The Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, New York, broke ground on Circle H Lodge, a new residential lodge for camp staff and volunteers, in late September. Double H Ranch launched its public phase of a $5.5 million capital campaign project in March 2023 to support four areas of focus: the new Residential Lodge, Adaptive Playground, Outdoor Pavilion expansion, and Camp-A-Theater. Backed unanimously by its Board of Directors, the Double H Ranch has secured $5.3 million of its goal.

Dave Michaels, Chair of the Facilities Committee, stated: “It is exciting to be here today breaking ground at the new Circle H Lodge. Double H makes a profound difference in the lives of our campers year-round, and our staff team and volunteers work hard to make the program possible.  This new lodge will provide our counselors and volunteers with a place to recharge and rest, helping them to be the best they can be for our campers.  This new cabin will offer year-round housing, build program capacity, and enhance energy efficiency, and will offer common rooms for meeting and gathering.”

Charlie Crew, Board Chair, stated: “Thank you to all our donors who have collectively contributed 5.3 million towards our campaign. Double H campers look forward all year to experiencing the life changing impact of camp, and they will benefit from these capital improvements for years to come.”

This is the Ranch’s second Capital Campaign endeavor led by Lisa and Robert Moser, who launched the campaign with a $1.5 million leadership gift. “Double H Ranch wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. We are grateful for the individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations that have provided generous funding in the initial stage of our campaign. We are inspired by the progress we have made and look forward to meeting our campaign goal in 2023 with the help from our community,” state the Moser’s.

By Jill Nagy

There was such a large crowd at the October 27 opening of the AllTown Fresh market in Fort Edward,” that “it was very difficult to move,” exulted Holly Kitchen, manager of the new market. There was a state senator, two town supervisors, president of the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, the local radio station, many company officers, several chefs, and, of course, the neighbors, “a fantastic turnout,” Kitchen said.

After the ribbon-cutting, party goers sampled the food, visited a coffee trailer, played games, and toured the new shop. 

The store is located at 1401 Saratoga Road (Route 9) between South Glens Falls and Gansevoort.

AllTown features chef-run kitchens, preparing sandwiches, salads, and full meals, made with organic, locally sourced foods and ingredients. They offer vegan and gluten-free selections. The markets are open around the clock, with the kitchen open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Available beverages include beer as well as coffee and soft drinks. There is free wifi on the premises and outdoor patio seating. Another big draw, according to Kitchen, is “fantastic gas prices.”  .

This is the third AllTown Fresh market in the area, the 16th overall for the parent company, Massachusetts-based Great Global Village. The first capital region outlet opened in Schenectady three years ago. The company’s first market opened in Plymouth MA five years ago. 

The general contractor for this AllTown, and well as the other two local AllTown Fresh outlets, was Schaghticote-based F.H.Alexander Inc. 

By Paul Post

 Common Roots Brewing Company, best-known for its popular craft beer and ale, now helps people start their day right by serving up fresh coffee, roasted on site, and a selection of  tasty breakfast sandwiches.
The Café, open 7 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, is located in the firm’s spacious new multi-purpose building, which Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado christened during recent ribbon cutting ceremonies.

 “We started roasting our own coffee because it’s an important ingredient for some of our beers like our Coffee Cup stout,” said Bert Weber, who co-owns Common Roots with his son, Christian. “It became kind of a progression after that. While we’re making coffee we thought it might be a nice way to introduce the public to this space. So we have a lot of people coming in now for coffee and an egg sandwich or breakfast burrito. It’s exposing the space to people who might see it as a nice place to have a celebration or party.”

 The new building, called Bierhall & Barrel House, is on the south side of Common Roots’ restaurant and brewery, at 58 Saratoga Avenue in South Glens Falls.

 The $3.6 million structure, aided by $450,000 in state economic development funding, can accommodate up to 200 people and has already hosted a wedding and a travel program about a local adventurer’s trek to the Himalayas in Nepal.

By Ann Donnelly

Chef Christian Raeth, originally from Erlangen in the Bavarian region of Germany, is looking forward to the opening of his new restaurant, Spargel on Nine, later this month. As the name suggests, the restaurant is located at 925 Route 9 in Queensbury, in the former location of Outback Steakhouse and, more recently, 40 Oak.

“While this is my first time owning a restaurant,” says Raeth, “The vision of what we are trying to accomplish has been clear to me for decades. It has always been my dream.

Raeth started his culinary training with an aprenticeship in his native Germany in 1984 and has worked in some of the top restaurants in Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland. In 1991, Raeth came to the USA, where his sister had relocated, and found a position at the Albany Country Club, where he worked for four years until he returned to Germany.  

After his father died in 2000, Raeth returned to New York State to stay. He worked in fine dining in country clubs and restaurants like Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park, Fort William Henry in Lake George, and Pumpernickle’s in Bolton Landing. For the last 13 years, Raeth spent most of his time out of the kitchen, working in sales for Sysco, the world’s largest wholesale food distributor.

Saratoga County has partnered with Discover Saratoga (Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau), a prominent player in the tourism industry, in a collaboration that officials hope will redefine the travel experience for visitors and locals alike in Saratoga County.

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution naming Discover Saratoga as the county’s official tourism promotion agency at its September meeting. 

Discover Saratoga will assume the duties for the county beginning Jan. 1.

The resolution also authorizes Discover Saratoga to register as the county’s tourism promotion agency with the Empire State Development Corp. and apply for an I Love New York grant for 2024.

“The partnership between Saratoga County and Discover Saratoga aims to enhance the overall tourism ecosystem in the county. With a shared commitment to promoting the unique cultural, historical, and natural attractions of Saratoga County, this collaboration will bring about a wealth of benefits for tourists and the local community,” said a statement from the county board.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded GlobalFoundries a new 10-year contract for a supply of securely manufactured, U.S.-made semiconductors for use across a wide range of critical aerospace and defense applications. 

With an initial award of $17.3 million tin September and an overall 10-year spending ceiling of $3.1 billion, the new contract provides the Department of Defense and its contractors with access to GlobalFoundries’ semiconductor technologies manufactured at its U.S. facilities. 

GlobalFoundries also announced it is seeking federal funding to expand its ability to produce semiconductors and modernize its U.S. facilities, including its property in Malta.

The GlobalFoundries facilities in Malta are Department of Defense-accredited to the highest security level, Trusted Supplier Category 1A, which implements proven stringent security measures to protect sensitive information and manufacture chips with the highest levels of integrity to ensure they are uncompromised. 

In addition to secure chip manufacturing for Department of Defense systems used on land, air, sea, and in space, the new contract provides the Department of Defense and its contractors with access to GlobalFoundries’ robust design ecosystem, IP libraries, early-access to new technologies in development, quick and efficient prototyping, and full-scale volume manufacturing. 

The Saratoga New Year’s Fest will be back for its second year with a full holiday weekend of entertainment and celebration leading into the new year.

The multi-venue, weekend-long festival, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 29, through Monday, Jan. 1, is anticipated to be bigger and better with additional venues, expanded programming and outstanding talent, event officials said.

Headlining this year’s lineup are seven-time Grammy nominee Joan Osborne, who made her way onto the Billboard charts in the mid-1990s with her hit single “One of Us,” along with fellow Grammy nominee Robert Randolph bringing his blues, rock and gospel sound to the Spa City. Country bluegrass band The Gibson Brothers, a nationally touring act with roots in upstate New York, will also perform.

Also slated to perform as part of the Saratoga New Year’s Fest are Dogs in a Pile, Organ Fairchild, Tracy Bonham, Toubab Krewe, Ward Hayden & the Outliers, GA-20, DJ Logic, The Swing Docs and more to be announced.  

In addition to the many indoor live performances happening at venues throughout downtown Saratoga Springs, this year’s festival will include a free family, family-friendly concert at 5 p.m. and a fireworks display at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at Ellsworth Jones Place outside of the Saratoga Springs City Center. 

By Christine Graf

Christine Hernandez is the new owner of The Broadway Grind at 493 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The Long Island native is also the owner of Allo Saratoga, a business that opened at 25 Lawrence St. in November 2021.

“Allo has an indoor play space for children, and in addition to open play, we have classes for kids as well as workshops for parents, childbirth education classes, and new parenting groups,” said Hernandez. “I always wanted to own a coffee shop, and when I saw that Broadway Grind was for sale, I realized it was the perfect opportunity to marry the two businesses. I can walk between the two spots, and I’m pretty hands-on at each business.”

The Broadway Grind seats 25 and has a patio and sidewalk permit. Since taking over ownership of the coffee shop in July, Hernandez has been focused on growing the business. “We already have some collaborations lined up,” she said. “We have some events planned for after hours. We have a cookie and coffee event with Scotia Sweets and an event with the Norwegian Candle Co. We also plan on doing more collaborations,” she said. Hernandez also hopes to partner with local food businesses to host what she describes as pop-up dinner residencies at The Broadway Grind.

By Paul Post

Greg Connors has deep roots in Saratoga County, which makes him a good fit for growing its multifaceted economy with strong manufacturing, retail, hospitality, tourism and agricultural sectors.

After 10 years at GlobalFoundries, he took over as Saratoga Economic Development Corporation’s chief executive and president on Sept. 5.

A former Stillwater town supervisor, he was instrumental in creation of Luther Forest Technology Campus where GlobalFoundries is located. He was responsible for GlobalFoundries’ government relations in New York and Vermont where the company has a large manufacturing facility in Essex Junction near Burlington.

“I interacted with governors, legislators, regulators, regional and local governments in both states,” Connors said. “I think I took them as far as I could. It was simply time for a change. My main goal here at SEDC is to be more collaborative and cooperative with community and business stakeholders and economic developers throughout the county and Capital Region. I want to work with our staff and board of directors to enhance the image of SEDC going forward, and continue the work done by this organization over the last 40 years, which has had great success during that time.”

Connors succeeds Dennis Brobston, who retired Dec. 31 after 14 years at the agency.

Prior to joining GlobalFoundries, Connors was a real estate broker and appraiser for many years, and is a past president of the New York State Association of Realtors.

His family owns and operates The Connors Agency LLC, in Mechanicville, an insurance, real estate and financial services company started by his father 65 years ago and now run by Connors’ siblings. His wife and brother operate the more than century old Matrazzo Florist shop in Mechanicville.