We ARE a locallyowned and operated boutique Media Company located in Saratoga Springs, NY.
treats clients like numbers.
We ARE real people who live in the communities, shop at the stores and have children in the schools. We care about our clients, our readers and our local issues.
Locally Owned & Operated
PUBLISHER
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK
Greetings everyone.
Well, it’s been 20 years already. Two decades!
I know they say time flies, but wow. It seems like just yesterday I was reaching out to Adirondack Trust and a few other key local businesspeople about my idea.
Chad Beatty, Owner & Publisher
At that point I had been in the print media industry for about 15 years. During that time, I noticed an interesting trend; as paid newspaper readership was declining, I saw free community newspapers popping up around the country and gobbling up all those lost readers, as well as a whole new group of readers. So, I reached out to those publishers and picked their brains. Everything I heard sounded promising, albeit challenging. The next step was to create a budget, build a talented team, get commitments from some big advertisers, and secure a business loan.
After accomplishing those initial tasks, the date was set for the first edition: April 5, 2006.
Most of you don’t know this, or won’t remember this, but we began as a 3-day per week newspaper: Monday, Wednesday, Friday. The idea was that Monday would kickstart everyone’s week; Wednesday would give everyone a good mid-week update; Friday would be a weekly wrap-up and include weekend entertainment news.
On paper it sounded great; in reality it was a disaster. Readers, and sometimes the staff, were always confused about which edition was on the street. Also, because our paper is 100% local news, it became challenging filling 3-days’ worth of papers per week with only local news.
So, a few months into our new venture, we pivoted to 1-day a week, publishing every Friday morning. We also made some significant content and layout changes. BINGO! Week by week the community became used to the new schedule and format. Saratoga TODAY slowly became the ‘Paper of Record’ for our area; A weekly snapshot of everything locals need to live, work and raise a family in our great region.
But, as we quickly learned, it still wasn’t enough to keep the company profitable. Between rent, printing, insurance, and payroll, we were losing money quickly. Don’t forget, all our products are FREE to the public, we don’t have any subscription revenue. We live and die on advertising revenue, so visit those advertisers! By around September (5-6 months in) we had lost a little over $100,000. Needless to say, I had MANY sleepless nights. I can still vividly remember lying in bed on a few occasions almost hyperventilating. I was worried about my staff, my investors, my personal savings, and my sons college education. The reoccurring thought “What the heck did I get myself into?” regularly popped into my head. (And it popped into my head regularly.) But as soon as the thought began, I would chastise myself and say to myself “Chad, stop whining, and figure this out.”
Despite the fact that the newspaper was gaining market share month-by-month, I knew bigger changes were required. The solution: double down and launch magazines and events. (Go big or Go home.)
It wasn’t perfect immediately, but eventually everything fell into place. The varying products worked together symbiotically. The newspaper promoted the magazines; the magazines expanded on the newspaper; the events complemented the print products; and the website pulled everything together under one cohesive platform.
As I am sure you are aware, one of the important departments in a newspaper is distribution. They are the people who deliver our newspaper to hundreds of outlets throughout Saratoga County. During our first two years, weekly distribution increased 66%, from 6,000 copies to more than 10,000 copies per issue. Currently the print run for Saratoga TODAY is 10,2000 copies every Friday. Have you ever wondered where we go through the most papers? Tied for the TOP SPOTS are the West Ave YMCA and Healthy Living Market in Wilton. Right behind them are the Hannafords in Wilton and Ballston Spa. And of course, Stewart’s Shops is also at the top of the list, providing readers with copies of Saratoga TODAY from exit 16 down to exit 10.
1. Chad Beatty, 2006
2. The Beattys: Kim, Chad and their son Keegan, 2019
3. One of our major drop locations, Impressions of Saratoga, set a record in summer of 2023. They went through an average of 10 boxes a week of Simply Saratoga magazine!
PHOTOS:
Left: Our original office on 5 Case Street, Saratoga Springs Below:
From the very beginning I was blessed to have a talented and experienced team by my side. I recruited the initial Saratoga TODAY team from a few local newspapers, but mainly from The Saratogian. In the beginning I think we had about 50 years of print media experience between us….now we are closer to 100 years!
Throughout the last 20 years, we have had a lot of success, and a handful of flops. But as Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” One of my favorite flops was Simply Lake Placid magazine. While it seemed like the perfect market for our high-end magazines, we quickly found that region to be a very parochial community who didn’t take well to outsiders coming in. Either way, it was a fun project, and I enjoyed my time deep in the Adirondacks.
Were there other bumps in the road? ABSOLUTELY! For example, we certainly didn’t plan on the 2008 housing crash and subsequent financial meltdown. And none of us guessed that 12 years later the world would shut down due to the Covid pandemic! But as they say, the strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire.
Looking back at this journey, it was certainly nerve racking, but it was also pretty darn exciting! Although I only earned my Bachelor of Arts while in college, I feel as though I have earned my Masters in Business in the real world.
- Chad
PHOTOS:
Top: Simply Lake Placid, 2016
Middle: Behind the Scenes
Below: 2021 Ribbon Cutting at our new (and current) office at 2254 Route 50 South, Saratoga Springs
FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Istill remember the day we were all sitting around the conference table (at our first office on Case Street), discussing what to name our lifestyle magazines. Each was titled differently, coming on board at different times…our summer issue was Saratoga Experience, the fall issue was Autumn Lane, the winter issue was Snowshoes, and so on…anyway, back to that day at the office…among the chatter Cindy yells out… “How about Simply…Saratoga?”
And we all loved it!
(Cindy also coined “A Hundred Bloomin Years!” for Posie Peddler – she’s got skills!)
Fast forward to the day when Chad announced… “Chris will be taking over the magazines.” Prior to me, whoever was the newsroom manager, also did the magazines. But as Robin said when they called me in to discuss this new role…they wanted somebody to wrap their arms around ALL the issues. (We were growing rapidly!) And I am so glad they chose me! I always tell people… I think of this job as my “calling” in life…I love being the archivist of Saratoga’s people, places and lifestyles.
I’m sure you’ve probably also heard me say how fortunate I am to have the BEST writers, contributors, and photographers! They are the backbone of the Simply Saratoga brand, and I don’t take those relationships lightly. Without Charlie Kuenzel and Dave Patterson approaching me to carry their articles, I’m sure we would’ve struggled to find our footing. But as our HISTORY section gained popularity, others approached me to contribute and off we went!
Chris Bushee, Managing Editor of the Magazine Division & Marketing Director
IMAGES:
1. One of the EARLY mags when each issue had a different SEASONAL name! Autumn Lane 2010
2. Chris’ first issue as Editor! Cover photo by Mark Bolles Simply Saratoga Home & Garden 2013
3. This was the first time CELEBRATING SARATOGA appeared, written by Charlie Kuenzel and Dave Patterson. I can still remember them visiting our Case Street office pitching their idea - to me!! I had been the editor for less than one year, and they wanted to run with me... I couldn’t have been prouder! Simply Saratoga Spring 2014
Scan to see all of our past issues!
I love putting together every issue of SS, but I need to do a shout out for ARCHITECTURALLY SPEAKING, the home and garden feature we do with Randall Perry. This is our most requested advertiser spot – which makes me so happy, as we offer different niche magazines, to provide our advertisers with the best targeted exposure. Speaking of Randall, naturally leads into our relationship with the Saratoga Builders Association and how we love helping promote the Showcase of Homes each year! I remember when I was the one decorating those cover shots, I’m so glad I now get to hang out with Barry and Lisa and watch the pros at work! Honestly, we love all the events we are involved with… Saratoga Home & Lifestyle to promote the Rotary’s annual fundraiser, and Saratoga Christmas started years ago…back when we used to pass it out at the Tree Lighting, so we could all sing Christmas Carols around the tree to await the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus! Oh, I can’t forget Welcome Home! Which was my first “project” for Chad, (working from home, before I returned to work after being home with my daughter for her first five years!).
I wish I had room to mention each freelancer by name, as I LOVE working with all of them! (Luckily… they all know that already!)
Simply Saratoga Fall 2016
Above: Cover Shoot BTS! Photo by Alice Corey Back row, left to right: Scot Trifilo, Dominic Palleschi Carota Front row, left to right: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan (magazine designer, and her first issue!), AS photographer Randall Perry, Chris Bushee and our cover girl, Liz Bishop
Okay, let’s move on to Saratoga BRIDE…
Our first wedding themed magazine was called ENCHANTED WEDDING (EW) and those early issues were such fun – we had a photo shoot for every cover! I was an advertising sales rep when I first started at Saratoga TODAY but soon started handling the Bridal Expos (Loved them, especially those RUNWAY FASHION SHOWS!!) and looking at these old issues of EW, I see I was listed as Creative Director, which made sense since I loved making every page look its best, and so looked forward to building this brand. We switched over to Saratoga BRIDE, to tighten up our branding; “Saratoga” was in every other title, so it just made sense. Looking through these back issues is like spending time with old friends – I remember the brides, the advertisers, the models – and those photo shoots - omg, these issues were so beautiful!! I’m not mentioning anybody by name, (as I’m sure I will forget somebody!), and even though we hosted photo shoots up to the pandemic (Thank you Susan Blackburn!) I feel like I’d be remiss to NOT thank Denise Eliopulos (previous owner of Something Bleu Bridal), who had the most wonderful VISION and attention to detail, creating these photo shoots that really helped build the Saratoga BRIDE brand. (Of course, her DREAM TEAM didn’t hurt any: Alayne Curtis of Make Me Fab, Tracey Buyce Photography, Samantha Nass, Rena Zeppetelli, and of course a bevy of beauties all willing to model!)
What really struck me looking at the old issues was how many advertisers have stayed with us over the years! (Here is an alphabetized list from those first few issues!)
Adelphi Hospitality, Anne’s Washington Inn, Celtic Treasures, Daley Hospitality, Fort William Henry, Gideon Putnam, Impressions, Lily Saratoga, Make Me Fab, Mazzone Hospitality, N. Fox Jewelers, Queensbury Hotel, Saratoga Olive Oil, Saratoga Trunk, Something Bleu Bridal, Susan Blackburn Photography, The Mansion of Saratoga, The Posie Peddler, The Saratoga Winery
PS… The Adelphi has only been with me for eight years, but in my head, they’ve been around forever!! See their debut with us and the MOST BEAUTIFUL photo shoot (orchestrated by Denise!) By scanning this QR Code and flipping to page 92.
IMAGES:
1. One of the first issues of EW! Enchanted Wedding 2011
2. The Adelphi Hotel debut’s photo shoot by Denise Eliopulos and her dream team. Photo by Tracey Buyce Photography. Saratoga Bride 2018
3. The 2016 Saratoga Bride Expo
4. First issue of Saratoga Bride after rebranding. Also Chris’ first issue as Editor of SB! Saratoga Bride 2015
5. Something Bleu Bridal photo shoot at The Inn at Erlowest. Photos by Tracey Buyce Photography. Saratoga Bride Fall/Winter 2024
Before I wrap up this fun re-cap, I’d love to mention some of the other stuff that our readers might not know about Saratoga TODAY, such as… when our kids were young (and we still did home delivery), we would all hang out and help bag the papers. Everybody participated in Saratoga’s FLAG DAY PARADE either by walking along and passing out candy, or if the kids were too young, they sat in the float (that Mangino’s would donate and Robin and I would drive), or “commandeer” as she would say. (See more about Robin on page XX) and when any of us needed to… our sick children were always welcome to sit under our desk… Chad is the ultimate “family friendly” boss!
I have to say Thank You! to my Magazine Designer Kacie, as I’ve always said… I’m nothing without a designer! I may know WHERE we’re going, but they know how to drive the car! I’m so lucky to have Kacie with me by my side!
THE FIRST EDITION
WRITTEN BY CHAD BEATTY
It was April 2006, and we were putting the final touches on the Inaugural edition of Saratoga TODAY newspaper.
It was about 7 p.m. and we had just finished proofreading the final headlines. We all looked at each other, nodded, and clicked ‘SEND.’
Just like that and it was gone, off to the printer… the first edition of Saratoga TODAY newspaper. Now it was time to sit back and wait, as the delivery truck wasn’t scheduled to arrive with the freshly printed papers until around 2 a.m.
The staff took off and did their own thing; some slept; some ate dinner; some watched TV. We all convened back at the office around 1:30 a.m.
A large chunk of the first delivery targeted downtown Saratoga Springs. Don’t forget, nobody knew what this product was, it would be everyone’s first time seeing it, so we wanted it everywhere downtown.
The truck rolled into the parking lot, and we all excitedly filled our vehicles and headed to Broadway. After unloading our cars we grabbed newspaper bundles and began running around in the dark. That first night we must have looked like a rag-tag bunch of night crawlers. It was pitch black and eerily quiet with the exceptional straggler making his or her way home from the bar. As we made our way up and down Broadway we were hollering back and forth to each other from a block away:
“How many papers do you have left?”
“Did you drop 2 papers at XYZ?”
“How many papers do think I should leave at blah blah blah?”
It wasn’t long before the police became curious and slowly rolled their vehicle up to one of us:
“What’s going on guys?”
“Nothing officer, we are just a new newspaper in town. It’s our first day of delivery and we are figuring things out.”
“Ok, carry on.”
When Broadway was complete, we made our way to all the side streets, then West Ave, and then we divided up and headed to Wilton and Ballston Spa. By the time we were finished, the first signs of morning light were approaching, and we all headed home to catch a few hours of sleep before meeting up back at the office. That was it. The first edition was on the street, and we had no idea what to expect. Would the community embrace it? Would we be able to sell enough ads to support a free distribution newspaper? Would the economy take off or crash? While all these questions were addressed in a detailed business plan and comprehensive budget, until the rubber meets the road, you never know what is coming your way. TS
MILESTONES & TIMELINE
First edition of Saratoga TODAY
APRIL 2006
Simply Lake Placid Published
Saratoga TODAY hosts Job Fair
iPhone Launched
Enchanted Wedding Published
Bridal Show at the City Center
2008 Financial Crisis
Scott Johnson becomes S.S. Mayor
First Edition of Women of Influence
Barak Obama Becomes President Equicurean Published
Saratoga TODAY moves to New
Donald
Meg
NY
Ronald Kim becomes S.S. Mayor JAN
Equicurean Belmont Edition Published JUNE
John Safford becomes S.S. Mayor
Belmont comes to Saratoga
SARATOGA PUBLISHING WORLD EVENT
Simply Saratoga Published 2011
Enchanted Wedding rebranded to Saratoga Bride FEB 2015
Bin Ladin Killed 2014 Joanne Yepson Becomes S.S. Mayor
“Liked the page design and layout/grouping for Colleen’s Picks pages”
“Wide variety of content - from pets to fashion.“
“Beautiful photos! Nice ad design.”
BEST GLOSSY MAG
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“This product can and does serve a very wide audience for its content.”
“It is a guide, a resource and a magazine all rolled into one.”
“Very well done seasonal magazine.
BEST NICHE GLOSSY
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“...visually stunning!”
“The cover of this section holds up against any bridal magazine.”
“The personal stories in both the Destination and Real Brides’ sections were inviting.”
“Much of the photography was impressive as well as the wedding details.“
BEST SPECIAL SECTION - NEWSPRINT
Editor: Chris Bushee
Layout Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
“Encourages people to shop locally. “
“Many great features about the business owners in the area.”
“Good art.”
AWARD WINNERS 2019 & 2020
In 2019, 173 newspapers submitted 2,918 entries... and the results were...
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Photo by Tom Stock
Judges Comments:
“Great eye-catching photo. I like how the ice axes are well-positioned with the text underneath. Clean and simple.”
BEST SPECIAL SECTION
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“Gorgeous holiday magazine promoting Catholic Charities’ Festival of Trees.Beautiful photography, page layouts, ad design, typeface - exquisite. Consistent messaging amplifies the mission of the non-profit - great engagement with numerous community members.”
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“Tons of great, colorful content with great mix of stories, columns, graphics and more. Impressive entry that stood out right away. “
BEST NICHE GLOSSY
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“The top bridal special section I’ve seen yet: lavishly decorated pages, great color, top graphics and stories on quality page stock… superb.”
In 2020, 151 newspapers submitted 2,440 entries... and the results were...
BEST GLOSSY MAG
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“Outstanding magazine, especially since this was published during the pandemic. Makes me want to visit Saratoga!”
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Marisa Scirocco
Judges Comments:
“Wonderful celebration of ‘Sense of Place.’ Good, strong, clear writing. Well researched and presented in compact, straightforward pieces.”
AWARD WINNERS 2021
In 2021, 132 newspapers submitted 2,481 entries... and the results were...
Judges
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
Great content in here, the contact info, maps, and more. I really like the info for the specific communities. The house feature is great, there are some spectacular photos there. The pages with 1/3 photos look great, as do the pages with 4-column content. A great section!
Layout Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
This is a GREAT idea! There are obvious benefits here for clients and readers alike, this is a section that’ll have shelf life and will garner pride for lots of businesses. I love the story topics and how you included multiple businesses in them. AWESOME!
AWARD WINNERS 2023
In 2023, 142 newspapers submitted 2,530 entries... and the results were...
Secretariat
Editor: Chad Beatty
Magazine Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
“Beautiful throughout with a cohesive collection of well-written stories. Lots of big, vibrant pictures draw the reader in and make them stick around to read what you have to say. Well done!”
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
“More than just a pretty face, this media kit has it all - testimonials, stats, convincing copy, gorgeous layout - great work here. “
Editor: Chris Bushee
Magazine Designer: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan
Judges Comments:
“Lovely publication that includes necessary advertiser information and not just a photo book.”
“I enjoyed this entry. Made me want to visit Saratoga. Good design, info, layout, etc.” Carpetland Full Page Ad
Ad Designer: Kelly Schoonbeck
Judges Comments: “Great ad!”
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE COVERS
Welcome Home, 2023 - Photo by Super Source Media Studios
Equicurean, 2018
Photo provided by NYRA, Gun Runner from the 2017 Whitney Stakes
Saratoga Bride, 2017
Photo by Tracey Buyce Photography
Gown: Lily Saratoga Flowers: Samantha
Nass Floral Design
Simply Saratoga Home & Garden, 2022 - Photo by Bethany Bowyer Khan
Saratoga Home & Lifestyle, 2023
Simply Saratoga Fall, Showcase of Homes Edition, 2016
Photo by Randall Perry Photography
OUR READER’S SAY IT BEST!
Saratoga Today newspaper is an essential read each and every week to keep up to date with what’s important in our community. It’s the one reliable source for all our local news!
- Barry Potoker, Roohan Realty Saratoga Builders Association
Congratulations on your 20th year. Saratoga TODAY is the voice of Saratoga, and it has been great seeing you grow from that first edition in 2006 to what we see today. I look forward to the next 20 years!
- Sonny Bonacio
Everyday, as I travel around the city someone comments on how much they love Simply Saratoga Magazine as well as very kind remarks about the History section and the articles I write. It is such an honor to be part of such a successful publication.
- All the best, Charlie Kuenzel
I would like to convey a testimonial to you regarding the Saratoga Today Newspaper. I asked you to include my church, Christian Restoration Ministries, in your church directory. Well, praise the Lord, the first week we were in your publication a lady from Oneonta walked into our Sunday evening service and said that she was looking for a church to attend and saw the listing for our church in the paper and decided to come. Talk about quick results! I want to personally thank you for including Christian Restoration Ministries in your newspaper church directory. You are a blessing to us…
- Pastor Pat Roach
Simply Saratoga is the quintessential local Saratoga magazine! Thank you, Chris, and Chad, for a magazine I look forward to reading and proudly displaying for my out-of-town friends. Keep up the wonderful work!
- Bob English
Simply Saratoga was a treasure to find as we searched for our perfect place to be! During a visit last year I picked up your Fall issue along the way. My husband, Bill, and I were driving around the area and saw the Showcase of Homes highlighted in the magazine. I don’t know if we would have chosen Stillwater and Camelot Associates if it weren’t for Simply Saratoga. Our choice was so easy after that! Simply said, we are excited to move and become active community members.”
- Diane Fausel Kurtz
THANK YOU! Saratoga BRIDE has made planning an upstate New York wedding so easy! I got really overwhelmed with Pinterest and the national publications, but your wedding magazine is a one stop shop with a creative edge and diverse pieces.
- Brittany DeMarco
Remeber these Specialty Pubs?
I wanted to let you know that I finally found time to finish reading the Town of Wilton magazine. It was very well done — just as all your publications are! I especially enjoyed reading the stories about Roy McDonald, Ray O’Conor and Mike Dennis, as they are men that I have admired for years. Thank you for putting it together and all the work it entailed.
From someone who is been the recipient of your featured stories, I am most grateful for your creative publications, superb reporters, excellent photographers and generous support. Your willingness to continually cover individuals, events, activities and organizations throughout our community has been exceedingly appreciated. The people who live, work and/or visit the greater Saratoga Springs area benefit tremendously from all your publications as they inform, highlight and educate all of the aspects of our community.
I applaud your commitment and want to reiterate my utmost thanks to you!
All my best regards, Pamela Polacsek
Photo: Super Source Media Studios
Photo: Super Source Media Studios
MEET OUR TEAM
Chad Beatty Owner, Publisher
When asked what defines him, Chad quickly responded: God, family, and country. When he is not publishing newspaper and magazines, he spends his time working out, rock climbing, training Jiu-Jitsu, and shooting. “I go hard all day, but when it is over, I most enjoy spending time at home with family or at church.”
ADVERTISING
Jim Daley Advertising Director
When he’s not selling advertising, Jim likes to spend time operating his model trains on his train layout down in his basement. Jim and his wife, Jeanne, of 36 years have 3 adult children – Jordan, Jamie and Joshua. They call us the “J5 Family”. Favorite quote “I got a fever and the only prescription is more cow bell”
Kim
Beatty
Kim has always been an avid reader of all things, from classic literature and non-fiction, to fun reads and of course, newspapers. It was only fitting that she married a man in the publishing industry! As much as she loves being involved in getting the newspapers to our readers each week, her most fulfilling job was being a homeschool mom to her now 21-year-old son.
Cindy Durfey Advertising
Guided by her faith in Jesus Christ, Cindy genuinely enjoys helping others with patience and kindness while delivering excellent customer service. She is strongly committed to keeping family as her top priority. She also enjoys a good witty joke –whether it’s from her or about her, as long as it’s clean! She is currently working her way toward retirement, one step at a time.
Chris Bushee Managing Editor of the Magazine Division & Marketing Director
Chris has been with Saratoga TODAY for 18 years but started 12 years prior at The Saratogian – She loves Saratoga! But she fell in love with a man who doesn’t know a race horse from a donkey and had never heard of Saratoga Springs! (Honestly, she’s not kidding!) So… When Chris isn’t working, she enjoys showing her husband this beautiful area… luckily their two dogs travel well, as the couple enjoys checking out cute little towns, finding off the wall diners or cafes and stopping at EVERY BARN SALE they pass! Chris is ALWAYS looking for her next story, and loves getting to know everybody she meets! For example… Hoosick Falls has the cutest little general store / bakery (which you can read about in an upcoming issue of Simply Saratoga! (oh no, does that mean she is ALWAYS WORKING?!)
Thomas Beaury Advertising
When Thomas isn’t talking shop and helping local businesses grow, he’s spending time with his 5-year-old Pomeranian/Lab, Jack. You can often find him at a local coffee shop enjoying a bacon, egg, and cheese while soaking in the Saratoga atmosphere. He’s happiest spending time with his wife, Tiffany, and their furbaby, Jack, just enjoying the everyday moments.
EDITORIAL - NEWSPAPER
Jonathon Norcross Business, Arts & Entertainment, Sports Reporter
Outside of his reporting duties, Jonathon enjoys attending as many SPAC concerts as possible and pretending he can pick winners at the track. His favorite writers are Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, and Hunter S. Thompson. Jonathon and his wife Stefanie live in Ballston Spa with a trio of crazy cats. If you appreciate his work, feel free to send him a bottle of Barolo.
Aidan Cahill, City, Crime, and Education Reporter
While Aidan Cahill may be new to the area, he is certainly making it his home. Beyond covering Saratoga, he is a student at UAlbany working to get his master’s degree in Homeland Security and an active member of the Halfmoon-Waterford Fire Company. When he’s not working, studying, or running calls, Cahill can usually be found watching F1, reading or going on side quests.
Anne Strauss Proofreader
When Anne Strauss isn’t busy catching typos in the pre-press articles of Saratoga TODAY, she is usually busy writing at home with her beloved dog Ollie at her feet. Anne has published two novels and a memoir, and is at work on a third novel.
DESIGNERS
Kacie Cotter-Harrigan Magazine Designer
Kacie has been with the company for almost 10 years. During that time, she has taken on every design role in house! Her other joys in life include painting, boating, gardening, and spending time with family. She is a proud mom of her 2-year-old son, Blakely. “I love the creative process of designing magazines, but nothing compares to being a mom.”
Jocelyn Lucey Newspaper Designer
When she is not designing the newspapers, Jocelyn enjoys staying creative outside of work by painting and trying new hobbies. She loves to collect physical media and jam out to Rock and Metal music. She got engaged to her best friend back in November and is excited for this new chapter in life with him. She also loves to create new memories and go on adventures with her friends and family!
DELIVERY TEAM
Donna Conley
Donna is actively enjoying retirement, but finds time to deliver our products to the Ballston Spa and Malta area
Billy Yaiser
Billy has been with Saratoga Today for more than a decade. He is a proud veteran of the US Navy and his passion over the last 30 years has been to help those confined to wheelchairs continue to be healthy and active playing tennis and golf.
Jeremy Goard
Jeremy lives in Wilton with his wife and two sons. When not working full time as an auditor for New York State, he enjoys the freedom and autonomy of being able to deliver Saratoga Today to residents and businesses each week.
Danny McGarity
Danny is a student at Saratoga Springs High School. He likes to go skiing at Gore Mountain in the winter and enjoys running year-round. He’s been delivering for Saratoga Today for a year and a half.
Madison Teator Ad Designer
When she is not designing ads, Madison enjoys painting and reading. She loves to go see live music, and dance her heart out. Her favorite quote is; “Das Leben ist kurz, die Kunst ist lang” -Hippocrates
Joe Tesoriere
Joe has been part of Saratoga Today for 9 years, delivering papers and magazines to downtown and the surrounding area. He likes to keep active in his retirement with various activities including his grandchildren’s sporting events, senior center activities and volunteer opportunities around town.
Matt McGarity
Matt likes to ski, especially hard terrain. He goes to Saratoga springs middle school. In addition to skiing he does track and field, and cross country. He likes to hang out with his friends in the neighborhood in his free time and go to car meets in the state park. He’s been delivering Saratoga Today for a year and a half to his neighborhood.
IN MEMORIAM
Robin Mitchell General Manager & Advertising from 2006 – 2022
With heartfelt remembrance, we honor our dear friend, Robin Mitchell. Your dedication and friendship have left an indelible mark on all who knew you.
Robin Mitchell the General Manager of Saratoga TODAY had been by Chad’s side from the beginning, and she was so vested in this company and our success. I know she would’ve loved the excitement around our 20th Anniversary! I still can’t believe she’s not here, but sadly we lost her in the winter of 2022, not 30 days after her husband Dave passed of a heart attack.
Robin was not just my co-worker at Saratoga TODAY, but my friend. We met 27 years ago when I started at The Saratogian (but apparently we also went to high school together!) In addition to road trips, shopping days and pool parties (possibly during work hours!) family get togethers, house parties, trips to the cape, back yard get-togethers and holidays like you’ve never seen (this woman loved to entertain!) she’s been at my side for my entire professional career. Oh, I forgot the time when she asked me to “fill in” for her assistant troop leader for two weeks, (while she went to a work function), and I wound up staying for…YEARS! We had so much fun being Girl Scout Leaders together (she was the leader, I was just the assistant) lol
Many of the wonderful messages on Facebook mentioned her mentoring, nurturing ways and I couldn’t agree more. Actually, I think it was her idea that I take over the magazine division (but I’m sure she let Chad think it was his!) We had so much fun in the early days building this brand… covers, themes, recipes, travel, people, wine tours, sushi 101… she would encourage me every step of the way. Robin was a force, the original Boss Babe, and I’m sure Chad would agree. ☺ - Her friend, Chris