Saratoga County — (SLPID) is proud to announce it has been awarded First Place for Large Lake Digital Newsletter by the New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA). This recognition highlights SLPID’s commitment to lake health, education, and transparent communication with residents and stakeholders.
The award was presented during NYSFOLA’s 2025 annual conference, recognizing the most effective and engaging newsletters among lakes across the state. SLPID’s digital newsletter stood out for its rich content, educational value, timely updates on lake conditions, invasive species monitoring, water quality data, and environmental stewardship.
Cristina Connolly, Executive Director of SLPID, said: “We are honored to receive this recognition from NYSFOLA. Our newsletter is more than a publication—it’s a bridge connecting our residents, lake users, and Saratoga County stakeholders to the health and future of Saratoga Lake. This award reflects the dedication of our team and the importance of protecting one of the county’s most valuable natural resources.”
Saratoga Lake plays a vital role in the region’s environmental, recreational, and economic health. As a popular destination for boating, fishing, and tourism, maintaining the lake’s ecological integrity is essential to preserving property values, supporting local businesses, and ensuring public enjoyment for generations.
SLPID is a NYS government-established improvement district that manages and protects Saratoga Lake through scientific monitoring, lake management strategies, and community outreach. Its work supports the lake’s long-term health while balancing recreational use and environmental sustainability.
Cristina Connolly said, “A sincere thank you to NYSFOLA for recognizing the work and their continued support throughout the state.” The New York State Federation of Lake Associations
(NYSFOLA) is a statewide organization founded in 1983 to support and promote the management and protection of New York’s lakes and watersheds. NYSFOLA provides education, training, and advocacy for water resource stewards across the state.
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is excited to welcome you back for another season of Summer Sunday Strolls, starting June 15!
The guided walking tours will take place every Sunday from 10:30AM-12:00PM, through August 31, offering a great way to explore the city’s unique history and diverse architecture. Each week highlights a different historic neighborhood in Saratoga—the grand mansions of North Broadway, the mail order “kit houses” on the East Side, the vibrant West Side neighborhoods, the bathhouses in the Saratoga Spa State Park, and more!
“It’s a fun, engaging way to see Saratoga Springs up close—and a Sunday tradition you will not want to miss,” said Sydney Hedge, Preservation & Programs coordinator at the Foundation.
Join the Foundation for the first of 12 exciting tours of historic Saratoga Springs, which kicks off with “Lincoln Park” on Sunday, June 15 at 10:30AM. Take a stroll through Lincoln Park in Saratoga Spa State Park, a National Historic Landmark. Discover the park’s history from its early carbonic acid plants to the creation of the State Reservation in 1909 and the construction of the Lincoln and Washington Bathhouses in the 1920s. This tour meets at the Washington Bathhouse (National Museum of Dance).
The “Lincoln Park” tour is in partnership with the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park, a non-profit organization that supports and enhances the park’s historic, natural, and recreational resources.
Friends members can purchase tickets for this tour at the SSPF member price. To learn more about the Friends group, please visit their website, friendsofsaratogaspastatepark.org
The Summer Series is sponsored by Stewart’s Shops and Druthers Brewing Company. To be a single stroll sponsor, please contact Development Director, Dianne Winter, dwinter@saratogapreservation.org.
All Sunday morning tours last approximately 90 minutes and requires walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours will be limited to 30 and tickets must be purchased in advance. The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members. There are no physical tickets for the tours, your name will be on the list.
For additional information on Sunday Strolls or to purchase tickets to any of the upcoming tours, please visit our website, saratogapreservation.org, call (518) 587-5030, or email Sydney Hedge, Preservation & Programs Coordinator, shedge@saratogapreservation.org
The Capital Region Transportation Council (the Transportation Council) is hosting a public meeting to share and gather public feedback on the draft Capital Region Vision Zero Safety Action recommendations, which contain several proposed policies, strategies, and capital projects to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes to an eventual goal of zero on all public roadways in the Capital Region.
The meeting will take place Wednesday June 18 from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Treehouse Brewing under the outdoor pavilion.
The public meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the draft recommendations in the Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, share feedback with the project team, and identify ways they can help advance the draft recommendations in their communities.
All workshops will include family-friendly activities and light refreshments. Community members are encouraged to attend.
A gas station in Ballston Spa has been damaged after a large fire engulfed several pumps and at least two vehicles.
Crews from multiple jurisdictions were dispatched to the scene of USA Gas at the intersection of routes 50 and 67. Ballston Spa Fire Captain Mike Coffey said the call was dispatched at around 10:24 a.m.
The fire caused portions of State Route 50, State Route 67 and Ballston Ave to close for a short time, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Several people had minor injuries, however no serious injuries were reported.
At least 10 agencies responded to the blaze including Union Fire Company, Eagle Matt Lee Fire Department and Saratoga Springs Department. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit and the Saratoga County Cause and Origin Team are currently investigating the blaze
While the cause of the fire is under investigation, gas station owner Erin Ozbay said the pumps had received their tri-annual inspection in the last few weeks.
Crews were dispatched at 10:24 a.m. (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
(Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
Gas station owner Erin Ozbay speaks to the media after the fire ((Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
(Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
Over 10 agencies responded to the blaze (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
(Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
The Cause of the fire is still under investigation (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The numbers are in: 865 young runners, 362 adult runners, 1,227 total participants (an all-time record), $104,000 raised this year, and more than $1 million raised in the event’s lifetime. It’s safe to say that the 17th edition of the Cantina Kids Fun Run, which supports pediatric emergency services at Saratoga Hospital, was a success.
“We are so proud to support Saratoga Hospital and to see the community come together in huge numbers for pediatric emergency services,” said event co-creator and co-chair Heath Ames. “The energy of the kids, all decked out in their neon shirts, is the best part of this event every year.”
The Cantina Kids Fun Run is an athletic event for kids age 12 and under held each year in Congress Park in downtown Saratoga Springs.
A map depicting the restricted air space over Saratoga (Created by Aidan Cahill)
It’ll be clear skies over the race track this Saturday. Not because of the weather but due to temporary flight restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The restrictions were announced Jun. 1 by the FAA in a Notice to Airman. The restrictions are in place during the Belmont on Broadway festival and the race itself and only affect aircraft flying 1,200 feet above the ground or lower.
During Belmont on Broadway, flight restrictions were imposed on two separate areas in Saratoga Springs. The first area covered was a half-mile radius surrounding the intersection of Broadway and Ellsworth Jones Pl. It was only during effect during the Belmont on Broadway.
The second area, meanwhile, is a half-mile radius from a point in center of the Saratoga Racecourse. This area will also go into effect from 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Jun. 6 and from 11 a.m. Jun. 7 to 3 a.m. Jun. 8.
According to Saratoga Springs Police, the restriction was requested by police out of an abundance of caution to prevent drones from interfering with the events. Police said this was the first time they had received the restricted airspace and there are no plans to request it for future races.
In a city council meeting on Jun. 3, Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll said commercial operators can get approval from the police and fire departments to fly their drones during the event. According to the FAA, of the over 1 million drones registered in the US, 420,825 are commercial drones.
A similar restriction was put in place surrounding Super Bowl LIX according to an FAA press release from January.
The 1,200 feet restriction is less than the height of the Empire State Building at 1,250 feet. It’s well below the cruising altitudes of common aircraft such as the Boeing 737 at around 35,000 feet and Cessna Skyhawk which can fly as high as 14,000 feet.
In addition to the restrictions of drone flight, Nelson Street from Wright St to Crescent Ave will be closed on Friday and Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. and will reopen at about 8 p.m. The ride share pickup point has been moved from near Siro’s on Lincoln Ave. to East Ave. near Potato Chip Lane.
Omakase Gets Outdoor Seating and Other Updates From the Design Review Board
A rendering of the proposed condominium on the corner of Park and Cottage Street. The Design Review Board asked for more information before giving information on the matter.
A rendering of the proposed RISE complex on Finley Street as viewed from the road. This rendering was submitted to the Design Review Board by the architect. (Saratoga Springs Design Review Board)
Saratoga Spring’s streetscape continues to take shape as nine items went before the Design Review Board in their most recent meeting.
The meeting took place in the Saratoga Springs City Council room on May 27. The Design Review Board is one of three Saratoga Springs bodies tasked with approving building, demolition and renovations in Saratoga Springs. Its responsibility lays in ensuring new buildings fit the city aesthetically.
Three projects received approval with no further discussion from the board. The Omakase Sushi & Grill received board approval to set up a sidewalk café at its location on 30 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Other projects approved were a rooftop solar array on Lake Street and a standby generator on Oakland Drive.
Several projects received conditional approval to move forward. The first of these was the installation of a retractable sunshade on a condo at 19 Washington Street. The approval came under the condition that the building homeowner’s association declared their sunshade to be the precedent for any subsequent sunshades. The project was approved by the board 6-1.
The next project was the approval for the replacement of a shed and renovation of a house on Regent Street. The demolition of the existing shed was approved with the board voting 4-2 with one member recusing themself — assuming certain conditions were met.
Under the conditions of the approval, certain design elements such as the doors and windows, had to be salvaged and incorporated into the new garage. Meanwhile, the removal of a previously made addition to the property and renovations to the façade were approved unanimously by the board.
It was a similar story with the 30-301/2 Caroline Building Expansion. The project seeks to surround the old site of Sperry’s Restaurant with a five story multi-use complex. Up for discussion during the May 27th meeting was the step-back and offset from the road.
The board approved one of the options presented by the architect but required him to come back to face concerns regarding materials and window placement on the building. The motion passed on a vote of 5-2.
Other projects received positive feedback from the board but required more information before decisions could be made. The first of these was the proposed RISE affordable housing complex at 3/26 Finley Street. The board found the existing body shop on the premises — which the project intends on demolishing — had no historic significance. However, they held off voting pending further assessment of the project.
A map showing the locations of the projects considered by the Design Review Board. Green dots indicate projects that received approval with no further discussion, yellow dots indicate projects with conditional approval and red dots indicate projects that are still under consideration as of June 6. (Created by Aidan Cahill)
Problems emerged in how the complex would interact with the neighborhood surrounding it. Residents along Spa Drive and Livingston Street expressed concern over the size and scope of the building.
They argued that the three-story building would tower over the rest of the neighborhood and make it impossible to ignore. In addition, the residents worried that the reduction in tree cover would cause property values to drop by 10-20%, make the neighborhood unsightly and reduce the health of the trees that remained.
In response to resident concerns, the Design Review Board requested the architect come back with further models which showed how the building would interact with the surrounding neighborhood — primarily looking at sightlines and locations of houses in relation to the building.
Another project that needed more information was a proposed three-story condominium on Cottage Street. The Design Review Board was asked by the Planning Board to review the project and provide an advisory opinion on it. The board was given a full presentation by the architect on the building and the context it has within the neighborhood.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents expressed multiple concerns. While residents liked the design of the building, there was concern regarding its height and size. Several of them said that it didn’t match the character of the neighborhood, was too big and was too close to other residents.
Because of these concerns, the Design Review Board asked the architect to come back and provide a height study and multiple pedestrian perspectives on the building.
The final item considered was a modification to a property on Nelson Ave. The builder was looking to install ductless air conditioning on the exterior of a residence, however, the board asked for a redesign of the system given how much it impacted the historic façade of the building.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, — A class of 24 local leaders graduated recently from the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Saratoga program.
Directed by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, this award-winning program is dedicated to the development of leaders who will serve their communities today and in the future.
The first Leadership Saratoga class graduated in 1986, and the program has since assisted in training and educating more than 700 leaders in the Saratoga community.
This year’s graduating class was honored at a recent ceremony, where Leadership Saratoga Alum Clifford Van Wagner, class of 1988, and Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, shared their guidance and insight with the graduates.
The Class of 2025:
Matt Becker of Arrow Financial Corporation
Shawn Bennett of NBT Bank
Amanda Capozzi of CAPTAIN Community Human Services
Sophia Constantine of Roohan Realty
Lisamarie Dapper of Phinney Design Group
Julie Delay of Skidmore College
Jon Dorflinger of Light It Up Media
Victoria Furfaro of RISE Housing and Support Services
Collin Gibson of Pioneer
John Howard of Stewart’s Shops
Marianna Hutcheson of Courtyard by Marriott / BBL Hospitality
Meredith Jenkins of Joseph E. Mastrianni, Inc.
Stephanie Lamphere of Clean Green Hauling & Removal LLC
Alyssa Mastrianni of JPMorgan Chase Bank
Chris McDaniel of NuScale
Sergio Quiroz-Mejia of Saratoga Casino Hotel
Joseph Miller of Saratoga Casino Hotel
Natalie Moore of Saratoga Living
Daniel Nazzaro of AIM Services
Sarah Smith of The Children’s Museum at Saratoga
Philip Spiezio of Stewart’s Shops
Kally Straus of The Wesley Community
Celia Vincek of Adirondack Trust Company
Amanda Vitullo of National Grid
Each year, members of the Leadership Saratoga class work on projects intended to create impact in Saratoga County. The 2025 class helped the American Cancer Society – Northeast Region, Ballston Area Community Center, Pitney Meadows Community Farm, and the Wilton Fire District. Leadership Saratoga Class of 2025 graduates will present the details of these inspiring projects at the upcoming Leadership Saratoga Alumni Annual Breakfast on June 18.
The purpose of the Leadership Saratoga program is to inform and educate members of the community who want to ensure Saratoga County’s success by giving of their time, talents, energy and expertise. This is often in a volunteer capacity such as serving on a board of an impact sector organization, a board of education, a land use board or becoming an elected official.
“We are very proud of the Leadership Saratoga Class of 2025,” says Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “These graduates are poised to become influential leaders who will make a lasting difference in the Saratoga County community for years ahead.”
Anyone interested in learning more about Leadership Saratoga or considering applying to be a member of the next class can visit www.LeadershipSaratoga.org for additional information.
The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is announcing the first of four scheduled sessions, “Profiles in Courage”, in response to growing concerns over the federal government actions.
League of Women Voters of Saratoga County member, Patricia Nugent, will present “Deeds, Not Words” on Wednesday, June 11 at 7pm at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. This program will focus on how the militant suffragists of the early 1900s, under Alice Paul’s leadership, finally took women’s suffrage over the finish line after a 75-year battle.
The sessions are designed to showcase what our community can learn from the resilience and determination of past political movements and aims to encourage attendees to customize their own plan for supporting the democratic principles of justice and inclusion.
Patricia Nugent is the author of the play “The Stone that Started the Ripple” about a modern-day reunion of suffragists and edited the nonfiction anthology “Before They Were Our Mothers: Voices of Women Born Before Rosie Started Riveting.” She designs and teaches a course in feminist history and founded the Women’s Rights Awareness Campaign in Saratoga County, which was instrumental in passing the NYS Equal Rights Amendment.
Dan Berggren, a tradition-based songsmith and award-winning educator and musician, will provide topical musical inspiration. The event is cosponsored by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Saratoga Public Library. Registration is required at https://www.sspl.org/event/.
The second session to be held June 25 at 7pm at SUNY Adirondack will focus on the Red Scare during the Cold War. Two additional sessions will be held in September. For more information, visit www.lwvsaratoga.org
The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County will moderate a “Meet the Candidates” forum in advance of the primary election for the office of Supervisor of the Town of Greenfield. The forum will be held Tuesday June 10 from 7-8:00 p.m. at the Greenfield Community Center. All are welcome to attend.
Please get the word out about this in-person and recorded event! The LWVSC will post the recording of the forum on our website, lwvsaratoga.org, and our voter guide, VOTE411.org.
The public is encouraged to submit questions for candidates to: Lwvscquestions@gmail.com no later than Sunday June 8th. Please put “Greenfield” in the subject line of your email.
Questions will be reviewed by an impartial group of League members based on relevance to the office and topic/redundancy.
No questions will be taken at the event itself.
Questions should be clear, concise and appropriate to the office being sought.
Questions must be directed to all the candidates seeking the office, not just to
one candidate.
Questions should reflect the issues of greatest interest to the entire community and cover a broad range of topics.
Questions must not include or imply personal attacks on any candidate.
Voters registered with the Republican Party may vote in the election on Tuesday June 24. Early voting begins on June 14th.
