6.25.2013
A Soroptimist Global Initiative Grant has been
given to Loisaba Community Conservation Foundation (LCCF), an American 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit organization that serves the Ewaso community located in the Laikipia Valley in Kenya, 100 miles north of Nairobi. LCCF will use the
awarded funds to provide computer and Internet access to the Ewaso Primary School’s 425+ students and teachers,
which will increase that community’s educational opportunities and awareness of
world news.
The grant will help supply secure, dust-free space
for the computers; a computer technician; and training and support for Ewaso teachers.
Many of the teachers live several hours away from their family and friends, so Internet
access will provide a higher quality of life for the staff, allowing the
teachers better contact with loved ones.
Ewaso Primary School students have been
exchanging letters with Maple Avenue Middle School and Scotia-Glenville Middle School students for the past
six years. This ongoing program has greatly enriched the writing and
communication skills of the students in both Kenya and the United States, as well as given the
children a unique firsthand experience with different cultures. Once the projected
Internet connection is in place, the schools’ hope is to institute Skype
sessions between the pen pals. This program is possible due to the time, effort
and support of local teachers Joan McDonough and Alexis Marquis; the Ewaso Primary School teachers; and their respective
administrations.
Through LCCF’s efforts, funds are provided to
employ elementary school teachers; build housing for students and teachers; construct
new classrooms; create a dining hall; provide for a physician’s assistant and a
nurse for the Ewaso community; and sponsor scholarships for high school,
college and professional students. The organization recently received news that
one of their first scholarship students has graduated from medical school and
will be returning to the region to practice medicine. Also due to LCCF’s sponsorship,
the first female student from Ewaso has been accepted into medical school. To
date, LCCF has sponsored more than 50 secondary, college and university
students, as well as provided teachers, classrooms and supplies for more than
1,000 primary school students and given services to nursery school children as
well.
LCCF also offers support for conservation and
animal husbandry, and has just joined a local rapid-response antipoaching
campaign to support efforts to stop the slaughter of rhinoceroses and elephants.
LCCF information can be found at
www.LoisabaCCF.org.
--Jennie
6.24.2013
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announces Ireland trip
This year, the Saratoga Race Track will be celebrating the 150th year of racing in Saratoga Springs. The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce 2013 Annual International Travel Trip has been organized to tie into this year of celebrating racing.
The 2013 trip is a 10-day adventure to Ireland
November 2-11. Travelers will experience and visit some of the ways the Emerald
Isle and Saratoga County
are connected through the thoroughbred industry. Participants will take a
tour of the famous Curragh Racecourse in County
Kildare, and will also visit some
of the most important stud farms in the world, including the Coolmore Stud Farm
and the Irish National Stud Farm.
The
thoroughbred industry is only a part of all the sites and stops the group tour
will make. The trip will include other cultural must-sees, and free time will allow
for personal excursions, rounds of golf and shopping.
The cost for members is $2,999 and includes
airfare, deluxe accommodations, many meals and the entrance fees to the
sites. This price is guaranteed
through July 15; reservations after that date will be subject to
availability.
Please
contact Kathleen Fyfe for more information at kfyfe@saratoga.org.
--Jennie
Former Good Times Lakeview Restaurant will open as Villago in September; boat launch open now
The former Good Times Lakeview Restaurant at 175
Lake Rd. in Ballston Lake, taken over by the owners of Village Pizzeria and
Ristorante at 2727 Rte. 29 in East Galway, is under renovation, with an
anticipated opening date in September.
The
new eatery's name is Villago, pronounced "Veelago," according to Village
Pizzeria owner Sandra Foster.
“The
building and grounds needed a lot of attention, so that was first on our
agenda,” she said. “It is a beautiful spot that needed fresh, new ideas, and we
are all onboard with the project.
“The new menu will be an abbreviated but similar
version of our Village Pizzeria menu,” she continued. “Then we’ll see exactly
what the people in the area request.”
Foster’s family opened Village Pizzeria and
Ristorante in 1988. Featuring northern Italian cuisine and an award-winning
wine cellar, the eatery offers diners a pairing of food and wine “that
tantalizes the taste buds.”
The family educates and informs customers with regular wine tastings and other charitable social gatherings that often revolve around a love of wine.
The family educates and informs customers with regular wine tastings and other charitable social gatherings that often revolve around a love of wine.
The boat launch at Villago is open now, as the workers
there have the key.
--Jennie
6.22.2013
Lifestyles restyled
The belle of Saratoga’s downtown retail world is turning over a new leaf. Lifestyles, at the coveted corner of Caroline Street and Broadway, has changed hands, and Saratogians can expect some distinct changes within.
After 21 years, Lifestyles has a new owner: Heidi
West, a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, fashion buyer and
merchandiser. If West looks familiar, that’s because she was a fixture in the
shop when her mother, Kay Owen, owned and operated the boutique before her.
“Heidi was always the major player behind the
scenes as a manager and as a buyer,” Owen said. “Now for me, it was time to
pursue some new opportunities.”
West said, “It felt like synchronicity, taking the
reins of Lifestyles. It’s a place that for me that feels like home, and I have
great things in mind to give the store a fresh face.”
The store will be the same place with fresh space,
West said. She will retain all the tried and true brands that have become
staples of the Lifestyles customer.
“We are the only Saratoga boutique that carries
Eileen Fisher, Michael Stars, Silver jeans and many other brands,” she said.
“We will continue to carry those lines; they’re not going anywhere.”
Expect to see new and emerging designers, however,
and touches like an array of Butter London nail colors, body products from
Library of Flowers, and an expanded dress and jewelry department. West travels
to New York City and Boston at least once a month, applying her critical eye
toward identifying trends for her customers.
West is a lifelong active member of the community.
She is a 1984 Saratoga Springs High School graduate who moved back with her
husband to raise her sons. She has also been a founding member and active
supporter of the Double H Ranch Partners. She is the vice president of the
Saratoga Rowing Association, and has been an integral part of the growth and
success of that association, as well as being a master rower.
“There is a real spirit of Saratoga I try to bring
to my store--it’s history with an urban sensibility,” West said.
She; her
husband Bob of Old Saratoga Restorations; and Donna Talley, a designer for
“Better Homes and Gardens,” worked together to update the space with new
displays, an expansive new sales counter and redesigned dressing rooms. The
space is airy and bright with exposed brick and flooded with natural light. The
new layout gives the shop an open feel with a vista of visuals.
“I think it’s easier now for our customers to see
the merchandise,” West said. “People have been asking me if we raised the
ceiling because it appears so much larger inside now.”
On July 18, West will host an open house from 6
p.m. to 9 p.m. with live swing jazz by The Hot Club of Saratoga, as well as
swag bags, a $100 Eileen Fisher gift card raffle, “lite bites” to eat,
Lifestyles’ signature cocktail and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. And though she
has less time to devote to her former nonprofit work, she will be doing
something a little extra for The Double H Ranch.
“Don’t call it a grand reopening because I feel
like I’ve always been a part of Lifestyles,” West said. “Call it a new
beginning.”
Join West and friends July 18 at Lifestyles,
436 Broadway. For more information, call 584-4665 or visit
www.lifestylesofsaratoga.com.
--Jennie
6.18.2013
Strata opens in place of the former 51 Front Wine Bar and Bistro
The Ballston Spa Business and Professional
Association (BSBPA), and Mayor John Romano will be celebrating the relaunch of
popular Ballston Spa restaurant 51 Front Wine Bar and Bistro as Strata. The
well-known eatery at 51 Front St.,
Ballston Spa, is owned by Joe and Elena Marosek, who are transitioning the menu
to feature small-plate items as well as entrées reflecting the owners'
Mediterranean roots.
BSBPA, established 30 years ago, is a nonprofit
organization committed to making the Village
of Ballston Spa a better place to
live and work, and to bringing quality arts and entertainment events for all
ages to the community. More information can be found at www.ballston.org.
--Jennie
Ballston Spa National Bank holds renovation celebration at Greenfield Center office
Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB) hosted a ribbon-cutting
ceremony today at the bank’s Greenfield
Center office at 3060 Rt. 9N. The occasion
marked the completion of recent renovations at this location, and the start of
a celebration that featured refreshments and a token gift for customers. In
keeping with the refurbishment theme, special offers for home improvement
loans, home equity lines of credit, mortgage loans and other bank services will
be available to the public through mid-July.
The Greenfield
Center office is one of five BSNB
locations to undergo renovations this year. Originally opened in 1991, the
location now offers an updated look and an enhanced banking experience.
“BSNB has been a proud member of the Greenfield
Center community for some 22
years,” said Christopher R. Dowd, BSNB’s president and CEO. “With this
investment, we hope to build on the strong relationships we have established
over the years, and to enhance the service and support we provide to our
customers.”
Renovations were also recently completed at the
bank’s Stillwater, Malta
and Galway Offices. A renovation celebration at the Milton Crest Office begins
this week as well.
With the right combination of personal service and
high-tech convenience, BSNB offers a wide range of products and services to
individuals, families, municipalities, nonprofits and businesses. Offices are
located in Ballston Spa, Milton, Galway,
Stillwater, Burnt Hills, Clifton
Park, Malta, Greenfield
Center and Wilton.
See http://www.bsnb.com www.facebook.com/YourBSNB and www.twitter.com/BSNB.
--Jennie
6.14.2013
Hattie’s throws 75th anniversary party
Hattie’s Restaurant at 45
Phila St. will celebrate 75 years in business with
an anniversary party Saturday, June 15, from 11
a.m. to 4 p.m. The
offerings will include a $1.38 menu, 50-cent draft beers and great drink
specials. Hattie’s famous fried chicken will be among the items served on the
$1.38 menu.
“We were looking for a fun and unique way to pay
homage to the year 1938, which is when the restaurant opened, and we came up
with the $1.38 menu,” said chef and co-owner Jasper Alexander. “It’s our way to
thank the community that has supported us all these years.”
A commemorative Hattie’s Magazine will be launched
that day and will be available for guests to take home as a keepsake. Hattie’s
has an insert highlighting the employees who have been with the eatery the
longest. Two employees who have been there the longest will be honored that
day: Ernest Waters, who has been at Hattie’s for 35 years, and Annette
Vanderwater, who has been there 18 years.
“It was so much fun putting together all the
photos, and reliving the stories of Hattie’s past and present,” said co-owner
Beth Alexander.
Mayor Scott Johnson will be on hand to make a
proclamation at the event.
Entertainment for the party will be provided by
Hot Club of Saratoga, a gypsy swing jazz band playing music from the 1930s to
the early ’50s.
No reservations necessary. Call 584-4790 for more
details.
Hattie’s Restaurant is open for dinner seven days
a week from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday brunch is served
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hattie’s Chicken Shack in Wilton
is open seven days a week from 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. The Alexanders also
operate Hattie’s Track Shack at the Saratoga Race Course.
Hattie’s Restaurant has achieved national
recognition with features in “The New York Times,” “Gourmet Magazine,” “Food
and Wine,” and other prominent publications. In 2006, Hattie’s was featured on
the Food Networks’ “Throwdown!” with Bobby Flay.
See www.hattiesrestaurant.com and
www.hattieschickenshacks.com.
--Jennie
6.13.2013
Lola Accessory Boutique opens in downtown Saratoga
An official ribbon-cutting recently marked the addition of Lola
Accessory Boutique at 454 Broadway to the Spa
City’s historic shopping district.
The shop features high-quality products without a high price tag, and is
intended to be Saratoga's
destination boutique for trend jewelry, small leather goods, scarves and hats. This
will be a one-stop shop for reasonably priced trend accessories.
With an average price point less than $50, Lola’s
inventory includes Echo scarves and hats, Emi-Jay hair accessories, Gorjana
jewelry, Kenneth J. Lane
jewelry, R. J. Graziano jewelry, San Diego Hat Co. products and Vismaya
scarves, as well as many private-label jewelry vendors. The store targets the
fashion-savvy and price-conscious customer.
Lola is owned and managed by Capital Region native
Megan Druckman, who spent the past seven years working at Bloomingdale's New
York City department stores as a buyer and planner in
accessories and women’s contemporary ready-to-wear items. She has worked with
some of the most high-profile and highly admired executives in the fashion
industry.
“Because of the connections I developed at Bloomingdale’s, I am able to offer the most compelling assortment of fashion accessories at competitive prices,” said the Cohoes resident.
“Because of the connections I developed at Bloomingdale’s, I am able to offer the most compelling assortment of fashion accessories at competitive prices,” said the Cohoes resident.
For more information, see www.shop-lola.com.
--Jennie
Gluten-Free Burgers and Beers dinner coming to 50 South restaurant
Celebrate National Beer Month with a true
gluten-free beer as another local restaurant attains Gluten-Free Resource
Education and Awareness Training (GREAT) Kitchens status. The Glens
Falls and Saratoga Celiac Support Group, Kim
Klopstock's Fifty South Restaurant and Bar, and Amy Rota-Poulin are teaming up
for the First-Ever Gluten-Free Burgers and Beers Dinner. This four-course
all-inclusive dinner will take place at Fifty South on Tuesday, June 18,
beginning at 6 p.m., and will feature
New Planet Beer, a true 100 percent gluten-free beer. The dinner is $45 per
person.
“The First-Ever Gluten-Free Burgers and Beers
Dinner at Fifty South will be a fabulous night that will delight your senses,” said
Amy Rota-Poulin, a local gluten-free expert and the only affiliate of the National
Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) GREAT Kitchens gluten-free training
program in upstate New York. “Kim Klopstock is simply amazing. She features so
many local products and has always offered gluten-free dining. You can order
with confidence, and know your meal will be prepared by a chef and a staff who
have been properly educated to provide gluten-free alternatives in a safe
gluten-free environment.”
The four-course dinner’s main course features
three different burgers:
- A Longlesson Farm burger of grass-fed and antibiotic-free beef served on a Saratoga gluten-free roll with fried onion straws , local cheddar cheese, local smoked bacon or pork belly (depending on availability) with grace cheese, and house-made barbeque sauce.
- A pan-seared tuna burger, served on a Saratoga gluten-free roll with an Asian slaw.
- A gourmet vegetable burger with local chevre served on a Saratoga gluten-free roll with potato skins.
Each course will be accompanied by the following
100 percent gluten-free New Planet
Beers:
- Course 1, or the welcome, will feature the Blonde Ale, both light and refreshing, which offers bright notes of honey and a subtle floral aroma with a crisp clean finish
- Course 2, or the appetizer, will feature the Raspberry Ale, a delightfully drinkable ale that offers a crisp yet complex balance of subtle fruit flavor and aroma with a zesty, citrusy finish, brewed with natural raspberry puree and orange peel.
- Course 3, or the main course, will feature New Planet Beer’s Pale Ale, reminiscent of a classic American Pale Ale, offering bold hop character, and rich caramel and grapefruit notes with a clean yet distinctly hoppy finish.
- Course 4, or the dessert, will feature an exclusive tasting of New Planet’s latest Brown Ale, brewed with coffee and organic cocoa, and unavailable in any market served by New Planet Beer until late September.
The evening will also feature a presentation by Rota-Poulin
regarding the important aspects of cross-contamination.
“I like the educational component of being a farm-to-table
restaurant,” Klopstock said. “We are dedicated to making good wholesome
food affordable and delicious by using only the finest and freshest
ingredients. We strive to use fair-trade, organic and biodynamically
farmed sustainable products wherever possible, while leaving as small an
environmental footprint as we can. We never use trans fats or monosodium glutamate. We use only heart-healthy
canola oil and fresh unsalted butter. So the gluten-free aspect was fairly
easy for us since our food, by nature, is clean and simple.”
Make your reservations in advance by calling Fifty South at 884-2926. The restaurant is located at 2128
Doubleday Ave. in Ballston Spa.
--Jennie
6.12.2013
KidzArt programs come to Saratoga County
Introduced to the Capital District in 2008,
KidzArt, an international art enrichment program for all ages, will now be
serving students from Averill Park
to Saratoga Springs through three
franchise units. KidzArt is a portable art program that brings certified
instructors and all materials to schools, camps, clubs, recreation programs or
other requested locations.
The growing interest and expansive geographic
territory will be covered through three separate operations. The Saratoga
County class locations vary,
currently including Chango Elementary
School, Arongen
Elementary School, King of Kings
Lutheran Church, Charlton Heights
and Saratoga Independent
School.
KidzArt provides drawing-based instruction for
students of all ages, including adult classes. The program offers a creative
outlet that encourages self-expression, creativity and right-brain thinking in
a safe and relaxing environment. New curriculum is constantly being developed
so students will never repeat a project.
In addition to after-school art programs, KidzArt
offers classes for preschoolers, teens, adults and senior citizens. Parks and
recreation programs, PTA fundraisers, birthday parties and in-school field
trips are also available. Summer camps with different themes will be offered
for children age 4 to 12 beginning the week of July 15 through August 23 at
various locations.
Megan Klein, the owner of the new Saratoga County
KidzArt, is a New York state certified
K-12 special education teacher whose children have attended KidzArt classes
since 2009. She will be serving Ballston
Lake, Burnt Hills, Clifton
Park and Saratoga.
"We're excited to fulfill the growing need
for after-school art enrichment and art instruction for students of all ages,”
Klein said. “Individually, our franchises will continue to offer quality art
programs and be better-equipped to serve the growing number of students,
families, schools and partners with whom we work."
Founded in 1998, KidzArt/Art Innovators is an
international art enrichment franchise company that helps art students from 2
to 102 explore their inner artistic potential. Through after-school
classes, camps, birthday parties and fundraisers, KidzArt offers a diverse,
multicultural, multimedia drawing and fine arts curriculum. KidzArt's "no
mistakes" philosophy encourages students to try new things, explore their
creativity, and overcome their inhibitions or obstacles in order to grow and
learn. The Palette Up Art Soirees are art instruction parties for adults that
combine art with fun, relaxation and socializing. No art experience is needed.
Franchising since July 2002, KidzArt now has
franchised units throughout the United States, Canada, China, India, Indonesia,
Malta, the Middle East, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
To enroll in a local class or camp, or to find
more information about KidzArt programs, contact Saratoga County KidzArt at 280-1052
or www.saratoga.kidzart.com. For the main company, call 800-379-8302 or visit www.kidzart.com.
To find out more about the KidzArt franchise opportunities in the local market,
contact Joel Lazarovitz at 888-813-2287 or Joel@kidzart.com.
--Jennie
6.11.2013
Fitness Artist studio opens on Henry Street
Fitness Artist at 35 Henry St. will hold its grand opening Saturday, June 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be raffles, healthy refreshments and tours of the new studio.
Fitness Artist takes an innovative approach to fitness, focusing on both body and mind. Self-improvement goes beyond cardiovascular exercise and weight training. When the body and the mind are in balance, the possibilities are endless. As this balance strengthens, so does your quality of life.
Call 573-9569 or visit www.fitness-artist.com/.
--Jennie
6.05.2013
Saratoga Learning Center holds open house
June 7 from 3 p.m.
to 8 p.m. and June 8 from 8 a.m. to noon,
Saratoga Learning
Center will hold an open house at 120
West Ave., Ste. 103. Find out about the SAT Prep
individual classes being offered this summer, starting July 2 through August 31.
Featured enrichment classes include Animated Filmmaking, Electrical
Engineering, The History of Physics, and How to Write Your College Essay.
Saratoga
Learning Center
offers professional tutoring to help students improve their homework, grades
and academic standing. Tutors can also help students transition to the next
level at school. Adult learners can receive assistance with reading and math
skills. In all cases, Saratoga Learning
Center strives to instill lifelong
learning skills.
Call owner Susan Kiley at 450-1538 or visit www.saratogalearningcenter.com.
--Jennie
6.03.2013
Ballston Spa National Bank completes Galway branch renovations
Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB) has completed renovations at its Galway office at 5091 Sacandaga Rd. In keeping with the renovation theme, special offers for home improvement loans, home equity lines of credit, mortgage loans and other bank services will be available to the public through mid-July.
The Galway office is one of five BSNB locations to
undergo renovations this year. Originally opened in 1974, the location now
offers the safety and convenience of a drive-through ATM, an updated look and
an enhanced banking experience.
“BSNB has
been a proud member of the Galway
community for some 39 years,” said Christopher R. Dowd, BSNB president and CEO.
“With this investment, we hope to build on the strong relationships we have
established over the years, and to enhance the service and support we provide
to our customers.”
Renovation
celebrations at the Malta, Stillwater, Greenfield Center and Milton Crest offices are scheduled for
this month.
With a
combination of personal service and high-tech convenience, BSNB offers a wide
range of products and services to individuals, families, municipalities, nonprofits
and businesses. Offices are located in Ballston Spa, Milton, Galway, Stillwater, Burnt Hills, Clifton Park, Malta, Greenfield Center and Wilton. BSNB’s Web site can be found at http://www.bsnb.com. To become part of BSNB’s
online community, visit www.facebook.com/YourBSNB
or www.twitter.com/BSNB.
--Jennie
Saratoga Chamber launches online petition asking Amtrak to allow bikes on certain trains
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce has launched an online petition that urges Amtrak President Joe Boardman to permit bikes on trains between New York City and Canada.
The Saratoga Chamber and others along the various
Amtrak rail lines between New York City
and Canada have
for years been seeking Amtrak's cooperation with this effort. The goal is to
provide upstate communities with a new and environmentally friendly way to
promote themselves as tourist destinations to the millions of people that are
connected by the passenger rail lines between New York
City and Canada,
such as the 10 million people living in the city and in Montreal.
The chamber's Vice President for Tourism Annamaria Bellantoni was recently in New
York City’s Penn Station for the NY by Rail Expo,
promoting train travel to Saratoga
and handing out information about this petition.
County and local elected officials along with a
wide range of nonprofit organizations across Saratoga
County and beyond have been working
diligently for years to create outstanding hiking and cycling trails to attract
visitors and tourists as well as for the benefit of area residents. The City of
Saratoga Springs, for instance, has
created the Spring Run Trail and the Railroad Run Trail, which will soon link
directly to new trails in the Saratoga
Spa State Park.
The city eventually hopes to have a 20+ mile greenbelt trail in and around Saratoga
that will connect with trails across Saratoga
County in Moreau, Wilton,
Malta, Ballston Spa, Halfmoon, Schuylerville, Mechanicville, Milton
and Clifton Park.
"Lakes to Locks Passage encourages travelers
to use many modes of transportation--biking, boating, hiking and riding the
train,” said Janet Kennedy, executive director
of Lakes to Locks Passage. “Amtrak baggage cars for bikes will make the
region a destination for bicyclists, a proven market to showcase local culture
and heritage, and support our local businesses and services."
Saratoga
County Chamber of Commerce members offer an online petition to sign and share with
friends, neighbors, coworkers, employees and everyone else who supports
this effort: https://www.change.org/petitions/tell-amtrak-president-joe-boardman-to-allow-bikes-on-trains-between-new-york-city-and-canada.
--Jennie