SARATOGA SPRINGS — Impressions of Saratoga and The Dark Horse Mercantile are now delivering Saratoga Mother’s Day Porch Packages.

Each Porch Package is delivered in a reusable Saratoga tote and filled with locally made food products and Saratoga specific items. There are basic “pre-assembled” Porch Packages from $25 to $150 price points featuring all Saratoga made products and are also fully customizable.

Marianne Barker and Maddy Zanetti, Co-Owners, are “contactless delivering” all local Porch Packages by walking, biking, or driving them to their destination and they have recruited help from family members too. In addition, many are being shipped all across the country. 

They have teamed up with other local businesses and now have products from Saratoga Coffee Traders, Angel Wings BBQ sauce and Saratoga Tea & Honey, plus the vendors they already worked with; Cobble Hill Farms, Mapleland Farms, Dean’s Delicious Dog Treats, Adirondack Candle Co., Saratoga Spicery, Saratoga Beef Jerky, Healthy Gourmet, Sunnyside Gardens, Saratoga Candy Co, Sundaes Best, Lazy Dog, Saratoga Chocolate Co, Decresente, and more.

 “Since we will still be unable to gather with our moms this year, we thought a Mother’s Day Porch Package would be a great way to spread some joy. You can add a flowering plant from Sunnyside Gardens to any local deliveries and we have a bunch of fun Mother’s Day Cards tool,” says Barker.

 Zanetti said, “The two original Saratoga Porch Packages that we developed just three weeks ago have been so successful that we created Saratoga Porch Packages and added more than a dozen new ‘Pre-Assembled’ Porch Packages, some specifically for Mother’s Day. We will be including ‘Saratoga Porch Packages’ into our everyday business once the doors open again. Right now we have porch-packing stations set up around the back of the store. The response and support has been incredible.”

Currently, Porch Packages can be ordered Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by calling 518-587-0666 or 24 hours a day online at SaratogaPorchPackages.com. Porch Packages are distributed with “contactless delivery.” You can also send email inquiries to Impressions@ImpressionsSaratoga.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Just as local eateries convert to online orders and to-go options, other small businesses reinvent themselves to adapt to the ever-changing times.

Something Bleu Bridal reinvented the bridal dress shopping experience, introducing two types of appointments for brides to be. Owners Kathyrn Metzler and Marissa Mackay developed concierge bridal appointments and Zoom party bridal appointments for brides to find their wedding gown, while still following social distancing guidelines. 

“These new appointments are unconventional but can still be enjoyed. You should still feel like you’re getting some of the bridal experience that you pictured in your mind,” Mackay said. “We wanted to discover a way to be in business when we are not allowed to be in business as we were.”

The concierge appointments includes a personal Zoom consultation where the bride can choose up to five gowns. Those five gowns are then transported to the bride to try on in the privacy and safety of their own home. Deliveries of the dress will be made within one-hour of their store location and dresses can be held for 24-hours. 

“The idea of having a concierge appointment seemed like the most natural way that we can service our brides in a really custom fashion with all of the conditions the world is in,” Mackay said. 

Zoom Party Appointments have become a permanent fixture for the boutique. Currently, Mackay and Metzler use the appointment to provide the bride a customized service at a distance. They use the appointments to gain a feeling towards the aesthetic the bride would like on their wedding day. However, they plan to use Zoom to include family and friends who live farther away in the bridal experience once social distance restrictions are lifted.

“Personal connection is really important to us, so we make sure that the consultation portion of the appointment is as close as possible to the experience of shopping in our store, including a tour of our collection, time spent getting to know the bride and her style, and the opportunity to choose from among our large collection of dresses and accessories for an at-home try on,” said Mackay in a release.

So far three brides have participated in the concierge and Zoom bridal appointment. Mackay said they all went well, as the brides were shopping for their upcoming wedding and all found a dress they love.

Something Bleu Bridal isn’t the only local business that has reinvented to serve the community. Local eateries, bakeries and deli’s have became contact free establishments. Finding shopping staples such as eggs, milk and flour can be purchased at food eateries in the community. The Bread Basket Bakery is offering call-in orders for flour, sugar and yeast. They also offer bread delivery through Battenkill Valley Creamery. Another eatery, the Spring Street Deli & Pizzeria, created a grocery menu with popular grocery items that people can order and pick-up. Both stores allowing delivery or pick-up cuts down of social contact, creating a safer environment than a larger supermarket.

For projects to do at home, Saratoga Paint and Sip are offering take home projects, called Take ‘N Paint Kits. Starting at $25, the curbside pickup kit contains everything needed to create the paintings. They also offer a private Zoom room, where an artist will instruct the group through the project.

For dog owners, North Country Paws for Obedience is offering a train at home online session starting in May. Based in South Glens Falls, the online courses are described as interactive, informative and engaging. Interested parties can sign up online.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the current need to maintain social distancing, the date of our 2020 Annual Golf Classic changed to September 23, 2020.

If you wish to hold your spot, register a foursome, provide a sponsorship, or make a general donation visit the Center for the Family online.

For those who wish to wait, we understand.  Our country is facing an unprecedented time with much fear and anxiety felt by many – especially our clients, both current and new. That is why Saratoga Center for the Family remains open. Our therapists continue to be available by providing telehealth therapy appointments. Our Child Advocacy Center is open for reported child abuse cases.  Our educational programming continues to be offered online. 

We look forward to the day when we can once again see our supporters and friends at dinners, food and wine tastings, and out on the golf course.  Until then, we continue to forge ahead, ensuring that our critical services are available and accessible for those who need us.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For nearly three years, people in recovery, or those seeking recovery from addiction, could walk through the doors of Healing Springs Recovery Community Center located on High Rock Ave. in downtown Saratoga Springs.  That all changed a month ago.   

The doors closed for the nearly 60 people who walked in daily to the Center for a cup of coffee, attend a meeting or workshop, talk with a recovery coach or simply get a hug and a warm greeting. But the recovery community is resilient and adapted to the challenges of isolation and imposed change. Staff and volunteers at Healing Springs have created connections in new ways. 

Ben Deeb, a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate shared, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but human connection. We are committed to keeping conversations going and being there for one another.” 

Healing Springs Recovery Center now offers online meetings every day for anyone to talk sobriety and recovery. Meetings start with morning check-in, meditation, coffee with Megan, Family Support and night check-in, to wrap up the day. Healing Springs continues to offer support and resources by telephone.   

“If you, or a loved one, are ready to go to treatment, we can help you navigate that process,” explained Brendan Norton, the agency’s Family Support Navigator. “We offer support for families who are impacted by a loved one’s addiction.”

If someone is unfamiliar with joining a virtual meeting online, Healing Springs staff can help you through the process. You can reach staff by telephone at 518-306-3048. 

You can find a calendar of Healing Springs Recovery Center’s on-line meetings on Facebook.  For phone support call 518-306-3048, Monday through Friday.

SCHENECTADY — Palette café announced a new location in Schenectady slated to open at a later date.

Owner of Palette, Catherine Hover, announced new partners as she prepares to open her second co-working space alongside the one she currently owns on Broadway. Hover’s first co-working space opened in November 2019. 

Denise Gonick, former president and chief executive officer of MVP Health Care, and Steve Gonick, co-owner of Steve & Nicole, LLC and co-founder at Passport for Good, have teamed up with Hover for Palette’s expansion to Schenectady. The local couple has vast experience coaching business and not-for-profit organizations. Recently, the Gonick’s have directed their efforts toward local entrepreneurs promoting socially conscious businesses, adding leadership and funding to help bring these concepts to market or expand their reach. 

“We believe in the vision Catherine has created for Palette,” said Denise Gonick. “Our local communities thrive when there is support and collaboration. This and Catherine’s endless positive energy are what attracted us to Palette. She is driven to better the community and the women within who aspire to be their greatest selves.” 

Denise Gonick worked her way to the top after getting her bachelor’s at Hofstra University, and her Law Degree at Albany Law School. Denise enjoyed a successful career in health care, spending nearly 25 years at the nationally recognized, not-for-profit health insurer MVP Health Care. Denise was a game changer at MVP becoming the first female CEO in 2012 and diversifying its portfolio of offerings, including the early adoption of telemedicine. She currently serves on several corporate and non-profit boards and is a frequent speaker on leadership. 

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Steve Gonick recently did a stint as Executive and Entrepreneur in Residence at Ithaca College, where he has provided mentorship and opportunities to hundreds of students, many of them based in the Capital District. 

“Catherine laid out an impressive strategy where Palette can be a valuable resource for their customers as we embark on an economic recovery for the Capital Region,” Steve Gonick said. “She is a unique entrepreneur who has been able to flex and thrive during this challenging time. When we heard her plans, we wanted to be a part of it.” 

Hover is leasing about 4,000-square-feet in the Foster Building located at 508 State Street in Schenectady. Palette will also utilize space on the first floor for a café. The cafe will offer coffee, light fare, baked goods, and cocktails in a comfortable setting. It’s a place that will continue to celebrate culture, shared ideas and connections. 

“Denise and Steve are the perfect partners for Palette,” said Catherine Hover. “They fully understand what my team and I envision and have worked hard to provide in our community. Through their experience in successful business growth, we will be better positioned to bring my concept to the next level. This is just the beginning of a beautiful business relationship.” 

Hover created Palette to support local women but the cafe is open to the community. While the café offers coffee and bites to eat, Palette Upstairs is designed as a larger co-working environment. Conference room and areas for larger event gatherings are available with event programming and membership opportunities.

Palette will be open to members who hold yearly, monthly and even day passes which include access to concierge services, programming and other perks. Corporate memberships will also be available.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Though the holidays may be past us, the generosity of this magical season is still being felt thanks to Stewart’s Holiday Match Program. 

The program matched donations from customers and donated a total of  $1.8 million to 1,753 organizations throughout the area who serve children. Franklin Community Center is honored to be a recipient of their generosity again this year.

The $5,000 donation received by Franklin will be used to offset costs associated with Franklin’s after school prevention program, Project Lift. 

“This show of community support came at the perfect time” states executive director Kari Cushing. “With our current climate so much different than anything we have ever experienced, our community’s children’s programs are now more vital than ever. We are very fortunate that Stewart’s Shops puts such a strong emphasis on philanthropy throughout the areas they serve.”

Project Lift, which has been operated by Franklin Community Center for over 30 years, is a unique and comprehensive after-school program for youth in grades 1-6 that places emphasis on positive youth development, raising self-esteem, and the development of refusal, decision-making, problem solving and communication skills. The research- based program is designed to enhance resiliency and equip children with information to make healthy decisions on their own.  Project Lift is free to the enrolled students, who also have access to the Community Center’s ancillary services, as needed.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — We are Brewnited, a collective of local brewers focused on giving back to our community. Our mission is to raise funds for our hospitality industry partners the best way we know how:  with a beer.

“Shortly after restrictions were put in place, I, out of habit, decided to head out for a beer. Quickly realizing I couldn’t, my brain filled with all of the bar and restaurant workers I know who are suddenly out of work with no income.  I remember thinking, ‘how can I help, even some of these guys?’… The next day at work I reached out to other local brewers, who, like me, owe our livelihoods to bars and restaurants that have supported our brands for so long. From this came the idea of a virtual collaboration beer where we could donate all proceeds directly to hospitality workers while creating a platform for other community members to contribute, knowing funds will be distributed locally,”  said Max Oswald of Northway Brewing Company.

Adirondack Brewery, Artisanal Brew Works, Bolton Landing Brewing Co., Common Roots Brewing Co., Druthers Brewing Co., and Northway Brewing Co. have collaborated to bring you Negative Input, an American Lager that represents our unity in these challenging times. We are working together to take the negative input that we are overwhelmed with and flip it upside-down to get a positive outcome.

All profits from the sale of these 4-Packs will be distributed to hospitality workers in Saratoga and Warren counties who are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs printing plant, Quad is considering whether to spend $45 million to install two new presses, which add 74 new jobs over the next two years. 

The printer of Time, W Magazine, and Popular Mechanics is seeking $9 million in incentives to justify making the investment in New York instead of Wisconsin where Quad is headquartered. 

Besides the incentive package, which is expected to include $2.25 million is assistance from National Grid as well as $6 million for Empire State Development.

Quad would need a building permit before it is allowed to start work. The company wants to get its approvals in place so that once the situation with the coronavirus improves, Quad can begin its expansion project.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Courage, makers of Pick Six Vodka, initiated a charitable production of hand sanitizer this week to support the community needs in response to the shortage during the current COVID-19 Pandemic. CEO and pharmacist, Holly Shishik, evaluated the distillery infrastructure and production line to produce a large batch of hand sanitizer to donate as an offering of good will to their trusted clients and local municipalities.

“For us, this was an opportunity to do something positive for the local municipalities and businesses that have supported our products over the years,” Shishik explained. “As a healthcare professional, I knew that we could quickly use our facility to produce hand sanitizer in bulk once the ingredients were identified and sourced.”

 Shishik teamed with their regular suppliers for donations of the ingredients as well as packaging.  She identified local first responders and businesses with a need for the sanitizer. For production, Shishik took the opportunity to include her teenage children in the effort. Family and friends also assisted in the assembly line to package the product as quickly as possible.

In all, 130 gallons of hand sanitizer were donated to area EMS and Fire Departments, as well as the Saratoga Hospital Emergency Department.  Donations were also delivered to some liquor stores and restaurants that regularly carry Pick Six.  Each bottle was hand delivered by a member of the Saratoga Courage Team.

 “This is another example of why “buying local” is critical,” Shishik added. “We’ve been proud to produce Pick Six as the local favorite vodka, and we’re grateful it afforded us this opportunity to give back to the community and to help protect our fellow neighbors and customers.”

Local companies that joined in to donate materials include Burch Bottle and Packaging Inc., Culligan Water, Greg Mastrianni Design and Grant Graphics.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Darling Donuts, a shop dedicated towards creating unique donuts, was set to open this month, but COVID-19 restrictions has pushed the store towards a new opening date.

Owner of Darling Donuts, Natascha Pearl-Mansman, set her new opening date at 441 Broadway to early June. Due to COVID-19 restrictions placed over the community, renovations have slowed the opening for her new store.

“Construction has been dramatically slowed. Part of the issue was some of the supply warehouses that we were getting the materials from were closed,” Pearl-Mansman said. “Little by little things are happening. This process…in the best of times takes longer than you hope it would, and in the worst of times it seems to drag on forever.”

Despite the slow progress, Pearl-Mansman said electrical work has finally finished and plumbing would start this week. After renovations are finished, Darling Donuts would wait for inspections once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

“Its really just a waiting game,” Pearl-Mansman said.

Darling Donuts started in 2018 after Pearl-Mansman had her first child. After experiencing difficulties in the past with pregnancy, Pearl-Mansman said she didn’t feel right putting her child in daycare.

“I decided not to go back to my regular job right away. The thought of putting her in daycare and working fulltime-after everything I went through just to have her in the first place-it was just too hard,” Pearl-Mansman said. 

She began to spend more time at home with her new daughter, attempting to still earn an income to pay for loans she had. She took to her roots as an avid baker and started to bake cupcakes and cookies. 

“There is a ton of people in this area that make [baked goods] and I didn’t want to feel like I would be competition against a ton of people early on just to get my name out there. I wanted to make something that was going to be different from everybody else,” Pearl-Mansman said.

The idea for Darling Donuts was inspired after visiting her sister in Brooklyn years prior. While there, Pearl-Mansman and her sister visited Doughnut Plant, a shop making different kinds of gourmet donuts. After experiencing not only the taste, but the feel and smell of the atmosphere Pearl-Mansman knew she needed to create something similar for Saratoga. 

After testing her own recipes on family and friends, she decided to venture in a serious route and developed a business plan. New York only allows homemade food to be sold at farmers markets, and she realized she needed a proper kitchen to sell her donuts.

Pearl-Mansman found a commercial kitchen to rent and started to bake orders in summer 2018. She purchased her location on Broadway in November of 2019, partnering with Glenn Severance to expand Darling Donuts. 

“Once I [started], things took off and started to get crazy. I increased my production as much as I could, with the equipment that I had in the kitchen that I was working in. A year and a half in, I realized it was time to move to the next step,” Pearl-Mansman said. 

Pearl-Mansman creates all her donuts from scratch. Using brioche style dough, which creates a yeast raised donut. The brioche style gives Pearl-Mansman a neutral base that allows her to get creative with her donut flavors. 

“I have really simply natural recipes and there is actually no sugar in the dough itself, just enough to get the yeast to rise. All of the flavor comes from the glazes and the toppings. And all the glazes and the toppings are made with real fruit and real nuts. Even the cake glazes that I do, such as funfetti, has actual cake that’s in the glaze,” Pearl-Mansman said.

Along with sweet donuts she creates, savory donuts are also listed on the menu. She creates an everything-bagel donut, which has a savory cream cheese glaze, everything-seasoning and a bagel chip on top. She also creates a pizza donut, which starts with a san-marzano tomato base topped with fresh mozzarella and pesto.

“The biggest compliment that I get from people is that it really tastes like you say it will. My donuts taste like what I say it will because that’s what I used to make them,” Pearl-Mansman said.

Until renovations on her Broadway store have finished, Pearl-Mansman will not be producing any donuts. The commercial kitchen Pearl-Mansman has been using belongs in a religious institution, which has since closed. However, once the Broadway shop finished, they will explore to-go and delivery options if the restrictions are not lifted. 

“I like showing my children that if you work really hard and if you follow your dreams, that pretty much anything is possible. I never would have thought when I was writing my business plan that I’d be opening a store on Broadway. Things happen as long as you work hard and you are dedicated, then things fall into place,” Pearl-Mansman said. “There will be donuts.”