The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association is requesting nominations for its 2016 Property Beautification Awards in the village.
The awards are given in recognition of the restoration, renovation, new build, and beautification efforts by homeowners and businesses, that enhanced the Ballston Spa area within the past two years. This year’s awards are sponsored by Curtis Lumber.
Criteria for residential nominations can include exterior renovations and restorations; new builds; or landscaping improvements. Criteria for commercial nominations can include complete renovations; new exterior attractive signs or window displays; or new interior improvements.
All projects should be complete at the time of nomination.
A nomination form is available to be filled out online at www.ballston.org. Forms may also be printed and either emailed to info@ballston.org or mailed to: 2016 Beautification Awards, c/o BSBPA, PO Box 386, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
All nominations should be made by Aug. 31. Award winners will be honored at an award presentation preceding the BSBPA board of directors meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17. For more information, contact Michelle Burlingame at michelle@ballston.org or Ellen Mottola at info@ballston.org or 885-2772.
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Ascent Wealth Partners in Saratoga Springs was named to the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers, as of June 16.
The list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the U.S. Ascent Wealth Partners is a member of the Dynasty Financial Partners’ Network of Advisors.
This is the third annual FT 300 list, produced independently by the Financial Times Ltd. in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the FT that provides business intelligence on the investment management industry.
The 300 top RIAs hail from 34 states and Washington, D.C.
The FT 300 is one in a series of rankings of top advisers the FT produces in partnership with Ignites Research, including the FT 401 (DC retirement plan advisers) and the FT 400 (financial advisers from traditional broker-dealer firms).
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In celebration of its silver anniversary, GTM Payroll Services in Clifton Park is donating $25,000 to several community organizations that serve the Capital Region.
These groups are: Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York, Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, Double H Ranch, Hannah’s Hope Fund, Homeless and Travelers Aid Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York, Mother Teresa Academy, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region and Senior Services of Albany.
Year after year, GTM Payroll Services and its employees get involved in the community by volunteering their time, participating in fundraising events, making donations and contributing goods to local organizations.
GTM now employs more than 60 professionals at its headquarters in Clifton Park and recently added a second office location in Glens Falls.
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Hampton Inn & Suites Saratoga Springs Downtown has received a 2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award.
Now in its sixth year, the achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on the online TripAdvisor site over the past year. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.
Located at 25 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs, Hampton Inn & Suites Saratoga Springs Downtown offers amenities including “on the house” breakfast each morning and Hampton’s On the Run breakfast bagels, available Monday through Friday. Additionally, it provides free Wifi, a 24-hour business center with complimentary printing and a fitness center.
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The Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center’s popular “History, Legends, Lore and More” walking tour is back. The 90-minute historical walking tour strolls through Congress Park, mixing history and legend and offering an opportunity to sample Saratoga’s mineral waters.
The tour is a family friendly and educational tour with something for first-time visitors and Saratoga natives alike.
All tours begin at 10:30 a.m., rain or shine, and meet at the Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. The cost is $8 per person, children under 12 are free. Reservations are not required.
July and August tours will run Monday through Saturday. There will be no tours on Sundays. September and October tours will be Saturdays only.
For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 587-3241, or visit www.saratogaspringsvisitorcenter.com.
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The Saratoga Hospital Golf Invitational, presented by A.O.W. Associates, Inc. on June 20 raised more than $150,000.
The sold-out event of 244 golfers benefits the hospital’s RN scholarship program. Since the scholarship program was launched in 2002, 70 recipients have earned their associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in nursing, and another 46 are working toward a degree.
Officials said the investment in nursing education at Saratoga Hospital has an impact on the organization, most notably reflected in the Hospital’s Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center–the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice.
Saratoga Hospital has maintained Magnet designation since 2004, when the hospital became the first in the Capital Region to attain the designation, according to the hospital. Statewide, 25 hospitals have earned Magnet recognition.
Other major sponsors WNYT News Channel 13, Millennium Medical Imaging, Pepsi Beverages Company, Saratoga National Golf Club, KeyBank and Key Private Bank, Max Stone and Camelot Print & Copy Center.
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The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) have teamed up to organize a day of golf and games during Travers week to benefit the two non-profit organizations.
The first “Tee-Off for TRF/PDJF will be held at McGregor Links Country Club on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Breakfast buffet starts at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start before noon. A cocktail lunch, catered by Maestro’s at McGregor, opens at 4:30 p.m.
Eclipse Award winning jockey and TRF board member Richard Migliore will host the event. Migliore has more than 4,000 wins in a 30-year racing career.
The cost is $225 per golfer and includes cart, greens fees, breakfast, tee favors, cocktails and lunch. There will be contests all day and an awards presentation during the cocktail luncheon. For those who wish to come only for cocktails and lunch, the cost is $50 per person.
Sponsorships to support the day and the work of the charities are available.
For more information visit www.trfinc.org/event/golf.