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Business for Good Foundation Announces Support for Pitney Meadows Community Farm’s Food as Medicine Program

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured.

The Business for Good Foundation (BFGF) announced a $20,000 donation to Pitney Meadows Community Farm to double the capacity of its farm-based Food as Medicine (FAM) residential program. The initiative pairs fresh, locally grown produce with hands-on nutrition education to support economic mobility for high-need residents across Saratoga County.

As a public foundation committed to breaking systemic barriers, BFGF focuses its mission on workforce innovation, housing attainability, and economic mobility. The Pitney Meadows grant builds on the foundation’s 2026 momentum, joining recent support for Wildwood Foundation, CAPTAIN CHS and the SEAT Center, the launch of its new workforce innovation initiative, and the key appointments of Capital Region leaders Ellen Sax (BST) and Charles Pinckney (M&T Bank) to its Board of Directors.

The donation from BFGF helps Pitney Meadows build on last year’s residential pilot, now entering its second year across three local housing communities: Stonequist Apartments, RISE Riverview Apartments, and RISE Dominic Hollow Apartments. Over a six-month season running through November 2026, residents receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce sourced directly from Pitney Meadows and regional farms at no cost, accompanied by cooking and nutrition classes.

“True health equity is a direct driver of economic mobility,” said Maire Masterson, Executive Director of the Business for Good Foundation. “When families face systemic barriers to fresh food and nutrition education, it impacts their ability to work, learn, and thrive. Our donation to Pitney Meadows is about helping create access for our neighbors to build long-term health and financial stability.”

The residential FAM model builds on a multi-year foundation of clinical success established in Saratoga County. Both the clinical and residential programs of the FAM initiative help strengthen the local regional economy. By purchasing produce from more than a dozen local farms and producers—including Featherbed Lane Farm, Juniper Hill Farm, and Essex Food Hub—the program keeps food dollars circulating locally while providing housing partner agencies with integrated, dignity-forward support services for their residents.

“This funding allows us to meet a level of community need that continues to grow,” said Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm. “Every resident deserves reliable access to nutritious food and the knowledge to use it well. This support lets us deliver both, with dignity, at the scale our community needs.”

Over a Ton! – 11th Annual Saratoga Giant Pumpkinfest

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured.

First Place Winner Josh Hilton Whose Pumpkin Weighed 2,123.5 lbs (Courtesy of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce)
(Left) Second Place Ernie Gustinucci, (Middle) First Place Jash Hilton, (Right) Thrid Place Tadd King
(Courtesy of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce)


The winner of the 2026 Saratoga Giant Pumpkinfest was Josh Hilton of Nassau, N.Y, whose pumpkin weighed at an astonishing 2,123.50 lbs. Ernie Gustinucci of Jackson, P.A. took second plac; his pumpkin weighed 1821.50 lbs. The third-place pumpkin was grown by Tadd King of Freedom, N.Y., weighing 1674.50 lbs.

Department of NY VFW Donates $5,000 to Support Friends of NYS Military Museum’s Global War on Terrorism Campaign

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education, Featured.

The Friends of the New York State Military Museum announced recently that the Department of New York VFW has donated $5,000 to the Friends’ ongoing Global War on Terrorism campaign to recognize and honor the military service of New Yorkers since the 9/11 terror attacks.

The donation was made in the form of a check presented by leaders of the Department of New York VFW to members of the board of trustees of the Friends at the group’s inaugural fundraising golf tournament, held Sept. 23 at McGregor Links in Wilton, Saratoga County. 

“On behalf of the board of trustees of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, I’d like to sincerely thank each volunteer, sponsor and participant who supported our golf outing,” said board President Mark O’Rourke. “Your help and generosity were crucial to the resounding success of this inaugural event which will help the Friends — a trusted non-profit organization — continue to serve as a pillar of support to the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. Together, we will work to honor the courageous service and sacrifice of servicemembers from New York who have served our beloved state and nation over the generations.”

In partnership with the museum, the Friends group is developing a new recognition and honor campaign dedicated to the Global War on Terror (GWOT). This important addition will honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women from New York who have served since Sept. 11, 2001 — many of them our neighbors, family members and friends.

This initiative reflects the Friends’ mission to preserve contemporary military history with the same reverence as in the past. Support from individuals and organizations such as the Department of New York VFW will help ensure that the stories of this generation are remembered, respected, and shared with future visitors.

Launched on Dec. 6, 2025, the Global War on Terrorism Campaign is raising funds in support of the military museum’s new exhibit recognizing New Yorkers who served during the GWOT. The exhibit being installed at the museum located at 61 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs will be officially unveiled in early November.

The campaign is also raising funds for a traveling GWOT exhibit, a New York GWOT veterans memorial, a statewide oral history program and a statewide lecture series of public talks that illuminate the post-9/11 era’s diplomatic, financial and military actions taken to counter terrorism.

 In addition, on Sept. 23, the Friends hosted its first golf tournament to raise funds to support the museum’s GWOT initiatives. The event held at McGregor Links in Wilton raised nearly $14,000, with a total of 112 golfers in 28 foursomes participating.

The 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Kicks off this Weekend!

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business, Featured.

The 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is celebrating 30 years of exceptional homes and will be presented over two fall weekends this year on October 3-4 and October 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and this year’s edition has 13 locations from 12 award-winning builders in Saratoga County on display.

Showcase tickets are available now online at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com or at Adirondack Trust branches, Arrow Bank on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury, Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs, Rebuilding Together ReShop in Ballston Spa and Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Fort Edward. Showcase tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours. 

As in previous years, each showcase ticket holder will receive a free commemorative shoe/tote bag at the first home visited, while supplies last!

Participating builders in this year’s event; Amedore Homes, Barbera Homes, Belmonte Builders, BT Land Development, Homes by Malta Development, Kodiak Construction, Kohler Homes, Spa City Builders, Talarico Construction, Trojanski Builders, Urvalek Builders and Witt Construction.

This year’s showcase will also be featuring a “Boards to Blooms” build exhibition on Saturday, October 3rd from 10 a.m. to noon at the Trojanski Builders Showcase home #12. Local school students will be building wooden box planters led by Whitbeck Construction. It’s all part of spotlighting work in the trades by the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition. In addition, a CTE Construction Trades/BOCES Victorian inspired “Greenhouse” will be on display all four days of the event at the Homes by Malta Development Showcase home #5.

This annual community event has contributed $1.8 million dollars to local charities. Proceeds from the Saratoga Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. For more details on the 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Check out Saratoga Showcase of Homes on Facebook and Instagram for all the updates on this year’s event!

Mixed Use Development Proposed at 269 Broadway

Written by Aidan Clark on . Posted in Business, Featured.

Ariel View of the Proposal of 269 Broadway (Courtesy of the Saratoga Springs Planning Board)

A proposal for a six-story mixed use development on 269 Broadway in Saratoga Springs is currently being considered by the City Planning Board. 

The site spans from Broadway to Hamilton Street and sits in between Saratoga Central Catholic School and NBT Bank. The land is currently a parking lot. The project includes a singular retail space on the ground level with high-end condominiums on the upper floors and underground parking. 

The developers, Prime Group Holdings, said deliveries and car traffic will enter through Hamilton, with the aim of keeping congestion away from Broadway. 

Included in the plans are renovations of the Hamilton and Broadway sidewalks, installing streetlights, and planting additional trees along the property.

A requirement of the board is to save the 60-foot maple tree planted by late Public Works Commissioner, Anthony “Skip” Sirocco, who was instrumental in implementing street trees along Broadway. 

Prime Group Holdings received approval for a similar project in 2022 which notably garnered significant public opposition in the form of an 800-signature petition over the scale of the proposal which sits in the city’s historic district. 

However, the developers abandoned the project after construction costs increased due to groundwater on the site. 

The applicants believe their current proposal will better integrate into the surrounding streetscape. 

The architects “have spent months visiting Saratoga Springs, reviewing its historic and current architecture, to immerse themselves in the feeling of Downtown Saratoga,” the project narrative said.

This time around the proposal only includes one level of underground parking, instead of two in 2022. 

Although the public’s comments did not focus on the architecture of the building, neighbors did voice their concerns over the ground water on the site. 

“The entire engineering issue is associated with the fact that we are putting a lot of weight on a very wet area,” said planning board Chair, Mark Pingel. “It’s a problem that is solvable because it has been solved on many other sites before.”

Current planning board member, Tony Stellato, was employed by the outside engineering firm contracted by the city to review the 2022 project. After disclosing this to the board and a quick discussion about recusal, the board and the developers determined it would be mutually beneficial to have Stellato’s expertise in the approval process. 

The planning board did not vote on the project at the September 24 meeting, instead instructing the developers to review their plans on civic spaces, stormwater management, vehicle turnaround on Hamilton Street, and foundation structures. 

After the developers return to the planning board with renewed submissions based on the board’s comments, the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) process will begin. 

The SEQR requires government agencies to review the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the project. This process will include public hearings to be announced at a later date on the planning board agenda. 

Public comments can be submitted online at, saratogaspringsny.gov/192/Planning-Department. 

“Pennies from Heaven” SLICFiber gives Kelly’s Angels Largest Single Donation in their History

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

The first donation to Kelly’s Angels was made by SLICFiber on Sept. 28. The funds have been collected with each new SLICFiber Customer (Aidan Cahill)
A pink fiberoptic cable installed in Mechanicville in February. Since that first installation, the company has raised over $16,000 for Kelly’s Angels (Courtesy of SLICFIber)

In February 2026, internet provider SLICFiber announced that as part of their expansion into Saratoga County, they would do things differently. 

The wires would be pink and for every new customer, the company would set aside $25 for a local cancer-related charity, Kelly’s Angels. 

In the seven months since the announcement, the money has been adding up and on Sept. 29, SLICFiber made their first donation to Kelly’s Angels at the Saratoga Spa State Park. The company donated $16,850 to the charity, the largest single donation in the 16-year history of Kelly’s Angels.

“The one thing that was really important to us is that if we were going to do this, that it had to be a meaningful donation,” Kevin Lynch, CEO of SLICFiber said. “We didn’t want it to just be a token.” 

The initiative began on February 4 with the first installation of the pink cable in Mechanicville, the first customer being the Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. The cable is unique to SLICFiber and was developed by Sterlite Technologies (STL). While developing a new color may not sound like much, Lynch said that it took a lot of work to develop a pink cable that could stand up to the same conditions as the traditional black color. 

“Initially they’re like, ‘oh yeah, we can do pink,’ and then it turned out to be a little bit more involved with that,” Lynch said. “But their engineering team got really excited behind it as well.” 

As part of their contribution to the campaign, STL took on the cost of developing the cable at no additional cost to SLIC. 

Mark Mulholland, WNYT-TV anchor and founder of Kelly’s Angels, said that the donation represents the largest contribution to the charity since its founding. 

“This is pennies from heaven,” Mullholland said. “To have an organization like SLICFiber to say ‘hey we want to support you no strings attached just because we’re committed to the community and we see that you’re committed to the community,’ there’s nothing better than that.”

Mulholland started Kelly’s Angels after the death of his wife Kelly Mullhulland. Kelly died in 2007 of breast cancer. The objective of Kelly’s Angles is to support those who’ve lost a parent to cancer. 

“We came up with this idea to bring smiles to the faces of children who are left behind. We send them on trips,” Mullholland said. “We send them to Disney, Universal. We send them to Yankees games. We give them backyard bouncy houses. Whatever they want to do to bring smiles to their face, they choose.”

Since it’s founding, the charity has allocated over a million dollars to these efforts, Mullholland said and is all volunteer. 

The Sept. 29 donation won’t be the last as the campaign is still ongoing, Lynch said.

Correction: An earlier version of this article had the incorrect first name of SLICFiber CEO Kevin Lynch. We apologize for the error.

Saratoga Hospital Receives $3 Million Donation for Aging and Wellness Center

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

Saratoga Hospital has received a $3 million donation from the Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation for a new center focused on centralizing senior care in the hospital. 

The new center, named the Moser Center for Successful Aging and Wellness, was announced during a press conference on Sept. 29. 

In addition to the center, Saratoga Hospital also announced the start of a new $22 million capital fundraising campaign, of which close to $9 million has already been raised. This money will fund not just the center, but a new parking garage located directly across the street from the emergency room entrance. 

“The Moser Center for Successful Aging and Wellness has long been our vision, a place where older adults and their families can receive coordinated care, guidance and support to help them remain healthy, active and independent,” said Jill VanKuren, President and CEO of Saratoga Hospital. “We are incredibly grateful to the Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation for its generosity and belief in this vision. This gift brings us an important step closer to making it a reality.”

The new center will be located at 59A Myrtle Street and will consolidate multiple practices and services from across the city into one building. These include primary care, rehabilitation, memory care, nutrition and wellness, community partnerships, caregiver support, behavioral health, and specialties such as cardiology.

The garage will consist of a three-level parking garage with 391 parking spaces. Construction is expected to being sometime between Dec. 2026 and Dec. 2027 with construction of the center to come after construction of the garage. 

In order to construct the two buildings, the hospital has requested modification to their Professional Planned Unit Development (PUD). Under the changes to the PUD, parcels located on Myrtle Street would be added, and the PUD would be modified to allow the construction of the facility. 

On a city website answering questions about the PUD, the hospital said that it currently pays around $750,000 on rent for the specialties that would be consolidated in the new center. The new center would reduce costs for the hospital by eliminating said rental costs and also reduce utility costs. Another benefit of the center would be better coordination between the specialties and the hospital itself. 

Once construction of the center is complete, specialties will be relocated as existing leases expire, the website said. 

The campaign is expected to run through 2029. 

Aidan Clark contributed to this story. 

Mechanicville Fire Department Awarded $160,000 FEMA Grant to Equip 28 Firefighters

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.

The Mechanicville Fire Department has been awarded $160,000 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fiscal Year 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Combined with an $8,000 local contribution, the award provides $168,000 to purchase 28 complete sets of structural firefighting protective equipment.

Each set will provide a firefighter with a protective coat and pants, helmet, boots, gloves and two hoods. The new equipment will replace aging gear and help protect members during fires and other hazardous responses. FEMA approved a cost of $6,000 per set, reflecting the specialized materials, protective construction and fitting required for equipment firefighters depend on in dangerous conditions.

The AFG program helps fire departments and other emergency response organizations obtain critical equipment, protective gear, vehicles, and training. Its purpose is to improve the safety of firefighters and the communities they serve. For Mechanicville, the award makes a major equipment replacement possible while limiting the local contribution to $8,000.

“Protecting our community begins with protecting the firefighters who answer its calls,” said Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Dunn. “This award will allow us to equip 28 members with the gear they need to work safely and effectively. It is a substantial investment in our department’s readiness, in our volunteers and in the people of Mechanicville who rely on us.”

“This grant is a tremendous return for our taxpayers,” said City of Mechanicville Council. “An $8,000 local match brought in $168,000 of life-saving equipment for our firefighters. That is exactly the kind of outside funding the city should keep pursuing — it protects our residents and our volunteers without adding to the burden on local taxpayers.”

The Mechanicville Fire Department serves the City of Mechanicville in Saratoga County and provides mutual aid to neighboring communities.

The department extends its sincerest thanks to U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and his staff for their support and for helping bring attention to its application. It also thanks FEMA’s AFG program and its representatives for their assistance and commitment to firefighter safety.

The grant application was written by Julie Burline of MJ Burben, Inc., on behalf of the Mechanicville Fire Department.

District Attorney Brett Eby and Sheriff Jeff Brown Join Forces with Local Family to Help Animals Find Loving Homes

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured.

DA Sheriff Adoption Clinic

Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby and Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown are joining forces with Jason and Kent Nelson to help find homes for animals currently in the Saratoga County Animal Shelter’s care. 

The team will host an Adoption Clinic on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. Community members are encouraged to attend, meet the animals available for adoption, and consider giving one of them a new home.

The effort has a deeply personal meaning for the Nelson family. Jason and Kent recently experienced the tragic loss of their beloved golden retriever, Wilson. Their brave and emotional search for Wilson captured the attention of the community, with hundreds of people coming together to help in any way they could. Among those who assisted were Alfie’s Rescue, the New York State Park Police, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, and dozens of volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to the search.

In Wilson’s memory, Jason and Kent are now turning their experience into an opportunity to help other animals in need.

“The outpouring of support for Jason, Kent and Wilson showed us what is possible when a community comes together,” said District Attorney Brett Eby. “Now, we have an opportunity to come together again for animals that need us. The shelter is at capacity, and every adoption means giving an animal a chance at the safe, loving home it deserves. We hope people will come out on October 24th, meet these animals and consider making one of them part of their family.”

Sheriff Jeff Brown said the response to Wilson’s search demonstrated the compassion and generosity that exists throughout Saratoga County.

“Wilson’s story touched so many people, and hundreds of members of our community stepped forward to help bring him home,” said Sheriff Jeff Brown. “Jason and Kent are honoring Wilson’s memory in a meaningful way by helping animals that are waiting for someone to give them a second chance. Our shelter needs the community’s help, and we hope this adoption clinic brings families and animals together.”

The Saratoga County Animal Shelter is currently at capacity, making community support and adoptions especially important. The October 24th Adoption Clinic will provide an opportunity for prospective adopters to learn more about the animals available and take the first step toward welcoming a new companion into their home.

District Attorney Eby, Sheriff Brown, Jason and Kent Nelson, and the organizations and volunteers who supported Wilson’s search are encouraging Saratoga County residents to come together once again this time to help shelter animals find the loving homes they deserve.

Local Football Athletes Nominated for Heart of a Giant Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

Jesse Fortino
Jackson Rosato

(Photos courtesy of USA Football Heart of a Giant)

Two local High School Football Athletes, Jesse Fortino (Saratoga Springs) and Jackson Rosato (Ballston Spa) are nominees for the USA Football Heart of a Giant Award for their unparalleled work ethic and passion for the game of football. 

The Heart of a Giant Award is a six-week process awarding six weekly finalists and five honorable mentions who will each receive an $1,000 equipment grant for their high school football program. 

The grand prize winner will earn an additional $9,000 grant for their school and be honored on the field at a future Giants game this season. Selection for the grand prize winner is based on video submissions explaining why they have the Heart of a Giant.

Fortino and Rosato are pitted against eighteen other high school football athletes from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 

Jackson Rosato

Rosato is a two-year varsity football starter and member of Ballston Spa’s Football Leadership Council. He believes in leading through example by showing up every day, putting in the work, and being someone others can depend on. 

Rosato’s commitment to community extends well beyond football. He is deeply involved in Unified and inclusive sports, participating in both Unified Bowling and Basketball, where students with and without disabilities compete and build connections together. His Unified Bowling team went on to win a sectional championship, but for Jackson, the greatest reward is creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to participate and feel included. 

He is also an accomplished student, maintaining a 94 unweighted GPA, ranking in the top 10% of his class, completing eight AP courses, and earning National Honor Society membership.

Jesse Fortino 

Fortino embodies courage through resilience while facing unimaginable adversity. After losing both of his parents, Jesse moved into the Saratoga school district to live with his grandparents. 

Despite the challenges he has experienced, he has refused to let his circumstances define him. Instead, he has poured his energy into becoming the best student-athlete and teammate he can be. Jesse’s work ethic quickly set him apart. Although only a sophomore, he was pulled up to the varsity football team because of his relentless commitment and dedication, earning the respect of a program with nearly 200 athletes. 

His leadership extends beyond football, as he serves as a captain of his rugby team and competes in wrestling. Jesse also makes an impact through his willingness to serve others, he volunteers at community races, church meals, and other events while helping coach and referee younger athletes. In the classroom, he maintains strong grades and has earned High Honor Roll and Honor Roll recognition. Football has given Jesse a community that supports him through difficult moments. More importantly, it has helped him turn adversity into motivation. 

The weekly winners are determined by public voting. Week two voting is open until October 4 available at, usafootball.com/heart-of-a-giant/vote.