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Author: Saratoga TODAY

The Charlton School Appoints Four New Members to Board of Trustees

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Charlton School is proud to announce the appointment of four visionary leaders to our Board of Trustees, marking a significant milestone in its mission to empower and support the mental health of young women. These dynamic professionals join TCS at a critical juncture, bringing a wealth of expertise in clinical education, public health advocacy, finance, and community-centered leadership. 

Dr. Jill Ensminger, PhD, RN

Jill Ensminger brings over two decades of clinical, administrative, and academic excellence to the Board of Trustees. Currently serving as the Director of the Master of Science in Nursing Education Program at Niagara University, Dr. Ensminger is a recognized leader in nursing pedagogy and curriculum alignment with national accreditation standards. 

Her extensive leadership background includes serving as the Nursing Program Director at Siena College and as an Outpatient Clinical Educator for St. Peter’s Health Partners, where she has championed evidence-based practice and community health initiatives. 

A dedicated scholar and community advocate, she holds a PhD in Public Health from Walden University and has been actively involved in numerous boards and volunteer organizations, including BirthNet, the Maternal and Early Childhood Foundation, and now, The Charlton School. Her deep expertise in healthcare education and her commitment to fostering inclusive, student-centered learning environments will be invaluable assets to The Charlton School’s strategic governance.

Lindsey Haraden, Mohawk Honda 

Lindsey Haraden is the General Sales Manager at Mohawk Honda with nearly 13 years in the automotive industry. A Capital Region native and SUNY Oswego graduate, she began her career in hospitality before unexpectedly finding her passion in the car business. 

Haraden is also a strong advocate for mental health and actively serves her community through organizations that uplift women and families. As an avid supporter of the Suicide Prevention Foundation and organizations that support Veterans and animals, she is known for rallying friends, family and co-workers around causes that get people involved and making a difference. 

Lindsey is enthusiastic about supporting the mission and the students of The Charlton School and is eager to jump in and make connections to bring people to events on campus, as well as offering her unique insight and modern perspective for engaging a younger generation in philanthropy.    

Brandee Nelson, PE, LEED AP 

Brandee Nelson brings over 25 years of civil and environmental engineering expertise to the Board of Trustees, specializing in sustainable infrastructure and community-centered design. As the leader of Tighe & Bond’s Land Use Business Line, she works with communities, organizations, and businesses to solve complex challenges in infrastructure and development, ranging from enhanced ADA accessibility to green infrastructure.

Nelson’s extensive professional portfolio includes the design and construction of parks and recreational facilities, municipal facilities, and public and private developments. Beyond her technical career, Brandee is a dedicated civic leader, having served for seven years as the Chair of the Town of Great Barrington Planning Board and contributing her expertise to the Lake Mansfield Improvement Task Force. Her proven ability to balance infrastructure needs with community wellness and environmental stewardship makes her a vital addition to The Charlton School’s Board as they expand support for young women through the implementation of its campus master plan. 

Margaret (Peg) Trench, Principal, Turning Point Solutions  

Margaret (Peg) Trench brings more than 25 years of senior-level expertise in risk management, regulatory compliance, and portfolio management to the Board of Trustees. As the Principal of Turning Point Solutions, an advisory practice focused on managing systemic risk, she leverages a career defined by leadership at the intersection of economics and finance. Recently retired as the Global Head of Scenario Analytics for Morgan Stanley, Peg was responsible for the firm’s macroeconomic stress tests and economic outlook. Her distinguished background includes senior roles with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and various major financial institutions, where she introduced groundbreaking innovations in portfolio risk management, macroeconomic scenario analysis, and climate risk. Peg’s deep understanding of complex systems and strategic risk will provide a steadying hand as we grow our programs and ensure a secure future for the young women we serve.

As an organization dedicated to fostering resilience and wellness, The Charlton School is thrilled to integrate the diverse perspectives of these four women—ranging from doctoral-level research in health services to hands-on experience in nursing and inclusive program development. Their collective commitment to service and excellence will strengthen the therapeutic learning community’s ability to provide a grounded, supportive environment for the next generation of women as they navigate their mental health journeys.

HEAL Infrared Sauna & Cold Plunge Opens in Saratoga


HEAL Saratoga recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce on March 13. HEAL, located at 433 Broadway, is a new wellness destination dedicated to whole body recovery and mental clarity. The facility offers private treatment rooms equipped with Sunlighten infrared saunas and Plunge cold immersion tubs. To learn more, visit www.healsaratoga.com. Photo from the ribbon-cutting ceremony by Super Source Media for Saratoga TODAY.

Five Towers Media Launches Foundry 5

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Michael Nelson, owner of Five Towers Media (a Saratoga Springs marketing agency serving clients across the Capital Region), has launched Foundry 5, a new business automation company purpose-built for small businesses.

 Foundry 5 identifies manual, repetitive workflows, such as invoicing, lead follow-up, reporting, and client onboarding, and automates them end-to-end. Projects are fixed-scope and fixed-price, typically completed in two to three weeks. Automations run on Foundry 5’s managed infrastructure, with ongoing monitoring and support available through monthly care plans.

“Our mission has always been to help small businesses grow, and to give them unwavering support as we do,” Nelson said. “We see local teams carrying massive workloads that automation can lift off their plates. When you stop doing manually what a system can do for you, you free up your people to focus on higher-level work. That’s what actually moves the needle.”

Foundry 5 operates with a focused service model: One engineer, a defined set of automation tools, and a deliberate cap on active clients. Ongoing support is available through optional monthly care plans that cover monitoring, maintenance, and SLA-backed response times.

Nelson, who continues to lead Five Towers Media, sees the two businesses as complementary — one helping companies grow their audience, the other helping them build the operational foundation to handle that growth.

Saratoga Business Connect Returns

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Universal Preservation Hall is hosting the second Saratoga Business Connect, a professional networking event designed to foster collaboration, spark new partnerships, and strengthen economic ties. It will take place at 6 p.m. (and performances for ticket holders will begin at 7:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, March 24 in the Great Hall.

Saratoga Business Connect brings together local business leaders, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and creative professionals for an evening of conversation, relationship-building, and shared opportunity to learn about the intimate venue and share first-hand experiences of the space with their patrons. Attendees can enjoy light refreshments, structured networking moments, and the chance to connect with like-minded professionals from a wide range of industries.

The event will begin with networking and light fare, then feature live entertainment with a yet-to-be-announced musical act followed by stand-up comedy by Tony Deyo. 

Partners have access to an exclusive offer of $5 tickets, plus a free drink voucher using their partner code. The public is also welcome to attend the performances for $15. Tickets are on sale now through the Box Office at Proctors in person, via phone at (518) 346-6204 Tuesday- Saturday 12-6 p.m., or online by visiting atuph.org.

Week of March 20 – March 26, 2026 

CHARLTON

Rose Sgambati sold property at 9 Sequoia Dr to Kevin Sarsick for $380,000

Freida Garrison sold property at Peaceable St to Maddalone Cattle Company LLC for $450,000

Michael Gnip sold property at 118 Dawson Rd to Alan Kuehner for $340,000

CORINTH

Christopher Adams sold property at 4 &12 Adams Lane to Jonathan Lerman for $595,000

Blake MacWhinnie sold property at 3 Adirondack Court to Jeffrey Maldonado for $353,000

John Dingman sold property at 305 Oak St to Totianna Nunez for $157,000

Robert Delong sold property at 143 Miner Rd to Olivia Miner for $170,000

GREENFIELD

Jordan Bishop sold property at 4436 NYS Rt 9N to Joshua Morreale for $484,500

MALTA

Robert Ritter sold property at 36 Weston Way to Pamela Schuech for $430,000

Michaels Group Homes LLC sold property at 36 Wiggins Dr to Carol Rowe for $555,195

Edward Ryan sold property at 13 Wake Robin Rd to Alexander Brady for $280,000

Michaels Group Homes LLC sold property at 34 Wiggins Dr to Richard Celmer for $552,650

Del Salmon sold property at 17 Woodshire Ct to Carlton Stewart for $365,000

Frank Kehn sold property at 1123 Laurel Lane to Richard Klockowski for $480,000

MILTON

Samuel McWain sold property at 9 Conan Run to Tyler Collins for $348,000

Hunter Lane LLC sold property at 21 Hunter Court to Michael Urbanski for $664,939

SARATOGA

Sean Walter sold property at 7 AnthonyLane to Erica Castellano for $890,000

46 Ferry LLC sold property at 6 Ferry St to Christopher Ardito for $170,000

James Doyle sold property at 177 Broad St to Farah Bhatti for $515,000

Benjamin Brown sold property at 297 Burgoyne Rd to Terri Snowball for $680,000

Eric Donlon sold property at Lot 3 & 4 Sweet Rd to Brittany Arnold for $240,000

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Denise Degregorio sold property at 124 Jefferson St to Dana Barrett for $505,000

Beechwood Saratoga LLC sold property at 16 Aurora Ave to Stephanie Chew for $1,755,000

Beechwood Saratoga LLC sold property at 29 Aurora Ave to Michael Mauriello for $450,000

Gerard Bradley sold property at 8 Pinehurst Dr to Benjamin Ward for $479,000

Emma Albert sold property at 16 Hutchins St to Kristin Mihuta for 690,000

78 Church St LLC sold property at 78 Church St # 402 St to Scott Brannon for $1,902,741

Michael Gennarelli sold property at 30 Spa Dr to Philip Roberts for $480,000

WILTON

Angelina Foley sold property at 24 Old Deer Camp Rd to Anne Krasnicki for $500,000

Edie Rd LLC sold property at 1 Northbrook Dr to Karen Patton for $205,000

Raissa Masi sold property at 6 Kings Mill Rd to David Gallagher for $407,000

Nathalie Parayre sold property at 28 Kendrick Hill Rd to David Zecchini for $1,275,000

Nicholas Wolfe sold property at 141 Ruggles Rd to Jerry Gray for $550,000

June Keane sold property at 13 Cobble Hill Dr to John Tommell for $715,00

Eric Meuse sold property at 1 Farmington Ave to Mark Schewe for $267,600

Lester Loomis sold property at 294 Louden Rd to Allen Loomis for $100,000

Pigliavento Assoc. sold property at 2 Eastpointe Dr to Russell Fleishman for $995,002

 James Earl Johnson

SARATOGA SPRINGS – James Earl Johnson, age 65, passed away March 9, 2026,  surrounded by the love of his family. Calling hours and a funeral service were held on March 13, at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.

Thomas F. Reilly

MECHANICVILLE, NY – Thomas F. Reilly, age 74, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Calling hours and Mass were held on Wednesday, March 18 at Corpus Christi Church. 

Burial with Military Honors followed at Reilly Family Farm Cemetery. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuralhome.com.    

Michael William “Mike” Wagstaff


BALLSTON SPA – Michael William “Mike” Wagstaff, known to many as “Wags,” passed away on March 6, 2026.  Calling hours and a funeral service were held on Thursday, March 12, at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com. 

Diane E. Bell 

BALLSTON SPA – Diane E. Bell, 82, passed away March 13, 2026.  Funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday, March 24, at St. Paul’s Church, 149 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs.  Family and friends may pay their respects from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm prior to the service at the church. Online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.  

Statewide Burn Ban in Effect until May

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton recently announced that the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning began March 16 and runs through May 14. 

Since 2009, DEC has enforced the annual brush burning ban to prevent wildfires and protect communities and first responders during heightened conditions for wildfires. 

“Many of us are looking forward to spring weather after a very cold winter, but with the warming temperatures comes increased fire risk,” Commissioner Lefton said. “That’s why we’re once again asking all New Yorkers to abide by the two-month-long burn ban. The more careful you are with fire, the better we can protect our communities and natural resources as well as our Forest Rangers and firefighters across the state.” 

Even though some areas of the state are damp or remain blanketed in snow, warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. 

Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures warm and the past fall’s debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily, further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. 

Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are staffed by volunteers, all too often must leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires. DEC continually updates a Fire Danger Map on DEC’s website as a resource to view local conditions. 

New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires occur. Backyard fire pits and campfires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small cooking fires.

Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated, or unpainted wood can be burned. People should never leave these fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State.