SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Racing City Chorus from Saratoga Springs is inviting any interested men of all ages from the Greater Capital District to sing with them during this holiday season.
Instruction will be provided by Gary Glidden, the chorus director. Those interested who can attend several upcoming rehearsals will receive sheet music; for those who don’t read music, a personal CD with their part sung for them to memorize will be provided. Those interested need not be accomplished singers.
Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings starting at 7:30 p.m. as follows:
Nov. 22: St. Edward the Confessor Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, off Northway exit 9 west.
Nov. 29 and Dec. 6:
PBA Clubhouse, 5 Bliven Way, Saratoga Springs, off Northway Exit 15 east.
A special Holiday Concert takes place Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the PBA Clubhouse in Saratoga Springs.
For more information, call John Senecal at 518-810-3322.
BALLSTON — Sue Clark will be the featured artists for the month of November at the town of Ballston Library Community Room Art Gallery.
The exhibition titled “Some Gave All – Honoring All Veterans Photography Show,” features Navajo Code Talkers portraits, Southwest photography, a WWII panoramic photo barn find, local veterans information, books and memorabilia.
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, a Meet and Greet/Show and Tell/Veteran, Family, Community Sit and Reminisce Social Hour takes place 3 p.m. and from 5- 6 p.m. Grant Cottage staff speaker and actor Ben Kemp offers the presentation “A Veteran Speaks: Oscar Kemp of the 115th and the Grand Army, Healing after the War.”
The town of Ballston Community Library is located at 2 Lawmar Lane, Burnt Hills.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Staging its inaugural premier fundraising event with a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Universal Preservation Hall Oct. 28, RISE Housing and Support Services raised nearly $60,000.
Approximately 150 attended the event which included a costume contest.
RISE, formerly known as Transitional Services Association, has been a catalyst, leader, and partner within the greater Saratoga community to provide housing, mental health, and addictions services for over 40 years.
Funds raised at the event will support RISE’s mission to help people living with mental health, substance use, and other life challenges to remain safe and healthy in the community through housing and supportive services
For more information about RISE Housing and Support Services visit, www.riseservices.org.
GLENVILLE — Efforts are continuing to create a Capital Region Veterans Memorial in a new 6.5 acre Legacy Park at Dutch Meadows Lane and North Ballston Road in Glenville.
The Capital Region Veterans Memorial board of directors is trying to raise $1 million or more to build a 4,000 square foot building to house a Veterans Café, visitor welcome center, museum, and computer technological services. The Legacy Park will have an amphitheater and a serene walkway with Military monuments, according to Mary Brandt, board president.
Monuments for World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and Expeditionaries will commemorate fallen troops from Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties.
The completed project will honor deceased Veterans while honoring and also serving living Veterans. To date the group has raised nearly $100,000.
For more information about the organization, and how to donate, go online to: capitalregionveteransmemorial.org.
John Kirk and Trish Miller to perform live Saturday, Nov. 12 at Brookside Museum’s Saratoga Chips and Beer Festival. Photo provided.
BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga Chips and Beer Festival will be held 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Brookside Museum.
The event, announced by the Saratoga County History Center and DeCrescente Distributing Company, is a fundraiser for a benefit for the Saratoga County History Center.
The museum’s current exhibit is “In the Saratoga Style: Potato Chips and Their Regional Folklore,” and the event will feature Saratoga Chips, Saratoga Springs’ Druthers Brewing Company’s All-in IPA, and seasonal favorite Sam Adams’ Oktoberfest.
Tickets: $20 in advance, and $25 on the day of the event, while designated drivers will be $10. SCHC members receive $5 off. The first beer or non-alcoholic punch or drink is included in the ticket price. John Kirk and Trish Miller of Greenfield Center will provide live music, and the festival includes a campfire, a s’mores station, a silent auction, and a game of potato chip trivia.
Brookside Museum is located at 21 Fairground Ave. in Ballston Spa. For more information, go to: brooksidemuseum.org/event/saratoga-chips-and-beer-festival-2/, or call 518-885-4000.
Jason Golub was elected Commissioner of Public Works by city voters.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the Spa City race to elect the Commissioner of Public Works, Democrat Jason Golub defeated Republican candidate Anthony Scirocco, Jr. garnering 6,818 votes to Scirocco’s 5,322.
More than 12,000 votes were registered for the city council seat, marking a greater than 30% increase in overall votes compared to the numbers tallied for any one of the five council seats during the last election in 2021.
Golub is currently filling the seat on an interim basis through 2022. He was unanimously selected by the four sitting members of the City Council in May to temporarily fill the position that became vacant as a result of the death of longtime DPW Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. One of his sons, Anthony Scirocco, Jr. received the support of the local Republican Committee and ran for the position to follow in his late father’s footsteps.
The election will fill the DPW seat for the calendar year 2023 – the remainder of the elder Scirocco’s 2020-elected term.
There are places in the country where political preference and blind acceptance to a party’s ideals tears at the jigsaw of a community’s fabric. But, despite an us-versus-them mentality that is elsewhere pervasive, as well as an effort by some activated operatives pecking away like hens atop their social media connected keyboards seeking to create divisions – this is not one of those places. Here, there seems to be a simpler set of rules at play in comparing the candidates: Who are they? What sort of experience do they have? Who is the best person to get the job done?
To Golub, the goals related to his seat on the council in 2023 remain the same as when he first auditioned for the council appointment, earlier this year.
“For me, it’s the same as when we started. What is that 21st century vision of DPW? While we’re always going to do that core DPW – remove your snow, remove your leaves – it’s really about how can we drive the infrastructure in the city? Energy. Parks. Bike lanes. It could be how we partner with the state and federal government. There’s so much that DPW can drive and that’s where I want to focus,” said Golub, attending an Election Night gathering of Democrats at The Inn at Saratoga – a historic Broadway venue that first began operating as a boarding house in 1847.
Appointed to the position in May, Golub has now secured his first bonafide election victory. Bitten for the first time by the parliamentary bug, could a life-road in politics be awaiting him in the future?
“Who asks that question the night that you win? “ he says with a laugh. “I don’t know the answer to that. Tonight, I’m enjoying this. I enjoy serving the community and I would like to continue to do that. “
Republican N.Y. State Sen. James Tedisco, elected to 44th Senate District. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Despite a changing electorate, an increase in population, and a redrawing of district boundaries, Saratoga voters this week elected to largely maintain the present state of affairs when choosing their political leaders.
Congressman Paul Tonko, Assemblypersons Mary Beth Walsh and Carrie Woerner, and county district attorney Karen Heggen were each reelected to new terms, and when it came to selecting a state senator for the new all-encompassing county district, it was the familiar name of James Tedisco which Saratoga voters chose.
There were, however, major diversions in some key races among Saratoga County voters when compared to the selections of the majority in the rest of the state.
There are approximately 173,500 registered voters in Saratoga County, according to the NYS Board of Elections most recent report of Nov. 1. Approximately 36% are registered Republicans, 29.6% registered Democrats, 27.2% are independent of any party, and the remaining 7.2% are comprised of registered third-party voters.
In these midterm elections, nearly 100,000 Saratoga voters cast their ballots countywide, representing over 56% of Saratoga County’s 173,500 active registered voters.
NY Senate District 44
More than 120,000 votes were counted, nearly 100,000 of them from Saratoga County in the newly redrawn 44th Senate District, which includes all of Saratoga County and part of Schenectady.
Republican James Tedisco emerged victorious securing 56% of the vote, compared to the 42% garnered by Democrat Michelle Ostrelich.
Ostrelich joined other party members Tuesday evening at The Inn at Saratoga on Broadway, where Democrats had gathered. Post-election, Ostrelich said she will continue to serve in her current capacity as a Schenectady County Legislator.
Tedisco meanwhile joined fellow county Republicans on Election Night at Vapor. The club is flanked by a this-century-constructed gambling facility with video lottery terminals and more than 1,000 slots, and a near century old harness racing track where sulky drivers are pulled across the half-mile dirt oval by horses eleven months of the year.
Tedisco was first elected to represent the 49th State Senate District – which includes parts of Saratoga, in 2016, and previously served in the New York State Assembly from 1983-2016. Tedisco, who represented the 49th district, decided to run in District 44 after the state’s redistricting process took shape earlier this year. The move drew criticism from Sen. Daphne Jordan of the 43rd district, who contended she had the rightful geographic claim to the new district, according to WAMC. Jordan subsequently announced she would not actively run.
House of Representatives
Once every decade, geographic boundaries regarding candidate representation are redrawn. Earlier this year, congressional redistricting placed all of Saratoga County into District 20, alongside Albany and Schenectady counties, and parts of Rensselaer.
In CD 20, Democrat incumbent Paul Tonko beat Republican challenger Elizabeth Joy 54% to 45%, with a victorious district-wide margin of approximately 27,000 votes. It is a contest the two candidates had staged previously; in 2020, Tonko defeated Joy by a near 20-point margin of victory.
Tonko was victorious among voters in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer. Saratoga voters favored Joy 53% to 47%, a difference of just over 6,000 votes. Republican incumbent Congresswoman Elise Stefanik had represented a portion of Saratoga in previous elections. The newly redrawn Congressional District 21 covers areas east, west and north of CD 20 where Stefanik defeated Democrat challenger Matt Castelli by a near 20-point margin of victory.
Republican Walsh, Democrat Woerner Re-Elected to NY Assembly
Areas of Saratoga County are represented as NY Assembly District 112 and NY Assembly District 113. Just over 45,000 voters presented their ballots in each of the contested districts in 2022.
In Assembly District 112, Mary Beth Walsh (R, C) emerged victorious over Andrew McAdoo (D, WF) 59% to 39%. In NY Assembly District 113, Carrie Woerner (D, WF) bested David Catalfamo (R, C) 52% to 47%.
For the first time in several decades, Democrats challenged the district attorney seat long held by Republicans. County voters re-elected Republican incumbent Karen Heggen over Democratic challenger Michael Phillips 57% to 43%, with a margin of victory of about 14,000 votes.
Saratoga County Votes in Statewide Races
Statewide, voters selected Democrats Kathy Hochul for Governor, Thomas DiNapoli for Comptroller, Letitia James for Attorney General, and Chuck Schumer as U.S. Senator. Three of those four state majority preferences came up short locally, however.
In the governor’s race, Saratoga County voters favored Republican challenger Lee Zeldin over Kathy Hochul 55% to 45%, attorney general Republican candidate Michael Henry over Letitia James 53% to 46%, and Republican U.S. Sen. Candidate Joe Pinion over Chuck Schumer 51% to 48%. (Note, all numbers are rounded up).
Ballot Proposal 1 – Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, was overwhelmingly approved statewide and by Saratoga voters alike. The “yes” vote authorizes the sale of state bonds up to $4.2 billion to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects, in addressing and combating the impact of climate change and damage to the environment.
Crescent & Jefferson Zoning Amendment Powerpoint Presentation, submitted in conjunction with 200-unit plan for affordable housing project.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Upcoming meetings of the city’s three Land Use Boards will take place at Saratoga Springs City Hall, respectively, on Nov. 16 (DRC), Nov. 17 (Planning Board), and Nov. 28 (ZBA).
A variety of both new and ongoing projects are anticipated to be discussed at those meetings.
Design Review Board – 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Meeting Agenda:
• PDT Market Storefront Modifications and Signage, 55 Railroad Place, Architectural Review of storefront modifications. Narrative: Renovation of 19,200 square foot space at Railroad Avenue to open the PDT Market in a space previously occupied by Price Chopper. Seeking to modify entry by removing 24 feet of storefront and replacing with stucco preparation.
• Saratoga Coworks Signage, 92 Congress St., Architectural Review of a new wall sign.
• 53 Spring Cladding Color Change, 53 Spring, Historic Review of proposed modification of Nichiha cladding finish color from Vintagewood Cedar to Vintagwood Bark.
• Brookview Prefab shed, 3 Brookview, Architectural Review of a proposed prefabricated wood shed.
• Best Western Rt 9 Modifications, 3291 US Route 9, Architectural Review of facade material and color changes.
• 10 Marion, 10 Marion Ave., Architectural Review of proposed renovations to existing home.
Planning Board – 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17
Meeting Agenda:
• 131 Excelsior North Spring Run Special Use Permit, 131 Excelsior, Consideration of coordinated SEQRA review for a proposed 102-unit multi-family residential project.
• Crescent and Jefferson Petition for Zoning Amendment, Crescent & Jefferson, Consideration of deferral of lead agency status and an advisory opinion to the City Council for comprehensive plan, and zoning map amendments to provide for a proposed 200-unit affordable housing project.
• Kirby Subdivision, 52 Kirby, Final plan review of a two-lot subdivision.
• 120 S. Broadway Site Plan Review, 120 S. Broadway, Site plan review of a proposed multi-family residential project consisting of 58 units, and associated site work.
Zoning Board of Appeals – 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 28
• Cardona’s Area Variance, 222 Washington, Area variance to permit the renovation and rear addition to Cardona’s Market.
• 10 A Nelson Ave New Build, 10A Nelson Ave., Area variance extension to permit the construction of a single-family home.
• 142 East Ave Garage Demo and Reconstruction, 142 East Ave., Area variance to permit the reconstruction of existing garage.
• 72 Catherine Porch Area Variance, 72 Catherine, Area variance to construct a side porch.
• 115 Ballston Area Variance, 115 Ballston Ave., Area Variance to permit the installation of an illuminated directional sign on an existing light post on commercial property.
• 14 MacArthur rear deck, 14 MacArthur, Area variance to permit the construction of rear deck.
• 3257 Rt 9 New Sign, 3257 Route 9, Area variance to permit the installation of an externally illuminated directory sign 8-feet high and 28.3 square feet.
• 1 Alger Area Variance, 1 Alger St., Area variance to construct screened porch.
-139 State St. Garage Reno Area Variance, 139 State St., Area variance to permit the renovation of an existing home.
• 28 North Lane – 96 Union Demo and Construction, 28 North/ 96 Union, Area variance to permit the construction of a new three-car garage and dwelling unit.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Describing what it calls the first opera company in the nation to provide a certain type of therapeutic memory care to its local community, Opera Saratoga is offering an interactive music program for residents in memory care centers in the Capital Region.
The company has recently hired two singers and two pianists for their Songs by Heart program. Musicians are trained in therapeutic techniques such as mirroring, making direct eye contact, swaying to the beat, and holding hands with residents throughout the program. Singers encourage residents to join in with singing, clapping, and moving, as well as to engage in conversation centered around the musical selections.
Opera Saratoga plans to start serving facilities in a seven-county service area, from south of Albany and north up to Lake George.
Music is pulled from popular music from the 1920’s – 1950’s and includes familiar songs like ‘Take me out to the ball game’, ‘Home on the range’, ‘Edelweiss’, and many other popular, folk, and patriotic songs familiar to residents.
Each of Opera Saratoga Songs by Heart artists have been trained by Songs by Heart’s artistic administrator, Emily Becker, and board-certified Music Therapist, Jenny Cook. Becker and Cook have trained about 150 musicians across the county. This is the only Songs by Heart program in New York State.
For more information about the new initiative or to sign up for a demo session at a specific Memory Care center, contact Opera Saratoga’s Senior Program Manager of Education and Community Outreach, Melissa Howe, at 518-584-6018 or mhowe@operasaratoga.org.
SARATOGA COUNTY — Soroptimist International of Saratoga County (SISC) is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 2022-23 Young Women Making a Difference Award which honors young women between the ages of 14 and 18 for their volunteer activity. Applicants who have demonstrated initiative in both identifying a problem and trying to solve it as well as achieving noteworthy accomplishments as volunteers in the community are encouraged to apply. Volunteer actions that benefit women and girls are especially valued.
Application submissions are due to SISC by Dec. 15.
The online application can be found at soroptimistsaratoga.org.
Winners are eligible to receive up to $500 for themselves and up to $500 for the charitable organization of their choice. For questions about the Award or the application, contact: makeadifferencesaratoga@gmail.org.
SISC is part of an international women’s organization with 72,000 members in 121 countries and territories. Soroptimist is a volunteer service organization with the goal of helping women and girls achieve economic empowerment. For more information about the organization, visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org or the Soroptimist International website at www.soroptimist.org.
