Marissa Gonzalez
Bonacio Buys Stark's Auto
Photo by Marissa Gonzalez
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sonny Bonacio, proprietor of Bonacio Construction Inc., has acquired Stark’s Auto located at 62-64 Excelsior Ave. The property closed on May 25.
As previously reported, Starks Auto has been a business in Saratoga Springs for 60 years and was one of the first auto repair shops in the area. Sidney Stark, former owner of Stark's Auto has been a friendly familiar face in the Saratoga community for just as long.
According to county records, RR Depot, LLC located at 18 Division St., is the grantee of the property. Bonacio Construction Inc. is located at this address.
The commercial space that was built in 1957, formerly Stark’s Auto, consisted of a repair shop and a neighboring auto supply store.
“The company is working with several potential tenants to determine a new use for the space,” Larry Novik, the director of business development at Bonacio Construction Inc., said.
Bonacio also constructed the Empire Run apartments at 130 Excelsior Ave. which is located down the road from Stark's Auto.
The square footage of the entire property is approximately 24,394 feet while the building has 6,000 square feet. The full market value of the property is $486,376.81, Bonacio acquired it for $450,000, according to the Saratoga County Online Assessment Roll System (OARS).
KPM Restoration Ribbon Cutting
Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kennedy Property Management (KPM) Restoration has been serving the greater Capital Region for over six years and now has a new office in Saratoga Springs that opened in early January.
Upon moving to Saratoga Springs, James Kennedy, proprietor of KPM, began simply cutting grass for banks, but over time this business grew. Starting as just a one-man-show, KPM now has around 50 employees and took over the property preservation field. From grass cuts to interior and exterior work, KPM can deal with every aspect a foreclosure would need.
Other services KPM Restoration provides includes basementrehabs,roofreplacement, water migration, trash outs, drywall and interior construction.
For information call 518-862-8228 or visit https://kpmrestoration.com.
Local Organization Helps Fire Victims Immediately 'After the Fire'
Photo provided.
HALFMOON — This local organization is helping house fire victims as soon as the fire department is called.
After the Fire, Inc is a non- profit organization run solely by local volunteers that come to the victims’ aid with both resources and emotional support as the emergency is occurring. Their motto is “fire does not discriminate.”
While After the Fire, Inc is based out of Halfmoon, members will respond to fire emergencies across Saratoga County. The organization is alerted with a page sent from Fire Control dispatchers (911), and members closest to the scene will show up with personal hygiene items, as well as a donated night in a hotel. Members will respond regardless of the time to help these victims.
Maureen Smith, is the current Vice President of After the Fire, Inc and does a lot of the behind-the-scenes work. Since the organization is a non-profit, it operates on grants, written by Smith, personal donations and fundraising. The organization also gives a $100 gift card to each family member affected by the fire. Just last year the organization spent almost $14,000.
“Last year we got hit hard. Several apartment buildings were hit and we’d show up and have to have 15 to 20 gift cards,” Smith said.
Smith is from Saratoga and has been a member for around five years. She first heard about After the Fire through an ad in the local Moneysaver.
“I was at a point in my life and just wanted to join something and volunteer my time to help people,” Smith said.
Most recently, After the Fire, Inc helped the Broadbent family of Malta. On May 2 a house fire claimed the life of one family member and sent five others to the hospital. All the children in the family were adopted and some suffer from profound disabilities.
“That was a really hard one,” Smith said. “So we tried to go a little above what we usually do... We stayed with them longer but I think every family, if there are little kids involved, we do try to provide blankets, books and stuffed animals to make it a little easier for them,” she added.
After the Fire, Inc was formed in 1991 by ladies’ auxiliary members from Halfmoon and Clifton Park areas that felt fire victims needed tremendous help after the fire was put out and the fire trucks were gone.
The organization will be holding their 5th annual “Not Too Far From Home Comedy Show” on November 10 at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs. Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month; the meeting is next June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Halfmoon Town Hall.
To find out how you can help After the Fire, Inc visit afterthefire.org or call 518-435-4571.
Flag Day Parade
Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On June 9, Broadway will be the site of the 51st Annual Flag Day Parade, hosted by the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161.
This year’s parade will take place on June 9 and celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and focus on the contributions all Elk Lodges make to their communities. Area District Lodges have been encouraged to display themes including veterans, American-ism, drug awareness, youth activities, senior outreach, participation in food pantries and backpack programs, scholarship programs, and the New York State Elks Major Project is cerebral palsy.
Entertainment includes high school and local bands, the Schenectady Pipe Band, musical singing groups, riders on horseback, pony-drawn carriages, and numerous large trucks and military entries. Rounding out the line-up is a very special performance by the 150-member Avant Garde Alumni Drum Corps. Well-known from the 70’s, Avant Garde was the perennial New York State Champions, capturing the International Drum Corps Championship title five years in a row. In addition, a video of the parade will be shown during the 2018 Elks Grand Lodge Convention in San Antonio, in July.
Spectators will find plenty of entertainment for all ages, with high school and local bands, the legendary favorite Schenectady Pipe Band, musical singing groups, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Youth Sports groups, local and military organizations, riders on horseback, pony-drawn carriages, and numerous large trucks and military entries.
Susan Waghorn, Exalted Ruler and Chairperson of this year’s parade, announced retired Lt. Col. Nicholas Laiacona, Vietnam Veteran, as this year’s Honorary Grand Marshal, and Old Timer of the Year. Past District Deputy to the Grand Exalted Ruler Patrick Mansfield is the Grand Marshal.
The parade begins on North Broadway at Noon and finishes at Congress Park. For more information contact 518-584-2585.
Cantina Opens at New Broadway Location
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Cantina’s new spot on 408 Broadway is open for business as of June 4.
The Mexican restaurant has moved to a new location that was previously home to Lillian’s Restaurant, which closed in 2016. According to Heath Ames, co-owner of Cantina, it was bought by a non-restaurateur in 2016 and was completely gutted but nothing further continued.
“It was great, it went super smoothly, we couldn’t be happier,” Heath Ames said about Cantina’s first night open at the new location.
“It was great to see so many familiar faces, we feel the excitement so we are really grateful,” she added.
Heath Ames co-owns Cantina with her husband Jeff Ames. The two opened up Cantina’s first location at 430 Broadway in 2007.
“Truth be told, we always looked at this spot,” Ames said.
“We loved our location always, we thought it was one of the best parts of Broadway but this was awfully close to us and we always thought that this is the other best spot on Broadway; So the opportunity came to us over last summer and we jumped at it and we've been working on it ever since,” she added.
According to Ames both she and her husband chose not advertise the opening of the new location.
“We are working hard to keep it the same Cantina, we keep calling Cantina 2.0, just a bigger, better, and faster version of it," Ames said.
You may notice in passing that there is a second floor. This space will be used as an event and catering space. Both Heath and Jeff Ames hope to open this portion in roughly six months. The windows on this floor, facing Broadway, are actually doors that will open.
“You will feel like your outdoors, it’s almost kind of a balcony type of feel," Ames said.
Bonacio Construction was tapped to remodel the property last fall according to Ames.
“It’s a small town so, of course we know the Bonacio’s and they were an easy choice because they’re so professional and they are known for being timely… We had all kinds of reasons to want to work with them,” she said.
“They know how to put a building on Broadway, that’s for sure,” she added.
Ames teased that the pair hope to add a rooftop patio to Cantina but professed that these are very tentative dates.
Cantina’s new location also means some new menu items including the Aguachile Rojo, which is made with shrimp, a grilled octopus dish and chocolate tacos made with a Kilwin’s waffle-cone. A New cocktail recommended by Ames is called La Borracha, which is made with gin and hibiscus-infused pisco.
Chronicling Luther Forest’s History
Photo by Larry Goodwin.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Luther Forest and the entities that followed, spans close to 120 years. In honor of this milestone the Mackay family has teamed up with local historian Field Horne to document its history.
“Our father found Field or Field found my father and the project began. It’s really interesting to see it written down. Although it is in draft form still, the memoir is important to our family and to the community,” Marissa Mackay said.
“It’s a large chunk of this area’s history and the choices that were made by our predecessors had a huge impact on the evolution of this area,” she added.
The Mackay family is a family of entrepreneurs and were pioneers in the sustainable forest management movement.
“The thought of looking to the future, spanning the five generations, starting with our Great-Great Grandfather Tom C. Luther and his acquisition of land over time, planting of millions and millions of trees that to this day his family enjoys and manages sustainably,” Mackay said.
“There are some things that have been uncovered that are new in this archival documentation but in all honesty, we must have always just spoken of it often... The documents and photos came mostly from our storage here at the office or at our Grandmother’s house,” she said.
According to Mackay, her family saves everything especially when it has to do with work.
“It has been on the ‘to do list’ so to speak, to have the files put in safe storage,” she added.
Mackay and her older brother Cailean Mackay took over for their father three years ago. Cailean also currently manages Saratoga Lake Golf Club, which was built by their father Alec Mackay and opened in 2000, while Marissa manages Saratoga Water Company and the siblings come together for the forest.
“The water company was created to service the development that our Grandfather, Bill Mackay began and our father, Al Mackay completed,” Mackay said.
What’s next for the family? “That is a loaded question,” Mackay said.
“Luther Forest, the simple answer is diversify while maintaining a strong hold on where we come from, meaning our forestry background and sound management of the property,” Mackay added
As for the water company, it continues to see growth of about 3 percent annually, according to Mackay.
“We have a lot of capital improvements on the horizon. In the next month we will have out permanent backup supply service to Global online. In the next year, we will oversee at least two water main extensions, a well pump upgrade and begin the process to integrate another 250K storage to our Fox Wander Facility as well as do a significant upgrade to the controls in that facility,” Mackay said.
Both Marissa and Cailean hope to have a similar, lasting and positive impact during their time at the forest.
Saratoga County Safety Building Update
Photo provided.
BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County is expecting to accept bids on the $32 million public safety building in late June.
According to Deputy Commissioner Thomas Speziale, bid documents for five prime contracts are expected to be released for public bid soon. The building is still in final design.
The facility will be located adjacent to the Sheriff's Department/County Correctional Facility at 6010 County Farm Road in Ballston Spa and is approximately 62,000 square-feet.
According to Deputy County Administrator Chad Cooke, the prospect of a new public safety building to bring together many of the County’s departments due to space limitations was conceived over 10 years ago. The County’s limited space at that time has been stretched even thinner over the last decade as the County’s population has grown and, with it, additional services and growth of the County’s workforce.
The original project progressed through preliminary engineering but was eventually shelved due to growing financial obligations, at that time, to maintain the County’s nursing home, Maplewood Manor, which has since been sold.
Departments that are expected to occupy the new facility include the Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, Public Health Services, Emergency Services, Dispatch/Communications and shared space.
The County has budgeted $32 million for the proposed project and it is considered budget neutral. The County had debt service that expired in 2017 for a previously completed capital project, which totaled $1.9 million in yearly expenses. It is anticipated that debt service for the new facility will be approximately $1.6 million per year.
Marissa Gonzalez was a contributing writer to this story.
Moreau Sewer Expansion Update
Photo provided.
MOREAU — The town of Moreau plans on moving forward with the $16 million sewer expansion.
The map, plan and report were prepared by the Laberge Group showing boundaries of the proposed extension, the project justifications and the cost estimates, according to meeting minutes. The Laberge Group is the approved engineering company in charge of the project. The planned sewer extension will be at the commercial corridor of County Route 9 and consists of 553 acres. Moreau Town Supervisor, Todd Kusnierz hopes that the sewer line will encourage economic development in the area.
According to Kusnierz the town on of Moreau is next on the list of towns that are rapidly growing in the area, but there was some pushback from town residents. He also stated that the longer they put off the expansion, the more it will cost and added that the board had worked diligently with the engineering firm to address most of the issues that were raised, according to meeting minutes.
“One of the greatest concerns that was highlighted during the public hearing was that landowners would be forced to sell their homes because they would not be able to afford the annual cost of the sewer infrastructure in some cases,” stated in a town meeting on May 22.
“This board does not want to force anybody out of their home because they can’t afford to stay here.SoIamgoingtosuggest,with feedback from the board, we’ll be able to come to a conclusion on how best to move forward; That wepulltheresidentialclassesout ofthemap,planandreport,and ask the engineers to update the map plan and report, provide it back to the board for review, and schedule another public hearing,” the board member went on to say.
The Method of financing the cost of the expansion consists of the issuance of $12 million in serial bonds from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), maturing in annual installments over a period not exceeding 30 years and grant funding through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant program in the amount of $4 million, totaling $16 Million, according to meeting minutes.
Marissa Gonzalez was a contributing writer to this story.
Impressions of Saratoga Announces Opening of The Dark Horse Mercantile
Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Dark Horse Mercantile, a new store coming to 445 Broadway in late June, is the brainchild of Marianne Barker, her husband Dave, and Maddy Zanetti, all of Impressions of Saratoga.
The Dark Horse Mercantile started out as a brand called The Dark Horse, launched by the three in 2014. Items in the brand included a specific line of high-end gifts, memorabilia and garments that embrace Saratoga’s history and love of horses, and of course the Dark Horse. The phrase “The Dark Horse” was coined in 1831 by Benjamin Disraeli in his book called “The Young Duke” and is often used in politics, sports and life. The phrase especially rings true to the history of Saratoga as it is known as the “the Graveyard of Champions.” Saratoga is the site where the legendary racehorse Man o’ War was defeated by an underdog named Upset in 1919 and most recently in 2015 when favorite American Pharoah came in second to Keen Ice.
These underdogs inspired the expansion of The Dark Horse brand. In fact, Zanetti even wrote a children’s book about Upset.
“It’s a spin on the true story that’s all about believing in yourself and overcoming the odds even if you’re the underdog,” Zanetti said.
The book is illustrated by local artist, Gretchen Tisch and expected to come out when The Dark Horse Mercantile opens as well.
“A month ago we would not be thinking that we would be sitting here talking about this,” Barker said. “I just believe in fate and things happening when they should,” she added.
"We’ve been really happy with how The Dark Horse brand has grown and is getting a following... Mare and I have been considering doing a store at some point, but we never had a timeline or anything,” Zanetti added.
Less than a month ago the two were walking their dogs on Broadway, which you may see in Impressions of Saratoga fairly often, and passed a space for rent.
“The next day, we were like ‘we should just do it!’” Zanetti said. So they did. The store will feature a full range of high quality gifts, sportswear, memorabilia and items for the home branded with the Dark Horse logo. The service and attention to detail you have become accustomed to at Impressions of Saratoga for the past 40 years will continue at this new location.
This year Impressions of Saratoga celebrates its 40th anniversary.
“So it’s fitting that we start another project,” Barker said.
Barker and Zanetti go way back.
“Maddy, I’ve known since she was tiny. She used to come in and spend her hard earned dollars on Breyer Horses... another one just after my own heart... just loves horses,” Barker said.
Zanetti has been working at Impressions of Saratoga since 2005 and in 2011, after graduating college, showed interest in one day owning her own business.
“So we were at the point where we were starting to think about the future and succession planning; we had a conversation and Maddy was definitely interested,” Barker said.
“It’s a business that we poured our hearts and soul into forever but it’s just great to know that it could go for another 40 or more years,” Barker said. “It’s really important to us to keep that history going,” she added.
Mother & Son Light Up Congress Park
Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Spirit of Life Sculpture of the Trask Memorial in Congress Park may look a little different to park- goers at night thanks to a mother and son, and their strong bond.
The Spencer Trask Memorial in Congress Park, that features the Spirit of Life sculpture, is certainly a site to see especially since it is now lit at night. It was something that members of the Spirit of Life and Spencer Trask Memorial Restoration Committee had wanted to do as well as the Commissioner of Public Works Skip Scirocco. Unfortunately after fundraising efforts and an extensive four-year restoration ending in 2015, the funds were not available.
In 2015 Saratoga Springs resident, Andrea DeAngelis, was also going through a particularly hard time in her own life; a breast cancer diagnosis. She and her son, Anthony Potter, would frequent Congress Park for a nightly walk. On these walks DeAngelis would always remark on how unfortunate it was that the sculpture couldn’t be seen at night.
Flash-forward to January 2018 Potter was getting married and had the perfect idea for a wedding gift for his mother. Potter called Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and asked if it was possible to make a contribution to have the Spirit of Life lit with spotlights.
“This was something I have wanted to do since we completed the restoration so I definitely was on board with making it happen,” shared Commissioner Scirocco.
With the challenging weather, there was some doubt as to whether or not it would be done by Potter’s wedding on May 5. Luckily the project was completed by May 3. That night while DeAngelis was entertaining family and friends two days before her son’s wedding, Potter asked his mother if they could sneak off for a few minutes so he could unveil the now lit sculpture.
“I was so shocked... It was so perfect and beautiful,” said DeAngelis. “The Spirit of Life has always had meaning for me, especially during particularly difficult times,” she added.
“She [DeAngelis] has lit up my life and so I wanted to light something up for her,” Potter said.
“After spending four years and raising nearly $450,000 on the behalf of the Foundation to benefit the restoration project, it was an incredibly special moment to see it for the first time. I know many others in the community will feel the same way when they see her for the first time lit at night. We are so grateful for this gift that will benefit the residents of Saratoga Springs and its many visitors for many years to come,” said Bosshart.
In 1913, Katrina Trask, philanthropist, founder of artist colony Yaddo, and Saratoga resident, along with Spencer Trask’s business partner George Foster Peabody, commissioned the Memorial to honor her late husband Spencer Trask’s efforts to preserve the springs and establish the State Reservation at Saratoga Springs, known today as Saratoga Spa State Park.
The memorial was created by noted American sculptor Daniel Chester French, architect Henry Bacon, and landscape architect, Charles Leavitt, Jr. French and Bacon are best known for their collaboration on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. French created the bronze Spirit of Life sculpture; Bacon designed the masonry architectural surround; and Leavitt, who was responsible for significant changes to the Saratoga Race Course at the turn of the century, planned the landscape setting.
