SARATOGA COUNTY — Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, gathered area thought leaders from schools, churches, higher education, hospitals, veterans’ organizations and non-profits as well as state and county offices last week during a two-hour listening session to share information about suicide prevention.
“After learning that the rate of suicide in rural communities is rising significantly and knowing my district is primarily made up of rural communities, I decided to hold a meeting with local mental health experts to begin a dialogue around this growing problem,” Woerner said in a statement. “In order to gain a better understanding of any situation, I think it’s best to listen to a variety of perspectives. Suicide prevention is very complicated and multi-faceted. One big take away from this meeting- we need to meet again…at our next meeting, we’ll take the conversation to the next level.”
Statistics shared: 54% of firearm deaths are from suicide; Suicide is the third leading cause of death in ages 10-24; More females attempt suicide than males, but males use more lethal means.
In Saratoga County, 3 out of 4 suicides are male and the male dominated industries, such as constructions, corrections, etc., many with access to guns, see a much higher rate of suicide. And rural communities have the highest rate of death per 100,000 people, according to statistics shared by Woerner.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Tuesday, July 11, the Saratoga Senior Center will be hosting a Brooks BBQ fundraiser from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The BBQ will be at the Center at 5 Williams St. in Saratoga Springs.
Patrons may order Rib and Chicken Dinners in advance and pick them up at the Center on July 11 at a drive-through in the front of the building. Pre-ordering is the best option, as day-of event ordering will be very limited. The dinners are $15 for Chicken and $20 for Ribs. Each dinner comes with a baked potato, cole slaw and a dinner roll. Purchase dinners by calling 518-584-1621.
NOTE: The Senior Center will deliver orders of 15 or more to a home or business. Just let them know you would like delivery when pre-ordering.
Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q based in Oneonta, NY is an award-winning, world-famous BBQ.
The Saratoga Senior Center is a non-profit, non-residential community center located in downtown Saratoga Springs, open to adults aged 50 and up to participate in programs, trips & social activities tailored to adults and seniors.
SARATOGA COUNTY — The Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency hosts a Saratoga Battlefield Tour & BBQ event for veterans on Saturday, July 22. This event aims to honor and support local veterans while providing them with a day of camaraderie and entertainment.
The Saratoga Battlefield Bus Tour will kick off the day’s activities from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will embark on a guided tour of the historic Saratoga Battlefield, a renowned site that witnessed crucial battles during the American Revolutionary War. Veterans and their families will have the opportunity to explore the grounds where the nation’s history was shaped.
Following the battlefield tour, the festivities will continue at Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, where the BBQ event will take place from 1 – 4 p.m. Once the event is over, Veterans and their families will be bussed back to original parking location to retrieve their vehicles and head home.
For more information or to RSVP for the Saratoga Battlefield Tour & BBQ event, click veteranspeertopeer.org/events/ for the link to sign up. RSVP deadline is July 14.
SARATOGA — Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, a leading organization dedicated to supporting retired racehorses through retraining for therapeutic programs, will host its inaugural fundraising gala 7- 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 15 at Sugar Plum Farm, 96 Gilbert Road.
The Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga Fundraising Gala aims to raise essential funds to further their mission of providing retired racehorses with second chances. These magnificent animals, once highly competitive on the racetrack, are now given the opportunity to shine in therapeutic programs that benefit individuals with cognitive and emotional challenges.
The event will be hosted by philanthropists Robin and Tony Malatino. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a gourmet dinner and open bar, live entertainment and casino games.
Funds raised during the evening will directly support Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s vital initiatives, including the retraining and care of retired racehorses, as well as the expansion of therapeutic programs across the region.
For more information about Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga and the inaugural fundraising gala, visit thsaratoga.org/events/.
Saratoga — The town of Saratoga will feature a new likeness of Revolutionary War American Gen. Philip Schuyler.
The framed portrait will find a new home in the prestigious Schuyler Room and marks a significant addition to the town of Saratoga’s collection, according to a statement by town historian Sean Kelleher.
The portrait is a digital photo reproduction of a painting from the New-York Historical Society. The painting was done in 1792 by John Trumbull, and it belonged to Schuyler’s daughter, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. The portrait passed down in her family until it was donated to the NY Historical Society in 1915.
Saratoga Deputy Supervisor Ian Murray received a donation of General Schuyler’s portrait from Deb Peck Kelleher, President of the Old Saratoga Historical Association at Saratoga Town Hall, where the portrait was unveiled.
Ian Murray receiving a donation of General Schuyler’s portrait from Deb Peck Kelleher. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Summer Concert Series returns to Congress Park for the 2023 season, kicking off on Sunday, July 9 with Fenimore Blues. Gather friends and family, bring blankets and chairs, find a spot on the lawn, and enjoy area performers.
The Saratoga Summer Concert Series will take place Sundays in July and Tuesdays in August. Shows will begin at 7 p.m. at the War Memorial in Congress Park and each concert will be approximately 90 minutes.
The season kicks off July 9 with Fenimore Blues, featuring an eclectic mix of blues, R&B, and rock, and drawing on a notable music repertoire from Bonnie Raitt to Aretha Franklin, the Neville Brothers to the Allman Brothers, Linda Ronstadt to Etta James, Santana to Tedeschi Trucks
July 23 – Skippy and the Pistons; July 30 – Proudest Monkeys Band; Aug. 1 – MPThree; Aug. 8 – Betsy and the ByeGons; Aug. 15 – Rustic Spirit; Aug. 22 – Garland Nelson and Soul Session.
Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The free, family-friendly concert series is a program of the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center in partnership with Discover Saratoga and the City of Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Fred Astaire Dance Studios (FADS) – Saratoga Springs is partnering with Alliance180, to host their summer showcase 1 – 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 15 at the studio, located at 3257 US-9, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs.
This year’s summer showcase theme is “From Bollywood to Hollywood.” Styles of dance to include everything from Waltz and Swing to Mongolian Folk Dance, and more. Students will be dancing alongside the studio’s professional instructors displaying months of hard work and dedication to the art of dance.
Tickets will be available at the door for $15. All ticket proceeds from the show will be donated to the nonprofit.
The studio can be reached at 518-587-0300. For more information about Fred Astaire Dance Studios – Saratoga Springs, visit online www.fredastaire.com/saratoga-springs.
A giant chess set on the outdoor patio at Cookies & Cream and Finishing Touches in Malta.
MALTA — Doug Dockendorf and Shelly Walker initially purchased the Wiggins-Collamer House in Malta in 2020 as the new location for Finishing Touches Home Decor, Walker’s interior design, home decor, and gift company.
They redeveloped part of the building to an ice cream shop called Cookies & Cream, serving customers outside through windows. The ice cream options were expanded the following year, and a coffee bar was added last May.
Now, they have expanded their offerings yet again, introducing a variety of gourmet fudge, truffle, and chocolate products from Chocolate Moonshine.
“There’s nothing like this anywhere around,” said Dockendorf. “We’ve got, pretty much, four businesses in one. We’ve got Finishing Touches, which is the gift store and interior design, we’ve got Cookies & Cream, which is the ice cream, we have the little coffee bar, and then we have now, all the truffles and fudge.”
Dockendorf described Chocolate Moonshine’s products as “a visual experience.”
“It is truly the finest chocolates in the world,” said Dockendorf. “And when I say that, I mean that. It’s just amazing.”
Chocolate Moonshine’s truffle bars are made with Belgian chocolate and a milk chocolate ganache inside, Dockendorf said, and hand-painted with cocoa butter. They also offer gourmet fudge, chocolate-covered turtles, pretzels, and more.
“They make great gifts, great presents,” Dockendorf said. Unless you buy them online, you can’t get them locally. So we added that in.”
Cookies and Cream’s chocolate is located inside across from the coffee bar. The coffee bar opened last year, offering a variety of products including lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, affogato, iced coffee, and organic tea.
“It was supposed to just be a little self-serve coffee station, and it turned into everything,” Walker said. “Which is good, because we sell a lot of lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos.”
The coffee bar also offers a selection of baked goods from The Sugar Fairy Bakes, which recently opened a location in Malta, with Dockendorf saying supporting other local businesses is “what we’re all about here.”
The historic Wiggins-Collamer House was built in 1835 and was formerly used as Malta’s Town Hall, according to information on the Town of Malta website.
The building borders Collamer Park, and features a large outdoor space and patio that Dockendorf and Walker are supplementing with improvements and additions such as a redone lawn, a tent, bathrooms, seating areas, and a variety of outdoor games.
“We put a chess set in, a big, outdoor chess set, which is awesome,” said Dockendorf. “Everybody’s out here every day playing it.”
Dockendorf emphasized his goal of creating a space where people can spend time outdoors, and said that the community response so far has been “unbelievable.”
“We’re trying to create something for the town, for Saratoga, and for the surrounding areas, to make it something special,” said Dockendorf. “Everyone is so excited about it. And we’re excited too, because we want them to come, and have fun with it. It’s not just about us. It’s about getting to know everybody in the town.”
“It’s not just a place people come, get ice cream, and then leave,” Walker added. “They can sit and hang out with their friends, and chat. The kids are going wild out there, running from one thing to the other.”
Dockendorf said he hopes for people to “spend time and hang out” in the park and its adjoining spaces. “I want them to come sit on that picnic table for a couple hours,” said Dockendorf. “Let them have fun. Let them enjoy the park. … I think it’s a wonderful place to spend time.”
Collamer Park also includes a basketball court that adjoins the property, and Dockendorf said he is planning to convert a large bush on the property into a ‘kids zone.’
“I saw a couple kids run in there one day,” Dockendorf said. “I looked in there, and it’s all these vines in there and stuff. So we’re going to make it a kids’ zone. We have lots of kids here, every day. It’s getting busier every day. We love it.”
Dockendorf said since opening, the interactions with the local community have been “the best part about it.”
“We’ve got some wonderful people that work for us,” Dockendorf said. “We’ve got great neighbors and great customers. It’s just amazing. For Shelly and I, it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Brilliant Group, owned by Annie & Andrew Brill, has acquired The Saratoga Winery, the group announced in a press release.
The Saratoga Winery is a winery, restaurant, event, and live music venue. It was formerly owned by Tara and Rich Nimmo.
“We are very excited to start this next chapter of our lives and of the business,” said Brilliant Group president Annie Brill in the release. “The Winery is an institution in Saratoga. We feel honored to be at the helm and to purchase a restaurant with such great notoriety and reputation.”
Ms. Brill is the general manager of The Saratoga Winery, and Mr. Brill is a sales manager at Mazzone Hospitality. They have a combined 35 years of industry experience, the release states.
“Saratoga has such a great restaurant scene with loyal customers who love to support great local businesses,” Brill said. “We already have a great thing going at The Winery. Andrew and I are not looking to reinvent the wheel here, but to elevate the food, drink, and overall customer experience. We are also excited to bring our extensive background in events to The Winery and offer even more public and private events to our customer base.”
This is the company’s first restaurant acquisition. The release states that The Brilliant Group’s mission statement is “to offer unique and exceptional hospitality experiences to a local audience.”
