The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau hired Kelly Boucher as director of convention services.
Boucher’s primary role will be to work directly with meeting and event planners to ensure a strong Saratoga meeting, conference or convention experience.
The Saratoga Builders Association Inc. announced the recipient of its 2016 Student Scholarship Award is Brian McKeighan of Gansevoort.
McKeighan is a senior at South Glens Falls High School and a member of the National Honors Society. He will be attending SUNY Delhi to study construction management this coming fall.
The Saratoga Builders Association makes this $1000 student scholarship award available annually to high school seniors who are planning to pursue a construction industry education.
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The TCT Federal Credit Union announced the recipients of its 2016 academic scholarships.
Four $750 scholarships were awarded to Lillian Snyder (Cambridge High School), Sydney Potter (Shenendehowa High School), Lynn Edwards (Queensbury High School) and Mara Bureau (Queensbury High School).
Each year, TCT awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are TCT members, have displayed outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements and demonstrated an awareness of the “people helping people” credit union philosophy. Applicants are judged by representatives of the New York Credit Union Association located in Albany.
Students interested in applying should look for 2017 scholarship applications to become available this fall at any of the TCT Federal Credit Union’s four branch locations located in: Ballston Spa, Cambridge, Clifton Park and Queensbury. For more information, visit a TCT branch or www.tctfcu.org.
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Members of Sackatoga Stable LLC presented in May a $7,500 donation to Old Friends at Cabin Creek, a Saratoga County thoroughbred retirement home located in Greenfield Center.
The donation stems from the group’s belief that a passion for horse racing should be accompanied by a promise make sure horses have a safe and dignified home where they can live a full life off the track.
Formed in 2006 by Knowlton and co-founder Ed Mitzen, Sackatoga Stable LLC was created for investors who wish to enter a horse racing partnership. The group is dedicated to providing investors with an enjoyable racing experience and the potential for achieving financial success through purchasing quality horses, with the added commitment to contributing to nonprofit organizations that benefit all aspects of the sport.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center is embarking on a $5 million capital campaign its board of directors announced in May.
The board also elected two new members, Sonny Bonacio and Richard Higgins, both residents of Saratoga Springs. Leaders in their professions and in the Capital Region community, Bonacio and Higgins will fill vacancies created by outgoing directors Ed Mitzen and Nancy Toohey. Both served SPAC for nine seasons.
SPAC President and Executive Director Marcia J. White said the arts center is launching the public phase of its inaugural 50th anniversary capital campaign to raise funds needed to support SPAC’s future.
Noting that the “next 50 years are as important as SPAC’s founding 50 years,” White said over $4 million of the $5 million target has already been raised during the campaign’s silent phase. The goal during this next public phase will be to meet or exceed the fundraising target of $1 million in order to reach at least $5 million.
“In this milestone 50th anniversary season, we pay tribute to SPAC’s founders who achieved a goal of monumental proportions when they created SPAC,” said White. “Their vision was extraordinary and powerful. It motivated them to push past innumerable obstacles and financial hurdles to create a magnificent, open-air venue in the heart of the Saratoga Spa State Park. Without them, we wouldn’t be here today.”
“However, SPAC’s story and its financial needs are ongoing. Keeping SPAC strong and growing over the next five decades depends on a new generation of founders–our founders of the future,” White said.
She noted that funding for nonprofit performing arts centers is increasingly competitive and that ticket sales from classical programs cover only 40 percent of expenses. Each performance of the New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra costs approximately $180,000 to present.
A total of 57 donors, including 100 percent board participation, had contributed over $4 million to the campaign at varying levels by mid-May, including a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, she said. Donors have the option of directing a gift to one of three categories: programming, capital improvements or SPAC’s endowment fund. Donors can also choose not to restrict their gift to one area, and instead allow SPAC to direct their gift to the area of greatest need.
Circus Smirkus returns to the outdoor polo field at Saratoga Casino Hotel for four performances this summer.
The performances on July 8 and 9 will benefit the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs.
The Circus Smirkus 2016 Big Top Tour will perform at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on both days.
The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs first brought Circus Smirkus to Saratoga in 2007 as a fundraising and outreach event.
Saratoga Casino and Raceway has changed its brand for the property. It announced on April 27 it will now be called the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The change took place immediately, in advance of the anticipated opening of its new 117-room hotel expansion.
Officials said the brand change reflects the casino’s transformation into a comprehensive, modern destination that offers something for everyone.
“The addition of the hotel and its amenities, including Morton’s The Steakhouse, creates an entertainment experience unmatched in the region,” said Rita Cox, senior vice president of marketing at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “Our new brand is a product of this transformation, highlighting that we are a complete entertainment destination within the already world famous tourist destination that is Saratoga Springs. First-time and repeat guests alike will find new reasons to visit, and to keep coming back, for all that we have to offer.”
The $40 million, 123,000-square-foot hotel is set to open in July, officials said.
Featuring 117 luxury rooms and suites, the hotel will be located just steps away from the casino floor and harness track. The hotel’s premium rooms and suites are named after the raceway’s founders and longtime President, Roland Harriman, Dunbar Bostwick, and Ernest Morris. Suites feature large bay windows, and many overlook the harness track. Additionally, guests will be able to watch and wager on live harness racing from every room in the hotel.
Courtesy Clean Energy Collective
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), state Department of Public Service (DPS), EnterSolar and Clean Energy Collective (CEC) began a collaborative project in April involving construction of the first Shared Renewables community solar project in New York state.
The project is taking place in Halfmoon.
State officials said the project advances the goals of the state’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system by helping to make clean energy a possible choice for more residents.
The success of REV depends on communities taking charge of their own energy as New York increases the growth of electricity generation at customer sites to supplement power generated at central power plants, NYSERDA officials said.
The announcement was made at the groundbreaking for the project April 27 in Halfmoon.
The Halfmoon Community Solar Project will feed solar energy to the grid operated by New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) and will allow more than 100 residential customers in NYSEG’s Capital Region territory (parts of Columbia, Essex, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties), including low-income residents, to participate in local clean power generation and save money on their electricity bills.
Courtesy Saratoga Automobile Museum
The board of trustees of the Saratoga Automobile Museum appointed Jim Letts, CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA for the past 12 years, as the museum’s new executive director,.
“While serving as the CEO, Jim has had amazing success, growing the Y’s membership from 6,900 to 26,900, while raising many millions of dollars through capital campaigns to support and expand the Y’s facilities and activities,” said Anthony Ianniello, board chairman. “We think he is a perfect fit for our extremely active, rapidly growing museum and are thrilled to have him on board”
One of the factors in Letts coming to the museum was his interest in its nationally recognized distracted driving program, museum officials said.
©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Maureen Werther
Stephanie Siracusa is trading in her real estate career for a new pair of heels–to be exact, a whole store full of them.
Her new shoe store, Stephanie Anne’s, opened in the Saratoga Marketplace, 454 Broadway, on the main level, in between Pangea and Mango Tree. Siracusa offers a wide assortment of shoes, boots and sandals that will appeal to women who love shoes.
“I’ve thought about opening either a clothing or a shoe store for years,” said Siracusa. She is originally from Dallas and lived for several years in New York City as well. When she moved to Delmar, the Shoe Depot in Saratoga became her “go to” store for shoes. “When they closed, it left a gaping hole in the market,” she said.
When Siracusa moved from Delmar to Saratoga Springs a few years ago, her plan was to either sell real estate or open a shop. She stuck to that plan and worked with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services on Broadway.
But, the lure of opening her own retail store was strong and, after a couple of years as a realtor, she decided to make the career change.
©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
After years of being in the home decor business, Cathy Carollo said she knew it was time to find a space that could accommodate both her growing business and her growing dream.
Carollo has been helping clients with curtains, carpets, and home décor for 22 years. She bought the popular Curtain Exchange of Saratoga in 2002 in the former fire department building at 543 Broadway.
To account for expansion, she moved recently to larger space and created Curtain and Carpet Concepts at 46 Marion Ave., in the shopping area that has Fresh Markets, Smashburgers and other commercial ventures, behind the Hamlets housing project.
“I have been in business in Saratoga, in the oriental rug and carpet end, for 22 years, beginning with Jacobsen Orientals, then with Stockade Orientals as a third-generation rug dealer,” said Carollo.
©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Liz Witbeck
Vischer Ferry General Store, owned and operated by Louise McManus and Anouk Booneman, features retail space as well as a café open for breakfast and lunch.
The store, at 357 Riverview Road, Rexford, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22.
“People have been thrilled,” said McManus, who opened the store in December. “They want a place to eat and to walk to. Some people even come in twice a day.”
McManus worked at the bridal shop Lily Saratoga for 10 years and also worked as a jewelry designer before opening the business. She brings to Vischer Ferry General Store her knowledge of the retail industry and is responsible for purchasing items for that portion of the store.
“My inspiration is trying to carry unique things that nobody else carries,” said McManus. “I am very inspired by nature. I love the nature preserve that we have here. Many of our items are tied to nature in some way. We also have a lot of books, history related items, and local items.”
Some of McManus’ favorite items at the shop include the jewelry line by Alex Monroe. The line features nature-inspired pieces, such as rabbits and birds. Another favorite is Library of Flowers, a bath and body line featuring lotions, perfumes, soaps, candles, oils, bubble bath, shower gels, and more.