Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

11/26/2025

Lawrence W. Ernst

WILTON - Lawrence W. Ernst, 93 years young, passed peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at his residence in Wilton, NY. He was the son of the late F. William and Lena (Ebert) Ernst. He served in the US Army during the Korean War.“Larry the Plumber” was a Master Plumber for over 50 years. He completed his journeyman time with Albert D. Mark Plumbing & Heating, owned and operated Ernst & Orisek Plumbing & Heating until he joined Boyce & Drake Plumbing & Heating later in his career. When he finally retired his pipe wrench, he worked at the Saratoga Race Track on the maintenance crew and took pride in keeping the Winners Circle groomed for each race winner. He used his green thumb on the grounds of The Wesley Community to the delight of residents and visitors.Mr. Ernst was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Italian American War Veterans Post 35,Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge 161, VFW Post 420, American Legion Post 278, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2586.Predeceased by his brothers, Herbert, George, William, Amos, Ralph, Albert, his infant brothers, Hermann and Frederick Ernst, his sisters, Mary Louise Hammond, Elsie Jackson, and Rena Dyke.He is survived by his children Linda Ernst (Gary Brizzie), Dave Ernst and Katie Rich (Steven Hubbard), his sister Betty Cleveland, his longtime companion Karen Flewelling, his former wife Jean Ventre, many nieces and nephews along with many lifelong friends who will miss his smile and sense of humor.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry’s memory to DRILLING FOR HOPE at www.drillingforhope.org.Services were Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Wilton Funeral Home, Wilton, NY. Burial was at the Maplewood Cemetery, Saratoga Springs.

11/25/2025

The Saratoga Racers will play their home opener on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 3pm at their new home court: the Riverside Center in Mechanicville (10 North Main Street).

The team is 2-1 so far this season.

Here's our story from September about the ABA squad's new owner and home:

MECHANICVILLE — The Saratoga Racers burst into existence last year, finishing their inaugural American Basketball Association (ABA) season with a 13-7 record and an appearance in the league’s playoff semifinals. But the team could reach even greater heights in its forthcoming sophomore season, w...

11/25/2025

The X-Files Preservation Collection in Saratoga Springs announced today that “X-Files” creator Chris Carter will visit the museum on April 25 for a special meet-and-greet event to celebrate the museum’s four-year anniversary.

The announcement followed last weekend’s Monster-Mania convention outside Philadelphia, where the museum’s founders had a booth set up and appeared alongside Gillian Anderson and other “X-Files” cast members.

Photo by the X-Files Preservation Collection.

11/18/2025

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Allman Betts Band will headline Saratoga’s New Year’s Eve festivities at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The music offerings will also include: Ni****ne Dolls, Ally the Piper, Kieran Rhodes, Doc Horton, The Belle Curves, and Reese Fulmer and the Carriage House Band, among others.

The shows will take place at the City Center, Universal Preservation Hall, and Caffe Lena. Tickets go on sale Thursday.

11/18/2025

Margaret “Margie” A. Farone
Margaret “Margie” A. Farone, of Saratoga Springs, peacefully went home to the Lord on November 9, 2025 at the age of 86. A lifelong Saratogian, she was born on January 15, 1939, to the late Gennaro and Margaret (Scuderi) Sansiveri and grew up on Elm Street. She graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1956 and, in 1959, she married Louis J. “Bunny” Farone Jr. with whom she shared a devoted marriage until his passing in 2020. Together, they built a strong foundation for raising their three children, instilling in them a deep work ethic, a lasting sense of virtue, character, and family, and even managed to make them all great cooks. Most of all, they provided the groundwork for the spirituality that guides their family today.

Margie was a beloved member of the community. With Bunny, she transformed two former dairy barns on the edge of Interlaken Park into the Caunterbury Restaurant, which thrived for nearly twenty years. The Caunterbury welcomed many notable guests, and Margie was its heart- greeting everyone with a radiant smile, warm conversation, and unwavering commitment to service. The restaurant left a lasting imprint: its famous coconut bread recipe still circulates today, and the friendships formed among guests and staff have endured for decades. After the Caunterbury, Margie served the City of Saratoga Springs as manager of the Canfield Casino. Her eye for design, respect for local history, and deep community ties helped revitalize the venue as a premier gathering place. She retired in 2006 and happily spent her days cheering on Tiger Woods, tending to her gardens, enjoying time with family, and, ever the host, presiding over Sunday family dinners. There she passed down cherished recipes, none with any written measurements, and cemented an eternal and deeply treasured bond with all those who were fortunate enough to attend.

Margie is survived by her children, Laura L. Farone (John), Louis J. Farone (Alicia), and Peter G. Farone (Andrea); ten grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren.

A private burial service was held at Greenridge Cemetery on Friday November 14, 2025.

“God’s in His heaven, all’s right with the world!” – R. Browning

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518-584-5373).

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefunerahome.com.

11/18/2025

Author/journalist Susan Orlean discussed her memoir “Joyride” at Skidmore College’s Palamountain Hall tonight. The event was presented by Northshire Bookstore and recorded for WAMC radio.

11/17/2025

Grammy winner Mike Farris performed at The Parting Glass Pub on Friday night.

During his show, Farris called the Saratoga Performing Arts Center “the most beautiful amphitheater in the country—in the world.”

Read our recent story about Fast Tony Productions, the company that for the past year has been booking, promoting, and staging concerts at the Parting Glass: https://saratogatodaynewspaper.com/one-mans-mission-to-revive-an-iconic-saratoga-music-venue/

Video by Jonathon Norcross

11/13/2025

BREAKING: Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will create 1,000 new jobs as part of a $2 billion investment in its facility in Saratoga Springs.

Last year, Regeneron purchased the former Quad Graphics printing facility at 56 Duplainville Road. The more than one-million-square-foot property will be repurposed, with potential for additional expansion, the governor said in a press release.

According to a corporate fact sheet, Regeneron has more than 15,000 employees worldwide. The company has offices scattered across the globe, including its headquarters in Tarrytown and an industrial operations and product supply facility in Rensselaer.

In 2020, Regeneron signed a $450 million contract with the U.S. government to manufacture and supply REGN-COV2, a double-antibody cocktail designed to combat the coronavirus. The cocktail was administered to President Donald Trump when he was infected with COVID-19 in Oct. 2020.

The firm has received a number of accolades, including Time Magazine’s “World’s Most Sustainable Companies,” and U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Companies to Work For.”

Read our story from last year about Regeneron’s purchase of the former Quad Graphics printing facility:

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology firm based in Tarrytown, New York, has purchased the former Quad Graphics printing facility in Saratoga Springs for an undisclosed sum. “This acquisition underscores our commitment to growing together with the local community by inves...

11/13/2025

Today at Saratoga Central Catholic: an athlete signing ceremony for future Division 1 baseball players Carson Moser (Duke) and Pierce Byrne (Siena).

📸: Jonathon Norcross

11/11/2025

11/04/2025

Ruth Meissner
CAPE CORAL, FL - Ruth Meissner, 83, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Carl and Margaret Thiemsen, Ruth lived a life full of love, laughter, and strength. Ruth spent her childhood on Long Island, New York, alongside her two sisters. She courageously overcame polio, enduring many months in an iron lung before emerging stronger than ever – a lasting testament to her determination, resilience, and will to live. On a blind date, she met the love of her life, William “Bill” Meissner, and the two were inseparable from that day forward. They shared 65 wonderful years together, building a beautiful family and a lifetime of cherished memories.
Ruth was the devoted mother of Lisa, William (Wendy), and Melissa (Manuel); beloved grandmother of Alejandro, Shaundra (Jason), and Megan (Jay); and great-grandmother of Selena, Cora, and Jonah. She is also survived by her sister Joyce and was predeceased by her parents and sister Carol.
Ruth had a rare gift for making everyone feel at home. With her radiant smile, quick wit, and compassionate heart, she could light up any room. People often said you could tell her anything, and she listened without judgment—earning her the affectionate nickname “Doctor Ruth.”
Her career reflected her nurturing and capable spirit. She began as a volunteer with Planned Parenthood, later working in medical records for over 20 years before becoming office manager at Thorobred Feed, where she brightened the days of countless customers with her humor and kindness. Ruth was endlessly creative—an avid reader, painter, decorator, and lover of music and nature. Together with Bill, she built or transformed several homes from the ground up: first in Hadley, then Saratoga Springs, Middle Grove, and finally Cape Coral. She cherished time spent boating in Oswego, where she proudly captained the boat, and loved fishing with Bill, often catching the biggest fish. Ruth’s warmth, humor, creativity, and compassion touched everyone she met. Her strength and zest for life will continue to inspire all who had the joy of knowing her. Ruth will be remembered for her laughter, her boundless creativity, her love of nature, and the deep kindness she shared with family and friends alike. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Planned Parenthood, or the ASPCA.

10/31/2025

Saturday November 1 and Sunday November 2
Saratoga Springs Gem,Mineral, and Fossil Show November 1st and 2nd , at the Knights Of Columbus, 50 Pine Rd., Saratoga Springs. Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM, Rocks, minerals, gems, fossils, and handmade jewelry. Admission five dollars cash, children under 12 and scouts in uniform are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by The Capital District Mineral Club 501(c)(3)non-profit, dedicated to education in mineralogy, geology, and related subjects.