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Author: Saratoga TODAY

November 1 Deadline for Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park’s Annual Photography Show

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

Entries are being sought from photographers who enjoy taking pictures of nature for the Annual Wilton Wildlife photography show. This annual show looks for photographs that highlight the beauty and mission of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. 

The entry deadline is November 1, 2025, and up to four entries will be accepted per person.  Prizes will be awarded for the following categories: Best in Show, Best Nature in Winter, Best Nature in Autumn, Best Featuring Education, Best Featuring Conservation, Best Featuring Recreation, Best Animal Shot, Best Wildflower Shot, Best Karner Blue Butterfly, and Best Under 13.

Entries should be submitted via email to info@wiltonpreserve.org with the following information: attached photograph files saved as JPEG, with name, address, phone number, email, title of each submission, and age if under 13. All work should be original and have been taken at the area known as Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park.  This year, the winners in each category will be on display in the newly opened Welcome Cabin. In addition, all of the selected photographs will be displayed virtually through an on-line photography gallery. 

For more information, contact Wilton Wildlife’s office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org.  For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org. Wilton Wildlife’s mission is to provide environmental education and opportunities for outdoor recreation while supporting conservation of ecological systems and natural settings. 

Richard G Ash

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Richard G Ash passed quietly at home on October 9, 2025. He was 68 years old. Dick attended Saratoga Springs High School. He retired from the Essity paper company. There are no calling hours and services will be private. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.

Russell James “Rusty” Werner

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

December 7, 1950 – September 30, 2025

LEWIS, NY – With profound sadness, we announce that our beloved Russell James Werner (Rusty) passed away at home in Lewis, New York, on September 30, 2025, at the age of 74.

Born on December 7, 1950, in Rockaway, Queens County, New York, Rusty grew up in East Meadow and Hauppauge, New York. 

Rusty was a loving and devoted partner, an affectionate and adoring father, and a kind, genuine soul who kept his family and loved ones close.

He graduated from the University at Buffalo with a degree in Business and went on to open Saratoga Sound, a record store known for its expertly curated selection and welcoming atmosphere. The shop reflected Rusty’s encyclopedic knowledge of music and his uncanny ability to introduce people to their next favorite artist. He later opened Saratoga Book Co., an equally beloved independent bookstore in Saratoga Springs, renowned for its thoughtful collection, eclectic charm, and the conversations that unfolded amongst its shelves.  

He also taught high school math in Massachusetts and later worked for many years as a substitute teacher in Portland, Maine, where Rusty inspired curiosity and laughter in equal measure. 

Rusty had a deep love of learning, studying an esoteric blend of alchemy, mysticism, psychology, and history. He was also a passionate musician who sang and played guitar and piano. Rusty’s sense of fun was infectious and he was always ready with a witty joke or a good pun which often tricked those unaware of his sense of humor. He was a good friend. Heartfelt words follow from his dear friend Tico:

“We loved you, Rusty. You brought us laughter and mirth.

You brought us words, music, and film.

You brought us mystical ideas and esoteric concepts.

You brought us together.

RIP, old friend.”

He is survived by his loving spouse, Cynthia Preston, and his pride and joy, his daughter, Bly Lauritano-Werner; his adoring sisters, Barbara Hopper (William) of Penfield, NY, and Elizabeth Straus (Mark) of Middle Grove, NY, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews. 

He was predeceased by his younger sister, Janine Werner, and his parents, Russell Werner and Ruth (McNamara) Werner.

William H. Gnatek

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – William H. Gnatek (Bill) of Saratoga Springs, 91, passed away at home on Sunday, October 12, 2025 after a long illness. Calling hours are 3 – 5 pm, October 19, at Burke Funeral Home. Service following at 5 pm. Memorial donations to Saratoga Community Hospice at www.communityhospice.org. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.  

John Joseph Weyand

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – John Joseph Weyand, 91, went to his eternal home on Sunday morning, October 12, 2025, surrounded by loving family. Calling hours were October 16 at Burke Funeral Home. Mass is on October 17, 11am at St. Clement’s Church. Burial with military honors following at Saratoga National Cemetery, 1 pm. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.

AINSLIE B. WAGNER

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

LOCAL COMMITTAL SERVICE

Reverend Ainslie B. Wagner passed away February 5, 2025, in Cornelius, North Carolina. Ainslie spent his entire childhood in New York State, graduating from Saratoga High School in 1968 and from Union College in Schenectady, NY in 1972. He dedicated his entire adult life to serving the Lord with his wife Leslie Hartman Wagner and their son Matthew Hartman Wagner by his side. 

A committal service is being held at the West Glenville Cemetery, 2172 W. Glenville Road, Amsterdam, NY on Saturday, October 25 at 11 a.m.  Attendees are invited to attend a celebration of Ainslie’s life after the service.

Lawrence “Rich Hickey”

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Lawrence “Rich Hickey” passed on October 13, 2025. Visitation is from 4 -7 pm October 23, at the Burke Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Funeral Home service is 11 am on October 24, followed by burial in GBH Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.  Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.

Bikeatoga’s Saratoga Foliage Ride Promotes Cycling Tourism

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.


Photo provided by Bikeatoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Bikeatoga’s Saratoga Foliage Ride, a two-day cycling festival that will be held on Oct. 11 and 12, will aim to promote bike tourism while also raising funds for a bike workshop.

Bikeatoga believes that the City of Saratoga Springs has failed to capitalize on bike tourism, which it calls a “significant opportunity to bring in new visitors.” According to a study by the Outdoor Industry Association, bicycle tourism generates $83 billion a year nationwide in economic activity. Bikeatoga board member Ed Lindner says the city has what it takes to bring those tourist dollars to the Spa City.

“We have hundreds of miles of scenic, low traffic cycling routes surrounding a nationally famous Victorian small city,” Lindner said in a news release. “You can ride in the morning on country roads passing horse and dairy farms, spend your afternoon exploring downtown shops and end the evening in one of our many great restaurants and bars. It’s really a bike tourist’s dream destination.”

Bikeatoga thinks those attributes are driving the success of its Saratoga Foliage Ride, a fundraiser for the Bikeatoga workshop, where volunteer mechanics refurbish used bikes and get them back out to anyone in the community who needs one on a free or “pay what you can” basis. In 2024, local families adopted 700 bikes from the Bikeatoga workshop, including 73 bikes in their December Kids’ Bike Giveaway. They also provide free pop-up bike repairs around the city.

Lindner thinks the success of the Saratoga Foliage Ride demonstrates local bike tourism’s potential. Only in its third year, the event is expected to draw more than two hundred riders from nine states throughout the northeast and as far away as Maine, Florida, Ohio, and Canada. Nearly 60% of participants stay for the weekend and ride both days. Many of those riders are coming back after riding last year. 

Local businesses are also getting involved. According to Lindner, “Bikeatoga is always looking for ways to get our riders downtown after the ride and we’re thrilled to partner with local bars and restaurants on the Foliage Ride Happy Hour.” 

Riders wearing Foliage Ride wristbands will get exclusive happy hour discounts from Whitman Brewing Company, the Henry Street Taproom, Bocage Champagne Bar, Cooperstown Distillery, Bibulous, and Kindred.

Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga is optimistic about the future. “Cycling tourism continues to be a growing market, and the Saratoga Foliage Ride is a wonderful example of how our community can attract visitors who want to experience the beauty of Saratoga County in an active and memorable way,” he said. “With riders coming from across the country, this event not only showcases our stunning fall landscapes but also drives real economic impact for our local hotels, restaurants, and shops.” 

Riders on the Saratoga Foliage Ride will start the day with coffee and pastries from the Bread Basket Bakery; choose from routes of 30, 50, or 75 miles each day; and then return for a hot lunch catered by the Front Street Deli. For more information or to register, visit www.SaratogaFoliageRide.com.

Standard Fare’s Resident Artist Blows Up

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Photo of artist Daniel Fairley by Zach Skowronek.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Standard Fare, the newest restaurant on Phila Street in downtown Saratoga, serves as an unofficial art gallery for Daniel Fairley, and patrons are starting to take notice of his unique work. One of Standard Fare’s signature pieces has already been purchased, and more sales have transpired since the restaurant opened on Aug. 15.

“Thad’s Pick” (2025, acrylic and ink on canvas) used to hang near the eatery’s front door and quickly became recognizable to diners until it was sold for $1,200 to a Brooklyn resident. It has been replaced with a second piece in the series, “Thad’s Pick (Again).” The original work was a fun, cartoonish depiction of a racehorse wearing the number 5.

“It is a slight jab at the seriousness and professionalism of the equestrian artwork you can see everywhere in Saratoga Springs, while still itself being equestrian art for Saratoga Springs,” Fairley said in a news release. “And based on the reception I’ve gotten so far, that’s just another example of how great it is here that people are open to a different take on something that’s so central to the Saratoga Springs identity.”

Another of the restaurant’s signature pieces, “Space Pickle,” caught the attention of a patron who purchased a 24” x 24” print from Fairley. 

“After moving to the area, I asked [Standard Fare co-owners Zac Denham and Clark Gale] if I could do a single piece for the restaurant,” Fairley said. “They counter-offered to do all the artwork in the entire restaurant. What started as one piece turned into four large paintings and 13 watercolor pieces. Most of the work was actually done in the restaurant office since the canvases were so large, they were not going to fit in my car after framing. It took about two and a half months to finish everything starting from soon after moving up here. And now Standard Fare has become my unofficial art gallery.”

“I always want my work to stand out and be a conversation starter,” Fairley added. “The paintings definitely give Standard Fare a pop of color and go exceptionally well with the atmosphere that Zac and Clark have so carefully curated in the space.”

Saratoga Sessions: A New Monthly Celebration of Live Music and Events

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.


Logo via Metroland.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Metroland, in partnership with Discover Saratoga, recently announced the launch of Saratoga Sessions, a monthly series showcasing live music, art, and community spirit throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. Beginning this fall, Saratoga Sessions will take place on the second Friday of every month.

Designed to celebrate Saratoga’s dynamic cultural scene, each Saratoga Sessions evening will feature live performances, special events, and unique experiences across participating venues and businesses. From intimate acoustic sets to high-energy concerts, the series invites locals and visitors alike to explore all that Saratoga has to offer.

“Saratoga Sessions is about more than music — it’s about bringing people together to enjoy the energy of our downtown and to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent and businesses that make Saratoga Springs so special,” said Erin Harkes of Metroland in a news release.

“As the tourism promotion agency for Saratoga County, we’re thrilled to support Saratoga Sessions,” said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga. “This series not only showcases outstanding live entertainment but also strengthens the connection between our community, visitors, and local businesses. It’s the kind of event that embodies what makes Saratoga such a unique destination.”

The first Saratoga Sessions will be held on Friday, Oct. 10. For more info and event updates, visit www.themetroland.com/saratogasessions.