BALLSTON SPA —The Sheriff’s Office received a call at 6:57 a.m. on May 29 of a social media threat allegedly made against the O’Rourke Middle School, in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District.
Authorities said an investigation into the matter led to the identification and arrest of a 12-year-old boy for making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor.
“Once again, the partnerships we’ve developed with the schools and the students led to a quick, safe resolution to this call,” Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said in a statement. “The safety of our schools is one of our top priorities, and our SRO program is integral to this goal.”
The threat was determined to be non-credible and there was no disruption to regular school activities, police said.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Glenville Police Department.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A historical marker commemorating the 1898 Union Avenue bike path was installed in front of the Empire State College building at 2 Union Ave. on May 30.
“The 1890s bicycle boom changed America and it changed Saratoga Springs,” said Bikeatoga Advocacy Chair Ed Lindner. The marker is meant to be celebrated by cyclists and history buffs alike.
“Working-class families that couldn’t afford a horse and carriage had access to cheap and reliable transportation. For the first time, Saratogians of every social class could easily and quickly make trips around the city and to surrounding towns for commerce, employment, and social interaction,” Lindner said.
A newspaper account of Saratoga Springs in 1895 declared a “Bicycle Summer,” reporting that 50 to 100 riders headed out to Saratoga Lake each morning, where hotels and roadhouses provided bicycle storage rooms and a hearty meal. Saratoga residents subsequently built a network of bicycle paths around the city that became the envy of neighboring communities.
The historical marker, funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to Saratoga nonprofit Bikeatoga, was installed on Union Avenue near the location of the original bike path.
“Bicycles and bike paths were very much part of the history and culture of Saratoga’s golden age.” Lindner said. “We can honor that history by building the bike lanes envisioned in our present-day Complete Streets plan, here on Union Avenue and throughout the city.”
Bikeatoga is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created in 2005 dedicated to making cycling more convenient, accessible, and safer in and around Saratoga Springs.The group operates a bike workshop in the basement of St. Peter’s Church that repairs and recycles used bikes and gets them back out into the community on a free or “pay what you can” basis. In 2023, Saratoga families adopted almost 700 bikes from Bikeatoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Presbyterian-United Church of Christ has been recognized by its two denominations for significant environmental achievements over the past five years.
The congregation was certified as an Earth Care church by the Albany Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and as a Creation Justice church by the UCC.
Led by its Environmental Action Team, the Saratoga congregation grows organic produce for food-insecure people in a large Interfaith Healing Garden just outside its sanctuary building at 24 Circular St.
Fifty-six of the congregation’s households participate in the Hope Community Solar Project, which reduces electricity costs by using solar rather than fossil-fuel energy. The church also has initiated a composting program, replaced its gasoline-powered lawn mower with a battery-powered model and saved more than $2,300 by installing an energy efficient refrigerator and converting to all LED lighting.
The congregation has hosted or co-sponsored numerous environmental programs, working with Sustainable Saratoga, Skidmore College and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs.
“Our efforts to promote and protect God’s great earth make us part of a national movement of churches to lead in combating climate change and creating a more just world for all,” said Judy Beers, chair of the Environmental Action Team.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Hawley Foundation board members collected $4,900 in memory of Pamela Polacsek, a beloved board member for over 20 years, and former board president.
Polacsek lived out the mission statement of The Hawley Foundation by promoting the health, welfare, and education of children. She worked at Saratoga Bridges for over 25 years in various roles and capacities, most recently as the Foundation and Development Director.
Polacsek, who died in February, was a fierce advocate for the disabled.
Funds donated in her memory will be used to assist disabled youth within Saratoga County through their family reimbursement program that provides goods and/or services not funded elsewhere in the community.
George Habernig Sr. celebrates his 105th birthday on June 1. Habernig, Sr. did his basic training at Fort Jackson, SC., and served as a company clerk with the 77th Infantry Division in the U.S. Army during WWII.
Technical Sergeant Habernig lives in the Ivy Lodge in Saugerties. He talks of the older days when he was off the coast of Japan and a Japanese plane crashed into the ship he was serving. He also talks of the time he had a pet monkey that helped him pass the time.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Jewish Community Arts and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York present a special showing of the new documentary “Children of Peace” on Sunday, June 2 at Temple Sinai at 7 p.m.
Israeli Director Maayan Schwarz will join a discussion after the film.
Maayan and his family grew up in Israel in the only community in the world where Palestinians and Israelis have chosen to live together. The village is called Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, “oasis of peace,” a social experiment that became reality.
The film explores the lives of children who grew up as best friends – but as adults, became aware of and lived with the daily, ongoing conflict around them between Israelis and Palestinians. This documentary was made before the crisis of Oct. 7 but is more relevant as people discuss the future of this complex place.
Maayan is the cousin of Temple Sinai members Lollie Abramson, Mickey Stark, and Peri and Kevin Allen. Maayan will be previewing the documentary for the first time in New York City at the Israeli Film Festival. He has offered SJCA this special showing of the film while he visits family in Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs is once again partnering with the New York Racing Association to bring the iconic Red Kettles to Saratoga Race Course this summer.
Salvation Army Red Kettles will be out at the Race Course, Wednesdays through Saturdays, from July 1 to Sept. 2. Donations collected will help fund local Salvation Army programs and services including a food pantry, youth programming, and anti-human trafficking services.
“We have seen a steady increase in families and individuals coming to The Salvation Army for assistance as the cost of living continues to have the biggest impact on those already struggling to put food on the table,” said Lieutenant Michael Dow of The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs, in a statement. “These donations will help us to continue our vital programs and services to help those most in need in our community.”
For 136 years, The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs has provided support to those in need. Throughout the year, The Salvation Army of Saratoga Springs helps more than 7,500 families and individuals.
Outside the Saratoga Springs City Center on Broadway May 29, 2024.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A week-long festival marking the first appearance of the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs will take place in the Spa City.
Nicknamed “Belmont On Broadway” and billed as a locally based multifaceted celebration, the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is slated to take place June 4 -9 and will feature a free outdoor concert and other events complimentary to the June 6-9 four-day meet at Saratoga Race Course.
The signature kick-off event to the week will be a free outdoor concert on Broadway in front of the Saratoga Springs City Center on Wednesday, June 5. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. with Tops of Trees, a Saratoga-based original eight-piece rock and soul ensemble, followed by the Virginia-based Pat McGee Band taking the stage at 7 p.m.
The headlining act will be Blues Traveler. The popular band is anticipated to take the stage shortly after 8 p.m.
The staging area is expected to be situated on Broadway itself and in close proximity to the City Center. The performing bands will face south, towards Lake Avenue. Much of upper Broadway will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event, allowing music fans to watch from the paved roadway. Individuals who require a seat are asked to bring a folding chair that is not inside of a bag.
What NOT to bring. NO: coolers, backpacks, large bags, strollers, pets, glass bottles, alcohol or weapons of any kind. Leaving a bar or restaurant with alcohol will not be permitted. No smoking.
The Concert
The free concert takes place 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 on Broadway. The stage will be installed adjacent to the front of the Saratoga Springs City Center.
6-6:45 p.m. – Tops of Trees. Saratoga-based original eight-piece rock and soul ensemble. Performed at the pre-fireworks performance Saratoga New Year’s Fest and recently earned a 2024 Capital Region Thomas Edison Award (Eddie) nomination for Jam Band of The Year.
7-8 p.m. – Pat McGee Band. Hailing from Virginia, the band features an upbeat party vibe. McGee has performed at Caffe Lena as well as previously performing as an opening act for Blues Traveler. The group’s most recent reunion album, Sugar Packet, was released in 2020.
8:30 -10 p.m. – Blues Traveler.
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Street Closures
Broadway will be closed to vehicles between Van Dam Street and Lake Avenue beginning approximately 5 a.m. on Wednesday to 2 a.m. on Thursday, for the concert event.
Additionally, roughly between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday, off-shoot streets extending east and west of Broadway – as well as Broadway itself between Lake Avenue and Washington Street – will be closed to vehicles starting shortly before the start of the concert and lasting for about an hour following its conclusion.
City Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said his department has been preparing for the Belmont Festival for several months and working collaboratively with federal, state, and local partners.
On April 17, 15 agencies, including the Saratoga Springs Police Department) and the Saratoga Springs Fire Departments, NYRA, FBI, NYS Police and the Saratoga County Sheriff, participated in a joint Table Top Exercise led by the FBI’s Critical Incident Respond Group out of Washington D.C. and including various hypothetical scenarios and encouraged discussion and communication between agencies,” Coll said.
Getting There
Complimentary shuttle transportation will be provided by CDTA from 3 to 11 p.m. from two remote parking locations.
One bus will run between Route 50 Lot at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the bus stop on Broadway at Congress Park.
One bus will run between the Wilton Mall bus stop and the corner of High Rock Avenue and Lake Avenue.
The buses will visit the two locations approximately every 20 minutes.
Note for those driving: The City Center Parking Garage WILL be open. The parking facility, located between Maple and High Rock Avenues, has secure covered parking for more than 600 vehicles., and features a pay per park system.
June 4 – 9, Belmont On Broadway Is a Six-Day Celebration
Officials expect hosting the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga will serve as a significant boost for local businesses. The estimated economic impact of the Belmont on the nine-county region is more than $50 million in 2024.
That $50 million projection comes from applying a mathematical formula that takes the overall economic activity of the annual 40-day summer meet at Saratoga and assigning it to the number of days of the upcoming Belmont festival. That overall 40-day meet figure, was detailed in a study commissioned by the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency and released in 2023.
How Did The Belmont Land in Saratoga?
With a massive $455 million renovation project slated to take place at Long Island’s Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association decided to stage the high-profile Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
That temporary relocation of the Belmont Stakes – a race which traditionally sites the third and final leg of the Triple Crown – will also see Saratoga serve as host site in June 2025. The Belmont’s normal Long Island home venue is currently anticipated to be ready for a downstate return in 2026.
Additional Happenings
The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association will host a themed window decorating contest featuring 17 decorated storefronts. The displays will be graded on a point system according to how well each window meets the Fun Factor, Creativity, and Visual Impact criteria. Winners will be announced June 5 and prizes include two Clubhouse Reserved seats (winner), two Grandstand Reserved seats (runner-up), and two Grandstand Admission tickets (third place) for Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course.
A number of other local events are either being specially staged, or otherwise linked to the Belmont. Specific information about many of those events may be found at: discoversaratoga.org.
The Belmont on Broadway concert is sponsored by Death Wish Coffee, NYRA Bets, Saratoga County, the City of Saratoga Springs, Druthers Brewing Company, Adirondack Trust Company, D. A. Collins Companies, UHY Advisors, and Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The organizing committee is comprised of leaders from the Saratoga County Economic Development Corporation, Saratoga Springs City Center, Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —City residents can apply for free permits in the city owned parking garages and surface lots.
The registration portal will request resident information, vehicle information, and proof of residency, which is considered an official record with resident name and City of Saratoga Springs address.
Proof of residency can include drivers’ licenses, utility bills, or tax records which clearly demonstrate resident name and address. Any outstanding parking tickets must be paid prior to the permit’s issuance.
Downtown business employee permits will be issued through a different process, which will be announced directly to the downtown business organizations.
And Saratoga Springs Library Permits will be issued by the library, at the library.
On-street parking remains status quo free for all, that is: fingers-crossed for luck, first-come, first-served.
Seasonal paid parking is scheduled to go into effect following the Belmont Stakes weekend, the week of June 10, 2024.
Residents who are unable to or have difficulty registering online can call the Department of Public Works for assistance at 518-587-3550 ext. 2555.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College joins museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.
“We are grateful to the Tang Teaching Museum for participating in this summer’s Blue Star Museums program and we hope military families will take this opportunity to create meaningful, lifelong memories,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, in a statement. “Whether you are traveling this summer, getting to know a new duty location, or exploring what your community has to offer, Blue Star Museums is a wonderful opportunity to create connection and find inspiration.”
The 2024 program began on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024, and ends on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024.
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
