By Susan E. Campbell

TreePaad Fun Center has added some entertaining, family friendly, new features for kids of all ages, said Patti Garrand, one of the owners and founders of the local play and party center.

Located at 2381 Route 9 in Mechanicville, TreePaad is a destination for families all around the Capital District, she said. 

TreePaad now has 10 different activities under one roof.

“At many places and parks, the kids have to be 12 or older, or be of a certain height, to participate,” said Garrand. “TreePaad is designed for families to play together, no matter the age. If you can walk, you can play at TreePaad.”

The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) 2018 Citizens of the Year are Lisa and Ed Mitzen.

Ed Mitzen is chief executive officer of Fingerpaint Marketing in Saratoga Springs. Among his volunteer activities, he is the vice chairman of the Double H Ranch board of directors. Double H Ranch is a camp for children with serious medical conditions and disabilities.

Lisa is active with Rebuilding Together, having served on the board of directors. Rebuilding Together Saratoga is committed to ensuring that our neighbors in need, especially those with disabilities, can live independently in safe, healthy, warm and dry homes.

Mannix Marketing, Inc., a leading digital marketing company, took home Best Social Media Campaign award at the Interactive Marketing Awards 2018 competition.

The award was earned for the agency’s work with New Way Lunch. 

It was presented to Amberly Rundell,  Mannix digital marketing and social media strategist in April at a celebratory gala dinner held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Centre in Florida.

Rundell and senior digital marketing strategist Jessica Tracy were also short-listed finalists for Best Interactive Marketing – Retail/E-commerce, for an organic SEO campaign they conducted in tandem for Gettysburg Flag Works, while Tracy was also nominated for Best Interactive Marketing – B2B, for her efforts with American Heating Co.

MadGlory, a Saratoga Springs-based video company, was acquired in March by PUBG Corp., based in Seoul, South Korea.

The acquisition of online service developer, MadGlory, is part of PUBG Corp.’s continued effort to enhance the playing and viewing experiences for PUBG players, the company said in a new release..

As one of only a few independent studios that specializes in bespoke online features, MadGlory, now known as PUBG MadGlory, and PUBG Corp. will work together to help build a wide range of new features as well as a suite of tools that let community developers extend the in-game experience, officials said.

By Maureen Werther

Eat Drink Saratoga, a festival that will showcase food, spirits and brews from restaurants, distilleries and breweries in Saratoga Springs and the surrounding region, will debut this summer on June 30, in the parking lot between Lake Avenue and Caroline Street that was once used by the Saratogian newspaper. The event is the brainchild Jillian Petercsak, a co-owner of Hamlet & Ghost at 24 Caroline St., a bar that is across the street from the parking lot. It is expected to become an annual event.
“We’ve been staring at that empty parking lot and remembering the traditional Caroline Street block parties,” said Petercsak, coordinator of the event.

The Hyde Collection has received a $30,000 donation from Stewart’s Shops and the Dake family which owns the company.

Museum officials said the gift is a first step toward renovating the aging Helen Froehlich Auditorium, a 132-seat space used for lectures, film screenings, concerts, special events and more.

“The Hyde Collection is honored to receive this generous leadership gift from Stewart’s and the Dake family,” said Anne Saile, interim director of the museum. “This is an investment not just in the auditorium, but in The Hyde’s future.”

The museum has a long history with Stewart’s, as the company—a family- and employee-run chain with 335 local stores across northern New York and southern Vermont—provides annual grants to help fund the Hyde’s weekly free children’s programs.