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History Center to Open New Exhibit that Celebrates Saratoga

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

Image provided.

BALLSTON SPA — The trustees and staff of the Saratoga County History Center invite residents and tourists alike to celebrate the storied history of their beloved Saratoga County in a new exhibit at Brookside Museum: “Saratoga County: Our Home!”

“Saratoga County: Our Home!,” which opens May 20, 2023, takes guests on an immersive, artifact-rich journey spanning four centuries of Saratoga life, business, and nature. The exhibit fills three large rooms in the historic Brookside Museum, itself a cherished relic of local history from the early years of Saratoga resort life. From the First Nations who lived here before European settlement to the new tech-centered economy, “Saratoga County: Our Home!” offers guests a rich time-travel experience that will instill awe and respect for the county’s evolution.

The exhibit features scores of priceless artifacts from Brookside Museum’s vast collections, including a Bible printed in Amsterdam in 1718, an 1804 tin chandelier from the present Medbery Inn, a windowpane etched by Washington Irving during his Ballston visit, a section of the 1832 railroad track from Schenectady to Saratoga, and a roulette wheel seized in a 1950 police raid. The most recent object is a “wafer,” a Global Foundries disk holding microchips. Over a hundred historic photographs place the objects in context, along with interpretive text that discusses thirteen geographic, economic, and social forces that created the county we know today.

“Saratoga County: Our Home!” is the first comprehensive exhibit to tackle the broad sweep of county history in the 58 years of the museum’s existence. It was made possible with funding from the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. Additional support was provided by The Adirondack Trust Company, Munter Enterprises, and Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family.

Reopening after winter closure, Brookside Museum is nearing completion of major restoration and stabilization funded by its members and friends.

The exhibit, which will be ongoing, may be visited during the museum’s open hours, daily except Monday, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Brookside Museum is located at 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa, four blocks from NY Route 50 at the west end of Front Street. Admission is free. For information telephone 518-885-4000 or visit brooksidemuseum.org.

The Saratoga County History Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing the diverse histories of Saratoga County. In addition to Brookside Museum, the History Center offers a variety of innovative, exciting, and educational programming online. Please visit the website (www.brooksidemuseum.org) and social media accounts (@SaratogaCoHistory) for news and announcements. 

Sustainable Saratoga Volunteers Shine In The Rain 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.


Tree planters hard at work. Photo: Buck de Wolf.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Even the rain couldn’t keep more than 160 Tree Toga volunteers from gathering at Pitney Meadows Community Farm on Saturday, April 29. 

The morning started out with an enthusiastic crowd getting a lesson on how to properly plant a bare root tree, and of course singing the traditional Planting Song. Planting teams then dispersed to their assigned locations throughout Saratoga Springs to plant trees.

This year’s event added 38 trees to the city’s urban forest, in front of homes and along public streets. Teams of volunteers will serve as caregivers for the young trees, watering them every week throughout the critical first seasons to ensure they have the best possible start in life. 

Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices and the protection of natural resources, through education, advocacy and action, for the benefit of current and future generations in the Saratoga Springs area. 

To volunteer, sign up at sustainablesaratoga.org/tree-toga. 

H.O.P.E. Adoption Event, Saturday, May 13

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Come meet the many adoptable pets of H.O.P.E. Saturday, May 13,  from 11a.m.- 3 p.m., at the H.O.P.E. Adoption Center located at the Wilton Mall, 3065 Rte 50, Saratoga Springs.  Many of the dogs and cats listed on their webpage will be available to meet. Several rescues will be participating.

You can start the adoption process today by filling out an adoption application online at hopeanimalrescue.org/forms.

Lyme Action Network Presentation

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

GLENS FALLS — The Lyme Action Network will present a special showing of the internationally acclaimed documentary film, The Quiet Epidemic at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, at the Charles R. Wood Theatre, 207 Glen St. 

The film will be followed by an expert panel discussion that will feature the filmmakers, Lindsay Keyes and Winslow Crane-Murdoch; best-selling author and internationally renowned Lyme disease expert and physician, Richard Horowitz, MD; Lyme pioneer and renowned physician, Kenneth Liegner, MD;  best-selling author and investigative journalist, Mary Beth Pfeiffer; microbiologist and nationally recognized patient advocate, Professor Holly Ahern; and others. 

About seven years ago, Capital District natives, Lindsay Keyes and Winslow Crane-Murdoch, were very ill victims of Lyme disease and patients of internationally renowned Hudson Valley Lyme disease physician and expert, Dr. Richard Horowitz.  When Dr. Horowitz’s nurse practitioner, Jennifer Goldstock (who currently has a private practice in Latham), learned that they were both young filmmakers, she introduced them and they jumped at the chance to work together professionally toshine a spotlight on the dangers of Lyme disease and the largely ignored plight suffered by Lyme patients.  

 One of Lindsay’s and Winslow’s first stops was to Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse in Saratoga Springs, where they met with Lyme Action Network founders Chris Fisk and Holly Ahern who helped to map out the scope of the Lyme disease problem and threads to follow in the development of their story. 

Seven years later, the film is complete. Tickets are $15 and are available through the Wood Theater at WoodTheater.org/events

Saratoga VFW & DAR Team Up for Community Service at Southside Cemetery

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — As part of the National VFW Community Service Day program, the Saratoga VFW, (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Post 420 and the Saratoga Chapter of the DAR, (Daughters of the American Revolution), will team up Saturday, May 13 to clean and restore headstones at the historic Southside, Aka Whitford Cemetery on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs.  

This cemetery was previously in a state of disrepair and is in the process of being rejuvenated. This cemetery includes gravesites for American veterans from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War 1, according to a release VFW Post 420.

Vfw Post 420 Day Of Service

Post 420 is excited to be participating in the VFW Day of Service. In the month of May, VFW Posts throughout the country will be engaging in community service projects in order to benefit their local communities. Here at Post 420, we will be working with the South Side Cemetery Association of Saratoga Springs and the Daughters of the American Revolution in order to help clean/restore gravestones at the Southside, which is also known as the Whitford Cemetery, located at 55 Crescent Ave, Saratoga Springs.

City Looking to Site 24/7 Homeless Shelter on Adelphi Street by June 1

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city is looking at securing a public-private partnership with the locally based RISE Housing and Support Services to provide a year-round, low-barrier, 24/7 interim homeless shelter at 4 Adelphi St. by June 1. 

That shelter will be in addition to any other potential future shelter plans that may be decided upon this summer.  

The Adelphi Street building is the venue that served as the last city winter-seasonal temporary shelter. That lease, which was $8,000 per month and involved the Shelters of Saratoga organization, expired April 30.  In previous years of operation, Saratoga County as well as the State have provided some level of funding support for shelter operations. 

The agreement was to be discussed at length and voted on by the council earlier this month, but the item was pulled from the table after the council deemed an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the project would first be required. That initial draft agreement stipulated the city provide funds to operate the interim shelter from the date of execution to Dec. 31, 2023, and pledged sufficient monetary resources to fully fund the operations of the facility “for the 2024 Fiscal year and such future years as required.” It is not known how that potential agreement may differ when the proposal is returned to the table. 

The RFP, issued May 10, states the city seeks to obtain proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to operate a temporary low-barrier homeless shelter within the City of Saratoga Springs. Additionally, it specifies that the city anticipates awarding a 6-month contract for the remainder of 2023 and a subsequent one 1- year contract with up to three 3 additional 1-year renewal periods.

The opening of bids received has been scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, after which the City Council may hold a special meeting – although a special meeting has yet to be announced – to meet the June 1 deadline.

Several details, including financial, need to be worked out before the agreement is made.          

“We still believe that June 1, 2023 is a realistic goal for this first-of-its-kind for the city unhoused at this location,” city Mayor Ron Kim said, adding that “this is in addition to whatever Code Blue or Shelters of Saratoga would do. This is not to replace it.”

The Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness is currently searching for a permanent site for a homeless shelter and navigation center, and is anticipated to provide its recommendations to the City Council in July. 

The mayor additionally thanked Sonny and Julie Bonacio “for stepping forward as generous benefactors to make this 24/7 shelter a possibility for our community.”   

RISE Healthy Housing and Support Services (“RISE”) is a nonprofit organization, which has worked to prevent homelessness for the past 45 years and has provided assistance to homeless individuals in Saratoga County since 2017.

Under Development: 53 Putnam

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

Putnam Commons site plan submitted to city of Saratoga Springs. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A six-story mixed-use building is proposed for development atop a currently vacant lot at 53 Putnam St., opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library. 

The proposed Putnam Commons, a multi-family new construction project, is slated to feature 3,900 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and accommodate 40 apartment units on floors 2 through 6. Those units will include: 30 two-bedroom units and 10 one-bedroom units. 

The total gross square footage for the project is 53,480 square feet. 

According to documents filed with the city, the project will support tenant off-site parking “with 50 spaces leased in the Civic Center Parking Garage.” 

The project is under consideration at this week’s Planning Board meeting. 

The Friends Of The Ulysses S. Grant Cottage Announce Retirement Of Executive Director 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

Former Executive Director Steve Porto (left) with Honorary Trustee Treat Williams (right) at Grant’s Bicentennial Birthday Gala, October 2022. Photo provided.

WILTON — Porto has been with the organization for almost 5 years, after 14 years as Director of Parks and Recreation at Gavin Park in Wilton. 

Porto oversaw the renovation of the site Visitor Center and expansion of the gift shop, pursued partnerships with state and local officials and businesses and NYS Parks, fostered the historic site’s brand, and led successful Grant bicentennial celebrations. He assisted the National Historic Landmark on the path to a new Strategic Plan and the long-term goal of construction of an Education Pavilion on the summit to carry out their mission of bringing the compelling story of Ulysses S. Grant to a wider audience.

Porto will stay on with Grant Cottage to work on special projects. He is succeeded by Beth J. Merrill, a seasoned non-profit and museum specialist.

If Tragedy Strikes: Multiple Law Enforcement, Medical Agencies Stage Full-Scale Mass Casualty Training Exercise at SPAC

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

Simulated training exercise focusing on a mass casualty response was staged at SPAC April 30, 2023. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Approximately 17 regional agencies and 400 people took part in a simulated training exercise focusing on a mass casualty response on April 30 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. 

The training focused on coordination and emergency response during several simulated scenarios that envisioned an incident involving a large number of injuries at the venue during a concert. 

“We’re doing this to make sure we are as safe as we can be for the patrons of the park and for concertgoers,” Jeffrey Santor, sergeant with the NYS Park Police and division emergency manager said during the Sunday morning exercise. 

The exercise involved personnel from Park Police, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs City Police and Fire Departments, local EMS Agencies as well as operations staff from Saratoga Spa State Park, Live Nation and SPAC. Saratoga Hospital, Albany Medical Center and their regional partners concurrently staged an exercise to measure how the simulated event would affect their emergency plans.

Planning for the exercise began last July. Public volunteers played the role of concert-goers.

“It was a lot of work to get us to the point to where we’re at today. “We have done some stuff with the Saratoga Springs PD here before, (but) this is the first one in a number of years with multiple agencies all working together,” Santor said.       

“It was a very successful exercise and hopefully we gained some knowledge to help keep everybody safe in future events at SPAC.” 

Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation 2023 Historic Homes Tour May 13

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

153 Circular St. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation homes tour takes place May 13. Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, along with Honorary Co-Chairs Zane and Brady Carruth, will welcome spring with the 2023 Historic Homes Tour on Saturday, May 13. 

The event will be held 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and offers the rare opportunity to see the interiors of private historic homes of the East Side neighborhood of Saratoga Springs.

Three private residences on Circular Street will be featured as well as a condominium in the Stone Abbey, 125 Circular Street, and Circular Manor Bed & Breakfast at 120 Circular Street. The tour will also include two private residences on Union Avenue and a “Rehabilitation-in-Progress.”  

“I’m excited that this year’s tour will feature a variety of different homes and buildings that showcase Saratoga Springs’ architecture and history of the people who lived in them. I’m particularly thrilled that the ‘Rehabilitation-in-Progress’ will be the 1851 Alexander A. Patterson House at 65 Phila Street, our current project,” said Samantha Bosshart, executive director of SSPF.    

In addition, 153 Regent Street will be open.  This was the first building to be constructed for the Young Women’s Industrial Club, the predecessor institution of Skidmore College.  Lucy Skidmore Scribner built the building in 1904 to serve as an auditorium, gymnasium, and dining room.  

The virtual tour features three buildings, two of which are on the in-person tour and Union Gables, 55 Union Avenue, that is only featured on the virtual tour.  

In addition to the tour, the Foundation is hosting two educational programs on Saturday, May 13. At 260 Broadway, Carol Godette will discuss the visionary Franklin Smith who constructed “The House of Pansa” in 1889, a replica of a home in the ancient city of Pompeii. Program starts at 9 a.m. at Death Wish Coffee Company, 260 Broadway.  Light breakfast will be provided by Spring Street Deli.  

Join Charlie Kuenzel for the Lunch & Learn program “Eliza Jumel: The Story of a Successful Woman.” The Lunch & Learn begins at 12:00 p.m. at Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St. Lunch will be provided by Neighborhood Kitchen.   

The Historic Homes Tour is the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser of the year and underwrites the Foundation’s mission to promote the preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs through educational programs, advocacy efforts, technical assistance, and restoration projects. 

Historic Homes Tour tickets for the in-person and virtual tours are $35 for SSPF members and $45 for non-members. Virtual tour tickets are $20 for SSPF members and $25 for non-members. Tickets for the Buildings & Breakfast and Lunch & Learn programs are $30 for SSPF members and $35 for non-members and must be purchased in advance. Space is limited for these educational programs and tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, May 10. Visit www.saratogapreservation.org to become a member to receive event ticket discounts and support preserving Saratoga Springs.