By Stephen Kyne, CFP
At the end of March Congress passed the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, which is a $2.2 Trillion life support bill to help the economy survive the duration of the government-imposed shutdown.
While the bill is extremely wide-ranging, and many provisions may not apply to you, there are some items in the Act which you should at least be aware of.
Saratoga Raceway’s 79th season of live harness racing is underway at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Coupled with the 2020 racing season is the unveiling of the SaratogaBets Simulcast Center, a new trackside venue offering carrel seating, self-service and live teller wagering options, in addition to bar and food service at Diamond Jim’s.
This season the casino will look to build on the success of last year’s performance, officials said, where all-source handle exceeded $48 million and the Saratoga Harness simulcast signal was broadcast to over 400 outlets worldwide.
Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) the new performance center in Saratoga Springs, opened on Feb. 29 before a sellout crowd that was entertained by singer-songwriter Roseanne Cash.
While the renovation and construction is not quite complete, it is finished enough to begin a season that already includes well known acts from across musical genres, and also standup comedians.
The transformation from 19th century High Victorian Gothic church to a 700-seat, state-of-the-art performance facility was long and expensive, but worthwhile, officials said.
The opening of UPH, at 25 Washington St., capped a $13.5 million effort by community members to turn the church building into a performance space. Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly helped cut the ceremonial ribbon before the concert.
“When we saw it was possible to open on a Leap Day, we leapt,” said Philip Morris, CEO of the Proctors Collaborative in Schenectady, of which UPH is a subsidiary, during a new conference before the concert.
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
A new sushi restaurant has opened in Malta at 2452 Route 9.
Briana Lin opened Azuma Sushi Bistro in February. Lin, her family and business partners also own and operate Kobe Hibachi, Yang’s Asian Bistro and T-Swirl Japanese Crepe, all in Latham.
“My family has been in the restaurant business for over 30 years,” said Lin. “My other businesses have done very well and my friends kept telling me I should open a sushi restaurant in the Malta area because there was nothing like it around.”
SUNY Empire State College and SUNY Adirondack Community College have approved a phase-one agreement for five joint-admissions degrees in business and management at SUNY Empire’s Saratoga Springs campus.
Under the agreement, SUNY Adirondack students will benefit from increased access to SUNY Empire’s campus in Saratoga Springs, where they can matriculate in bachelor’s and eventually graduate programs in a convenient location upon completing their degree at SUNY Adirondack.
While SUNY Empire has shared space on other college campuses around New York state—including Alfred State College, Cayuga Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, SUNY Adirondack, and SUNY Plattsburgh—this is the first time in its nearly 50-year history that SUNY Empire will host a fellow SUNY institution, creating greater opportunity for Saratoga residents to earn associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees close to home.
Chaz Wilson has opened New Finish Sealcoating in Glens Falls. A native of the Glens Falls area, Wilson is the owner of Pack-it-in Dumpsters.
New Finish Sealcoating will serve the area including Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Schroon Lake, Saratoga Springs, and Clifton Park.
He said the sealcoating company will follow in the same footsteps as his dumpster company.
“Folks in Glens Falls can trust that New Finish Sealcoating will deliver the same ethical, reliable service that they’re already familiar with from Pack-It-In Dumpsters,” Wilson said.
“As a business owner, my number-one priority has always been customer experience and satisfaction. That’s why local customers voted for me in the Readers’ Choice Awards in 2018 [Post-Star newspaper]. And it’s why they can confidently trust me to carry on that tradition and deliver exceptional blacktop sealcoating at competitive rates.”
By Jennifer Farnsworth
The Soundbar at 8 Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs is a new venue for people to unwind on the weekends.
Marketing director for the new dance club Brian Miller said he and owner Joshua Loucks are striving to create a place that mirrors the atmosphere of a good party.
“When we thought about how we wanted Soundbar to be different from The Reserve (the space’s previous incarnation), this is the type of scene we pictured. A place with great music that reaches across a target crowd of about 35 to 55, providing something for everybody. Everyone has fun at weddings, so why not create that same feeling, that same type of fun,” said Miller.
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery is under new ownership as long-time owners Ronald, Gilbert and Vince DeLucia exit the business.
Brothers David, Eric and Gregory Mohr purchased the business and some surrounding properties in December. The Mohr family, comprised of seven siblings, holds an expansive commercial portfolio in the Capital Region.
“We started in 2012, taking over Mohr’s Service Center in Saratoga Springs after our father passed away,” said David Mohr. “We also own the Mobil gas station on that corner, as well as a car wash nearby.”
Saratoga Arts has announced that its executive director, Dr. Joel Reed, will be retiring at the end of March.
Reed was appointed to his current position at Saratoga Arts, then known as the Saratoga County Arts Council, when its founder Dee Sarno retired in January 2007.
Reed began working for the organization in June 2003 as its associate director after moving to the Saratoga Springs area from Syracuse.
The Saratoga Arts board of directors is engaged in a search for its next director. More information about the position and how to apply can be found at www.saratoga-arts.org/join-our-team.
Board member Meaghan Golden, principal of MGolden Design + Photo and the co-founder of the Women’s Art Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, will serve as interim director from April until the search is completed and a new executive director has settled in.
Gail Purdy Brophy, 77, an outstanding area athlete and successful business woman, passed away at Saratoga Hospital on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Born on July 31, 1942, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Purdy, and sister to the late Anne Bliss. She was married to James “Bud” Brophy for 28 years, until he passed away at age 79 in 1998.
She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Brophy Magnus and Kristen (Brandan) Greczkowski. Five grandchildren, Sydney and Zayda Greczkowski, Evan, Kayla and Emily Magnus. Three nieces, Linda (Adrian) Stone, Laura (Dave) Borst, and Debra Apple.