SARATOGA SPRINGS – The city of Saratoga is hoping to open the area’s first public waterfront park along Saratoga Lake by July 4, part of a $1.8 million project the city has pursued for over four years.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The skateboarding community within Saratoga Springs is hoping they can add a few more members to their ranks this summer, and they’ll be more than happy to lend a hand.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Though shows featuring mainstream pop acts like Dave Matthews Band and O.A.R. tend to steal the attention, the evening of June 12 brought one of the world’s most celebrated performers to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) for an evening of contemporary instrumental music. Yanni, whose real name is Giannis Chrysomallis, brought his orchestra to town for the show titled “An Evening with Yanni,” and finally gave your mom and dad a reason to use those camera phones they bought. The Greek-born performer is in the midst of an 82-date North American Tour, with stops all across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Local businessman Frank Parillo has acquired a city block located at 20 Lake Avenue, for the tidy sum of $2.625 million. The lot happens to be the location of The Saratogian newspaper, where it has stood for over 100 years. Parillo did not purchase the newspaper itself, but rather the land on which their building currently sits. The transaction was finalized June 13 and Parillo has reportedly assured the newspaper that they will be allowed to remain at the location for at least the next three years. The Saratogian is owned by the Journal Register Company and managed by the New York City-based Digital First Media.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – As the city prepares to welcome attendees to the Sixth Annual SaratogaArtsFest this weekend, Saratoga TODAY has learned that Universal Preservation Hall (UPH), one of the sites for this weekend’s events located at 25 Washington Street, has held discussions with Proctors Theatre in Schenectady that would transfer control of the historic High Victorian Gothic building that was first constructed in 1871. UPH has undergone an extensive and expensive renovation for nearly 10 years that continues to this day.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen faced an uphill battle when he proposed the city change its last call hour from 4 a.m. to 3 a.m. Despite consistent and organized protest from bar and restaurant owners over the last few months, the Saratoga Springs City Council voted 3-1 June 5 in favor of the resolution. This does not, however, change anything right away. After a ruling earlier this month from the State Liquor Authority determined any change to the city’s last call hour would have to be applied to the entire county, the proposal will now go before the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. If it passes there, the State Liquor Authority would then have the final say regarding last call in the county.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Once Saratoga Springs High School junior Ally Cirenza witnessed the dire reality of life for children in Uganda, she turned her heartbreak into determination. She is currently raising awareness of children suffering there and will be sending aid money soon by channeling proceeds raised from her upcoming fundraiser to the Saratoga-based The Giving Circle and the international organization AIDS Orphans Education Trust (AOET), groups both tied with Uganda.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) kicked off their summer concert season with a sold-out Zac Brown concert Friday, June 1, and with 22 other major performances on the calendar, the 2012 SPAC season is primed to become one for the record books.

This is it.
Come Saturday, June 9, around 6 p.m., I’ll Have Another will look to become just the 12th horse in the long history of North American Thoroughbred horse racing to win the Triple Crown if he can win the $1 million Belmont Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Hospital is bringing doctors to downtown Saratoga Springs, opening up a brand-new facility in the heart of the city to care for those who lack health insurance and are otherwise forced to wait in the hospital’s busy emergency room facility.