SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced this week that it’s providing 25 local nonprofit organizations with reserved picnic tables for each day of the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at the Saratoga Race Course from June 6-9. The tables can be used for fundraising activities, donor support, or to raise awareness for their respective mission.
The nonprofits primarily comprise those with the mission to deliver human services and provide direct assistance to individuals experiencing food insecurity, financial hardship, homelessness and mental and physical disability. Organizations were also selected for their support of veterans, families and children, and promotion of the arts.
“NYRA is pleased to recognize the important role that nonprofit organizations play in our communities with the donation of these coveted reserved picnic tables as potentially lucrative fundraising vehicles,” said Robert Hines, NYRA Community Affairs Manager, in a statement. “We are grateful for the many ways these organizations enhance Saratoga and the greater Capital Region.”
Local recipients of these tables include AIM Services, Caffè Lena, The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, Northeastern New York Chapter of American Red Cross, Opera Saratoga, Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Regional YMCA, Shelters of Saratoga, and The Wesley Community, among other organizations.
Local private investigator Jeremiah Brooks poses next to two of his company’s vehicles. Photo provided by Alivia Waldron.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Forget what you’ve seen on “CSI” or in Humphrey Bogart movies; in today’s world, private investigators bear little resemblance to their Hollywood caricatures.
When a potential client walks into Brooks Investigations Group’s office in Saratoga Springs, there are some fanciful notions that might need to be dispelled.
“There’s no magical prescription drug where we can literally find everything about someone,” said Jeremiah Brooks, Chief of Investigations. “The FBI has a background check system that provides 5% of the information mine does, and that’s the FBI.”
Brooks’ background investigations can range from someone looking to learn more about their future significant other to business owners who suspect they’re being swindled. These cases are only one of many tasks that private investigators can do. Brooks Investigations Group’s top cases usually fall under the categories of criminal defense or family court. But there is one case category that seems to be popular in the Saratoga area: evictions.
“Sometimes that just involves us serving paperwork, and other times we do 24-hour inspections,” Brooks said. “24-hour inspections are designed, number one, to make sure that the current resident or squatter is not damaging the property, but also to let them know that my clients are taking this very seriously, they’re acting within the law and they’re not going to make it comfortable for you to sit here and squeeze them dry.”
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Brooks Investigations Group’s central office is in Plattsburgh, and the company added its second brick-and-mortar location in Saratoga Springs last year. But Brooks also has investigators working out of “satellite offices” in Albany, Elmira, and Massena. These investigators don’t have physical offices per se, but they each command a small team of people, many of whom are ex-law enforcement. Brooks said that “at least” 90% of his staff have some law enforcement background.
“When I sit down with somebody that I’m about to hire, I want them to share my vision,” Brooks said. “I want them to have that same vision that we don’t go into a case with blinders on, which occurs in many police investigations. They’ll actually formulate conclusions well before the facts have been collected, and that’s one thing that we try to do the opposite. We stay objective. We stay open-minded. We’re never biased. We use our training to help us, but we also have an open mind. My team is very much like that, and that’s why we’re successful with what we do.”
Brooks’ philosophy of staying open-minded has led to his company taking on a number of criminal defense cases. Public defenders often contact private investigators to assist with their cases, and this, Brooks said, is where his company truly shines.
“The police have investigators, the district attorney has the police; somebody that’s accused has their defense attorney and that’s it,” Brooks said. “It’s not really set up to be fair.”
Brooks Investigations Group conducts its own investigations independently of the police, and sometimes its findings contradict the official record, or even reveal alleged corruption. “We’re changing the landscape on criminal defense,” Brooks said.
Though radically different from how the media often portrays them, private investigators are undoubtedly having an influence across the country, and right here in Saratoga Springs.
Brooks Investigations’ Saratoga office is located at 120 West Avenue, in suite 212.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s been nearly a century since the last total solar eclipse was visible from New York State. Although Saratoga Springs is outside the path of totality, the city will still feel the impact of visitors flocking to the Adirondacks, where they’ll hope to catch a glimpse of the celestial phenomenon on April 8.
“Our lodging partners are seeing strong transient demand on Sunday, April 7 and Monday April 8, with Sunday being the busiest,” Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri told Saratoga TODAY. “That means we can expect an influx of tourists and eclipse enthusiasts who will be engaging with our destination, spending time and money in our cities and towns, as they travel from all over to experience this rare event.”
Electronic signs stationed on I-87 warn travelers that the Northway could be congested on or around eclipse day. Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul told state officials and law enforcement to prepare for a high volume of traffic the weekend leading up to the eclipse and through April 9.
Those who don’t wish to fight their way through traffic may still be able to enjoy a partial solar eclipse. At least one local business, Speckled Pig Brewing in Ballston Spa, is throwing a rooftop viewing party on Monday afternoon. The Saratoga National Historical Park is also hosting a viewing event.
Discover Saratoga recommends a few public areas from which to view the partial eclipse, including Congress Park, Saratoga Spa State Park, and Moreau Lake State Park.
BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Career Center, in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers, will hold the following free virtual career workshops in April:
• April 9 at 10:30 a.m.: Interview Preparation. Learn how to articulate your strengths, what questions to expect, how to address difficult topics, and ace the interviewing process. • April 10 at 10 a.m.: Goal Setting. This workshop explores how goal setting works, why goals are important, and provides helpful resources to get you started to reach your dreams. • April 18 at 11 a.m.: Completing Job Applications. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers. • April 19 at 10:30 a.m.: Networking. Join us for an approachable journey to understanding networking. • April 23 at 11 a.m.: Overcoming Barriers. Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. • April 23 at 1:30 p.m.: Social Media. 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. • April 30 at 11 a.m.: Transferable Skills. Learn how to make employers see the connection between your qualities and the skills needed to do the job and market yourself as the solution to an employer’s problem.
Registration is required for all workshops. Visit thejoblink.org/calendar/ to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at 518-884-4170 for more information.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A handful of local businesses, in collaboration with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), are encouraging the use of cold-climate heat pumps for both cooling and heating.
In Ballston Spa, Tree Huggers, Sustainable Sundry, and the Sweetish Chef all have heat pumps installed, as does Artisanal Brew Works in Saratoga Springs.
NYSERDA is promoting heat pumps as a “more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to stay comfortable.” The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 offers federal tax credits for homeowners who use heat pumps, and the New York State Clean Heat program provides rebates through utility companies to incentivise people to install pumps.
At Artisanal Brew Works, NYSERDA’s Courtney Moriarta explained how heat pumps work. “Through the magic of physics, we can take the energy out of the air that’s outside and put it through a set of refrigerant pipes, and it’ll heat that air up and turn it into usable heat inside the building,” Moriarta said.
NYSERDA aims to dispel a couple popular misconceptions about heat pumps. First, heat pumps can provide both cooling and heating, not just heat. Second, modern pumps, unlike older models, are able to work in cold climates such as upstate New York.
“These are really sophisticated systems that are designed to work at colder temperatures,” Moriarta said. “The single-stage heat pumps of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, they could perform down to about 40, 30 degrees outside temperature, and once the air outside gets lower than that, they would have trouble keeping up or just not really be able to deliver heat at all.”
Today, heat pumps can operate at 100 percent capacity in 5 degrees, and can still function at lower capacity down to as low as -22 degrees. This means that heat pumps can operate in any climate in the world. “With this newer, cold-climate heat pump technology, you can really deliver comfort,” Moriarta said.
NYSERDA is encouraging both business owners and homeowners to experience heat pumps in person at one of the many local establishments that already use heat pumps. In addition to the aforementioned businesses, John Sawicki of the environmental consulting firm TRC Companies said that a number of restaurants in downtown Saratoga use heat pumps, as do several local libraries.
“If you look across the street to the left, there’s a mixed-use apartment building that was built with Mitsubishi heat pumps; that whole entire complex,” Sawicki said.
“Once you know what to look for, you start seeing them everywhere,” said Moriarta.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Networking at Night, a local group that organizes community engagement and professional development events, is hosting a fundraiser on April 18 for Wellspring Saratoga, a group that helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The event, with a suggested donation of $20, combines professional networking opportunities with a charitable cause. Attendees can enjoy a taco bar, drink specials, and participate in raffles and a silent auction.
The fundraiser will be held at Bailey’s Cafe at 37 Phila Street in downtown Saratoga.
MALTA — After billions of federal and state dollars were invested in GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor manufacturing company headquartered in Malta, the Ballston Spa Central School District stands to benefit from the windfall, perhaps for decades to come.
As GlobalFoundries plans to build a second plant in Malta, school officials are trying to determine both the enrollment and financial impact the new plant might have. “Next year right now is financially difficult, but the future is actually quite bright for Ballston Spa because of that plant, no other reason,” said Clerk of the Board and Records Access Officer Brian Sirianni in a Board of Education meeting on March 20.
When the first GlobalFoundries plant opened, an immediate impact was felt on the district’s enrollment. The number of total students jumped from 4,185 in 2011 to 4,322 in 2012. The increase of 137 students was the first time enrollment had climbed in years. Since then, enrollment has steadily declined from 2012 until the present day, when students number around 3,860.
Sirianni said that predicting the enrollment impact of the second GlobalFoundries plant would be difficult. Compared to 2011, today’s housing market is in significantly worse shape, with inventory rates being especially low. “That’s why we’re seeing so many apartment complexes being built in the area; literally hundreds and hundreds of units,” Sirianni said.
When it comes to the district’s finances, a second GlobalFoundries plant is nothing but good news. Sirianni said that in the first year or two, the district could see an additional few hundred thousand dollars. “But it’ll grow into the millions like it did before,” Sirianni said. “So that will offset our loss and, in fact, starts to subsidize the rest of the district.” Sirianni said the second plant could benefit the district financially for the next ten to fifteen years.
Construction on GlobalFoundries’ second plant is expected to begin this year. The company estimates that more than 1,500 manufacturing jobs and about 9,000 construction jobs will be created.
Photo of the award-winning Acta Beauty Illuminating Serum provided by Jillian Ehrenberg.
BALLSTON SPA — Acta Beauty, a skincare brand based in Ballston Spa, has won six Beauty Shortlist Awards:
• Winner of Best Skincare Product with Vitamin C: Acta Beauty Illuminating Serum with Vitamin C
• Finalist for Best 2-in-1 Cleanser & Exfoliator: Acta Beauty Skin Refining Cleanser with AHA and BHA
• Editor’s Choice Awards: Acta Beauty Luxe Moisture Eye Cream with Bakuchiol, Acta Beauty Overnight Moisture Revitalizing Cream, Acta Beauty Moisture Infusion Day Cream, and Acta Beauty Resurfacing Serum with Bakuchio
Founded by cosmetic chemist Jillian Ehrenberg, Acta Beauty bills itself as “forward-thinking” and “committed to harnessing the power of nature and science.” Ehrenberg is also the owner of the clean beauty retail store Petal + Hive, located at 89 Milton Ave in Ballston Spa.
“We are honored to receive these prestigious awards, which underscore our commitment to crafting effective skincare solutions that deliver tangible results while prioritizing the needs of sensitive skin,” Ehrenberg said in a statement.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company has appointed Ryan Case as Senior Vice President, Capital Region Market Executive.
In his new role, Case will lead market expansion efforts and develop and engage in community relationships across the Capital Region. He will be responsible for driving a high standard of customer experience and leading a competitive growth strategy within the bank’s Capital Region footprint.
Case most recently served as Senior Vice President, Business Banking Market Leader of KeyBank. Before that, he worked in commercial and business banking roles at First Niagara, Citizens Bank and M&T Bank.
The old Pizza Hut location in Ballston Spa will soon become a Ted’s Fish Fry location. Image via Ted’s Fish Fry Facebook page.
BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa’s old Pizza Hut at 2103 Doubleday Avenue is about to transform into a new restaurant: Ted’s Fish Fry. The business is expected to open this fall.
Ted’s Fish Fry has been a Capital Region mainstay for decades. The chain currently has locations in Albany, Troy, Clifton Park, Latham, and Watervliet. The eatery specializes in fried seafood and chowder.
“It’s great to see such a popular area business trust in the strength of our Village business community,” Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi wrote in a social media post.
The old Pizza Hut building will undergo renovations, with the goal of reopening as Ted’s Fish Fry in October or November.
