The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 14 to celebrate the recent opening of KOS Sauna on Saratoga Lake. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ice-cold waters surrounded the KOS floating sauna on Saratoga Lake, threatening to cool its steamy inner core. But the chilly foes were fought off by KOS’ interior temperatures, which can reach as high as a sizzling 230 degrees.
KOS (pronounced “cozy” without the y) is a Norwegian word defined as a feeling of comfort, warmth, and togetherness. It is an apt description of New York State’s first public floating sauna, which was filled with local politicos and well-wishers on Wednesday afternoon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the Finnish-style sauna’s recent opening.
The 15-person sauna is open year-round and offers everything from communal sessions to private rentals to annual memberships to classes and rituals.
A visit includes access to the sauna, roof terrace, and changing rooms, as well as an invigorating plunge into the lake (in winter, this experience may be for only the boldest of Saratogians). Water served at the sauna is sourced straight from the Spa City’s famed mineral springs. Saratoga’s ancient, mineral-rich agua was the primary reason KOS creator/owner Kate Butchart decided to open up shop here, she said at the ribbon cutting.
KOS is located at the marina near Lago by Druthers, at 550 Union Avenue. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., with reservation slots available at 90-minute increments.
A Malta man has been charged with several traffic offenses after trying to hide in a creek while feeling from a DWI.
Bradley Crannell of Malta was charged with felony DWI, felony unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, misdemeanor fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, speeding, improper plates, uninspected motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, failing to keep right and passing a red light.
According to Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputies, Crannell was initially stopped for erratic driving on East High Street in Malta. While he initially stopped for Deputies, he is alleged to have fled the area. He later abandoned the car at the former location of Spa Brahuas Restaurant on High Street and fled into the woods.
The Sherriff’s Office subsequently deployed a drone with a thermal camera and spotted Crannell lying next to a creek. He was subsequently taken into custody without further incident.
Crannell’s DWI was elevated to a felony due to a prior conviction. He was arraigned in Malta Town Court and remanded into the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department arrested a fugitive from Texas after receiving a report of someone driving erratically on Caroline Street.
Jody Harr, 47, was arrested by SSPD on a slew of charges after he was caught by Saratoga Springs Police during a DWI investigation.
According to SSPD, around 11:00 p.m., they received a report from a concerned citizen about a driver who was possibly intoxicated near the intersection of Caroline Street and Henry Street. When officers approached on foot, the driver, later identified as Harr, fled the scene. This triggered a chase which ended near the intersection of West Circular Street and Union Street.
Harr was initially taken into custody for DWI but further investigation revealed that he was wanted in Texas related to child pornography offenses.
He was charged with being a fugitive from justice, felony DWI- two prior convictions in the last 10 years, felony aggravated DWI, felony operating a motor vehicle with BAC over .08, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. In addition, he received several traffic violations including passing a red light, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving to the left of pavement markings, and driving on a sidewalk.
In an email to Saratoga TODAY, SSPD confirmed that the warrants for Harr’s arrest were issued by the Grand Prairie Police Department in Dallas County, TX. While the SSPD couldn’t cite Texas law specifically, they did state that the warrant was related to child pornography charges in Texas.
A review of court records from the Dallas County District Court shows that Harr has been charged with one count of 3rd degree possession of child pornography. During the course of the case, prosecutors alleged in court filings that Harr sent harassing messages to an individual involved and her son.
While bond for this case was set at $20,000, it has since been revoked. The last action related to the case took place on July 8, 2024, and the case is currently listed as inactive. This inactive status is done when something court can’t resume is due to factors beyond the control of the court — such as when a warrant is issued for the arrest of the defendant, according to the State of Texas Judicial Branch.
As for Harr’s other charges, this is far from his first time being arrested for DWI. A review of his criminal record from the Texas Department of Public Safety shows four arrests for DWI in the state — the latest two coming in 2023 and 2017.
Harr was remanded into the custody of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office pending extradition back to Texas.
“Another Day, Another Diner” host Pat Fleming outside Compadres Diner in Gansevoort. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In a world increasingly filled with AI slop, there may be something refreshing about social media content that feels authentic.
Pat Fleming, a self-described “Troy boy” and newly-minted Saratogian, has been to more than 100 diners, filming his experiences at 73 of them.
His lifelong love of a good greasy spoon led to “Another Day, Another Diner,” an ongoing video series that features Fleming stopping by small-town diners to enjoy whatever the establishment recommends, plus his signature “big black coffee.” Sometimes he devours the meal accompanied only by a cameraperson, other times he’ll be joined by mayors, local politicos, or even a UFC fighter. His videos have earned him tens of thousands of followers, and, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of viewers.
“I just loved going to diners, and then one day, I looked around and noticed that almost all the diners I was in were either empty or had an older crowd, and I realized that they were kind of dying out,” Fleming told Saratoga TODAY. “I had this idea to try to attempt to connect the next generation to these family-owned restaurants, these diners, which are unique to American culture.”
Despite having little experience in the content creation world (Fleming said he had only been on social media for a few months before launching his video series), “Another Day, Another Diner” quickly took off. Fleming attributes this to the series’ authenticity.
“It’s nothing fancy, but it’s sure not fake either,” he said. “I’m not going to record the best videos or have the best editing…the food might not always look the best, or whatever it is, but I think that’s what people are drawn to nowadays. It’s getting back to the authentic greasy spoon-style restaurants. I think social media is full of AI and fancy stuff. I just think people want the real thing.”
Part of capturing that authentic experience entails Fleming typically arriving at a diner anonymous and unannounced, although he said that since his video series has become popular, he’s often recognized at Capital Region eateries.
As a connoisseur of local restaurants, Fleming has eaten just about everywhere in the Saratoga area. Compadres Diner is not just an under-the-radar gem, but “one of my favorite diners of all time,” Fleming said. He also named Manory’s and Duncan’s Dairy Bar, both in Troy, as two of his top picks.
With a GOAT diner located near Saratoga, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Fleming now lives in the Spa City. “You have the racetrack, you have awesome food, excellent nightlife culture, the cafe scene is really cool…I mean, Saratoga is awesome,” he said.
But Fleming isn’t limiting himself to just the Saratoga area. He’s been to greasy spoons all over the country, and has trips planned to New York City, Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Vermont, where he’ll likely shoot more videos.
Of course, there is one, sometimes hotly debated issue Fleming must contend with: What exactly is a diner? In a series of man-on-the-street-style interviews filmed in downtown Saratoga during the annual SantaCon event, Fleming quizzed locals on their favorite diners. Many named Compton’s or Triangle, but a few may have stretched the definition of “diner” by naming Sweet Mimi’s, The Merc, and the Charlton Tavern.
“Typically, booths and countertop seating are very big metrics,” Fleming said. “That’s how I try to weigh it out. Does it have a booth or countertop seating, and is it cheap food?”
As his diner-going adventures continue to generate buzz, Fleming’s “Another Day, Another Diner” brand has branched out. On his website, Fleming now sells merch that includes sweatshirts, t-shirts, and his very own ground coffee.
To follow along with Fleming’s diner tour, visit anotherdayanotherdiner.com, or you can find him on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
City of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll is one of only two members of City Council to return in 2026. (Aidan Cahill).
Bahram “BK” Keramati is sworn in as Commissioner of Public Works after defeating incumbent Chuck Marshall in the General Election. (Aidan Cahill)
Mayor Safford’s former deputy JoAnne Kiernan was sworn in as Commissioner of Finance, taking over a seat vacated by Minita Sanghvi (Aidan Cahill)
The other incumbent returning to City Council, Mayor John Safford was reelected mayor for his second term in the role (Aidan Cahill).
Jessica Troisi is the new Commissioner of Accounts, defeating incumbent Dillon Moran for the position (Aidan Cahill).
Clifton Park Supervisor Phillip Barrett will remain as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. He was voted into his fourth term in the role 21-1. (Aidan Cahill)
Minita Sanghvi will continue her career in public service, after being elected Supervisor. She and Burger replaced the retiring Matt Veitch and outgoing Michelle Madigan (Aidan Cahill)
Lawyer Sarah Burger was sworn in for her first term as supervisor. She and Sanghvi will take over for outgoing Supervisors Madigan and Veitch (Aidan Cahill).
Town of Saratoga Supervisor Ian Murray was sworn in as Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors. He was voted into the position by a unanimous vote (Aidan Cahill).
Photos of Saratoga Springs varsity wrestler Danny Dacey provided by Coach Jake Zanetti.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It took around one minute for Saratoga Springs varsity wrestler Danny Dacey to pin his foe and secure a gold medal at the Windsor Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29.
It was an especially remarkable feat considering Dacey had previously finished third at the same tournament a year ago.
Dacey’s rapid rise is attributable to dedication and hard work, said his Coach Jake Zanetti, who described Dacey as “exactly what you want in any athlete, especially in wrestling.”
“He’s a super hard worker,” Zanetti continued. “He leads by example… He’s just doing everything right. He’s super dedicated.”
Zanetti credited Dacey, who as of press time had an 18-1 record this season, with leading the charge on 6 a.m. morning lifts for his team. “He’s not afraid to put in the extra work and be that guy,” Zanetti said.
At the Windsor Tournament, Dacey faced four opponents and pinned all of them. At the Lee Van Slyke Memorial Duals on Dec. 20, he pinned three more competitors, dispatching two of them in under a minute (one in 44 seconds, the other in 25). In one event after another this season, it’s been nothing but W’s for Dacey, until he placed 2nd at the Saratoga Invitational on Jan. 3, his only loss thus far.
But the Blue Streaks as a whole captured their third-straight team title at that home tournament. Brendan Stoutenburg won his second-straight title at 110 lbs., and Chase Matter also took the top prize at 144 lbs.
Matter was plagued by injuries last season but has made up for lost time, earning a 19-2 record this season as of Jan. 7. Stoutenberg, a defending Section 2 champion, is 18-4.
Zanetti said that his squad struggled a bit at the beginning of the season due to some of his athletes still playing football while the wrestling program was starting. (In December, the Blue Streaks competed in a state championship football game for only the second time in program history). But since then, things are starting to mesh, and the victories are piling up.
“We definitely dropped some early team losses, but we’re doing all the right things to hopefully set ourselves up for a good team and individual postseason,” said the coach.
In their regular meeting of the new term, the Saratoga Springs City Council agreed to enact new changes to how the city handles protests after an investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
The agreement comes after the state launched an investigation into how police and elected officials handled the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
Under the terms of the agreement, the city neither confirms nor denies the findings of the investigation but agrees to implement changes and recommendations to how the police conduct operations during protests and other demonstrations.
Under the agreement the city will agree to remove all criminal penalties for failing to file a demonstration declaration or parade permit, but they may impose fines. In addition, under the agreement elected officials are specifically forbidden from ordering or influencing the Police Department to investigate, arrest, and or engage in surveillance of anyone engaged in first amendment activities. They’re also forbidden from ordering or influencing decisions on police deployment.
The agreement also dictates various policy changes to how the Police Department handles protests and first amendment activities. Under the agreement, the department is required designate and train designated “protest liaison” officer to assist with protests over 25 people. In addition, they must implement a four-tiered response to protests and are prohibited from investigating and surveilling individuals based solely on their involvement in first amendment activities — among other requirements.
They’re also prohibited from treating protests differently based on the message of the protest.
Under the agreement, the city has 90 days to implement the agreed-upon changes. Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said the agreement will cost the city $200,000 every year.
Public opinion was mixed on the agreement, with some saying that the agreement didn’t go far enough to address past wrongs while others said the report was one sided and shouldn’t be signed by the city.
Despite these concerns, prior to the vote the agreement received the endorsement of both Mayor John Safford and Coll. Coll said that the agreement was an alternative to litigation and that the relationship between the city and Attorney General’s office.
“Over the past 18 months, the city has had extensive and at times spirited discussions with the OAG on this matter,” Coll said. “Ultimately, we were able to find common ground and that understanding is reflected in this agreement.”
Ultimately, the agreement was passed by city council unanimously. After the meeting, Safford praised the agreement calling it a positive thing for the city and saying that they will continue to work with the Attorney General’s Office. Coll meanwhile said that a lot of the changes in the agreement have already been implemented and that they’ve seen positive results from the changes.
In addition, after the agreement was approved New York Attorney General Leticia James put out a statement calling the changes the “most extensive ever secured,” by her related to first amendment activity.
“New Yorkers have the fundamental right to speak out, organize, and protest without fear of unlawful interruption or retaliation,” said Attorney General James. “Our investigation found that Saratoga Springs repeatedly violated those rights and targeted protesters because of their message. This agreement is a significant step toward rebuilding trust between the Saratoga Springs community and its police force and will ensure everyone is able to safely express their beliefs.”
Junior Alvarado atop Sovereignty, winner of the 2025 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Photo by Angelo Lieto, provided by NYRA.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced that the Saratoga Race Course will host 51 days of thoroughbred racing in 2026, highlighted by the five-day Belmont Stakes Festival and a 46-day summer meet that will include the July 4th Racing Festival, which was held at Saratoga for the first time in 2025.
“Each summer, Saratoga Race Course stands at the center of the racing world,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “The 2026 season will be particularly special as we celebrate the final Saratoga edition of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and honor America’s 250th anniversary at one of the country’s most historic sporting venues. While Saratoga has served as the ideal temporary host for the Belmont Stakes and July 4th festivals, we look forward to returning to the traditional 40-day summer racing schedule at Saratoga in 2027.”
To allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park, Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time from June 3 through June 7. It will be highlighted by the 158th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 6.
Following the conclusion of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet, the NYRA circuit will return to Saratoga for a 46-day summer meet to open with the July 4th Racing Festival from July 3, through July 5.
To accommodate the 2026 calendar, Saratoga will then host a series of four-day racing weeks, Thursday through Sunday, from July 9 through July 26, prior to the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Sept. 2 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
With the new Belmont Park to re-open in September for live racing, 2026 will mark the final year of adjustments to the customary racing schedule at Saratoga. This period of transition began in 2024 when NYRA held a four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga for the first time. In 2025, NYRA expanded the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to five days and shifted the July 4th Racing Festival to the Spa, resulting in 49 days of live racing during the 2025 season.
In 2027, Belmont Park will once again host the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Racing Festivals, while Saratoga Race Course will revert to its traditional 40-day summer meet.
“We are excited to have one more opportunity to showcase our amazing community to the world by hosting the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Festivals,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “To kick off the Belmont Festival, we will again host a Belmont on Broadway concert free for locals and visitors to our community, and the July 4th All American Celebration to add to the festivities at the track. These two festivals helped drive up revenue at local hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and shops throughout the area in 2025, and the same will be true as our historic run hosting these events concludes in 2026.”
For the 2026 calendar of live race dates, which is pending New York State Gaming Commission approval, visit www.nyra.com/inc/schedule/.
Music fans prepare for a summer concert at the Dancing Grain Farm Brewery in 2025. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.
BALLSTON SPA — The Real McCoy Beer Co.’s Ballston Spa location, the historic former home of Civil War General Abner Doubleday, closed on Dec. 29 after six years in business, but also announced that it would soon reopen in partnership with another brewery.
“We have found a new brewery to partner with for 2026,” Real McCoy said on its social media pages. “We will be shut down for a few weeks at the beginning of the year to prepare for our reopening. Stay tuned to this page for more info.”
The Real McCoy Beer Co.’s Ballston Spa location, the historic former home of Civil War General Abner Doubleday.
Meanwhile, the Dancing Grain Farm Brewery in Gansevoort—known for its sunflower fields, scenic vistas, and live music events—shared on Dec. 23 a video of a new barn-like structure being built on its property with the caption, “A new place for you to gather coming 2026!”
The family-owned Dancing Grain hosts a number of seasonal events at its farm/brewery, including concerts, Buffalo Bills watch parties, trivia nights, and an upcoming “Disco Inferno” Christmas tree bonfire fundraiser on Jan. 10.
