Photos provided.

Saratoga Regional YMCA Basketball: 

TEAM SIKORA 61 -  TEAM LOMBARDO 59
The winner of this game wasn’t decided until the final seconds. The game was close from beginning to end, both teams were tied at halftime and continued throughout the game. Team Sikora’s Rick Sicari and Camdon Spencer each scored 16 points and teammates Brian Donovan and Renny Sikora scored 11 and seven points respectively. Team Lombardo got a game high 28 points from Chris Peroni in the loss.
TEAM DUFF 71 – TEAM WINK 55
Team Duff remained undefeated by beating Team Wink by 16 points. Corey Harkins had 20 points, Carter Flanigan had 15 points and Josh Demarais had 10 points in the victory. Team Wink got 18 points from Brian Travis along with 15 points from JR Michael all on threepointers and 12 points from Dallas Wells. TEAM REED 62 - TEAM EMERY 61 After falling behind by 12 points at half-time, Team Reed clawed back to get an overtime win over Team Emery by a score of 62 to 61. The winners got 14 points from Vonzel Legal, with teammates Taylor Wilson and Garris Ramsdell each contributing 11 points each in the win. Blake Rizzi had 23 points, Chris Cameron had 21 points and Chantz Baudoux scored 10 points in the loss.

Spa Catholic Baseball:
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, April 18, Spa Catholic played Berlin and won, 24-0. For Spa Catholic: Jake Hart had three runs and three RBIs; Cadan Awad had one run and one RBI; Dante Marin had one run and one RBI; Josh Van Patten had one double, one run, and two RBIs. On Saturday, April 21, Spa Catholic played Cambridge and defeated them, 17-0. For Spa Catholic: Nick Winslow had two doubles, four runs, and three RBIs; Kaden Learch had one double, four runs, four RBIs; Tyler Haraden had one double, one run, and three RBIs; Terel Tillman had three RBIs; Dylan Custer had four runs and one RBI.

2018 NYS YMCA Gymnastics Championships:
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Regional YMCA Springettes gymnastics team participated in the 2018 NY State YMCA Gymnastics Championships on April 14 and 15. Forty-two girls from the Springettes Team Participated in levels 3-8.  The team had enough gymnasts in the level 2, 4, 6, and 8 levels to compete in the team competition. In the team competition, the level 3 gymnasts placed 2nd, the level 4 gymnasts placed 2nd, the level 6 gymnasts placed 1st, and the level 8 gymnasts placed 1st.    The Springettes had 7 athletes finish 1st in the allaround competition to become state champions. The girls that finished first are:  Abby Moller, level 8 senior age group.   Brynne Wright, level 7 senior age group.   Megan Wishart, level 6 senior age group.  Sydney Crombach, Level 5 senior age group.  Erin Ward, Level 4 senior age group.   Ruby Sprengnether, Level 4 junior age group. Alyssa Glaser Level 3 Senior B age group.
   
Saratoga Springs Girls Lacrosse:           
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Thursday, April 19, Saratoga played Ballston Spa and won, 16-5, scoring 12 points in the first half vs. Ballston Spa’s two and scoring four in the second half vs. their three. For Saratoga: Katie Wendell had three goals and two assists; Katie Silver had three goals; Sophia Burke had two goals and two assists; Lindsey Frank had two goals; Ella Payer had two goals; Catherine O’Hara had two goals; Reilly Hogan had one goal and three assists; Lauren Duffy had one goal; Abigail Searles had 10 saves.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —
 The Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction will honor two outstanding individuals for their extraordinary professional accomplishments at the 2018 Academic Awards and Hall of Distinction Recognition Night at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in the Loewenburg Auditorium at Saratoga Springs High School. The 5th Annual Hall of Distinction inductees are Susan Pasmik Allerdice and Charles V. Wait. The Hall of Distinction was established to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding graduates of Saratoga Springs High School who have made exceptional contributions and excelled in their chosen fields. The distinguished alumni named to the Hall of Distinction represent an extraordinary range of personal and professional achievements. Their accomplishments serve as an inspiration for our current students in their motivation to attain their aspirations. Current students will be receiving scholarships and academic awards. The particulars of the various honors presented to our students will be provided at the May 23rd ceremony.

• SUSAN PASMIK ALLERDICE:
Mrs. Susan Pasmik Alleridice graduated from Saratoga Springs High School with the class of 1964.  She graduated from Mary McClellan School of Nursing, Cambridge, New York as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Mrs. Allerdice worked at Saratoga Hospital for 15 ½ years on the maternity unit.  She left nursing to raise a family and become the bookkeeper for her husband’s welding business and crane service.  In the fall of 1982, she and her husband purchased Millman & Hall Lumber Company, which became Allerdice Building Supply, Inc.  That company expanded to include a commercial door business, glass and mirror business, Allerdice Hardware in Milton and Allerdice Hardware in Malta.  She is currently president of Allerdice Building Supply, Inc. Mrs. Allerdice served on the Wesley Foundation board. She is currently a trustee of the Saratoga County Historical Society (Brookside Museum) board, on the committee for Yaddo summer benefit and a member of the Flower and Fruit Mission of Saratoga Hospital. Mrs. Allerdice is married to Wallace Allerdice, Jr., and they have two sons, Wallace Allerdice, III and William Allerdice.  All members of the family graduated from Saratoga Springs High School.

• CHARLES V. WAIT:
Charles V. Wait, class of 1969, was born in 1951 and is a graduate of Cornell University.  Mr. Wait began his banking career with The Adirondack Trust Company in 1974.  In 1982 he was elected as a Director, 1984 as President and in 1989 as Chairman of the Board and CEO.  Currently, Mr. Wait serves as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Wait is a Director of the New York Bankers Association, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Victaulic Inc. and Museum of American Finance. He is a member of The Economic Club of New York, The Lake George Club, The Saratoga Golf and Polo Club, The New York Athletic Club and The New York Yacht Club. Mr. Wait is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from SUNY Empire State College in Saratoga Springs. Other awards include the Denis B. Kemball Cook Award and the Lucy Skidmore Scribner Award, both from Skidmore College, the Outstanding Business Leader Award from Northwood University and the Private Sector Initiative Award from President Ronald Reagan.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. Mr. Wait was chairman of the Saratoga 150 Committee, Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the New York Bankers Association. Mr. Wait served as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 2003 through 2011 and was Chairman of the Audit Committee from 2007 through 2010.  Mr. Wait has also held positions on the board of Skidmore College, Empire State College Foundation, New York Business Development Corporation, New York Racing Association and the Yaddo Corporation. He is an accomplished sailor having completed the Newport to Bermuda Race and was a crew member aboard the Pride of Baltimore, II on her 2005 Transatlantic Crossing.  He has also completed two New York City Marathons. Mr. Wait is married with three grown children and two grandchildren.  He and his wife Candace reside in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Saratoga Regional YMCA Basketball
OVER 25-YEAR-OLD BASKETBALL LEAGUE TEAM WINK 91 - TEAM REED 67
Team Wink had scoring from everyone playing and beat Team Reed by a score of 91 – 67. The Winks led by 21 points at the half and coasted to the win. The winners were led by Brian Travis who had 23 points and teammates JR Michael’s 19 points, Dallas Wells 17 points James Schober 15 points. Team Reed got 25 points from Ryan O’Rourke and another 17 points from Taylor Wilson. TEAM EMERY 57 - TEAM SIKORA 48 Due to injuries, Team Emery played with only four players all game, but they were able to still have a victory over Team Sikora by a score of 57 - 48. Team Emery got 18 points from Blake Rizzi while teammates Travis Ramsey 13 points, Chris Cameron 12 points and Andrew Armstrong had 10 points in the victory. Camdon Spencer had a team high 15 points in the loss. TEAM DUFF 70 - TEAM LOMBARDO 58 Using a balanced scoring attack, Team Duff took a hard-fought game over Team Lombardo 70 to 58. Corey Harkins had 14 points, Josh Demarais, 12 points from Ryan Duff and 10 points from Tim Bush in the win while Alex Ventre and Mike Ventre each scored 13 points in the loss.

Spa Catholic Softball            
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, April 11, Saratoga Central Catholic played Hoosic Valley and won, 11-10. For Spa Catholic: Cassidy Hayner had one double, five RBIs, and two homeruns; Emy Murray had one RBI; Molly O’Reilly hit two singles. On Friday, April 13, Spa Catholic defeated Stillwater, 16-4. For Spa Catholic: Julia Murdick had one double and five RBIs; Molly O’Reilly had one double and three RBIs; Emy Murray had one RBI; Victoria Alvord had one double and one RBI.

Spa Catholic Baseball        
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, April 11, Spa Catholic played Hoosic Valley, defeating them 14-2. For Spa Catholic: Nick Winslow had two doubles, three runs, and one RBI; Tyler Haraden had one homerun and three RBIs; Josh Van Patten had two doubles and one RBI; Kaden Learch had one double, four RBIs, and two runs; Kessler Waldron had one triple; Dylan Custer had two runs; Terel Tillman had one double and 14 strikeouts while pitching.

Saratoga Springs Girls Lacrosse
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Thursday, April 12, Saratoga Springs played Colonie and defeated them, 16-2. For Saratoga: Kit O’Hara, Ella Payer, and Sofie Mangino had two goals and one assist; Lauren Duffy had two goals; Katie Wendell had one goal and three assists; Sylvie Waters had one goal and two assists; Katie Silver, Lindsey Frank, Jackie Sauer, and Elizabeth McGinn each had one goal and one assist; Sophia Burke and Reilly Hogan had one goal each; Abigail Searles had five saves.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Norah Dempsey, 14, a freshman at Saratoga Springs High School, a U16 alpine athlete through New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF), which has programs out of both Gore and Whiteface Mountain.

“This winter I had the opportunity to live and train out of Lake Placid/Whiteface for the winter while keeping up with my schoolwork with tutors. It is not actually affiliated with the Saratoga High ski team,” Dempsey explained.

“I started in the Mountain Adventure Program at Gore and then my brother did racing so the next year I followed in his footsteps and started racing at gore,” she said.

Her parents are also recreational skiers and her siblings both race, as well. Dempsey is a part of the Winter Term Program through NYSEF, a program which allowed her to train throughout the winter while getting one-on-one tutoring to keep up with her education.

“I love it, it’s great and the school has been really supportive of me missing so much of the winter for skiing,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey practices in the winter six days a week and also attends camps in the summer to practice. During Winter Term, Dempsey was pleased with how much time they had on the snow. She also plays soccer, piano, and the French horn. Though she thoroughly enjoys music, she prefers her athletics.

Comparing soccer and skiing she said, “I think they definitely compliment each other even though they’re really different as far as muscle sets go.”

Dempsey also occasionally volunteers at Saratoga Plan as part of the catering staff.

Dempsey is coached by Patrick Purcell.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Andrew Bobbitt, the CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA, has a love of tennis and when Bobbitt had coffee with YMCA member Allen Oppenheim, an idea was formed: The Learn to Love Tennis (LTLT) Program.

“[Oppenheim’s] interest in the Y primarily comes from playing tennis at Wilton and he had shared that he had tried to do some work with our staff and the US Tennis Association on a program that they had that would provide access to tennis for underprivileged children. I have a tennis background, I taught and played a little in college and was teaching pro in the summers, so I said, ‘hey that sounds like a great thing,’” Bobbitt said, explaining how the idea came to be. Bobbitt decided to customize their own local program for kids who haven’t played at all in the area, just “get them to pick up a racket and start learning tennis,” he said.

The YMCA was able to raise money, so the classes can be offered at no cost. There are two classes offered, Thursdays and Saturdays, which take place over five weeks.

“Ideally, we are going to try and do four of these classes over the remainder of the year which is going to impact 320 kids between the ages of 7 and 10,” Bobbitt said.

“I started as a program director and I’ve been doing admin in the YMCA for a long time now and I think having that tennis background and the enthusiasm that Allen had, we can impact these kids through a recreational sport. Tennis is a sport you can play recreationally well into your 70s and beyond,” he stated.

Saturday classes begin on April 28 and they run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Wilton YMCA, Thursday classes are already full and as of Thursday, April 19, Saturday classes have a limited number of spots left.

“As soon as we can do a second session for a different group of 80 kids, we would advertise another LTLT,” he said.

“I think there is an opportunity for us to engage more individuals in the game of tennis and I can’t think of a better way to do that then young children who have not picked up a racket before,” Bobbitt concluded.

For more information, contact the SRYMCA at 518-583-9622.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – April is Autism Awareness Month, a mental condition which effect countless families. Autism is defined as a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. No real “reason” for the condition has ever been determined.

“I have a lot of different theories as to why autism has had an explosion in the last 20 years. There are many different factors with a constant investigation of food, diet, exercise from being pregnant all the way up to medications and vaccines, which is a hot subject, and it’s all up for negotiation because it all depends on who you talk to,” said Tara Colvin, whose son Phillip is autistic.

The Colvin family, and those like them, have faced many challenges as they go through life with an autistic family member.

“You’re dealing with schools that are not prepared to house and educate children with disabilities. There arise programs like BOCES, and then that program is inundated with an array of disabilities. It essentially becomes a dumping ground for all these kids that society doesn’t know what to do with. So as a parent, you have to be very strong to navigate all of that and to be an advocate for your child,” Colvin explained.

Colvin is trying to get Phillip into college but since his high school career was so detrimental he has no interest in furthering his education.

“Phillip is like no way, I’m tapping out,” she said.

School was a struggle for him, he never felt like he had enough support from the staff or programs.

“Life is very black and white for him, the understanding of grey and sarcasm, that’s very challenging. When he says something inappropriate I’ll say, ‘why don’t you try that again’ and he knows, ‘okay I said something that made somebody uncomfortable.’ The grey area is where most decisions lay and they’re not there so it’s all manufactured and taught behavior, for them it isn’t natural. He doesn’t care how your day is going, they have no empathy. That is the truth of what we’re working with here. He’ll come home every day and ask how my day was, but he doesn’t’ care. It’s a manufactured behavior,” Colvin explained.

Autism Awareness Month is from April 1 through April 30 and features bright royal blue as the awareness color.

MALTA - A Capital Region Youth Climate Summit was recently held at the Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facility in Malta.   The NYS Capital Region Youth Climate Summit brought together students and teachers from high schools around the Capital Region of New York State to learn about climate change and develop Climate Action Plans for their schools and communities. The Capital Region summit was modeled after the Youth Climate Summit held at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake and combined informative plenary sessions and workshops in a fun atmosphere. National experts including Susan Powers from Clarkson University, iMatter, and the Sunshine Movement as well as students from The Wild Center/ Alliance for Climate Education presented at the summit.  The students were excited to hear from Congressman Paul Tonko on steps that are being taken by representatives in Washington to help address environmental issues. Congressman Tonko was able to hear directly from the students their ideas for reducing their footprint in their communities.  The team of students from Schuylerville won a gift card at the end of the summit based on their Climate Action Plan.  They will use the award to help implement their plan in their community.   The team from Queensbury earned a gift card to help with environmental projects in their community for having the most sustainable lunch at the summit.  The summit was held as a result of generous sponsorship from the Stewarts Holiday Match, Brookfield Renewable, The Wild Center and Hudson Valley Community College.  The Summit was organized and coordinated by students and teachers from the Ballston Spa Central School District, the Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries ECHS and Schuylerville Central School District with help from The Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

Saratoga Springs and Shen Alum Earn  Syracuse University Cheer Awards           

SYRACUSE — Syracuse University freshman cheerleaders Madison Dallas (Saratoga Springs - Class of 2017) and Brenna Hart (Shenendehowa - Class of 2017) were recently honored at the Syracuse University Cheer banquet held Sunday, April 8, at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel.    Madison won the “Rookie of the Year” award which is given to “The newcomer whose athletic ability, willingness to improve and dedication has contributed greatly to the success of Syracuse Cheerleading 2017-2018.”  Brenna received the coveted “Orange Award” given “To the athlete who has been an outstanding representative of Syracuse Cheerleading through service events, appearances, games, and an overall commitment to our team.” Both girls cheered for their respective high school during their time in the Capital District and cheered for the private cheer gym Cheer Intensity in Green Island, NY.  Madison and Brenna are planning to room together during their sophomore year at Syracuse University.

Spa Catholic Softball Team            
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Monday, April 9, Saratoga Central Catholic played Hoosick Falls in their first game of the season and won, 8-2. Spa Catholic had one run in the first inning and seven in the second while Hoosick Falls had two runs in the sixth. For Spa Catholic: Victoria Alvord hit a double, Cassidy Hayner had the only home run of the evening, and Grace O’Reilly had 2 RBIs.

Saratoga Springs vs. Niskayuna Girls Lacrosse            
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Tuesday, April 10, Saratoga Springs beat Niskayuna, 13-8. For Saratoga Springs: Sophia Burke had four goals; Lindsey Frank had three goals and two assists; Reilly Hogan had three goals; Katie Wendell had two goals and four assists; and Sylvie Waters had one goal and one assist.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Katie Wendell, an 18-year-old Saratoga Springs senior has just scored her 100th goal in lacrosse, a feat to be celebrated.

“It was really exciting! My teammates had set me up so many times, so it was nice to finally get the 100th goal,” Wendell said.

Wendell will be attending Bucknell University to play Division I lacrosse and major in biology next year. She shares her love of lacrosse with her parents, who also played in college and coached as well. Her father started the lacrosse rec program. She fell in love with the sport in second grade. She plays year round through the school and a club team out of Syracuse called Orange Crush.

“It’s a really fast paced game and it’s always exciting, you can always do something new to get better. I love how there are so many different styles of play, from team to team, so it keeps the game interesting,” she explained.

The team at Saratoga Springs is very close.

“We’re all super close, we’ve all been playing together since second grade. Especially the seniors and juniors this year. We’re best friends. One of our biggest components is our chemistry is something that no other team in Section II has because we’re so close and we play so well together,” Wendell said, complimenting the team’s chemistry.

The team bonds over dinners at their coach’s house and over spring break they traveled to Long Island where they played two games, stayed in a hotel together, and practiced on the beach together.

 “That was really fun team bonding experience,” she said.

Academically, Wendell is on the high honor roll and focuses her studies toward the sciences because she plans to go to Physician Assistant school after her under-grad. She also internships through Saratoga Springs High School. She works part-time at Mimi’s Restaurant downtown and also helps referee and coach the program that she first started playing lacrosse in. She cites her parents as her biggest supporters.

“They’ve driven me all over the northeast for tournaments and have stuck with me through everything that’s come with the recruiting process for lacrosse. We’ve driven all over the country to find the best fit for me for the next four years,” she explained.

She credits her club coaches Greg Burns and Liz Beville and her coaches at Saratoga, Elaine Anton Lotruglio, Elise Britt, and Katie Hannan as being “really helpful” in her lacrosse career.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College announces the winners of the eighth annual Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition, held Friday, April 6, 2018. More than 325 students and 210 businesses have entered the competition, which was established in 2010 by Skidmore alumnus Ken Freirich ’90 with the intent of fostering entrepreneurship and creativity among students of all majors and disciplines at Skidmore. Th e competition has grown into one the best-funded among liberal arts colleges nationally, with cash prizes and business service awards valued at over $50,000. Skidmore College was ranked seventh among America’s most entrepreneurial colleges according to Forbes.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than watching amazingly talented and creative students take on the biggest challenges of their lives and succeed,” said Ken Freirich, Skidmore College class of ’90 and founder of the Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition.

“I am extremely proud of all the students, and I know that this experience will change many of their lives. Students told me that this has been a transformative event, and I’m
immensely proud to be able to give back and to enrich these students’ educational experience at Skidmore,” said Freirich.

Competition founder Ken Freirich was a student entrepreneur while at Skidmore, starting his fi rst business as a sophomore publishing a magazine for college students that was distributed on 35 college campuses in three states. Today, Freirich is president of Health Monitor Network, a thriving entrepreneurial company that has grown almost tenfold over the past ten years and is celebrating its 35th anniversary. For additional information about the Freirich Business Plan Competition, please visit: www.skidmore.edu.