SARATOGA SPRINGS — U.S. News & World Report has ranked Saratoga Arms the best hotel in Saratoga Springs for the second year in a row.

The ranking is based on both awards and customer reviews. Nearly 900 Tripadvisor reviewers gave Saratoga Arms a 5 out of 5 rating. The hotel was also included on last year’s Condé Nast Readers’ Choice List.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Wesley Community, a senior living campus, has appointed Eileen M. Nash as its Director of Development and Communications.

Nash was Director of Development for more than 25 years at the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, which was founded by Charles R. Wood and Paul Newman. She and her team were instrumental in raising more than $4.4 million annually to fund the operating budget that covered specialized programs and year-round support at no cost for children dealing with life-threatening illnesses.

“I was very passionate about my role at the Double H Ranch and have brought the same energy and commitment here to Wesley,” said Nash. “Wesley is a local and regional jewel that offers a continuum of care for seniors who want to age in place in a community that is truly concerned about their well-being. I know this firsthand because my mother-in-law and father-in-law have resided here.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Adelphi Hotel previewed its new luxury condominium residences last Wednesday, which are priced from $800,000 to $4 million. Some of the 79 units have already sold, and the hope is that new residents will be living at the Adelphi by the start of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 6.

The condos, which range from 800 to 2,500 square feet, feature European-style kitchens, Wolf and Miele appliances, Kohler fixtures, Silestone Quartz countertops, and plank-wood floors. Residents will have their own private entrance on Washington Street, and can enjoy the hotel’s various amenities, including in-room dining courtesy of Morrissey’s and Salt & Char.

According to AJ Bodden from the Shannon McCarthy Team at eXp Realty, buyers thus far “are from all over the place; plenty of local, snowbird types with second homes, but also a handful of primary residences.” Bodden said that everyone who has toured the condos have either stayed at the Adelphi or eaten at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Most of his prospective clients include Skidmore College parents, horse racing fans, frequent Saratoga visitors, and locals.

“Saratoga Springs is a highly sought out location,” said developer and co-owner Larry Roth in a statement. “With this project, we have created the most luxurious five-star hotel residence in the region and further cemented The Adelphi as a destination point for people coming from places such as New York City, Boston, Montreal, or Buffalo.”

Many of the Adelphi’s condos are still under construction. It’s estimated that work will be completed by the end of the year. Interested buyers can visit www.adelphiresidences.com.

GREENFIELD — The Town of Greenfield has promoted Principal Account Clerk Cara Parks to the role of Director of Fiscal Management. 

Parks, who joined Greenfield’s staff in 2021, oversees accounts receivable and payable, payroll, trend analysis, loan transactions, and investments. She also serves as the Budget Officer for the town and advises the board on developments affecting Greenfield’s fiscal outlook.

“It is a constant battle to recruit and retain great employees,” said Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch in a statement. “[Parks’] responsibilities have long surpassed the role of Principal Account Clerk and we think this new title is a better fit.”

Parks is a resident of Burnt Hills, a mother of four, and a member of the AGA, a national association for finance-related government professionals. She has a degree in economics from Russell Sage College in Troy. She also has thirty years of experience, including municipal positions at the Town of Charlton and the Town of Galway.

COLONIE — At the grand opening of the Legacy Dispensary in Colonie last Friday, company founder & CEO Matthew Robinson said the process of launching his business had been a long and difficult road. “Been through a lot,” Robinson said. “Now, we’re past it. We’re in a new stage.”

Robinson tried to hold back tears as he thanked his family for their support. “My family is there for everything,” he said. “I could call anybody, any time of night and they’re going to come. I thank them for that.”

Legacy is the latest in a series of cannabis dispensaries opening up across the Capital Region. Among the organizations represented at the dispensary’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. 

“Matt, hearing your story, it’s so inspirational of what you did to get here today,” said Andrea Cole, the chamber’s Vice President of Events & Marketing. “I definitely think your tribulations that you’ve gone through, the hardship that you’ve gone through, really have paid off for you to open up this amazing space.”

Robinson is a member of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “We’re visible and vocal for our members,” Cole said. “So if it’s down here in Albany County, or Schenectady County, or Saratoga County, we’re always going to be there for support.”

Saratoga Springs itself is poised to open three cannabis dispensaries, a fact highlighted by Mayor John Safford in his 2024 State of the City Address last week. The budding businesses are expected to open shop at 75 Weibel Ave, 95 West Ave, and 1 Kaydeross Avenue West.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Phinney Design Group has purchased the neoclassical stone building at 1 Franklin Square in downtown Saratoga Springs. The structure, built in the 1830s, will serve as the company’s construction management office, according to Cira Masters, Phinney’s Director of Marketing & Business Development. 

Phinney’s primary office is located in the Beekman Street Arts District. The company also opened a location in Lake Placid last month. Phinney hopes to have its new office at 1 Franklin Square opened by March. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The X-Files Preservation Collection announced last Friday that it will now offer live, guided virtual tours for those unable to visit the museum in person. The tours will be hosted on Zoom, last for one hour, and cost $25. 

According to the museum’s website, virtual tours are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once connected via Zoom, a guide will provide an interactive tour of the museum, in which virtual visitors will be able to ask questions and direct the guide around the exhibits. 

For more details, or to purchase tickets, visit xfilespreservationcollection.com.

MOREAU — Saratoga Biochar Solutions has accused the Moreau town supervisor and town board of “underhanded and potentially illegal actions” after Moreau officials held a closed-door meeting regarding a possible construction moratorium at the Moreau Industrial Park, where Biochar is attempting to build a facility. 

In a statement, Biochar said the meeting was “in likely violation of New York state open meeting law.” As of January 31, the Town of Moreau’s website had not posted any record of the January 19 meeting taking place. A request for comment from the Moreau town supervisor’s office was not returned.

Raymond Apy, founder and CEO of Northeastern Biochar Solutions, the parent company of Saratoga Biochar, said he hasn’t heard from any Moreau officials since his company released a statement criticizing them on January 24. “I would not accuse them of malicious activity,” Apy said. Rather, Apy said he was disappointed that “they’re not holding true to their campaign promise of transparency.”

Gina LeClair, a former member of the Moreau Town Board from 2008 to 2020, said that closed-door meetings are common but “not something that’s lightly done.” 

“They’re legal meetings,” LeClair said. “The town board meets every two weeks. If something comes up that they need the advice of their attorney, they can, at any point that’s convenient for them and the attorney, get together.” LeClair said that attorneys present during the meetings would “immediately speak up” if a specific discussion was not allowed in private.

Biochar has been attempting to build a fertilizer plant at the Moreau Industrial Park for the past two years. Possible construction of the facility has led to opposition from local politicians, as well as the formation of anti-Biochar groups such as “Not Moreau,” which was co-founded by LeClair and currently has 1,700 followers on Facebook.

LeClair said that opposition to a Biochar facility in Moreau is motivated by concerns with emissions, truck traffic, noise pollution, odor, and a potential decline in property values. “Twenty jobs at a sewage sludge handling plant is not significant enough to put all of this down on all of these communities,” LeClair said. “There’s really not much in there that’s good for the residents of Moreau.” 

In contrast to local opposition, Apy said his interactions with New York State officials have been “very collaborative.” Biochar recently received its Notice of Completed Application from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). NYSDEC is expected to make a final decision on solid waste management and air emissions permits for Biochar at some point this year.

“We’re a small startup company. We’ve been accused of being some big, giant corporate greedy pig,” Apy said. “We care about environmental sustainability. That’s our entire company ethos.”

Apy said he remains optimistic about not just building a plant in Moreau, but also expanding his company to Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, and even Australia. “It would be unfortunate for New York not to gain the recognition of a groundbreaking facility like this coming online before some other state or even another country,” Apy said. 

NYSDEC will hold both virtual and in-person public hearings about Biochar in South Glens Falls on February 7 and 8. Anti-Biochar activists are planning their own meetings on February 6 that will teach attendees “how to make an impactful statement or letter to convince [NYSDEC] to not issue permits to Saratoga Biochar,” according to an event flier.

MOREAU — Saratoga Biochar Solutions has accused the Moreau town supervisor and town board of “underhanded and potentially illegal actions” after Moreau officials held a closed-door meeting regarding a possible construction moratorium at the Moreau Industrial Park, where Biochar is attempting to build a facility. 

In a statement, Biochar said the meeting was “in likely violation of New York state open meeting law.” As of January 31, the Town of Moreau’s website had not posted any record of the January 19 meeting taking place. A request for comment from the Moreau town supervisor’s office was not returned.

Raymond Apy, founder and CEO of Northeastern Biochar Solutions, the parent company of Saratoga Biochar, said he hasn’t heard from any Moreau officials since his company released a statement criticizing them on January 24. “I would not accuse them of malicious activity,” Apy said. Rather, Apy said he was disappointed that “they’re not holding true to their campaign promise of transparency.”

Gina LeClair, a former member of the Moreau Town Board from 2008 to 2020, said that closed-door meetings are common but “not something that’s lightly done.” 

“They’re legal meetings,” LeClair said. “The town board meets every two weeks. If something comes up that they need the advice of their attorney, they can, at any point that’s convenient for them and the attorney, get together.” LeClair said that attorneys present during the meetings would “immediately speak up” if a specific discussion was not allowed in private.

Biochar has been attempting to build a fertilizer plant at the Moreau Industrial Park for the past two years. Possible construction of the facility has led to opposition from local politicians, as well as the formation of anti-Biochar groups such as “Not Moreau,” which was co-founded by LeClair and currently has 1,700 followers on Facebook.

LeClair said that opposition to a Biochar facility in Moreau is motivated by concerns with emissions, truck traffic, noise pollution, odor, and a potential decline in property values. “Twenty jobs at a sewage sludge handling plant is not significant enough to put all of this down on all of these communities,” LeClair said. “There’s really not much in there that’s good for the residents of Moreau.” 

In contrast to local opposition, Apy said his interactions with New York State officials have been “very collaborative.” Biochar recently received its Notice of Completed Application from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). NYSDEC is expected to make a final decision on solid waste management and air emissions permits for Biochar at some point this year.

“We’re a small startup company. We’ve been accused of being some big, giant corporate greedy pig,” Apy said. “We care about environmental sustainability. That’s our entire company ethos.”

Apy said he remains optimistic about not just building a plant in Moreau, but also expanding his company to Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, and even Australia. “It would be unfortunate for New York not to gain the recognition of a groundbreaking facility like this coming online before some other state or even another country,” Apy said. 

NYSDEC will hold both virtual and in-person public hearings about Biochar in South Glens Falls on February 7 and 8. Anti-Biochar activists are planning their own meetings on February 6 that will teach attendees “how to make an impactful statement or letter to convince [NYSDEC] to not issue permits to Saratoga Biochar,” according to an event flier.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Adelphi Hotel in downtown Saratoga Springs hosted actor Chevy Chase last weekend. Chase and his wife Jayni celebrated their daughter Caley’s birthday at the hotel. Chase called the experience a “wonderful weekend in Saratoga Springs” in an Instagram post.  

Chase is currently filming the holiday movie “The Christmas Letter” in various locations across upstate and central New York. The film will see him reunite with “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” co-stars Randy Quaid and Brian Doyle-Murray.