Organizers of the 22nd annual Saratoga Chowderfest held om Feb. 1 said 93 vendors participated, including 11 first-time contestants.
According to Discover Saratoga officials, some 140,704 bowls of chowder were served and over 30,000 people attended the event in downtown Saratoga Springs and at various outlying venues.
Event-goers sampled a variety of chowder from participating vendors for $1 and voted for their favorite.
Winners were chosen in 10 different categories, which was announced at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center during the annual award ceremony.

Saratoga County received some $4.3 million  in economic and community development funding through Round VIII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The funding covers 10 projects.

The money is part of $67 million awarded to 95 projects in the Capital Region. The state awarded a total of $763 million statewide.

Key among the local funding was $1,695,000 awarded to Saratoga Performing Arts Center for two different projects.

Some $195,000 is for a multi-media marketing campaign designed to increase cultural tourism.  SPAC will increase cultural tourism to Saratoga Springs and the Capital District overall, by creating and executing an integrated marketing campaign (Television, Digital/Social media and print) to promote it as a world class arts and culture destination to travel decision makers in suburban communities.

Some $1 million is to replace aging infrastructure and provide new facilities. These facilities will include classroom and gathering spaces that will be utilized in expanding educational programs, audience development and community engagement activities benefiting the diverse and underserved populations.

The state Department Motor Vehicle office at Clifton Park Center is scheduled for  renovation and expansion  in 2019.

The County Board of Supervisors, at their October meeting, approved the extension of the lease of the Clifton Park Center DMV Office and funding for renovation of the space to better serve customers in Saratoga and the surrounding counties.

The expansion and renovation project will grow the space by more than 1,300 square feet, making the total space after expansion 4,868 square fee, according to Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner.

“This expansion of our busiest motor vehicle office has become necessary to maintain the high-quality service for which the Saratoga DMV office has become known,” said Hayner. “Once completed, this will make our Clifton Park DMV one of the most efficient and innovative Department of Motor Vehicle offices in the Capital Region.”

Theresa Agresta, owner of Allegory Studios and CultureTalk in Saratoga Springs, will be the chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce in 2019.

She will be recognized at the Chamber’s 101st annual dinner 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The night will start off with registration and a cocktail hour from 6-6:45 p.m., and will be followed by the program from 7-7:30. Dinner, catered by Mazzone Hospitality will follow.

Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, Chamber officials said.

“I believe this Chamber changes things especially for small businesses like mine who benefit from the many programs and initiatives this Chamber leads,” said Agresta. “It is an honor to have this opportunity to work with so many people I admire who volunteer their time serving on our board of directors. This is an exciting time to be a part of our Chamber as we launch the Saratoga County Institute for Management and other new initiatives that make membership even more valuable. Plans underway for 2019 will also result in better promotion of county events in collaboration with a range of partners.”

The Chamber will also honor Brian Straughter, president of Turf Hotels and a co-founder of Jakes Help from Heaven, who served as board chairman in 2018 He will continue to serve on the executive board as the immediate past chair.

The board of directors will also present the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award to Tom Roohan of Roohan Realty, recognizing his more than four decades of volunteer service to the local community.