150!Who can say sesquicentennial

That's how Charles V Wait, CEO of The Adirondack Trust Company began his remarks October 17 at the Holiday Inn on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Wait was addressing more than 80 representatives of non-profit agencies about an opportunity happening two years from now..

The non-profit agencies would be able to tie-in with the 150th Anniversary of Thoroughbred Racing in Saratoga Springs. And Wait emphasized we will use 150 and not sesquicentennial.

Remembering the legendary 100th Anniversary Celebration in Saratoga in 1963 Wait who had been a boy scout assisting then in the Chicken BBQ described how the community had pulled together to mount that celebration.

\ He predicted the same effort for the celebration in 2013 and mention Adirondack Trust, NYRA and Stewarts had already provided seed money for the celebration and he showed the logo for the Celebration.

Except for 150 instead of 100 it was the same logo as that of the 1963 Celebration.

Wait report the 150 Committee having limited funding would concentrate on the Internet social media - facebook, twitter, youtube and he said videos were already running on youtube for the Celebration.

Maureen Lewi, partner with husband Ed in Ed Lewi Associates (supposedly retired but you'd never know it) continued with how the non-profit agencies could tie-in with the Celebration.

Maureen also remarked Wait had gone from being a boy scout assisting in the Chicken BBQ on Broadway to three years later being named Manager of Distribution for SPAC in SPAC's first season in 1966. (That meant Charles distributed flyers in local hotels for SPAC).

Joe Dalton, retired Chamber head but still involved, was there to help, answer questions and help Wait distribute information and forms to indicate interest. (45 years and still in distribution).

For those more senior members of the Saratoga community who remember the red boaters and the red sports jackets of the 1963 Maureen said there would be no closing of Broadway for a BBQ. Too much traffic she said.

This is a decision the Committee might want to reconsider. Nothing says celebration like street fiestas, bands playing and people promenading. Just watch the crowds December 1 when Broadway is closed to vehicles for the Victorian Street Walk.

August 3, 2013 is the actual date for 150 years since racing began in Saratoga. Some lapses of racing due to the Second World War. There was no Fiftieth Anniversary either. 1913 fell on the two years the track was close because of blue nose laws.

August 3, 2013 falls on a Saturday and that promises a great weekend of thoroughbred racing. And if Sunday is a Give-away Sunday - what better memento T-Shirt could you have.

The packed audience at the Holiday Inn liked what it heard and they recognized the opportunity.

Maureen asked forms to be filled out and returned to the 150 Committee by January 6. If your organization was not able to attend, forms and information can be obtained through saratoga150.com

For fascinating reading check out

fitzbook.com1963centennialbrochure It's a full listing of all the events of 1963.