August 2007 Archives

Things are looking up at the Universal Preservation Hall these days, and it’s not just from the newly installed louvers on the bell tower.

On Friday night, Terry Jones will coach his first varsity football game at the helm of the Saratoga Springs High School Blue Streaks at home versus Ballston Spa. Jones, a longtime Saratoga assistant, replaces local coaching legend, Blase Iuliano, who retired after 37 years of guiding the Blue Streaks.

Following Tuesday’s practice, Jones sat down with Sports Editor Eric DeGrechie, who covered Iuliano’s teams from 2000-2006 and graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1993.

As another season of thoroughbred racing comes to a close, locals and folks visiting the Spa City bid a fond farewell to the horses and prepare for the Final Stretch weekend festivities.

While many 7-year old girls may ask for Barbies or Bratz for their birthday, Casie Henderson had something else in mind for her Aug. 13 birthday.

During the 2006-2007 school season, Nancy Hoover's third grade class at Dorothy Nolan Elementary School, as a part of their writing program, tackled writing solid paragraphs with a great main topic sentence, detail sentence and a concluding sentence. Through one of their writing assignments, the class explored "Why do you think Saratoga Springs is a great place to live." The result was an insightful look into our city from this bright group of students.

OOLALA! Gina has been having too much fun! We must keep this great energy going all fall and winter, no? Gina wants to recap some wonderful events with zi highlights... For instance, who didn’t love The Little Sisters of the Poor’s “Picnic in the Park”? Their summer benefit was held Wednesday, Aug. 8, at the Canfield Casino, with Mistress of Ceremony Liz Bishop of WRGB Channel 6 News… with one of the BEST live and silent auctions around included in with the auction was #86, “Puppy Love,” a cute, adorable black female Lab Retreiver mix, at 6-8 weeks old. Well, talk about war... Ha! Beth Alexander, and daughter Zoe, took one look at zi little fella and the bidding began… fast and furious against a gent from New Jersey who didn’t take competition very well… Suffice to say the owners of Hatties now own little “Clio Dulaine Alexander,” who is but a small bear, growing daily, and wearing only zi most fashionable dresses from Sloppy Kisses (Little Clio must keep up with her mommy Zoe’s great style! Fairy Zia had to outfit the little baby ASAP!) You remember Clio from Edna Ferber’s “Saratoga Trunk,” no?

The Hard Road Ceilidh Band

If you are about to retire and are a fan of Willard Scott’s Smucker’s Birthday Club, you know that it is quite possible you could be picking strawberry seeds out from between your teeth for another 30 years or more.

With the final days of summer come the last blooms of our gardens.

American society has an unhealthy obsession with celebrity.

There is a nagging question among those of us in the real world.

Ronnie Johnson of Duanesburg put the JRP Motorsports No. 2 in Albany-Saratoga Speedway’s Victory Lane for the second week in a row.

Saratogian Gail Brophy is the newly crowned New York State Super Senior Champion.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco smoke contains approximately 4,000 chemical compounds, more than 60 of which are known or suspected to cause cancer.

The 2008-2013 capital program budget, including a detailed, prioritized listing of needed infrastructure improvements, was brought before the Saratoga Springs City Council during a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 21.

No.1 on the list is the new municipal building, which would hold the police station and courts. In 2008, the project would receive $17 million in 2008 to cover design, land, site development and construction. Second in the order of priorities would be $100,000 to begin the process of design, land development and construction for the new eastside EMS facility.

When head coach Jim Fassel was fired following the 2003 season, I was a very happy fan of the New York Football Giants.

The winners of the Saratoga in Bloom garden contest were named Aug. 16 at the Canfield Casino. The contest was held in conjunction with Saratoga’s entry in the America in Bloom contest. Results for AiB will be announced in September.

Saratoga Springs resident Jerry Rezsnyak was crowned the People's Choice champion at the New York State Chili Championship, Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Saratoga Race Course. This is Rezsnyak's second People's Choice win - he took home that title, as well as the third place judges' vote for red chili in 2006.

Carl Nafzger has trained some good horses over the years, but none quite like Street Sense.

Hall of Fame trainer Claude ‘Shug’ McGaughey knows it will take a lot to beat heavy favorite Street Sense in Saturday’s Grade I Travers Stakes.

Congratulations to the winners of the Aug. 10th Saratoga TODAY Back to School contest. The winners correctly guessed four Saratoga sites to win a Family Four-Pack of tickets to The Great Escape!

Travers Day always delivers the biggest race card of the Saratoga Race Course season.

At 454 Broadway on the upper level of the Downstreet Marketplace Carey McAndrew greets patrons of Lula with a cheerful smile.

“If art could redeem man, it could do so only by saving him from the seriousness of life and restoring him to an unexpected boyishness.” John Lennon, 1968

John Lennon, who penned such generational anthems as Revolution, Instant Karma! and Give Peace a Chance, is known mainly for his role in the Beatles and as one of the most influential musicians of his time; he was not solely a musician however.

I was searching my mental files the other day, trying to remember where I had set down my glasses.

Vesper

The clock on the DVD player read 7:15 p.m. by the time I got off the phone with my younger brother Tim. After an hour of deliberating, I decided to skip a trip to the movies to see Rise Against.

Many gardeners select plants to coordinate bloom time throughout the growing season but often underestimate the value of fragrance in their overall plan. The visual characteristics of the garden are usually the priority in our designs. But, plant scents can be a powerful quality in any garden. They can bring back a fond memory or give a sense of peace and relaxation.

Choosing plants for their fragrance can be done by checking the plant label in the pot. Plant characteristics including fragrance are often listed on these labels. You can also go to the Cornell Gardening Web site, www.gardening.cornell.edu, and search flower varieties for fragrance. Also, many mail order catalogs will include this plant characteristic in their descriptions. Keep in mind that breeding of plants may sometimes change their fragrance or eliminate it totally. As a general rule, the size of the bloom often dictates the intensity of the fragrance. One such example is the Peony.

GREENWICH – The Washington County Fair, an agricultural tradition for more than a century with more than 2,000 animal and farm exhibits.

“We’re looking forward to another great year for our agricultural fair,” said Fair President R. Harry Booth.

The fair typically draws between 110,000 and 120,000 every year, making it the second biggest regional event (behind the meet at Saratoga Race Course) of the year and nearly doubling the population of the county.

(Family Features) Summer break vanished in the blink of an eye, like it seems to every year, and it’s school time again. Although the kids may really be ready to return to a regular routine, chances are you might sense a bit of reluctance to leave the ease of summer behind.

So sweeten the trip back to school with a special lunchbox treat.

St. Clement’s School is ready for another exciting year of learning!

As a family doctor in the Capital Region, I rarely pass a day without some patient asking me for a quick solution to a problem, whether it’s a sore throat or an ear ache. “Just give me some antibiotics,” they say, or “that new painkiller everyone’s talking about.”

I tell them it’s not so simple. Then I start asking them a lot of questions about their overall condition – their diets, stress levels, exercise, family relationships. But how is this related to an ear ache, they ask?

Many young athletes are escaping the summer heat this year in an unexpected place – the ice rink. Although best known for figure skating and ice hockey during the winter months, the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink has stayed busy and cool throughout the summer.

For the past seven weeks, the Saratoga Springs Figure Skating Club has sponsored a weekly Learn-to-Skate program, in addition to holding more competitive classes in ice dance, freestyle and synchronized skating.

Third generation racer Ronnie Johnson won his second 35-Lap Modified feature of the season at the Albany Saratoga Speedway last Friday night.

Johnson, of Duanesburg, started 9th in the 24-car field as front row starter Frank Hoard and third starting Jim Davis batted at the start.

September is upon us and there has been a chilled snap in the air. The covers have been pulled up around my neck a few nights. All of this brings hunting camp to my mind.

During my life, I have had the pleasure of sharing camp with all sorts of characters of all ages.

A lasting memory for me was my first experience at camp when I was a young boy. In some ways, I am able to recall certain parts of that experience better and more clearly today than when I was much younger.

Dick Field and Brian Bigley, who play out of the Pinehaven Country Club, are the newly crowned champions of the Mike Dennis Invitational Tournament at McGregor Links.

A better ball of partners scratch event, the annual August tourney attracts many of the best two-man teams in the Northeast. Thirty-two teams participated this year.

Who’s who:

Austin Palmisano – guitar and vocals

Tristan Allen – bass and keyboard

Kyle Phillips – drums

Going into the concert Monday, Aug.13, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, I had already seen both of the chief artists perform live. So, it's impossible for me not to compare this show with those other concert experiences.

Incubus' performance at the 2002 Y100 Feztival was intense. While the band wasn't quite as spellbinding the second time around, they were inconceivably close.

While most children would become enamored with the ballerinas in their fanciful costumes; Elizabeth Hainen couldn’t take her eyes off the orchestra. Hainen attended a performance and sat near the orchestra pit, as the evening went on, she became mesmerized by the harpist.

Hainen, who came from a musical family, and already had training on the piano and violin, decided she wanted to learn to play the harp.

Long before any horses enter the starting gates at Saratoga Race Course this weekend, runners will line up bright and early Saturday morning to kick off a race of their own. The Saratoga Derby, an annual 5-kilometer Run & Walk to benefit local environmental organizations, will begin at 8 a.m. directly across from the Saratoga P.L.A.N. offices at 112 Spring Street.

The race is open to walkers and runners of all ages and abilities, and families are encouraged to attend.

Michele and Ron Riggi enjoy the evening at the Gala Masako, which took place at, and benefited, the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame. Michele’s Japanese-themed gown was made of Asian silk brocade; featured an authentic obi sash brought from Japan by Toshiko Marsh; and was a collaboration by Marsh, French Canadian designer Lea-Ann Belter, Something Bleu Bridal and Bird of Paradise Boutique owner Denise Eliopulos and Boutique Manager Allison Kozel. The origami-inspired gown was dreamed up by Kozel.

The gala season is in full swing. More than $1.1 million has been raised for various charities, and that’s only including five of the events so far!

When you’re as big a football fan as myself, all year it’s football season, but it really starts getting serious right about now.

OOLALA! Gina has attended sooo many events these past weeks and wants to share with you one in particular that was tres OOLALA!

The National Museum of Dance presented Gala Masako, on Friday, Aug. 4, an Asian-inspired experience orchestrated by Chairwoman Michele Riggi… Michele greeted all her guests who were treated to a Memory Photo … Michele was fashioned in a fabulous butterfly bustled lavender gown a la “obi” (Michele’s dress was one of several magnificent creations thanks to the absolutely stunning Denise Eliopulos, owner of Something Bleu Bridal. Eliopulos, herself, wore a drop-dead gorgeous blue strapless with equally interesting “derriere” accoutrements!)

Trying to keep up with Nick Caras is no easy task.

Am I the only one that gets frustrated with the horse crossing on Union Avenue?

Every summer the people of Saratoga Springs anticipate the arrival of racing season with feelings of anticipation and excitement.

On Old Gick Road in Wilton, approximately two miles from Wal-Mart, construction continues on The Paddocks of Saratoga.

Since their formation two years ago, Happy Balky and the Good Livin’ have done everything in their power to raise the profile of the relatively unexplored genre of Mountain-Pop.

It’s hard to believe, but the school bells will ring for the opening session of the school year in a few weeks. Back-to-school shopping is fresh on the minds of parents everywhere.

Saratoga TODAY teamed up with GapKids in Congress Park Centre, 341 Broadway, to bring you the school year’s must-haves.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that reported cases of Lyme disease have more than doubled since 1991, therefore, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself, family and pets against this too common bacterial disease.

When the Wilton Osteobuster Exercise group was asked to participate in the creation of the first New York State Osteoporosis quilts they knew their focus would be all about the bones.

We send our children back to school equipped with notebooks, new pen sets, new clothes, stylish backpacks and an admonishment to study hard. Yet, unknowingly, we often neglect one of the most important tools of success: Good vision!

According to the Better Vision Institute, one-in-four children who entered kindergarten in the United States last year are suffering from an undiagnosed vision disorder.

Would you like 10-20 more yards on your drive? How about more consistency in your iron game? Will getting the latest and greatest equipment allow you to reach your goals?

Proper equipment and better technology definitely helps to maximize your potential but focusing on the most important piece of equipment - YOUR BODY - will unlock it! Not only allowing you to gain more yardage and consistency, but also helping you to feel better, avoid injury and achieve continued long-term enjoyment from the game.

Has anyone else noticed that things are shrinking?

We’ve all heard the story of the cobbler whose children went without shoes and the roofer who never got around to fixing his leaky roof. But except for their names and a few other changes, their stories are probably not too different than our own. Despite knowing that we ought to be doing something about our personal financial goals – be it setting money aside for our children’s college expenses; saving for a sound, if not early, retirement; or doing a better job of managing our debt – most of us put off doing anything tangible about it for one or both of two reasons: either we aren’t sure where to begin, or we don’t think we have sufficient assets to make it worthwhile.

The Mechanicville Golf Club has a new medal play champion for 2007.

Matt Salvadore had two steady rounds (gross) of 74 and 78 for a two-day total of 152 to win the coveted trophy in the championship division. Low net went to Joe Bodner with a 78-72 (150).

Earlier this summer, my wife and I took a trip to a number of states in the Northwest. We flew to Denver and then drove more than 4,200 miles in the next 17 days covering parts of six states. Included in this trip were visits to the Black Hills of South Dakota where we toured Custer State Park and from there, we then went on to Yellowstone National Park.

Brett Hearn of Sussex, N.J., won his fifth Albany Saratoga Modified Feature of the year last Friday night, and first since June, after chasing Ken Tremont for the past several weeks.

STILLWATER – Whenever I hear the word “reenactment,” Plymouth immediately comes to mind.

While I was growing up, my family made many summer vacation trips to the home of my Aunt Karen in southeastern Massachusetts. Among the attractions there is Plymouth Rock, the spot where it is believed that the Pilgrims landed way back in 1620 and Plimoth Plantation, where reenactors take pride in making it look like 17th century Plymouth.

STILLWATER – Whenever I hear the word “reenactment,” Plymouth immediately comes to mind.

While I was growing up, my family made many summer vacation trips to the home of my Aunt Karen in southeastern Massachusetts. Among the attractions there is Plymouth Rock, the spot where it is believed that the Pilgrims landed way back in 1620 and Plimoth Plantation, where reenactors take pride in making it look like 17th century Plymouth.

Local planner presenting bike master plan, 500-km biking system in Dubai

On Sunday, Aug. 12, Jeff Olson, a partner with Alta Planning + Design in Saratoga Springs, will begin a week of presentations and meetings in Dubai. Alta has been tasked by the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) with developing bicycle facilities to serve workers and visitors, along with a support network for the new Dubai Metro transit system.

A state-of-the-art thoroughbred training facility may be in the Spa City’s future.

Capital Play Inc., one of the four bidders for the New York State horse racing franchise, announced Tuesday, Aug. 7, that if the Australia-based corporation wins the rights, they will build an eco-friendly compound near Saratoga. The year-round facility would be capable of providing stabling for 500 horses, provide accommodations for both trainers and backstretch staff, include multiple training tracks with different surfaces and feature a cutting-edge composting facility to be used for processing horse waste.

A favorite supporter of the market, Dave Pedinotti (of Mouzon House and One Caroline Street), returned Aug. 8 to barbeque up succulent herbed chicken. When it comes to cooking with fresh ingredients, Pedinotti says, “Less is more. It’s wonderful to have the real flavors dominate.”

Like all other sports, horse racing is far from perfect, but it sure felt good to be a fan on Monday morning at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion.

Keynote speaker, Louisville men’s college basketball coach and longtime horse owner Rick Pitino excels at inspiring people.

This past weekend, more than 1,000 of the country’s top grapplers made the trip to Wildwood, N.J. to compete in one of the world’s largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling tournaments, “Battle at the Beach.”

Also, later Saturday night, fighters and fans gathered for the up and coming mixed martial arts show, “Reality Fighting.”

In 1922, Frank H. Adams founded Frank Adams Jewelers in downtown Albany. To celebrate the company’s 85th anniversary, the family-owned business will be adding a second location, in downtown Saratoga Springs.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, the Philadelphia Orchestra rocked, Broadway-style.

The orchestra, led by conductor Erich Kunzel, breezed through a collection of Broadway standards and current Great White Way hits, accompanied by soprano Kirsten Bracken, tenor Mark Willett and baritone Stephen Rosenberg.

Who’s who:

Bobby Stillwell – piano, saxophone, guitar and lead vocals

Steve Atwood – guitar and backing vocals

As my love of gardening has evolved through the years, I have come to appreciate the sound of moving water as an element as integral as color, shape, texture and overall design. Water not only gives the garden a natural sound and visual element, it entices you to stop, relax and more fully appreciate the total environment. Water has always had its place in gardens, from the modest birdbath, to the elegant Spit and Spat in Congress Park.

OOLALA! Gina has beaucoup news to share... YOU know Gina so loves Saratoga every summer, but this custom of “Hats Off” has Gina very confused... I buy zi fabulous Le Beau Chapeau at Saratoga Trunk, to wear to zi track and all zi charity events... and I see the people in the streets and they yell, “Hats Off, Gina!”... and I see zi signs saying “Hats Off” and in the newspapers... so Gina takes off the hat... and the ladies yell “Put your hat on, Gina,” so Gina puts her hat back on... and they say, “Great Hat, Gina! Hats Off!”… so I take off my hat AGAIN! Ahahhh, these American customs have Gina so confused.

This week our column is taking a road we have not traveled before. We are going to be a bit philosophical and historical. We want to address the topic of reinventing what reflects the best of ourselves in our community and in life’s transitions. We think there are lessons to ponder, lessons that should help us to rejoice rather than regret.

As a long-time fan of Perry Farrell’s work, both with Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros, I was excited to check out his new band, Satellite Party, at EQX Fest. When I learned the day of the show that the group had dropped off the bill because of a “personnel change,” which boiled down to two members quitting the band and being quickly recast, I was not a happy camper.

Location/community. Christian Brothers Academy is a college preparatory junior and senior high school for boys founded in 1859 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. CBA is located in the town of Colonie near the Albany International Airport on a 126-acre campus built in 1998. The campus includes a state-of-the-art school building with fiber-optic wiring, modern science labs, a media center, a Brothers Residence and athletic facilities to meet the demands of our student-athletes. Our school currently serves students from Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties.

August is here and College Welcome Day is nearing. Campuses will soon be flooded with a new wave of nervous, expectant first-year students. The day I first arrived at college wasn’t long ago; looking back as an alumna now, it seems as though I was just looking forward to starting a new chapter of my life. I was eager to begin my college career, but leaving home and friends behind to carve out a new niche inevitably evokes anxiety. Will I make friends? Will I manage my time well? Will I be homesick?

In the early years of the 19th century, a young woman named Emma Hart Willard was prevented from attending classes at prestigious Middlebury College simply because she was a woman. Undaunted by the prejudices of her time and hungry for intellectual stimulation, this energetic scholar cultivated an idea: what might the world look like if women received the same education as men? In fits and starts, and against considerable opposition, that daring vision—a radical and courageous concept in its day—ignited an educational revolution. Over time, this notion has empowered and inspired generations of women, preparing them for lives of accomplishment and leadership, thereby transforming the world.

Ken Tremont, Jr. continued his dominance of the Albany-Saratoga Speedway with his third win in a row and fifth of the season as he took the CVRA.com AAA Northway 100 last Friday night.

Okay boys and girls of all ages, the 2007-2008 hunting season is upon us. Yep, before you know it, we’ll be talking about the leaves turning colors and when we will see our first snowfall. Yeah, I know, my wife thinks I’m crazy too and rushing the season just a bit. But, consider this. In only a couple of weeks - Sept. 1 - to be exact, the new 2007-2008 hunting licenses will go on sale.

While Jason Morris Judo Center’s (JMJC) Travis Stevens and Justin Flores along with coach, Jason Morris were competing succesfully in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Pan Am Games, another JMJC group had tremendous success at the Jr. Olympics in San Antonio led by coach, Teri Takemori.

While Jason Morris Judo Center’s (JMJC) Travis Stevens and Justin Flores along with coach, Jason Morris were competing succesfully in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Pan Am Games, another JMJC group had tremendous success at the Jr. Olympics in San Antonio led by coach, Teri Takemori.

While Jason Morris Judo Center’s (JMJC) Travis Stevens and Justin Flores along with coach, Jason Morris were competing succesfully in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Pan Am Games, another JMJC group had tremendous success at the Jr. Olympics in San Antonio led by coach, Teri Takemori.

Saratoga's leading jockeys will hit the hardwood for a charity basketball game against a nationally-ranked fifth-grade team from Texas, a fund-raiser for jockey Andrew Lakeman, who was paralyzed in an accident at Belmont Park.

More than 1,300 runners took part in the annual Silks & Satins 5k, July 28. The race has become an annual tradition.

The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau recently named David Zunker as its new president, effective Monday, Aug. 20.

For more than a century, Skidmore College has played a major role in Saratoga Springs, simultaneously benefiting from the city’s many attractions and giving back via lectures, programs and performances. Yet many people remain unaware that before the construction of its current North Broadway campus, Skidmore was even more at the heart of it all, spanning several blocks of the middle of the city.

Dairy Day is coming Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. This is a favorite special event. Stewart’s sponsors free ice cream and cold milk served by the Saratoga County Dairy Princess and her court. It is also a day to appreciate the incredible bounty of fresh dairy products we have living in the Saratoga area.

Waking up in a Pennsylvania hotel room with thoughts of the prior weekend’s Kentucky Derby still fresh in my head, I will never forget the moment I turned the television on and flipped over to ESPN.

An interesting thing happened last weekend in Major League Baseball. All at once forces of both good and evil converged, clouding the air to cause disruption of two landmark historical events.

A crowded little office littered with papers and boxes. The phone won’t stop ringing and enough people come through the door for it to be a second entrance. The cluttered desk Chris Chase sits at belongs to his manager, while his own work area consists of a wooden chair tucked in the corner of the office behind a file cabinet.

Despite Satellite Party’s last minute cancellation, the doors still opened at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Originally, I’d planned to recap my entire engagement party experience in New Jersey. I’m not going to do that. Instead, this week’s column will serve more as a brief summary.

Musician’s CornerMaggie and the Locals

The danger in building truly custom homes is becoming completely consumed by the design.

A young friend of ours has been spending weekends this summer wearing himself out filling bags and cans with yard trash for the town pickup once a week. Frustrated and weary (not to mention sweaty and cranky) he sat down one afternoon and turned the problem into a piece of practical, common sense that goes something like this: If I decide to fill just three trash cans at one time, when the limit is reached I can stop doing yard work for the day. Then I can read a book, call for a pizza or take a drive.

You bought a fiberglass door for performance and durability, now you want to make it look great. But, typical wood stains won’t absorb on fiberglass and can leave you with streaks and drips. Therma-Tru Doors, the most preferred brand of fiberglass entry doors, has the solution – specialized stain kits designed specifically for fiberglass doors.

Have you ever had trouble finding the perfect piece of furniture to complete your living room? Do you find yourself disappointed in the quality of mass produced furniture once you bring it home?

What exactly makes a home “green?” Hint: it has nothing to do with the color it’s painted.

For 16 years, Pine Lake Stoves has helped heat the homes near Caroga Lake and beyond. Two-and-a-half months ago, the company opened its second store in Wilton.

The season is rapidly approaching. It is almost upon us! Every day, it gets closer and closer. Now, it depends on your point of view as to what you call “the season.”

Ken Tremont, Jr., of West Sand Lake, won for the second time in a row and for the fourth time this year at Albany Saratoga Speedway last Friday night.