It takes some pretty amazing villagers to purchase a burned-out, mid-1800s building and restore it to its original splendor. But that’s exactly what happened in the case of the Vischer Ferry General Store, located at 357 Riverview Road, Rexford. 

After fire swept through the structure in 2013, three local couples—Paul and Joanne Coons, George and Karan Donohue, and Louise and Tom McManus—banded together to purchase the building, comprised of a store and two apartments, and renovate it in a historically accurate and energy efficient manner.

Each of the couples had a personal interest in resurrecting the damaged structure. Louise and Tom McManus live in the historic home to the left of it, the Donohues in the gray farmhouse to the right, and Paul and Joanne Coons have a passion for purchasing historically significant homes and restoring them to their former glory. In fact, they once owned and refurbished the 19th century Greek revival residence that the McManuses now call home. 

“The fire enabled us to see all the original features that had long been hidden behind sheetrock walls, drop-ceilings, and carpeted floor,” says Louise McManus, who now owns and operates the general store portion of the building. “The newer features took the brunt of the fire damage and protected the historic materials. Incredibly, we were able to salvage and refinish most of the original floor planks throughout the building. Replacement boards were sourced from an old barn in Fort Plain.”

Although Louise had never specifically dreamed of owning her own business, she had always aspired to do something creative. When her 10-year career at a Saratoga bridal shop wound down just as the renovation project was materializing, she found herself intrigued by the creative opportunities that might come of bringing an old-time general store back to modern-day Vischer Ferry. In its heyday, the store had been a gathering spot for locals and a popular stop for canallers along the Erie Canal. Given its proximity to the 740-acre Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve, Louise believed that the store could once again become a popular stop for visitors as well as a vibrant community hub for local residents. 

“I’ve always enjoyed curating merchandise,” Louise says, “and I loved the idea of bringing food and retail together.” Each month, she arranges special onsite events like an evening pizza truck, a Saturday outdoor antique market, or a Lebanese afternoon tea. 

Louise’s creative flare is further showcased in her stunning seasonal and holiday displays, both in-store and throughout the grounds. “I love decorating—especially the truck!” she says, referring to the green,1950 Studebaker pickup truck parked out front to welcome visitors to her establishment. 

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The Vischer Ferry General Store is well-known for its scrumptious breakfast sandwich, distinctive beverages, and mouthwatering baked goods. “Our menu varies daily,” says employee Jenna Batchelder, who does some of the cooking and baking, “and we’re always trying new things.” 

Popular items include challah bread French toast, soups, salads, sandwiches, crustless quiches, and wraps. And check out the made-from-scratch sweet treats like sea salt milk chocolate chip cookies, chocolate pecan pie, and maple bacon scones! Gluten-free options are always available.

Property co-owner George Donohue is the kitchen’s head chef. “I’ll find a new recipe online and try it, then play with it, adjusting it ‘til I get it right. Our customers give us ideas, too,” he adds. “We’re always open to suggestions.” 

George, a retired 40-year automobile mechanic, enjoys making people happy. “In my old job, I’d hand someone a $500 repair bill and they’d leave unhappy. Here,” he grins, “I give them a $10 meal, and they leave happy. It’s nice to be on the other end.” 

Louise credits George for locating the store’s crowd-pleasing Studebaker. “One day I told George that I’d really love to have an old green pickup truck parked in front of the store. A day or so later, he walked in and told me he’d found us the perfect truck!” 

One of George’s contacts from his many years as a mechanic not only graciously lent Louise her dream vehicle but allowed her to detail it with the store’s name and catchy slogan: Gather, Shop, Eat. 

In addition to food, the Vischer Ferry General Store carries a distinctive line of gift and souvenir items. A tinier shop out back, christened The Shed, also houses an eclectic array of vintage gifts and curios. In fair weather, four cruising bikes can be found parked nearby. 

“We added the bikes last June,” Louise says.
“We encourage our visitors to enjoy a nice bike ride, explore the preserve, then stop back afterwards for a bite to eat. Our staff is always happy to offer suggestions on where to go or what to do.”

When asked if her initial goals for the store have been realized, Louise McManus beams. “Realized and exceeded! The positive response from our customers and the community has been overwhelming and heartwarming. Looking ahead, I hope to collaborate with even more local business owners and bring in many more special events. The possibilities are endless.” 

Vischer Ferry General Store hours: Thursday & Friday, 8-5; Saturday & Sunday, 8-3. To learn more, visit www.vischerferrygeneralstore.com. 

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169 Gronczniak Road

City Mayor Meg Kelly Delivers State of The City Address
Parking Garage • City Hall Opens • Firehouse • Green Belt

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Accompanied by the members of the City Council and city supervisors, Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly on Jan. 28 led the annual State of The City address. 

Kelly referenced challenges faced during last year’s SOTC address, the status of those challenges, and city goals in the new year.    

 “At that time, we were facing the results of the lightning strike of 2018 – an extraordinary event that tested us – took us out of the safety and comfort of our workplace and moved us into a gym,” Mayor Kelly said, recalling the results of a mid-August storm which caused extensive fire and water damage to City Hall. The building housed they city’s government and its court system. Workers were relocated to the Vanderbilt Avenue recreation center, and the city court to Lincoln Baths – quarters where each have remained since. 

 “This year, we are facing a more positive challenge: a smooth return to a repaired City Hall that has been renovated to meet the needs of city government in the year 2020.” City departments have notified the Department of Public Works that they would be prepared to move back into the building at the end of February. 

“We plan to begin our transition back into City Hall at the end of next month,” reported Public Works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, whose department spearheaded the renovation and restoration of the near 150-year-old building.  A final price tag is not yet known, but previous estimates placed the renovation/restoration costs at just over $11 million, and an anticipation that the city would recover $4 to $5 million of those costs via insurance.   

The “new” City Hall will feature upgraded plumbing and electrical, an HVAC system providing temperature controls throughout the building, the installation of lightning protection to ensure such a strike never happens again, and realized energy efficiencies with LED lighting and the removal of window air conditioning units, Scirocco said. 

Additionally, the Music Hall will be preserved and enhanced and once again host events, and in its renovation project the city satisfied the state mandate for a second hearing room and adequate court space for a second full-time City Court judge. 

With the recreation center used to house city business throughout 2019, the Recreation Department responded to the loss of its space by fostering relationships with the YMCA, Saratoga Springs Schools, St. Clements School, Spa Catholic High School and Gavin Park in Wilton to regroup and reestablish programs for children and adults, Mayor Kelly said. “Hats off and endless thanks to the employees of the City of Saratoga Springs.”

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Highlighted achievements during 2019 and plans for 2020: 

• The East Side Fire Station, currently slated to be sited on Henning Rd., is closer to realization than any time in recent history. 

• The Geyser Road Trail project, idling since 2008, is ready for groundbreaking. The resolution of Lawsuits that had stalled have been resolved, allowing the project to move forward. The planning department led the work to secure the funding, complete the bidding process, and prepare the contract for its construction.

 • The Code Blue emergency homeless shelter has found a new temporary home on Adelphi Street, where it will be sited for two years. Through strong working relationships among city, county and Shelters of Saratoga (S.O.S.) leaders, Mayor Kelly said: “We expect long-term solutions to homelessness to be built upon these relationships.”

• The development of the City Center Parking Structure and Flat Rock Centre is underway. 

• As part of the Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO), the city is updating the zoning ordinance to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2015. The draft UDO was recently presented to the City Council and was the focus of three public workshops. “This is another very important project that will continue into 2020,” Kelly said. 

• Workforce Housing: The city facilitated the purchase of two workforce housing units through the city’s Workforce Housing Program. Regarding affordable housing, the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority broke ground on The Promenade affordable housing project at Stonequist. The project includes 63 affordable housing units – 18 townhouses, and 45 apartments; Pre-construction efforts on two new buildings with 24 units of affordable housing at the Jefferson Street Terraces are underway; A project on the west side – called Intrada – includes 158 affordable housing units, as well as over 10 acres for public recreation. Two of the four Intrada buildings were completed.

• Saratoga Collaborative to End Homelessness: Staff and public officials will participate in both the design and leadership teams during the first 100-day “sprint cycle” of the Saratoga Collaborative to End Homelessness. The project is spearheaded by Shelters of Saratoga and Presbyterian New England Congregational Church. During this sprint cycle, specific solutions will be designed, tested, and implemented.

• In 2019, the Building Department reports there was a 12% increase in permit applications compared to the previous year, with 16% more permits issued. Inspectors performed 2,410 inspections in 2019, an annual increase of 9% over 2018. 

• On Jan. 21, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled his 2020-2021 Executive Budget. Among the items listed, Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) aid for the city of Saratoga Springs has been eliminated. In 2020, the city anticipated receiving $2.3 in VLT aid revenue, which equates to 5% of the city’s general operating budget. As a goal, the city aims to have that aid restored. 

 • This year, the Canfield Casino in Congress Park will celebrate its 150th anniversary. DPW is planning a celebration of the milestone. The City Historian announced it will present a program on April 29 titled: Convention Hall 1893 – 1965. The program, part of a new series called “Rec Talks,” is designed to encourage members of the community to share their Convention Hall stories
and experiences.

• Newly elected Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton reported the police department is currently staffed with 74 sworn police officers, including three recent academy graduates and four recruits in the current academy, and five sergeants currently deployed on military duty. The police department employs 17 civilian employees, including 11 dispatchers, three Parking Enforcement Officers – two of whom are also Animal Control Officers, and 2 employees for records management. The police department responded to 29,394 calls for service in 2019; The Saratoga Springs Fire Department is staffed with 64 firefighters who provide both fire and EMS response services for the city. Last year the fire department received 3,670 emergency medical calls and responded to 67 fires. 

 • 2020 marks the start of a four-year, $4.2 million water infrastructure improvement plan to upgrade undersized water mains; the replacement of four and six-inch mains with eight-inch water mains will improve water delivery to the public. DPW will also undertake significant upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant this year. A planned water treatment intake valve replacement project will replace 3, circa 1800’s intake valves, bringing water from Loughberry Lake into the plant. A section of the intake lines and an overflow structure from approximately the 1870s will also be replaced. This replacement project represents a $2.3 million investment.

• At the county level, construction will continue on a new public safety facility in the town of Milton near the jail, to expand administrative space for the Sheriff’s Office, as well as to move the probation and Public Health departments to that space. Regarding VLT aid, the county stands to lose about $775,000 in revenue, and plans to bring a full board resolution to its February meeting to advocate for the funds. 

NEW YORK — On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that an international conference will be held this May in New York to build on the work the state has done to help recover property stolen in the course of Nazi prosecution.

“The family of New York will never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust, and this international conference will build on our efforts to help victims of Nazi crimes recover stolen property,” Governor Cuomo said. “Nothing will ever make up for the unimaginable suffering and loss endured by the Jewish people, but my sincere hope is that this event will help Holocaust victims and their families get the justice they deserve.” 

The conference, hosted by the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO), will be aimed at improving the State’s ability to help recover works of art and other property lost due to Nazi persecution and will include presentations and panel-led discussions between claimant representatives, attorneys, members of the art trade, professionals from cultural institutions, provenance researchers, historians and art historians. The conference will coincide with the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, May 7-8, 2020, and be held in New York City. Since its inception, HCPO has facilitated the restitution of over $178 million in bank accounts, insurance policies, and other material losses and the resolution of cases involving more than 160 works of art.

Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell said, “With 20 years of expertise in helping to restore lost assets to Holocaust victims and their heirs, DFS’ Holocaust Claims Processing Office is uniquely qualified to host this conference and strengthen our efforts to restore what was lost during the Nazi regime. It is our hope and intention that the discussions that take place will facilitate the restitution of long-lost artworks and builds on the state’s efforts to date.”

Jack Kliger, President & CEO, Museum of Jewish Heritage – Living Memorial to the Holocaust said, “As we mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the upcoming anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe over the Nazi regime, we affirm that it is never too late to provide justice and dignity to victims of the Holocaust. We appreciate the support of Governor Cuomo and Superintendent Lacewell for the recovery of property stolen by the Nazis. The Governor is also a great champion of Holocaust education as an important tool for combating antisemitism. In all these efforts, he continues the legacy of New York State as a beacon.”

Because there are no international guidelines on how to interpret terms such as “Nazi-confiscated art,” “forced sale,” and “sale under duress” in the context of a transaction that occurred in Nazi-controlled territories, there are inconsistencies across and within groups of practitioners in the field on how to designate and characterize various forms of loss. The conference will explore the theft of property from the Jewish people during the Nazi-era using specific terms in order to create certainty and commonly accepted practices with respect to restitution and compensability. Additional information can be found at www.dfs.ny.gov/termsofart.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the City Center hosted the Future of Minority and Women Owned Business Forum. The all day event featured a networking breakfast, a panel on local government’s involvement in the success of minority and women owned businesses, how to embrace technology, how to access capital and a workshop to make professional business cards, headshots, capability statements, consulting services and more.

At the forum, there were representatives from local city and county governments including Nikita Hardy, an Affirmative Action Manager for Schenectady County. “I work closely with the city and try to leverage all of the resources the county has for not just small businesses, but for minorities and women as well,” she said. “The turnout here is great, which really shows that we have a need in the community.”

Other representatives included those from NYS Empire State Development, America’s Small Business Development Center’s (ASBDC) and the U.S. 2020 Census. 

BLACK HAWK, CO — Saratoga Casino Black Hawk has signed an agreement with Betfred Group to offer Sports Wagering throughout the state of Colorado. 

Saratoga Casino Black Hawk is owned and operated by Saratoga Casino Holdings, LLC which is headquartered in Saratoga Springs, and also owns and oversees the daily operations of Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs. 

Saratoga Casino Black Hawk is located in Colorado and features over 425 slot machines, 10 table games, a full-service restaurant, bar and a variety of guest services. The agreement is with Betfred Group, the world’s largest privately-owned retail bookmaker. 

Subject to regulatory approval, Betfred and Saratoga Casino open a full sports book at the casino Colorado property, as well as offer mobile and internet betting for customers within the state of Colorado.

“We are excited to have Betfred as our sports wagering partner,” said Daniel Gerrity, President of Saratoga Casino Black Hawk, in a statement. “With over 50 years of international experience in the industry, it’s a great opportunity to leverage their expertise along with the Saratoga brand to become the market leader in sports wagering
in Colorado.”

Betfred Group, founded in 1967, created Las Vegas based Betfred USA Sports in 2019 specifically to enter the robust and ever-expanding US sports betting market.

BALLSTON SPA — A  40-year-old deputy sheriff employed with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is suspected of committing sexual offenses against two young women in the Town of Malta. 

The deputy, Steven E. Willetts, was charged with criminal sexual act in the first- degree, and sexual conduct against a child in the second-degree. Both charges are felonies. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail, or bond. 

According to a statement issued by the county sheriff’s office, the charges stem from acts allegedly perpetrated against two young women in the Town of Malta. The Sheriff’s Office received a complaint Jan. 25, and Willetts was subsequently charged as a result of the investigation. 

Willetts is accused of engaging in oral sexual conduct with another person who was less than 11-years-old, and of engaging in two or more acts of sexual conduct with a child less than 13-years-old. The alleged incidents occurred over a period of time not less-than three months in duration, according to the statement. 

He was suspended without pay immediately. According to the sheriff’s office, the charges were not related to any official action and did not occur at a time when Willetts was working. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — BlueShield of Northeastern New York has once again named Saratoga Hospital a Blue Distinction Center® for three surgical specialties—spine surgery and knee and hip replacement—as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Saratoga Hospital is the only Capital Region facility to be recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery for meeting both quality and cost-effectiveness measures.

“Blue Distinction Centers earn the designation, in part, by providing care that results in fewer complications and readmissions. That’s important information for patients who are deciding where to have their spine surgery or knee or hip replacement,” said Dr. Richard Falivena, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital.

“Patients see that we are a Blue Distinction Center—and that we’ve earned other quality designations—and they know they can turn to Saratoga Hospital with confidence.”

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.

For more information about the program and a complete listing of the designated facilities, go to www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Cabin Fever 2020 successfully celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment with fun, laughs, networking and insightful conversations. “Deeds, Not Words,” the motto of the early suffrage movement was featured as the great great granddaughter of women’s rights pioneer Elizabeth Cady Stanton spoke to a large group of Capital Region women at a cabin fever “fireside chat” Saturday, Jan. 25 at Saratoga National.

Coline Jenkins, a Connecticut legislator, author and television producer was joined by author Patricia Nugent, SUNY Adirondack Associate Professor Wendy L. Johnson and Saratoga Springs High School Senior Ella Ouimet in a cross-generational discussion of women’s rights sponsored by Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, a chapter of the organization for business and professional women working to provide education and training for the local and global economic empowerment of women and girls.

Saturday’s fireside chat topics ranged from women’s suffrage and the founding of the women’s movement to the panel’s hopes for the passage of the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing equal rights to all Americans – as the country celebrates the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, through which American women were guaranteed the right to vote.

Jenkins noted her relative’s praise of the early suffrage movement and its pioneers, and Cady Stanton’s pride in the success of what she called “the world’s greatest bloodless revolution,” adding that her relative often noted that women’s efforts to win their long suffrage battle employed “everything EXCEPT for a gun.”

After a broad-ranging question period, the panel concluded with an invitation to the unveiling of the first Central Park statue to honor REAL American women – Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth – during this year’s Women’s Equality Day on Wednesday, Aug. 26 in Manhattan. 

For more information on the event or the local group, visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org.

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