PHOTO ALBUM BELOW!

Last spring, in the midst of lock down, I did the unthinkable. I began waking at 4AM, watching YouTube tutorial after tutorial about how to: 1. Create a logo. 2. Design a website. 3. Edit videos. 4. Organize an LLC. At 7AM PROMPTLY, my four monsters would begin rising from the dead and virtual school would begin. I’d have to then wait until nap time to continue chipping away at my to-do’s, where I’d sneak up to my attic space and begin making phone calls. I’d call potential partners and show them what the website, dedicated to showcasing local businesses, would SOON look like. I’d show them what the promotional videos COULD look like. The most exciting part of the story? They believed in me.

On June 21st, 2021, together with my main partners, Roohan Realty, Adirondack Trust Company, and The Adelphi Hotel, we toasted to ONE YEAR of The SCOOP. We celebrated our successes and our new friendships. We celebrated the ability to once again gather. We celebrated the resiliency of our local small businesses after the toughest year EVER. And we celebrated this amazing community we live in, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Attendees included Todd Shimkus (President of the Saratoga County Chamber), Charles V. Waite Jr.(Chairman and CEO of Adirondack Trust Co.), Leah Ferrone (Marketing Operations and Outreach Manager at Adirondack Trust Co.), Barry Potoker (Marketing Director at Roohan Realty), Scott Clark (CEO of SRYMCA), Helen Watson and Corinna Milazzo (GM and CFO of Adelphi Hotel, Abby Tegnelia and Annette Quarrier (CEO and Publisher at Saratoga Living), along with many wonderful friends and family. Of course, it wouldn’t be a celebration without the owners of many of the past “SCOOPed” small businesses! And I even got the opportunity to chat with several SCOOP followers who I had never met in person… which was super fun!

Although the original party was scheduled to take place in the Adelphi Gardens, approaching storms moved us into the bright glass atrium. Both the Adelphi’s fabulous food and presentation had the guests pulling me aside all night. (You know the food is fab when you spot a friend take a bacon “roadie” off the clothesline as they exit… you know who you are). The signature drink of the evening, a custom-created ginger pear cocktail by Tim the Bar Man himself, left the guests with hopes for a new bar menu addition.

Considering the fact that this crazy attic idea resulted in the production over 80 videos this past year highlighting our local businesses, you can say that there were a few “thank yous” to be shared. My favorite part of the evening was taking the floor to express my sincere gratitude to the friends and family who have supported my venture, the partners who believed in my crazy idea, and the “SCOOPed” businesses who took the time to work with me to create locally-focused content for those who SHARE THE LOVE OF LOCAL.

This year brought us each so many challenges, but equally as many blessings. The fact that I had the opportunity to meet so many people that I never would have otherwise met, and help them to live out their dreams, is right there at the top of my list.

Click on a photo to scroll through. Photos by Megan Mumford Photography.