SARATOGA SPRINGS —After kicking off a successful inaugural half-season in January, Saratoga Springs-based C3 Hip-Hop Dance Co. is preparing to begin its first full season this September, offering kids a chance to connect and perform in the local community.

C3 was founded by Julie Labate, a Miami native who grew up dancing with a variety of teams in the local area.

After moving to Saratoga Springs, Labate started C3 with the hopes of establishing a program of her own. C3’s initial half-season began in January, with Labate saying the first months “went great.” She said there were 36 kids and three different teams participating in total.

“It was really neat watching everything come to life,” Labate said.

The teams performed in the local community several times throughout the year, including performances in the auditorium at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, at The Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and at the Saratoga Race Course.

“I like to give them performance opportunities, because I think it brings out that next-level feeling, that out of body, larger than life, on-stage feeling,” Labate said.

C3 also held a year-end recital at The Night Owl, which Labate described as “a big outdoor celebration.”

“The kids performed, but the parents stuck around after,” said Labate. “I wanted it to be the community coming together to celebrate an awesome first season, as opposed to just having them up on stage, watching them, and departing.”

Labate said the company is looking forward to beginning its first full season this September. C3 will host tryouts on Sept. 10, with the season set to begin on Sept. 17.

She noted the first half of the season will be focused on training and skill-building, while the second half of the season will be focused on performance routines.

“This full season, we have so much time to really dig in, and actually get the kids trained and have time for team bonding, have time for get-togethers,” said Labate. “It’s just an even greater opportunity for the connections that the kids are already making, to really dig into them.”

C3 is also expecting to grow this fall, with Labate saying she is expecting to “more than double in size.” She said they will offer two teams at both the peewee and junior level in addition to a “mini-team” for ages three and up, as well as the possibility of both an intermediate team and an advanced team, depending on the number of kids who try out.

“So, I have kids of the same age practicing on both Sundays and other kids of the same age on Mondays,” Labate said. “They have more flexibility with what works best for their family and their scheduling.”

Signups are available at c3hiphopdance.com. Labate emphasized that C3 will continue to perform around the local community, saying they are set to return to the Festival of Young Artists next summer, and noting that the intermediate team and the potential advanced team would plan to begin competition this season.

“Kids who want to do anything above the novice level need to attend a tryout,” said Labate. “When they try out, they get placed onto whatever skill level they’re ready for.”

Labate said it is meaningful to see the impact on the kids, noting many of them have become friends and “found their home” at C3.

“A lot of parents told me that a lot of these kids were still trying to find what activity worked for them. Then they found hip-hop, and it’s like they found their thing,” she said. “It’s a larger than life, surreal feeling to watch kids be that connected to it.”

And while she noted the company is expecting to grow significantly this season, Labate emphasized her goal of maintaining a personal connection with every kid.

“I just want it to be a sustainable homebase for people,” said Labate. “I think that the kids are starting to feel that, and I’m starting to feel that as well, because of the way that it’s impacting families.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Bridges will host its 23rd annual Great Pumpkin Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 30, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The event includes a 5K, 10K, and Kid’s Fun Run, starting and finishing at the Columbia Pavilion in the Saratoga Spa State Park, according to a press release. The races are NET Chip-timed.

The fundraiser benefits Saratoga Bridges’ essential non-funded or underfunded programs, services and activities, as well as assists with rewarding their staff.

Individuals, friends, families, coworkers and corporate teams can register at saratogabridges.org. The registration fee is $25 through Friday, Sept. 15. The registration fee increases to $30 beginning Saturday, Sept. 16. 

Online registration will end on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. After Tuesday, September 26, registration will only be available in person at 16 Saratoga Bridges Blvd. in Ballston Spa on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 27 and 28, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 29 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. No registration will be available after this time.

Saratoga Bridges will also be holding a virtual option for $30. T-shirts will be mailed to virtual participants. Times for virtual can be submitted to the timing company. The first 1,500 registered will receive a long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt. 

Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd males and females in each age group. There will be giveaways, refreshments, donated food and beverages, favorite pumpkin and costume contests.

For more information on volunteering or about the event, contact Pamela Polacsek at ppolacsek@saratogabridges.org or 518-587-0723 ext. 1255.

The Over 50 Basketball League is starting September 20th!

New player/skills assessment will take place on Wednesday, September 6th at 6:30 PM

 Games will begin on Wednesday, September 20th and will be played in the Saratoga Springs Branch Gymnasium.

All players must be registered by September 4th. Late registrants will be placed on a waiting list. 

The cost to participate includes a t-shirt/jersey for each player, certified refs, 10 regular season games, and playoffs.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs senior Ryan Farr has been nominated as a Boys High School Soccer All-American Player to Watch for the 2023 High School Soccer All-American Game.

Farr, a forward, led the Blue Streaks last season with 20 goals and 11 assists. He was named Suburban Council and Section 2 Class AA Boys Player of the Year, and also earned First Team All-State and All-Region selections, said head coach Jeff Geller.

Farr is one of just four boys in New York State to be nominated, along with Drew Leardini (Lewiston-Porter), Kyle Milburn (Spencerport), and Thomas Poz (Garden City), according to the High School Soccer All-American website.

The Saratoga Springs boys soccer team opens its regular season with a home contest against Averill Park on Sept. 5 at 4:15 p.m.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —With approximately 185 members throughout the Capital Region, the Saratoga Lake Sailing Club is running a sailing program for STRIDE Adaptive Sports for individuals with disabilities.

Every Monday evening in August, students learn the basic principles of sailing including: boating safety, points of sail, sailboat handling, sail trim and racing strategies. Participants learn to sail both through classroom instruction and on the water. Weather permitting, they complete the program with a mini-regatta.

According to Mary Kate McCarty, Board Publicity Chair, “It’s very rewarding for instructors and students alike, and the local community is very supportive of our program.”

The club was founded in 1957, and has a strong emphasis on sailing, racing, and sailing instruction. For more information about the Saratoga Lake Sailing Club, visit sailsaratoga.org. 

SCHUYLERVILLE — After five seasons with the women’s lacrosse team at UMass, Schuylerville alum Amy Moreau said she wasn’t quite ready for her playing career to end. 

This summer, Moreau has been playing professional women’s lacrosse with Athletes Unlimited at the USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland. She said the experience has been “amazing.”

“I loved my five years at UMass, and I loved playing at Schuylerville. When I was finished, I wasn’t really finished playing and competing,” Moreau said. “When I got the opportunity to play here, it was a no-brainer for me.”

A graduate of Schuylerville High School, Moreau recorded 76 points in 79 career games at UMass. She scored 35 goals in 19 games during the 2023 season, and was named Atlantic-10 Midfielder of the Year, according to the UMass Athletics website.

Moreau said her time playing professionally with Athletes Unlimited has been “unreal.”

“I grew up watching some of these players play in college and play on the world stage,” said Moreau. “So getting here now, and being able to play with them on an equal playing field, has really been rewarding.”

Moreau is also playing for a cause, supporting the ‘Kendra’s Kindness’ Fund through the HEADstrong Foundation. The fund was created to support families of those going through cancer in honor of Kendra Muscella, the mother of Moreau’s former UMass teammate Olivia Muscella, their website states.

“Throughout my time at UMass, we’ve been raising money for them through HEADstrong. Obviously, I just want to carry that on here,” Moreau said. “I’m just so happy that I’m able to raise money for that by playing here.”

The league competes with four teams, which are redrafted every week. Players are scored individually, and can earn points for stats such as goals, assists, saves, and caused turnovers, as well as team wins and being named a game MVP.

At the end of each week, the top four players in the league standings become team captains, and draft their teams for the week from the remaining players, according to the Athletes Unlimited website. 

Moreau said adjusting her style of play to fit with new teammates each week has been a valuable experience.

“My (lacrosse) IQ has just risen so much being here, having to kind of change my play each week to fit into a different team and fit that mold,” Moreau said. “Each team operates differently. I have different roles on every team, or have had. … I think that’s been really great for me.”

This is especially valuable as Moreau prepares for her next role, she said, joining the staff of the Davidson College women’s lacrosse team as an assistant coach. Her hiring was announced by the school in a July press release.

“I want to say, like, 40 percent of the women here are college coaches, which is really helpful for me and where I’m going next,” said Moreau. “I’m really looking forward to the two coaches that I’ll be joining at Davidson. They’re amazing already, and I’m so excited to learn from them and work with them.”

Moreau credited UMass head coach Jana Drummond as inspiration for her coaching career, saying they developed a strong relationship during her time in Amherst.

“My relationship with (Drummond), and how she was able to create such a good team culture and a successful team culture, I just wanted to pay that forward as well,” Moreau said. “I have loved being with her, watching her, and learning from her. I’m excited to do that for someone else.”

Moreau also credited her coaches at Schuylerville, and said the local community is “so special.”

“I have told everyone that I’ve ever met that I would not want to come from any other town,” said Moreau. “I still have parents from teams that I was on when I was 14 (years old) texting me, watching me, and following me on TV. That’s so special.”