bench, it’s really neat to see her cheer for her teammates,” said Robin Chudy. “She’s jumping around and going crazy for the girls when they’re scoring and doing some really good things. That part of her game is hard to come by, it really is. That kid who is not selfish, and has a really high basketball IQ as well.”

The team’s chemistry and closeness was emphasized by the pair, with Natasha saying that having strong chemistry with her teammates is one of her priorities.

“I’ve realized over the years that really does make a difference,” said Natasha Chudy. “I feel like I have such a good relationship with every girl on the team, and try to make sure that everyone feels like a part of the team. That’s really how you have a successful team at the end, if you work well together in every way.”

Chudy also said she has enjoyed playing for her mom, who she called “the biggest influence in my life.”

“She is my mom, and she knows me the best, so she pushes me because she knows where I can be,” said Natasha Chudy. “Sometimes it gets hard, but honestly, she’s been the biggest influence in my life in many different ways, especially basketball. I think her pushing me all these years has really, really paid off, and I love that she’s my coach.”

As a coach, while Robin Chudy admitted it can be “hard to turn it off” at times, she also said Natasha is a “great listener” who receives plenty of feedback from her family.

“She takes a lot of the things that we say at our house,” Robin Chudy said. “Our entire family is a basketball family. She grew up with three older siblings who played a ton of basketball, and we all say all the things that we think she needs to improve on, and try to give her the accolades when she does a good job.”

Chudy is committed to play college basketball at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, a Division 1 school and a member of the Patriot League. Chudy said she wanted to choose a school that had a strong balance of academics and athletics.

“When I made the decision, I chose a school that was a great balance of athletics and academics. But, especially, the coaches are amazing,” said Natasha Chudy. “They were very welcoming. They’re just so amazing. They would help me through this time, and they just wanted the best for me, and what was best for me was being with them.”

Robin Chudy was also complimentary of the Lafayette coaching staff, and said she is “so proud” of Natasha.

“Proud of her for all of her accomplishments and everything she’s done. This is what she’s worked for, which is great,” Robin Chudy said. “She picked a great school, with, like she said, a great balance of academics and athletics. For me, as a parent, I wanted her to find a home. It seems like the coaching staff is so welcoming, and I think that’s going to be a great place for her.”

But for now, the focus is on the current season. The Blue Streaks are 8-5 entering a non-league contest against the Albany Academy for Girls on Tuesday. The team has been dealing with injuries, Robin Chudy said, but have high hopes for sectionals.

“A couple are out with injuries. We’re rotating kids around and trying to get everybody healthy again,” Robin Chudy said. “I feel like if we can all get on the court at the same time, healthy and ready to go, we’re going to be a tough one to beat. We really are.”

Natasha Chudy said she feels the team’s chemistry has improved, saying that Saratoga basketball “prioritizes being a team.”

“I feel like we definitely have gotten so used to working with each other at this point, and I think that’s showing now more than ever,” said Natasha Chudy. “I feel like we’re doing a great job team chemistry-wise, on and off the court, and I think that’s definitely showing now.”

Ultimately, Robin Chudy said the opportunity to coach Natasha has been “amazing.”

“It’s been an honor to coach my kid all these years. And difficult. You’ve got a lot of people watching, making sure that you make the right calls with your kid, because it’s obviously sensitive,” said Robin Chudy. “You have a lot of coaching staff around you to make sure you’re grounded and you know you’re making the right decisions. 

“But I don’t think I’d ever trade these years. It’s been amazing.”

First-Of-Its-Kind – Affordable Housing in N.Y. 

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

“Putnam Square” – a vacant lot on Putnam Street, depicted in this image captured Jan. 17, 2023 with the Saratoga Springs Public Library in the distance, is a target site for the development of a five-story building housing affordable residential units.  Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council unanimously approved a resolution to seek $1 million in grant funding – via the Restore NY Communities Initiative Municipal Grant Program – that anticipates taking a currently vacant parcel at 53 Putnam St. and redeveloping it into a multi-story building with affordable/mixed-income housing units that will house low-income individuals and families.   

At least 20 units in the anticipated 60-unit building are expected to be made available “for low-income individuals and families to own and occupy their own home,” according to the city. 

“It’s a win for environmentalists, a win for developers, investors and a win for the city of Saratoga Springs,” city Mayor Ron Kim said during the council’s discussion of the matter on Jan. 17.  

The project is located on a NYS Brownfield Environmental Remediation lot, sited opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library. 

Dubbed as “Putnam Square,” the project anticipates development as a public/private partnership between Putnam Resources, and the city along with a variety of local non-profit organizations. The estimated overall project cost is just over $15 million. More than $3 million has already been invested by developers to acquire, manage and clean the site.  

“If this works the way it is currently positioned, it will be the first of its kind in the state,” said Commissioner Dillon Moran, drawing a contrasting comparative with the typical home-by-home basis actions, which takes a while to develop, by organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.  

Mayor Kim said that “one-third or more” of the 60-unit building will be offered at HUD affordable prices at a percentage of the region’s determined area median income, or AMI. The AMI for all cities across the country fluctuates, and is defined each year by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  

I Hear America Singing

• The City Council approved the appointment of Joseph Bruchac as Poet Laureate of the city of Saratoga Springs. Bruchac was born and raised in Saratoga Springs and has authored more than 120 books, along with numerous poems and short stories. 

The appointment marks the first by the city of a Poet Laureate and carries the duties of serving as a representative of the Saratoga Springs in creating literary and artistic works in commemoration of the city, its history, and its people. The position, which carries through 2025, was unanimously approved by the Council and will be under the supervision and guidance of the Mayor’s Office, in consultation with the arts commission. 

Saratoga New Year’s Fest Will Be Back for 2023/24

• Bob Millis, primary producer of the inaugural Saratoga New Year’s Fest staged Dec. 31-Jan. 1 told the Council that the event was an overall success and will return for its second year. 

“We hit all of our markers. We attracted people from across the Northeast, we put them in hotels, we sent them to downtown venues and we generated sales tax,” Millis said. “It was such a great success we have committed to continuing the event into the future.”   

School Resource Officer(s)

• The council approved an addendum to the agreement between the Saratoga Springs City School District and the city of Saratoga Springs that will – beginning on Jan. 30 – have the city assign an additional School Resource Officer to the District’s Elementary Schools.

“The school district had a Safety Survey Report that recommended the addition of two School Resource Officers – one to be provided by the Sheriff’s Department for the two elementary schools outside the city limits, and a recommendation that the city provide an SRO from the Saratoga Springs Police Department for the four elementary schools that are in city limits,” city Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino told the council Jan. 17. “That recommendation was adopted by the school board last week.” The measure was approved by the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education by a 5-4 margin.

The school district will pay $74,285 as reimbursement toward the cost of the Elementary SRO, prorated from the Elementary SRO’s start date through the end of the contract. The district currently employs two SROs, one at the high school and one at the middle school campuses.

The four district elementary schools within Saratoga Springs city limits are: Caroline Street Elementary School, Lake Avenue Elementary School, Division Street Elementary School, and Geyser Road Elementary School.

The elementary schools SRO will be on duty from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each school day, at or between the elementary schools. In all, the city has seven officers currently trained as SRO’s on staff, Montagnino said.

Sky High: America’s Youngest Pilot Takes to the Skies Over Saratoga Region 

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

Kevin Tully poses with airplane, Jan. 15, 2023. Photo provided.

ALBANY — Kevin Tully celebrated his 16th birthday on Jan. 15 by flying over the Capital Region and in the process of doing so, was for the day, America’s youngest pilot.  

Tully has been flying glider planes out of the Saratoga County Airport since he was 12 years old, thanks to the Adirondack Soaring Club – which has a low-cost pilot training program for kids under the age of 18 years old. 

At 14, Tully was issued his FAA student pilots license and has piloted a glider plane as high as 10,000 feet over Saratoga County by himself; a year later he was flying a powered plane alongside an instructor – accomplishing the tasks necessary to fly a plane without an instructor upon reaching the FAA minimum age of 16. 

On his 16th birthday, last Sunday, Tully took to the skies in a Piper Cherokee airplane – from the Capital District Pilots Association, to fly from Albany Airport over Niskayuna High School where he is a sophomore, and north to Saratoga County Airport, before returning to Albany International Airport.

Last Call 2AM: Saratoga Approves Early Bar Closing

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

Caroline Street at night. Photo by John Seymour.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Following a lengthy discussion which pushed this week’s City Council meeting close to the midnight hour, officials approved a measure moving forward that directs the city attorney petition the N.Y. State Liquor Authority to prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m. for any new city establishment seeking to secure a liquor license, or for any currently existing business seeking a license renewal.

Citing public safety reasons as its inspiration to roll back bar closing times from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m., the resolution passed by a 3-2 vote. Mayor Ron Kim, and Commissioners Jim Montagnino and Minita Sanghvi voted to approve the measure; Commissioners Jason Golub and Dillon Moran voted against.   

The adopted resolution specifically directs the City Attorney to petition the SLA when “an establishment, individual or entity of any kind seeks a liquor license, seeks renewal of a liquor license, or seeks modification or amendment of a liquor license,” to prohibit the sale of alcohol by that entity beyond 2 a.m. as a condition of the granting of a license.  

“The State Liquor Authority not only has the discretion to issue conditions on the granting of licenses, but (the SLA) is responsive to community requests regarding those conditions,” said Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino, who authored the city measure.  

The city process under the resolution seems clear regarding new businesses seeking licenses for the first time, however, appears a bit murkier when related to existing businesses seeking license renewal.   

“It’s my understanding that new applications are treated somewhat differently than renewals by the SLA – new applications are given more scrutiny,” Montagnino said. On-premises wine and liquor licenses are issued for two years, according to the SLA.

“With regard to the renewals, generally, unless there are problems with the application or the applicant, the renewals are granted. I would note that in the event of a renewal application for premises that have had problems in the past…I think the SLA would take a little harder look and maybe exercise their discretion,” Montagnino said. “In a situation where there were previous problems, the SLA may be more receptive…in the case of a renewal we would review the history of that establishment from the time of its last renewal and may add information in our letter to the SLA for them to use in exercising their discretion.” 

Several attempts made by the current, as well as previous councils to alter bar closing hours have been unsuccessful. One clear path to altering the time of a “last call” requires the approval of the county Board of Supervisors for the change be implemented countywide, and to subsequently forward that request to the State Liquor Authority to ultimately rule on the matter. The city resolution presented this week documents the county’s reluctance to do so, noting: “the County has, to this time, not acceded to the City’s request.” 

The term of license depends on the type of license you have. If you have a retail license to sell only beer for on-premises or off-premises consumption, your license lasts for three years. Off-premises liquor and wine licenses (liquor and wine stores) are also issued for three years. If you have a seasonal license, it must be renewed every year.

In response to an inquiry of general practices, the State Liquor Authority responded via email with the following statement:  

“About our licensing processes: Each and every on premises businesses – including those currently operating in Saratoga – is required at the time of application to provide notice of at least 30 days to the municipality in which it intends to operate.  This allows the municipality time to provide the SLA with any desired input into the business’ operation.  A municipality’s choice not to provide input generally signifies agreement with the business and business model proposed in the municipal notice.  If however the municipality provides input opposing the proposed business or their method of operation, the SLA will place the new business’ application on a Board agenda, so that the positions of the business and the municipality may be heard by the SLA Full Board.  

“The Full Board reviews each application on a case-by-case basis, weighing the merits of the individual application while placing due weight on the recommendations of local law enforcement, municipal officials, and members of the community.”  

Coming to a Mall Near You: Development Project Seeks to Site 400 Apartments at Wilton Mall; Public Presentation Jan. 5 

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


Phase One plans of project that would demolish the vacant Bon-Ton store at Wilton Mall, and develop the first 296 residential units. Photo: reimaginewiltonmall.com. 

WILTON — A proposal that would see the development of nearly 400 apartments and townhouses alongside the Wilton Mall continues to move through the town’s approval process. 

The project, proposed by the Macerich Corporation and Paramount Development, includes 382 new “luxury, market-rate rental residences,” including both apartments and townhomes, and will feature “premium resident amenities with a sophisticated design,” according to the companies. 

In November, the town Planning Board entertained an application to establish a Planned Unit Development District (PUDD) for a development with mixed-use, consisting of 680,000 square feet of commercial use and 382 residential units – comprised of 296 apartments and 86 townhomes. The town board is reportedly charged with making the ultimate decision regarding the PUDD, and there has been some public opposition expressed regarding the project. 

A phone message seeking comment left for Town Supervisor John Lant was not returned.       

Mike Shaffer, Property Manager at Wilton Mall, said this week that a project update will be provided to the Wilton Town Board during its meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5.  The Saratoga County Planning Board is also anticipated to provide an advisory opinion to the Wilton Town Board next month.

Considering these forthcoming recommendations of the Wilton and Saratoga County Planning Boards – as well as the anticipated Negative Declaration on SEQRA – developers are currently anticipating a Feb. 2 Public Hearing with the Wilton Town Board – the municipal entity which will decide whether the Wilton Mall Mixed-Use PUDD is ultimately approved. 

Paramount Development, based in Florida, has developed 200 rental apartment communities in dozens of states. Santa Monica, California-based company Macerich has owned and operated the mall land since 2004. They own about 95 acres in all; JC Penney – owns just over two acres, and LBW Saratoga – occupied by BJ’s, owns just under four acres. 

“What we see in the Wilton Mall is something that’s got some momentum. We do really well around retail,” Tom Snell, a partner with Paramount Development, told Wilton town officials during a public meeting earlier this year, when Paramount announced its plans to purchase two lots totaling just over 13-1/2 acres on the northeasterly side of the mall for the $100 million-plus project. 

The potential project, which would be developed in two phases, would occur on the northeast side of the mall past Dick’s Sporting Goods, and see the removal of the former BonTon location, which closed in 2018. That was followed by the closure of Sears two years later.