Tedisco, Santa Honor West Avenue Pizza in Saratoga Springs with NYS Empire Award

Saratoga Springs -- Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Saratoga Springs) joined St. Nick to present the NYS Senate Empire Award, the state Senate's highest honor for small businesses, to West Avenue Pizza, at the Saratoga Springs restaurant's "Dinner with Santa" fundraiser for the Franklin Community Center.

"It didn't take too much convincing, but Santa said I was (mostly) good enough this year that he was happy to help me recognize West Avenue Pizza owners Mario Cardenas and his sister, Jennifer, for their family-based labor of love with an Empire Award, the New York State Senate's highest recognition for small businesses and organizations. The Cardenas' brought their restaurant experience from Schenectady/Niskayuna eateries to Saratoga Springs and along the way, fulfilled a need to feed backstretch workers at the Track and have garnered praise for their food. Partial proceeds from the second annual 'Dinner With Santa' are going to help the Franklin Community Center with their never-ending work assisting our region's most vulnerable," said Senator Jim Tedisco.