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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Camp Sugar Plum Inspires the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

 The Sugar Plum Farm Foundation is helping children discover that their future is limited only by their imagination. 

This summer, students from ROOTS Academy – formerly Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy, the elementary school attended by Anthony “Tony” Malatino – spent their days at Camp Sugar Plum, where they built confidence through hands-on experiences in entrepreneurship, agriculture, leadership, and teamwork. 

At Camp Sugar Plum, children learn by doing. Campers care for farm animals, develop culinary skills, help operate the Sugar Plum General Store, and launch their first businesses through the camp’s signature Lemonade Wars challenge. Along the way, they develop practical skills in teamwork, problem-solving, communication, customer service, financial literacy, and leadership skills that extend far beyond the farm. 

“The Lemonade Wars is about much more than selling lemonade,” said Robin Malatino, founder of The Sugar Plum Farm Foundation. “It’s about giving children the confidence to dream bigger, the courage to try something new, and the opportunity to discover what they’re capable of. Because our campers attend the same elementary school that my late husband, Tony, once attended, their mantra is simple: ‘If Tony could do it, I can do it.’” 

Malatino added, “We aspire to inspire the next generation. If these children leave believing in themselves just a little more than when they arrived, we’ve accomplished exactly what we set out to do.” 

The Sugar Plum Farm Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing transformative educational experiences through agriculture, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning. By combining meaningful mentorship with real-world experiences, the Foundation empowers children to build confidence, develop lifelong skills, and imagine a future filled with possibility.

Dr. Joseph Greco Honored with 2026 Trailblazer Innovation Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Dr. Joseph Greco, Director of Personnel Development for the district, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Trailblazer Innovation Award by ASBO New York.

Greco was recognized during ASBO New York’s Annual Awards & Inauguration Celebration, held as part of the organization’s Education Summit & Expo in Saratoga Springs. The Trailblazer Innovation Award honors school business officials who demonstrate exceptional creativity and innovation in school finance and management through initiatives that positively impact students, schools, and their communities.

Greco was recognized for implementing Saratoga Springs High School’s participatory budgeting initiative, which gives students a direct role in identifying school needs, developing proposals, creating budgets, and voting on projects that improve their learning environment. The initiative also provides students with hands-on experience in civic engagement by mirroring the local election process through the use of official ballots and voting machines.

“Joe is a natural leader,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Bobby Yusko wrote in his nomination. “A teacher at heart, Joe is always looking to help people learn and is never afraid to jump into something new.”

In recognition of the award, ASBO New York will donate $1,500 to the Saratoga Springs City School District to support the district’s participatory budgeting initiative.

Tikkun Olam “Repair the World” Project Collects 23 Bags of School Supplies for Local Students

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.


Carol Leakakos, Judith Ehrenshaft, Emily Starks, Director of Community Relations (Courtesy of Congregation Shaara Tfille)

The Tikkun Olam (“Repair the World”) Project, under the umbrella of the Sisterhood of Congregation Shaara Tfille, has once again demonstrated its commitment to serving the community through its annual school supply drive.

In partnership with the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center in Saratoga County, members of the Tikkun Olam Project collected 23 bags of essential school supplies, including backpacks, notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, crayons, and other classroom necessities. This annual initiative has helped ensure that local children begin the school year with the supplies they need to succeed.


23 bags full of essential school supplies were purchased for kids in need. (Courtesy of Congregation Shaara Tfille)

The donated items will make a meaningful difference for local families who may be facing financial challenges in purchasing back-to-school necessities. The Tikkun Olam Project enables students to start the school year prepared, confident, and ready to learn.


23 bags full of essential school supplies were purchased for kids in need. (Courtesy of Congregation Shaara Tfille)

“This annual project reflects the true meaning of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world through acts of kindness and compassion,” said Judith Ehrenshaft, President of Congregation Shaara Tfille. “We are grateful to our Sisterhood members and everyone who contributed so generously. Together, we are helping local children and families while strengthening the bonds within our community.”

Saratoga County History Center Presents Program on  “The Iron-Hearted Regiment”

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum will present Saratoga and the Civil War: The 115th “Iron-Hearted Regiment” at War, its second program in our 2026 series Americans at War on Wednesday, August 26 at 7 PM. David Brooks, the Education Director at Schoharie Crossing State Historic site in Fort Hunter, will bring to life the unique experiences of the 115th Regiment, which mustered soldiers into service 165 years ago on this date – August 26, 1861 in Fonda, New York. Regimental companies were formed from Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery and Saratoga Counties. 

Under the leadership of Colonel Simeon Sammons, a local farmer and militia officer before the war, the regiment participated in several campaigns that took them to both well-known and little-known battlefields, gaining them recognition as the “Iron Hearted Regiment.” 

Brooks will follow the regiment’s journey from Harpers Ferry to Chicago and into the deep south before returning to Virginia in the last year of the war, recounting the battles they faced on the front line and those experienced from within.  

David Brooks is a member of the Board of Trustees for both Fulton and Montgomery Historical Societies and former past president of the Mohawk Valley Museums Consortium. As David tells us, “The 115th has a story unlike most upstate NY regiments during the Civil War, though their experiences are not all that unique during a time of crisis for the country. As a child I learned of this regiment and it’s service in family stories and directly from letters written during the war between brothers and the family on the home front.”

This event is presented with the support of Adirondack Trust Company, and is free with registration. Registration and more information regarding for this event is available online at Brooksidemuseum.org

Julie & Co. Realty Welcomes Glenn Harris to the Brokerage

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.


Glenn Harris (Photo Provided by Julie & Co Realty LLC)

Glenn Harris was born and raised in the Lake George area; he grew up hunting, fishing, exploring, and seeking adventure of all sorts. Starting at the age of 16, he worked in the construction field building log cabins, stick built homes, and remodeling.

For the last 20 years, Glenn, his wife, Dayna, and their two dogs (Moose & Bear) have been doing voluntary disaster relief work down in the southern states anywhere between Louisiana and Florida. He says it has been a very enjoyable and satisfying life assisting others in their greatest time of need.

In 2018, he decided that it was time to settle down and moved back home to the Adirondacks, currently living in his home in Bolton Landing where he enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking and even ice fishing in the wintertime.

Now, Harris joins Julie & Co. Realty to provide clients with an exemplary experience, with the utmost attention to detail. 

New Report Highlights Economic Impact of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Saratoga County

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

A newly released economic impact analysis shows that hosting the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival transformed June into one of Saratoga County’s strongest tourism months during its three-year run at Saratoga Race Course, generating record hotel revenues, increased visitor spending and historically strong sales tax collections while extending the region’s economic momentum ahead of the traditional summer racing season.

The report, released in August by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Discover Saratoga, and the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, examines the cumulative impact of the event over its three years in Saratoga and highlights the significant economic benefits experienced by businesses, local governments, and the regional tourism industry.

The analysis traces the evolution of Saratoga’s tourism economy, comparing pre-pandemic performance (2017–2019), the tourism recovery years (2021–2023) and the Belmont era (2024–2026). The findings show that hosting the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival helped elevate June into one of the region’s highest-performing tourism months, creating lasting economic value while showcasing Saratoga to millions of viewers nationwide.

Among the report’s key findings:

June hotel revenue per available room reached a record $193.46 in Saratoga Springs, a 37.6% increase compared to 2023. June sales tax collections reached $2.04 million in Saratoga Springs and $18.62 million across Saratoga County in 2026. Over the three-year Belmont era, Saratoga County collected nearly $52 million, substantially higher than recovery-year and pre-pandemic totals. National television broadcasts averaged 3.6 to 3.8 million viewers, providing exceptional exposure for Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County during the month of June. 

“The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival has proven to be far more than a world-class sporting event— it has served as a powerful economic driver for our region with significant benefits to Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “These results demonstrate how extending Saratoga’s tourism season into June gave a boost to sales tax collections for the city and county. Given record breaking revenue per available room, the city and county will likely also see a rise in occupancy taxes too. Of course, where people stay is where they spend money, which also benefits our local restaurants, bars, stores, and shops.”’

“The true legacy of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival extends far beyond three incredible years,” said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga. “The event strengthened our tourism economy, elevated Saratoga County’s national profile, and welcomed new visitors who experienced our community for the first time. Those impressions don’t end when the race does—they create future vacations, return visits, and continued economic opportunity.”

Ballston Spa National Bank Welcomes New Board of Directors Members

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Richard P. Sleasman, Board Chair of Ballston Spa Bancorp, Inc., parent company of Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB) welcomed four new members to the Board of Directors following the strategic merger of BSNB and National Bank of Coxsackie (NBC) in April. Aaron Flach, Carl Florio, Donald Persico, and Joseph Warren bring diverse business and leadership experience and share a vision for expanding BSNB’s strategic direction and setting new goals for the combined institution.

“I’m pleased to welcome Aaron, Carl, Donald, and Joseph to their new roles,” says Mr. Sleasman. “Their business acumen and leadership expertise combined with their strong connection to the communities NBC serves will be indispensable as BSNB works to expand opportunities for our customers following the merger of our two banks.”

Aaron Flach co-owns a property management group and brokerage in addition to other small businesses and has been actively investing in real estate in upstate New York for over 25 years. He was elected to the NBC Board of Directors in 2018. 

“When I met the other Board members, I was struck by our connection and had a sense that the culture and the values were on the same wavelength,” he notes. “This Board is interested in more than banking – they have a vision for the future and are committed to taking strategy and community development to the next level. I look forward to more collaboration with these great business minds.” 

Carl Florio brings decades of banking and leadership experience to the BSNB Board. He currently serves as Vice Chairman at Paradigm Funds Advisor LLC, Chair of AAA Hudson Valley, President of the Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, and Trustee at Paradigm Funds. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Hudson River Bancorp, Inc. from 1995 to 2005, and as the President-Eastern New York Region at First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. from 2005 to 2008. 

Mr. Florio was drawn to BSNB following the combined impact of its strong leadership team, actionable integration plan, and commitment to continued expansion. “This is a good market with a lot of opportunity for growth,” he notes. “When I looked at this merger, I saw the strong leadership that is essential for success.” 

Donald Persico has served as President of home heating company Persico Oil Co since 1979 and is also the owner of Persico True Value Hardware in Ravena, New York, a company founded in 1982. Mr. Persico was elected to the NBC Board of Directors in 1991 and was elected Chairman in 2018. 

Mr. Persico recognized significant potential in the combined organization and the opportunities it creates for stakeholders across the region. “I’m amazed at the synergy of this union,” he says. “After looking at the combined size of the bank, I thought, ‘This is incredible.’ It’s good for the communities, employees, and shareholders. It really was a perfect union.”

Joseph Warren is an attorney who served as the President of State Telephone Company until his retirement in 2025, overseeing the company’s growth from a small phone provider to a competitive internet provider. He was appointed to the NBC Board of Directors in 1992. He is deeply involved in his community through his professional experiences and joins BSNB’s Board with a desire to protect and expand local decision-making capabilities. 

Mr. Warren believes the merger creates new opportunities to expand service and enhance offerings in the NBC area. “This strategic combination allows us to offer much more,” he says. “Additional products, bigger loans, more resources…I look forward to better serving customers in NBC communities as a result.”

“Aaron, Carl, Donald and Joseph each bring a unique perspective shaped by years of leadership, service and involvement in their communities,” noted Christopher Dowd, President & CEO of Ballston Spa National Bank. “Their experience and knowledge of the markets we serve will be an important asset to our Board as we continue to build on the strengths of both organizations to serve our customers with the personal relationships and local decision-making that define community banking.”   

300-million Dollars Awarded to GlobalFoundries

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business, Featured.


(Courtesy of GlobalFoundries)

GlobalFoundries and the United States Department of Commerce have entered into a letter of intent to accelerate research and development of next-generation silicon photonics. The U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to award 300 million dollars to GlobalFoundries under the CHIPS and Science Act.

The award will accelerate GF’s development of next-generation silicon photonics wafer technologies, novel optical materials and advanced packaging. This work builds directly on GF’s recently introduced SCALE™ (Silicon Photonics Co-Packaged Advanced Light Engine) platform, targeting industry-leading modularity, 400Gb/s performance and a 5x increase in energy efficiency over current-generation implementations.

In a separate agreement, the U.S. Department of Commerce will receive equity from Global Foundries, representing approximately 1 percent ownership as of July 29th. 

Silicon photonics enables ultra-high bandwidth, energy-efficient data movement by transmitting information with light rather than electrical signals — delivering greater performance, higher interconnect density and lower power consumption as AI and data center workloads scale.

“Silicon photonics is essential to AI infrastructure. For a decade, the industry talked about the shift from copper to optical as something that was coming. Today it is here, moving data at higher bandwidth and improved power efficiency as workloads grow more complex,” said Tim Breen, CEO of GlobalFoundries.

Week of  August 7 – August 13, 2026      

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.


This beautifully updated 3 bedroom ranch at 4 Leo St in Queensbury was listed by Tara Garrett from Roohan Realty and sold for $280,400

BALLSTON

Nicholas Querques sold property at 17 Kelly Meadow Rd to Amy Danton for $350,000

Barbera Homes Kelley Farms LLC sold property at 39 Saddlebrook Blvd to Alexander Rosenblit for $912,059

CORINTH

Christian Henry sold property at Parker Rd to Charles McGrath for $220,000

GREENFIELD

Elizabeth Lee sold property at 73 Pepper Lane to Thomas Duncan for $610,000

Veslava Wysowski sold property at 18 Fraiser Rd to Steven Dennis for $290,000

MALTA

William Perritt sold property at 24 Arrow Wood Pl to Cheryl Vincent for $349,000

Erica Collins sold property at 1 Parkway Circle to Courtney Ruehl for $675,000

Haley Darrigo sold property at 12 Basswood Ct to Hans Zimmer for $665,000

Elizabeth Stupp sold property at 18 Shore Ave to Thomas Zembricki for $742,500

MILTON

Layers Production Inc sold property at 160 Milton Ave to Ballston Brothers LLC for $305,000

Jennifer Cleary sold property at 304 Emmet St to US Bank Trust National Assoc. LLC for $131,451

John Prizner sold property at 32 River Rock Rd to Anthony Piche for $940,000

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Whitney Lawlor sold property at 268 Broadway Unit 510 to Hilary Moynihan for $1,900.000

John Wagner sold property at 7 Bluebird Court to Paul DelPrato for $770,000

Adirondack Trust Company sold property at 52 Myrtle Ave to Kevin Farrell for $433,500

Danny Revell sold property at 27 Marvin St to McClaine Matties for $610,000

Whitney Lawlor sold property at 268 Broadway 608 to Hilary Moynihan for $1,750,000 

Maureen Lewi sold property at 3 South Collins Terrace to Justin Weber for $850,000

Reed Abbott sold property at 3 Cherry Tree Lane to Gavin Cotter for $1,835,000 

WILTON

Daniel Munn sold property at 39 Brookside Dr to Oliver Esman for $770,000

Kimberly Cronin sold property at 1 Thunder Run to Sean Macari for $450,000

Monsour Enterprises LLC sold property at 24 Nichols Rd to Deborah English for $510,000

Corrections Officer Assaulted by Halfmoon Teen

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

A Halfmoon teen is facing additional charges after he allegedly  assaulted a corrections officer at the Saratoga County Jail. 

J’von Flores, 19, was charged with two counts of 2nd degree assault after the incident. At the time, Flores incarcerated on a different matter when he allegedly assaulted a Corrections officer, causing physical injury. 

According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the officer was evaluated at Malta Med Emergent Care for injuries to his eye, chest, leg and neck.

“I have absolutely zero tolerance for assaults on my staff,” Saratoga County Sheriff Jeffrey Brown said. “They will be investigated thoroughly and promptly, and the assailant will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am hopeful that the officer will not suffer any long-term complications from his injuries.” 

While specifically Flores was originally incarcerated for, back in January the Sheriff’s Office announced his arrest after he allegedly cut off an ankle monitor, caused damage to an interview room at the Paul E. Lent Public Safety Building, and resisted arrest by parole officers. 

Flores was arraigned in Milton Town Court and remanded back to the jail.