Month: May 2022

Exercise Yard At McGregor State Prison Will Be Utilized By Historic Grant Cottage

May 8, 2022

This residence is where President Ulysses S. Grant went to complete his memoirs.
Courtesy NYS Parks and Recreation

The former Mount McGregor State Correctional Facility’s four-acre exercise yard has been transferred to Grant Cottage State Historic Site,

The newly transferred land will accommodate new site amenities, including an outdoor pavilion for programs and events, accessible parking and historical interpretation of the original Hotel Balmoral, the first development on Mount McGregor.

The cottage, on the hotel grounds, was offered as a residence to President Ulysses S. Grant to complete his memoirs at the end of his life. Before his death in July 1885, Grant spent the last five weeks of his life at the cottage, writing his memoirs while battling cancer. The cottage, which has since been linked to the 18th president, became a historic site in 1890 and remains essentially the same as during his stay.

In April, to celebrate Grant’s 200th birthday and promote the opening of the 2022 season, State Parks and the Friends of Grant Cottage unveiled a National Historic Landmark plaque, which is inset into a boulder at the base of the flagpole in front of the cottage.

The site was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in January 2021, making it one of only 275 properties to receive the designation in New York state. National Historic Landmarks are historic properties that illustrate the heritage of the United States.

Business Briefs: May 2022

May 8, 2022

Franklin Community Center was awarded two grants in support of its low-income housing program. The building serves as a safe haven for individuals who may be faced with homelessness, living in substandard conditions or waiting for subsidized housing to become available.

It offers 17 single-occupancy efficiency apartments that serve as permanent, safe housing for low-income adults. The funding assistance will support needed improvements on the 35-year old building, located centrally in downtown Saratoga Springs.

The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation’s community development funding stream issued a grant in the amount of $11,500. The program also received an award of $3,000 from The Glens Falls Foundation in support of the on-going improvements.

These grants, plus an additional $3,000 from the Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund awarded in December of 2021, will help to fill a gap in financial resources for one of Franklin Community Center’s crucial key programs.

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The Saratoga County History Center is seeking vendors of handmade crafts, antiques and farm products for the annual craft fair on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

No mass-produced or commercially-made items will be permitted. Spaces are available outdoors, with limited spaces available indoors. This is a rain or shine event.

Contact Beth Silvestri for more information at (518) 885-4000 or bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org

Brookside Museum is located at 6 Charlton Street, Ballston Spa.

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State Grant Funds Will Help Grow Programs Along Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park

May 8, 2022

Part of the $3.4 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants announced by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will benefit the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park.

There will be 80 grants funded through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund and will leverage an additional $2.7 million in private and local funding to support projects that protect water quality and farmland, boost public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve open space. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with DEC.

“We applied for the grant under the Catalyst category”, said Margo Olson, executive director of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. “This category is for innovative partnerships and we reached out to Saratoga PLAN. It was a natural outgrowth of past collaborations with them and a great opportunity to further conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation in our community.”

The Preserve & Park’s unique partnership structure whereby they do not own the protected lands on which they operate, has allowed them to embrace their role as environmental educators and facilitators to the community’s outdoor recreational opportunities.

Over the past decade, WWPP has worked hard to develop a year-round program of both educational and recreational programming, offering activities to the public with a robust series of programs for local schools, summer programs, afterschool, and other groups in the area. These walks and programs take place on lands owned by DEC, the Town of Wilton, and Saratoga County; the partners of the Preserve & Park.

Saratoga Casino Hotel Owners Buy Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel In Mississippi

May 8, 2022

Located on the Mississippi River, Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel opened in 2012.
Courtesy Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel

Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC, owner of both Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs, and Saratoga Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colo., has entered into a definitive agreement with Casino Holding Investment Partners LLC to acquire Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel in Natchez, Miss., subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

“We are proud to add Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel to our portfolio of gaming assets and further diversify our business,” said Sam Gerrity, Saratoga Casino Holdings CEO. “We are committed to operating first class gaming facilities, and we do that by creating lasting relationships with our guests, team members and the communities that we serve. We look forward to welcoming Magnolia Bluffs guests and team to the Saratoga family.”

Located on the Mississippi River, Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel opened in 2012 and features over 450 slot machines, 14 table games, restaurant and bar, sportsbook and a 141-room hotel located off-site in the heart of the city.

“While this was an extremely tough decision for our partnership, it will truly leave our team and valued customers in the best hands possible,” said Kevin Preston, Partner and president of Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel. “Due to the long history we have here in Natchez, it was important for us to ensure we found the right company that has the same values and passion we do for the community and our team members here at Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel.

Wind-Chill Factory In Ballston Spa Offers Ice Cream, Food Off The Grill And Mini-Golf

May 8, 2022

Brandon and Keely Whalen of Wilton recently opened Wind-Chill Factory.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf

Husband and wife Brandon and Keely Whalen of Wilton recently opened Wind-Chill Factory, a seasonal ice cream, food, and miniature golf business at 3 Trieble Ave. in Ballston Spa.

The flagship location of Wind-Chill Factory was opened in Ticonderoga in 1996 by Brandon’s father, Bobby Porter. Brandon grew up working at Wind-Chill Factory. He met his future wife while they were classmates in high school. Keely’s parents, John and Roberta Cooper, own Frenchy’s, a roadside food and ice cream business in Crown Point in Essex County.

“They purchased it when I was two years old, so I literally was born and raised in the industry,” said Keely Whalen of Frenchy’s. “Brandon was also raised in the exact same kind of business. He worked there all through high school and up until he joined the Navy.”

The couple married in 2015 and lived for several years in Connecticut while Brandon was stationed there They relocated to the Capital Region in 2019 after he was reassigned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa where he serves as an instructor.

The Whalen’s have always dreamed of opening their own Wind-Chill Factory location.

“We’ve always said that we wanted to do that,” said Whalen. “Brandon’s getting out (of the Navy) in a year-and-a half, and we saw the place in Ballston Spa and decided to ask if the owner was open to selling.”

The business, Mr. Bill’s, was not for sale at the time. The owner made the decision to sell after being approached by the Whalens.

Before opening Wind-Chill Factory on April 7, they restored the miniature golf course with 18 new greens. They also purchased some new equipment and reconfigured the interior.

City Starts Construction Of Saratoga Greenbelt Trail That Will Run To Wilton

May 8, 2022

Construction has started on a portion of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail running through the High Rock section of Saratoga Springs. Officials say construction is expected to be completed by the fall.

Construction has started on the downtown portion of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail (SGT), a project that will provide an important connection between downtown Saratoga Springs and Wilton.

City of Saratoga Springs officials say the project will help cement the city’s status as a premier recreation and tourism destination.

Construction is expected to be completed by the fall. The portion of the trail in front of High Rock Park will be completed by the end of the May in an effort to cause the least disruption to the public’s use of the park, officials said.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of more bike paths in our city,” said Mayor Ron Kim. “The city, and in particular Tina Carton, administrator of Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation, and Sustainability, has worked hard over the past few years to make this happen. It is a testament to this hard work that this project has the enthusiastic support of so many in our community, including Sustainable Saratoga, Bikeatoga, and the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

“Getting this trail done on an expedited schedule and with minimal disruption to the neighborhood, including our Farmers’ Market, has been a priority of my office.”

Luther Forest Corp. Proposes A $60 Million Business Park In The Town Of Stillwater

May 8, 2022

This rendering shows the drive-up area to a business park being proposed by Luther Forest Corp. It would be located near the Luther Forest Tech Campus.
Courtesy Luther Forest Corp.

By Christine Graf

The history of Luther Forest Corp. dates back to the 1890s when Cailean Mackay’s Scottish ancestors began planting trees in Luther Forest. Sustainable timber harvesting was the company’s primary business until the 1980s, but forestry now generates just 50 percent of revenue.

Mackay, Luther Forest Corp.’s fifth-generation president, joined the family business in 2013. He is also general manager of Saratoga Lake Golf Club which was built by his father, Alec.

As part of the company’s diversification, Luther Forest Corp. has proposed the development of Luther Forest Business Park, a $60 million warehouse and business park in Stillwater.

If approved, it will be built on approximately 62 acres of land owned by the company. Luther Forest Corp. has owned the land for more than 100 years and currently uses it for forestry. In total, the company owns more than 3,000 acres of land.

“It’s going to be a mix of warehouse and office space,” said Mackay. “We like to call them business suites. They are mini warehouses.”

He said the 1,500-sqaure-feet suites are ideal for local contractors or others who have outgrown their equipment storage spaces. A total of 30 suites will be contained within two separate buildings. The site’s six additional buildings will contain warehouse space.

Common Roots Plans To Build A Second Structure With Restaurant, Brewing Spaces

May 8, 2022

Bert Weber, left, and son Christian Weber are expanding their Common Roots business.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Paul Post

A smile crossed Bert Weber’s face when a Cape Cod barkeep urged him to check out a new beer made by Common Roots of South Glens Falls.

“It’s really good, you should try it,” the tavern worker said.

Little did he know that Weber and his son, Christian, own the business, which is one of Saratoga County’s fastest-growing craft breweries. “It never gets old when we go to a spot we’ve never been to, walk in and there’s a Common Roots beer on tap,” Christian said.

The Webers have a $3.2 million expansion plan in the works.

Plans call for acquiring a two-acre parcel adjacent to the brewery, at 55 Saratoga Ave., and building a large facility for warehousing, storage, a separate farm-style brewery that will produce wild-mix fermentation beers, and a large restaurant capable of hosting special events such as weddings.

The owners said the project will free up more space in the existing building for additional brewing capacity. The Webers expect to increase production from 8,000 to 12,000 barrels per year. Several new tanks will be added to the main brewery this summer, allowing Common Roots to introduce more new beers, in smaller batches if needed, adding to its already extensive list of 90 different brews.

Construction Spending Slumps As Supply Chain, Labor Issues, Stymie Project Demand

May 8, 2022

Spending on most categories of nonresidential and multifamily construction declined from February to March as contractors struggled to find enough workers and get timely deliveries of materials, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released on May 2.

Association leaders urged Washington officials to end tariffs on construction materials and widen the opportunities for gaining the skills for rewarding careers in construction.

“Contractors continue to report strong demand for most types of structures, with few owners canceling or postponing planned projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But worker shortages and supply-chain problems, from lockdowns in China to the war in Ukraine, are slowing project completions.”

Veteran Sashmarie Crowley Started Health, Wellness Business In Franklin Square Space

May 8, 2022

Sashmarie Crowley has started Sasha’s of Saratoga located on Franklin Square.
Courtesy Sasha’s of Saratoga

By Jill Nagy

Sachmarie Crowley, a board certified family nurse practitioner, operates Sasha’s of Saratoga, a practice she said is “a care center, not strictly a business.”

Her aim is to help people “stay well and age well,” she said.

Sasha’s offers an eclectic range of services including vitamin injections, botox treatments, spider vein removal, intravenous hydration, chronic disease consultations, and certifications for medical marijuana. She does not offer routine medical care.

Crowley was born in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, but has lived in Saratoga Springs since 2008. She spent 15 years in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman, roughly equivalent to a nurse. While in the Navy, she also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Sage Colleges. Upon her discharge from the Navy in 2016, she practiced part-time before opening a full-time office at 2 Franklin Square in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Crowley is assisted by two part-time nurses. She collaborates, at times, with local physicians.

Some of her clients are referred by a primary care physician or medical specialist. Others are word-of-mouth referrals from other clients, and a few find her through Google, she said.

Among her services is providing consultations with patients suffering from chronic conditions.