At its recent board meeting, Franklin Community Center (FCC) proudly voted to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors. For more than 40 years, FCC has been an active force in Saratoga County, dedicated to helping to improve the quality of life in our community and to bridge gaps in community needs by providing support, services, and resources that ensure core needs are met.

FCC is pleased to welcome Cliff VanWagner, a long-time volunteer and dedicated community member. Cliff spent his professional career at The Wesley Community, where he served as a licensed pharmacist and later advanced to Director of Pharmacy, a role he held until his retirement in spring 2025. 

Among his many accomplishments, Cliff led the design and implementation of a drug distribution system serving more than 350 residents. Beyond his professional work, Cliff remains deeply engaged in the community, supporting fundraising efforts for the Saratoga Springs Police Department Canine Unit, Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation, and Leadership Saratoga.

“After spending the last 10 years working with FCC to assist with the food pantry expansion and fundraising for the new building, I am honored and humbled to join the Board,” said VanWagner. “My goal is to help further FCC’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring its continued success.”

FCC also warmly welcomes Christine Hogan Barton to the Board of Directors. An Associate Real Estate Broker at Roohan Realty, Christine has long been involved in the Saratoga Springs community through her support of events such as the North Country Festival of Trees, Touch-A-Truck, and recreational sports programs within the Saratoga Springs School District. “My board membership is deeply meaningful because it allows me to be part of a collaborative team making a difference where it matters most—right here in our local community,” said Hogan Barton. “It is a privilege I truly value.”

In addition, FCC extends heartfelt gratitude to Zackary Manz, recent past president, whose 10-year term concluded at the November 2025 board meeting. Zack’s leadership, thoughtful approach to complex conversations, and strategic vision left a lasting impact on the organization. While his contributions will be greatly missed, his warmth and positivity will be remembered most fondly. The staff and board wish Zack all the best and hope he enjoys time with his family—while keeping the door open for a future return.

For many people, hearing the words “SantaCon” creates images of Caroline Street being overcrowded, of lots of drinking, and of the craziness associated with an alcohol-related event. SantaCon organizer Brian Miller hopes to change that perception to one of community and local business support, and to inspire other business owners to get more involved in their community. 

Miller’s involvement with Saratoga SantaCon began while he worked as a Brand Ambassador, and later Sales Representative, for Saratoga Eagle. The event needed a liaison between the participating bars and the third-party group that was organizing it, and Miller stepped up to the task. Shortly after, the original organizer turned the keys over to Miller. Now, he is the organizer of Saratoga SantaCon, and also the Events Director at The Bourbon Room.

What started as a Caroline Street event that 75-100 people attended, has now blossomed into a downtown, large-scale event. On December 13, 2025, over 3,000 “Santas” descended on Caroline Street and Phila Street and the 15 participating bars. Saratoga SantaCon is the largest pub crawl in the Capital District and potentially is a top five pub crawl in upstate New York. 

People travel from across New York State, and even from Vermont to attend the event. Miller noted, “It helps being in Saratoga and having all of the bars in one concentrated area, having a beautiful downtown, and having hotels and restaurants here where people can make it a weekend.” 

While Saratoga SantaCon provides attendees with a fun holiday experience, it also has a beneficial impact on the Saratoga community in two ways – by supporting a local non-profit, and through the effects it has on bars and restaurants. 

Franklin Community Center (FCC) was selected as the beneficiary of the event by the original organizers, and 100% of the proceeds benefit the agency. Originally, the fee to attend the event was a donation of five non-perishable food items to benefit the FCC Food Pantry. Over time, Miller and FCC transitioned away from collecting items, as it created logistical challenges with storing food overnight in a climate-controlled area and securing a donation of trucks to transport them from Caroline Street to the Food Pantry. Also, the holidays are typically a time of increased donations for the Food Pantry, making financial contributions more needed.

Now, attendees purchase tickets to participate in the event, and all of the proceeds benefit FCC. In 2025, the event raised $26,565 – the most successful year yet, an increase of over $10,000 from the previous year’s total. The funds generated through the event help support FCC in carrying out its mission year-round. FCC serves over ten thousand individuals in Saratoga County each year through its essential programs: Food Pantry, Free Store, Project Lift, Student and Family Services, and Franklin Community Manor. 

In addition to the community impact, Saratoga SantaCon positively benefits downtown businesses. For most bars and restaurants, the winter months are the slowest, which creates real challenges for businesses to stay afloat. Saratoga SantaCon brings in thousands of people, who spend money at almost a dozen bars and restaurants throughout the day. For some establishments, the profits made on the event date alone help generate enough to keep them in business through the winter. This year, the event generated over $500,000 in revenue for the businesses.

What’s next for Saratoga SantaCon? Miller hopes to continue to expand to become a larger scale community event that is highlighted by the pub crawl. His vision? Victorian Streetwalk meets Saratoga Fall Fest, but make it Christmas! The goal is to create opportunities for businesses to host family-friendly activities and events during the day, while still providing the fun atmosphere for the “Santas” in the evening. 

Miller hopes that business owners are inspired by the success of Saratoga SantaCon, and help organize their own events or take part in existing ones. Miller says, “As a business owner, on a popular street, use your popularity for good. I don’t think enough people do that.” 

His favorite part of Saratoga SantaCon is the level of care the bars and restaurants put into it. He noted that as the first to arrive on Caroline Street, he sees all of the businesses getting ready – putting up their decorations, having staff arrive early, and being prepared to give it their full attention. Their ownership of the event ensures its success, “…when you rely on it, you care if something happens to it,” states Miller. 

Going forward, Miller’s aim is for businesses to “…realize that the largest resource they have to create their own event like this is them.” And if they need help getting started, Miller says, “I’m always open to ideas.”

This December, when you think of Saratoga SantaCon, think of the event’s lasting impact on the Saratoga community through non-profit and local business support.

The Saratoga Lake Association (SLA) today commended Town of Wilton Highway Superintendent Michael Monroe and the Town of Wilton for securing a New York State Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant to construct a new, modern salt storage facility, a major investment in protecting water quality in the Saratoga Lake watershed.

Superintendent Monroe has announced that the Town has been awarded $600,000 under the State’s 2025 WQIP program to build the new salt shed. The project is designed to prevent salt and salt-laden runoff from leaching into stormwater systems, streams, groundwater, and ultimately Saratoga Lake. This is the second WQIP grant secured by Monroe for Wilton, bringing the total external funding obtained for water-quality-related infrastructure to approximately $1.5 million.

“Mike Monroe has set the gold standard for municipal highway operations in the Saratoga Lake watershed,” said James DeMasi, President of the Saratoga Lake Association. “This project is not just about improving operations—it is about stopping pollution at its source. Proper salt storage is one of the most effective and practical ways to reduce the long-term chloride loading that threatens our lake and its tributaries.”

A modern, fully enclosed salt storage facility is a cornerstone of best management practices for winter road maintenance. By keeping salt protected from rain and snowmelt and by controlling drainage and material handling, the new Wilton facility will eliminate a major, and often overlooked, pathway by which chlorides enter the environment before they ever reach the roadway.

“This is about doing our job better and more responsibly,” said Superintendent Monroe. “We can keep roads safe for the public and, at the same time, be better stewards of our water resources. This new facility is an important step in that direction.”

This investment complements the broader, forward-looking program already implemented under Monroe’s leadership, including calibrated spreaders across the fleet, the adoption of live-edge plow technology, and the introduction of brine pretreatment to reduce overall salt usage.

“Superintendent Monroe has shown that public safety and environmental stewardship go hand in hand,” DeMasi added. “Wilton is demonstrating what modern, responsible highway management looks like in a sensitive watershed. We strongly encourage other municipalities in the region to follow Wilton’s example.”

Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi has announced that he is taking a leave of absence for health reasons. 

The announcement came at a village meeting on January 26. Rossie said realization that he had to take his health more seriously came after the death of former Ballston Spa Mayor Christine Fitzpatrick.

“Health becomes paramount, and right now my health is not in great shape,” Rossi said. “I’m not looking for sympathy on that, but we are at a point where I have to sort of look out for myself a little bit.”

Rossi said he doesn’t know when he will be back and said that being a public official can have a drastic impact on your mental and physical health. 

“It’s one of those times in my life that I need to take care of me,” Rossi said. “ I apologize to the community for that fact because I feel like I’m letting you all down in that respect. At the same time, it’s what you have to do sometimes.”

During the leave of absence Rossi has advised people seeking information and regular updates to go to the Village Facebook page and website, as opposed to his. While initially Rossie had planned on unpublishing his page, he later put it back up after he said someone threatened him with a lawsuit. 

Rossie’s announcement came after a controversial bill removing a residency requirement for Village appointed board positions — such as the planning board — was tabled for further consideration after public outcry. 

It’s unclear when Rossi will return to day-to-day duties. While during the meeting he said that he wasn’t stepping away permanently, he also said that he couldn’t provide any more specifics about when he was returning. 

In the meantime, he’ll still handle things like signatures while other duties he can’t complete will be handled by Deputy Mayor and Village Trustee Bernadette VanDenise-Perez, according to News10. 

The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, recently unveiled an accessible bus for residents of the Wesley Health Care Center. Funding of the Frontrunner® Low-Floor Minibus by Frontrunner Bus Group, Inc. was made possible in part by Wesley’s annual gala and golf tournament, and The VMJR Companies’ 6th Annual Architects vs. Engineers Golf Tournament. 

The accessible minibus, which seats 14 passengers, does not require steps or a wheelchair lift due to its low-entry platform, providing easier boarding access for residents with mobility challenges. The new bus will be utilized to transport Wesley residents to various off-site activities and is intended to foster greater independence and enhance overall quality of life.     

The Wesley Foundation’s La Dolce Vita 2025 annual gala and the Saratoga 9 & Wine golf tournament raised more than $130,000 toward the purchase of the bus. 

Additionally, VMJR presented a check for more than $68,000 to Wesley, the beneficiary of its annual golf tournament that was conducted this past fall, making it possible for the non-profit senior health care center to secure the purchase of the bus with funds to spare, which will be allocated for other vital services. 

“We feel privileged to have been chosen as the recipient of VMJR’s Architects vs. Engineers annual Golf Tournament fundraiser and the outstanding donation generated by that event,” said The Wesley Community CEO J. Brian Nealon. “We are also gratified with the success of our own fundraisers which have made it possible for us to purchase a much-needed, low-entry bus for residents with mobility issues. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all who supported this important initiative.”

The annual VMJR golf tournament raises funds for local non-profits and selects a different organization each year as the beneficiary from entry fees, sponsorships, raffles, and food and beverage sales generated by the event.

New York State recently announced more than $29.4 million in grants to support 29 water quality and climate resiliency projects in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) Region 5. 

The awards are part of more than $265 million in investments recently announced by Governor Kathy Hochul to help protect drinking water, improve climate resilience, update aging water infrastructure, reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms, and secure statewide access to clean water.  

Today’s announcement is supported by funding from multiple grant programs administered by DEC and the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and investments from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, Environmental Protection Fund, and other sources. The programs—Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP), Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Mapping Grant (NPG), and Resilient Watersheds Grant (RWG)—help protect communities and water quality while reinforcing the State’s support for municipalities by making these critical projects more affordable and minimizing the financial burden on local taxpayers.  

“Since taking office, and most recently in the 2026 State of the State, Governor Hochul continues to provide unprecedented resources to invest in climate resiliency and water infrastructure to support communities across the State,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “With more than $265 million from multiple programs, including $185 million supporting improvements in environmental justice communities, the awarded projects will help our municipal partners achieve meaningful reductions in flood risk, protect drinking water, improve aquatic habitat, and safeguard residents from increasingly severe weather events.”     

“Governor Hochul is investing billions in water infrastructure every year to help local governments affordably advance crucial water quality and resiliency projects,” EFC President and CEO Maureen Coleman said,  “By pairing Environmental Bond Act funding with other State program funding to support new and signature programs, every dollar goes further and brings New York closer to a safer, more sustainable future. The new Resilient Watersheds Grant program will jumpstart flood-mitigation projects in some of the most at-risk communities while creating good-paying jobs that drive local economies.”   

The funding complements the historic environmental investments announced earlier this week in the 2026 State of the State, building upon the record support for New York State’s premier grant programs that fund critical water infrastructure, protect drinking water, and safeguard communities.     

Saratoga County  

• Saratoga County Soil and Water Conservation District:  

• $600,000 through WQIP for a salt storage shed construction project at the Town of Wilton Highway Garage to reduce salt runoff and protect groundwater and water quality in the Snook Kill watershed.  

• City of Saratoga Springs:  

• $520,000 through WQIP for a culvert replacement project on Gilbert Road. A larger, concrete structure will improve aquatic organism passage, reduce sedimentation, and increase flood resilience in the Fish Creek watershed.  

• $450,000 through WQIP for replacement of a structurally compromised culvert that is impacting aquatic connectivity and water quality. The project will restore aquatic organism passage, mitigate flood hazards, and improve overall stream function in the Saratoga Lake watershed.  

• City of Mechanicville:  

• $30,000 through NPG to update existing MS4 mapping to address gaps in data critical to mitigating flood risk and managing discharges to the Hudson River watershed.  

More than $208 million was awarded to 131 projects statewide through DEC’s WQIP grant program.  WQIP grants fund projects that directly improve water quality or habitat; promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency; or protect a drinking water source. View a full list of grant awards.

A total of $2.9 million was awarded to 44 projects through DEC’s NPG program to fund the initial planning of WQIPs, such as replacing undersized culverts, implementing green infrastructure, and completing State permit-required storm sewer mapping in urban areas. NPG projects reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff entering lakes, rivers, and streams, and improve resiliency against the impacts of climate change. View a full list of grant awards.

In addition, $55 million in new grant funding was awarded to 24 climate resiliency projects in 15 communities across New York State. EFC, in coordination with DEC, administers the RWG program funded through the Environmental Bond Act. RWG projects were selected to reflect the diverse, statewide issues that New Yorkers are facing and include stream and floodplain restoration; removal of dams, culverts and other barriers; culvert replacements; and property buyouts. The RWG program builds on the success of DEC’s Resilient NY, which delivers state-of-the-art studies of flood-prone, high-risk watersheds across the state. All awarded projects were recommended actions by Resilient NY studies or a comparable flood study.