GALWAY — Waterwheel Village, a country store that specializes in aged cheddar cheese, is marking its 100th year in business.

Part of the current store was first constructed in 1839 as a foundry that made horse-drawn plows, according to Waterwheel’s manager Laurie Klamp. Klamp has been working at the store for more than forty years and has become its unofficial historian.

A member of the Fonda family (for whom the village of Fonda is named) began aging cheddar cheese at the location a century ago. “And we’ve been doing it the same way ever since,” Klamp said.

In 1923, the property became a mercantile store. The Fonda family owned it until 1971. After a series of brief takeovers, the Marvin family bought Waterwheel and have owned it for the last 51 years.

The shop sells craft soda and beer, candy, and baked goods. But its most popular items are its aged cheddars. “We actually have people who come in once a week to buy a pound of it to make homemade macaroni and cheese,” Klamp said. “It is delicious.” 

Waterwheel is located at 2259 Route 29 in Galway. The store currently takes phone orders and may soon begin online sales. To learn more, visit waterwheelvillage.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The truth is out there. It might also be on Route 50 in Saratoga Springs. A group of freshmen from Skidmore College went to find out.

Students from a seminar called “The Fantastic: Seduction of the Strange” toured the X-Files Preservation Collection in Saratoga as part of their course study.

The students “thought it was cool to see the original props,” said Assistant Professor Juliane Wuensch, who led the excursion. “They were very fascinated seeing these original things that were in the show.” 

The collection includes props of monsters, human corpses, and space aliens used in the hit series The X-Files, which was originally broadcast on the Fox network from 1993 to 2002. 

Given that the series aired before any of the Skidmore students were born, 90s-era technology was also a source of fascination for them.

“It was interesting to see their reactions to all these memorabilia from a time they can’t even really imagine anymore,” Wuensch said. Students were interested “to see the technical side. How was this made? How was it done before digital?” 

The freshmen were especially intrigued by X-Files creator Chris Carter’s laptop and floppy disk, which he used to write the first episode of the show.

“I think it’s piqued their interest as well for the show,” Wuensch said. She even heard a couple of her students saying, “I have to watch more of this show” and “let’s have a watch party.”

“The Fantastic: Seduction of the Strange” explores all forms of fantastical art, literature, and media. In addition to The X-Files, Skidmore students can study Edgar Allan Poe, Franz Kafka, The Twilight Zone, and German fairy tales.

The X-Files Preservation Collection opened last year and bills itself as “the world’s largest collection of screen-used props, costumes, and set dressings from The X-Files.” It’s located at 4284 NY-50 in Saratoga Springs.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Empire State University celebrated the opening of its Veteran and Military Resource Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. 

“At Empire State University,” said school president Lisa Vollendorf, “we are very proud to serve military and veteran students. We serve more of this population than any other four-year public university or college in the State of New York. And here’s what I want to say to that: we want to serve more.”

According to Empire State University, the new center will offer both in-person and online services for the school’s veterans and military-affiliated students. It’s located at 111 West Ave in Saratoga Springs.

Notable attendees of the event included New York State Senator James Tedisco, a representative who spoke on behalf of Congressman Paul Tonko, and school mascot Blue the Bluebird.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —It was a chilly afternoon, but that didn’t stop a dedicated group of high schoolers from honoring Veterans Day with a flag replacement ceremony at Veterans Park. 

The Saratoga Springs High School Military Club, led by sophomore Kelly McMurtrie, hosted the event on Thursday, Nov. 9. Attendees included veterans, fellow students, and New York State Senator James Tedisco.

“I always like to say that all good things emanate from the 44th senatorial district, and you certainly exemplify that,” Tedisco said of the military club. The senator said the students’ involvement in the club helped them understand why “we’re the greatest nation in the world, hands down.”

McMurtrie, whose father served in the Navy, said she loved growing up in a military family. “I liked being part of something that was bigger than just myself. The military was a huge community. But I also know that some families weren’t as fortunate as mine.”

McMurtie encouraged attendees to donate cash to the nonprofit organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Boxes were set up to collect donations. There were also Veterans Day cards made by local elementary school students available for veterans to take home. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga varsity wrestling team is preparing for another season, and aiming for “lofty but realistic goals,” according to coach Jake Zanetti.

“I feel like last year was a really good year for us as far as putting ourselves on the map,” Zanetti said. 

The Blue Streaks faced some fierce competition last season from Burnt Hills and Ballston Spa. Although Saratoga couldn’t quite beat those opponents, they lost by only one match.

“We were on the wrong side of it, but we were right there with them,” Zanetti said. “That kind of put us on the map, and this year we’re looking to kick the door in and be on the winning side of those duels.”

The team has some returning success stories, as well as promising newcomers. Two Blue Streaks wrestlers competed in the state tournament last year. Junior Taylor Beaury finished seventh, and senior Pat McKinley qualified. This year, McKinley will return as a heavyweight. 

Coach Zanetti said that junior Gianni Delgado will “make waves.” He also praised a group of sophomores that have been wrestling since seventh grade; Danny Dacey, Luke Stoutenburg, Hayden Passaretti, and Trey Edwards.

Zanetti praised his assistant coach and youth head coach Brendon Polcare for doing “a great job with our feeder program, the youth kids… he’s pumping those kids out year after year.”

“I do think we’re going to have a pretty tough lineup, start to finish, lightweights to heavyweights,” Zanetti said.

“We just want to compete every time we’re out there, whether we get the win or not. We want to put our best foot forward and at least compete to the best of our ability.”

Coach Zanetti also shared a preview of this year’s tentative lineup...

101 — Brendan Stoutenburg (7)

108 — Jayden Burke (9)

116 — Kyle Edwards (12)

124 — Chase Matter (10, 4th at Sectionals)

131 — Taylor Beaury (11, Section Champ, 7th in NYS)

138 — Luke Stoutenburg (10)

145 — Danny Dacey (10)

152 — Hayden Passaretti (10)

160 — Trey Edwards (10)

170 — Gianni Delgado (4th in the Section)

215 — Pat McKinley (12, Section Runner-Up, NYS Qualifier)

285 — Logan Devizzio (11)

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Art and Linda Kranick have been re-hired as coaches of the Saratoga Springs girls varsity indoor track team. The Board of Education’s decision on Thursday, November 9 to re-appoint the Kranicks came in the midst of an ongoing investigation into allegations of abuse in the cross-country program led by the Kranicks. It’s unknown when exactly the results of the investigation will be announced.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The following student-athletes from Saratoga High School participated in a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 8. 

Cross Country & Track

Anya Belisle - University of New Mexico

Emily Bush - Providence College

Genevieve Duchaussee - Northeastern University

Amelia McBain - Penn State University

Baseball

Michael Mack - Northeastern University

Christian Mello - University of Albany

Camden Rhude - Indiana 

University of Pennsylvania

Rowing

Catherine Fox - University of Washington

Madelyn Nolan - Rutgers University

Ava Voorhies - University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Lacrosse

Carter Hills - Quinnipiac University

Carly Wise - Clemson University

Football

Rodell Evans - Cornell University

Softball

Ryann Soltis - Goldey-Beacom College

Field Hockey

Mia Bolster - Wagner College

Crew

Paul Cuneo - Syracuse University

Diving

Angelina Damiano - Indiana State University

Golf

Kellen Dean - Xavier University

TROY — During halftime, the sun began to set, cooling off the field and turning an afternoon game into a Friday night contest under the lights. The crowd busted out their blankets and hand warmers. But as the air chilled, the intensity on the field began to boil.

At the half, Fonda-Fultonville led the Schuylerville Black Horses 18 to 14. With just 22 seconds left in the second quarter, Fonda completed a short pass into the endzone to put them ahead. But a two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping Schuylerville within just one touchdown of the lead.

The Section 2 Class C title game was a contest between two contrasting offenses: Fonda’s pass game, and Schuylerville’s run game. But the Black Horses’ strategy suffered a major blow in the third quarter when running back Martin Flanders Jr. was sidelined with a knee injury. 

“Martin is a critical part of who we are on both sides of the ball,” said Coach John Bowen. “Losing him there was a huge loss.”

Landen Cumm scored a rushing touchdown in the third quarter to put the Black Horses ahead by three. But Fonda fired back with a long pass completion that set up a touchdown of their own, putting them ahead once again, 25 to 21, with only four minutes left in the third. 

In the final quarter, Schuylerville’s defense was able to force a punt, giving them one more opportunity to reclaim the lead. With a little over six minutes left in the game, the Black Horses went for it on fourth down. The grandstands rumbled in support of both teams. But Schuylerville couldn’t reach the markers and faced a turnover on downs.

A long pass attempt by Fonda resulted in a pass interference call that was loudly protested by fans of the Black Horses. With less than a minute left on the clock, Fonda then sealed Schuylerville’s fate with a rushing touchdown. The final score: Fonda 31, Schuylerville 21.

“We really love this group of kids,” Bowen said. “They gave us everything they had.”

Although Schuylerville’s season has come to an end, the focus is already shifting towards next year. 

“We’ll get back to the drawing board,” Bowen said, “and hopefully start working on taking that next step in 2024.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A century ago, Calvin Coolidge was president, the first pitch was thrown at Yankee Stadium, and a man named Charles “Jake” Jacobsen entered the rug business.

Jacobsen Rugs celebrates its 100th anniversary in November. According to President Frank Asef, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is in the works for the Jacobsen showroom at 543 Broadway in downtown Saratoga. The store’s entire inventory will be 35 percent off through December 16 to mark the occasion.

Asef said that Saratoga customers favor traditional over modern rugs, especially designs from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan. “We get a lot of customers from Lake George. We sell a lot of the big sized rugs.” 

Although it’s been nearly 100 years since Jake Jacobsen founded the company, his memory still looms large over the current owners. “I love him,” Asef said of the company’s founder. “I didn’t get the chance to meet him but he is in my heart.” 

According to Jacobsen Rugs, founder “Jake” Jacobsen served in World War I and met a superior officer who introduced him to Middle Eastern rugs. Upon returning home, Jake opened his first rug store in downtown Syracuse. Before long, duty called once again and he saw action in World War II. He fought in the Italian campaign, and was among the first Americans to enter liberated Rome. 

He first purchased Turkish rugs abroad in 1932, then later journeyed across Europe and the Middle East to find more rugs to sell in the States. When abroad, he bought rugs directly from rugmakers.

Over the last century, more than 100,000 handwoven rugs have been sold by Jacobsen Rugs. In 1990, the Saratoga location opened and has been selling rugs from around the world ever since. 

For more about Jacobsen Rugs visit jacobsenrugs.com.