By Jennifer Farnsworth
A new Stewart’s Shop has opened on Route 9 in Clifton Park. The 3,700-square-foot shop has a massive pumpkin out front and the company is asking customers to guess its weight by Oct. 19 to win a prize.
“A giant pumpkin was delivered the first week in October. Customers can guess the weight for a $100 My Money card to stock up on all their favorite fall flavors,” said Stewart’s Public Relations Specialist Erica Komoroske.
Stewart’s purchased the property at 1740 Route 9 from Clifton Park Hotel Associates LLC, owners of the Residence Inn by Marriott for $630,000. They are also planning to open six more locations, bringing their store count to 343.
“There were a lot of considerations when choosing this location. The resident and business growth in Clifton Park were key, along with the traffic north-south of Route 9. We didn’t have a shop to serve the southbound traffic. This shop fills that void,” she said.

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) successfully concluded its 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course without interruption and with all-sources handle topping $700 million for the second consecutive year, officials said.
The meet was conducted without spectators and with only a limited number of essential personnel, horsemen and owners on-site due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NYRA said all-sources handle for the 2020 summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sept. 3 that casinos are able to reopen on Sept. 9 if they have enhanced air filtration systems and with capacity capped at 25 percent.
Masks and social distancing are required. There are no table games or beverage service on the gaming floor, state officials said.
Casinos in New York, many of which are regulated by the state, have been in the dark about when they would be allowed to reopen. New York took its time to make the announcement as health officials tracked what was happening at casinos that have reopened in other parts of the country.
Upstate’s four state-regulated casinos, including Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, and video lottery terminal parlors, such as Saratoga Casino Hotel, have been closed since mid-March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Due to public health and safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Showcase of Homes tour event was cancelled. But the Saratoga Builders Association is planning to film a one-hour Showcase TV special that will air this fall.
It will include interviews, tours, and more, as we celebrate our areas finest builders, homes and developments. It will also provide a way for you to contribute to our two important and extraordinary local charities which normally benefit from ticket sales, organizers said. The show is currently in production.
The broadcast will be hosted by CBS-6 news anchor Liz Bishop and air exclusively on WRGB Channel 6.
The 12 builders being featured are: Beechwood Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, Caruso Home Builders, Degraff-Bloom Custom Builders, Heritage Custom Builders, Kodiak Construction, McPadden Builders, The Earth Source Company, The West Saratoga Condos, Whitbeck Construction & Witt Construction.

State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras has named SUNY Empire State College Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Operating Officer Beth Berlin as officer-in-charge at SUNY Empire State following Malatras’ appointment as SUNY chancellor.
Working with senior leadership at SUNY Empire, Berlin will continue the work begun under President Malatras to reform and streamline the college’s operations to enhance the student experience, increase access to higher education for more students, raise the public profile of the college, and build a solid financial foundation for future growth, college officials said.The SUNY Empire College Council will begin planning a presidential search immediately.
Berlin brings extensive experience in education leadership, having served since 2013 as executive deputy commissioner of NYSED, before being named interim commissioner in 2019.