Skip to main content

This Week: Santa Returns to Saratoga’s Star Radio

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For four upcoming evenings, you can hear area children on the air telling Santa what they want for Christmas, as Saratoga’s Star Radio presents The Talk Live with Santa Show.

This year’s holiday programming will air 6- 8 p.m. on Dec. 12, 13, 15, and 19. The Talk Live with Santa Show can be heard locally on 93.3FM, as well as globally via a mobile app and online stream at starsaratoga.com. 

“A Star Radio Saratoga tradition, Talk Live with Santa offers a heartwarming glimpse into the pure exuberance this time of year holds for children,” said Fran Dingeman, General Manager of Saratoga’s Star Radio, in a statement. “The conversations simply make you feel good.” 

Let the Excite-MINT Begin at Stewart’s Shops

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

UPSTATE NEW YORK —Just in time for the holiday season, Stewart’s Shops limited-edition Peppermint Stick Ice Cream is back. This peppermint flavored ice cream with red and green mints is now available in half gallons at all Stewart’s Shops.

And the true sign that the holidays are around the corner — Stewart’s Shops Candy Cane Shake is also now available at the cone counter. This minty shake features Peppermint Stick ice cream with mint candy pieces topped with whipped cream and peppermint sprinkles.

Founded in 1945, Stewart’s Shops is an employee and family-owned convenience store chain based in Saratoga Springs. Today there are over 350 Stewart’s Shops located in 32 counties across upstate New York and southern Vermont.

Michael Veitch to Discuss New Book on Thoroughbred Racing at Racing Museum on Dec. 10

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Author and racing historian Michael Veitch will discuss his new book “Legacy of Excellence: Thoroughbred Racing in Saratoga Springs 1956 to 2008,” at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at noon on Saturday, Dec. 10. 

Veitch will discuss the stories of the on-track excellence of Saratoga racing during this period and the politics involved in the New York Racing Association’s franchise oversight of the track. A book signing will follow the presentation. The event is free to attend, and books will be available to purchase. 

Veitch covered horse racing for The Saratogian and its racing supplement, The Pink Sheet, from 1979 through 2017. He serves as chairman of the Museum’s Hall of Fame Historic Review Committee and is a member of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. 

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, visit www.racingmuseum.org or call 518-584-0400. 

Ballston Spa Public Library Kicks-Off Capital Campaign Dec. 8

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Public Library (BSPL) and the Friends of the Library (FOL) partners will mark the beginning of their Capital Campaign, ‘Funding Our Future – Brick by Brick and Book by Book,’ on Dec. 8. The money raised will be used to renovate, redesign, and increase the library’s role in the community.

The total cost of the proposed project is approximately $3 million, a sum that includes built-in inflation costs. The Capital Campaign aims to raise approximately $750,000 of the total costs. The library’s fundraising campaign has already applied for more than $450,000 in grant awards.

The money raised will go towards an addition of a reading room and local history room, an enhanced children’s area, teen space, and a renovated community meeting space. Funds will also be used to improve accessibility, use of technology, and energy sustainability.

The BSPL is the most visited public building in the village and a cultural, educational, communal, civic, and social-services hub for the community it serves.

The design plan focuses on the ideas for best use of space, sustainability, the use of light, lines of sight, preservation of historic ephemera, and optimal public accessibility.

The completion of the project is expected to result in an increase in the number of public programs offered and in the number of programs hosted at the library by partner groups. 

Look for information about the campaign on the BSPL FOL Facebook page, and the BSPL website as the weeks progress.

To donate to the Ballston Spa Public Library Capital Campaign project you may either send a check made out to Friends of the Ballston Spa Public Library at 21 Milton Ave. Attn: Friends of the Ballston Spa Public Library, or visit the BSPL website https://bspl.sals.edu and watch for updates, including a new ‘Donations’ tab.

Saratoga Builders Association Donates $48,000 from Showcase of Homes

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.


Proceeds totalling $48,000 from the 2022 Saratoga Showcase of Homes were given to Rebuilding Together Saratoga and Habitat for Humanity. From left, Saratoga Builders Association executive director and Showcase of Homes co-chair Barry Potoker, Rebuilding Together Saratoga executive director Michelle Larkin, Trojanski Builders and Saratoga Builders Association president Dave Trojanski, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties executive director Adam Feldman, and Sterling Homes Real Estate director of sales and marketing and Showcase of Homes co-chair Lisa Licata. Photo by Dylan McGlynn.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Builders Association has presented proceeds totaling $48,000 from the 2022 Saratoga Showcase of Homes to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. 

The Saratoga Builders Association contributed nearly $1.5 million dollars to local charities from this area’s premiere new home tour event. 

The 2022 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes had only 5 homes on tour this year due to labor and material shortages – Belmonte Builders, DSG Construction & Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction. 

This year’s tour attracted about 2,500 visitors to these beautiful new homes, which were on display over two weekends. In what has become an autumn tradition in the area, the Saratoga Builders Association is dedicated to maintaining this long-running show as an integral part of the fabric in the fall season. 

This annual community event is made possible with the support of over 75 corporate and media sponsors. The 2022 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, celebrating 26 years of exceptional homes, was held on October 8-9 and 15-16. All the homes were located throughout Saratoga County and the proceeds benefited two local charities – Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. 

For more details on the homes, builders, award winners, and virtual tours of every home, visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. 

Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting to Take Place Dec. 2

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Ballston Spa Holiday Parade. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA  —The Village of Ballston Spa will stage its annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Friday, Dec. 2 on Milton Avenue.

A home-town style tradition, this December favorite typically draws hundreds of spectators to Ballston Spa to watch the brightly decorated floats, fire trucks and community groups parading through the village. The parade steps-off at 6:30 p.m. on the north side of Milton Avenue and proceeds to West High Street. Following the parade, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will arrive on the back of an Eagle-Matt Lee Fire Company truck to light the tree in Wiswall Park.  

Parade entries will be judged this year in the following categories: Best Emergency Vehicle Entry, Best Float Entry, Best Walking Entry, and the Brightest Light Award. 

The parade will once again spotlight the Toys for Tots campaign, in partnership with the Ballston Spa Community Emergency Corps, Saratoga County Sheriff Department and the U.S. Marine Corps. Volunteers from these organizations will be on hand to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys from spectators along the parade route as well as at the tree lighting. 

The parade headlines a holiday themed “First Friday” in Ballston Spa. Home to unique shops, museums, and popular restaurants, Ballston Spa pulls out the stops for December’s First Friday by filling the village with a merry atmosphere. Many businesses will be open with special holiday activities and specials, while Ballston Spa High School singers and musicians as well as Union Fire Company band members perform carols on the street corners. Visit www.ballson.org 

Artisans’ Market Opening in B-Spa

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Brookside Museum’s 22nd annual Artisans’ Market opens Nov. 26. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA — Brookside Museum’s 22nd annual Artisans’ Market opens on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, and will run through Saturday, Dec. 24.

The annual market features only handmade/handcrafted products created by local artisans.  Items include soaps, lotions, ornaments, jewelry, syrups, scarves, ceramics, hats, and more.  Shoppers can stroll through the market and visit the museum’s exhibits.

The Artisans’ Market is held at SCHC at Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Ave., Ballston Spa. The market is open Thursdays through Sundays. 

For specific times and more information, go to: brooksidemuseum.org.

Nuance Donates to Wellspring

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Photo provided.

MALTA — Nuance, A Boutique Salon, recently donated a portion of their October retail sales to Wellspring in Malta in support of Domestic Violence Awareness month. Salon owner, Holly Garofano, along with her staff, were thrilled to present a check for $250 to Wellspring and receive a tour of their state-of-the-art facility.

“It has always been a high priority for our company to support amazing organizations in our own community,” said Holly. “Through our work with our guests we have become increasingly aware of the growing need for more awareness and support for survivors of relationship and sexual abuse. We are grateful to have Wellspring providing such a vital service in Saratoga County.”

Wellspring supports survivors by providing emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline and counseling, long-term housing assistance, case management and much more. Nuance looks forward to continuing to support Wellspring in the future. If you or someone you know needs help, call them 24/7 confidentially at 518-584-8188

Nuance, A Boutique Salon is a full-service salon located at 513 Rte 67, Malta. To schedule an appointment or for more information visit www.nuanceboutiquesalon.com or call 518-400-1575.

Toys For Toga 10th Annual Fundraiser

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In conjunction with Saratoga Restaurant Week, Discover Saratoga, DeCrescente Distributing Company, Druthers Brewing Company, Death Wish Coffee Company, and Quick Response are teaming up for the 10th Annual Toys for Toga campaign.

Now through Dec. 4, members of the local community can donate new, unwrapped toys at participating locations. This year, more than 70 Saratoga County restaurants, bars, retail stores, hotels, and more have a Toys for Toga toy collection bin in their lobby. 

All toys and monetary donations will be distributed equally to Franklin Community Center, CAPTAIN Community Human Services and Mechanicville Area Community Services Center in time for the holidays, according to a press release.

“With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s so important to give back,” said Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga, in the release. “We are honored to be part of Toys for Toga again this year, and we hope to see the local community participate in collecting toys for the children of Saratoga County.”

Last year, Toys for Toga collected more than 3,000 toys and $7,000 for local youth. 

A full list of drop-off locations is available at discoversaratoga.org. A “Toys for Toga 2022” page on GoFundMe is also available for those who wish to make monetary donations: www.gofundme.com/f/toys-for-toga-2022.

Discover Saratoga, known as the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, is an economic development engine for this community. Their mission is to contribute a positive impact on the local economy by promoting and marketing Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County as a world-class destination for meetings, conventions, and groups. For more information about Discover Saratoga, please visit discoversaratoga.org.

Locally Grown and Heading for The Big Time

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.


This Norway Spruce in Queensbury has been selected as the 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Photo: Rockefeller Center.com. 

QUEENSBURY — A Norway Spruce, which has stood in Queensbury since approximately the early 1930s will be headed to New York City on Nov. 12, after its selection as the 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The tree stands 82 feet tall and weighs 14 tons.  

Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center and selector of the annual Manhattan Christmas Tree, first saw this year’s tree in May.    

“Someone sent me a photo of a tree in Glens Falls, so I went to go check it out. On the way to go see it, I passed another tree in a vacant lot [in Queensbury], and thought to myself, ‘I need to come back to this tree,’” Pauze told Rockefeller Center Magazine.  “After I finished with the other tree, I went back, walked up and down both sides of the street, and took a few pictures. I then did some calling around to find out who the owner of the tree was and made an appointment to inspect it closer… When I got closer, I knew it was perfect… I figured, let’s get this one to Rockefeller Center.”