Doggo sports leagues coming to town. And love our locals (again!)
PLUS: Sold-out show gets rescheduled, a much-anticipated party gets cancelled, and June Farms on the small screen.
PAWSitively Living the Dream
A next-level pup obedience center offers green space, pond swimming and competitive league play just minutes from Saratoga.
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PAWS Obedience Training is bringing next-level doggie training and competitive sports leagues to a stunning new location just minutes from downtown Saratoga.
The nine-year-old business (which has a second location in Hudson Falls) has chosen to move from South Glens Falls to Greenfield Center to offer dogs more green space to play in and a pond for pups who love a good doggie paddle on a warm summer’s day.
“At the new location we have 12 and a half acres of green space and a pond for the dogs to swim,” says co-owner Lora Bacharach. “We have hiking trails that dogs get to romp around on and be trained off leash. Now the dogs get to run around and…be dogs.”
PAWS offers day training, private lessons and group classes. The Greenfield facility features indoor training space, private rooms for crating and training, and a retail shop. A separate building (scheduled to open the first week in November) will house the puppy training and preschool, and the all-ages grooming salon
“Our day train is not like any other daycare,” says Bacharach, who owns PAWS with and Jen Wolfe; her cofounder, Bri Rabine; and her husband, Will. “We take a lot of dogs that don’t do well in that [daycare] environment and we work with them throughout the day at four academic centers — training, socialization, enrichment, and rest and calm.”
The Hudson Falls location is 32 acres and holds water sports and dock diving competitions, which Bacharach is hoping to bring to the new location within two years. Both locations offer seasonal disc leagues and an endurance club.
“I’ve been a dog nut since I was 8, when I went with my parents to a dog show,” Bacharach says. “When I was 16, I started working for a training facility and fell in love with it. I loved my mentor and started shadowing and working with a bunch of different people. Eventually I decided it was time to build my own.”
PAWS works like a gym membership, allowing its members to come when they want and have access to classes and seminars on topics such as nutrition, first aid or scent work — which dogs can learn to compete in.
The public — humans only — is invited to attend two special grand opening community events on Oct. 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. The events will feature tours, pond walks, the opening of the retail shop, raffles, photo booths and refreshments.
Free phone consultations are available and by appointment; for more info, visit paws4obedience.com.
In brief
Sold-out Pink Martini gets a rescheduled date
On October 13, the Dispatch reported that the cross-genre band Pink Martini had sold out UPH. Then…the beloved “little orchestra” cancelled. It’s now officially a postponement with a new date of May 21.
Showtime
June Farms hits your small screen
Remember when it seemed every Saratogian was making the trek to the Upper Hudson Valley to attend a party at the shiny new June Farms? Now it’s coming to us — or at least our screens, as the home of a new Amazon Prime series aptly named June Farms. The unscripted series revolves around owner Matt Baumgartner and his handling of stressful weddings that go down at his farm, rain or shine. Available for streaming Nov. 17.
In brief
Much-anticipated 500 Club fundraiser cancelled
Universal Preservation Hall has announced that “Meet Me at the 500 Club” — which was to be its first-ever fundraiser at home in the theater — has been cancelled. “UPH extends its sincere appreciation to the event’s sponsors, ticket holders and vendors whose continued support and enthusiasm plays an essential role in sustaining the arts and cultural vitality of Saratoga Springs,” says UPH’s executive director, Teddy Foster. Plans are already underway to bring “Meet Me at the 500 Club” back in the near future.
Letter to the editor
Campaigns Lie
When campaigns run scared, they lie.
Lies about our water supply. About MAGA infiltrating city council with Stefanik as puppet master. About One Saratoga’s contributions.
All investigated. All debunked. All made by desperate people.
This is why a lifelong Democrat like me is voting One Saratoga this November. While their opponents peddle fiction and fear, One Saratoga candidates will govern with honesty, integrity, and class.
I know which Saratoga I want to live in: One Saratoga.
Carol Joyce
Saratoga Springs, NY
Early voting starts Saturday! The Dispatch will cease the publication of all letters to the editor this Friday, so letters need to be sent to editors@saratogadispatch.com by end of day Thursday (tomorrow, Oct. 23). Thank you.
Think local, love local
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s beloved Love Our Locals is back.
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The Love Our Locals $20.25 campaign, a beloved initiative that emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and non-profit organizations, is launching on Thursday, Oct. 30 and will continue throughout the remainder of the year.
During this time, residents and tourists who support any business or non-profit in Saratoga County by spending or donating $20.25 or more are eligible to enter a gift card giveaway.
Individuals are encouraged to submit their receipts of $20.25 or more online (there’s no limit on entries) at www.saratoga.org/love-our-locals to enter. Each week, the Chamber will randomly select winners for $100 in gift cards to businesses across the county; check the site to see who’s winning.
While the campaign takes place during the holiday shopping season, it is designed to support a wide variety of businesses and organizations from the retail, dining, service, entertainment and non-profit sectors. Eligible purchases can include a chiropractor adjustment, teeth cleaning, eye exam, hair care appointment, car repairs, home improvement projects, dry cleaning, hotel stays, dining at restaurants, concert tickets, landscaping, snow removal, fitness club memberships, floral deliveries, toys and holiday decorations. Donations made to area charitable organizations are also eligible for entry.
Love Our Locals $20.25 is generously sponsored by many area businesses that donate gift cards as the prizes.
Now in its fifth year, this campaign started during the pandemic as Save Our Locals $20.21, which resulted in more than 2,000 entries from locals whose purchases directly aided in the county’s economic rebound from COVID-19 restrictions. In 2022, the Save Our Locals program was recognized with a New York State Tourism Excellence Award from the New York State Tourism Industry Association.
“We are proud of how this initiative has grown over the past four years, and we’re thrilled to launch it once again,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “Love Our Locals was created to energize our local economy and encourage area residents to shop local and donate to local causes as 2025 comes to a close.”
For more info, visit www.saratoga.org/love-our-locals. Business who want to donate gift cards and be featured in this campaign are invited to email loveourlocals@saratoga.org for more information.
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