SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced it will host its second and final Belmont Stakes Racing Festival job fair at the Saratoga Race Course on April 22 from 2 to 7 p.m.
The job fair will be held on the ground floor of the 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course. Applicants should enter through the Wright Street entrance (Gate 8) with parking available in the 1863 Club lot.
Prospective employees will be able to meet with representatives from NYRA, Integrated Staffing, and Levy Restaurants, among others. Positions will include restaurant hosts and staff, premium experience team, mutuel clerks, cashiers, merchandise clerks, customer service, maintenance and grounds crew, white caps, parking attendants and security guards.
Applicants must be at least 15 years of age and have New York State Certified Working Papers. Prospective security guards, cashiers and betting clerks must be at least 18 years of age to apply; security guards must have a high school degree or GED. All applicants must present a photo ID and Social Security card or I-9 alternative.
Local residents in the market for a new career can also attend the upcoming Saratoga Job Showcase on Thursday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event at Empire State University (113 West Ave.) is set to feature nearly 50 employers representing industries such as construction, manufacturing, energy, finance, banking, technology and more.
The showcase is open to the public and admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their current resume.
Free professional headshots will be offered on site, along with a LinkedIn training session for job-seekers. The morning will also include a networking reception prior to the event for attendees to mingle and get ready for the job showcase.
More information, including a full list of participating employers, is available at www.saratoga.org/jobshowcase.
New Heritage at Saratoga National logo via the restaurant.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Prime restaurant at the Saratoga National Golf Club has unveiled a new name and identity: Heritage at Saratoga National.
Located on the 18th hole, the American contemporary eatery “brings together elevated flavors and an easygoing, welcoming feel,” the business said in a press release.
Patrons will notice some physical changes to the space: The restaurant’s bar and lounge has been expanded into the dining room, and the fine dining area is now separated by a floor-to-ceiling curtain. (“Everyone’s go-to spot is the bar and lounge; therefore, we wanted to make it larger,” said Tim Vennard, vice president of Mazzone Hospitality.)
Prime was originally created in 2012 as a high-end dining experience. In 2020, the food and beverage operations at Saratoga National transitioned, with Mazzone Hospitality ultimately taking over and continuing the concept for several years.
Menus are available at HeritageAtSaratogaNational.com and are led by Executive Chef Dan Beltran in collaboration with Brian Molino, director of culinary for Mazzone Hospitality. Beltran previously served as executive sous chef at Salt & Char before joining Saratoga National in early 2025.
Heritage opened for the season on April 2. Dinner will be served Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Beginning April 8, Heritage will offer lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, along with Sunday lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saratoga National Golf Club opens for the season on Friday, April 10.
Photo of the Monday steward volunteers at work provided by Saratoga PLAN.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Drenched for hours in the pouring rain. Splitting fallen trees with chainsaws. Traipsing through the snow. Building a bridge over a bog.
Saratoga PLAN’s stewards might be the most dedicated, and perhaps underappreciated, volunteer group in the Spa City.
“They’re so sociable and they work together so easily; they’re just great people,” Magnolia Roosa, Saratoga PLAN’s stewardship coordinator, told Saratoga TODAY. “They come from all different backgrounds and areas of expertise, so bringing everyone together into a common goal, and seeing how everyone interacts and problem solves together, it’s a really nice way to start the week, and they’re a great group to work with.”
The stewards meet on Monday mornings, and last month they gathered for a volunteer appreciation breakfast at Saratoga PLAN’s headquarters on Spring Street. It was easy to notice their camaraderie, despite a foreboding weather forecast that threatened to derail their planned trail maintenance expedition later that day. But these stewards didn’t need sunny weather to maintain a sunny disposition.
“After having worked all my life, I’ve discovered that the best thing to do at the beginning of the week is go outside and do trail work,” said volunteer steward Lorraine Skibo. “It’s just phenomenal.”
Another steward, Bruce Klion, agreed. “Setting an alarm, getting up, and being somewhere outdoors throughout all four seasons at nine o’clock in the morning, it just feels great,” he said.
The precise number of people who participate in PLAN’s volunteer steward program fluctuates, but Roosa estimates that the nonprofit land conservation group has about 75 active volunteers, with new applications arriving every week.
The stewards are primarily responsible for maintaining hiking trails, which can involve tasks as straightforward as sweeping debris or replacing signs, to jobs more complex and labor intensive, such as building bog bridges and kiosks. As more people have joined the team, bringing their own skillsets with them, the stewards have been able to monitor property boundaries, collect data, write reports, perform mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) work, fight the spread of invasive species, and lead educational walks.
“We have one volunteer, he helped build the Finger Lakes trail. He’s been doing trail work all his life,” Klion said. “There’s a high level of expertise among a lot of these people.”
The work brings together those with common interests, such as hiking and the outdoors. But there’s also a social component to the volunteer program, which is comprised of many retirees and transplants.
“Most of the time, it’s people moving into the area that have come from backgrounds of either working with an outdoor organization or they had a career in the environmental field, and they wanted to get more involved,” Roosa said. “Sometimes, people that are new to the area just want to join a group of friends.”
A number of volunteers have joined Saratoga PLAN through the steward program, and then expanded their involvement to other volunteer opportunities or even board appointments. Klion joined the board of directors in September of 2024, and currently serves as co-chair of the development committee. Skibo is also a board member, and once served as its chair for two years. But regardless of their titles or the extent of their involvement, PLAN’s volunteers seem passionate about what they do.
“I have to be careful about how much detail I put in my emails because sometimes they’ll want to start working before I even get there, so I have to make sure that I show up early to get there before all the other volunteers,” Roosa said. “They’re such outdoorsy people that just love being outside, the fact that the program is getting them outside to these different preserves and being in a very social group, they’re happy to do those types of tasks. They’re really happy to do whatever task is at hand.”
Those interested in becoming a Saratoga PLAN Monday stewards volunteer can do so by submitting an application form here: saratogaplan.org/volunteer-application-form.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce recently honored several members that participated in its Love Our Locals $20.25 campaign, an initiative designed to support local businesses and nonprofits, during a March event in Saratoga Springs. The campaign will return later this year as Love Our Locals $20.26. Some of last year’s participants seen here include: Thorn + Roots, Impressions of Saratoga, Curtis Lumber, Olde Bryan Inn, Treasures Boutique & Thrift Shop, Old World Gourmet Market, The Local Pub & Teahouse, and Purdy’s. Photo provided by the Chamber of Commerce.
Image provided by the Universal Preservation Hall (UPH).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party is an annual fundraiser for the Universal Preservation Hall (UPH). Local business teams compete against each other, bartending for the most tips, all of which go to support UPH. The team that raises the most during their shift wins the competition. All proceeds from Shaken and Stirred go directly to UPH and help bring family programming to the stages through the Collaborative School of the Arts.
The vision of the Collaborative School of the Arts is to provide performing arts opportunities with instruction by regional and national professionals. Its programs aim to inspire and cultivate career paths for students in creative fields, while developing and welcoming a diverse palette of artists. Tuition assistance ensures student accessibility across Proctors Collaborative, including UPH’s summer program Rock Camp.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. When purchasing a ticket, buyers can choose which team they want to support.
This year’s teams include: Bocage Champagne Bar, Bonadio Group, DeCrescente Distributing Co., Fingerpaint, Hideaway at Saratoga Lake, MLB Construction, Saratoga Living, Sunmark Credit Union, and the Universal Preservation Hall.
For tickets, visit secure.proctorscollaborative.org/overview/shaken-stirred-2026.
Image via the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) will hold a networking breakfast at Iron Roost on Tuesday, April 7 at 8 a.m.
This month’s breakfast is hosted by SLIC Fiber, which is billed as Northern New York’s fastest-growing internet provider, and now has an office in B-Spa.
The event includes a light breakfast and fresh coffee courtesy of Iron Roost. Cost is $10 with advance RSVP to info@ballston.org, or guests can pay at the door. The event is open to all. BSBPA membership is not required to attend.
Pre-register online (www.ballston.org/2026/03/18/april-networking-breakfast-slic-fiber-at-iron-roost/) or email dana@ballston.org and pay at the door (cash, check or card).
Photos of Saratoga Springs Police Lieutenant Angela McGovern and Chef Noah Frese via Blood Cancer United’s Visionary of the Year Albany.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lieutenant Angela McGovern of the Saratoga Springs Police Department and Chef Noah Frese, of Noah’s Italian and Siro’s fame, are both vying for Blood Cancer United’s Visionary of the Year honor for the Albany area.
Visionary of the Year is a 10-week philanthropic challenge. Each of the ten candidates is tasked with forming a fundraising team that will compete to earn the most donations between the dates of March 6 and May 15. The funds will be used by Blood Cancer United to support patients and their families, support research efforts and clinical trials, and advocate to break down barriers to accessing care.
“When I was nominated to do this, I instantly thought of a few people: One is my grandmother, who has multiple myeloma, and the other is retired Troy Police Sergeant Jim O’Brien, who lost his life to blood cancer,” McGovern wrote to Saratoga TODAY. “Our law enforcement officers spend most of their lives sacrificing for others and deserve to live long, healthy retirements. Jim was only 47 years old and had been in law enforcement from 1984 until 2010, when he had to retire due to his illness. He would pass away in December of that same year.”
“I want to use this opportunity and this campaign to show the local community who police really are,” McGovern continued. “We are kind-hearted, caring, and compassionate people who truly love and want to protect our little slices of the world.”
McGovern’s fundraising efforts include several local events, such as the Big Hole Golf Tournament at the Saratoga Lake Golf Course on May 9, and a “Jail for Bail” event during which McGovern will build cells at the Saratoga Springs City Center and arrest some local “VIPs” who will have to bail themselves out before the other cellmates.
Those interested in supporting McGovern’s fundraising campaign can follow along with her Instagram account (@inpursuitofacure) or her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/inpursuitofacure).
In his Visionary of the Year profile, Chef Noah Frese detailed the impact that cancer has had on his busy life, much of it spent in kitchens.
“This past fall, I lost my Mimi to cancer,” Frese wrote. “She was my inspiration, always there to support me and make sure I had every opportunity in life. Losing her made me realize how precious health and time are and how important it is to fight for a future where no family has to endure the pain of this disease. Now, as a father, I feel an even deeper purpose to help find a cure, so that children like my own can grow up healthy and full of opportunities.”
To support Frese’s campaign, visit pages.lls.org/voy/uny/alb26/nfrese.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Proctors Collaborative, which operates the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, recently announced the appointment of Melissa Zambri, Esq. as chair of its Board of Directors. Her appointment, Proctors said, reflects both her dedication to the organization and her passion for ensuring access to high-quality performing arts experiences for the community.
Zambri, managing director of the Albany office of Barclay Damon LLP, serves as co-leader of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group and co-leader of its Health Care and Health & Human Services Providers Teams. A leader in health care law and regulatory compliance, she brings decades of governance, strategic oversight, and organizational leadership experience to her new role at Proctors.
“Melissa has been an invaluable member of our board, serving most recently as Vice-Chair,” said Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors. “Her thoughtful leadership, strategic perspective, and deep commitment to our mission make her exceptionally well-suited to guide Proctors into its next chapter.”
In her legal practice, Zambri focuses on enterprise development and regulatory guidance for a wide range of health care providers and institutions, including hospitals, clinics, assisted-living facilities, and organizations serving individuals with developmental disabilities. She advises clients on compliance programs, audits, investigations, HIPAA matters, certificate-of-need applications, and complex transactions. Her work frequently involves counseling executive leadership teams and boards of directors.
Beyond her practice, Zambri is an adjunct professor at Albany Law School, where she teaches Health Care Compliance and HIPAA Compliance for its Online Graduate Programs, and at Clarkson University, where she teaches Legal Aspects of Health Care. She is also a member of Barclay Damon’s Management Committee and has held numerous leadership roles within professional associations, including the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Zambri is a graduate of Albany Law School (J.D., cum laude), Union College (M.B.A.), and Siena College (B.S., summa cum laude). Her honors include recognition in “The Best Lawyers in America” for Health Care Law, and designation as Albany “Lawyer of the Year” for Health Care Law in 2026.
As board chair, Zambri will help lead Proctors in advancing its mission through the performing arts while ensuring strong governance and long-term sustainability. For more information about Proctors and its Board of Directors, visit atproctors.org.
BALLSTON SPA — Saha Yoga, a boutique yoga studio located in the heart of Ballston Spa, recently announced that Leanne Applin took over as its new owner on Jan. 1.
Having taught classes at Saha Yoga for the last five years and served as studio manager, Applin has intimate knowledge of the studio’s values, along with decades of experience in personal yoga practice.
Applin’s yoga journey spans nearly 30 years, and she stepped into teaching six years ago, going on to build Inspired Yoga with Leanne, a private yoga business specializing in group events and online classes, while also leading a weekly class at the Saratoga Senior Center. Most recently, she expanded her offerings to include reiki sessions, adding another dimension to her practice.
According to Applin, a large part of what makes Saha Yoga special is its faculty. “We are fortunate to have the teachers we have at Saha,” she said in a press release. “Our diverse group of teachers not only have an array of professional backgrounds, training, and life stories, but we all share the same core belief about the power of yoga and our desire to share that with others. Every one of our teachers has their own unique talents and style they bring to their classes. And are truly supportive of one another.”
“We’re not just a place to take a class,” Applin added. “Our studio is designed to feel like a community. Teachers know your name, students support each other, and everyone who walks through our doors feels at home.”
The spirit of Saha Yoga remains, but the physical space has been refreshed with new paint, window treatments, décor, and a reorganization. A new website, logo, and dedicated restoration room round out the updates. New classes, workshops, and instructors have been added to the schedule, and specialty events like Zumba and ecstatic dance are on the horizon.
A grand opening celebration is being planned, and details will be announced soon on the studio’s website and social media channels.
More information is available at 518-353-2121 or at www.sahayogabspa.com.
