An assortment of Bear’s Cup bagels. Photo via the bakery.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Bear’s Cup Bakehouse—an artisanal bakery and coffee shop known for its New York-style bagels, fresh-baked bread, and pastries—may soon be opening a new location on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.
According to the Albany Business Review, Bear’s Cup would take over 543 Broadway, the former home of Jacobsen Oriental Rugs, which relocated to 145 Ballston Ave.
The bakery is based out of Bolton Landing, a hamlet that borders Lake George and is across from the Sagamore Resort. The company’s bagels were once featured on the “Rachel Ray Show.”
In a video posted to their Instagram account, Bear’s Cup indicated that their Saratoga location could open as soon as this fall.
MALTA — The former home of Dunning Street Station in Malta is set to become a new eatery named Harvest Grain Pizza, according to a banner hung outside the location on Route 9.
Dunning Street permanently closed in June after a series of temporary closures. It was sold shortly thereafter.
Harvest Grain Pizza currently has a location open in Clifton Park, where a variety of pies are offered, including whole wheat, square pan, Sicilian deep dish, gluten free, a white “Saratoga” pizza, Hawaiian, veggie lovers, and many more.
Saboor Sekandari of Harvest Grain told Saratoga TODAY that an opening date for the new Malta outpost has not yet been confirmed, but the pizzeria could open sometime between mid-September and early October.
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.
The New York State Public Service Commission recently approved a rate proposal by National Grid which would see rates for electricity go up by 11% and rates for gas go up by 10%.
The Commission approved the proposal on Aug. 14. The proposal was signed by multiple agencies, companies and other organizations including the US Department of Defense, Walmart, The New York Solar Energies of New York, The New York Geothermal Energy Organization, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 97 — among others.
Under the proposal, rates across the areas National Grid serves would go up for residential customers by around 11- 12% for year one, five percent for year two and three percent for year three. In terms of gas expenses, National Grid states in its proposal that rates will go up by around eight percent across all three years it covers.
The rate increase comes after over a year of negotiations between National Grid and various stakeholders.
Under the initial proposal rates would’ve increased electricity rates for residential consumers by 15% and gas rates for residential consumers by 20%. These rates were reduced through the negotiating process to where they are in the current proposal.
Under the approved proposal, revenues for National Grid from electricity would increase by $167.3 million in year 1, $297.4 million in year 2 and $243.4 million in year 3.
“The main rate drivers of the recommended increases are due to increases to operations and maintenance (O&M) expense, return on and return of (i.e., depreciation expense) capital investments, and a change in the return on equity to reflect market conditions offset by lower than previously forecast property taxes and a forecasted increase in revenue,” The proposal said.
The increased rate isn’t without controversy. The report detailed how in hearings across the state during the year of negotiations, 62 individuals spoke up about the rates and nearly 9,000 people submitted written comments.
“Many speakers opposed the proposed rate increases, stating that bills are already unaffordable and suggesting that executive compensation and shareholder dividends be reduced prior to raising rates,” the proposal stated “Others noted that the requested rate increases outpace inflation and suggested that there should be methods for funding necessary infrastructure improvements without rate increases.”
Despite these comments, The Commission ultimately decided to approve the rate increases.
“While reflecting a considerable reduction from National Grid’s original request, the Joint Proposal nonetheless provides sufficient funding for the Company to maintain safe, adequate and reliable utility service at just and reasonable rates; thus, the Joint Proposal appropriately balances the interests of ratepayers, the Company, and its investors,” The Commission stated.
The approval was met with swift backlash from many New York lawmakers and other politicians. Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement criticizing the decision.
“While I appreciate that the New York Public Service Commission worked to significantly lower the outrageously high initial rate proposals, it’s still not enough,” Governor Hochul said. “I have been crystal clear that utilities must make ratepayer affordability the priority.”
In response to the rate hike, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, whose represents parts of Schenectady and Amsterdam, announced he would introduce legislation which would allow the legislature to review any rate hike by the Public Service Commission.
“Utility costs are already a significant burden for New Yorkers,” Santabarbara said. “This bill makes sure that when major decisions like this are made, elected representatives have the chance to step in on behalf of the people they serve – even if the PSC has already approved it. In this case, we still have time to review and potentially reverse this increase before it becomes permanent.”
This isn’t Santabarbara’s first time introducing legislation to exert legislative control over the Public Service Commission. Back in January, Santabarbara proposed legislation which would require legislative consent on all proposed rate hikes. The same bill was proposed in the senate by Senator James Tedisco, who represents all of Saratoga County and parts of Schenectady and Kevin Parker who represents parts of Brooklyn.
The legislation was referred to committee in both houses and no action has been taken since.
Corgi winner’s circle photo by Adam Coglianese/NYRA.
Photo of Maple Sausage, the wiener dog race champion, via Amy Brannigan/Saratoga Casino Hotel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was a dog-gone, paws-itively beautiful night as the warm evening air above the Saratoga Casino was filled with a chorus of barking wieners.
On Saturday, the casino’s harness track hosted a battalion of furrier, much smaller competitors during a wiener dog race that followed the third horse race of the night. Buoyant, bouncing wieners trotted onto the track. Some, clearly, had done this before. Others seemed happy just to be there.
When the race began, three Dachshunds bolted for the finish line, arriving there in about 5 seconds. The victor, Maple Sausage, ran relatively steady and true. The second and third place finishers, Granny and Gus, weaved a bit but ultimately earned their ribbons.
The aptly named Granny was the race’s oldest competitor at 15 years, and her owner is Jack Carpenter, co-founder of the local social media company Two Buttons Deep.
Nearly every bench near the track had at least one racing fan stationed on it, whether there for horses or wieners or both. The event also featured a corn dog contest and a puppy meet-and-greet. The spectacle set the stage for what was to come the following day: a five-race Corgi Cup competition at the Saratoga Race Course.
48 Corgis registered for the event, including a trio dubbed the “Corgs of War,” who were the heavy favorites thanks to prior victories in races held by NFL teams. Ares, named after the Greek god of war and courage, had previously won two Corgi Cups with the Buffalo Bills. Athena, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, was the 2024 New York Giants Corgi Cup champion. And Tails, who apparently does not share a name with a Greek god, won a Corgi Cup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Four qualifying heats took place throughout the afternoon on Sunday. The top three finishers from each heat advanced to the championship round, which featured a 12-Corgi field that went to post shortly after the 7th (horse) race. Each sprint was run at a 40-yard distance, and the action was broadcast on FOX Sports (FS1) for the world to see. Fans were not able to bet on the Corgis via the official NYRA Bets app, though it’s likely some wagers were placed off the books.
The first heat was star-studded. Horse trainer Jena Antonucci, the first woman to win a Triple Crown race, ran her pup Mando. “This is stressful right now,” Antonucci said as she readied her Corgi at the starting gate. Fenway Frank, owned by a Glens Falls resident who used to bus tables at the track, was another popular favorite heading into the qualifier. But neither Corg could contend with the god of war himself, Ares, who flew to the finish in just 5.17 seconds.
The second heat featured a number of local dogs, including Oly from Halfmoon, Spike from Troy, and Finn from Mechanicville. Another Corg of War, Athena, was unexpectedly challenged in this qualifier by Norman, who made his racing debut at the Spa. “Short legs, big dreams,” said Norman’s owner. But the dreamer couldn’t overcome the goddess, and the warrior clan of Corgis secured their second victory of the day, thwarting Norman’s near-Cinderella story.
The third heat featured Abbey, a Saratoga resident whose owner runs the Springwater Bed and Breakfast, and who has wheels attached to her hind legs. Abbey entered the race despite being unable to walk just six months ago. The brave soul took her time wheeling forward, but did so with the support of the spectators, who erupted in applause when she crossed the finish line.
Ultimately, the third qualifier was won by Kona, in a massive upset that left the third Corg of War, Tails, in the dust. Kona recorded a time of 5.27 seconds, the second-fastest of the day at that point. “This boy will run anywhere for his treats,” Kona’s owner said in a post-race interview with FOX Sports’ Maggie Wolfendale.
The final heat featured no Corgs of War, leaving the field wide open. Sam, who had secured the 8th post position, prevailed in dominant fashion, winning in 5.33 seconds. “Sam’s got a little crazy in him so he’s able to go real fast when he wants to,” said Sam’s owners after the race.
Both Sam and the Corgs of War are members of the Long Island Corgi Club. All of them, familiar with each other’s talents, knew that the Corgi Cup would be a mighty challenge.
Ares entered the championship as the favorite thanks to his record-setting time. But Sam made it known he would not shrink quietly into the night by relieving himself at the rail on his way to the track. “My stomach turns every time I come out here, very nervous,” said Ares’ owner. The pups were feisty at the gate, barking and yowling with anticipation.
Out of the gate, Sam trailed behind a heap of Corgis, any one of whom could’ve prevailed. But then Sam found within himself a mighty dose of determination. He launched into high gear and secured the Corgi Cup title. Draped in red flowers and hoisted above human heads, as if to suggest his god-like status, Sam was awarded the Corgi Cup, a silver trophy stuffed with red Saratoga tennis balls that was bigger than his entire body.
Photo of Albany International Airport’s Concourse A interior provided by the airport.
ALBANY — The Albany International Airport (ALB) recently announced that it has completed Phase 1 of its Concourse A Rehabilitation Project, marking a milestone in the most substantial overhaul to the concourse since it opened in 1979.
The focal point of this first phase is the addition of two new jet bridge-equipped gates, A1 and A2, located on the upper level alongside existing gates A3 through A6. Previously, gates A1 and A2 functioned as ground-level boarding areas, accessible only by walking outside, and were rarely used. These second-floor gates replace that outdated infrastructure with a modern, weather-protected boarding experience.
“Albany International is the front door to our region, and this project shows we’re serious about making a great first impression,” said Sam Fresina, chair of the Albany County Airport Authority Board in a news release. “We’re not just updating a concourse, we’re investing in infrastructure that supports jobs, attracts new routes, and keeps this airport competitive for years to come.”
“Albany International is the oldest municipal airport in the nation, and has come a long way since it was built on this site nearly 100 years ago. We knew it needed to be modernized as it continues to grow,” said Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County executive.
The first flights to use the newly constructed gates departed on July 28, with Allegiant Air operating from Gate A1 and United Airlines scheduled to depart from Gate A2 later in the week. These inaugural departures mark the official opening of the upgraded portion of Concourse A for passenger service.
Additional upgrades in Phase 1 include:
• Polished terrazzo flooring and a modernized ceiling design
• All-new seating with integrated power outlets
• Dedicated space for a future concession vendor
• Upgraded lighting and energy-efficient infrastructure
The cost of construction for the full Concourse A Rehabilitation Project is $13.36 million. Of that, $10.6 million was provided through a federal grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding supports the full scope of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
The Concourse A project was made possible in part by a $10.6 million federal grant secured through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand were instrumental in delivering this funding to Albany.
Future phases will include renovations to gates A3 through A6, improved restrooms, upgraded mechanical systems, and additional passenger amenities, which are all designed to modernize the concourse, enhance the customer experience, and support ALB’s continued growth.
Shane Daley of Galway is alleged to have harassed the family of Brian Thompson, pictured here ( United Health Care)
A Galway man has been charged in federal court for allegedly harassing the family of Brian Thompson, a health care CEO killed in 2024.
Shane Daley, 40, of Galway was charged with cyberstalking after he allegedly placed multiple calls to a phone line used by a member of Thompson’s family. Daley allegedly made the calls between Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, 2024, with the first calls starting just hours after Thompson’s death.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Daley expressed satisfaction over Thomspon’s death and said his family and children deserved a similar fate.
“Daley threatened and harassed a grieving family in the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s murder,” Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said. “These selfish, harmful, and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated. This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will pursue and prosecute those who seek to intimidate victims and their families.”
At the time of his death, Brian Thompson was the CEO of United Health Care, one of two subsidiaries of United Health Group. United Health Care is one of the largest health insurance companies with over 50 million people served according to an outlook release by the company. In 2024, United Health Care alone brought in over $400 billion in revenue.
On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, Thompson was killed while visiting New York City. Luigi Mangione of Towson, MD was arrested and charged for the murder although he has pleaded not guilty and as of Aug. 13, a trial date hasn’t been set.
As for Daley, he was arraigned in Albany before US Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart. If convicted, he will potentially face a maximum of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and term of supervised release of up to three years.
“The recurrent calls and messages in the days following Brian Thompson’s murder were more than callous and cold-hearted harassment – they were threatening and terrified a family already suffering following the violent death of their loved one,” Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the FBI said. “The FBI will continue to bring to justice any individual attempting to stalk and harass innocent Americans.”
Are you planning on running your sprinkler every day or washing your car this month? If so, then the City of Saratoga Springs is asking you to reconsider.
The city is implementing voluntary water restrictions on outdoor watering due to increased strain on the water system, lower than average rain and inadequate rain forecasted in the future. The public works department said the restriction was a precautionary measure to decrease water usage.
Under the restrictions, residents are asked to only run water on landscaping every other day based on their house numbers — with odd numbered houses watering on odd numbered days and even numbered houses watering on even numbered days. For example, someone who lives at house number 201 would water on August 13, 15, 17, 19, etc. — while some at 210 would water on August 12, 14, 16, 18, etc.
In addition, the city is asking all residents not to water or wash cars between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. due to increased evaporation rates which the city says can represent a loss of 30%.
The Department of Public Works said the restrictions do not apply to handheld watering devices, however, they did ask residents to ensure water remains on lawns and gardens and not on paved areas.
“Help from residents to conserve water will go a long way to preserve the reservoir levels until it’s replenished with some heavy rainstorms,” Department of Public Works Commissioner Chuck Marshall said. “This is a precautionary measure to reduce the volume of water being used for landscape watering and we appreciate the public’s cooperation.”
According to the Department of Public Works, the city’s water treatment plant pumped 5.2 million gallons of water per day in June and 6.6 million gallons of water per day in July, an increase from the 4.3 million gallons of water per day averaged in 2024.
Saratoga Springs isn’t the first jurisdiction to implement voluntary water restrictions. The Town of Ballston implemented similar water restrictions on July 16, and the Town of Charlton implemented the measures on July 17. In addition, the Town of Moreau issued a water restriction order on Aug. 12 — although this notice was due to repairs to the water supply in Queensbury.
The voluntary water restrictions come at a time when Saratoga Springs has seen higher than average temperatures with steady or below average precipitation. According to the National Weather Service, June saw 4.41 inches of precipitation, compared to the average of 4.18 inches while July saw 3.91 inches compared to an average of 4.24 inches.
Meanwhile in terms of temperature, Saratoga Springs saw an average temperature of 71.4 degrees in June, compared to the average of 67.2 overall, and an average temperature of 77.3 — the highest average temperature for July on record — compared to the typical average of 71.8 degrees.
Closeup of a tennis ball that has been modified for visually impaired players. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Camp Abilities Saratoga held its first-ever blind tennis program on Monday afternoon, allowing children and teens with visual impairments to serve, volley, and smash at Skidmore College’s new McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center.
The game is modified to include soft plush balls filled with rattles so that players can hear where the ball is located. Although the balls don’t have the same bounce as a typical tennis ball, they are larger and thus easier to hit with a racket. The courts are also condensed to include only the service boxes. Tactile strips are placed at the service line and around the service boxes so that players can feel when they’re about to head out-of-bounds. The rules are also altered so that, depending on the player’s level of visual impairment, they can allow the ball to bounce anywhere from one to three times before returning it. And although spectators might want to cheer, they’re required to keep quiet so that players can auditorily track the ball.
“We just wanted to bring blind tennis to the world and introduce it to more people, to get the sport developed a lot more,” Camp Director Tiffany Suppes told Saratoga TODAY. “And it just so happens, it’s the same year that Skidmore finished the [tennis] courts, so it worked perfectly for us.”
Suppes said that Camp Abilities Saratoga pairs up its campers one-on-one with coaches who can help modify and adapt any sport or activity to suit the needs of individual campers. The camp also has sports specialists that oversee and teach activities.
Camp Abilities Saratoga runs until Aug. 9 on Skidmore’s campus, where around two dozen campers participate in a variety of sports, including beep baseball, swimming, goal ball, track, tandem biking, and tennis.
Camp Abilities Saratoga was founded in 2013 as a service project of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club, modeled after Camp Abilities Brockport. Its mission includes promoting physical activity among children who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf blind; supporting future educators; and demonstrating to families each child’s potential for independence in an inclusive, enriching environment.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The two-night Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton shattered previously established records for gross, average, and median, including topping gross sales of $100,000,000 for the first time in the sale’s history.
The $4,100,000 sale topper, Hip 218 (a colt by Into Mischief), was the most expensive Saratoga yearling sold in 25 years. Sixteen yearlings sold for seven figures during the Tuesday session – a record for single-session million-dollar sales – while a total of 25 million-dollar yearlings sold over the course of the two nights, annihilating the previous record set in 2021 of 14 million-dollar yearlings sold over two nights.
The second-highest priced yearling of the evening was also a colt by multiple champion sire Into Mischief (Hip 178), sold for $3,000,000. The bay colt is out of the Grade 1 placed winning Bernardini mare Lady Kate and was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“It was a remarkable two days,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning in a news release. “We’ve been selling at Saratoga for 104 years, so it’s not an overnight sensation. It’s the culmination of many years of hard work and sweat. We try to work hard and do the right thing and on nights like these it all comes together like magic.”
Other notable sales included:
• A Gun Runner (Hip 179) half-brother to last year’s Demoiselle S. (G2) winner Muhimma sold for $2,900,000;
• Another colt by Into Mischief (Hip 163), this out of the multiple Grade 1 winning multimillionaire I’m a Chatterbox, sold for $2,600,000;
• A filly by Gun Runner (Hip 175) sold for $2,600,000;
• A colt by Flightline (Hip 176) was sold for $1,800,000;
• A colt by the late Uncle Mo (Hip 219) was also sold for $1,800,000;
• A filly by Gun Runner (Hip 200), the first foal out of speedy Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil, sold for $1,475,000;
• A colt by successful young sire Not This Time (Hip 150) sold for $1,400,000;
• A colt by Bolt d’Oro (Hip 214) also went for $1,400,000;
• In addition to the sale topper, a second colt by Into Mischief (Hip 123) sold for $1,250,000.
Over the span of two nights, 160 yearlings sold for $100,715,000, a sale record gross and an increase of 22.6% over the then-record gross established last year when 154 yearlings sold for $82,160,000. The average was $629,469, up 18% over the highwater mark set last year of $533,506. The median rose 5.9% to $450,000 to establish a new record over last year’s median $425,000. The RNA rate was just 12.3%, the lowest in this sale’s history since 1981.
