The fifth annual Saratoga Balloon and BBQ Festival returns to the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa in June.

Organizers said there are two important differences in 2018. The festival will no longer be held on Father’s Day Weekend, instead moving to June 22-24. 

 Also, the name of the festival was changed. It was formerly the Saratoga Balloon and Craft Festival.

After four successful years, event organizers said they wanted to create a bigger and better event. 

“We needed to diversify and add non-balloon related components,” said Tim Cianciola of Craftproducers, one of the organizers.

Creatacor Inc., an exhibit design, fabrication and trade show management provider, has created a 144-panel, 8,000-pound mobile version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, called “The Wall That Heals.”

Made of solid surface material and at 75 percent scale of the wall in Washington, D.C., the replica is now the largest in existence, according to the company. The wall exhibit is now touring the country.

“We are truly honored to be tasked with a sentimental and important project, an exhibit of our nation’s and world’s history, for the public to view closer to home,” said Will Farmer, COO of Creatacor. “We know these updates to the mobile education center and creation of the largest mobile replica of The Wall yet will be impactful for all who have served in the military and who have an opportunity to visit the exhibition this year.”

A program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), The Wall That Heals tours the country from coast-to-coast via a 53-foot trailer that also serves as a mobile Education Center. Visitors will be able to further engage with The Wall That Heals by viewing artifacts, memorabilia left at the memorial wall in D.C. and photos of fallen service members.

A new fan experience area will debut in July at Saratoga Race Course.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) said its improvement project in the grandstand is “designed to create an enhanced hospitality area for racing fans and revitalize the section of the grandstand near the Top of the Stretch.”

The new area is called The Stretch and marks the first significant enhancement to the structure since the mid-1960s.

The Stretch is an all-new private hospitality area featuring “modern and upscale amenities in a casual environment with breathtaking views of thoroughbreds rounding the final turn as they enter the dramatic stretch run,” NYRA said in a news release.

Highlights of the area include three types of boxes available in multiple configurations, a high-end raised circular bar, touchscreen tablets and premium reserved seating. Additionally, The Stretch will offer guests exclusive access to a full-service kitchen and concessions, high-definition televisions and video screens, special events, table service, and private restrooms. There will be “a relaxed dress code.”

Todd Garofano, president of the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, is stepping down from the position in April.

Garofano is leaving to pursue other interests outside of the industry. His last day will be Friday, April 6.

Cindy Hollowood, general manager of the Holiday Inn and chairperson of the board of directors of the convention bureau,  said “We are grateful to have someone of Todd’s caliber at the helm for such an extended time. Not only did he grow our convention business by leaps and bounds, he has a terrific sales team in place to insure continued prosperity. He is well known and regarded throughout the northeast in meetings and convention circles and undoubtedly will be a hard act to follow. On behalf of the board, we wish him every success.”

A search committee was formed, led by Megan Hennessey, general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott and at-large Executive Committee member of the board of directors.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Esperanto, a restaurant on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs, has for years made the DoughBoy, a popular quick-grab snack, a feature of its varied menu.

This dough, about the size of a hotdog on a bun, filled with chicken, cheese and scallions, can now be found in Stewart’s Shops across the region. The agreement to supply DoughBoys to the well-known store chain, has sparked the need for Esperanto to expand.

Esperanto has been working non-stop to keep up with the new demand, and owner Will Pouch is pleased to make as many doughboys as their fans desire.

“People love them, and we are happy to make them,” said Pouch.

Pouch said he was thinking about approaching Stewart’s, but they came to him first with the idea of making DoughBoys available for a quick “grab and go” type food item at their stores. They started off in a Saratoga store in late October, where they sold immediately. They are now being sold at 23 different Stewart’s shops across the Capital District, with additional locations in college towns like Plattsburgh and Potsdam.

“We have always found a huge success with college kids, so it made sense to go to those areas,” said Pouch.

One of the region’s ophthalmology and optometry practices has joined Saratoga Hospital’s multispecialty medical group.

As of Jan. 1, Eye Care Specialists became Saratoga Hospital Medical Group-Eye Care.

Drs. Thomas Francomano, Mark Verra and Enrique Yepes-Hoyos remain in practice together in the new group. They are seeing patients on Saratoga Hospital’s Wilton Campus, in newly renovated offices on the second floor of Saratoga Surgery Center.

“For decades, our community and our hospital have benefited from the skill, expertise and compassion of these doctors,” said Dr. David Mastrianni, senior vice president, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group. “Bringing them on board the hospital medical group cements our already strong relationship and ensures that our region has continued access to the highest quality eye care.”

By Rachel Phillips

With the start of 2018 comes new year’s resolutions, and the GYM, which opened on Dec. 18, is ready to help people meet their fitness goals.

The GYM located in South Glens Falls since 2014. The popularity and success caused the business to outgrow its space. Now located at 762 Upper Glen St. in the Queensbury Shopping Plaza, the new, 7,300-square-foot facility offers members a larger facility, new equipment and an athletic trainer, T.J. Harrington, who once worked with the then-Anaheim Angels professional baseball team, and a physical therapist, Adam Lewis.

Unlike a standard gym, where members are left to work out independently, the GYM operates more like a training facility. When members first sign up, they receive an assessment, wherein a trainer determines what their personal fitness goals are and helps them set a schedule in order to achieve them.

From there, members are carefully supervised and attended by a professional trainer, who assures they’re utilizing the proper techniques in their workouts.

By Maureen Werther

Real estate developer Rich Schermerhorn Jr. is nearing completion of his latest residential community located at 147 Harrison Ave. Extension in Moreau.

Harrison Quarry will offer three-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhomes with attached one-car garages, patios, natural gas, air conditioning and all maintenance included in the $1,400-$1,500 price range, he said.

In total, 116 townhomes will be built.

Schermerhorn said construction will be completed by June 1 and the units are already 65 percent rented.

The units are approximately 1,750 square feet and offer a range of amenities, including spacious kitchens with ample cabinet space, self-cleaning ovens and frost-free refrigerators, custom blinds throughout and carpeting. There is also 24-hour maintenance staff and snow removal.