MAY 2024

Bethlehem Triathlon Club, Junior Membership Program

The Bethlehem Triathlon Club is proud to announce its newest program, a Junior Membership Program for young people ages 10 through 18. The program was created out of a lack of opportunities in the Capital Region for young people to learn about and participate in the sport of triathlon. Members of the BTC Junior Program will be provided with a fun, safe environment for exploring the three disciplines of triathlon – swimming, biking and running. Junior members will swim at Lawsons Lake County Park in New Scotland, in open water club swims on a marked course with excellent lifeguard coverage and adult supervision (scheduled to start in late May). The Bethlehem Triathlon Club has been fortunate to have a special use permit for swimming in Lawsons Lake for the past two years, which offers a fantastic setting for novices and experienced athletes.

To become more comfortable with cycling, junior members will have the opportunity to participate in BTC’s organized, group bike rides and receive the support of experienced, adult members. For the first time this year, BTC is excited to offer organized, small group runs on the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail in Delmar, Slingerlands and Voorheesville. The Bethlehem Triathlon Club, established in 2012, prides itself on being an inclusive, welcoming club for athletes of all experience levels from throughout the greater Capital Region. BTC programs, including the Junior Membership Program, operate under the requirements of SafeSport certification. Learn more about becoming a BTC member (youth or adult): bethlehemtriclub.com.  

ARC’s Five All-Girls Crews Aim for USRowing Youth Nationals

The Albany Rowing Club is thrilled to announce the qualification of five all-girls crews for the prestigious USRowing Youth Nationals, scheduled from June 6-9 in Florida. The fierce NYS High School Championships, held May 11-12 on Fish Creek in Saratoga, saw a total of 80 teams and 550 boats competing. The following ARC crew members qualified for the Nationals: Girls Varsity 4x Ella Cuoco, Isabella Lue, Sophia Ritchie, Shannon Breimer; Girls U17 4x Leysha Belulkar, Catie Murphy, Allison Meier, Lucy Quoma; Girls Varsity 1x Shannon Breimer; Girls U17 1x Allison Meier; and Girls U17 2x Lucy Quoma, Allison Meier.

Facing challenges such as limited resources and modest facilities, Albany Rowing Center, a not-for-profit organization, leaned on the unwavering spirit of its athletes and coaches. Despite the odds, they persevered, driven by sheer determination and passion. The journey of the ARC athletes epitomizes the belief that with unwavering dedication, any obstacle can be overcome. As ARC teams gear up for national competition, they extend an invitation to try the sport of rowing. Albany Rowing Center is set to host Learn to Row summer camps tailored for youth aged 12 to 18. They are also reaching out to businesses and organizations to explore potential sponsorship for our club and teams. Support can make a significant difference in empowering ABC athletes to reach their fullest potential. Learn more: albanyrowingcenter.org.

Fundraiser Cornhole Tournament

On Sunday, July 7, the Schenectady Rotary Cornhole Tourney will benefit a local school. “Cornhole for a Cause,” a Schenectady Rotary fundraising event will benefit the W.C. Keane Elementary School as part of the Schenectady Community Schools initiative. The tournament begins at 9am at River’s Casino in Schenectady. It’s open to all levels of play and there will be cash prizes and trophies. The community event is seeking sponsors, auction items, players and spectators. Info: schenectadyrotary.org.

“If you can feed yourself, you can free yourself”

That’s the ethos for many homesteaders these days. Since the pandemic, the desire to be self-sufficient has increased exponentially. Perpetually empty shelves made society reflect as a whole on the current systems in place, and what we need to do as individuals in order to live more autonomously. 

For “historical foragers” like Melanie Sawyer, the answer is simple – look to the past. When she was dropped off in the remote Arctic of Saskatchewan, Canada for History Channel’s survival series ALONE, Melanie’s strategy was to “live as close as possible to someone who was coming into this area in the 1700s.” By focusing on the foraged foods that fed people during the 18th century, she was able to survive for 43 days in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness. 

Though foraging was a great contributor to her survival, viewers cannot deny that Melanie’s ingenuity and can-do attitude played an imperative role as well. At one point in the season, she crafts a sewing needle from the underwire in her bra in order to sew up a hole in her sleeping bag after a mouse helped itself to the stuffing inside. She laughs as she makes this discovery – the irony of a small rodent using her very own survival supplies to endure not lost on her. 

But for Melanie, who lives in Moriah, historical foraging is not entirely about survival. It’s about the innate human desire to connect with nature. It’s about slowing down and getting back to the simplicity of life. It’s about recentering to learn our roots, and then sharing that knowledge with others. Melanie is a former model, wilderness skills instructor, wrangler, historical reenactor and entrepreneur: melanie-sawyer.com.

Since returning from filming the show, Melanie has been happy to share her experiences on ALONE and how they correlate to her historical foraging experience in the Adirondacks. On Thursday, June 27 at 6:30pm, Melanie will be at the Adirondack Folk School in Lake Luzerne to talk about her time on the show and offer firsthand accounts of the trials she faced and the triumphs she earned. To secure your ticket, visit: adirondackfolkschool.org.

Lilly Hanna finished in 2nd Place at 2023 US Cyclocross Nationals

Capital Bicycle Racing Club member, Lilly Hanna of Clifton Park, finished in 2nd place, with teammate Hannah DiNolfo of Poestenkill who won at 11-12-year-old 2023 US Cyclocross Nationals. Lilly has been racing cyclocross for three seasons, and is in her first year of competitive mountain biking with the NICA NY Mountain Goats. She loves working hard, racing with her cycling friends, and perfecting her game face.