A rendering of the currently under-construction The Still at Speckled Pig on Washington Street in downtown Ballston Spa. Image provided.
BALLSTON SPA — The popular Speckled Pig Brewing Co. is expanding its presence in downtown Ballston Spa with a forthcoming distillery, The Still at Speckled Pig.
Nestled next door to the brewery at the former site of Jim’s Garage, The Still will feature a modern design, outdoor patio with fire pits, and an interior glass wall revealing liquor-makers and bottlers at work.
RJ Elliott of Speckled Pig is one of five partners (including Larry Heid, Mary Jo Heid, Randy Elliott, and Kelly Delaney-Elliott) spearheading the project.
“I grew up in the village. My family grew up here,” Elliott said. “The goal has always been to bring cool businesses to the village so that it continues to thrive.”
The Still just acquired its final permit last week and electrical work is underway as the former auto repair shop is transformed into a chic eatery where patrons can toss back glasses of whiskey and bourbon. Despite the redesign, the building will keep its garage doors, which will open up to the front brick-filled patio space.
As for the menu offerings, aside from liquor and cocktails, Elliott said to expect small plates that pair well with the drinks, such as charcuterie boards, salads, and skirt steaks.
If all goes well, Elliott expects the doors to be open and the spirits to be flowing by this summer, just in time for the Speckled Pig’s three-year anniversary on Sept. 23.
“Ideally, we’re open then for a large gathering, bar hopping scene between the two places; a block party type deal,” Elliott said.
The extravaganza would be one of many events (which Elliott said sometimes reel in thousands of people) happening at Speckled Pig, like the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Mar. 15 that will feature green beer and the Albany Pipe Band. Past events have included Oktoberfest shindigs, trivia nights, rooftop yoga, and live music.
One new offering is Speckled Pig’s cocktail club, which will allow members to design a brick on The Still’s patio. Members will also receive a complimentary cocktail of the month and a special invite to an annual cocktail club party.
“We have a lot of great businesses opening up [in Ballston Spa], and more and more people visiting the village,” Elliott said. “The hope is that we add another one to that scene, another bar where people leave the Speckled Pig and go grab a cocktail next door, and then maybe they head to dinner at Next Door Kitchen or Brickyard. There’s plenty of great businesses in the village that all benefit when we pull more people in.”
54 Church St. project north elevation concept. The sketch is presented by the applicant as being “very conceptual in nature” and intended to provide a general overview.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – A new project seeks to develop a four-story mixed-use building near the intersection of Church and Clinton streets where a gas station and small convenience store currently stand.
The proposal calls for a civic space/sculpture fountain on the Church Street/Clinton Street corner with new trees and concrete curbing, and the construction of the four-story structure – measuring approximately 50 feet by 80 feet – located at the south of the existing property.
Currently, a gas pump island with four pump stations stand beneath a red canopy on a concrete pad at the location. That would be modified to feature four fuel pumps and a new canopy. The brick/block structure housing the existing convenience store would be demolished with an expanded market to be constructed in its place. The expanded market and fuel station would continue to operate under the current owner’s use. A second tenant would be added, preferred to be a coffee and beverage franchise, according to the proposal.
The project location at 54 Church St. sits just west of Broadway, between the AMC Saratoga Springs cinema on Church Street and the Blackmer Building on Clinton Street.
The 15-page application for a Site Plan review was submitted to the city by Grewal Properties, Inc.
The proposal depicts commercial use space on the first floor – including an expanded market and fuel station for use by the current owner, with floors 2,3 and 4 each housing four apartments. A penthouse apartment with outdoor patio space would be located on the roof. The plan also calls for 13 on-site shared parking spaces.
The application has not yet made its way onto the Land Use Board calendar as a meeting agenda item, but the Planning Board was specifically cited as the preferred board to conduct the Sketch Plan Review as variances related to the proposed project will likely be required.
LONG LAKE, NY — John Hendrickson, who passed away last August, designated the Town of Long Lake as the sole beneficiary of net proceeds from the expected sale of Whitney Park.
The Whitney family acquired the property in the late 1890s and maintained it for more than 125 years, most recently though the responsible stewardship of Hendrickson and his late wife Marylou Whitney.
The celebrated and historically significant 36,600-acre property includes 22 lakes and ponds, over 100 miles of undeveloped shoreline, and an historic Adirondack Great Camp.
“This is an historic moment and one of the most significant events in the town’s history,” said town Supervisor Clay Arsenault in a statement. “John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney were strong supporters of Long Lake during their lifetimes. They were beloved and respected in this community and contributed generously to the Long Lake Library, our medical center, our celebrated fireworks displays, and countless other causes.”
Hendrickson’s estate will manage the continued marketing and sale of the property. While the actual amount of money that Long Lake receives will not be known until the property is sold, the property is currently listed at more than $100 million.
“Their generosity through the years did not adequately prepare us to learn that John left the town with a gift of this magnitude and transformational potential. It is totally unexpected, amazing, and will provide incredible opportunities for our community that will have a profound and positive impact for generations to come,” Arsenault said.
The announcement was made during a special meeting at the Long Lake Town Hall on March 7. There are no restrictions on how the town must use the funds.
“My colleagues and I will treat this gift with the respect it deserves,” Arsenault said. “Even though it may take several years for Long Lake to receive funds, we will immediately start thinking about how we will manage this gift in a way that is responsible, transparent, and faithful to John’s memory.”
The Town of Long Lake, located in the Adirondack Mountains of Hamilton County and is home to approximately 800 residents and is a year-round vacation destination. Long Lake, which also includes the Hamlet of Raquette Lake, encompasses over 449 square miles.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll on March 4 released the department’s annual report.
The Department is comprised of full-time Administrative Office Staff, a Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement Division, Central Dispatch, Traffic Maintenance, Animal Control Officers and a Health Officer. It is tasked with the protection of city residents and their property from crime, fire, hazard, disorder and natural disaster.
Overall, the Public Safety Department is comprised of approximately 204 full-time and 14 part-time employees.
Speaking during this week’s City Council meeting, Commissioner Coll said during the past year, the department received a tech grant of more than $1 million which will be used to link department technologies, installed new cameras, and in 2024 “graduated the largest recruiting class ever with 10 officers completing field training.”
Currently, the Saratoga Springs Police Department is staffed with a Chief, one Assistant Chief, 4 Lieutenants, 14 Sergeants, 11 Investigators, and 46 patrol officers.
Regarding the Saratoga Springs Police Department specifically, Coll reported 26,667 call responses. The most frequent call type was traffic stops, with nearly 3,200 in number.
“And we had some very significant investigations – a homicide in the city (with the subject was convicted and sentenced to 23 years-to-life), we had a robbery at the Belmont Stakes that was very sophisticated where someone lost a watch valued at $250,000 (and arrest warrants were issued for those folks), and then we had the Lola burglaries – caught as well and two of those subjects have plead guilty,” Coll said.
Data maps provided by the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center show that throughout 2024, Saratoga Springs had a consistent primary density of Calls for Service in the area of Woodlawn Avenue. Secondary hotspots consistently observed were in the area of Broadway between Caroline Street & Lake Avenue, and in correlation with Track Season a consistent density of Calls for Service emerged in the area of the Saratoga Race Course – more specifically Union Ave/ NY-9P, in July and August.
Of the 26,667 calls for service handled by members of the SSPD in 2024, officers generated 3,648 cases that resulted in 892 arrests. Sixty-nine of the calls for service resulted in a use of force by SSPD standards. Of the 69 reports documented by the SSPD, only 25 met requirements for reporting by New York State standards, according to the report showcasing that the city police department has a higher standard for reporting uses of force than New York State requires.
The Department of Public Safety is the city’s largest single department and represents approximately 58% of the general operating expenses this year. Coll spoke of the department’s most recent successes curbing overtime costs.
“We did have a very large reduction in overtime,” the commissioner said, “from 2024 just January and February – compared to 2025, we reduced overtime by 846 hours.” The remarks drew high praise from Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi, tasked with initiating the city’s overall $62.6 million budget for 2025.
Regarding the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, Coll reported a volume of 7,121 calls – a 2% increase over the previous year. Of these nearly 5,000 were Emergency Medical Responses, nearly 1,000 were alarm activations, and 87 were fires. Fire prevention and the Code Department conducted 2,178 inspections.
In June 2024, the fire department opened the much-anticipated Station 3, which is located on Henning Road. The opening of Station 3 has significantly reduced response times to areas east of I-87 and improved coverage of the city as a whole, according to the report.
The population of Saratoga Springs is just over 28,000 and soars to more than 75,000 during the summer months. The city is comprised of 12,000 private homes and businesses that stretch over 29 square miles.
Proposals for development at Caroline Street, provided to the city in late February.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Applicants are seeking an Architectural Review regarding a proposed mixed-used development at 33-35 Caroline St.
The multi-level building would include a penthouse and stand just west of Clancy’s Tavern on Caroline Street, at properties long associated with D’Andrea’s Pizza and Union Coachworks.
The applicant is requesting a build out of the property to a height of just under 61 feet and would include commercial use on the ground floor and residential condominiums on the upper floors.
The UDO provides a maximum height of 55 feet, according to submitted documents, adding that the height sought is comparable with neighboring properties at 30 Lake, and the redevelopment of 30 Caroline – the latter of which was approved in 2022.
The applicant is listed as Oldest Lighthouse LLC, according to documents filed with the city, and Burton Schwab and RSJATTOS as owner. The property stretches to approximately 9,962 square feet (.15 acre) on the north side of Caroline Street.
Additional applications under Architectural Review consideration by the city’s Land Use boards include the determination of significance and discussion of partial demolition of an existing building at 30-30-1/2 Caroline, and the determination of architectural significance for demolition and review of new construction at 128, 132 Washington.
The three land Use boards in Saratoga Springs – Design Review Board, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals, each meet throughout the month on a regular basis at City Hall. All meetings are open to the public. For specific times and dates of the meetings, visit the city’s website at: saratoga-springs.org.
Aerial photo of Snake Hill via Saratoga PLAN/Ryan Campbell of Saratoga Drone.
STILLWATER — It’s probably the most iconic landmark on Saratoga Lake: a steep, 30-acre forested dome, made mostly of sandstone and shale, that rests on the lake’s eastern shore.
Snake Hill, so named because of a rattlesnake population that once lived there but was wiped out in the mid-1800s, was purchased by Saratoga PLAN for $1 million back in December 2023. In the summer of last year, PLAN (a nonprofit land trust) proposed three possible options for the future of the permanently protected site. One would’ve allowed no public access, the second would allow limited public access, and the third would’ve made the hill available to visitors during daylight hours.
After reviewing hundreds of public feedback comments and consulting with potential programming partners, PLAN recently revealed a Snake Hill management plan that Executive Director Rob Davies said is “not etched in stone” and can be adjusted with time.
The public will be able to visit Snake Hill in small groups of visitors that are attending some sort of educational event via PLAN or a partner program or a volunteer outing. Trails will be maintained with a natural surface or gravel for passive public pedestrian use only. No bikes, motorized vehicles, or non-service dogs will be allowed.
In the future, additional facilities and amenities could potentially include a 1-mile natural surface loop trail, a small pull-off on Route 9P, a parking lot for 6-10 vehicles, a small gathering area with a shelter or cover, informational and safety signage, a boot-brush station, a portable bathroom facility, a gate that may be closed when no programing is happening, and designated areas that are closed for resource protection or research (such as wetland areas).
Overall, the site management plan is meant to focus on education and resource protection.
“We want to go slow,” Davies said in a public Zoom call on Feb. 26. “We don’t want to go too fast where we end up having some irreversible impact on the resource.”
Next steps will include continued research of the site, as well as collaborative efforts with the Town of Stillwater, Saratoga County, and New York State to acquire the necessary plans and permits. The public will be able to access Snake Hill after the appropriate permitting and safety concerns have been met.
“We understand people are interested and we appreciate the patience that you’re showing,” Davis said. “We do want to be good neighbors and we do have to be concerned about the surrounding community.”
Davies said that PLAN would provide updates on the hill’s status via his organization’s social media accounts and website.
While researching the site, PLAN discovered that Snake Hill is home to 45 different bird species, 5 of which are either protected or in decline. The dome features an “amazing amount of biodiversity,” said Stewardship Coordinator Magnolia Roosa, including foxes, turkeys, and black bears.
Snake Hill also has 22 invasive species that threaten its ecosystem, including the hemlock woolly adelgid (known as HWA), which can cause the deaths of hemlock trees and has left “ghost forests” throughout the Appalachian Mountains. PLAN said that it has already gone through one season of treatment for these HWA.
“We need to protect the health of the Snake Hill ecosystem,” Davies said. “We need to make sure that we not only protect that, but improve it.”
The Saratoga Springs girls gymnastics team celebrates its 23rd straight Section 2 title at Shaker High School on Feb. 12. Photo via Saratoga Athletics.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — 23. In sports, this number is most often associated with Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player to ever grace the earth. But now, the number has a new GOAT-ed distinction: the Saratoga Springs girls gymnastics team has won its 23rd consecutive Section 2 championship.
At Shaker High School on Feb. 12, the title-winning contest against Bethlehem was a close one, with the Blue Streaks earning 174.375 points to Bethlehem’s 171.475.
“These incredible athletes continue to set the standard, showcasing their dedication, skill, and team spirit year after year,” the team said on its Facebook page. “Congratulations to our gymnasts, coaches, and supporters for keeping the legacy alive!”
Map of the County of Saratoga by David H. Burr 1840. Published by the Surveyor General pursuant to an act of the legislature. Stone & Clark, Ithaca NY 1840. From the Saratoga County Clerk’s Office
The Birth of Saratoga County: February 7, 1791 On a cold February day in 1791, Saratoga County officially separated from Albany County, marking its beginning as an independent community. Known as “Saratoga” by Indigenous peoples and later formalized by colonial settlers, the county has long been defined by its strategic location, historical significance, and hardworking residents.
For over 230 years, Saratoga’s foundation has been shaped by values of resilience, civic engagement, and industriousness, creating a vibrant community that honors its past while embracing progress.
Before 1791: Evolving Boundaries and Communities. Before becoming a county, Saratoga’s boundaries were part of Albany County, with its governance structure evolving over time. A major milestone came in 1684 with the Saratoga Patent, which granted settlers six miles of land along both sides of the Hudson River from Mechanicville to the mouth of the Battenkill.
By 1772, the area was divided into two districts, Half Moon and Saraghtoga, marking the start of local governance. In 1788, New York State formally established towns within Saratoga, including Halfmoon, Saratoga, Ballston, and Stillwater. Three years later, these towns separated from Albany County to form Saratoga County, ushering in a new era of self-governance.
Saratoga: The “Mother of Towns.” As communities expanded, Saratoga became known as the “mother of towns.” In 1775, Ballstown branched off as a new district, and in 1789, East Town (now part of Washington County) separated. These changes reflected Saratoga’s growing role in shaping local governance. The county’s contributions to the nations founding solidified its historical importance. The Battles of Saratoga, the turning point of the Revolutionary War, demonstrated the region’s resilience and strategic importance.
Geography: A Key to Saratoga’s Growth. Saratoga’s geography has always been central to its development. Nestled between the Hudson and Mohawk rivers and crossed by waterways like the Kayaderosseras Creek and Sacandaga River, the county’s location served as a crossroads of early trade and travel. Fertile farmland and abundant natural resources attracted settlers who built the agricultural and economic foundations for Saratoga’s prosperity.
Civic Engagement: A Lasting Tradition. From its earliest days, Saratoga County residents valued self-governance and community involvement. County, City and Town government leaders partner with private businesses and non-profit societies to create a culture of collective responsibility. Today, this spirit continues. Residents engage in preserving historical sites, supporting sustainable development, and promoting civic pride—ensuring these values remain central to the county’s identity.
Resilience and Modern Growth Saratoga County’s history is filled with stories of perseverance. From the Revolutionary War to the Industrial Revolution and beyond, the community has adapted to challenges while building a thriving economy.
Modern Saratoga County is home to a diverse range of economic activities, including tourism, healthcare, technology, farming and manufacturing. Landmarks such as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Skidmore College, and the Saratoga Racetrack enrich the county’s intellectual and cultural life. Visitors are drawn by its historical sites, scenic landscapes, and recreational opportunities, further boosting the local economy.
A Legacy of Independence and Progress Since 1791, Saratoga County has grown from four towns to include nineteen towns, several villages and two cities. The values of resilience, self-reliance, and industriousness that defined its early settlers remain at the heart of its modern identity. From town meetings to thriving businesses, residents continue to honor its history while looking ahead to new opportunities for growth. Saratoga County’s journey—rooted in its rich history, strategic geography, and enduring values—is a story of progress that connects the achievements of the past to the promise of tomorrow.
BALLSTON SPA — For eleven minutes on Thursday afternoon more than a dozen members representing the legislative authority of Saratoga County government sat in silence and listened, the gravity of the moment spreading across their faces.
The supervisors spent the earlier part of their monthly meeting working on the executive decisions for which they had been elected – authorizing memorandums, accepting grants, amending policies and designating for use funds in Saratoga County’s nearly half-billion-dollar annual budget.
When Ballston Spa resident Cari Scribner stepped to the mic to hold up a photograph during the meeting’s Public Input segment, silence fell upon the large room.
“This is my son Nicholas,” she began. “He worked for the Saratoga County Sewer district.”
Nicholas Scribner grew up in Ballston Spa, graduated from Ballston Spa High, served four years as a lifeguard at the village pool – “after that decided he didn’t want children,” his mom quipped – and worked as an associate electrician for the Saratoga County sewer system. “It was a job he loved.” After his death last November, the American flag was lowered to half-staff and flew over county facilities for seven days.
“Nick had a very common affliction: insomnia. Since he was a child, he could not sleep,” Scribner said. “A friend told him about an herbal, all-natural energy enhancer to overcome fatigue with no side effects. This substance was kratom. Of all the adults that I’ve talked to about it about 10% have heard of it; of all the kids I’ve talked to about it, it’s 100%.”
When Nick was 17, a doctor prescribed medicine to help with insomnia. “In an effort to take something from nature rather than from a pharmaceutical company, my son chose this all-natural substance,” Scribner said. “And that choice ended his life.”
Kratom – a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, commonly refers to an herbal substance that can produce opioid- and stimulant-like effects, according to the National Institutes of Health. While its use or sale has been banned or restricted in several countries, kratom and kratom-based products are currently legal and accessible in many areas.
“Kratom managed to stay under the radar. Most adults have never heard of it, but here is its tricky little secret: it is enormously addictive. It affects the same opiate brain reducers as morphine, exposing users to high risks of addiction, abuse and dependence,” Scribner said. Recent media reports have referred to it as “gas station heroin.” It may be sold as powder or gel, tea, gummies, fruit flavored energy drinks and honey sticks.
“Kratom sells all over Saratoga County at gas stations and quick stop markets,” said Scribner, displaying a colorful can labeled as kratom Seltzer energy drink to the supervisors in the room. “I purchased this in the village for about $7. Zero sugar, zero alcohol, zero calories – OK, great! And the name on it: A Different Kind Of Energy Drink, Watermelon Candy Kratom Seltzer,” said Scribner, gesturing to the can. “Now who is this watermelon seltzer with a cartoon rabbit aimed at?”
While there are no uses for kratom approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, people report using kratom to manage drug withdrawal symptoms and cravings (especially related to opioid use), pain, fatigue and mental health problems, according to the NIH. An estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021. It contains two main chemical compounds which bind to the same receptors in the brain as opioid drugs such as codeine.
“Within a short time unless they keep upping their dose, kratom users will experience shocking side effects – including crushing stomach pain, migraines, tremors, hot flashes, insomnia. My son was trying to overcome insomnia and chose something that caused insomnia. No side effects on the can. Nowhere does it say this is what it will cause, no warnings,” Scribner said.
“In 2016, in response to increasing calls from poison control centers, the DEA sought to classify kratom as a Schedule 1 drug. This means the substance has no currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse. But no action was taken. And you know what? My son would be alive if they had done something in 2016.”
Without federal action a handful of states have taken steps to protect its people, she says, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island and Vermont among them. There are currently no age restrictions in New York state to buy kratom.
“Due to my big mouth all over Albany,” Scribner said there are currently four bills in the New York State Assembly and one in the New York State Senate. Some simply place purchase age minimums. A recent state Senate Bill, sponsored by Sen. Patricia Fahy and introduced in February, seeks to prohibit the sale of kratom to individuals under the age of 21, imposing a civil penalty of up to $500 for its sale.
“We all know how kids are. Someone who is 22 will get it and pass it around. I mean that’s what we did with cigarettes back in the day,” Scribner said.
“Nick did not overdose on kratom or mix it with other drugs or alcohol. His death was a complete accident. Two common kratom side effects, again not listed anywhere, are vomiting and catatonic sleep,” Scribner said. “He lived alone and while sleeping on his back in November he began to wretch, couldn’t turn over, and asphyxiated from the contents of his stomach. Twenty-seven years old. His brother found him later, already cold.”
Scribner urged supervisors and residents to contact legislators to support the bills.
“As a family we are gutted. None of us sleep. I cry in waiting rooms, in the grocery store. At stop signs in my car. My tears froze to my face while I was out shoveling these past couple of weekends and I’m really afraid that I’m going to forget the sound of his voice,” Scribner said. “Parent-to-parent, please help me save some of the other children, because no one sounded the alarm in time to change to keep my son alive. Please. Sound the alarm.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — With a love for art of all kinds, the new Saratoga Paint and Sip owner Ryan Smithson is bringing his vision and passion to the Spa City with the rebranded Saratoga Paint & Drip Studio.
Smithson says that he sees how helpful art can be when going through the hardest times in life, and he wants to share the escape that can be found in painting and music.
“When you talk about what happiness is and the right way to live your life, there’s a lot of different beliefs around that, but one of those through lines I think is always being present. Not stuck in the past, not worrying about the future, just being there where you are, and art has a certain way of doing that,” says Smithson. “It’s just this escape, like you’re just in the moment. You’re not thinking about your day job. You’re not thinking about your problems. You’re just doing the thing, and you’re creating. You’re making something either audibly or you’re making a visual piece of art that wasn’t there before. It’s such a beautiful part of the human experience.”
Alongside the chance of this escape, Smithson says he also wants a place where people, experienced with art or not, can walk out feeling proud of what they created.
“Whether you’ve painted a hundred times or whether you haven’t painted since you finger painted in kindergarten, there’s something fun to be had. And even if you don’t make some beautiful masterpiece, you’ll have a good time. When you come in, even if you have no experience, you’ll walk out with something really cool that you’ll be proud of,” Smithson said.
The Saratoga Paint & Drip Studio will hold events centered around bringing anyone and everyone in, from families to friends or any artist that wants to learn something new. This includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, which has been dubbed Sober Saint Patty’s Day at the studio, where there will be plenty of live music for participants to enjoy.
Artists can expect to enjoy all kinds of live music at the Paint & Drip, as local performers are welcomed in to provide atmosphere for special events and everyday classes alike. The Paint & Drip has already seen several musicians and groups from the area come in, from jazz, to blues and acoustic. Smithson says he wants a place where up-and-coming musicians can perform, grow, and share their own art with the community.
The Paint & Drip is also a completely sober atmosphere, with participants having the option to enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic wines, beers, and Hawaiian-inspired mocktails from the studio’s new Ohana A.F. Tiki Bar and Lounge. With alcohol being a prominent feature across so many forms of entertainment, Smithson looks to create an atmosphere away from that where everyone can feel comfortable while still enjoying great drinks.
With years of volunteer work under his belt – working with nonprofits such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Best Buddies, Double H Ranch, and numerous veterans’ groups – Smithson plans to continue helping in any way he can. Through auctions, discount nights, and other events, he hopes to raise proceeds that can be sent back to groups in the area like the ones he has been a part of for so long. He says that the possibilities are endless, and that he hopes to include these groups wherever he can.
The Saratoga Paint & Drip is located at 80 Henry Street. To learn more, visit www.paintandsipstudios.com.
