The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce kicked off its Love Our Locals $20.25 campaign with a mixer on Oct. 30 at the Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park. Photo provided by the chamber.
CLIFTON PARK — The 2025 Love Our Locals campaign officially launched on Oct. 30 and will continue until the end of the year, Dec. 31. The annual campaign by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is part of an ongoing effort to support local businesses and nonprofits.
During the campaign, customers can shop at, dine in (or take out), pay for a service, donate to, or hire a local Saratoga County business or nonprofit—and if they spend $20.25 or more, they’ll have the chance to win $100 in gift cards from Saratoga County businesses.
To enter:
1. Spend or donate $20.25 or more at any Saratoga County business or non-profit organization from now through Dec. 31.
2. Take a photo of the receipt, including the purchase total and name of the business or non-profit organization.
3. Provide contact information and upload the receipt photo through the chamber’s online form.
Each week during the campaign, the chamber will randomly select winners for $100 in gift cards to businesses from across the county. Winners will be notified and also will be posted on the chamber’s social media channels and on the Love Our Locals website.
To learn more or to submit a receipt, visit www.saratoga.org/love-our-locals/.
Photos of Paula Perpall and Brendon Teetor provided by Roohan Realty.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Roohan Realty recently announced the addition of two new licensed real estate salespeople: Paula Perpall and Brendon Teetor.
Perpall is a graduate of SUNY Albany and NYU Medical School’s Diagnostic Program. She spent 31 years in medical sales, where she honed her skills in communication, negotiation, and client care. An active real estate investor in both Saratoga Springs and the Adirondacks, Perpall has hands-on experience with short and long-term rentals, renovations, and resales. Originally from downstate New York, Perpall has called Saratoga Springs home for more than 25 years.
Teetor is licensed in both New York and Florida with more than a decade of experience spanning residential sales, property management, and real estate investment. After founding and leading Sterling Teetor Realty Group in Fort Lauderdale, Teetor expanded his practice to Upstate New York, bringing his understanding of both the South Florida and Capital Region markets to Roohan Realty. Teetor and his wife relocated from Fort Lauderdale to Saratoga Springs in 2021, where they’re raising their two children.
Photo of new Indulgence Bakery Owner Elise Soto via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Indulgence Bakery at 63 Putnam Street in downtown Saratoga Springs celebrated its new owner and pastry chef, Elise Soto, with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 6.
Under this new leadership, the bakery will continue its tradition of crafting custom cakes, artisanal desserts, and edible words of art while also introducing new designs and flavors.
Indulgence was founded as a woman-owned business. For more information, visit bitesofindulgence.com.
The Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs has been refurbishing its “2 Springs” floor, and a local hospice worker, Ann Womack, volunteered her time to paint murals on the walls of the wing to help brighten up the space. Womack painted the murals independent of her normal work hours, including on weekends and overnight. Photo of Ann Womack painting murals at the Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs provided.
Photo of the new Ted’s Fish Fry location at 2103 Doubleday Avenue in Ballston Spa via the company.
BALLSTON SPA — A long-awaited Ted’s Fish Fry location in Ballston Spa opened its doors on Nov. 1 at 2103 Doubleday Avenue, the former home of a Pizza Hut.
Plans to open the outpost were first unveiled in March of 2024, with an anticipated opening of fall 2024. Then in March of 2025, the Albany Business Review reported that renovations of the former Pizza Hut had begun in February and that the location was set to open in late spring or early summer of that year. Then in October of this year, an opening appeared imminent as the structure’s exterior was transformed, and job postings appeared on the company’s website.
The new Ballston Spa location is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Ted’s Fish Fry has been a Capital Region mainstay for decades. The chain also has locations in Albany, Troy, Clifton Park, Latham, and Watervliet. The eatery specializes in fried seafood and chowder.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Adelphi Hotel was recently awarded a Michelin Key, which the Michelin Guide says is akin to a restaurant receiving one of its famed stars.
“Our Inspectors take into account five universal criteria when awarding MICHELIN Stars, and they have five universal criteria when selecting hotels: excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the neighborhood or setting,” Michelin states on its website. “Our Key hotels don’t just fulfill one of these criteria. These are the best of the best in all categories.”
The Adelphi was the only hotel in Saratoga Springs to receive the honor and one of about 30 hotels in New York State to be named a “one-key hotel.” In a social media post, the Adelphi called the award a “significant milestone in our commitment to excellence in hospitality.”
The Adelphi has expanded significantly in recent years, putting the final touches on a $75 million construction project in the summer of 2025, which grew the hotel from 32 guest rooms to 65. Last year, the hotel also opened 79 new luxury residences.
Photos of Molly Brindle, Kira Karbocus, Stuart Kaufman, Nicole Messier-Marino, and Ellen Sheehan provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, established in 1977 to preserve and enhance the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of the Spa City, recently named five new members to its board of directors: Molly Brindle, Kira Karbocus, Stuart Kaufman, Nicole Messier-Marino, and Ellen Sheehan.
“We are excited to have the Foundation benefit from their expertise and knowledge,” said Executive Director Samantha Bosshart in a news release.
Brindle most recently served as director of corporate partnerships for the New York Racing Association (NYRA) from 2008 until her retirement in 2018. She also worked in media sales and promotion at WROW and Time Warner Cable before joining Discover Saratoga. A “serial volunteer,” Molly first joined the Foundation when Carrie Woerner was executive director, and in retirement she continues to volunteer for Community Hospice, Wellspring, and several organizations that support the track’s backstretch workers and retired racehorses.
Karbocus currently provides strategic consulting to nationally recognized nonprofit and independent organizations in the music industry, with a focus on business operations and finance. Her current work spans performing arts centers to a major stadium concert featuring some of the world’s top artists. From 2018 to 2024, Kira served as CFO and COO of Newport Festivals Foundation, where she co-produced the legendary Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals during a period of growth and impact. Prior to that, she held the same leadership roles at Fingerpaint Group, helping to guide the company through years of high growth. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and Caffè Lena.
Kaufman is a managing attorney at the Saratoga Office of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, where he provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals, focusing on tenant rights and homelessness prevention. He’s an active member and past president of the Saratoga County Bar Association. He also volunteers with Cindy’s Comfort Camp, a grief support program for children.
Messier-Marino is the managing director of corporate communications for Publicis and MSL, where she leads strategic communications and corporate reputation programs for Fortune 500 companies. A Capital Region native, her family purchased 2 Clement Avenue in 2023, a home built in 1885. The house is celebrated by art historian James Kettlewell in “Saratoga Springs: An Architectural History” as “the most impressive example of the Shingle Style variant of the Queen Anne Victorian.”
Sheehan has lived in Saratoga Springs since 1992. She worked for Catholic Charities, drawn to its commitment to the poor and vulnerable, but architecture remained a strong interest. She took AutoCad and construction materials classes in the Civil Engineering Department at Hudson Valley Community College. She also worked on various committees for Habitat for Humanity and helped with builds. She was appointed to the Saratoga Springs Design Review Board (DRB) in 2019. She recently finished her term.
For more information about the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, visit www.saratogapreservation.org.
A media event celebrating the official launch of the 13th annual Toys for Toga campaign at the intersection of Broadway and Caroline Street in downtown Saratoga Springs on Oct. 29. Pictured from left to right: Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga; Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh; Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner; Senator Jim Tedisco; Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus; Death Wish Coffee Marketing Director Shannon Sweeney; and Toys for Toga Program Coordinator Max Oswald. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A colorful assortment of gifts dotted the scene: racecars, board games, beer, coffee, and dinosaur sludge. The presents, intended of course for Holiday revelers of varying ages, signaled the arrival of the 13th annual Toys for Toga campaign, which provides gifts and monetary donations to local children and families in need.
Toys for Toga, which officially launched on Nov. 3 after a press event on Oct. 29, is a collaborative effort of more than 100 Saratoga County businesses that last year delivered 4,500 toys to the Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs, the CAPTAIN Community Human Services in Clifton Park, and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center in Mechanicville. 100% of all toys and monetary donations will remain in Saratoga County, divided evenly among the three aforementioned beneficiary organizations.
Businesses ranging from Death Wish Coffee to G. Willikers Toys to The Rusty Nail now have bins stationed inside their respective locations waiting to be filled with new, unwrapped toy donations. (A complete list of drop-off locations is available at www.toysfortoga.com.)
“Toys for Toga has become a cherished Saratoga tradition, one that perfectly reflects our community’s generosity and spirit,” said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga and a founding member of Toys for Toga. “It’s amazing to see so many local businesses and individuals come together year after year to make the holidays brighter for children across Saratoga County.”
“We’re really excited that this is our 11th year participating in Toys for Toga, and it’s something we genuinely look forward to every year,” said Death Wish Coffee Marketing Director Shannon Sweeney. “It gets our employees excited, gets the community excited, and it’s really a testament for what a community can do when they come together. This area truly knows how to step up and help a community in need and, together, we’re impacting three amazing local charities. It’s an honor to be in partnership with you guys.”
This season, Death Wish has a special offer available for donors (and those in need of a caffeine fix). The donation of a toy valued at $20 or more at the Death Wish office at 260 Broadway will be rewarded with a free bag of coffee. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Another special offer for adults: Druthers Brewing has a Toys for Toga winter ale available in four-packs at local beverage centers and grocery stores.
Those who’d rather contribute to the cause monetarily can do so by visiting www.toysfortoga.com.
A Saratoga Historical Society exhibit in the Canfield Casino, circa 1920. Photo provided by the Saratoga Springs History Museum.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs History Museum explored its past and present at the 142nd annual meeting of its historical society at the opulent Canfield Casino on Oct. 29.
Before diving into a presentation on the museum’s evolution during more than a century of existence, Executive Director James Parillo addressed its current state, which appears to be quite healthy. According to Parillo, income this year is up 18% compared to 2024, admissions have risen 5%, donations are up 50%, memberships are up 24%, and grant income is up 30%. The only financial element that hasn’t increased this year is gift shop sales.
“Our expenses this year only rose 1.7%, so that’s one thing that helps keep us in such a strong position, with income up, and expenses not rising,” Parillo said. “Our spending is very conservative.”
Careful stewardship of the museum over the years has been a tall order, with some stewards perhaps succeeding more than others.
The historical society that preceded the museum was founded on October 13, 1883 by a group of 16 petitioners that included some big names in Saratoga history, such as Spencer Trask, co-founder of Yaddo; Joseph W. Drexel, the original owner of what is now the Grant Cottage State Historic Site; and John R. Putnam, the grandson of Saratoga Springs founder Gideon Putnam. Their first board of trustees also included Ellen Hardin Walworth, one of the founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
This prestigious group didn’t initially create a museum per se, but they were interested in sharing their collections of historic artifacts. Their first home was the House of Pansa building on Broadway, which still stands and is currently the headquarters of Death Wish Coffee.
After a while, the historical society needed a new place to house its collection and by a happy coincidence, the Canfield Casino was for sale. The casino, originally named the Saratoga Clubhouse by its legendary founder John “Old Smoke” Morrissey, was sold by then-owner Richard Canfield after anti-gambling forces shuttered it. The City of Saratoga Springs purchased the famed gambling house in 1912 and allowed the historical society to move into the building’s second floor. This is when the society appointed its first official curator, Captain James Andrews, and the museum as we know it today began to take shape.
In 1927, the museum named a new curator: Evelyn Barrett Britten, who was close friends with the Walworth family. Britten’s Saratoga bona fides were impressive. She was valedictorian of Saratoga Springs High School in 1909, a longtime reporter at The Saratogian, and, for 25 years, the city’s official historian. Britten was responsible for supervising the transfer of belongings from the Walworth mansion to the third floor of the Canfield Casino. Britten also waged a sometimes bitter war to protect the casino from developers. She passed away in 1969, after serving as the historical society’s curator for 42 years.
“She was wonderful,” Parillo said. “We owe her so much for organizing the museum and bringing in artifacts.”
Britten was succeeded (both as leader of the museum and as city historian) by Bea Sweeney, who became the historical society’s first-ever director. Sweeney had a substantial influence on the Spa City by placing more than 70 buildings in the Franklin Square area on the National Register of Historic Places and by establishing the city’s archives.
“Bea Sweeney was a powerhouse,” said Parillo. “She was a woman that organized everything… Bea went through, with a corps of volunteers, and catalogued every artifact we had at the museum. You were looking at 80-plus years of collections. It was a monumental task.”
In more recent years, the museum has modernized with a new logo and mission statement: “to foster public education and chronicle Saratoga Springs history by operating the History Museum, conducting programs, and collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting materials that document the city’s social, political, economic, geological, and cultural history.”
Today, the museum boasts the highest visitation in its history, preserves more than 16,000 artifacts, and has digitized thousands of photographs for online research.
Those interested in supporting the museum can do so via a membership or donation. To learn more, visit www.saratogahistory.org/membership or www.saratogahistory.org/donate.
Tess and Brian Goodge at the entrance to the forthcoming Saratoga Escape Rooms, opening on Nov. 14. Photo provided by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tess and Brian Goodge, local entrepreneurs and escape room enthusiasts, announced on Monday the grand opening of their Saratoga Escape Rooms, located on Gardner Lane in downtown Saratoga Springs.
The new entertainment venue officially opens its doors on Nov. 14, offering guests immersive, puzzle-solving experiences for all ages.
Saratoga Escape Rooms will feature themed worlds where players will be challenged to solve riddles, uncover clues, and crack codes before a 60-minute clock runs out. Designed for groups of 2 to 8 players, the rooms feature automated props, interactive storylines, and elaborate set designs.
Current themed adventures include:
• Saratoga School of Magic – Solve magical puzzles and decode secret spells;
• Echoes of the Lost Jungle – Navigate an uncharted jungle-themed room, with colorful hand-painted props and immersive riddles;
• Whispers Beneath Broadway (coming summer 2026) – This room will take visitors back to the Gilded Age of Saratoga on the evening of the United States Stakes Race, Aug. 12, 1890 for an historical fiction “whodunnit.”
“Escape rooms offer something totally unique and appeal to all ages for different reasons,” said co-owner Tess Goodge. “We wanted to create something that would offer both locals and visitors a chance to connect, laugh, and make memories right here in the heart of Saratoga.”
Saratoga Escape Rooms is family-friendly, with adventures suitable for ages 13 and up (younger players are welcome with adult supervision). The booking calendar will open on Nov. 8 at www.saratogaescaperooms.com.
