Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) announced on May 28 its new executive director, Jamie Brown. “I am excited and humbled to be Saratoga PLAN’s new executive director,” said Brown. “The organization is working hard to ensure that Saratoga region residents and visitors continue to enjoy the amazing quality of life found here.
Brown most recently served as New York senior program manager for the Land Trust Alliance. In that role, he managed major state conservation grant programs and helped strengthen organizational capacity, fundraising and accreditation efforts for land trusts throughout New York. Prior to joining the Land Trust Alliance, Brown served as executive director of the Lake George Land Conservancy for more than six years. During his tenure, the organization completed more than 25 conservation projects and raised roughly $8 million to support land protection efforts.
“Jamie Brown understands both the immense value of the landscapes we protect and the urgency of protecting them now,” said Jessica Schwartzman, board chair of Saratoga PLAN. PLAN has helped conserve over 14,000 acres of land in Saratoga County and connects people to nature through an extensive trail network. For more information about the trail network in Saratoga County go to saratogaplan.org.
The Franklin Free Store, a program provided by the Franklin Community Center, recently received a renovation. The store connects community members looking to donate their no longer needed items with those in need.
According to Operations and Free Store Coordinator Ally Dennison, “The Free Store plays a critical role in our community by providing free essential items to people in need. At the same time, it helps donors clear their homes of gently used belongings and diverts a large quantity of items from landfills by creating a reuse pathway.” Each year, the Free Store serves over 8,000 people.
Due to the generosity of local businesses, volunteers, and supporters, the Free Store at 101 Washington Street underwent a “Makeover Project” between Sunday, May 17 and Friday, May 22.
Interested in donating your gently used items? Visit franklincommunitycenter.org/programs/free-store/ to book an appointment.
This summer at Siro’s guests will find a new addition to the menu, the “Golden Boy” burger for a mere 325 dollars. A Saratoga staple known for its upscale dining experience. The golden boy will be sure to attract patrons looking for an extravagant dining experience to commemorate their time at Saratoga Race Course.
The Golden Boy features a 16 oz A5 wagyu patty, topped with king crab mornay, and a gold flaked milk bread bun. New York State’s most expensive burger also comes with a side of truffle bacon jam tater tots.
Executive Chef, Noah Frese may be looking to make a splash with the Saratoga elites in his third season with Siros. Siros has built a reputation as the option for a luxury dining experience in Saratoga Spring throughout their 75-year history.
“Some days are meant to have an air of refinement and sophistication. Siro’s is here for you during those days” the website said.
It is not the most expensive burger sold in history, however, that record goes to Juicy Foods from Corvallis, Oregon. The burger weighed in at 777 lbs. and sold for 5,000 dollars back in 2011 according to Guiness World Records.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department, in preparation for next week’s Belmont on Broadway concert, has issued parking restrictions and road closures for Wednesday, June 3. Broadway from Vandam St to Lake Ave, Walton St from Woodlawn Ave to Broadway, and Ellsworth Jones from Broadway to Maple Ave will be closed from 5 a.m. until June 4 at 2 a.m. The arterial will be reduced to one lane at 4 a.m. until the end of event. Broadway from Washington St. to Lake Ave, Lake Ave from Broadway to Maple Ave, Church St. from Broadway to Woodlawn Ave, Division St. from Connolly Way to Broadway, Caroline St. and Phila St. from Broadway to Putnam will be closed from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Parking restrictions will be in effect on Broadway between Vandam and Lake Ave starting at 4 a.m. Walton St. from Broadway to Woodlawn starting at 8 a.m. Lake Ave between Maple Ave and Broadway starting at 3 p.m. Church St. between Broadway and Woodlawn starting at 3 p.m. Broadway between Lake Ave and Spring St starting at 3 p.m. The Walton St parking garage, top level all day and the 2-hour parking lot on High Rock Ave starting at 5 a.m.
For the safety and enjoyment of all, the police department asks for no coolers, backpacks, strollers or pets. No alcohol, no smoking, or weapons of any kind. There will be a medical tent on Walton St. Porta potties will be in front of city hall and the post office. There will be a temporary flight restriction in place as there will be drones in place for the event.
Saturday May 23— After eight years in the community, Boho Chic Boutique is forced to close their doors. The building it operates under, which has been for sale for nine months, sold to new ownership earlier this month. The new owners had no intention of renewing Boho Chic’s lease and gave owner Carrie VanDerhoof a fifteen-day eviction notice on Saturday, May 16. “Of course we are disappointed, we have been here for eight years, and no one communicated with us” said VanDerhoof.
Located on Front Street in Ballston Spa, Boho Chic gave local artists a platform to share their art with the community. The boutique gave residents and visitors a chance to support small artists while purchasing sustainable, locally made art instead of mass-produced products.
It was a celebration of the local community Boho Chic had garnered over their eight years of business on Saturday. VanDerhoof wrote on Facebook, “There are not enough words to summarize my feelings, my gratitude, my sadness, my joy, my love for this beautiful family we have cultivated.”
The short notice barely gave VanDerhoof time to process that her time at the Ballston Spa storefront has come to an end. Left with plenty of inventory on the final day of operation, be on the lookout for pop-up shops around the Ballston Spa community.
When asked about what’s next for Boho Chic Boutique, VanDerhoof is not going to rush into a new brick-and-mortar storefront. “I need to walk into the space and feel right, Boho Chic is an expression of art, and the space needs to represent that.” Be sure to follow Boho Chic Boutique on Facebook for future developments.
The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops during June:
June 3 at 10AM and June 4 at 10:30AM: Resume Development – This workshop presents the basics of a powerful and effective cover letter including formatting, tailoring to the job, and getting through the online application process to land an interview. Please have a rough draft of your resume with you.
June 4 at 11AM and June 18 at 1:30PM: Transferable Skills – Transferable skills are qualities you have already acquired which can be used in a different job. Make it easy for employers to see the connection between your qualities and the skillset needed to do the job and market yourself as the solution to an employer’s problem. Learn ways to research the employer’s needs, then identify and show them that you have these skills.
June 8 at 12PM: Broadview Financial Well-Being – Your budget is a key that opens doors, guiding you to your money goals. Get ready to take control of your finances and your future! Find out how to organize what you make, spend, and save; set goals to save up, spend down, look ahead; harness the power of mindful spending; and identify budget tactics that work best for you.
June 9 at 10:30AM: Interview Preparation – Learn how to articulate your strengths, what questions to expect, how to address difficult topics, and ace the interviewing process.
June 10 at 10AM and June 23 at 1:30PM: Goal Setting – Goals are what take us forward in life. They are the first step in every journey we take. In this workshop we will explain how goal setting works, why goals are important, and take home more helpful resources to get you started. Remember: “If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” Find out how to reach your dreams.
June 11 at 11AM: Essential Skills for Success in Any Workplace – Join this engaging workshop to learn about the skills that are most valued by business leaders yet are underdeveloped in employees. Learn why these skills are critically important, how to develop them, and the influence of AI.
June 12 at 10:30AM and June 24 at 10:30AM: Networking – Networking is your strategic tool for cultivating lasting relationships, fostering professional growth, and unlocking opportunities. Join us for an approachable journey to understanding networking.
June 16 at 10:30AM and June 18 at 11AM: Completing Job Applications – Statistics show approximately 50% of mid-sized companies and almost all large corporations use an applicant tracking system to screen candidates for job opportunities. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers.
June 23 at 11AM: Overcoming Barriers – Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. Whether you’re facing transportation needs, childcare needs, prior justice system involvement, inexperience, health concerns or more, this workshop will provide you with resources and strategies to help you meet your goals.
June 25 at 1:30PM: Social Media – Your social media presence can make or break your ability to find a job. Learn how to use social media to your advantage in searching for a job and marketing yourself to land the job or career you’ve always wanted.
Registration is required for all workshops. Visit www.saratogacountyny.gov/workforce to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at (518) 884-4170 for more information.
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation announces that trainers Cherie DeVaux, Tom Morley, and Graham Motion have joined the Belmont Pledge, committing a portion of their Belmont Festival earnings to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the hundreds of retired Thoroughbreds in its care.
Their participation builds upon the commitment already made by Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Whit Beckman, and Amelia Green, reflecting a growing movement within the racing industry to support horses beyond their racing careers.
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the nation’s oldest and largest Thoroughbred retirement organization, currently provides dignified lifetime care for hundreds of retired racehorses, many of whom live two decades or more beyond their racing careers.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s been nearly two years since the Western Sun Foundation, a charity run by fans of the jam band Goose, raised a record sum for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. And now, with Goose storming the SPAC stage on Fourth of July weekend, the charity is back and ready to raise more funds for a local nonprofit.
A golf tournament dubbed “Red, White & Birdies” will be held at the Saratoga Spa Golf Course on Independence Day. It’s a sequel of sorts to “Goose on the Green,” the fundraising golf event held at the same course in 2024, when Goose last played at SPAC. But this time, everything promises to be bigger. Two years ago, 18 tee times were available. This year, there will be at least 20. Two years ago, Western Sun was a relatively new charity supporting a relatively new band. This year, all that’s changed.
“We’re getting more awareness and we’re getting more trust,” Western Sun’s president Sarah Blazincic told Saratoga TODAY. “We used to have to fully explain what our mission was and what our intentions were to the community, and now people know us. People are trusting and knowing what we do and what our mission is. We less have to convince people that we’re up to good because they have seen the proof.”
In 2024, the proof was $7,500 raised by Western Sun for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. At the time, the sum was the fan-run charity’s largest gift yet. But Western Sun likes to spread the love around and generally doesn’t donate to the same nonprofit twice within two years. That means they need another beneficiary for their upcoming “Red, White & Birdies” event.
Beneficiaries need to be based in the Capital Region and meet the following criteria:
• Classified as a “Public Charity” with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (individual or private foundations are not eligible)
• Operating budget less than $1,000,000
• Focuses on one of the following areas: music education; music therapy; safety, health, and personal wellbeing of women and children; or climate action and environmental sustainability
Finding smaller charities to serve as beneficiaries can be a challenge, at times, for Western Sun. In 2024, the charity connected with Therapeutic Horses thanks to an article published in Saratoga TODAY (not that we’re bragging or anything). This year, the prize is still up for grabs. (Who knows, perhaps someone reading this will score the bag.)
Since Goose last played SPAC, their charity has grown exponentially, much like the band itself, which sold out Madison Square Garden for the first time in 2025.
“Each year, we have grown anywhere between 30 and 50% year over year from the last year,” Blazincic said. “We are rapidly growing, and we keep thinking it’s going to plateau. We thought this is the year it would plateau, but it turns out it’s just going higher and higher.”
Western Sun was launched by a group of Goose fans in 2022. The Goose community, akin to the Phish and Grateful Dead fan bases that came before it, often attends multiple shows every year, obsessing over the setlists, solos, and sound mixes of each tour. Phish’s Mockingbird Foundation and the Grateful Dead’s Rex Foundation both served as examples for Goose fans looking to give back.
“We decided to take this big energy that was Goose and the music we get from it, transform that into action, and raise money for the communities that we’re traveling through,” Blazincic told Saratoga TODAY in a 2024 interview.
Local organizations that meet the criteria listed above can contact Sarah Blazincic at westernsunfoundation@gmail.com. The deadline to determine a beneficiary is June 1.
Photo of the Orra Phelps Preserve provided by Saratoga PLAN.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) recently announced it has renewed its land trust accreditation.
“Renewing our accreditation shows Saratoga PLAN’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation in the Saratoga region,” said Robert Davies, executive director of Saratoga PLAN. “We are stronger as an organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. That renewed strength and effectiveness means special places – such as PLAN’s 13 public nature preserves and the agricultural land crucial to more than 30 local working farms – will be protected forever, making this area an even greater place to live, work, visit and play.”
Saratoga PLAN provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that Saratoga PLAN’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts across the country now steward over 20 million acres – the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
“We are proud to recognize Saratoga PLAN’s continued commitment to conservation excellence,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction that stands for excellence, trust and permanence. Saratoga PLAN is part of a network of accredited land trusts that are united by their strong ethical practices. Accredited land trusts inspire confidence and respect among their peers and in their communities.”
Saratoga PLAN is one of 1,281 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census.
Since 2003, Saratoga PLAN has helped protect more than 14,000 acres of land.
Janet DeVaux (right) with her husband Adrian “Butch” DeVaux (left). Photo provided by the Wesley Community.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Community, a 37-acre senior living campus with more than 700 residents in Saratoga Springs, recently introduced an alternative to its traditional certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program that is generating results for stakeholders and participants.
Launched last September and featuring accelerated training, the new hybrid CNA program has yielded 43 new graduates, 98% of whom have passed the New York State CNA exam. There are currently 16 students enrolled in the session that began on April 20.
One of Wesley’s longtime CNAs is Janet DeVaux, the mother of Kentucky Derby-winning trainer and Saratoga Springs native Cherie DeVaux.
Janet credits her employment as a CNA at Wesley with providing financial stability for her family as they worked to build their stable training horses.
“Being a CNA has supported my family for the better part of the last 30 years while we trained horses,” she recalled. “Working at Wesley has been like having a second family. My residents immediately became family, and I am constantly given the opportunity to learn and to advance my training to better serve them.”
The paid hybrid training program is three weeks long and includes two weeks onsite to complete clinical, skill practice and skill-testing hours. It has replaced Wesley’s previous six-week CNA training program, which had been offered exclusively onsite.
Due to the accelerated class time of the hybrid CNA program, graduates are each assigned a mentor (DeVaux currently serves as one of the mentors) and undergo an orientation period to become familiar with the residents who they will assist with activities of daily living. A success coach is assigned and conducts weekly meetings during a four-week orientation. Graduates receive their own assignments following this period.
As a night shift worker at Wesley, DeVaux is aware of the importance of training new employees to join the workforce, at a time when there is a critical nursing shortage throughout the industry.
“The CNA program at Wesley has been producing some very nice results, which is encouraging, considering the increasing need for all facets of nursing care,” DeVaux said. “Becoming a CNA is a great option for anyone who is interested in launching a career in health care. Wesley’s comprehensive program provides everything needed to be awarded the necessary certification.”
Qualified candidates interested in becoming part of Wesley’s CNA team can apply online at: https://thewesleycommunity.recruitpro.com/jobs/310395-15755.html.
