October 2007 Archives

A sign stating “Welcome Home Dad” greets Lt. Col. Richard ‘Jamie’ Green every time he enters his home.

All classes, school activities and sports competitions at Schuylerville Jr.-Sr. High School have been cancelled today, so students and faculty can attend the funeral of history teacher Peter Hume.

Almost as soon as I walked in the front door of the Saratoga TODAY offices last June, publisher Chad Beatty began asking me when would I be attending one of his classes at the Spa City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school.

Practices have been heavy hearted this week for the Schuylerville High School football team.

Turning 18 is a big deal for many reasons and the right to vote should be considered as important as any.

Commissioner of the Public Works Department Thomas McTygue has served the city of Saratoga Springs for 32 years, but in two weeks, it will be his last time on the November ballot.

Since the Civil Rights movement in the 50’s and 60’s, the United States has made grandiose strides towards equality; however, we are still far from living in a utopia.

Saratoga is doing things right and its growth is being done responsibly, according to some of the most noted preservationists and city planners who spoke during the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation's fifth annual Preservation 360.

Image Photo and Digital Lab has a new home and image.

A longtime downtown business is celebrating its 60th anniversary and having a grand re-opening today and Saturday.

A recent full-page, full-color advertisement in The New Yorker magazine asks, “Have I saved enough to play everyday when I retire? Am I properly allocated and diversified”?

The Saratoga Springs City School District’s central administrative headquarters was in desperate need of a snappier handle.

According to Wikipedia, Dan Goggin’s “Nunsense” started as a line of clever greeting cards and evolved into a hugely successful play.

Spring Fed

For many years, Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York has had three signature fundraisers: a Hall of Fame dinner, a golf outing, and a bowl-a-thon.

David Bryce and Laurie Goddard don’t work in the same medium, don’t have similar styles and don’t focus on related subjects.

The Lake George Arts Project will host a Poetry Workshop with Susan Jefts from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Courthouse Gallery in Lake George.

Ten years ago, the idea to give out free ice cream and let people know God loves them is one step closer to reality for the pastors at the River of Hope Fellowship.

I will be at Monmouth Park for the Breeders’ Cup, my first visit to that track in the 21st century.

The Ballston Spa High School football team knows what it takes to defeat Guilderland.

The Skidmore College Women’s Soccer team came away with a 2-0 victory over Hartwick College Wednesday night, improving their record to 10-5-2 (4-3 Liberty League).

10:35:24Much to the shock and surprise of my darling wife, I have to take the position that golf is an outdoor activity.

The Commissioner of Public Safety started his agenda at the City Council meeting Tuesday night by apologizing to his fellow council members for walking out of the previous council meeting.

The Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has hit locally, but representatives from the Saratoga County Health Services say not to panic.

During a number of moves over the years, I have had the unfortunate pleasure of dealing with DMV in multiple states.

I am not good with birthdays.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal to the Senate to allow New York Racing Association to continue running the state’s three racetracks has had a counter offer put on the table.

Businesses are preparing for an influx of families to downtown for the sixth annual Fall Festival the weekend of Oct. 27 and 28.

Sari Nusseibeh’s lecture inspired Skidmore students, faculty and Saratoga locals with his idea of secular faith as a way of obtaining faith for Israel and Palestine.

I’ve been thinking a lot about milestones lately.

The new president of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, David Zunker lightened the mood with a joke at the Downtown Business Association meeting Wednesday night before getting down to business.

Without the backing of a major label, an independent artist or band has to be resourceful to survive.

Restless Streets

Soon enough, winter will be upon us and the Nor’easters will be brewing.

Although Paul Failla is of Italian heritage, the methods he employs to convey his message are unmistakably indebted to the ancient Greeks.

It’s October, which means there are pumpkins galore.

Basketball season is right around the corner and what better way to spend your Saturday night then by watching the high flying Harlem Wizards as they bring their dazzling skills to the Saratoga Springs Senior High School for two exciting games.

The first running of the Breeders’ Cup was held at Hollywood Park in 1984 and with it John Gaines’s dream became a reality.

Two of the biggest tournaments of the year seem to finalize tournament golf in our area for 2007.

The title of mentor is reserved only for a select few that truly embody compassion, diligence, and service within a team or organization.

One evening recently in hunting camp, a bunch of the guys were sitting around having one of the usual highly intelligent, in-depth and insightful conversations that usually take place after a few six packs have been used to wash down Mr. Daniel’s elixir.

This might be the nicest group of kids Murry O’Neil has ever coached and he has been around plenty of football players during a 55-year career on the local gridiron.

It hasn’t been easy being a fan of the New York Yankees this week.

When I joined the staff at Saratoga TODAY on April 26, 2007, I had no idea what to expect.

Hundreds of troops assembled at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Tuesday night.

Move over Charlie.

At first I struggled over writing a profile of an older person who participates in age-appropriate yoga.

For nearly 70 years, Hattie’s Restaurant has been famous for its Southern fried chicken.

The appeal of downtown Saratoga brings the Saratoga Chamber Players to the Universal Preservation Hall on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m.

BEWARE! the Other Head of Science

Moms have been preaching it for years — eat your carrots, they are good for your eyes!

Less than two months ago, my 80 year old Nana, who has been more like a second parent to me than a grandparent, was told during a routine doctor visit that her carotid artery was significantly obstructed and that further testing was necessary.

Imagine a world free of alarm clocks, bosses, long commutes, office politics and limited vacation time.

Wouldn’t it be nice to call the shots, spend more time with your family and friends, doing only those things that you love to do and are passionate about?

For more than 20 years Lieutenant Mark Hammond has served the Saratoga Springs community as a firefighter. He embodies the greatness of the town and the people who live here.

Having come from a family of firefighters, Lieutenant Hammond realized his calling from a young age. But it was not until later in life that his aspiration became reality. He is an example for those who long to achieve their dreams. Lieutenant Hammond, 46, says, “[Becoming a firefighter] was my goal... It was one of those fairy tale type stories where you get to achieve what you dreamed of doing. It was something that I had always strived for, and when I got it, I was absolutely elated.”

October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is one example of creating knowledge and hope for the future about this deadly and common disease. Breast cancer is a disease where cells divide abnormally without control in the breast tissue. It affects annually 178, 480 females and 2,030 males, of which 40,060 women and 450 men will die. It is the most common type of cancer among females; however, recent studies, treatment options and organizations have ameliorated the situation among the diagnosed and increased information.

The dynamic, strong willed and energetic Jill Armisto of Saratoga Springs shared her poignant and inspirational story with me about her survival of breast cancer. Rather than listing a myriad of facts that anyone can obtain from the Internet, this story adds a realistic dimension to this disease.

Old soul. Welcoming and personable. Last week, when 17-year-old Stefon Stilwell led a Future Business Leaders of America meeting, the keynote speaker he had invited to speak to the organization described Stillwell as such.

Stilwell lives life to its fullest, when he’s not busy working as New York state District 5 Vice President of the FBLA, he is looking toward his college opportunities (business management and civil engineering - hopefully at the University of Rochester, Columbia or RPI); he snowboards (he won gold medals in the Empire State Games in 2004 and 2007); he is on the Greenwich High School track team for discus and shot put; he has played on the tennis team and played baseball; and he is trying to become fluent in Spanish. Stilwell has accomplished more than most, and he’s done it all while having lipomyelomeningocele, a form of Spina Bifida.

The first meeting of the Universal Baptist church took place in a living room at 26 Cowen Street led by Reverend Frank Gibson and his wife. That was in 1937 and although Sister Lucille Clark was only 5, she remembers the meetings that took place in the house where she grew up. She was there when the church moved over to Congress Street when the living room became too small and she there when the church moved again to South Federal Street in a building that had once served as the living quarters for workers at the Grand Union Hotel. When that building could no longer serve as the Baptists home, they moved to a small building on Grand Ave. and finally to their current location at 25 Washington St. But of course, there is more to the story.

On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, as well as the space race between itself and the United States.

Fifty years have passed since that historic date. The world has changed a considerable amount. Today, the U.S.S.R. no longer exists, and Russia and the U.S. are working together on space exploration.

The Skidmore College field hockey team completed yet another successful start to their fall season, posting an overall record of 9-2 with an impressive No. 15 national ranking entering mid-October.

The Thoroughbreds won five straight coming into last weekend before dropping an overtime thriller, 1-0, to No. 7 William Smith College. Skidmore’s only other loss came at the hands of Middlebury College, who currently hold a No. 9 national ranking.

It can begin at the Fasig-Tipton Sales in Saratoga or through one of several auctions at Keeneland, a 2-year-old in training sale, entry into syndicate ownership or with a newborn foal.

Getting to the winner’s circle is a long process and putting the right “bottom” in a young horse takes time. Dreams swell and shrink according to the journey but like life you have to appreciate each day.

I have a problem. I wanted to take a break this week from writing about anything to do with hunting. But…you guessed it, something happened this past week that I can’t let go by without putting it on paper.

Early bow deer season started bright and early on Thursday morning Sept. 27. I, having been in the hospital or home recovering all through last hunting season, had un-filled tags and went up to our hunting camp to take advantage of this extra four-day bonus period.

Golf is a very challenging game.

Nearly 100 people attended a free program called "The Power of Food for Health and Healing" held Tuesday night in the Community Room of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The informative presentation was put on by the Saratoga Integrative Medicine Education Network, a nonprofit group dedicated to educating the public about the benefits and importance of Integrative approaches to medicine.

The first segment of the program was a filmed interview with Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation," which appears as a special feature on the DVD of the film "Super Size Me." An expose of the meat and fast food industries, Schlosser's best selling book takes readers on a eye-opening journey to find out exactly where their food comes from.

The Saratoga Springs City Council defeated a resolution Tuesday, Oct. 2, to approve the construction of a public safety facility on Woodlawn Ave. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the City Council meeting.

Kim and Mayor Valerie Keehn voted for the project while Commissioners John Franck, Matt McCabe and Tom McTygue voted against it. Once it was clear Kim would not be getting the public safety building, he tabled the rest of the items on his agenda, one item of which was tied to the council having approved the first. After tabling the items, he said, “Sometimes it is very important to stand up, I don’t need to spend any more time at this City Council meeting,” and he left, receiving applause from the audience, some of whom followed him out.

According to the America in Bloom judges, Saratoga Springs’ flowers are tops in the nation.

Commissioner of Public Works Tom McTygue accepted the Ball Horticultural Company Floral Displays award on behalf of the city from the America in Bloom organization on Sept. 27. Representatives from Saratoga, including McTygue and his wife, Sandra, DPW employee Stephani Voigt and former finance commissioner Remiga Foy, were present in Rockford, Ill., Sept. 27-29 to attend the America in Bloom Symposium and Awards Ceremony.

Friday was an eventful night at Skidmore College when 31-year-old singer, musician and hip-hop producer RJD2, born Ramble John (“RJ”) Khron, emerged from his usual midwestern base to perform on the east coast.

Albany native Vince Commisso grew up in the food industry. His family ran an Italian restaurant in the city for more than 30 years.

After deciding a career in electronics wasn’t for him, Commisso opened his own eatery, Primo Pizzeria and Italian Specialties, in January 2006 with his wife Courtney.

Who’s who:

Joey Gero - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, etc.

Schools across the state plowed through the first week of October with an impressive array of events celebrating New York Harvest for New York Kids Week, and those in the Saratoga Springs City School District were no exception.

From Oct. 1-5, cafeterias in all eight of the district’s schools featured six-foot tables with displays of fresh produce. In addition, kindergarteners toured the Farmers’ Market, and there were recipe contests using local produce and a nutrition game show at the middle and high schools.

If fall makes you think of pumpkin patches, hot apple cider and the smell of burning leaves, it should also hopefully make you at least consider planting a tree or a shrub before the first frost.

The passion that local homebuilders have for their craft was very evident last Friday night at The Saratoga Hotel as they were awarded for their accomplishments in the annual Showcase of Homes.

This year’s edition featured 10 houses from builders Belmonte Builders, Vasiliou Homes, Witt Construction, Snyder Builders, Saratoga Builders, Barbera Homes, Eastside Group, Gabryshak Construction and Robert Marini Builders.

Stroll down Broadway any summer evening and it becomes clear that the hot spots are on restaurant patios. Some establishments go all out with wood decks, water fountains, outdoor refrigerators and grills to complete the gourmet experience. While it’s nice to have this outdoor alternative while out and about, it’s even better to have an al fresco alternative at home.

One way to extend your entertainment area beyond the traditional grill on the patio is to consider an outdoor kitchen. With families using their homes for entertaining more than ever before, a second kitchen designed as an outdoor room essentially increases the square footage of a home.

The kids are back to school, which means that while the leaves are turning, the list of fall chores is beginning to grow. It is time to have the car serviced and close the pool, among other things. While we may not even want to think about the snow blower yet, with colder weather on its way, it is time to take a look at your heating system.

Every heating system should be inspected by an HVAC professional at the start of each season. There are critical components in today’s heating appliances that should be checked to deter failure during peak demands. Once a thorough evaluation has been completed by an HVAC professional, there are things you can check yourself as the heating season progresses.

Very often when my husband and I are driving along on the road, if we pass a Corvette he will go into what I call the “Corvette Fantasy.”

Every so often a tragic event occurs in the world of athletics reminding us that sports are simply a game and that life itself is fragile and unpredictable - even to the strongest of players.

This week Will Farrish saw one of his Lane’s End Farm based stallion’s shares rise faster than stock in Exxon.

I, along with five other volunteers, conducted our annual hunter safety training course the weekend of Sept. 22 and 23. Our pay this year was doubled from that of previous years. We got two cups of coffee instead of one. We also had two huge surprises…not!

The first surprise has to do with our fearless, dedicated, supportive, outdoorsman, bottle bill wielding Commissioner of the DEC, none other than, Mr. Pete Grannis.

Working With Us:

Throughout this project and down the road as we work together, you have the full support of our staff. We are dedicated to going beyond your satisfaction and creating a site that not only will return its investment many times over, but that you and your customers love. We will work with you through out the steps of this project to make sure that you are thoroughly happy with every element of the project. If you aren’t happy, then we aren’t done.