By Rod Bacon

A local entrepreneur has put a new spin on the paint-and-sip concept by opening Saratoga Paint & Drip Studio, a venue that offers people a creative outlet without the alcohol.

“My business model is based around painting and a whole lot of other things but not alcohol,” said owner Ryan Smithson. “What we’re doing here is catering to the sober community, people who don’t drink or don’t want to be pressured to drink while attending our sessions.”

There is a full no-alcohol bar offering mocktails, java drinks and other beverages that is run by Joe Ventura, one of Smithson’s two business partners. Ventura, who ran Eat-In Cafe in Loudonville, relocated to Saratoga Springs when the opportunity to partner with Smithson presented itself. In keeping with the Hawaiian theme of the venue the bar is named the Ohana A.F. Tiki Bar and Lounge.

“Ohana means ‘family’ in Hawaiian and the ‘A.F.’ stands for Alcohol Free,” Smithson explained.

Smithson’s other business partner is Violet Glasser, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Desert Storm as a medic. Smithson served in Iraq as an engineer.

“She’s the studio queen,” said Smithson. “She does anything and everything; event planning, invoicing clients, moving things around in the studio, whatever we need done”

Randy Metevier, director of sales, business development and marketing for Dynamic Systems Inc., has been elected the 2025 Chair of the Board of Directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Metevier assumed this role on January 1, 2025, after Chad Kiesow of Stewart’s Shops completed his one-year term as Chair of the Board and now becomes the Immediate Past Chair.

“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the Saratoga County Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2025, and I have every confidence that this will be a successful year for our community, our small businesses, and our Chamber,” Metevier said. “We will focus on improving our understanding of what our Chamber members value and continuing to work diligently to deliver that value.  In addition, there are some exciting initiatives we have on the horizon planned, including the relaunch of the Saratoga County Institute of Management (SCIM), an innovative program designed to enable and empower our area’s leadership.  Additionally, in March the Chamber will present the first-ever Saratoga Big E Consumer Showcase featuring the latest in energy-efficient products and services. And, of course, we are all looking forward to welcoming the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival back to Saratoga this June with another incredible Belmont on Broadway celebration.” 

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Board has a total of nearly 30 volunteer members. The Chair Elect is Melissa Johnson of Target Distribution, who will become the Chair of the Board in 2026. The 2025 Vice Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors is Nil Ghoshal of Polyset and the 2025 Treasurer and Secretary is Dan Graham of SM2 Development.

New members include Leslie Coleman-Smith of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Elizabeth Stauderman of Skidmore College and Kim Tribley of Coffee Planet. Jon Hitchcock of WNYT and Lisa Vollendorf of Empire State University are both serving one-year appointments.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced that it has appointed Jana Gordon as its new Senior Vice President of Development. This new role is part of SPAC’s continued growth and efforts to expand its donor base, build relationships with the community, and support the long-term sustainability of the organization. Gordon will help to raise the visibility of SPAC as a non-profit organization, overseeing all philanthropic activities in alignment with SPAC’s ambitious goals for the future. 

 “SPAC is a premier, globally recognized venue attracting best-in-class artists and visitors from all over the world. Recruiting a new SVP of development with decades of international arts experience is a critical step in supporting SPAC’s on-going growth and vision,” saysElizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “Jana brings with her a wealth of knowledge and fundraising expertise from her past roles at organizations such as the Stratford Festival in Canada, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the English National Opera. We look forward to introducing her to our community.”  

 Jana Gordon is an accomplished, results-oriented leader drawing on expertise in the fields of non-profit management, the performing arts sector, fundraising, and public accounting. Having had an international career with positions at leading organizations in the USA, England, and Canada, Jana is now the Senior Vice President of Development at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

By Paul Post

A crowd of well-wishers braved freezing temperatures recently for a ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming Queensbury’s newest retailer to town.

An Ocean State Job Lot store, at Glen Square on Upper Glen Street, is the Rhode Island-based company’s 153rd location in a territory that encompasses all of New England, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

It’s also the retail chain’s northernmost site in New York, joining three other Capital Region stores in Ballston Spa, Clifton Park and Schenectady.

“This is great!” customer Jim Northrup said. “It’s good to have a place like this instead of people doing all their shopping on Amazon. It contributes to the tax base.”

The 30,000-square-foot space, adjacent to Uncommon Grounds coffee shop, was previously occupied by Big Lots.

Ocean State’s motto is “Brand name merchandise at closeout prices.”

Shoppers find an ever-changing array of merchandise including grocery items, garden tools, outdoor furniture, household goods, pet supplies and seasonal lines from Christmas ornaments to beach wares, at highly competitive pricing.

“Prices here are very reasonable,” said Darleena Ball of Moreau. “I found a suitcase for $40. Gain laundry detergent is $24 over at Hannaford; $15.99 here. So that was a good deal.”

She and her husband also enjoyed free coffee and donuts courtesy of Dunkin, to help celebrate the grand opening.

The new outlet has created jobs for almost 50 people, led by Bill Mapes, who is managing a store for the first time. He’s been with the company for three-and-a-half years, most recently at its Ballston Spa site on Doubleday Avenue (Route 50).

Hudson Headwaters Health Network announces the opening of Hudson Headwaters Pharmacy at Moreau, conveniently located off Exit 17 of I-87 (the Northway) and adjacent to Moreau Family Health. This new community pharmacy is open to everyone, regardless of whether they are a current Hudson Headwaters patient.

 “As a community health center, providing comprehensive access to health care is at the heart of our mission,” said Tucker Slingerland, M.D., CEO of Hudson Headwaters. “Like our urgent care centers, the pharmacy welcomes everyone. As the only pharmacy located near the busy Exit 17 corridor, our Pharmacy at Moreau offers access and convenience while supporting the overall health of our community. When you fill your prescriptions with us, you are helping to advance our nonprofit mission to ensure high-quality, local health care for all.”

 Hudson Headwaters Pharmacy at Moreau accepts Medicare and most commercial insurances. Medicaid approval is still pending and may take up to six months. Medicaid patients wishing to transfer their prescriptions can reach out to the Hudson Headwaters pharmacy team who will notify patients once the approval process is complete.  

“We’ve already received a great response from the community,” said Sara Vogel, PharmD/RPh, pharmacy manager. “Many patients of Moreau Family Health enjoy the convenience of having a pharmacy right next door, but our services are for everyone—even those outside the area. For added convenience, we offer delivery services.”

Saratoga Hospital is furthering its commitment to exceptional emergency cardiovascular care with the addition of new state-of-the-art technology. The LUCAS® 3 CPR chest compression system helps emergency care teams around the world do what they do best, saves lives. Thanks to a generous gift from Nemer Motor Group and the Nemer family, this technology will be added to our resuscitation teams tool kit this Spring.

“This generous donation from Nemer Motor Group enhances the capabilities of our clinicians, equipping them with cutting-edge technology to provide rapid, high-quality CPR for extended periods of time,” said Jill VanKuren, Saratoga Hospital President and CEO. “Every year, our Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center cares for more than 40,000 patients and having the most advanced tools available not only benefits our patients but also supports our highly skilled medical staff, allowing them to perform at their very best in critical situations. We are incredibly grateful to the Nemer family for their generosity and commitment to strengthening healthcare in our community.”

“At Nemer Motor Group, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve,” said Josh Nemer, Managing Partner of Nemer Motor Group. “We are honored to support Saratoga Hospital and help ensure that patients in our region have access to the latest advancements in cardiac care.”

Charlie’s Stay + Play, formerly Mahogany Ridge, officially marked its rebranding and grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 20 in celebration of National Love Your Pet Day. Hosted by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, the event welcomed dignitaries including Chamber President Todd Shimkus, New York State Senator Jim Tedisco, and Malta Town Supervisor Cynthia Young.

The newly revamped doggy daycare, boarding, and training facility provides a top-tier experience for pets and their owners. Designed by Saratoga Springs-based architecture firm Balzer & Tuck, with landscape and engineering work by The LA Group and construction by Bonacio Construction, the facility was built with a focus on quality, comfort, and pet well-being.