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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Ellen M Stiles-Calabrese

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

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MECHANICVILLE – Ellen M Stiles-Calabrese, 79, of Mechanicville passed away on April 21, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was a retired Rural Letter Carrier with the United States Postal Service out of Ballston Spa and then Malta Branch; after retirement she worked a few summers at the Saratoga Racetrack betting windows.

Born on September 17, 1944 in Saratoga Springs, she was the daughter of the late Stuart Stiles and Virginia White Stiles.

Ellen was a proud member of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 for almost three years. Ellen was an Inner Guard, an appointed position, and was recently chosen as the “Officer of the Year” a well-earned honor. She loved being a member and was proud of the support and help the Elks gave our community. She was current President of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 Ladies Auxiliary, as well as a member of the Principessa Elena Society and the Eagles Club of Saratoga Springs. In her leisure she enjoyed gardening, reading, and she cherished spending time with her family and her many girlfriends; often going out to lunch. She took pride in organizing many of her class reunions for Saratoga Springs High School Class of 1962. Prior to COVID she volunteered at the Saratoga Casino and the Military Museum both in Saratoga Springs. She was a past president of the Wa-Sa-Wa Association of Dowsing. Dowsing is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals, ores, or gemstones.

Ellen is predeceased by her husband Genarro Calabrese, brothers and sisters-in-law Edward (Pat), Stuart (Janet) and Robert Stiles and a sister Monica Lee; and her stepson Gerry Calabrese.

Survivors include her daughters Melissa Racine (Brian) of Scotia, and Jenna White of Wilton,  her sons, Michael Frasl (Paula) of Broadalbin, and Nick Dean (Kim) of Round Lake, a stepson, Peter Calabrese (Renee) of Hartsdale, NY, two step daughters, Christina Devaney (Tom) of Rensselaer, and Sherri Calabrese of Feura Bush, NY, brother Malcolm Stiles (LaVerne) of Wilton, and sister-in-law Orpha Stiles of Saratoga Springs. Grandchildren Grayson Racine (Ashton), Gavin Racine, Gage Wille, Aaron Dean, Kaitlyn Dean, Lucas McDermott (Lauren), Drew White, Gabriel Calabrese, Julien Calabrese, Jared Calabrese, Cooper Devaney and Violet Devaney; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends may call from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday May 13, 2024, at the Tunison Funeral Home 105 Lake Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY  12866. Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge will hold a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. followed by the Auxiliary’s Service. Elks will attend together at this hour. Graveside services will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs following the calling hours.

Ellen did request that people celebrate her life not, mourn her death, by wearing bright colors to her funeral.

In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to Cerebral Palsy of NY State; the Elks major fundraiser. Ellen was working on The Elks Spring Fundraiser for Cerebral Palsy at the time of her passing. Donations in Ellen’s name should be sent to CPNYS; 3 Cedar Street Extension, Suite 2; Cohoes, NY 12047. Phone: 518-235-1880

Gardening with Peter Bowden: May Garden

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Home & Garden.

Dig the hole wide but not too deep

inally spring has arrived!  This is a great time to get started on planting hardy trees and shrubs.  Sadly, in my line of work, I get to see a lot of dead shrubs and trees that have died within a few of years after being planted. 

I always like to look them over to see what went wrong.  A pattern has become apparent…most were simply planted too deep.  You can still see the dirt on the stem way above the crown of the plant. 

If the stem or trunk above ground is covered with soil or mulch, it hinders the plant’s ability to pass moisture and nutrients from the root system up through the bark to the branches and leaves above. It may take a year or three but it is usually fatal. 

Let me walk you through the process of planting a tree or shrub.

First, dig the planting hole a little bit wider than the plant’s root ball but only as deep as the root ball or the pot that contains the roots.  If you’ve dug the hole too deep, fill it in a bit.  Add compost or just the original soil to build up the bottom of the planting hole to insure that the stem isn’t buried too deeply.  This is also a good time to add Bio-Tone to the planting hole. Bio-Tone provides gentle organic nutrients for the tree.  Perhaps more important, Bio-Tone also adds beneficial soil microbes and several strains of Mycorrizal fungi. The spot on the tree trunk where the soil is in the pot or ball needs to still be visible after planting.

Next, place the tree or shrub into the hole and check again to make sure you’re at the proper planting depth.  The spot where the trunk of the tree meets the soil of its ball or pot should exactly match the level of the soil around your planting hole. The easiest way to check this is to lay a stick (the handle of your shovel works) across the planting hole and make sure that the top of the root ball is level with the ground.  This seems trivial, but it can make all the difference to the plant’s health and survival.

Once you’ve made sure that the crown of the plant is at the proper level, fill in the rest of the planting hole.  This is the point where inexperienced gardeners make another mistake. 

When you dig a hole, then fill it with a root ball, there’s going to be soil left over. What to do with it? Many will opt to pile it up around the trunk or stem. DON’T DO IT!  It will have the same negative effect as planting too deeply.  Use the extra soil to build a dish-shaped dike or berm out away from the stem of the plant. The dark soil where the stem met the soil in the pot should still be just visible near the trunk of the tree. You haven’t planted too deeply as long as you can see the original soil that the tree came in.  The berm will collect water and direct it down to the root system below. Finally, water heavily after planting to remove any air pockets from the soil.

You should also take care when applying bark and other mulches not to pile them up against the stems and trunks of plants. Remember: roots is roots and stems is stems. Bury the roots but let the stems be free to breathe.

Thanks for the read!

One Bite at a Time

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Food.

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

As I am trying to maintain my New Year’s resolution of healthier eating, I realize a key piece is portion control.  Over the years, our society has reverted to larger serving sizes. Larger portion sizes and increased consumption have impacted the health of America and worldwide (foodinsight.com). 

Many of us grew up being told to “finish all of the food on your plate”.  I know that even today, I feel obligated to finishing a beverage or plate of food regardless of the portion size. Preparing food at home gives us a better consideration of portion size. Resizing our portions may seem a challenge. However, using portion control as a healthy-eating strategy can give us the ability to each more foods while normalizing our portions. Practices we can use are to use a smaller plate or use smaller cooking items as we make our recipes, and take one bite at a time by taking smaller bites. Ramekins are an item that can be used for a variety of dishes and can assist with cutting down serving sizes. A ramekin is also known as a souffle’ dish. It is a small bakeware vessel that is a small straight-sided ceramic dish used for preparing and serving individual portions. 

There are so many uses for a ramekin.Here are a few:

You can bake eggs in a ramekin.  Eggs have been put on the bad food list in the past, but the truth is that they are a good protein option for starting your day. The cholesterol in eggs is in the yokes, so if that’s a concern you can always use just egg whites. Use ramekins to bake eggs as an alternative to the typical fried or scrambled eggs. Just crack an egg into a ramekin coated in nonstick cooking spray, pour one tablespoon of low-fat milk over it and season as desired. Try adding shredded low-fat cheese or Canadian bacon. You can also put vegetables like spinach, tomatoes or diced peppers on the bottom of the ramekin before adding the egg. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. The temperature of the egg should reach 160 degrees F, according to safety guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Bread pudding is usually a decadent dessert, but you can fit into your healthy diet. Using your favorite bread pudding recipe and preparing it in ramekins allows you to have a small single serving, keeping calories under control. You can also experiment with swapping some of the ingredients to boost nutritional value. For example, use whole wheat bread and low-fat milk instead of white bread and heavy cream or whole milk. 

Mini pot pies and meatloaves: Portion control and attractive food presentation are both advantages you’ll get when preparing main dishes in ramekins. Serving a personal a pot pie or meatloaf to your family will likely be a hit, especially for kids. You can still prepare your recipes for these classics as usual and then divide the prepared food among the ramekins before baking. You may need to cut down the amount of your original recipe, however, if you plan to use only a few ramekins. If you’re concerned about grease filling up the ramekins when cooking mini meatloaves, try placing a piece of bread — preferably somewhat stale or toasted — in the bottom of the dish. The bread will absorb a large amount of the grease. It will also help to use leaner ground beef; try to use 90 to 93 percent lean.

Fruit desserts: Ramekins are ideal for many classic desserts, such as custards, mousses and even mini baked cheesecakes. They also work well for baking individual fruit desserts, such as crisps and cobblers. Crisps use a topping primarily made with dried oats while cobblers are flour based. An additional advantage to preparing desserts this way is that you can use a variety of fruits to prepare several different crisps or cobblers at once.

One of our favorite uses for ramekins is for single servings of mac n cheese.. Mac n cheese is down home comfort food and it makes you feel all warm and cozy. These little ramekins are ideal for individual servings of mac n cheese. I love the whole experience – I hold the ramekin as I scoop some out and I feel the warmth of it since it just came out of the oven. I scoop in and get a large spoonful of cheesy goodness. Along with the cheesy inside there is this crunchy and crumbly topping that might even be the best part of the dish. 

Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs to pick up an array of sizes of ramekins and cool tools to assist you with your culinary needs. Enjoy those ridiculously delicious single serving creations. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. 

Take Care, John & Paula

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Celebrating the Market’s Move In May

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Food.

Get ready for a fresh and exciting season at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market!

Alongside your favorite vendors, we’re thrilled to introduce some new local growers and producers and new changes to the landscape. We’ve got a host of engaging activities lined up for both markets. The market starts its outdoor adventures at the Wednesday Market on May 1st from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the Saturday market on May 4th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will also be at Clifton Park on Mondays beginning June 3rd and Milton starting July 11th.

We’re always looking to grow our community of vendors and volunteers. If you’re interested in becoming a part of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market family, email sfma.manager@gmail.com for more information. Your contribution is invaluable to us.

The compost collection will be available on Saturdays at High Rock Park on the south lawn. Halfmoon Harvest provides this service.

Dinner in the park and festivals will be announced soon. In the meantime, visit saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket to stay current with market announcements.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is where you can shop, eat, and support local while enjoying local musicians and various festivities throughout the year.

The Saratoga Farmers Market is 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays in the food court of the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for previews of what’s fresh.  

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Saratoga Singers Perform at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Photo provided by Karen Houlahan.

NEW YORK CITY — Saratoga Springs High School Choraliers and Bel Canto Choir students performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City last month. They were led by Choral Director Karen Houlahan. While in the city, the students took in performances of “Aladdin” and “Hamilton.” They also attended a vocal workshop with “Hamilton” cast member Thayne Jasperson.

Ballston Spa Names New Middle School Principal

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Photo of Anders Rasmussen provided by Stuart Williams.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Board of Education is scheduled to appoint Mr. Anders Rasmussen as the new Middle School Principal on May 8.

Rasmussen, who has been with the district since 2012, has served as Principal of Wood Road Elementary School since 2018. Prior to his service in Ballston Spa schools, he held administrative positions at the Greenville School District, and he was an English teacher and coach at Ichabod Crane Middle School.

“I am very excited to continue my career at Ballston Spa in this new role,” Rasmussen said in a statement. “I am grateful to the district and community for entrusting me with this responsibility.  I look forward to meeting the middle school students, families and staff.  I can’t wait to learn about the great work that is underway and maintaining the strong tradition of excellence at Ballston Spa Middle School.”

Rasmussen’s appointment as Principal will begin on July 1.

Vroom! BSpa Offers School Bus Test Drives

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District is inviting any adults interested in learning more about driving a school bus to attend “Come Drive a Bus Day” at its Transportation Facility on Saturday, May 4. Attendees with a valid driver’s license will be able to test drive a school bus in the facility’s parking lot with a district school bus trainer.

The district currently has positions open for bus drivers, substitute bus attendants, and substitute drivers. The jobs include guaranteed hours, paid training, and possibility of a regular route with health benefits. Employees also get school breaks, holidays, and summers off.

The event will take place on May 4 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Transportation Facility on Rt. 50 (1458 Saratoga Road), just south of the Janet V Corners.

For more information, contact the Transportation Department at (518) 884-7140 or visit www.bscsd.org/departments/transportation/transportation-home/help-wanted.

Herzog Law Firm Opens New Saratoga Office

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

The Herzog Law Firm celebrated the opening of its new office at the Wise Building at 60 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs with a ribbon cutting ceremony last Thursday. Photo via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

The Herzog Law Firm celebrated the opening of its new office at the Wise Building at 60 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs with a ribbon cutting ceremony last Thursday. Photo via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

Keuka Spring Vineyards Opens Saratoga Location

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Keuka Spring Vineyards, a mainstay on the Finger Lakes wine trail since 1985, opened a tasting room and bottle shop at the Saratoga Marketplace in downtown Saratoga Springs last week. The event was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo by Super Source Media.

Harbor Freight Tools Opening Saratoga Store

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Construction is underway on a new Harbor Freight Tools store in Saratoga Springs. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Harbor Freight Tools announced last week that it will open a new store in Saratoga Springs at 3064 Route 50 next to Best Buy. Construction is currently underway, with an official opening date to be determined. According to the company, around 25 to 30 jobs will be created. 

“We’ve been looking to open a location in Saratoga Springs for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community,” said Trey Feiler, Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Construction, in a statement. “In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great Associates in the Saratoga Springs area, and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team.”

Those interested in applying for a job at the new store can do so online at www.harborfreightjobs.com/retail and search “Saratoga Springs, NY.” 

Harbor Freight Tools is a family-owned company founded in Southern California in 1977. The company’s first store opened in 1980. The business has since expanded to more than 1,500 stores nationwide.