SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has been named one of America’s best maternity hospitals for 2025 by Newsweek and Statista, earning a five-star rating for “excellence in maternity care.”
The annual Newsweek ranking evaluates hospitals using a methodology that includes a nationwide online survey of health care professionals and hospital managers with knowledge about maternity processes, results from patient experience surveys, and hospital quality metrics from several sources with a focus on indicators relevant to maternity care.
“We’re honored to be recognized nationally for the outstanding care our maternity team provides every day,” said Jill VanKuren, Saratoga Hospital’s president and CEO, in a statement. “Welcoming a baby is one of the most important days in a family’s life, and we’re proud to support our patients with compassion, expertise, and personalized care.”
MALTA — The Innovation Center at Saratoga celebrated its grand opening last Thursday, unveiling a makerspace and community collaboration space designed to support inventors, creators, and innovators.
The facility is stocked with a variety of tools and equipment, including 3D printers; computer workstations with object modeling and graphic design; woodworking stations; digital photography software; embroidery and sewing machines; and more. The center also expects to open a silk screen station and darkroom. Rentals are also available for creative pods and offices.
For more information about the new facility, visit innovationcentersaratoga.org.
Arcade Archaeology logo and pinball machines photo provided by Lonnie Linen.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight months ago, Saratoga TODAY chronicled the efforts of one local pinball enthusiast to open an interactive museum where guests could play the silver ball on dozens of collectible machines. On Friday, Lonnie Linen’s plans will come to fruition.
June 20 is the soft opening of Arcade Archaeology, an interactive pinball museum at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury. The opening coincides with Saratoga Silverball’s 5th annual pinball show.
Linen picked the location due to its proximity to both Saratoga Springs and Lake George, hoping to reel in the summer crowds. He was also impressed with the mall’s foot traffic; and a generous offer from the mall’s manager helped seal the deal.
Now, Linen is working tirelessly with a small band of collaborators to get the museum up and running. But it’s no easy feat. The 3,600-square-foot space is set to include around 50 different pinball games (with at least 40 of them being playable), including new additions to Linen’s collection: “Indiana Jones,” “Addams Family,” and “Space Jam” machines. Linen said the first two would become “crown jewel” centerpieces of the museum.
“Having an Indiana Jones and an Addams Family really takes us to the next level,” Linen said.
A pre-owned Indiana Jones machine costs somewhere in the range of $17,000. The game includes 12 different modes that are based on scenes from the original film trilogy. Parts of John Williams’ score accompany the action, as does original voicework performed by actor John Rhys-Davies, who played the character Sallah in the Steven Spielberg-directed movies.
The Addams Family is considered the most commercially successful pinball machine of all time, selling more than 20,000 units across the globe. The gameplay includes “exploring” the ghoulish family’s mansion while trying to open a bookcase that exposes a vault entrance.
Linen’s sizable collection also includes the 1980s medieval fantasy-themed “Sorcerer,” the rare “Deadly Weapon,” the classic “Fish Tales,” “Spectra IV” (a square-shaped cocktail game that spins around), “Caveman” (a pinball machine with a video game inside it), and the ultra-rare “Safety Zone.”
“We’ll feature stuff from basically the entire history of pinball,” Linen said. “All the way from 1934 to 2024. 90 years of pinball.”
When museum visitors arrive to play some of these games, Linen plans to offer them $5 worth of tokens included with their $10 admission fee. These tokens will allow guests to play games priced around .25¢ or .50¢ a pop.
“For the $5, you could probably spend about an hour or two there,” Linen said. “I think that would be the perfect balance.”
The aim of the new museum, beyond allowing visitors to admire and play pinball machines, is to capture the “joyful essence” and bring back the “retro nostalgia” that Linen said is lacking at many arcades and entertainment centers around the country.
“I just want people to be able to play classic games and enjoy them with their kids and their families,” he said.
Arcade Archaeology has its soft opening on Friday, June 20, with an official grand opening likely occurring sometime in July. For now, the museum will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of Old World Gourmet Market in Wilton on June 11. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
WILTON — Just hours after its doors first opened, the Old World Gourmet Market in Wilton was packed with customers hoping to get first dibs on the specialty grocery store’s extensive selections of pastas, tomato sauces, olive oils, steaks, sandwiches, and store-made ravioli.
The space on Route 50, formerly occupied by Pier 1, has a distinct Italian-American feel but also offers culinary products familiar to Ireland, Greece, and Spain, among other European and Middle Eastern destinations (not to mention some products closer to home, such as New York and Vermont).
“There’s not a lick of Italian in me, but I’ve been waiting for this to open,” Andrea Mulholland of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce told Old World’s owners Maria and John Biagini at the grand opening on Wednesday morning. “This has great potential here in the Town of Wilton and I’m very excited for you.”
The Biaginis were New York City-based horse racing fans who frequented the Spa City before deciding to relocate here. Eager to bring the tastes of downstate to upstate, they are making their dough with New York City water, an ingredient many say is crucial in creating New York-tasting bagels and breads.
Old World Gourmet Market is now open for business at 3078 Route 50 in Wilton.
MALTA — Semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries (GF) recently announced that it will chip in an extra $3 billion to help expand and modernize its facilities in both Malta, New York and Vermont.
This latest investment, plus a previously announced $13 billion investment, add up to a $16 billion plan that aims to strengthen U.S. semiconductor leadership and accelerate innovation in AI, aerospace, automotive, and high-performance communications.
GF is collaborating with major technology companies, such as Apple and SpaceX, that are committed to reshoring semiconductor production to the U.S. and diversifying their global supply chains. These companies partner with GF to support their production of U.S.-made chips.
“Today’s announcement is a direct result of President Trump’s leadership and his vision to bring back high-paying manufacturing jobs and reestablish secure, domestic supply chains for critical technologies,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, executive chairman of GF, in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. government to help create the conditions for industry and government to work together and drive meaningful, long-term impact.”
Earlier this year, GlobalFoundries announced that it would create a new $575 million center for advanced packaging and testing of American-made essential chips within its New York manufacturing facility in Malta.
GlobalFoundries is the third-largest semiconductor foundry in the world. In 2021, it moved its global headquarters from Santa Clara, California to Malta. The company currently employs more than 2,000 people at its Malta location.
MALTA — After a series of temporary closures last month, the Dunning Street Station restaurant on Route 9 is now permanently closed, with a sale pending on the 1950s-era Fodero Dining Car building.
In an interview with the Times Union, Dunning Street co-owner Scott Ringwood said that his Malta eatery faced kitchen staffing shortages, and that he could no longer continue running both Dunning Street and his Lake Ridge Restaurant in Round Lake.
Dunning Street Station had previously closed its doors the weekend of May 17-18 and the week of May 12, leading to speculation that the restaurant would soon close for good.
The diner on Route 9 has a long history of prior owners stretching back to the early 1950s, when it first opened as the Malta Ridge Diner. In the 1970s, it was a filming location for “My Old Man,” a made-for-TV drama about a horse trainer that was based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway.
The Fodero Dining Car Company manufactured many of the stainless steel, art deco-inspired diners scattered throughout the country, including the famous Empire Diner on 10th Avenue in Manhattan.
WILTON — Dr. Matthew Beaulieu’s road to becoming an optometrist was a long and winding one, but a clinic at the DeKalb County School District in Georgia served as an especially meaningful moment along the way.
“It was a beautiful but difficult experience,” Beaulieu told Saratoga TODAY.
The then-budding optometrist delivered a new pair of glasses to a girl in the district who had never had corrective lenses before.
“When she put them on, she just started weeping. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, are you okay? What’s wrong?’ Her response was, ‘You don’t know what these mean to me. I can actually see the poster on the other side of the room. I couldn’t tell you who was walking in the room before. This means that I’m going to be able to get my license so I can bring my mom to her medical appointments.’”
Recalling the story made Beaulieu emotional.
“Seeing what [eye care] can do for other people has been very impactful along the way, in that case and many more,” he said.
Beaulieu now finds himself in Saratoga Springs, which has been his new home for the past year. In January, he joined Zieker Eye, a full-service ophthalmology practice in Wilton.
“I’m loving how family-forward Saratoga Springs is,” said Beaulieu, who has a young daughter. “The people are very welcoming and kind…life feels a bit easier here and kinder here than it did in Boston.”
In Boston, Beaulieu studied at the New England College of Optometry, which was established in 1894 and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest continually operating colleges of its kind in the country.
Years before that, Beaulieu had a job at LensCrafters, which was his first experience doing anything eye-related. While there, he decided to become an optician and soon started managing the sales floor. Then, the store lost half of its lab techs in only a month, spurring Beaulieu to enter the lab for the first time. After a while, though, he got tired of middle management, so he started training to become an ophthalmic technician. Wanting to do even more, he knew he had to go back to school, which is how he ended up at New England.
As a child, Beaulieu’s first encounter with glasses was an unpleasant one. They made him nauseous and he disliked wearing them. He didn’t have another eye exam until he was an adult working at LensCrafters. It was then he began to realize the difference that good eye care can make in someone’s life.
“I can look back and see how it would’ve made a difference for me growing up if I would’ve had care that I could understand or that connected with me better,” Beaulieu said.
Now, Beaulieu hopes to bring that type of care to Saratoga Springs.
A rendering of the proposed Tannery Commons development, via Conifer Realty.
BALLSTON SPA — A 168-unit development with 8,400 square feet of retail and commercial space may be coming to Ballston Spa, pending its approval by village boards.
The proposed Tannery Commons development, located at the former site of American Hide Leather Haight Co. Tannery on 125 Bath Street in downtown Ballston Spa, would include four buildings (three residential, one devoted to amenities), as well as an outdoor courtyard and seating areas. The developer, Rochester-based Conifer Realty, expects to have construction completed by the end of 2027, if all goes according to plan. Four of the five existing ex-tannery buildings would be demolished as part of the project.
A traffic impact study, completed in January of this year by the Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. engineering firm, concluded that “the existing roadway network and traffic control within the Village can adequately support the proposed development with negligible impact to traffic operations.”
“We recognize the importance of this site and the history it holds, and we are eager to collaborate with the Ballston Spa community to ensure that the project benefits the entire village,” said Muammar Hermanstyne, vice president of development at Conifer Realty, in a statement. “We are committed to working closely with local experts, such as those focused on traffic, schools, public utilities, and services, to ensure a thoughtful, balanced approach. Our goal is to create a positive impact for the community by fostering economic growth, preserving the area’s historic charm, and enhancing the quality of life for all.”
Conifer already has several apartment complexes in the Capital Region, including Blue Heron Trail in Ballston Spa, the MeadowView at Clifton Park, and Station 25 in Albany.
Questions about the proposed development can be directed to a Conifer representative at the company’s dedicated Tannery Commons website, coniferllc.com/ballston-spa-development/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Community leaders, advocates, and supporters will gather for the annual One Fine Day Cocktail Reception, hosted by Shelters of Saratoga, on June 12 at Prime Restaurant at the Saratoga National Golf Club, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The event is designed to raise funds and awareness for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, making a direct impact on the people who need it most. Attendees will enjoy a plated dinner, cash bar, live music by Maggie Doherty Duo, a silent auction, valet parking, and storytelling from those impacted by, and those who support, the organization’s work.
“This evening is about more than cocktails, it’s about coming together to change lives,” said Duane Vaughn, executive director of Shelters of Saratoga, in a statement. “Homelessness is not just a housing issue; it’s a human issue. One Fine Day offers a moment to reflect, connect, and take action.”
Every dollar raised during One Fine Day helps provide safe shelter, support services, and a path to independence to help individuals rebuild their lives.
For tickets, visit sheltersofsaratoga.org/events/one-fine-day-2025.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — cb20, a provider of managed IT and audio visual services based in Saratoga Springs, recently announced that it will be opening a new office in Boston.
The expansion comes on the heels of the company’s reported 50%+ year-over-year revenue growth (as compared to the 5-6% industry average); its 100+ employees and ongoing hiring; and its awards from both the Times Union and Albany Business Review. cb20 also says it has experienced “exponential” client growth, including Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in government, healthcare, and education.
“Our team’s relentless focus on providing the highest quality experience – fast response times, proactive protection, and flawless execution – is what drives this kind of growth,” said DJ Hansen, the company’s senior vice president of sales, in a news release. “We’re not just growing, we’re outpacing our peers and stepping into markets where clients are craving the new standard we set.”
cb20 also recently jumped 47 spots on CRN’s Solution Provider 500 list, which ranks the most influential IT firms in North America each year. The company serves organizations across New York, Massachusetts, and the greater New England area.
