Sustainable Saratoga is hosting its 9th annual Saratoga Recycles Day sponsored by Adirondack Trust Company. This year’s event is being held on Saturday, October 18, from 9 am – 12 pm in the SPAC overflow parking lot on the west side of Route 50.
Saratoga Recycles Day, a key event of Sustainable Saratoga’s Zero Waste Committee, is an opportunity for the community to actively participate in minimizing household waste.
“This event, along with our very successful Paint Collection Day held earlier this month, provides us the forum to partner with other local organizations to collect household waste for reuse or recycling,” Kelsey Trudell, Sustainable Saratoga’s Executive Director, said. “We view this as a great service to the community and our environment.”
Sustainable Saratoga and its partners will accept many household items, including children’s & adult books, textbooks, DVDs & CDs, video games, clothing & textiles, scrapmetal, eyeglasses, hearing aids, musical instruments, cell phones and chargers, adult
bicycles, refrigerants, small appliances, and electronics.
There will be an additional $20 recycling fee per TV.
Just eight months after a severe knee injury, Saratoga native Kevin Roohan wins the race, sets the new course record, and finds redemption at one of Colorado’s fastest-growing endurance events.
Nothing motivates Kevin Roohan more than telling him something is impossible.
On September 27, at age 37, he won the demanding Elevation Everest, an event held at Winter Park Resort in Colorado, with an elevation gain similar to climbing Mount Everest.
Now an endurance athlete, Roohan played soccer and lacrosse before graduating from Saratoga Springs High School in 2005. He didn’t discover his passion for extreme rock climbing, ski mountaineering, and marathon racing until he moved west, in his twenties.
“Part of what I love about it is the unexpected challenges and the mystery of not knowing what’s going to happen up there,” said Kevin. “You have to push yourself further than you ever have before.”
Climbing into the Unknown
When Kevin moved out west 17 years ago, he didn’t know much about the sports that now move him to compete. He just wanted to ski.
Skiing led to rock climbing and ski mountaineering. He discovered a knack for running and ultrarunning in his thirties, after sustaining injuries that prevented him from climbing. A decade ago, he moved to Utah and his desire to compete in endurance events grew. He started competing in ultramarathons, ranging from 50 kilometers up to 80 miles.
“I had a good mentality for it. It was an avenue that I could excel at. I have the mental fortitude and mental capacity to compete. I’ve never been the fastest or the strongest, and when I was growing up, I never felt particularly gifted physically. My strength lies more in being able to work through adversity,” he said. “I stay positive, stay focused, and stay with it when others fall apart. I tend to just hang in there. I endure and try hard and am able to withstand. When others give up, I look for a way through.”
Whether skiing a technically challenging alpine descent or scaling a total elevation gain of 30,000+ feet like he did this fall, Kevin enjoys challenges that test the limits of what any human body can endure.
“It’s never too late to find your passion and what you’re good at,” he said.
Hitting the Roadblock that Propelled Him Forward
Last summer, while running along an 80-mile trail at night with nothing but a headlamp to illuminate his path, Kevin began hallucinating, imaging the shadows cast by trees and rocks in the desolate landscape were something (or someone!) they were not.
Nothing has scared him more, however, than tearing his knee’s ACL muscle this winter. While working hard to recover, conversations about professional representation dried up, trips were cancelled, and plans to team up with other athletes disintegrated.
“People were letting me know that I was no longer of interest to them,” said Roohan. “I think that served as the greatest motivation for me in recovery – people thinking I wasn’t capable of doing something.”
Extreme (But Within Reason)
Kevin made it his goal to bounce back quicker than the doctors told him was possible. He hit the gym but needed a goal to aim for. That’s when his friend told him about Elevation Everest, a unique uphill-only challenge held in a controlled resort setting that reduces isolation and the severe risks present in other extreme competitions.
The Full Everest, that Kevn signed up to compete in, consists of a 2.2-mile lap up the mountain, followed by an eight-minute gondola ride down, repeated 19 times. Last year, only one person completed in the 17.5 hours allotted.
“It’s really not for the faint of heart. It’s the real deal,” said the race director when Roohan inquired about signing up.
Race Day Strategy
An hour before the race, Roohan ate a bowl of oatmeal with peanut butter, banana, and mixed berries. He loaded up on electrolytes and lots of coffee. It was his usual routine, but that day, he was feeling nauseous.
Roohan’s strategy was to win. He picked out the leader among the 385 racers that day (a man roughly a decade younger) and rode his heels up the mountain. His early climbs averaged 32-35 minutes through lap five.
He stood or paced during the gondola ride down to resist his legs freezing up and called down to his partner, Andy, at base camp, to ready supplies; sports gel, drink mix, water, a sunshirt, hat, glasses, etc. as they were needed.
Running the Distance
The chaotic chase continued but this unforgiving pace was unsustainable, and something had to give. Roohan’s legs felt heavy, it was the heat of the day, and he was beginning to question if he could maintain when he overheard the race leader tell reporters that “He felt like dirt.”
The comment blew wind into Roohan’s exhausted sails. “I could taste the blood in the water,” he said. His nausea subsided, the sun slipped behind the clouds, and his legs felt fresh again. Mid-race, he settled into a 37–41-minute lap average.
“I’ve done enough of these to know that the way you feel is always changing and things can change in an instant. I know feelings are not permanent,” he said. “When the adrenaline kicks in, pain is the new normal. I’ve heard people refer to it as existing in the ‘pain cave’. It’s when everything hurts and things feel really grim. What it all boils down to is how you react in these moments. You have to find comfort in the uncomfortable, move well, and think positive. It’s mental gymnastics,” he said.
Roohan pushed the pace, gained the lead, and achieved a commanding 15:27:55 first place finish, setting the new course record by almost two hours.
“There was a flood of relief. I had done it faster than anyone else. It felt like a slice of redemption for me. I feel proud I can still hang. This story isn’t over for me,” he said.
Since Roohan missed most of last season on the slopes, he’s looking forward to strapping on his skis this winter, summitting and skiing some of the hardest peaks in the world while enjoying a newfound appreciation for the sport. Unsure of what his next will be, he will continue building on his fitness across various disciplines and stay ready for the next challenge that comes his way.
A new National Park Service report shows that 116,537 visitors to Saratoga National Historical Park in 2024 spent $8,200,000 in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $10,383,000.
“People come to Saratoga National Historical Park to enjoy and explore the historic landscapes where the pivotal Battles of Saratoga and the resulting first surrender of a British army took place and end up supporting the US and local economies along the way,” said Superintendent Leslie Morlock. “We’re proud that Saratoga National Historical Park generates $10.4 million in revenue to communities near the park.”
The National Park Service report, 2024 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that visitors spent $29 billion in communities near national parks. This spending provided $18.8 billion in labor income and $56.3 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $11.1 billion in economic output. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.7 billion in economic output.
An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.
To learn more about national parks in New York and how the National Park Service works with New York communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/newyork.
The area’s premiere new home tour, the 2025 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, opens its doors this weekend!
Showcase tickets are available now online at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com or at Adirondack Trust branches, Arrow Bank on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury, Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs, Rebuilding Together ReShop in Ballston Spa and Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Fort Edward.
Showcase tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours of 10:00AM – 4:00PM. As in previous years, each showcase ticket holder will receive a FREE commemorative shoe/tote bag at the first home visited, while supplies last!
The 2025 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is being proudly presented over two fall weekends this year on October 4-5 and October 11-12. Tickets are $25 and this year’s edition has 12 locations from 10 award-winning builders in Saratoga County on display.
Participating builders in this year’s event; Abele Homes, Beechwood Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders, Green Springs Companies, Heritage Custom Builders, Kodiak Construction, Urvalek Builders and Witt Construction. To view an interactive map and to scan a QR Code of the home locations, directions and much more, please visit the mobile friendly website.
This year’s showcase will also be featuring a “Boards to Blooms” build exhibition on Saturday, October 4th from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Witt Construction Showcase home #5.
Local middle school students will be building wooden box planters led by Whitbeck Construction. It’s all part of spotlighting work in the trades by the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition.
In addition, a CTE Construction Trades/BOCES Adirondack cabin-style “Tiny House” will be on display all four days of the event at the DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders Showcase home #10.
This annual community event has contributed over $1.6 million dollars to our local charities. Proceeds from the Saratoga Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (www.rtsaratoga.org) and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties (www.glensfallshabitat.org)
For more details on the 2025 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Check us out on Facebook & Instagram and follow all the updates on this year’s event
An explosion on Starks Knob Road in Northumberland sent two people to the hospital — one severely injured enough to require transport to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.
The explosion occurred the night of Saturday Sept. 27 around 8:41 p.m., according to the Saratoga County Sherriff’s Office.
The explosion occurred at a bonfire. According to the Sherriff’s Office, a metal drum containing a combustible material exploded causing the injuries. Investigations have thus far shown that the drum and its contents were not known to the hosts of the fire.
The two victims were driven by personal vehicle to Saratoga Hospital with a subsequent transfer of one victim to the Clark Burn Treatment Center at Upstate University Hospital by EMS.
The investigation into the explosion is still ongoing.
The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) and Discover Saratoga are proud to announce a new collaborative partnership aimed at bolstering the restaurant and hospitality industries in the county. This strategic initiative will offer dual membership opportunities, making it easier than ever for industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow.
As part of this partnership, NYSRA is offering special discounted membership rates for Discover Saratoga hospitality members who are not currently NYSRA members:
• $90 Membership Rate: Available to Discover Saratoga members who join NYSRA’s Workers’ Compensation Safety Group. To qualify, businesses must allow NYSRA to provide a workers’ compensation insurance quote and, if eligible and the quote is commercially reasonable, switch their policy to NYSRA’s group plan.
• $250 Membership Rate: For Discover Saratoga members not eligible for the Workers’ Compensation Safety Group, NYSRA is offering a discounted first-year membership rate of $250. Standard annual dues will apply in subsequent years.
“This partnership represents a significant step toward uniting and strengthening our region’s hospitality community,” said Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association. “As long-time supporters of the Capital Region, we recognize the incredible momentum building in Saratoga’s restaurant, hospitality, and tourism sectors. By lowering the barrier to entry, we hope to provide more businesses with access to essential tools, training, and advocacy that drive long-term success for both of our organizations.”
“Discover Saratoga is thrilled to partner with the New York State Restaurant Association to support the growth and success of our local hospitality community,” said Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga. “Our organizations complement each other in meaningful ways—NYSRA provides statewide advocacy, training, and cost-saving programs, while Discover Saratoga drives visitation and economic impact here in Saratoga County. By offering these discounted dual memberships, we’re making it easier for restaurants and hospitality businesses to benefit from both networks, maximize their resources, and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.”
As two organizations dedicated to the success of New York’s tourism and hospitality sectors, this partnership creates an exciting opportunity for local businesses to access expanded resources, cost-saving programs, and a statewide network of support.
On Monday, September 29, 2025, at approximately 6:56 AM, the Halfmoon Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Terminal Drive in the Town of Halfmoon for a report of a person in the water in need of assistance.
First responders were on scene within minutes, including the Chief of the neighboring West Crescent Fire Department. The West Crescent Fire Chief visually located the subject in the Mohawk River, east of his position, and quickly relayed the information to Halfmoon Fire Department Command. Responders were then redirected to a residence on Church Hill Road, and a second alarm was requested to bring in additional resources.
A firefighter from the Halfmoon Fire Department utilized a kayak to reach and secure the individual, who was still conscious and above water. With the assistance of the West Crescent Fire Department’s rescue boat, the subject was safely removed from the Mohawk River and transported to a nearby boat dock. From there, emergency medical services from Clifton Park Halfmoon Ambulance provided treatment and transported the individual to a local hospital.
“We are proud of the swift and coordinated efforts of all agencies involved,” said Chief Tony Bonventre of the Halfmoon-Waterford Fire District #1. “This successful rescue highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation and the unwavering dedication of our first responders.”
In total, eleven fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies responded to the rescue including the aforementioned Clifton Park Halfmoon Ambulance and West Crescent Fire Department, as well as the Waterford, Northside, Hillcrest, Boght, and Verdoy Fire Departments. Colonie EMS, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police also responded.
On Saturday, October 11th Saratoga International Flavorfeast returns to downtown Saratoga Springs for its 10th Anniversary Year.
At this event, attendees can travel the streets of downtown Saratoga Springs and experience a feast of flavors from around the globe, while enjoying multicultural street performances throughout the day. International flags along Broadway herald the event’s return each year.
Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Saratoga International Flavorfeast is presented this year by Saratoga Food Fanatic, Network Saratoga LLC, and Discover Saratoga.
Beginning at 11am on October 11th Flavorfeast “passport-maps” displaying a layout of participating restaurants/businesses can be picked up on the north corner of Broadway and Division Street in front of the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge. The map will also be available on the www.saratogaflavorfeast.com website to print the night before the event.
This map will help event-goers plan their day’s itinerary of travel to a variety of local restaurant destinations for $2 food samples from countries of origin such as Ireland, Italy, India, Guatemala, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, and more. Participating restaurants include Ben and Jerry’s, West Avenue Pizza, Maple Valley Farm, Cardona’s Market, Kaleidoscope Café, Boca Bistro, Cantina, Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar, Fillies on Phila, Karavalli, Hattie’s Restaurant, Sushi Thai Garden, The Bread Basket Bakery, and The Parting Glass. Saratoga Olive Oil will be offering free tastings throughout the day. For a full list of participants and what they’re offering, visit www.saratogaflavorfeast.com.
Entertainment including Asian dance, Irish fiddling, German accordion playing, African drumming, Greek dancing, and more will take place at various locations downtown including the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge Parking Lot, the Parting Glass Lot, and the Adirondack Trust Drive Thru, as well roaming locations throughout the city streets. A complete list of performances will be posted the week of the event on www.saratogaflavorfeast.com. As the event media sponsor, Tracy Villaume of 99.5 The River Morning Show will be the entertainment emcee at the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge.
When you pick up your “passport map,” at the north corner of Division and Broadway, you can enter to win prizes donated by Le Creuset Log Jam Outlet Center and other local prize sponsors including Stewart’s Shops, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Saratoga Outdoors, and more. All proceeds will go directly to the Food Pantry at the Franklin Community Center. In addition to food samples at various restaurant locations throughout the downtown area, there will be restaurants from outside the center of town set up in the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge Parking Lot, on the corner of Broadway and Division Street.
The Saratoga International Flavorfeast was created to bring greater awareness to the richness of our local diversity, while celebrating the worldly culinary styles and people that give this area its unique flair.
A full list of participating restaurants, menu items, and entertainment will be posted on www.saratogaflavorfeast.com the week of the event. For more information, call 518-365-3459.
Saratoga 250 and Stewart’s Shops today unveiled a special Henry Knox themed Ice Cream Scoop ahead of the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery. Knox Cannonball Crunch took the victory in an ice cream naming battle that played out over the summer.
Saratoga 250 Commissioner members, Stewart’s Shops representatives, Saratoga County representatives and 18th Century Reenactors gathered the morning of October 1, 2025, to unveil this commemorative scoop at Stewart’s Shops in Schuylerville.
Saratoga 250 and Victory Circle Partner Stewart’s Shops commemorated the 250th Anniversary of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery with a special ice cream naming poll to honor Knox’s remarkable feat—hauling artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston Harbor in the dead of winter (Dec 1775–March 1776)—by creating this limited-edition commemorative scoop. History buffs and ice cream enthusiasts had the option to vote for a variety of names with the top three contenders being Knox Cannons ‘n Cream, Knox Cannonball Crunch, or Knox Sled Tracks.
Knox Cannonball Crunch is available at more than 40 Stewart’s Shops located along the Knox Trail in New York now through the end of the year. These shops are located in: Ticonderoga, Bolton Landing, Lake George, Queensbury, Fort Edward, Gansevoort, Schuylerville, Stillwater, Mechanicville, Waterford, Cohoes, Watervliet, Rensselaer, East Greenbush, Schodack, Valatie, Kinderhook, Chatham, Claverack, Hudson, Hillsdale.
Knox Cannonball Crunch and select ice cream flavors will be also available on October 11th at Saratoga 250’s Saratoga Siege Weekend event in Schuylerville. This living history event celebrates Saratoga County’s revolutionary history both on and off the battlefield, including perspectives from all sides of the conflict and life in the area. The two-day, free family event takes place October 11th and 12th.
In December, Saratoga 250 will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the daunting, courageous, and successful winter 1775 journey of Henry Knox & patriots who delivered vital artillery from Ft Ticonderoga to the high ground over Boston Harbor causing the British to leave the city. The regional collaboration between states, counties, and historic sites will include a “cannon relay,” handing off a replica Revolutionary era cannon from place to place on its path from Fort Ticonderoga to the high ground over Boston Harbor in the winter of 1775-1776. Saratoga County will receive the cannon on December 13, 2025.
These events and the commemorative scoop are part of Saratoga County’s 250th commemoration of the Battles of Saratoga and American Revolution. Learn more at www.saratoga250.com.
The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) and Discover Saratoga are proud to announce a new collaborative partnership aimed at bolstering the restaurant and hospitality industries in the county. This strategic initiative will offer dual membership opportunities, making it easier than ever for industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow.
As part of this partnership, NYSRA is offering special discounted membership rates for Discover Saratoga hospitality members who are not currently NYSRA members:
• $90 Membership Rate: Available to Discover Saratoga members who join NYSRA’s Workers’ Compensation Safety Group. To qualify, businesses must allow NYSRA to provide a workers’ compensation insurance quote and, if eligible and the quote is commercially reasonable, switch their policy to NYSRA’s group plan.
• $250 Membership Rate: For Discover Saratoga members not eligible for the Workers’ Compensation Safety Group, NYSRA is offering a discounted first-year membership rate of $250. Standard annual dues will apply in subsequent years.
“This partnership represents a significant step toward uniting and strengthening our region’s hospitality community,” said Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association. “As long-time supporters of the Capital Region, we recognize the incredible momentum building in Saratoga’s restaurant, hospitality, and tourism sectors. By lowering the barrier to entry, we hope to provide more businesses with access to essential tools, training, and advocacy that drive long-term success for both of our organizations.”
“Discover Saratoga is thrilled to partner with the New York State Restaurant Association to support the growth and success of our local hospitality community,” said Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga. “Our organizations complement each other in meaningful ways—NYSRA provides statewide advocacy, training, and cost-saving programs, while Discover Saratoga drives visitation and economic impact here in Saratoga County. By offering these discounted dual memberships, we’re making it easier for restaurants and hospitality businesses to benefit from both networks, maximize their resources, and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.”
As two organizations dedicated to the success of New York’s tourism and hospitality sectors, this partnership creates an exciting opportunity for local businesses to access expanded resources, cost-saving programs, and a statewide network of support
