Fun in Saratoga

NYRA deal extended to January 23rd

This information about the NYRA deal being extended is just about 25 minutes old.  Congratulations to the Post Star for apparently breaking the official announcement via this article. 

Saratoga News links December 31, 2007

Police: Traveling stalker threatened rape - Times Union

Fireworks for Saratoga - As usual - Article on First Night Saratoga in Albany Times Union

Mayor-elect pursuing a unified city - Times Union

Temporary Deal on horse racing anticipated - NYRA article in Times Union

Free cab rides offered to New Year's revelers - Saratogian

New Home Prices continue to rise - Saratogian

First Night Saratoga festivities expected to draw 14,000 - Saratogian

Snow emergency announced in Saratoga Springs - Saratogian

State, NYRA strike deal to maintain horse racing through start of New Year - Post Star

Another storm on the way - Post Star

Countdown is on for First Night Saratoga - Capital News 9 (with video)

Saratoga Springs resident arrested in Spokane, Washington

You got to love RSS feeds.  I just received this story about a 20 year old Saratoga Springs resident allegedly driving all the way to Spokane to stalk a teenager off the web, and I do believe this blog is the first local entity to break this story.  His name is Joshua R. Stetar.  Television news and newspapers as we previously knew them are dead - adapt, migrate or die. 

Great Fun is a total ripoff

Hey folks check out your credit card bills closely - I just found a charge from "Great Fun" out of Connecticut.  I didn't remember such a charge so when I called the 800 number listed - surprise - I got at first a endless loop of recordings and when I called back I got an error message.   

I called my credit card company to dispute the bill and they told me they remove a lot of bills from this company.  They had me for four months of bills at $12.99 a month.  I need to pay better attention to my bills! 

I Googled their name along with "Hartford, CT" and I got this helpful info off the "Rip Off Report" web site.  I will be forwarding this information to the Attorney General's office on Monday.  Well it looks like I will get my money back and a valuable lesson as well.   

Saratoga area news links December 30, 2007

NYRA deal said to be near - Times Union

Saratoga Springs Mayor-elect forms teams - Schenectady Daily Gazette

Saratoga County Property owners to begin receiving tax bills - Schenectady Daily Gazette

Saratoga area news links December 29, 2007

Racing Panel Sidesteps NYRA decision - Times Union

Saratoga First Night - Fox 23 TV

Saratoga Springs: This could be the last time - Post Star blog

Contessa sets NYRA single-season win record - Thoroughbred Times

Welcome to "Eat my words" - Post Star blog commentary on food in Saratoga Springs

NYRA races to be available on Tracknet outlets and HRTV - Thoroughbred Times

Saratoga Springs First Night - Universal Preservation Hall

I am on the mailing list for Universal Preservation Hall, and I just received this email about Saratoga First Night event at UPH, which I am copying below.  I encourage all of you to contribute to UPH if you can.

Email from Matt Kopans:  Come to UPH for First Night

UPH will be a venue again this year for First Night on December 31st.  At 6pm and 7pm the Union Fire Company #2 Marching Band will perform.  At 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, and 11pm Comedian Moody McCarthy will perform.  For more information and to get your First Night Button, go to the YMCA website: www.ymcasaratoga.org/firstnight. Hope to see you at the Hall! Sincerely, Matt Kopans Managing Director Universal Preservation Hall 25 Washington St Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 www.UniversalPreservationHall.org To make a donation to Universal Preservation Hall, please use our secure online donation form.  If you go to http://www.UniversalPreservationHall.org/donate you'll be redirected to our secure page.

Saratoga Newslinks December 28, 2007

NOTE: See NYRA story in entry below

First Night Saratoga Parking and Transportation Information - Capital News 9

New Lawyer appointed in Spa City - Times Union local politics blog

NYRA gets extension: thoughts - Opinion on Locustwood/Gotham Civic Opinion blog

NYRA gets "temporary" extension

Well, I guess we all knew the what, we just didn't know the when.  I'm sort of glad it's apparently over - the "temporary" aspect of it will soon lead to permanence, or at least multi-year.  Rather than complaining I'll just try to make things better in my own small way, and of course I'll truly enjoy Saratoga this summer.  Here are some newslinks  on the story.   Shocker of the month: apparently the Saratogian actually broke the story.  Wow.

Saratogian

AP report via Post Star

Racing Newswire.net

Albany Times Union

Saratoga news links December 26, 2007

Saratoga Springs gears up for First Night - Post Star

NYRA deal may be reached soon - Capital News 9

Gillibrand announces $128,000 for local law enforcement, first responders - Empirestatenews.net

Restoration of Historic Hall Making Strides - Schenectady Daily Gazette