Displaying items by tag: Michelle LaLonde

“One Hundred Years is Only the Beginning”

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The city that has “history” at the core of its motto: Health, History, Horses, celebrated a major milestone on Tuesday, April 7 as a large contingent of citizens gathered to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Saratoga Springs. 

“One hundred years is only the beginning,” noted Mayor Joanne Yepsen, who noted how proud she was to be serving as mayor at this particular time. Looking forward, the mayor listed a number of significant centennial events to come during the year long celebration, including:

• -June 1: Dedication of Centennial Park in Congress Park 
• -June 22: A reenactment of the first city council meeting
• -June 26: Rededication of the Spirit of Life and Trask Memorial

Everything surrounding this event touched upon the city’s rich history. The official act that made Saratoga Springs a city was signed into law on April 7, 1915 by Governor Charles S. Whitman, following a vote of the state legislature. Mayor Yepsen introduced some descendants of the first city council members, as well as former members of the council themselves, in addition current office holders (or their representatives) from local, state and national government.

The historic site of the gathering, the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, was opened in 1915 as a station for the Hudson Valley Railway. It later became used as known as the Drink Hall in the 1940s, where people would gather to taste the waters from the city’s many mineral springs. 

Mayor Yepsen introduced Assistant City Attorney (and history aficionado) Tony Izzo, who further painted a picture of the fledgling city a century ago. Dressed authentically for a century ago (down to the bowler hat and pocket watch) Izzo stated that in 1915, a gallon of gas was 15 cents, a good steak might cost you 20 cents a pound, and one of the earliest ordinances the first city council passed was that “No chickens or pigs could run free in the City of Saratoga Springs. Izzo noted that this piece of groundbreaking legislation “…was still in effect today.” 

He also spoke about the architectural appearance of the city 100 years ago, saying that if you walked down Broadway, many of the buildings of that era, such as City Hall (which was originally Town Hall, built in 1871) and the Adirondack Trust building were standing at that time. However, once you got off Broadway the character of the city appeared to be much more agricultural in nature than it is today.

What followed could be called nothing less than a parade of proclamations, presented to the mayor from officials and representatives of political officials at all levels of government. Sean Shortell represented U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko and noted how, as a native to the area, he was thrilled to be here on this day. 

Mark Streb, Capital District Regional Representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo, took note of the large turnout at the Visitor Center, saying that he has been to several similar anniversary celebrations throughout the state, but none were as well attended. “The true greatness of a community comes from the people that live there,” he said. 

From the State Senate, Tom Lewis represented Kathy Marchione and Mike Manson spoke on behalf of Hugh Farley. 

Assemblyperson Carrie Woerner was in attendance. Her proclamation called Saratoga Springs “a place of singular renown.” County Supervisor Peter Martin then read portions of a proclamation from the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. 

After the proclamations and ceremony, Mayor Yepsen reached back again into the city’s history – inviting attendees to sample the waters from the springs, as people did in the old Drink Hall – along with learning the details and history about each from expert Trent Millet, who leads tours of the springs and lectures on the subject. 

For a complete calendar of centennial events and more information, visit saratogacentennial.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS – You don’t turn 100 years old every day, or every year in fact – and so when you do, you put together a comprehensive celebration that reflects that milestone. 

That is the short course on the big plans that were detailed by Mayor Joanne Yepsen and the Saratoga Springs Centennial Committee at City Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Indeed, there is not one aspect of city life – be it history, arts, sports and health, among many others – that will not be touched upon in the course of 2015.

“We have so many exciting events and projects lined up,” the mayor said. “In true Saratoga Springs style, our centennial is going to be a one-of-a-kind celebration.” 

While the basic framework of events and projects was announced today, it is reasonable to think that there will be significant additions as the centennial year gathers momentum. Expect the Centennial logo (designed by Fingerpaint Marketing) to be as ubiquitous as the Saratoga 150 logo a few years ago – except in more places and for a longer period of time. 

As the schedule grows through the year, a website (www.SaratogaCentennial.com) will be updated.  

The committee membership itself draws from every facet of the community. The honorary chairs are Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson. On Tuesday, Mayor Yepsen was joined by planning committee co-chair Eleanor Mullaney and several sub-committee chairs and members in detailing plans for this year. 

For now, these are just a few of the 2015 highlighted Centennial events. In fact, the celebration kicked off on New Years Day, with a reading of a proclamation by Mayor Yepsen: 

- On April 7 there will be a Celebration of Saratoga Springs’ exact date of incorporation as a city by New York State in 1915  

- June 1 is the scheduled unveiling of Centennial Park, at Congress Park and Union Avenue, which was gifted by Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson  

- June 26 is the Rededication of Spirit of Life statue’s restoration – the iconic symbol of the Centennial logo will have its unveiling in Congress Park 

Mayor Yepsen also took note that sometime in the fall there will be a significant event when the High Rock Spring, the founding location of the city and the site illustrated on the city’s seal, will be re-piped and flowing again, thanks to a grant from the Alfred Solomon Foundation.

“In addition to the many events around the city, we're honored and excited to present such a diverse list of unique centennial projects,” said Mullaney, “from the History of Saratoga Centennial book, with contributions from 25 authors, to the planting of legacy centennial trees around the city.”

A few pieces of commemorative merchandise were also revealed, including t-shirts and 14K gold pendants, which will be on sale at Impressions and N. Fox Jewelers. 

If there is one sure bet, it is that you can expect frequent updates and augmentations to this story. The mayor, centennial committee members and the citizenry of Saratoga Springs wouldn’t have it any other way in its hundredth year.

For more information, visit SaratogaCentennial.com

Centennial to Kickoff Mayor’s Focus on Health

SARATOGA SPRINGS— Planning for the 100^th anniversary of Saratoga Springs’ incorporation as a city, is underway.

The centennial celebration is to highlight the city's heritage, much of which had started taking shape when the city was still a village. Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen has appointed a centennial committee to highlight the milestones as well as the current accomplishments of the city, and to hallmark the city’s headline monikers: health, history and horses. The arts and education will also get its share as a mainstay of the city’s identity and represented on the board, with Skidmore College President Philip Glotzbach sitting in for education.

Everybody that will be coming together to serve on the committee will focus on a different aspect of the celebration, whether it’s Field Horne, a local historian with a book release scheduled during the centennial year (history), or Susan Halstead, owner of Family Vision Care Center and chair of the Saratoga County Chamber’s Health and Wellness council (health).

The committee’s honorary chairs are philanthropists and socialites Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson in light of their enthusiasm for the city itself, Yepsen said.

“They will be wonderful leaders and assets to the celebration,” Yepsen said. “They were excited when I called them to ask if they would do this because they just love Saratoga Springs so much.”

Whitney and Hendrickson already have some “special ways to celebrate the city”, she said.

Attorney at Law Eleanor Mullaney and Steve Sullivan, who was previously a strategic advisor for the New York State Restaurant Association, will act as the planning committee’s co-chairs for the centennial. 

There have already been many people and a lot of different organizations that have plans in motion for Saratoga Springs’ centennial. “It’ll be a matter of collaborating and coordinating ideas and activities and making sure that we touch on different aspects,” Yepsen said.

Looking ahead, of health, history and horses, Yepsen said that she is thinking of concentrating on the health and wellness aspect of Saratoga Springs to not only compliment the already growing interest in this area, but also to use the centennial as an event to further renew a focus on health.

What once revolved around the springs, health as a focal point has been gaining energy as organizations and businesses are finding new ways to channel interest.

“This health and wellness issue is bubbling up all around me and this is how things work in Saratoga Springs: they happen organically,” Yepsen said. “I think we can really focus on Saratoga Springs in the future as a healthy community and looking for the centennial to be the kickoff for that.”

Halstead echoed Yepsen in a separate interview that the city has a lot of organizations and plans to help promote the city as one of the healthiest in the country.

“I can’t believe what the county has already accomplished. We started making a list of what we already have, and what we need,” Halstead said. “Saratoga County is just packed with healthy stuff already.”

In retrospect of the changes that have taken place to make Saratoga Springs the city it is today, Deputy Mayor Joe Ogden commented: “The individuals that built the public and private sector have done a good job of keeping the soul of the city”.