SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration is open for the annual Spa City Baseball Camp. Session I will begin Monday. 

The Spa City Baseball Camp for ages 8-14 will hold their first session July 5 – July 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Side Rec. Field in Saratoga Springs (Coach Waldron Way). The cost of the camp is $175, and the price includes a t-shirt. The second session will be Aug. 9 – Aug. 12; same time, cost, and location. 

These sessions are designed to give each player a professional instruction in vital areas of baseball, such as hitting, pitching, defense, and base running. There will be individual attention paid to each player. This will be a hands-on clinic where participants will be working to improve their skills. Players will need to come prepared with their own baseball hat, cleats, glove, batting helmet, bat, water, snacks, and sunscreen.

The Spa City Baseball Camp is run by Saratoga Central Catholic baseball coaches, Coach Alphonse Lambert and Coach Dale Long; this will be Coach Lambert’s 30th year running this camp.

To register for Session I, go to www.spasaints.com and fill out the registration form. Bring a check, payable to Spa City Bombers, to the first day of camp on Monday, July 5. 

To register for Session II in August, fill out the registration form on spasaints.com and mail the check to the address listed on the form. 

NEW YORK — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos released the State’s final Deer Management Plan at the beginning of June. The plan is the product of public input, expert review, and sound science that will improve the management of white-tailed deer across New York State. In addition, to enact several management recommendations included in the plan, DEC issued proposed regulations that are available for public comment until Aug. 8, 2021. 

Major elements of the plan include: establishing desired deer population trajectories for 23 ecologically unique regions of the state using an assessment of deer impact on forest regeneration and public preferences for deer population changes; monitoring deer populations for disease and taking steps to reduce disease risk; providing additional hunter opportunity and increasing antlerless harvest strategically where needed; promoting hunter choice for buck harvest by encouraging hunters who want to take older, larger-antlered bucks to voluntarily pass up young, small-antlered bucks; encouraging deer hunters to use non-lead ammunition to reduce lead exposure of non-target wildlife; assisting communities to prevent and respond to local deer overabundance through development of community-based deer management programs; working with landowners and land managers to monitor deer browse impacts on forests with the Assessing Vegetation Impacts of Deer (AVID) protocol; and understanding and addressing public values and interests regarding deer and deer management decisions. 

To begin the implementation or portions of the management plan, DEC is proposing rule changes that will improve deer management, simplify big game hunting, expand hunting opportunity, and increase hunter safety. 

The DEC is proposing to: extend legal hunting hours for deer and bear to begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes before sunset; increase hunter safety by requiring all hunters pursuing deer or bear with a firearm to wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat or vest or jacket; increase antlerless deer harvest by establishing a 9-day firearms season in September for antlerless deer in certain WMUs (Wildlife Management Units); allow hunters to harvest deer of either sex during the early muzzleloader season in three northern New York WMUs; and, simplify bear hunting in the Adirondack portion of the Northern Zone by extending the regular firearm season to cover the entire hunting period. 

Details about the proposals are available at DEC’s website www.dec.ny.gov. DEC is accepting public comments on the proposed regulation changes through Aug. 8 2021, by emailing: WildlifeRegs@dec.ny.gov (use “Big Game Hunting Rules” in the subject line). 

QUEENSBURY — Registration is still open for the Girls Summer Soccer ID Clinic and Girls Basketball Clinic at SUNY Adirondack in July. 

Girls Summer  Soccer ID Clinic

The soccer clinic will be held on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for high school juniors and seniors, as of Fall 2021. Check-in will be at 8:45 a.m. Players will receive instruction from SUNY Adirondack Women’s Soccer Coaches – skills and concepts, followed by game play. All activities will take place on the SUNY Adirondack grass soccer field. 

This clinic is free, with an enrollment cap of 30 players. To register, go to sunyadktimberwolves.com. Click on Student Athlete, then Summer Clinics/Leagues. Registration is open until the day of the clinic. 

Coaches are fully vaccinated and NYS health and safety guidelines will be followed. For more information, contact Coach Rob Kelly at wsoccer@sunyacc.edu or 518-526-0666.

Girls Basketball Clinic

The basketball clinic will be held July 19 through July 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the SUNY Adirondack Gymnasium for girls in grades 5-12, as of Fall 2021. 

Players will be grouped according to age, and adjusted for experience. The clinic is an opportunity for players to work and focus on fundamentals while receiving personal attention in passing, shooting, dribbling, rebounding, and defense. Fun activities and competitions played daily, along with discussions of nutritional goals and off-court activities to benefit on-court game. 

There are no spectators allowed. Players will need to bring their own filled water bottle and lunch/snacks. 

The cost is $225 and includes a clinic t-shirt. There is $25 discount for each sibling in the same immediate family. Enrollment cap is 50 players. 

Registration is open until July 5. To register, go to sunyadktimberwolves.com. Click on Student Athlete, then Summer Clinics/Leagues. From there, you can also view the tentative daily schedule and payment options on brochure link – page 2.

Cornelius Tavarres, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, will be the Clinic Director. For more information, contact wbasketball@sunyacc.edu or 518-791-0207.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Clarkie Carroll, a local athlete and 2021 Saratoga Springs graduate, is headed to the Jr. PGA Championships on July 12. 

Carroll started playing golf in his pre-teen years after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Unable to play lacrosse or other contact sports because of the chemotherapy and hip surgery he underwent, Carroll took up golf instead. 

“I golf pretty much every day now,” said Carroll. “It has become a part of my daily routine.” 

Practice pays off. Not only has Carroll played on the varsity golf team at Saratoga Springs when they won three consecutive Sectional Titles, but he made the state team in 2019 and was a Section II All-Star this past year. 

July 5 and 6, Carroll competed against 30 other young golfers in the NENY (Northeastern New York) Jr. PGA Championships at the Town of Colonie Golf Course. He went 74-64-138 to win the championship by 9 strokes.

“It felt good to finally have stuff click,” Carroll said about this experience playing in the tournament.

And it must have been an experience trying to balance end-of-the-year high school events and golfing, as Carroll’s high school prom was right after his first round of the NENY Jr. PGA Tournament. 

“I hustled back [after prom],” he said. “Thankfully I had a late tee time, so it all worked out.” 

Carroll is currently ranked as the top Northeastern New York player of the year (Boys 16-18) on the NENY PGA Jr. website. He advances to the Jr. PGA Championships, July 12 – 15, at Kearney Hills Golf Links in Lexington, Kentucky. 

“There will be a lot of really good competition there,” said Carroll. “I’m excited to go.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs High School senior Nick Grosso is this year’s recipient of the Rich Johns Tennis Award. The award was presented to him at the Blue Streaks Sports Award Ceremony on June 17 by Rich Johns himself. The Rich Johns Tennis Award goes to the most outstanding boys’ tennis players. 

“There could not be a more deserving young man to receive this award,” said Rich Johns. “Not only has Nick rewritten the record books as a tennis player, but has shown tremendous character throughout this high school career.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced ticket sale dates for all hospitality areas, including tickets for individual days, for the 2021 summer meet at the Saratoga Race Course, which opens Thursday, July 15 and continues through Monday, Sept. 6.

Grandstand season passes and NYRA Bets gift cards will be available for purchase at more than 150 participating Capital Region Stewart’s Shops on Monday, June 21.

Grandstand season passes will be available for $50 through July 18. A season pass provides fans with admission to all 40 days at Saratoga Race Course. Season passes do not include reserved seating. Grandstand season passes may be purchased online at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Clubhouse season passes are $75.

Stewart’s Shops is also the exclusive retailer of NYRA Bets Gift Cards, which are available in $50 denominations and can be used to bet Saratoga Race Course and hundreds of other tracks online with NYRA Bets. NYRA Bets Gift Cards are available at Stewart’s Shops through Sunday, Sept. 5. 

Please visit stewartsshops.com for locations. 

Single-day tickets for reserved seats in the Clubhouse, Grandstand, and The Stretch will be available via Ticketmaster.com on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 a.m. 

Single-day reservations for tables in the Fourstardave Sports Bar, Miller Lite Picnic Paddock, and The Rail at the 1863 Club will be available via Ticketmaster.com on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 a.m. 

Single-day dining reservations in the Turf Terrace, The Porch, and Club Terrace will be available via Ticketmaster.com on Wednesday, June 30 at 10 a.m. 

Season and weekly ticket plans are currently on sale at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Group hospitality reservations are currently available via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or by phone at 844-NYRA-TIX. Tables in the Festival Tent may be reserved via Ticketmaster.com. 

For more information about hospitality and dining areas at Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — AIM Services, Inc., one of the area’s largest providers of support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, announced the Eighth Annual Croquet on the Green Tournament & Garden Party is scheduled for Aug. 3 at Gavin Park in Wilton. 

Croquet on the Green Tournament & Garden Party, AIM Services’ signature summer event, is an outdoor party and amateur croquet tournament with teams of two, and is open to all ages, abilities, and skill. The event was successfully reinvented in 2020 because of COVID-19 and still raised more than $44,000 through a virtual “play on your own” activity that also helped support local businesses at a time where they needed it most. AIM is excited to be back in-person this year, with added surprises and an impressive list of sponsors. 

The annual Croquet on the Green event is officially sanctioned through the United States Croquet Association (USCA). Knowledgeable Croquet players will be on hand to guide the game. 

Returning this year is the event’s Honorary Chairman, Retired Hall of Fame Jockey, Ramon Dominguez. Sponsors and Honorary Committee members will attend a special pre-event party, The Hour of Potential, with Dominguez and other major supporters. 

“Among the people who receive services from AIM are those with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs),” said Dominquez. “As a jockey who had to retire early due to a head injury, I know that AIM gives people with TBIs a chance at living their most independent life possible.” 

Nearly 54 million people annually experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

Formed in 1979, AIM Services, Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit organization providing residential and community-based services to people with physical and intellectual disabilities, including those with traumatic brain injuries and those who are looking for nursing home transition or diversion. 

For more information on how to support AIM Services’ Croquet on the Green contact Marissa Romero at
mromero@aimservicesinc.org or visit www.aimservicesinc.org/events/croquet.

WILTON — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the opening of the Saratoga Sand Plains Archery Range in the town of Wilton on Thursday, June 17. The public archery range, formerly known as Parcel 45 Wildlife Management Area, is the first of its kind in New York State and will provide a unique recreational opportunity for both novice and expert bow hunters and archers. 

The 50-yard archery range has 16 targets, eight adult lanes ranging from 15 to 50 yards, four youth lanes ranging from five to 20 yards, and four lanes accessed by an elevated platform ranging up to 40 yards. The elevated platform simulates shots from a tree stand when deer hunting and allows archers to practice shots from known yardages and angles, promoting safer shot placements for both urban and rural settings. Archers must use a full body harness and connect to the carabiners on the platform while using the elevated stand. 

“DEC’s first-ever archery range, Saratoga Sand Plains will encourage more New Yorkers to take up archery as a sport and help prepare hunters for the hunting season,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “New and experienced bow and crossbow users will appreciate this opportunity to enjoy the recreational aspects of New York’s archery heritage. The range will also benefit the local community, and DEC thanks the town of Wilton and our other partners for their help to develop and open this new facility. 

The range was funded with approximately $15,000 with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program, New York State, and the town of Wilton. DEC worked closely with the town of Wilton on all phases of the project. The town donated time and materials, and town equipment helped clear trees and stumps, build the parking area, and construct the elevated platform. 

The archery range is close to several schools that participate in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and is a convenient location for the Saratoga County 4H Shooting Sports Program and DEC’s bowhunter education classes. 

The archery range is free and will be open and maintained year-round for public use during daylight hours. To protect public safety, visit www.dec.ny.gov for the rules and regulations that apply. 

11-Week Training Challenge to Shape Up for Race Day Begins July 12

ALBANY — Online registration for the 43rd Freihofer’s® Run for Women, which is set for Saturday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m., is now open at freihofersrun.com. 

All registrants receive a high-performance women’s commemorative t-shirt, delicious Freihofer’s® products, chip timing, live results, printable finisher certificates, and post-race refreshments courtesy of Price Chopper Supermarkets. The registration fee is $30 through Aug. 30. 

Runners of all abilities looking to get in shape for the region’s premier all-women 5k can also sign up now for the Freihofer’s® Training Challenge, which begins Monday, July 12 at 17 sites in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Dutchess counties. 

The 11-week program, which costs $55, follows a beginner’s 5k training plan, and features weekly, small group training sessions led by mentors. Participants also receive emails with each day’s workout schedule, a tech shirt, and clinics on strength training, nutrition, run form, and injury prevention. A convenient virtual program is also offered for those concerned about being around others or who plan to be away during the summer. For a $40 registration fee, participants receive weekly workout emails, a tech shirt, and the program’s educational resources sent electronically. 

The Training Challenge’s beginner’s program is for women who are new to running or are coming back after a break. The program starts with walking and jogging and progresses as the race date approaches. The intermediate program is for those who have completed a 5k or want more challenging workouts. The advanced program is for athletes ready for focused speed and distance workouts who should already be able to run 5 or more miles at a time.

To learn more and sign up for the Training Challenge, visit freihofersrun.com/events/training-challenge. Online registration through the 5k is the only method of registering. Registration closes on Sunday, July 25. A dedicated Training Challenge Facebook page can be found at facebook.com/freihoferstrainingchallenge. For more information, email khislop@freihofersrun.com

BALLSTON SPA — The Village’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan gets underway this week with a bike lane demonstration and an open house. 

From June 28 to July 6, a 1-block pop-up bicycle project on Hyde Boulevard between Chapman and Grove Street will serve as a demonstration for future bicycle infrastructure improvements. 

The demonstration will include a temporary bicycle lane in each direction, and residents are encouraged to fill out a survey following the pop-up. Hyde Boulevard was chosen for the demonstration because it is a wide street that can accommodate bike lanes for the cyclists coming off the Zim Smith Trail. 

On June 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Consultant Team will be at Kelley Park to further discuss the project. A short presentation will be held at 6 p.m. and the remaining time will be an open house for residents of Ballston Spa to share their thoughts and ideas for improvements and implementation priorities. 

The historic Village of Ballston Spa has always had pedestrian-oriented street layout, but it is currently in disrepair; traffic volume and speed are also of concern in the Village. The project’s website states the following: 

“The purpose of the Village of Ballston Spa Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (The Plan) is to enhance the Village Central Business District, surrounding area, and the Route 50 corridor by promoting economic development, improving safety, and creating a connected and integrated multi-modal transportation network for users of all ages and abilities.” 

This network will connect key locations, including the Zim Smith Trail, and is expected to connect other regional trails to the Village through “striping, signage, modifications, repaving, and reconstruction projects.”

The project is being undertaken by the CDTC (Capital District Transportation Committee), and consultants VHB and Planning4Places. The total value of the work is $90,000, and funds have already been awarded – $65,000 coming from CDTC for the consultants, $15,000 from the Village as matching funds and the balance CDTC expertise. 

“The next step is gathering traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian counts and gathering additional public input,” said Village Trustee Liz Kormos. “The end result will be both short and long-term recommendations for improvements to our streets and sidewalks.”

More information about the project can be found at projects.vhb.com/ballstonspapbmp/default.htm.