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Rustic Pizza Carries on Family Legacy

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


Rustic Pizza & Eats photo provided by Brian Brumley.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An award-winning pizza recipe created in the 1950s has been resurrected at Rustic Pizza & Eats, which opened in Saratoga Springs in July.

“As much as I did not want to get back in the restaurant business, I’m doing it for [my mom], for her family,” said Rustic Pizza owner Brian Brumley.

Brumley is the former owner of Spring Street Deli, which he ran for nearly three decades before deciding he wanted to scale back. “I put 28 years of my life into it,” Brumley said. “It was very good to me. I just felt like it was time to sell and move on, create something a little smaller”

Brumley downsized with Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf, which is located right next to Rustic Pizza. The mini golf course famously hosts “Puff Puff Putt” events that allow adults 21 and older to use marijuana while aiming for a hole-in-one. But the call to carry on his family’s legacy compelled him to open up a pizzeria next door.

Brumley’s grandfather opened a restaurant in Amsterdam, New York in the 1940s, then turned the business over to Brumley’s uncle, Tony Centi, in the 50s. Centi created a pizza recipe that was named “Best in the Great Northeast” for multiple years. He sold his famous pies at the Crystal Bar & Restaurant. But in 2013, Crystal closed, and it seemed as if the recipe would be gone forever. 

Brumley said his mom, the last living sibling of his uncle, wished that the recipe would survive. And so Brumley opened Rustic Pizza after securing the recipe from a cousin.

Brumley said his mom is “ecstatic” that new generations will be able to enjoy the Centi family’s creation. “It’s an honor to be asked to carry on the tradition of such a great legacy,” he said. 

Brumley classifies the pies as “bar pizza,” which has a crust akin to Chicago-style in that the sauce and lightly browned cheese go to the edge. Culinary magazine Bon Appétit describes bar pizza as recalling “a pre-gourmet pizza era.”

“[The recipe] really is unbelievable, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my family,” Brumley said.

Rustic Pizza & Eats is located at 556 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs, next to Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf.

Raw Milk Drives Ballston Farm’s Success

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


he Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston has been growing exponentially over the last handful of years, its owners said. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

BALLSTON — Sara and Chuck Curtiss, the married couple who run the Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston, have found success by providing a product that’s unique to Saratoga County: raw milk.

“The raw milk has had quite a drive and it’s constantly increasing,” Chuck said.

“Our customer base has grown so quickly,” Sara said. “Each year, the business has gone up like 30% one year, 40% one year, 70% during COVID, 30% last year, and then this year we’re at 40%.”

As the business continues to grow, so too does the farm itself and its product offerings. A creamery is currently being built that will allow Willow-Marsh to produce its own yogurt and once again make its own raw milk cheese.

According to RealMilk.com, the closest locations where one can purchase raw milk products are in Canajoharie and Ghent, both of which are at least a 45-minute drive away from the Ballston area. For most Saratoga County residents, Willow-Marsh is their closest raw milk dealer.

Raw milk, simply put, is unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a process by which raw milk is heated up in an effort to eliminate pathogens and extend the product’s shelf life. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unpasteurized milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that “consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations.”

Although not widely available, the production and sale of raw milk is legal in New York State, under certain conditions. The state requires all raw milk dealers to obtain a license in order to sell raw milk directly to the public, and the milk can only be sold on the farm where it is produced.

Chuck said his farm is subject to monthly, unannounced inspections in which the milk, water, cheese, and cows are all assessed.

“We’re held at a higher level of everything; cleanliness, equipment maintenance, stuff like that,” Chuck said. “We really have to be careful, be clean, and protect that.”

“When we are educating customers about the raw milk and the inspection process, they’re always like, ‘oh, the government.’ They complain, ‘that’s awful,’” Sara said. “I’m like no, actually our inspectors are super nice, considerate, and want what’s best for the public.”

Raw milk advocates argue that the taste and nutritional benefits of raw milk are significantly better than the pasteurized variety. The Raw Milk Institute, which Willow-Marsh links to on their website, states that raw milk contains a “variety of essential nutrients, fats, proteins, anti-inflammatory and digestive enzymes, bioavailable vitamins, and minerals.” 

“We have a lot of customers telling us their doctor, their chiropractor, or their holistic dentist sent them here,” Sara said.

As for the taste, “it’s sweet,” Chuck said. “It’s like drinking ice cream.”

Of course, it’s not just dairy products that fly off the shelves in the farm’s store. Beef, veal, and Mangalitsa pork are hot items. The store is also stocked with fresh local produce, honey, maple syrup, and handmade goods such as candles and jewelry.

The fifth-generation family farm used to primarily sustain itself by supplying Stewart’s Shops with milk. But it has since diversified and secured the valuable raw milk license. It also hosts a wide variety of events, including this summer’s “Big Gay Family Bash,” sound baths, bonfires, candle-making workshops, and the upcoming first-ever garlic and music festival on October 12.

The Willow-Marsh Farm Store is located at 343 Hop City Road in Ballston Spa and is open Wednesday through Sunday. 

GlobalFoundries/Town of Malta Foundation Accepting Grant Applications

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.


Photo via the GlobalFoundries / Town of Malta Foundation

MALTA — The GlobalFoundries / Town of Malta Foundation is accepting grant applications until October 31.

The GlobalFoundries / Town of Malta Foundation was established to fund organizations, programs, and projects that provide tangible benefits of a public nature to the community and citizens of Malta. The foundation provides thousands of dollars of grant funding every year.

Grant recipients will be announced in December. An awards ceremony will be held at the David R. Meager Malta Community Center.

For more information or to submit an application, visit sites.google.com/site/gfmaltafoundationorg/home.

National Grid Addressing Power Outages in Ballston Spa and Malta

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.

BALLSTON SPA — A post in a local Facebook group has sparked awareness of ongoing power outages occurring in the area of Ballston Spa and Malta. 

The outages, while brief, have been impacting homes and businesses. Residents reported that air conditioning units turned off, lights flickered, and appliances needed to be reset. 

One business owner said the outages disrupt her company’s credit card machine.

It’s unclear exactly how long the outages have been occurring, but some residents said it’s been an ongoing issue for at least the past few months, if not longer.

Patrick Stella, the National Grid Communications Manager for Eastern New York, told Saratoga TODAY that National Grid would be “installing monitoring equipment in the area to better diagnose the root cause of these shorter outages. We will use this information in the coming weeks to come up with a more permanent fix.” Stella also said that the outages appear to be contained to the area of Ballston Spa and Malta.

Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi said he’s previously reached out to his municipal contact at National Grid regarding an outage in Malta and another one at the Village Green Apartments in Ballston Spa. On Monday, he created a Google Form asking Ballston Spa residents to share details about any outages they’ve experienced. The form can be found on his Facebook page.

“While it is not in the Village’s abilities to resolve such issues,” Rossi wrote, “we have a good working relationship with National Grid — and they have historically worked with us to try to identify issues and resolve them.”

Malta Town Supervisor Cynthia Young also said she had contacted National Grid. She requested that Malta residents email supervisor@malta-town.org with their address and the exact time and duration of any outages.

Second Saratoga Springs Cannabis Dispensary Opens

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


The interior of High Peaks Canna, Saratoga Springs’ second cannabis dispensary. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new cannabis dispensary, High Peaks Canna, held its grand opening last Friday morning at 137 Maple Ave, the former site of the Towne Law Firm. The pot shop became the second dispensary to open in Saratoga Springs after Silver Therapeutics opened its doors at 75 Weibel Ave in July.

High Peaks is open seven days a week; from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The store offers a wide variety of products from popular brands, including Jaunty, Off Hours, and Ayrloom.

The first application for a dispensary in the Spa City was filed with the city’s planning board in July 2023. That proposed location at 95 West Ave has yet to open. Last month, an application to open the first pot shop in Ballston Spa was withdrawn due to concerns over parking, increased traffic, and possible on-site consumption.

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga Expands With New Indoor Arena

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


A therapy horse enjoys the company of humans inside a paddock near the new arena. Photos by Jonathon Norcross

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS), a nonprofit that provides equine-assisted psychotherapy, unveiled its new, year-round indoor arena and group therapy space on Wednesday morning. The facility will allow THS to increase the number of annual clients from 60 to 100, and expand its total number of annual therapy sessions from 680 to 1,200.

Construction of the new arena began in mid-June, and finishing touches were completed in early September. The facility was funded by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) through the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program (NICIP). THS was selected as an awardee of a NICIP investment in April. 

“The innovative programs of Therapeutic Horses are a perfect fit for the Saratoga community, and I am pleased that our organization is able to play a part in supporting their important work,” said Robert J. Rodriguez, President of DASNY, in a statement.

A number of local elected officials attended the unveiling. Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford and State Senator James Tedisco both praised the organization for assisting veterans. Assemblymember Carrie Woerner thanked THS for aiding survivors of trauma. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was slated to appear but did not attend.

THS is located on a 27-acre horse farm on Lake Avenue, which is currently home to 29 horses (plus two Saratoga Springs police horses). On the same property is an office for ECS Psychological Services, a practice that oversees therapy sessions between patients and horses. THS also allows any individual or group to book “horseplay” sessions, which are not necessarily considered a form of therapy but nonetheless allow both adults and children to enjoy the company of a horse in a tranquil setting.

“When somebody walks [into a paddock] with anger, with fear, with anxiety, which is the number one diagnosis of people that come here, the horses sense it and they are completely unnerved. They don’t attack, they just disappear,” said Kim Weir, THS’ director of strategic growth. “This is the magic of horses generally. Horses trust humans. If we are confident, then they’re completely confident. That’s why they fought our wars and dug our ditches and built our civilizations.”

In order for the horses to help humans feel more confident and less anxious or fearful, the horses themselves need to be well taken care of, Weir said. “We need them to feel safe

Anne’s Washington Inn: 80 Years of Family and Hospitality

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


Joe Bokan Jr. and his wife Kathleen pose with their three children in front of Anne’s Washington Inn in Saratoga Springs. Photo by Lawrence White. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Many businesses advertise themselves as “family owned and operated,” but Anne’s Washington Inn takes the concept to another level.

In 1943, hotelier Charles Russell purchased what was then the McCarty Hospital in Saratoga Springs for $7,500 and transformed it into the The Washington Inn. His daughter, Anne (Russell) Bokan ran the place for more than forty years. In 1985, Anne’s son and daughter-in-law, Joe Jr. and Kathleen Bokan, took over operations. Today, the couple’s oldest daughter Madeleine oversees the inn’s wedding and events operations with her toddler in tow. That’s five generations of family members who have sat on the inn’s famous front porch across 80 years of busy Saratoga summers.

If Anne’s Washington Inn feels more like a family residence than a resort, that’s probably because it was. Joe Jr., the current owner/operator, spent his childhood there with his five sisters.

“All of us ran the front desk, all of us made beds, all of us cleaned bathrooms; whatever it took,” Joe Jr. said. “As kids, we all grew up doing it.”

As the decades have gone by, not much has changed in the way the Bokans do business.  

“We all pitch in,” said Joe Jr.’s daughter Madeleine. “One day we’ll be in the rooms. One day we’ll be in the dining room, doing events, checking people in. It’s kind of all-hands-on-deck.”

Originally called The Washington Inn, the business was renamed in honor of Anne (Russell) Bokan in 2007. “It’s amazing to hear from longtime Saratogians. They’ll say, ‘Your mom was one of the first women to have a business in Saratoga.’ She really ran it. She’d always done it, but it never hit me. Back in the 50s, women were not running businesses,” Joe Jr. said.

There were a couple other reasons for the name change as well. Adding “Anne’s” made the inn easier to find in web searches. It also moved the business up the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s list of lodging establishments, which resulted in more referrals. In the first year following the name change, Joe Jr. said his sales went up 30%.

Nowadays, Joe Jr. said he leaves much of the marketing and public relations work to Madeleine. Although an heir to the inn has not been officially proclaimed, Joe Jr. said that his daughter may one day emerge as his successor. “She loves the hotel. She loves the people. She gets it,” he said.

“But he’s not allowed to retire anytime soon,” said Madeleine. “This place runs because of him.”

“I’m having too much fun [to retire],” said Joe Jr.

Anne’s Washington Inn, currently celebrating its 80th year in business, is open April through October. Events are offered year-round. Located on four acres of land off South Broadway, the inn is within walking distance of the Saratoga Spa State Park and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). For more information, visit www.anneswi.com.

Adelphi Hotel Residences Officially Open

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


Photo via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Adelphi Hotel held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the opening of the hotel’s new luxury residences. State Senator Jim Tedisco, Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi, Mayor John Safford, and members of the Shannon McCarthy Realty Team were on hand to mark the occasion.

Some of the 79 units, priced from $800,000 to $4 million, began selling at the beginning of the year. Some buyers were able to move in as early as June. The condos range from 800 to 2,500 square feet.

Ballston Spa Barber Club Celebrates Grand Opening

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

The Ballston Spa Barber Club celebrated its grand opening on Monday, August 26 with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. The shop, located in the Carousel Village Plaza at 2100 Doubleday Avenue Ballston Spa, is open every day but Sunday. Photo via the Chamber of Commerce.

Saratoga Dunkin’ Celebrates Reopening with Ortiz Brothers

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.

Photo via the New York Racing Association (NYRA). 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Famed jockeys (and siblings) Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz fueled up for the final week of the Saratoga summer meet at the newly remodeled Dunkin’ at 80 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday morning. The Ortiz brothers signed autographs and met with fans.

“Not only are the Ortiz brothers among the most accomplished jockeys in the sport, but they are very generous to carve out time to spend with their fans and our guests during the busy Saratoga season,” said Tom Burke III, franchisee of the Dunkin’ location.

The revamped Dunkin’ on West Ave features a new modern design, premium pours, and a “faster than ever” drive-thru experience. It’s open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.