by Arthur Gonick
Saratoga TODAY

(Photos by Mark Bolles)

After 16 years of dreaming, planning, debating and constructing, a period of time which spanned six different Mayoral administrations, the new Saratoga Springs Recreation Center held its Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting before a cross-section of the community numbering several hundred on Tuesday, July 26.

By Melissa Downer

When Christina Bonesteel broke her hip on December 2, 2007, her life as she knew it had changed forever.

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sales are August 2 and 3 at the beautiful facility on East Avenue.  Barnful after barnful of possibilities await.

By Melissa Downer

With all of the uncertainty of this year's racing season behind us, the Saratoga community is now celebrating the early opening of the 142nd season at the Saratoga Race Track.

The second weekend of Saratoga Race Course brings another set of unique promotions in addition to later (2:30 p.m.) post-time on Friday

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County once again invites you to their Non-Gala Event.

Photo Provided
Lisa Rozell, Julie Bonacio, Kristie Roohan, Margie Rotchford

Opening weekend at Saratoga Race Course was filled to the brim with excitement as the Spa capped off its first weekend of the 142nd summer meet with the 19th annual Hat Contest!

Thatcher Kaye of Scotia (Photo Provided)

Hattie's Restaurant, located at 45 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs, has officially signed a lease in Wilton for its first quick service restaurant.

By Marion E. Altieri

To state simply that the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Blue Grass Farms Charities, provides education, counseling, health and human services (per their website) would be a grave injustice to the monumental work of love, service and dedication that this group of Kentuckians performs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

By Marion E. Altieri

Saratoga is an unusual place, as we all know.   Such a small city, with long fingers reaching out to the international community.   We have royals as neighbors.  These royals are members of families who envision the world as being a beautiful place--a better place. 

By Marion E. Altieri

The Diana Stakes, a 72-year-old turf race for fillies and mares, three years old and up, was named for the goddess of the hunt. 

by Yael Goldman

By Jill Sweet

Have you ever wondered about the beautiful, confident, and strong search and rescue (SAR) dogs that you might have seen on an evening news clip?

The Saratoga Farmers' Market is in the running for American Farm Land
Trust's contest: "America's Favorite Farmers' Market." Last year we were 15th in the nation. This year we hope to be number one! (The winner will get a cash prize and local advertising assistance amongst other things).The contest runs now through August 31.

As of this moment Saratoga is first among medium markets in NYS and in the top 10 nationwide! 

This week at the market we will have computers available for people to cast their vote. (Also on Saturday we are celebrating Ice Cream Month with the Saratoga County Dairy Princess serving Battenkill Creamery Ice Cream, Argyle Cheese Factory Gelato and Sorbet to market clients and voters). 

 
If you prefer to vote at home, visit: http://action.farmland.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Market_Vote&searchTerm=12866&x=0&y=0

and cast your vote to help make Saratoga the favorite Farmers' Market in America! 
- Suzanne Voigt

It's the time of year when some of the best salad ingredients are all in the garden. One of the more unusual ones is the weed Purslane. (Yes, that annoying thick-stemmed ground cover plant with little yellow flowers that takes over your sidewalks and garden beds). But this is no ordinary weed. Purslane is not only very edible, chefs desire it for its little bit of crunch, little bit of spice and nutritionists tell us it is full of vitamins, minerals and lots of Omega-3. Lately its even being touted as a great fat burner, guaranteed to take away your belly fat! I don't know about the last statement, but it is a great addition to many salads, soups or even sautéed. While you can find it growing freely along sidewalks and in your gardens, you might prefer it cleaned and bunched for your use at your local farmers' market. Purslane is probably most popular in Mexico. The salad below has a Mexican flair with the hot chile added. I love it as it features my other favorite summer salad ingredients, cucumbers and tomatoes. The salad is a refreshing side dish, crispy and light, making it a prefect complement to a Mexican main dish, or with pork chops off the grill (as I had tonight). So, be healthy, eat weeds, (lose belly fat) and enjoy!

Ingredients
1 large cucumber, peeled,
seeds removed, then chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 bunch Purslane, thick stems
removed, leaves chopped,
 resulting in about 1/2 cup
1 minced jalapeno chile pepper,
seeds discarded
2 Tbsp. fresh-squeezed
lemon juice
2-3 tsp. honey balsamic
vinaigrette (Ballston Lake
Apiary product)
Salt to taste (optional)

Directions
Combine first four ingredients into a serving bowl. Mix lemon juice and vinaigrette together in a salad shaker and sprinkle over ingredients in serving bowl. Toss. (Salt to taste, if needed).

by Melissa Downer
Saratoga TODAY

If you plan on driving down I-87 from exit 16 to14 and Route 29 Saturday morning, don't be shocked to see hundreds, yes hundreds, of tractor trailers en route to the Washington County Fair Grounds in Greenwich.

 

They're Off! 40 Days and Nights of Fun and Excitement Begin This Weekend!

- The 142nd Saratoga Race Course meet begins Friday, July 23 with an outstanding array of new
promotions and amenities!   

The annual Hat Contest on Sunday, July 25 is a major highlight of the three-day "Hats Off to Saratoga" festival, which celebrates the arrival of the Saratoga racing season. Now in its 19th year, this is an event which brings out creativity in a variety of categories.