Marissa Gonzalez
Pitney Meadows Community Farm Continues to Flourish
Photo provided. Some photos captured by Natalie Walsh.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the last year, the community’s beloved Pitney Meadows Community Farm has made a lot of changes.
Since this time last July, the Pitney Meadows Community Gardens have become an official Monarch way station, created a large “Grandparent’s Garden,” started a reading and gardening Saturday program for children, increased the number of plots and now has more than 70 gardeners growing fresh healthy food in their gardens.
“It’s truly amazing. People who visit the gardens can’t believe it is only one year old,” said garden director Natalie Walsh, crediting the community of gardeners that has made the difference.
“They aren’t just tending their plots, but also are interested in learning organic gardening techniques, engaging children in the gardens, and extending a hand to each other and to the Saratoga community at large. It truly is a community in the gardens,” she added.
Last year the Community Gardens had 50 spaces available. This year, there are 72 beds.
“We are working to respond to what the community wants. When gardeners asked for bigger spaces, we offered them,” Walsh said.
Gardeners pay to lease the space for the season and the costs vary according to plot size.
In addition, Walsh added flowerbeds to draw pollinators such as butterflies, bees and beneficial insects. Of particular interest was offering habitat to Monarch butterflies whose populations have been in decline across the United States.
In the community gardens, a large garden was installed and planted with butterfly plants that have different bloom periods and provide nectar throughout the summer and into the fall. The milkweed provides the Monarch caterpillar with its only food source.
Engaging the community is a goal for Walsh, who traveled
over 13,000 miles last winter talkingtocommunitygardeners across the country.
This year, the gardens offer programs for adults as well as children. “We were fortunate to have two community gardeners interested in working with children. One is Faye Mihuta, a reading teacher, and the other is Jess Clauser, an artist. Together they designed a reading program that meets once a week and is followed by an art or garden project,” Walsh said.
The reading program is free. The art or garden project costs $5 per child and includes activities including learning how to make jam, making art and learning how to plant and care for seeds. The program, which is held every Saturday morning starting at 9:30 a.m., has been very well-received as have the adult programs on topics such as growing tomatoes.
Also on Saturday mornings, Walsh will lead a gardening class for participants to walk around the gardens and discuss any issues, problems and receive tips from Walsh, who is a master gardener and holds a horticulture degree from SUNY Cobleskill.
The garden also saw the construction of a beautiful cedar pergola that was donated in memory of the late Charlotte Justin by her family and built by local craftsman Rich Torkelson and his son Arik.
The grandmother’s gardens were funded with a grant from the Soroptimists and multiple private donors who also purchased furniture for the space. In addition, the popular sunflower house has also been expanded. A sunflower house is an enclosed space that has “walls” of sunflowers.
Other organizations include the Waldorf school that illustrated signs for the butterfly garden, Saratoga Bridges who care for their own plot and help water others, Franklin Community Center, the Saratoga Senior Center, Saratoga Transitional Services, Saratoga Catholic Central, the Girl Scouts and the high school.
That will also be the day the sunflowers in the annual sunflower contest will be measured for height and size of bloom. The biggest in each category will receive a prize. Last year, 26 people entered, this year there are 60 participants.
“There no doubt the garden is growing,” she added. “If you haven’t visited, come by on a Thursday or Saturday morning and I’ll show you around and tell you what we have planned for next year,” Walsh said.
For more information visit the website: www.pitneymeadows communityfarm.org.
Proposed Adirondack Aquatic Center Seeks Donor Support
MALTA — On July 2 the proposed Adirondack Aquatic Center (AAC) updated the Malta Town Board on the project’s progress and unveiled a promotional video. In attendance was Vincent DeLucia, Supervisor for Town of Malta, the Malta Town Board, Kara Haraden, President of Adirondack Aquatic Center and Mike Relyea, Vice President, Adirondack Aquatic Center. The proposed project will be built off Route 67 in Malta.
The multi-use, year-round facility will hold four pools, including a 50-meter Olympic-size pool, of varying lengths, depths and temperatures for diverse swim programs that include learning to swim, exercise and rehabilitation, as well as training and competition. Plans also include spectator seating, classroom areas, meeting rooms, aquatic-focused exercise and weightroom, studio/multi-purpose area, pro shop, concessions area and locker rooms.
“I’m in very strong support of it,” Vincent DeLucia said, Supervisor for the Town of Malta.
“Not only would it provide great opportunity for not only life-saving skills and recreation, and tremendous competition throughout the Northeast, but it would have a dramatic positive economic impact in the entire area. Not just the Town of Malta but certainly the county of Saratoga and even the entire Capital District region. When you have college and high school swim competitions
throughout the year, many of the people are coming from great distances and they would generally stay in the area, as far away as Albany, Schenectady, probablyeven Glens Falls and so forth,” he added.
Adirondack Aquatic Center is a nonprofit organization that was founded to fill a need for year- round aquatic services that address the health, wellness, recreation, safety, competition and training needs of the local residents, communities and organizations.
According to DeLucia, who’s been in talks with representatives from the AAC for nearly two-and- a-half years, the next closest aquatic center similar to the one proposed, is Greensboro, North Carolina. He added that representatives from Greensboro Aquatic Center said that in the first year, the economic impact in that entire region was close to 40 million dollars.
“Now that doesn’t mean that could be guaranteed here but it is certainly a pretty good point,” DeLucia said.
The Adirondack Aquatic Center continues to attain fiscal support for the proposed 80,000-square-foot indoor aquatic facility. So far, Adirondack Aquatic Center has secured $2 million of the estimated $22 million needed to build the aquatic center.
In the meantime the AAC continues to seek support from donors.
“They’re moving well in that direction. They’re close to closing in,” he added.
Frances Day at the Tang
Photos Provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College is opening its doors to the public for a day of free events on the fifth annual Frances Day, a community open house.
On July 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., visitors can experience multiple contemporary art exhibitions, art-making activities, food, music, and fun in honor of the museum’s namesake, Frances Young Tang.
Visitors to this year’s Frances Day will have numerous opportunities to interact with artists whose work is exhibited in the museum while being able to engage in art-making activities inspired by the work on view in the museum. In addition to button making and visor decorating, visitors can join in the creation of a collaborative two-sided artwork inspired by Dona Nelson’s two-sided paintings. The collaborative artwork will be created by threading yarn of various colors through a pegboard, allowing visitors to create abstract images on both sides.
“We go through a lot of different growing stages and thinking about who we are in the world and we’re still thinking about that,” Michael Janairo, Assistant Director for Engagement, said about the museum.
“We’re quite successful and quite well known among academic museums around the world, which is very different from, if you’re a family in Saratoga. We have a very strong family Saturday program that’s been around for 14 to 15 years ... So we were thinking what could we do to engage better with the local community, the people who live around here,” he added.
The Tang Museum aims to disrupt the notion that going to museums is an elitist activity. The museum’s actual structure is the proof. The Tang Museum includes various entrances, and multiple staircases that put forward the idea that the museum should be inclusively accessible to all. The museum has classrooms where classes are held for the students at Skidmore College as well.
“We are open to the public all the time but we find... It’s not that we’re not open to the public; it’s just that people need invitations to come. So we think having a day where there’s a lot of interactivity can create an exciting moment for people to come check things out,” Janairo said.
Frances Young Tang was a businesswoman, philanthropist, and 1961 Skidmore College graduate who died in 1992. In her memory, the Tang family made a substantial donation that led to the Tang Teaching Museum becoming a reality in 2000. Frances Day honors Frances Young Tang’s legacy of creativity and philanthropy with a day of free activities.
Visitors will also be able to sign up for giveaways of Tang- related prizes, including private museum tours, exhibition catalogs, CDs, and more.
To find the schedule and full list of activities for Frances Day visit www.tang.skidmore.edu.
Conquering Cancer
LOCAL MAN IS CANCER FREE THANKS
TO GROUNDBREAKING TREATMENT
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Richard Smith’s battle with kidney cancer began in 2012 and thanks to a combination of drugs called Opdivo and Yervoy, he’s around to tell the tale.
Smith has lived in the Capital Region for 30 years, and moved to Saratoga Springs in 2012. He works as an engineer at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.
“My story is a real roller coaster ride. It all started in December of 2012 when I noticed blood in my urine. I scheduled a visit with my general practitioner for two days later. But a day later I felt a sharp pain like kidney stones and decided to go to the hospital where doctors found a tumor the size of a tennis ball in my left kidney. I had clear cell renal cell carcinoma, kidney cancer. Making a bad day even worse I was also told I had high blood pressure and high blood sugar. A week later I had surgery at Saratoga Hospital to remove the kidney and I was told the cancer had not spread and I was deemed cancer free,” Smith said.
“It’s at this point I knew I had to regain control of my life so I lost over 50 pounds and began working out regularly at the gym and rediscovered my childhood love of bicycle riding,” he added.
However in 2015, Smith noticed a lump in his collarbone; the biopsy showed it was the same kidney cancer as before but now advanced stage spread to his lymph node. After the lymph node was removed, scans again showed that he was cancer free. Only three months later, after a CT, Smith was told he had five more tumors in lymph nodes in his upper body.
“While the first diagnosis in 2012 was scary, I moved so fast to remove the kidney my family and I didn’t have time to internalize the “C” word. The re-occurrence in February of 2015 was devastating and emotionally felt much worse than the first tumor for me and my family, especially my son. Survival rates, from my internet searches, for Stage 4 Kidney Cancer were even more depressing, in the teens or even single digits,” Smith said.
Smith’s wife, having been from the Boston area knew that the Dana Farber Cancer Institute was the best in the country for treatment. This is where the healing part of their journey began.
“I signed up for the CheckMate-214 trial for what is called immune system therapy or immunotherapy. Immunotherapy effectively teaches my own immune system to recognize and attack the cancers. The trial was for the combination of Opdivo + Yervoy, drugs produced by Bristol-Meyers Squibb,” Smith said.
Even though Smith was an excellent candidate for this clinical trial, it did not necessarily mean he would receive the alleged cancer-curing drug.
“It was a blind trial, so I did not know at the time I signed up what I would get. But since the trail was not “double blind” I would know what I was getting because the control arm of the trial would be the standard of care at the time, which is a pill taken orally, while the immunotherapy is an infusion. I was lucky enough to randomize to the immunotherapy arm,” Smith said.
For the past three years Smith has to Boston every two weeks for an infusion. Within six months of starting the immunotherapy, all five tumors were gone and he was told he had complete response (CR) or complete remission.
“It is almost two -and-a-half-years since fist being told I was CR and my recent scan (late May) still shows that I am cancer free. The trial lasts for another two years,” Smith said.
“Once I am finished with my trial, I hope to volunteer periodically at Dana Farber. My gift for gab, and personal experience may give me the opportunity to just meet and talk to people and their caregivers. Last, I hope my story being told just gives people hope that there are so many exciting new treatments and trials underway and the progress being made in cancer research is growing exponentially!”
Foal Patrol Surpasses One Million Views: Season 2 Coming in Fall
Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has announced Season two of Foal Patrol this fall.
Since Foal Patrol’s debut, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Foal Patrol project has received more than one million views across its various media platforms and was viewed in 37 countries. Season two will debut this fall at www.foalpatrol. com. Announcements regarding the participating farms and mares will be made later this summer.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame launched Foal Patrol as a one-of-a-kind collection of live web cameras where people can view real-time streams of several in-foal mares during their pregnancy and through the actual foaling. The website is optimized for viewing across all media platforms, including tablets and smart phones. In addition, the Museum partnered with artist Sharon Crute to develop a Foal Patrol coloring book, which is available in the Museum gift shop.
Foal Patrol currently live streams from eight different farms across the country. Five farms are in Kentucky; two are in New York- one of them being the Old Tavern Farm in Saratoga Springs, and one other in Florida.
The Museum’s partners in developing Foal Patrol include The Jockey Club Technology Services, Keeneland Broadcast Associates, Godolphin Kids, Visit Lex, Horse Country Tours, Equineline.com, The BloodHorse, Equibase, New World Resources and Carr-Hughes Productions.
“The great feedback we have received from Foal Patrol fans and the racing industry has been exceptional,” said Cathy Marino, the director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
“To have a million views in six months is such a thrill for everyone at the Museum. People have really fallen in love with these mares and foals and this project has been a great educational tool to help people learn about breeding and raising thoroughbreds. We’re really looking forward to continuing Foal Patrol and making it even better with our second season,” she added.
According to Marino, Foal Patrol hopes to expand on the educational aspects of the website.
“We’ll be shortly adding on a lot of educational aspects. We want to talk about anatomy, pedigree, care of the horses, veterinarian care... We are hoping to eventually have this so that teachers can go on here and link to different educational aspects that they can use in the classroom and perhaps develop a curriculum around it,” Marino said.
Looking ahead, Marino hopes to involve other industry-related organizations for the next year.
This Summer at the Lake
Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 4th of July kicks off the official start to summer here in Saratoga and there is always something to do, just ask Rhiana Leigh of Kayak Shak in Saratoga Springs.
KAYAK SHAK
Leigh is the paddleboard yoga instructor at Kayak Shak. She is daughter to proprietor Beau Stallard but she also calls herself the resident artist. It’s her that painted the shack on the property.
“I’m just there making it colorful and bright,” Leigh said.
The Kayak Shak also plans to host a Water Chestnut pull on June 30. A Water Chestnut is an aquatic invasive plant that forms dense floating mats that can negatively impact the environment, economy and recreational use of the area. On July 27 the Kayak Shak will host their annual “Full-Moon Paddle” which is an evening paddle boarding session and fundraiser.
What’s her favorite thing to do in the summer?
“Coming out on the lake then going out for dinner at Harvest and Hearth afterwards is like awesome... It’s a great combo,” she added.
The Kayak Shak rents paddleboards and kayaks and is open everyday this summer from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The property also offers lakeside views and hammocks to relax in.
HARVEST AND HEARTH
Harvest and Hearth at 251-BCounty Route 67 in Saratoga Springs is located right next to The Fish Creek Marina at the Kayak Shak. Harvest and Hearth serves wood-fired pizza usingfresh,natural,organic,and local ingredients.
BROWN'S BEACH
Brown’s Beach Resort (BRR) encompasses Dock Brown’s Tavern Lakeside Tavern and The Nest, an inn with seven guest rooms and hotel amenities, and a Saratoga favorite, Brown’s Beach.
Brown’s Beach, is one of the only the public swimming spots on the lake, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Children 12 years old and under are free while those 13 and over will have to pay $2. Brown’s Beach is the perfect spot for a lakeside picnic, swimming and water sports like canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
On July 3 Dock Brown’s Tavern will host a lobster bake on the patio beginning at 6 p.m.
BBR also has fully functioning marina with 150 boat slips, marine fuelservice,boat and snowmobile repair centers, a ship store and a boat launch.
Navy Homecoming At Ballston Spa High School Graduation
Arianna and Xavier Crowd. Photo provided.
BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa High School graduate, Arianna Crowd, received more than just her diploma at graduation this year. The graduation ceremony took place at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on June 21. An unsuspecting high school senior, Arianna Crowd, began to walk the stage to receive her diploma, only for her older brother to walk on stage and give it to her. The two last saw each other in September of 2017.
“I was very surprised and confused. I was pretty overwhelmed with lots of different emotions but when I saw him I completely forgot I was even on stage in front of that many people. My stage fright basically went away for that moment,” Arianna said.
Arianna’s brother, Xavier Crowd, a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, has been deployed in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“I had absolutely no idea I was going to see him. I didn’t know he was in the country; I still thought he was on his deployment,” Arianna said.
“I decided to surprise her a few months prior to returning to the United States... the planning took time, and calculating a lot of dates. I’m just so glad I could line the dates up,” Xavier said.
The moment has since gone viral and was covered nationally by CBS News, ABC News, and Good Morning America.
“I think it’s amazing how much this story is spreading. I never imagined it would gain so much attention. l also think it’s important that a story like this is circulating despite all of the negativity in mainstream media and lack of nice heartwarming stories,” Xavier said.
“I was just so happy I could make the day special for her; she looks up to me and I feel that being able to come home and surprise her had a big impact on her decisions in the future,” he added.
This summer you can find Arianna hiking, painting, and working. She plans to join the military and go to college, and hopes to become a holistic healer.
11th Annual All-American Celebration
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The eleventh annual All- American Celebration will take place on July 3 and July 4 in Downtown Saratoga Springs. Admission is free to all events.
This year’s lineup is as follows:
TUESDAY, JULY 3
Fireside Chat with ‘General Burgoyne’:
Beginning at 7 and ending at 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at Fireplace Lounge at 232 Broadway meet ‘General Burgoyne’ and recount his vantage point of the Battle of Saratoga,theturningpointofthe American Rebellion, including his stories of the people, intrigue, anddramathatsurroundedthe battle. Free s’mores for all kids.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4
Firecracker4 Road Race:
From 9 to 10:30 a.m. cheer for the thousands of runners and then stay for the All-American Parade on Broadway in front of the City Center.
All-American Parade and Patriotic Pooches:
At 11 a.m. events open with the All-American Parade marching down Broadway from Van Dam Street to Spring Street. The parade, led by the Korean War Veterans Color Guard, includes historical re-enactors, civic groups, officials, and municipalities from all across Saratoga County, music, fun, and more! Be sure to see the dozens of adorable Patriotic Pooches that march in the parade every year.
Parade Characters Family Photo-Op:
From 11:30 a.m. to noon, at Congress Park at the carousel, bring the kids to have their pictures taken with the characters from the parade including General Burgoyne, Ben Franklin and more.
All-American BBQ and Dessert Fest:
Beginning at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. the 11th Annual All-American BBQ and Dessert Fest will take place. Each tasting is $1 paid to each participant at his or her locations. Most participants are located in and around downtown and more will be set up in the Division Street parking lot.
All-American Classic Car Show:
Beginning at noon and ending at 4 p.m. at the Spring Street parking lot see up to 50 American and exotic classic cars.
Historic City Tour:
“The Good Guys and The Bad Guys: Two stories of Saratoga Springs” from 1 to 2:30 p.m., meet in front of the Canfield Casino in Congress Park.
Party in the Parking Lot with the Audiostars:
The July 4 Parking Lot Party starting at 6:30 p.m. leading up to the Fireworks at dusk. This year again features a live concert from The Audiostars in the Spring Street parking lot.
BBQ and Dessert Fest Winners Announced:
Spring Street parking lot at 8 p.m.
Live Reading of the Declaration of Independence:
Approximately at 9:15 p.m. in the Spring Street parking lot.
Fireworks:
At approximately 9:30 p.m., fireworks will be launched from Congress Park. Best viewing areas will be Spring Street, Henry Street, Putnam Street, and the Phila Street parking deck.
20-Year-Old Golf Range Shut Down by City
Photos by Marissa Gonzalez
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On May 17 the Saratoga Springs Golf Range located at 68 Weibel Ave. was shut down by the city of Saratoga Springs. According to owner Gary Stone, the property was cited for lack of proper permits.
The golf range is 22 acres and operated on the honor system. Golfers would drop money into a container in exchange for bucket full of golf balls. $10 for a small bucket, $13 for a large.
“It’s kind of a unique thing... no one even sits there. We have a drop box and hopefully they’ll put the money in. So that’s enough to pay someone to fix the balls and to mow,” Stone said.
Stone has owned the property since 1968. However, it has only been a driving range since 1998. Initially, Stone had leased out the property, and it was in that time where it was converted into a driving range. It did have a pro shop and a place to eat, but it doesn’t anymore. Stone also says that he has had people expressing interest in purchasing the property for apartments.
“They’re claiming that there were never any permits there to operate the driving range... I don’t know, that was 20 years ago, I feel like something should be there. They just gave me notice to close so I had to close,” Stone said.
Stone had hoped the town would allow him to operate while he was in the process of getting the proper permits.
“There’s a process you have to go through... It’d be winter time, it would kind of be useless and then once we do that, we’d lose all those people we lost and for the following season too,” Stone said.
“It’s a shame, we get tons of people coming out there that want to use it and I have to turn them away,” he added.
Stone currently has a sign outside the premise that reads: “After 20 years of operation, the city of Saratoga Springs has decided to close our golf driving range due to lack of proper permitting. If you would like to see this golf driving range stay open, call City Hall at 518-587-3550 and express your desire to see it stay open.”
“I did whatever I could do to get it open but it just doesn’t look good,” Stone said.
According to Vincent J. DeLeonardis, City Attorney for Saratoga Springs, via e-mail correspondence, “Mr. Stone has long been aware that the property is in violation of the City’s land use regulations and has, despite such awareness, failed to make any reasonable efforts toward bringing the property into compliance.”
“Court proceedings were previously commenced some 15 years ago concerning the violations; and in 2004 the Court went so far as to find the company managed by Mr. Stone in contempt of court for failing to remove the unlawful uses at the property. In a subsequent proceeding brought against Mr. Stone in 2016, he acknowledged the continued and ongoing violations at the aforesaid property and ultimately agreed to plead guilty to an incredible 79 violations of the City Code and Zoning Ordinance, to pay a fine and to discontinue certain uses, including the golf driving range, until such time as he obtains all required approvals.” DeLeonardis said.
“Thus, it is curious why Mr. Stone posted the sign at the driving range seeking public input to keep it open when he knows full well that its closure is solely due to his failure to obtain the necessary permits andapprovalsfromthelanduse boards,” DeLeonardis added.
“That 79 came into play the second time around, this year, that’s when I got the stipulation from them and they had all these violations,” Stone maintains.
Stone added, “If there were no permits, how could it be running for 20 years?”
Open Days at the Garden Conservancy
Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On June 23 the Garden Conservancy is sponsoring their first ever Open Days event where five gardens in the Saratoga area will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mission of the Garden Conservancy is to save and share American gardens for the education and inspiration of the public. Through Open Days, the Garden Conservancy is working to fuel the public’s passion for gardens and gardening.
“We’re honored to be included in the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program,” Ted Collins said.
Collins and his wife Susan’s garden at 339 Clinton Street will be showcased on the tour. Their garden also made an appearance in Janet Loughrey’s book “Saratoga in Bloom,” a book capturing 150 years of gardens in Saratoga. The book includes scenes from the Saratoga Race Course and Skidmore College.
“We have been on the local Secret Garden tour in the past and are looking forward to sharing our hard work with horticulturists, gardeners and the public. We’re using this national exposure as motivation to finish some projects and get the landscape looking as nice as possible,” Collins said.
Since 1995, Open Days has brought more than one million visitors into thousands of private landscapes in 41 states. This annual program showcases regional horticultural and stylistic expressions in a national context celebrating the rich diversity in American gardens.
Other stops on the tour include:
• Sarah Patterson’s garden 65 Central Avenue, Saratoga Springs
• Jim and Meg Dalton’s garden 284 Middle Grove Road, Middle Grove
•Fiddle-i-fee-Farm 167 West River Road, Schuylerville
• Shades of Green
2036 Cook Road, Charlton. The public is invited to join shade garden expert, Wynne Trowbridge, at Shades of Green at 2:30 p.m. for a “Digging Deeper” program to explore her garden and the extensive plant collection that inspired her to start a small nursery specializing in shade plants.
Admission to each garden is $7. To find out more or purchase tickets call 845-424-6500.
