LOCAL • INDEPENDENT • FREE Volume 14 •
Issue 43
• October 23 – October 29, 2020
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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Budget Shortfall:
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518- 581-2480
Recreation, Police & Fire All On the Chopping Block by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
The new lobby outside Saratoga Music Hall, located on the third floor at City Hall, revealed in advance of a City Council meeting on Oct. 20, 2020. The entry to the hall is at right. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
Giving Back
Grace Firehock, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, started Toga Toiletries to provide personal hygiene products to students in need. Photo provided. See Story pg. 16
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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The newly restored Saratoga Music Hall opened to the public last Tuesday when it hosted a city council meeting that featured the first public hearing of the proposed 2021 budget. The proposed annual budget seeks to adjust to a near $7 million shortfall, due to what
Charter Change Insider
What You Need To Know What the Community is Saying: See pgs. 8 & 9 Insider: See pgs. 10 & 11
councilmembers referred to as “this COVID economy.” The 2021 proposal stands at just under $41.9 million, compared to the $48.7 million budget adopted late last year, for 2020. On the table: a 6% increase in property tax rates – which would increase the property tax payment on a home assessed at $200K by $6 per month, or $72 per year – as well as potential layoffs and budget cuts across all departments. See Story pg. 14
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localBRIEFS Indoor Classes
Have you Heard? The Town of Malta Parks and Recreation has started indoor classes. For the latest programs and events go to www.maltaparksrec.com
Online Auction
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs is holding an online auction, open to the community, with the proceeds to be used in our social justice programs and in our ministry. Bidding begins Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. and ends on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Website: bit. ly/UUnmasked2020. Bidders can register for free. Winning bidders will be notified by email. For questions call 518-587-0403.
Fundraiser Drive-Through
St. Clement’s School located at 231 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs will be hosting a Dizzy Chicken BBQ Dinner Drive-Through on Tuesday, Nov. 3 starting at 4 p.m. until food runs out. The cost is $15, which will include a chicken half (antibiotic free), baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll, cookie and bottled water. No pre-sales just drive up to the door between the school and the rectory to purchase your dinners. Cash only. Rain or shine.
Election Day Chili Meal
Take-out only. The Malta Ridge United Methodist Church Election Day Chili Meal is back, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Church located at 729 Malta Avenue Ext., Malta Ridge. The menu will feature chili, roll, and cookie for dessert. Donation is $8. Stop by and pick up or you can call 518-581-0210 between 11-4 p.m. on Election Day to order for pick up.
Fall Flea Market Space Available
The Flea Market will be held Nov. 14 at the Elks Lodge, located at 130 Bulson Rd., Greenwich, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the banquet parking lot, rain or shine. Limited spaces available. Call for an application today. You must bring your own set up. Sponsored by the BPOE Elks Auxiliary and proceeds donated back to our community by donations, scholarships, or friends in need. Please contact Donna Blair at 518692-2347 or eccdb@verizon.net or Annette Arnold at 518-692-9387 for your application or details.
45th Saratoga Holiday Craft Marketplace
A virtual event on Nov. 14 – 28. Start your holiday shopping with our virtual show on Nov. 14, culminating with specials offered on Nov. 28 (Small Business Saturday). Find crafters or discover new ones. Locally handmade items include art, quilting, floral, holiday décor, pottery, baskets, fashion, woodworking. Visit www. saratogacraft.org home page anytime between Nov. 14-28 and click on the link to the show to begin your virtual shopping. All proceeds benefit the Saratoga Center for the Family.
Southern Saratoga Art Society
Artists and members of the Southern Saratoga Art Society are exhibiting during the months of November and December at the Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Ct., Clifton Park. Thirteen artists will present “A Fall Festival of Art,” an eclectic mix of artwork. Please try to visit, late afternoon is best at this venue, and support the arts in southern Saratoga County. For more information about SSAS visit: www.southernsaratogaartist.com.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
This Week’s Events: OCT. 23 - 29 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27
Household & Antique Sale Fundraiser
Pierogi Sale Pick Up
716 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Seeds for Peace is holding a household and antique sale Friday and Saturday to benefit their seed distribution program for orphanages and community gardens in Africa. Household items, tools, telescope, linens, brick-abrack, vintage clothing, some furniture. Masks are required and social distancing will be in effect.
Christ the Savior Church, 349 Eastline Rd., Ballston Lake As usual we will have potato/cheese, sauerkraut, and farmer’s cheese perogies. Please order soon as we expect the orders to be larger than usual: 518363-0001.Thank you for your patience at this time of COVID. Please wear your masks. We follow all proper procedures for your safety.
Fundraiser Take Out
Knights of Columbus #246, 50 Pine Rd., Saratoga Springs 5 – 8 p.m. | Menu: Italian roasted half chickens, oven roasted potatoes, acorn squash, and garden salad. Cost is $18; dessert can be purchased for an additional charge. To place your order, call 518584-8547 between 1-3 p.m. If you get the answering machine, please do not leave a message, as we may not receive it. Just call back in a couple of minutes.
South Glens Falls United Methodist Church 15 Maplewood Parkway, South Glens Falls 6 – 8 p.m. | GriefShare seminars and support groups are meant to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. The group is for anyone who has lost a loved one and is grieving. We will meet for 13 weeks (ending on Dec. 29). For more information call 518-793-1152.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
Craft and Garage Sale
Saratoga-Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Due to the pandemic, the sale will be held outside in the parking lot with free admission. There will be over 30 vendors and bargains galore. Masks required and must adhere to socially distancing guidelines. We offer household items, sports equipment, fabrics, hand-made items, clothing, jewelry, food treats, lunch and more. Rain date Sunday, October 25. All proceeds go to local charities. Call Linda at 518-289-5470 for information or table space. An 8 foot table and chair are only $15.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 Ponies, Pumpkins and Pies
Pitney Meadows Community Farm 223 West Ave., Saratoga Springs | Noon – 3 p.m. The community is invited to celebrate this beautiful time of year in Saratoga with an afternoon of Ponies, Pumpkins and Pies on a farm tour experience for the whole family. The inaugural event is a collaboration between the Saratoga-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Pitney Meadows Community Farm. Guests will enjoy a short Sunday drive around a winding pasture path full of ponies and preserved farmland. All guests must register in advance and remain in their cars throughout the event. The cost is $10 per car with the option to pre-order local pies and pumpkins. Attendees are encouraged to add to the festive atmosphere by dressing in costume and each child will receive a goodie bag. Link to event page here: www.trfinc.org/event/ponies2020.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 Beginning English Language Class
Zoom Web Presentation | 10 a.m. – Noon Learn English with the Library. This class is for beginning level English learning adults. Learn the basics of English with a trained instructor in a fun and supportive group setting. Register online at www.sspl.org.
Grief Share
Oven Roasted Chicken Dinner
Saratoga-Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs 4:30 – 6 p.m. | For curb-side pick up only. Menu: ½ oven roasted chicken, oven roasted red skin potatoes, vegetable, roll, tossed salad. Dinner for 2 cost $25. Cash only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order: 518-584-2585.
Comfort for Those Who Mourn
St. Luke’s On the Hill, 40 McBride Rd., Mechanicville 4:30 – 6 p.m. | This is a six-week nondenominational Christian grief support group for those grieving the death of a loved one. We will meet in person using Covid guidelines for safe distancing in the Great Room. For further information, please visit stlukesonthehill.org/events. You may register by phone or email: 518-664-4834, dcylynne@gmail.com
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 Medicare 101: Understanding Your Choices Zoom Web Presentation | 2 – 3 p.m. Join Dave DeMarco, volunteer Medicare Counselor with the Saratoga County Office for the Aging, for an overview of the Medicare program and your coverage options, including an update on what’s new this year. Registration is required and can be done online at www.sspl.org.
Cancelled and Postponed Events: Warm Coats for Veterans Cancelled
Jewish War Veterans of Saratoga Springs, Post 36 regrets to announce that its annual Warm Coats for Veterans collection has been cancelled due to COVID-19. The coat drive will resume in November 2021. For more information, please call David Kieserman, Commander, Post 36 at 518-587-7809.
Election Day Dinner Postponed
The Charlton Freehold Presbyterian Church is postponing its annual Election Day Chicken and Biscuit Dinner for one year. The church will still be supporting the School Pantry Program and ask that you consider mailing a contribution to The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York or donating on: regionalfoodbank.net/donate-money
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
NEWS 3
NBT Executive To Share Story Of Surviving Stroke
Mickey Orta family. Photo provided.
ALBANY — Mickey Orta attributed a week of migraines and pain in the back of his head to work travel. But on a Friday night in March 2019, on his way to dinner with his wife Maggie, the then-43-year-old felt a little queasy and off balance as they walked to the hostess station. Seated in the booth, he slumped to the left, leaning against the wall, and couldn’t feel anything all the way down his body. “My wife checked her phone, and told me I was having a stroke,” Orta, who is a Senior Vice President in the Wealth Management group at NBT Bank,
said. “I didn’t believe it. She and the waiter pulled me out of the booth, and my wife took me to Glens Falls Hospital.” After the MRI and CT scan, he felt much better, and was looking forward to skiing the next day with his son Nicolas. Instead, he learned that he had suffered a stroke, and would be admitted to the hospital. Orta will share his story on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. via Zoom during the local portion of The Capital Region’s CycleNation World Stroke Day. To join the event, visit heart.zoom.us/j/95196137525?p wd=ZjE2NTBJSnRUTVRhVHNr
Z3pCTlEvZz09&from=msft;. The local digital event will be followed by a national digital event celebrating all the CycleNation efforts in the nation. Begun as a stationary cycling event, CycleNation 2020 has expanded, recruiting and challenging participants to bike, hike, run, walk, or whatever kind of exercise they want to do, to help the country achieve One CycleNation’s goal of getting 1 million miles of exercise, and raise $1 million. To participate, register at CycleNation.org/CapitalRegionNY. Funds raised will support the kind of research that can help keep save lives like Orta’s
Seeking Locations for Toys for Tots Campaign SARATOGA SPRINGS – Discover Saratoga, DeCrescente Distributing Company, Druthers Brewing Company, Death Wish Coffee, and Quick Response have partnered to initiate the 8th Annual Toys for Toga campaign, in conjunction with the 15th Annual Discover Saratoga Restaurant Week, Oct. 30 – Nov. 8. The organizations have released the following information: We’d love to have our members participate in this great cause! Here’s how it will work: Participating businesses will place a Toys for Toga cardboard box in or around their business. The logoed cardboard box is 18 X 18 X 30 and will be delivered to you. Starting Oct. 30 through Dec. 4, members of the local community can donate new, unwrapped toys at participating locations. People will know who is participating because there will be a list on our Restaurant Week webpage.
The 8th Annual Toys for Toga campaign kicks off Oct. 30.
Toy boxes will be collected the week of Dec. 7. Toys will be sanitized by Quick Response and equally distributed to Franklin Community Center (Saratoga Springs), CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services (Clifton Park) and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center (Mechanicville) in time for the holidays. If you would like to participate in Toys for Toga and have a box delivered to your business, please contact Vinnie Morrissey at V.Morrissey@ddcbev.com.
EXPENSIVE.
r e t r a O h C EN e T g O V han C *PAID FOR BY SARATOGA SPRINGS SUCCESS
4 Penny Mangini
SEPT. 21, 1943 - OCT. 8, 2020
Join us for a visitation memorial OCTOBER 14 | 5:30 - 7:30 THE FATHER’S HOUSE 2301 SOUTH ST, LEESBURG, FL
EUSTIS, FL — Penny Mangini, age 77, passed away at her home in Eustis, Florida on Thursday, October 8, 2020. She was born in Saratoga Springs on September 21, 1943. She attended St. Peter’s and graduated in 1961 from Saratoga High and later attended Lake-Sumter State College for Financial Services. Penny loved horses from an early age, something she carried with her into a career in the Standard Bred Horse Racing Industry. In 1981 she went into Banking Services becoming a Manager of Operations at Barnett Bank, then onto Bank of America where she retired from Banking in 2010. She found great joy
OBITUARIES working as a receptionist at The Father’s House until her final retirement in 2015. Penny had a great love of travel and scrapbooking her adventures. Her love of the ocean and the Keys in Florida always brought a smile to her face and calm to her heart. Penny loved the history of Saratoga Springs where she was born. She could always be found with a book or Kindle in her hand, whether it was on the many books of her hometown or the classics, Charles Dickens being a favorite and even named her beloved Maltese, Dickens. Researching her family history had taken her places she found fascinating, and Facebook brought her in contact with family members all over the United States. She had reconnected with old classmates from her school days and loved how easy it was to fall into conversations like it had just been yesterday. She had a unique sense of humor, a deep belief in her political views and boy, did she ever like posting about “coffee!” She was very grateful for the new friends she had made at Pendry Villa and cherished her many friends from her work at the Bank and from Church. Her faith was a very important
part of Penny’s life. It filled her soul with the nourishment of God’s Love, Salvation and made her whole. She found the power of prayer to be one of the most powerful forces on earth and did not get up from her bed until she finished all her prayers for loved ones whom she knew needed the Grace of God. Her family was her heart, her everything. She could not be prouder of her three children and the wonderful people that they had become. She relished in their achievements and gave a shoulder to their tears. She never grew tired of long conversations and hearing of their adventures, travels or everyday life. Her grandchildren brought her so much joy it was hard to understand how her heart could be contained inside her. She had loved being part of the special days as much as the pick-ups from school and boy, could she go on and on about concerts and achievements! She was thrilled being a greatgrandmother and loved all the special moments that only they could bring. She was blessed with getting to spend as much time as she did with her great-grandson Shia. He brought so much light into her life. She recently became a proud great-grandmother again
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
in September. Penny and her sister Terry were an affirmation that Love is a Verb and spent time daily with phone calls, many filled with stories of Buttons, her cat who could be both a joy and a handful. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Lillian and Rocco Mangini, a sister Donalee Mangini, all of Saratoga Springs. She is survived by her children Roben Cunningham Bronson of Tavares, FL, Christine Cunningham of Saratoga Springs, JJ (Marie) Southall of Eustis, FL, her six grandchildren Nathan Cunningham, Taylor Bronson, Austin & JaLynn Southall, Jimmy and Aubrey Bronson, her five great-grandchildren Shia, Owen, Hailey, Harper and Eli. Also, a sister Terry-Lynn Mangini (William) of Louisville, CO, daughter Roclyn Harrington and her four children of Saratoga Springs, a brother James Mangini and his two daughters, Crystal and Mallory Mangini of Kansas City, MO, plus many cousins near and far. She was a guiding light in all our lives and her passing has left a hole in our hearts that will be hard to fill. She will be forever remembered with Grace, Love and Joy.
Food Pantry OPEN
Wednesday 4:30 - 6 PM Thursday 11-12 PM St.Paul's Lutheran Church 149 Lake Ave. Saratoga Springs
Sheila Brooks SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sheila Brooks, 65 passed away October 11, 2020. Born February 13, 1955, she was a lifelong resident of the City of Saratoga Springs. A City that she dearly loved. Calling hours were October 22, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home followed by graveside service in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Visit www. burkefuneralhome.com.
Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes
SSARATOGA ARATOGA S SPRINGS PRINGS ∙∙ 584-5373 584-5373
Patricia Brown DeSio SARATOGA SPRINGS — Patricia Brown DeSio, 91, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, October 18, 2020. Calling hours will be held Thursday, October 29, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Friday, October 30, 2020 at Church of St. Peter. Burial: Monday, November 2, 2020 at the Saratoga National Cemetery. Visit www. burkefuneralhome.com.
Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes
SSARATOGA ARATOGA S SPRINGS PRINGS ∙∙ 584-5373 584-5373
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
COURT Adam J. Ross, 38, of Greenfield Center, pleaded Oct. 8 to felony DWI in Saratoga Springs. Sentencing scheduled Dec. 10. Brandon H. Welfinger, 24, of Malta, was sentenced Oct. 7 to two years state prison, after pleading to criminal sexual act in the third-degree. He was originally charged Dec. 10,2019. Bruce Stanley, 76, of Halfmoon, pleaded Oct. 5 to sexual abuse in the first-degree. Sentencing scheduled Dec. 7.
POLICE Parvatie Sukhram, 29, of Schenectady, was charged Oct. 16 with three counts of criminal possession of stolen property, and grand larceny – both felonies. She is suspected of the thefts of multiple vehicles. vehicle theft. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff ’s office, Sukhram was charged after an investigation into a report of a stolen vehicle on Ushers Road in the town of Clifton Park. Prior to allegedly stealing this vehicle, Sukhram earlier abandoned
another vehicle reported stolen to the Albany Police Department on Oct. 14. Isaac H. Montero, 38, of Middle Grove, was charged Oct. 18 with reckless endangerment in the first-degree, unlawful imprisonment in the firstdegree, both felonies, and menacing in the seconddegree, a misdemeanor, following an altercation at a residence in the town of Greenfield. Montero is alleged to have fired a 12-gauge shotgun at a victim, a hunter, after a dispute over property lines, and subsequently restraining him. John Pasquariello, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 25 with criminal tampering, a misdemeanor. Aric Lemon, 41, of Watervliet, was charged Sept. 26 with felony DWI, and making an unsafe turn. Andrew Sanderson, 46, of Far Rockaway, was charged Oct. 2 in Saratoga Springs on a warrant with bail jumping, a felony. Zane Jeffrey, 31, of Queensbury, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga
BLOTTER 5 Springs with misdemeanor DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop at a stop sign. Adirondack Nickolas, 22, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 3 with assault in the third-degree and disorderly conduct. Aaron Edwards, 39, of Corinth, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with assault in the third-degree. Shawn Shannon, 34, of Mechanicville, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with assault in the thirddegree, and two counts of disorderly conduct. Michael Redd, 18, of Malta, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with criminal mischief. John Sgorrano, 26, of Fort Edward, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, and obstructing government administration. Nichola Rapp, 25, of Schenectady, was charged Oct. 4 in Saratoga Springs with
misdemeanor DWI, and two driving violations. Stephen Budesa, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 5 with criminal trespass. Djontay Bennifield, 21, of Greenfield Center, was charged Oct. 5 with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, burglary, and aggravated criminal contempt. All four charges are felonies. Ricky Delorenzo, 59, of Corinth, was charged Oct. 6 in Saratoga Springs with petit larceny. James Blair, 64, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 6 with aggravated family offense, and criminal contempt. Michael Belcher, 21, of Middle Grove, was charged Oct. 7 in Saratoga Springs, with two counts aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and multiple driving and license/equipment violations. Jessica Smith, 39, of Gloversville, was charged Oct. 8 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and license
and equipment violations. Nicholas Dixon, 25, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 8 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, assault, aggravated family offense, acting in manner to injure child, and criminal obstruction of breathing. Elissa Natarelli, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 8 with assault. Edwin Perez, 60, of Milton, was charged Oct. 9 in Saratoga Springs with harassment. Henry Hester, 45, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 10 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding. Chad Cruger, 45, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 10 with harassment. Hunter Mahar, 26, of Corinth, was charged Oct. 12 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and making unsafe turn/ failure to give appropriate signal.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
EARLY VOTING New Developments Proposed LOCATIONS OPEN OCT. 24 for South Broadway SARATOGA SPRINGS — Election Day is Nov. 3. In addition to national and regional elections, Saratoga Springs city voters may vote to amend the City Charter. Note: Early Voting will take place Oct. 24–Nov. 1 at three Saratoga County early voting locations. Those locations are: • Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library: 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park • Board of Elections Building: 1st Floor, 50 W. High St., Ballston Spa
Locally Owned & Operated PUBLISHER/EDITOR Chad Beatty | 518-581-2480 x212 cbeatty@saratogapublishing.com GENERAL MANAGER Robin Mitchell | 518-581-2480 x208 rmitchell@saratogapublishing.com MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris Bushee | 518-581-2480 x201 cbushee@saratogapublishing.com
Sustainable Saratoga Hosts Recycles Day on Saturday
ADVERTISING Jim Daley | 518-581-2480 x209 jdaley@saratogapublishing.com Cindy Durfey | 518-581-2480 x204 cdurfey@saratogapublishing.com DISTRIBUTION Kim Beatty | 518-581-2480 x205 kbeatty@saratogapublishing.com Carolina Mitchell | Magazine DESIGN Kacie Cotter-Sacala Newspaper Designer Newspaper Ad Designer Website Editor Marisa Scirocco Magazine Designer Magazine Ad Designer EDITORIAL Thomas Dimopoulos 518-581-2480 x214 City, Crime, Business Arts/Entertainment thomas@saratogapublishing.com Megin Potter Education, Sports Anne Proulx | 518-581-2480 x252 Obituaries, Proofreader aproulx@saratogapublishing.com
Email DESIGN@ saratogapublishing.com to subscribe to our weekly e-Newsletter! ADVERTISING? NEXT MAGAZINE DEADLINE: Locally Owned - Oct 23 Newspaper Supplement
Local news never looked this good! Five Case Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: 518-581-2480 Fax: 518-581-2487 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
• Gavin Park: 10 Lewis Dr., Wilton Hours for early voting at Saratoga County sites. Those dates and times are: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24–25: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26: 12 – 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28: 12 – 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Plans for proposed new two-story mixed-use building on South Broadway that would include a veterinary clinic. Image provided.
by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city Planning Board this week is expected to hear a site plan review regarding a mixed-use project at South Broadway and Driscoll Road. Plans call for the construction of a new 10,000 square foot building that will house an animal clinic, office, retail, and multifamily residences. The proposed development of a new two-story building is on land currently vacant.
According to documents filed with the city, Dr. Susan Sikule, owner of two Just Cats Veterinary Clinics – one in Guilderland and one in Saratoga Springs - currently has a contract to purchase the near 6-acre parcel where the existing Saratoga Springs veterinary facility would be relocated. The proposed mixed-use building will consist of seven apartment units on the second floor and three separate commercial tenants on the first floor, one of which will be the clinic.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sustainable Saratoga hosts their fourth annual Saratoga Recycles Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. – Noon in the SPAC overflow parking lot on the west side of Route 50. COVID safety protocols are in place this year: masks are required of everyone while on the premises. Please bring exact change to minimize the handling of money, and organize items by drop-off station to reduce physical contact. Remain in your vehicle at all times. Anyone can participate. There are no residency requirements for this event. Cost: $5 per vehicle
fee, plus $20 per TV or monitor (limit of four TVs per vehicle). Sustainable Saratoga will accept clothing and textiles (any condition), appliances and electronics (including TVs), scrap metal, eyeglasses, hearing aids, bikes, art supplies, sleeping bags, backpacks, cell phones, and more. For specific details about what is being collected, a map of the collection stations, COVIDrelated safety protocols, and an extensive list of FAQs, visit sustainablesaratoga.org/projects/ zero-waste/recycles-day. Still have questions? Email zerowaste@ sustainablesaratoga.org.
Albany Medical Center Joins Nexamp’s Solar Program ALBANY — Albany Medical Center announced it has enrolled in the Nexamp community solar program to support local clean energy projects while simultaneously saving money on its electric costs. Under the agreements, Albany Med will receive energy credits generated from four Nexamp solar farms located across National Grid’s service territory—approximately 7.9 MW of clean energy—for an annual estimated savings of more than $150,000. Nexamp operates hundreds of community solar farms that generate clean electricity fed directly to the local utility grid and shares the value of that energy with large subscribers. Under the terms of the transaction, Nexamp
and Albany Medical Center worked closely to ensure that Albany Med’s employees and the Medical College’s students had an opportunity to participate as well, enrolling more than 75 individuals to date on Nexamp’s project located in Clifton Park. Community solar is growing rapidly in many states across the country, providing options for those who want to go solar without having to install panels or invest money up-front. Where available, businesses are embracing the advantages of distributed solar, such as enhanced sustainability and reduced operational expenses. Albany Medical Center includes the 766-bed Albany Medical Center Hospital, and the Albany Medical College.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Photo WEEK fal l 2020 OF THE
“Hello” PHOTO BY SUE CLARK
ONE CHANCE LEFT TO GET YOUR PHOTOS PUBLISHED FOR FALL 2020! Submit your “Photo of the Week” for a chance be published in Saratoga TODAY Newspaper. Contest runs for five weeks. One photo will be chosen each week to be publised in print! All submissions will be added to our website: saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com/galleries. Email photo to: Design@SaratogaPublishing.com
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Area Country Musician Raises Over $5,000 for Operation Adopt-A-Soldier WILTON — Popular area country musician Phil Hoyt's recent impromptu performance in – and around – Granville's downtown park raised more than $5,000 for one of his favorite charities, Wilton-based Operation Adopt A Soldier (OAAS). “When Phil handed over $5,025 at our October members' meeting, everyone there either gasped or got a bit emotional,” said OAAS Founder/Co-chair Cliff Seguin. “We were so appreciative that Phil, with all the pandemic limitations, offered to perform a concert for us.” The non-profit, all-volunteer OAAS uses donations to send free comfort kits to U.S. military personnel serving in areas of conflict. It also uses monetary donations to pay the $12-per-box postage fee and purchase goods when donated supplies dwindle.
Area country music singer Phil Hoyt (left) presents Operation Adopt-ASoldier Founder Cliff Seguin with $5,025 in proceeds from a recent benefit performance held in Granville. Photo provided.
OAAS' temporary office at 891 Saratoga Road, Wilton, is open from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays and Saturdays to accept donations, and by appointment
for large contributions of nonperishable food, snacks and toiletries. A detailed list of acceptable items is posted on www.operationadoptasoldier.org.
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Letters
LETTERS to the EDITOR
TO THE EDITOR
Saratoga Springs: It’s Time to say YES Saratoga Springs’ citizens have an opportunity this year to move the City forward by adopting an amended City Charter which places professionalism and neighborhood representation over a government by- and for- the wealthy and well-connected. A City Council, made up of representatives from districts across the City, will be responsive to the people of the City. The Councilmembers will hire a professional City Manager, trained and experienced in running a city, to enact the policies and programs directed by the City Council. Most cities of the size of Saratoga Springs have long-ago abandoned the City’s present form of government, structured around commissioners who not only serve as legislators, but also act as managers of departments for which they have no experience or training. This is inefficient and results in city commissioners being responsive to their political supporters, not to ordinary taxpayers. It is time for Saratoga Springs to say YES to its citizens and to vote YES to change to a Charter that values professional management and responsive government. - Ann C Bullock, Saratoga Springs
City Manager Refuses City Council Orders Everybody has the right to their own opinions, but not their own facts. So I want you to know about the Ogdensburg NY City Council passed a resolution instructing their City Manager to eliminate 7 employees including 4 police officers. “But the authority to dismiss staff members rested solely with her, according to the City Charter; they couldn’t order her to take these actions,” which she refused to do. Source: NNY360 To be clear, according to their charter and the one proposed for Saratoga Springs, the elected City Council majority cannot force the appointed City Manager to fire anyone. I strongly believe that our elected officials are responsible for making these difficult decisions about what is best for our cities. Google reveals that many (perhaps most) of the fights between City Managers and their City Councils are started by the weak Mayors who are fighting for more power than is allowed in their charters. In Saratoga Springs, the proposed charter has a very weak Mayor, not much more than a ceremonial position. If you want leadership from elected officials, vote against the City Manager proposal which gives decision making to an appointed autocrat that you have no control over. - Corinne Scirocco, Saratoga Springs
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Let’s Talk Real Dollars Now that the charter change people have flooded the city with their propaganda, let’s talk real dollars. They have stated they are going to save taxpayers tons of money. This is the same untruth they used in the previous three attempts to destroy a governmental system that has created our great city. In their misnamed Common Sense flyer, they list costs associated with a city manager system, but they “forgot” to reveal: • Assistant city manager, $135,000 • Internal audit contract, $75,000 • Two support staff, $140,000 • Search firm and costs to find a city manager, $35,000 • Managers to replace 4 Deputies, $476,000 Plus there will be transition costs for two committees for attorneys, staff, and support of at least $100,000. They claim they are going to save money by firing the day-to-day operating managers of city departments; claiming that a city manager can do the work of 4 Commissioners and 5 Deputies…roughly 18,000 hours yearly. Can’t be done. They also forgot to tell you that only 13 of the 62 cities in NY state have a city manager, and four of them were recently fired. (Watertown, Ogdensburg, Batavia, and Long Beach) Remember what your mother told you about promises from strangers: Beware. - Joe Dalton, Saratoga Springs
Vote Yes For Charter Change There is a group which calls themselves Saratogians United to Continue the Charter Essentials to Saratoga’s Success or just SUCCESS who are for the continuation of the Commission form of government. SUCCESS’s position is that the recent success of Saratoga Springs is due to our unique form of city governance. The idea was that if you set up separate commissions with both executive and legislative rolls which eliminates separation of powers. Through the 1920s about 500 cities had adopted this form of government. Today there about 28 in the US and only two in New York, Saratoga Springs and Mechanicville. Galveston’s goal was to have Commissioners having expertise in the department they are running has not been met in Saratoga’s recent history. We have had a pharmacist, a dentist, and a former dog catcher as commissioners, nice people but not experts in the departments they ran. We also have highly paid Deputy Commissioners who are supposed to provide the expertise that their Commissioner bosses do not have. But there is no vetting for these positions or approval other than the Commissioner who appoints the deputy. Does politics play a role in these appointments? Does the sun rise in the east? From its founding as a city into the 1940s, Saratoga at least tolerated and encouraged illegal gambling. In the 1930s, Saratoga was a haven for the country’s mob run gambling establishments. During this time, we had SUCCESS’s desired form of government. From the 1940s and into the 1980s, Saratoga Spring was dying. This decline was over seen by the same Commission form of government that SUCCESS now says is KEY to Saratoga’s success. So, if the Commission form of government in now hailed as the key to our success, why could it not turn things around over five decades? If the Commission form of government in now hailed as the key to our success, why could it not turn things around over five decades? Is this why they want this form of government to continue? It is true that from the 1990s until today, Saratoga has seen a great record of growth. But if the form of government is responsible, why is Mechanicville not booming? Why are the many troubled cities in upstate New York not rushing to adopt the Commission form of government? VOTE YES FOR CHARTER CHANGE - Rick Thompson, Saratoga Springs LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY: Letters to the Editor should be 200 words or less, typed. All letters are subject to editing for length or clarity. Writers are limited to one published letter per month. Include writer’s name, address and a daytime phone number for confirmation, but only the writer’s name and town will be printed. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Letters may be published in print, electronic or other forms. We reserve the right not to publish a letter. Submit to Thomas@SaratogaPublishing.com
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
LETTERS to the EDITOR 9
Charter Change for Stronger Democracy & Inclusivity
Silos Discourage Coordination
While your attention to one-liner political signs and messages may be waning, especially those playing to fears not facts, you may still need some answers.
My name is Ronald Kim. I was Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety for four years. While it was privilege to serve this City, what I witnessed dismayed me.
How is the proposed Saratoga City Charter an improvement to our democratic system? How is it better for you? Simply put, it gives people throughout the city equal power and equal voice. Each neighborhood would be represented. Every member of the City Council would have one purpose, to represent you, the constituents. Voting YES on the back of your ballot means: • Easier, effective input from you on the issues you care about in your neighborhood, directly through your representative, with the accountability you deserve. • A broader more diverse pool of candidates for office because they run to represent people and neighborhoods, NOT to manage city departments full time at a part time salary. The City isn’t mandated to review our charter again until 2028. We came within a few votes of charter change three years ago. More than 1500 residents asked for it to be on the ballot again. In the midst of a financial, economic and health crisis, we need A YES Vote to ensure a more democratic, stronger future for Saratoga Springs. - Joanne D. Yepsen, Former Mayor, Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is Worth Fighting For Saratoga Springs is worth fighting for. It's a great place to live and the Commission form of government is one of the main reasons that Saratoga Springs has been so successful. There’s no place else I’d rather live in upstate New York. Plus the proposed 2020 city manager + wards system is worth fighting against. It's significantly worse than the proposal we voted down in 2017. A few unknown people added wards to divide our city into silos with politicians worried about slivers of the city rather than working for what's good for the entire community. I also don’t like a part-time mayor being payed $65,000, a 448% increase for significantly less work than our current mayor performs. And the skeleton plan with only 4 employees eliminates 4 commissioners and 5 deputies, pushing about 18,000 hours of work yearly on a new out-of-town city manager. That’s impossible.
The central problem with the Commission form of government is that Departments under their elected Commissioner work in silos. Silos discourage coordination. Silos encourage wasteful spending. Silos prevent real representation. The silo problem stares us in the face today. Amid pandemic caused fiscal stress, the City Council silos have done nothing to stop lavish spending on a Commissioner’s offices not covered by storm related insurance. Just the new furniture, delivered in April 2020, cost $57,000! The silo walls between Commissioners prevented any true checks and balances of this wasteful spending while revenues shrunk. This November we can put this behind us. The new City Charter will be more accountable, transparent and will give citizens real representation. The Mayor will be a policy leader, while a six-member City Council composed of citizens, elected from the neighborhoods will represent you. You will not have to hire an attorney to be heard in City Hall, you can just go down the street to your neighbor and tell them what is on your mind. A City Manager will coordinate all the departments. No more silos. There will be a City Auditor to watch the books—we could have used that as offices got renovated at the expense of our children’s recreational programs. Please vote YES on Charter Reform for a future of accountability, transparency and representation. - Ronald Kim
Finally, I’m fighting against a more expensive form of government starting with a city manager who will cost us $262,000 yearly. I’m fighting for Saratoga Springs by voting No on the dreadful ballot initiative which would forever damage our great city. - Richard Sellers, Spokesman for SUCCESS, Saratoga Springs
Vote Yes for Checks and Balances After lightning struck city hall, Mayor Kelly said, “We’re looking at being in temporary offices for up to a year.” Two and ½ years later, City Hall is still not finished and is millions of dollars over budget. Why? The project is managed by the Commissioner of Public Works, Skip Scirocco. Before being elected, he had served as an animal control officer. He hired his campaign manager, Michael Veitch, who had previously worked as the Press Secretary for State Senator Roy MacDonald as the Business Manager to run daily operations for Public Works instead of an engineer. While both are savvy political operators to knock of the McTygue machine, neither has any project management, construction or engineering experience. Meanwhile, Finance Commissioner Madigan has taken advantage of the crisis to order a $600,000+ lavish refurbishment of her office that was not even damaged in the crisis. This is why 99% of the cities have abandoned the commission form of government. Taxpayers suffer when you put politicians in positions which require professional management expertise. Vote Yes on the charter for professional management and checks and balances. - Bob Turner
Vote Yes For Charter Reform In a 2016 survey city employees estimated they spent a third to half their work time navigating the politicized silos in City Hall that make up the current commission form of our government. If these insiders couldn’t always determine who would work with them, or what issues and problems were the purview of what department, is it any wonder that the average citizen of Saratoga Springs with a simple question or issue is often helplessly shunted from office-to-office in fruitless attempts to get someone to own the issues that are at the root of their concerns? Add to this the ineffectiveness, waste, and self-dealing that are hallmarks of the commission form of government, and you’d be hard pressed to deny that we’re overspending for representation that’s underproviding. From lifetime health insurance perks, to hiring family members, to not pooling common purchasing needs if they originate in separate departments, to awarding dubious contracts to the politically connected, the inadequacies inherent in our current form of government are legion. Enter regular city residents, elected to serve and be accessible to the needs of their neighbors, to work with a strong mayor, and to hire and supervise a professional city manager. This person’s charge is to tighten our belt, take advantage of efficiencies, and negotiate all contracts and spending with only the good of the whole citizenry in mind. Envision that, and you’ve got a snapshot of what our government could look like under a new charter. Don’t be cowed by the other side that arrogantly calls neighborhood representatives “uninformed newbies” incapable of making solid governance decisions. Take citizen control of your city back and vote YES for charter reform. - Tony Krackeler, Saratoga Springs
UNDEMOCRATIC.
r e t r a O h C EN e T g O V han C *PAID FOR BY SARATOGA SPRINGS SUCCESS
10
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Charter Change Insider...
VOTE No
Saratoga SUCCESS, Saratoga WORKS, and One Saratoga, three nonpartisan organizations, have joined together to recommend voting No.
Changing from our current Commission form of government to the proposed City Manager + Wards system would be an undesirable change for Saratoga Springs at any time. To do that now in the midst of a pandemic and economic crisis is folly and even dangerous. The commission form has helped Saratoga Springs be the most successful city in upstate New York. It allows all city voters to choose city residents every two years who will both make policy and also act as department heads delivering services. Elected officials are held directly accountable by the electorate for services provided to the city. In addition, because they run departments, council members are highly knowledgeable about the workings of the city when they make policy decisions. Since departments have many intersecting needs and interests and a majority is necessary to pass laws and the city budget, excellent communication and cooperation are major features of this form of government. In contrast the charter proposal offers a plan that gives the authority to run the city to an unelected city manager who doesn’t even have to live in the city. The city will be divided into wards and Saratogians will only be able to vote for the mayor and one of the six other council members, greatly reducing citizens’ say in their government. The proposal also has a weak mayor who has few responsibilities and cannot even give any employee direction. Q. A question of governing. What the proposed new form of governing would mean vs. the current form – and why the position you advocate would be best compared to the opposing system. The responsibilities of the mayor and four commissioners are clearly laid out in the current charter and easily understood: Mayor and Departments of Accounts, Public Safety, Finance, and Public Works. When someone has an issue or opportunity, they simply contact the appropriate commissioner. In short, no one has any idea about the potential new City Manager organization, how it will be structured, nor what it will cost. Only four positions are mentioned in the proposed charter: the city manager, attorney, clerk, and assessor. The charter change financial analysis claims that one City Manager can replace four commissioners and five deputies, about 18,000 hours of work yearly. But Ron Kim, co-chair of the charter change effort, thought differently when he was Commissioner of Public Safety and asked the city council for two deputies to handle all the work in his department, blowing up their current claim that this level of management can be axed.
Danger: The new city government won’t be revealed until after we have voted. The charter grants both a transition task force and then the City Manager the power to “establish, modify, or restructure City departments, offices, or agencies…” Net: All decisions and the real costs will be made by an unelected group of people and won’t be known until after we vote. Q. A question of money. The City Manager + Wards System will be much more expensive resulting in higher taxes. Even the change proponents admit that a new city manager brought in from out-of-town would cost Saratogians $262,000 yearly. Then they increased the Mayor’s salary 448% to $65,000 plus benefits for a significantly easier job that excludes all administrative responsibilities. Compare this to the $19,000 average salary of a Mayor in New York State in cities run by a City Manager. (Source: Jeff Altamari). Even proponent ‘It’s Time Saratoga’ admits that the Mayor will receive this $65,000 for a part time job; saying the Mayor could concurrently hold another job. That doesn’t show much respect for taxpayers. But wait, it gets worse. The pro-charter group has not disclosed to the public the real cost of a City Manager + Wards government. Their socalled financials leave out $760,000 of yearly costs including replacing the Deputy Commissioners, our city’s key managers which they arbitrarily eliminated without even interviewing; an Assistant City Manager; and an Internal Audit which is required in the charter but was “mistakenly” left out of their costs. Remember that the charter is only a skeleton concept with 4 employees which will be completed by an unknown and unelected Task Force, which is one of two transition committees which would be authorized to hire staff including lawyers. Transition costs are not even estimated by the change proponents. But any incremental transition costs during this pandemic will require firing city employees or increasing taxes. As both the Mayor and Commissioner of Finance said Tuesday night: The city has no money for charter expenses.The people proposing this change owe it to the public to disclose the real costs of this charter. Q. Constituency/ residents ability to reach out to their leaders and officials. A question of transparency and open government. Currently, there is a high level of transparency about what our elected officials are (and are not) accomplishing. Since our government services are delivered by 5 departments including the Mayor and 4 Commissioners, it’s simple and efficient to contact the appropriate city official to address our problems. And every one of these elected officials has a report card every two years when voters can retain or fire them. The City Manager + Wards charter is undemocratic, unresponsive, and not transparent. The City Manager who would run Saratoga Springs is appointed so he (we use the male pronoun since 83% of the City Managers are men) cannot be voted out if citizens are unhappy with how the city is being run. We would only be able to vote for 2 of the 7 elected officials making decisions about providing services and raising taxes. Today, we have influence over every elected official because we vote whether or not to retain all of them every two years. The Wards system eliminates our leverage to impact our city government. The proposed charter creates a disastrous bottleneck which will keep residents from getting their problems addressed. Residents contact their Ward politician who can only contact the City Manager who, when he has time, passes the request on to the right department. The Ward politicians and even the Mayor are expressly forbidden to work with any city employee except the City Manager, thereby delaying residents receiving city services and answers to their questions. The City Manager + Wards system is less transparent, less effective, less efficient, and less democratic. For more information, go to: saratogaworks.org.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
11
Charter Change Insider...
VOTE Yes The present form of government in Saratoga Springs is comprised of five departments, each headed by a separate elected official who performs both administrative and legislative functions. This system is inherently inefficient and expensive, leading to both gaps in and duplication of services. A survey of 100 City professional staff in 2016 reported that they spend 30% of their time navigating these five “silos” of city government. Clearly, our city has outgrown this system. The proposed new Charter consolidates all administrative units under a professional manager. The manager would be hired by and be accountable to the City Council, comprised of six neighborhood-based elected City Councilmembers (reflecting the Charter’s proposed six wards) and presided over by a city-wide elected Mayor. This Reform would bring efficiency to the administration, and accountability through representation and separation of legislative powers from administrative responsibilities. The proposal on the ballot was initiated by dozens of volunteers and more than 1,500 citizens who petitioned for this opportunity to vote. Q. A question of governing. What the proposed new form of governing would mean vs. the current form – and why the position you advocate would be best compared to the opposing system. City administrative offices, now divided among five separately elected Commissioners and the Mayor, would be managed as one administration— much like every other city, town and village in NYS--led by an experienced, professional manager. One team not five means less bickering and finger pointing. Clarity will benefit citizens and businesses who need answers from the city. The present Commissioners and their political deputies would be eliminated. But, the remaining top civil service professionals would report to the City Manager. The City Council, chaired by the Mayor, would set the budget, adopt policies, pass ordinances and oversee the administration through a short-term employment agreement with the City Manager. Members of the Council, elected from the six neighborhood-based Wards, would be the “ombudsperson” for their constituents. This would allow the Council to set priorities that reflect the needs of the people, not the prerogatives of each Department’s political leadership. The Mayor, elected citywide for a four year term, would be expected to provide policy leadership, oversight of the City Manager, and represent the city in intergovernmental relations. Q. A question of money. Initial savings would be at least $100,000. This figure is derived by eliminating the current Commissioners and their political deputies, salary plus health and pension costs: $760,000. Positions required in the New Charter would add to $440,928, including the City Manager and Mayor (salary plus benefits), and six Councilmembers (salary with no benefits). Other positions included in this calculation are an Assistant City Manager and the cost of an Internal Auditor. Competitive compensation for these positions would bring the total net savings to about $100,000. No other positions are required to be added or eliminated in the proposed Charter. Any additions or reductions of staff would be made only by the elected City Council seated in 2022. Long term, consolidation of administrative units under the City Manager will reduce the 30% inefficiency which the professional staff reported to the 2016-17 Charter Commission. The new Charter also eliminates the present lifetime free healthcare benefit (free premium, no co-pays) for elected officials who serve 10 years or more, which can cost taxpayers $500,000 or more for each such official over time. Q. Constituency/ residents ability to reach out to their leaders and officials. A question of transparency and open government. Voters in the six neighborhood wards will elect the members of the City Council to two-year terms. Each councilmember would be the neighborhood’s “ombudsperson” for all functions of city government— in other words, “one-stop shopping” for people seeking answers from city hall. Presently, citizens and businesses are punted from office to office for simple permits. Public Safety and Public Works leaders have
Common Sense Saratoga is a group made up of citizens from all walks of life and varied political affiliations who recommend voting Yes. even disputed who is responsible to clear dead animals from the roadways. Each new City Councilmember will represent about 3,000 3,000 voters. The wards would be drawn up by a bi-partisan commission after every decennial census. If the upcoming 2020 census report is too late for the start of the NYS Election calendar, a backup ward map is included in the proposed Charter that would be used only for the 2021 election. Today, a candidate for city council (Commissioner of Accounts, Finance, Public Safety, Public Works, Mayor) must run city-wide campaigning directly to more than 18,000 voters—an expensive proposition. The new Charter enables city government to tap into more of our community’s talent and brain power because running in just one of the six districts will be much less expensive than running city-wide. No longer will Commissioners work almost full time and leave aside their day-jobs. The new Council will be citizen-legislators, bringing everyday experience and perspective to our city government. TERM LIMITS: All elected positions will be term-limited to 12 years. For more information, go to: commonsensesaratoga.com.
12
NEWS
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Thruway Going Cashless Get Your E-ZPass Before It Is Too Late NEW YORK — The New York State Thruway is scheduled to convert to an entirely cashless tolling system by the end of 2020. The Thruway Authority is modernizing its 570-mile transportation system by converting to cashless tolling. Their goal is to reduce
congestion, improve traffic flow, help the environment, and allow for non-stop travel on New York’s toll roads, bridges, and tunnels. The Design Build project will include the installation of cashless tolling gantries and equipment and the removal of existing
toll booths at 52 Thruway interchanges and toll barriers across New York State. There are two main phases to the project. The first phase is the installation of the gantries on the Thruway and ramps. The second phase will be the removal of the toll plazas.
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey cuts the ribbon at the Canastota interchange on June 24, 1954 – the date the first toll section of the Thruway opened, a 115-mile stretch of I-90 between Rochester and Lowell. (Photos: NYS Thruway Authority).
Ext 24, from Albany. 1954 Toll ticket.
HOW DOES CASHLESS TOLLING WORK? Motorists drive under a gantry with state-of-the-art sensors and cameras that read E-ZPass tags and take license plate images, so vehicles no longer have to stop to pay the toll. Vehicles with E-ZPass tags are automatically charged and vehicles without E-ZPass tags will have their license plate image captured and a toll bill mailed to the registered owner of each vehicle. Customers who pay using Tolls By Mail will pay the same toll rate as previously paid by cash customers, and E-ZPass customers with New York accounts will continue to receive a five percent discount. Once cashless tolling goes live across the system, work will continue in 2021 to remove the toll plazas and realign interchanges. The first tolls were collected on the Thruway in June 1954; more than 12,000 men and women have served as toll collectors, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in all weather conditions. Tolls will not increase, and are frozen through 2020, according to the state Thruway Authority. For more information, or to sign up for E-Z Pass go to: www.thruway. ny.gov/ezpass/index.html.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
Steve Drouin sold property at 5190 Armer Rd to Ashley Metz for $234,900.
GREENFIELD 3 O'Donnell Way, Wilton $399,900
BALLSTON
Michele Morrissey sold property at 200 Middle Grove Rd to Nicholas Nightingale for $575,000.
Tracine Companion sold property at 30 Beacon St to Letty Rudes for $280,000.
William Bennett sold property at 39 Greene Rd to Michael Sanita for $170,000.
Gary Guilfoyle sold property at 738 Goode St to Lance Decker for $325,000.
Albino Ceballos sold property at 399 N Creek Rd to Shane Huggins for $254,900.
Michael Attanasio sold property at 36 Beacon St to Matthew Eberlein for $269,000. Rachel Schwendinger sold property at 25 Nolan Rd to Michael Dorsher for $308,400. David Barclay sold property at 18 Kingsbridge Ct to Zachary Ellis for $573,000.
GALWAY Stephen Raeburn sold property at 4916 Jockey St to David Miller for $432,500. Richard Alkinburgh sold property at 1070 Palmer Rd to Barry Dibernardo for $369,000. Dennis Decker sold property at 5079 Jersey Hill Rd to Wayne Eckle for $265,000.
MALTA Adam Gagnon soldproperty at 18 Glade Mallow Rd to Garrett Bernardo for $312,000. Mujtaba Hasnain sold property at 43 Bayberry Dr to Ryan Larson for $380,000 Albert Zumpano sold property at 151 Thimbleberry Rd to Chelsea Vandenburgh for $170,000. Brittany Taranto sold property at 41 Thimbleberry Rd to Aurora Heller for $201,000. Matthew Lumley sold property at 1 Penny Royal to Nicole Dimarco for $260,000 Kevin McAuliffe sold property at 1151 Laurel Lane to Zachary Emmerick for $280,000
SARATOGA Colin Baird sold property at 29 Ironwood Dr to Marita Martinez for $390,000 Anthony Erceg sold property at 100 Condon Rd to Nathaniel Johnson for $730,000. Craig Cornwell sold property at 25 Palmer Heights to Scott Draiss for $515,000 Marie Barbera sold property at 107 Point Breeze Rd to Nicholas Mattiello for $445,000.
SARATOGA SPRINGS Bryan Lynch sold property at 14 Ellis Ave to Mona Tawadrous for $339,000 Jason Rutigliano sold property at 11 Curt Blvd to Druanne Richmond for $248,000 John Larow as trustee sold property at 5 Horizon Dr to Peter Hagos for $606,000. Downton Walk LLC sold property at P/O 27 Jumel Pl and Robert Marini for $989,000. Amit Gupta sold property at 349 Grand Ave to Eve Borden for $342,000. Richard Sandman sold property at 116 Catherine St to Sheri Delarm for $225,000. Randy Blodgett sold property at
105 Catherine St to Washco Holdings LLC for $225,000. John Koella sold property at 1 Glenmore Ave to Kathleen Bango for $395,000. Scot Trifilo sold property at 126 Nelson Ave to 126 Nelson Ave LLC for $735,000 Scot Trifilo sold property at 0 Nelson Ave to 126 Nelson Ave LLC for $315,000 Ron Pedrick sold property at 11 Walter Dr to Michael Blais for $330,000. Hady Elokby sold property at 42 Circular St to Thomas Furey for $800,000. Patrick Degregorio sold property at 169 West Circular St to Rachael Moss for $695,000.
WILTON John Williams sold property at 166 Gailor Rd to James Cook for $335,000.
13 Katherine Tavernia sold property at 37 Claire Pass to Andrew Frank for $480,000. Shelley Hodgson sold property at 20 Evergreen Dr to Derrian Hodgson for $200,000. US Bank National Assoc. as trustee sold property at 25 Christina Court to Lia Parisyan for $260,000. Alan Bucknam sold property at 11 Cobble Hill Dr to Craig Condra for $535,000. Valorie Hanington sold property at 42 Meditation Way to Katherine Ball for $310,000. John Hudak sold property at 15 Connemara Court to Roger Leonbruno for $395,000. Charles Brady sold property at 45 Cobble Hill Dr to Robert Bergin for $384,900. Glenn Campbell sold property at 120 Edie Rd to Stephen Zink for $640,000.
14
BUSINESS
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
BUDGET SHORTFALL:
Recreation, Police and Fire All on the Chopping Block continued from front page... “These are very trying times,” Mayor Meg Kelly said during the meeting. “It’s $7 million short. We all have to take our hits (but) I think together we can all pull this off.” This week’s public commentary largely focused on the potential Recreation Department budget – a topic amplified as a result of an email apparently sent from the recreation department, and circulated among thousands of residents during the previous weekend that pleaded with residents to attend City Council meetings and budget workshops to express concerns. “Recreation in Saratoga Springs is at stake and we NEED
YOUR HELP” read the email, “Ask our City to NOT DEFUND recreation.” Many did. With public seating limited to less than three dozen participants at one time due to COVID protocols, speakers briefly addressed the council regarding potential cuts to recreation programs then exited the building, allowing others who waited in line outside to enter and speak. The public hearing segment lasted approximately one hour. Members of the council warned of the danger of isolating one particular department and stressed the importance of looking at the budget as a whole. “There’s been a lot of misinformation about the budget and about recreation in particular,”
said Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan, who first presented the proposed 2021 Comprehensive Budget to the City Council earlier this month. “In this COVID economy the (emailed) communication lacked context and it lacked details and it lacked a lot of what we’re doing right now at the City Council… it was all over social media, and it was pure anger, rage, and panic, and that is unfortunate.” “We all, in our own way, have a personal connection to the Rec Department and the tremendous effect it has on children’s mental health,” said Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton, who explained she has four children aged between 4 and 10, and realizes the impact of the recreation in the city. “I don’t want to set the tone here that we’re only out for who we represent. When you put out just one tiny piece of what the budget is going to look like and you play to people’s emotions to make it seem as if we don’t care about our kids and that that’s the first thing that’s going to go - it really sets a whole different tone for the budget season that I
find regretful. The whole thing is we’re working together to make sure we have the best results for everyone in the city,” she said. “What I encourage people to do is to go to the individual workshops to understand what it means to the entire city.” Budgeted expenses for the city’s Recreation Department have been reduced under the proposed budget, but not eliminated. There is currently $1.2 million in the budget, maintaining the costs of the Director of Recreation, one staff person, and building and grounds maintenance and utilities. “This means recreations programs cannot incur any additional costs to the city. It does not mean that Recreation is shutting down,” Madigan said. Madigan has proposed increasing property tax rates by 6% and to minimize the number of required layoffs, the budget contains a 10% reduction in all city employee salary lines. “With a 10% pay cut we can limit the layoffs, but they are still significant: 25% reduction in Public Works labor lines and 15% in Public Safety
- police and fire.” Basically, she said, a lower pay cut requires more layoffs, fewer layoffs will require a larger pay cut. “We all appreciate recreation and need recreation, but we all have to get together as a council and see what we can do,” Mayor Kelly said. “Essential services are always first.” “Right now, we do not have those essential services figured out. That has to be the first priority,” Commissioner Dalton said. “Water, sewer, roads, fire, EMS and police. Unless we can assure those essential services are intact – we have nothing. We can’t operate. You won’t be able to drive to the ice rink. We won’t be able to respond to a medical emergency. So that has to be our first priority as a city. Once we get those covered, then we can look at anything else.” The Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission is a 7-member board of community volunteers appointed by the mayor to oversee the Recreation Department. Mayor Kelly pointed to Recreation Department Administrative Director John Hirliman. “We have to see if we can do this as budget-neutral and I have John Hirliman, who has always worked magic in this department, and as a council we all believe in his abilities,” she said. “I have great faith in my team to pull some programs together.” “We all understand the tremendous financial crisis we face due to the pandemic. I’m going to work my tail off to make sure we have recreation programming,” Hirliman said. Separate budget hearings are tentatively scheduled to take place this week involving the Public Safety Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Mayor/ Recreation departments. Visit the city’s website to confirm times and dates of those meetings, at: saratoga-springs.org. A second public hearing of the budget will take place in November. Revisions of the potential budget may be made through the end of November, at which point the 2021 Comprehensive Budget will be adopted.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Emily Frost Joins Julie & Co. SARATOGA SPRINGS — Julie & Co. Realty has announced Emily Frost as the newest member of the brokerage. A licensed real estate salesperson, Frost was born and raised in Queensbury. In 2011, she graduated from the State University of New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Communications. She applied her knowledge to a hands-on sales role managing representatives throughout the state of New York for five years. Frost specializes in residential sales and leases, first time home buyers, condos, and townhomes.
Stewart’s to Close Shop in Burnt Hills BURNT HILLS — Stewart’s Shops on Oct. 16 announced that it will be closing two of its shops in the upcoming weeks. The Burnt Hills shop on 710 Saratoga Rd. will be closed on Sunday, Oct. 25 and the Wappingers Falls shop on 2048 Route 9D, will be closed on Sunday, Nov. 8. All partners have been offered opportunities in nearby locations, the company said.
Emily Frost. Photo provided.
For more information, call 518-350-SOLD (7653), email info@juliecorealty.com or visit www.JulieCoRealty.com
Saratoga Casino Black Hawk Names New General Manager BLACK HAWK, CO — Tim Morrissey has been named general manager at Saratoga Casino Black Hawk. Located in Black Hawk, CO, Saratoga Casino Black Hawk is owned and operated by Saratoga Casino Holdings, LLC headquartered in Saratoga Springs, and also owns and oversees Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs. Morrissey will work closely with the directors of all departments within the organization, to ensure the company continues to prosper in the competitive Black Hawk
BUSINESS BRIEFS 15
Tim Morrissey. Photo provided.
gaming market. Most recently, Morrissey worked as the Senior Operations Director at Royal River Casino & Hotel in Flandreau, SD. Previous positions include several director-level and leadership roles focused in marketing throughout casinos in Nevada.
Stewart’s Shops released the following statement regarding the closures: “Unfortunately, these shops do not have the ability to accommodate the equipment or space needs to expand food-to-go offerings or gasoline and cannot expand with their ever-growing customer needs. The inability to expand coupled with rising costs have made the closures necessary.” The closures are not a
reflection of the company overall, the company added, reporting: “Stewart’s Shops continues to grow. They’re expanding to new markets and rebuilding and improving existing locations where they are seeing growth. In 2020, Stewart’s Shops is celebrating 75 years and will again invest over $45 million in construction of new shops and shop additions, with 19 new and rebuilt shops planned.”
Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Names Executive Director SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital Medical Group has appointed Scarlet ClementBuffoline of Ballston Spa as executive director of the multidisciplinary medical practice. Clement-Buffoline has more than two decades of administrative experience in positions of increasing responsibility at Capital Region hospitals. Most recently, she was chief operating officer for acute care services at St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany. She also has served as vice president of administration and specialty services at Samaritan Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, both in Troy. At Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, Clement-Buffoline will
play a lead role in overseeing operations and developing strategies to expand the practice and increase access to high-quality healthcare in the region. Clement-Buffoline holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and health from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University at Albany. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Clement-Buffoline is a member of the Association of Healthcare Management – Western New York, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, and the Healthcare Association of New York State Behavioral Health
Scarlet Clement-Buffoline. Photo provided.
Task Force. In addition, she has served on the boards of the Troy Redevelopment Foundation, Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, and Rensselaer County Community Services.
16
EDUCATION
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
: k c a B g n i v i G Small Things
Make a BIG Difference Being clean is a privilege some just can’t afford. by Megin Potter
Since the pandemic, the importance of keeping germs at bay has become a priority for everyone, but some Saratoga children are going unwashed simply because basic hygiene products aren’t available for them to use at home.
Photos provided.
Even before the current crisis, Grace Firehock, now a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, saw there were students in need. In the Spring of 2019, she started Toga Toiletries to provide access to toiletries and personal hygiene products to students in need.
for Saratoga TODAY
“I just wanted all high schoolers to have basic toiletries and to have easy access to them,” she said. Grace and her parents purchased supplies to fill a closet in the school guidance office. Then, she began sending out requests for others to help. Grace’s efforts have resulted in donations from Billington Family Dentistry, Hannaford Supermarkets, Byrne Orthodontics, Arbonne, and numerous local families.
Growing Need Now, Toga Toiletries are available to children throughout the Saratoga Springs City School District. Working with the Saratoga Food Pantry, Community Health Center, and SNACpack, they are also able to deliver toiletries to children.
The SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children) is seeing more children than ever in need of food and essential care items. “Toga Toiletries is providing a wonderful, much-needed service for children and families! During this very difficult time where many families have lost income, toiletries have truly become a luxury that many cannot afford,” said SNACpack’s founder Karey Trimmings.
Finding Time to be Kind Grace Firehock finds time to package hygiene products for Toga Toiletries in between her already busy schedule, which also includes playing varsity tennis, Irish step and piano classes, skiing, and her other volunteer efforts. “Grace has always had a very philanthropic attitude. She took an idea and found a way to bring it to life. Her work has allowed families in the community to save money on expensive hygiene and toiletry products, which became especially helpful during the pandemic as some households struggle to pay bills due to lost employment,” said school counselor, Siobahn LaMar. “This endeavor hasn’t just benefited people in the community, it has also had a tremendous impact on Grace. A bit quiet and shy by nature, this experience has pushed her out of her comfort zone needing to ask strangers for donations. Her confidence has grown, along with her presentation skills. Grace is a great role model to her peers and younger siblings, and we hope to see the community continue to benefit from her efforts after she graduates,” she continued.
&
Lasting Impact
All Local – All the Time
The benefits of helping others are especially poignant for Grace when she receives emails from recipients expressing their gratitude and accompanied by photos of the children she is helping.
Running for Office?
“It has an impact. It feels amazing to know I’ve helped people at this time,” said Grace. Grace’s younger siblings have been helping package items and her sister, Caroline Firehock, a sophomore, will inherit Toga Toiletries when Grace graduates to ensure its continuation for years to come.
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Toga Toiletries is always in need of donations – shampoo is the most requested item, followed by deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and razors. They accept cash donations to buy specialty items including diapers and lotion. To make or receive a donation, and to find their Amazon wish list, go to www.facebook.com/togat0iletries or email togatoiletries@gmail.com.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Plants in Urban Areas Online Talk SARATOGA SPRINGS — Learn how to create, conserve and restore urban greenspaces on Tuesday, October 27, at 7 p.m. during a free online talk with Dr. Myla Aronson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural
Resources at Rutgers University. Her lecture, “Restoring Nature in the Concrete Jungle” discusses how biodiversity has been affected by urbanization and how to restore vanishing plant species. This event is part of Science on Tap Saratoga, a monthly series
of informal talks led by scientists exploring current research topics. It is co-presented by Skidmore’s Environmental Studies and Sciences Program and Sustainable Saratoga. Registration via Zoom is required. sustainablesaratoga.org/ science-on-tap
Schuylerville Wins FFA Grants SCHUYLERVILLE — Schuylerville High School’s FFA Chapter of has been named a 2020 recipient of two National FFA Organization grants, totaling $7,555. Both grants will be used to fund agricultural education and experiential learning initiatives at the high school. The Chapter received $4,955 from the Grants for Growing program to begin a maple syrup production operation. They
plan to purchase a maple syrup evaporator, canning unit, taps and other equipment for maple syrup production. Also awarded the Living to Serve Grant in the amount of $2,600, the Schuylerville FFA plans to build raised bed gardens to grow fresh produce for donation to both the school cafeteria as well as S.A.F.E.R, Schuylerville Area Food Emergency Relief. This project will be done in conjunction with the
high school technology program. The funding for both grants is provided by the sponsors of the National FFA Organization, including: CoBank, Tractor Supply Company, Cargill, CSX, Dominoes and Elanco. The Grants for Growing program is funded through the donations of customers who purchase $1 paper emblems at Tractor Supply stores at checkout during National FFA Week
Local School sports
Scoreboard�
Saratoga Springs Boys Varsity Golf SARATOGA SPRINGS — Keeping their winning streak alive, this week the Saratoga Springs Boys Varsity Golf team faced the Guilderland High School team at the Western Turnpike Golf Course, emerging victorious with their 10th win of the season. The team’s total strokes were 235 to Guilderland’s 264. Saratoga players Will Braxton, Clarkie Carroll, and Kellen Dean all scored 37 on the par 36 course. Saratoga Boys Varsity Golf finishes their “regular” season 11-1 after beating out Bethlehem in the rain, 231270. Clarkie Carroll was the low-leader with a 3-under par, 34. Will Braxton was 36, Devin Kim 38, and Kellen Dean 39.
Saratoga Soccer Shoots Past Schenectady SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Varsity Soccer team won 3 to 0 against Schenectady High School this week. During the competitive play, scores during the second half were made by Jack Donnelly on a breakaway off an assist from Garrett Farr, Evan Hallett shot a screamer from a distance off an assist from Jack Donnelly, and Stefanos Tsitos scored a poacher’s goal from close range off a low cross from Timothee Boyer on his first Varsity touch.
Photo provided.
17
Learn Saratoga History: Woman’s Suffrage Zoom Event SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m., learn about the role Saratoga Springs played in the women's suffrage movement and the history of women's rights conventions. Hosted by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Nancy Brown will present "Women's Suffrage in Saratoga
Springs.” This program is free and will be streamed through Zoom and Facebook Live. Registration is required. For more information please visit www.saratogapreservation. org/product/womens-suffrage, or call the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation at 518-587-5030.
18
Food
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Bunker Hill Creamery
brings quality, old fashioned milk
One-Pot Bunker Hill Mac WILTON MALL Wednesdays | 3 - 6 p.m. Saturdays | 9 - 1 p.m.
by Julia Howard for Saratoga TODAY Photos provided by Bunker Hill Creamery.
W
hat the cows are giving is what you drink,” is how Kyle Depew describes the milk that Bunker Hill Creamery produces.
Bunker Hill Creamery, located in Cossayuna, is among the Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s newest vendors. The creamery began bringing milk to the Wednesday market in the summer and then was added to the market on Saturdays. Depew and his lifelong friend Dan Richards started Bunker Hill Creamery in 2008. Richards and his wife Erin own Richview Farms, which provides the milk to Bunker Hill as well as meat that the partnership also brings to the market. Richview Farm is home to 300 animals and 75 dairy cows provide milk for the creamery. The creamery is located right on the farm, and milk is processed and bottled in small batches and then distributed for sale. The milk coming from the creamery is minimally processed and is non-homogenized. What does that mean exactly? Kyle Depew explains that the milk undergoes low-temperature pasteurization that results in creamy milk with no separation of the milk and cream. Processed in small batches, the milk also maintains its nutritional value. This process makes Bunker Hill Creamery’s milk notable. “We want people to be aware of the value in the bottle,” says Depew. Bunker Hill Creamery offers cream top whole milk, chocolate milk, and maple milk in half gallons and single servings. Their
chocolate milk uses high-quality cocoa and is free from carrageenan and corn starch and their maple milk is sweetened with local maple syrup. In addition to milk, Bunker Hill Creamery brings a variety of cuts of Angus beef, pork, and veal. These products are sourced from their partnership with Richview Farms. “When we started, we really wanted to do something new and different,” explains Depew. “Our biggest challenge has been finding the right opportunities to get our milk to the community.” Bunker Hill Creamery is overcoming that challenge. Their milk is currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market on Saturdays as well as the Troy and Delmar Farmers’ Market, numerous Price Chopper and Hannaford locations, several local eateries and stores, and at farm stores at 167 Bunker Hill Rd. in Cossayuna and 144 N Rd. in Greenwich. Customers can look forward to expanded offerings from Bunker Hill Creamery as they hope to offer reduced-fat milk, heavy cream, half & half, and other dairy products in the future. Saratoga Farmers’ Market runs at Wilton Mall 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our newsletter www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/weekly-newsletter.
YIELDS: 8 servings | PREP & COOK TIME: 15 min
INGREDIENTS: *Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
• 6 cups of Bunker Hill Organic Creamery Whole Milk*
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese*, shredded
• 1 lb pasta (I like to mix and match - elbows, shells, etc.)
• salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Instead of cooking your pasta in water, you are going to cook it in milk. In a large pot, bring the milk to a boil over high heat. Babysit it, stirring frequently to prevent burning. 2. Add the dry pasta to the pot and reduce to medium heat, cooking until the noodles are tender. Continue to stir often. 3. Once the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes, remove from heat. No draining necessary. Slowly add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and the pasta is coated evenly. 4. Season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy! NOTE: If you want to add more flavor to the dish, try ¼ tsp garlic powder. For some heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Experiment and have fun! Recipe and recipe photo by Sarah Buschynski.
“I absolutely love sharing my culinary adventures and supporting local, all while feeding my family food made with love.” - Sarah Buschynski
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
19
Food
Keep the
Gloves On
by John Reardon for Saratoga TODAY
Hello my Foodie Friends !
Home cooking is on the rise nationwide, whether people are naturals in the kitchen or not. We’re getting creative, too, adapting recipes, and trying our hand at new skills. From the family that is now spending more time eating together to the novice cook learning to prepare more complicated meals, it’s a time of experimentation in the kitchen that isn’t without its risks. The kitchen might be a more dangerous place than you think. With a variety of sharp items like knives, blades, slicers, or chopper and heating tools that you have to use to prepare a meal, there is a risk of being injured anytime. Based on current statistics, cuts, punctures, slips, abrasions, and burns are among the most common injuries that you may suffer in the kitchen when your hands are not protected. What should you do to prevent these happening? Making the best cut-resistant gloves always available in your kitchen is the best way to protect yourself and your family from sustaining injuries when doing the cooking. Cut-resistant gloves protect the wearer from lacerations and some punctures caused by handling sharp items, such as metal and glass. Knit gloves are made of materials that protect against a range of cut risks, from handling light cardboard to appliance assembly. Leather cut-resistant gloves have a liner or cut-resistant stitching to protect workers’ hands. Keep in mind – cut-resistant gloves are not cut proof however will save your hand from lacerations. Wear cut-resistant gloves when you’re using knives—particularly for more intricate knife work or when cutting something awkward like a knobby piece of ginger—or when cleaning food out of the blade of your food processor. I personally wear a cutting glove every time I use my mandoline slicer and my Microplane grater and sometimes when I’m feeling cautious using a knife. We carry various brands of cut resistant gloves. One of our favorites is the Microplane cut-resistant glove. No more shredded knuckles when you grate or zest. This knit mesh glove is made of a unique synthetic fiber that resists cuts to protect your hands, and it’s made of a seamless, wire-free knit material that resists cuts. The glove fits either hand and one size fits most.
ised a r B n e v O gs e L n e k c i h C Rosemary Delicious meal to make on these chilly days!
INGREDIENTS • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup red onion (chopped)
• Salt to taste • Black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced) • 4 chicken legs (skin on)
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 4 to 6 sprigs rosemary
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large deep oven-safe sauté pan, Dutch oven, or saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring periodically. 2. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes longer, stirring from time to time. With a slotted spoon, remove the onion and garlic to a plate and set aside. 3. Heat the oven to 325 F. 4. Lightly sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour to coat. Brown the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side. Add the onion and garlic back to the pan. 5. Whisk the wine and tomato paste together; pour into the pan and add the bay leaf. Boil for about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about half. Add the chicken broth and rosemary sprigs. 6. Cover and braise in the oven for 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender. The thickest part of the chicken, not touching bone, should register at least 165 F on a food thermometer..
Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store for those cool tools for cooks. Remember to be safe when “making the cut.” Stay safe and healthy. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”
Take Care, John & Paula
20
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
A Guide to October Mischief
festivals, corn mazes, spooky tours and more HOLLOWED HARVEST
The Hollowed Harvest will be held at the Altamont Fairgrounds, located at 129A Grand St., Altamont. It features 7,000 incredible Jack O’Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-than-life displays, some towering as tall as three stories, and spanning more than 60 feet in length! From dinosaurs to zombies, sea creatures to medieval castles, all made from Jack-O’Lanterns. Thursday through Sunday of each week through the beginning of November with additional dates added the week of Halloween. Show dates, times and ticket information are available at HollowedHarvest.com.
PUMPKIN GLOW & LIGHT SHOW DRIVE THRU
An enchanting Halloween experience at Ellms Family Farm, located at 448 Charlton Rd., Ballston Spa that features a pumpkin wonderland with thousands of hand carved illuminated Jack O’Lanterns. Please join us on the farm to be immersed in the magic from the safety and comfort of your own vehicle. You will also be able to select and pre-pay for tasty fall themed treats, food & beverages to be enjoyed from your vehicle. Providing everyone with fall fun while maintaining social distance protocols and CDC guidelines. To purchase tickets, visit. ellmsfarms.com.
ZOMBIE ZIPS
Mountain Ridge Adventure, 300 Weatherwax Rd., Schenectady This tour is not for the faint of heart. Your nightmare begins with a corpse-guided tour along a serial killer infested forest to then be hauled into the trees among complete, utter horror. Once in the trees you will be launched in complete darkness … alone, afraid, and vulnerable … along a screaming steel cable hundreds of feet along Mountain Ridge Adventure’s awesome Zip Line Park. The terror occurs every Friday and Saturday night in the month of October from 7-10 p.m. WARNING: This is not for kids or the faint of heart. For more information visit our Facebook page.
NIGHTMARES AT LIBERTY RIDGE FARM
At Nightmares at Liberty Ridge Farm, you will find a variety of haunted attractions, all full of the scariest monsters and creepiest creatures you can dream up. Each attraction is scarier than the one before, and they’re sure to leave everyone who enters trembling with fear. Featuring: Farmers’ Haunted House, Field of Screams, Underground Tunnel, 3D McCobb Manor, and the Forest of Fear. Nightmares is open 7 -10 p.m. on October 23, 24, and 30. Get your tickets at the gate. Liberty Ridge Farm is located at 29 Bevis Rd., Schaghticoke.
FIELD OF HORRORS
Field of Horrors, located at 100 Farrell Rd., Troy, offers several different attractions for the price of one! Check out Return of the Mummy’s Curse, Death Trap, Insanity, Condemed Manor and Dr. Morbid’s Haunted House. Every Friday and Saturday through October 31 and Sunday, October 25. Not recommended for children under 10. Strobe lights are in use throughout the premises. All fog machine liquid is water based. This is not a handicap accessible facility. General admission is $28. For times, and more information and frequently asked questions, visit fieldofhorrors.com.
DEAD END ROAD DRIVE-THRU EXPERIENCE
Double M’s Dead-End Road is a contactless haunted theatrical experience. Remaining in your vehicle in our controlled environment allows for social distancing while still enjoying the laughs, thrills and chills of the Halloween season and snacking on cider and donuts! Open Thursday through Sunday nights in October at 7 p.m. Tickets must be purchased online in advance; we will not be selling tickets at the gate. Limited space available each night. We will be following specific guidelines set forth by New York State. Double M is located at 678 Route 67 in Ballston Spa.
GHOST TOURS - CANFIELD CASINO
The Canfield Casino is one of Saratoga Springs’ most historic and haunted buildings. Tours are scheduled for October 23, 24 and 29-31. Tours last about 1 hour and will be led by actual eyewitnesses to paranormal events that have been recorded at the Historic Canfield Casino. Come learn the stories, the legends, and the lore of this great building in a small, intimate group. Tickets are $20. Time slots begin at 6 p.m. and tours run every 20 minutes with the last tour stepping off at 7:40 p.m. Reservations are required as each tour is limited to 6 people. Reservations can be made online at saratogahistory.org. Face masks and social distancing required.
GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE
Our 20th Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge will be held virtually. Featuring 5K and 10K with proceeds benefitting Saratoga Bridges. Run or walk at your convenience until October 31. Choose your own course or stay on ours in the Saratoga State Park. Mile markers are posted. Otherwise, we recommend www.mapmyride.com to locate an option in your area and encourage you to drive the route first to check on a safe course with good shoulders and sight lines. Please follow social distancing requirements. Once you have finished your race, please report your time. Submit by October 31. Our $25 registration fee garners you a longsleeve moisture wicking shirt. Register at zippyreg.com/ online_reg/?e=1448
Happy Fall from Saratoga TODAY!
SPOOKTACULAR
Mazzone Hospitality, Ed Lewis Associates and the Saratoga County Chamber are pleased to invite you and your family to enjoy a safe, socially distanced “Trick or Treating” event. The Saratoga Spooktacular Halloween drive through at SPAC will be held on Friday, October 30 & Saturday, October 31 from 4-8:30 p.m. Admission to the event is $6 per vehicle, plus ticketing fees.
DRIVE-THRU PUMPKIN PARADE
Enjoy a safe, socially distant holiday and the pumpkin artistry of Clifton Park and Halfmoon residents as you drive through Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library parking lot on Sunday, October 25 at 4:30. Located at 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park. Vote for your favorite pumpkins. Cast your vote and receive a goody bag for each child in attendance, while supplies last! No registration is required to drive through. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held virtually on Facebook October 26.
GHOST HUNT
The Glens Falls Collaborative has organized a Ghost Hunt for the month of October. Find Cut-out ghosts around the city of Glens Falls between October 10 to 30. If you find a ghost, take a picture. After finding all 10, email your pictures to ourglensfalls@gmail.com. Entrants who find all 10 ghosts will be entered into a raffle. Three winners will be announced on Halloween Day on the Downtown Glens Falls Facebook page and notified via email.
THE UNDERWORLD HAUNTED CAVE TOUR
Join the Keepers of the Cave (if you dare) this Halloween Season for the first totally immersive haunted tour – The Underworld at Howe Caverns. Venture 16 stories down to a world of creatures you were never meant to see and experience the haunted boat ride. For tickets and more information visit HoweScary.com!
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
A Saratoga Children’s Theater Film. A drive-in viewing of the film at 617 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs on October 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. VIP Parking $15, Adults $10, ages 12 and under $5. Friday, October 30 is a double feature: SCT Film Night of the Living Dead followed by the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead. Parking lot opens at 5 p.m. Concessions will be available from 5 – 9:30 p.m. Also, happy Hour and Artisnal Brewery from 4 – 11 p.m. located next door. A portion of proceeds will benefit SCT. There will be SCT merchandise available to purchase, trick or treat from event employees, Guessing Jar Raffle. Restrooms available. CDC Guidelines strictly enforced, no exceptions.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
21
“Reimagined”
Fall Festivities 2020
This Weekend: Self-Guided Fun for the Whole Family Oct. 23-25! SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association’s 19th annual Fall Fest will take on a whole new look this year! Although you won’t see the traditional pumpkin rolling or annual costume parade, the “reimagined” event will feature new activities that extend all weekend long from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25. The event is free and open to the public. The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association is presenting this year’s Fall Festivities with support from the Saratoga Springs Special Assessment District, the Adirondack Trust Company and Cantina. Media Sponsors include Saratoga Today and Saratoga’s Star Radio. The Fall Festivities Weekend would not be possible without the support and participation of many downtown businesses including Lifestyles of Saratoga, Violet’s of Saratoga, Menges and Curtis, Playbill Travel, Julie & Co. Realty LLC, Spoken Boutique, Roohan Realty, Saratoga Saddlery, Bonacio Construction Inc., O’Connell and Aronowitz, The Adelphi Hotel, and Toga Heritage. In-kind
sponsors include The Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs, Sunnyside Gardens and Haunted Saratoga. The Fall Festivities weekend is a celebration of autumn and Halloween. Downtown store windows will be decorated with festive themes and a variety of businesses will be offering “devilish deals” all weekend long. In addition, families can take part in a self-guided Great Saratoga Pumpkin Hunt and search downtown shops and restaurants for pumpkins decorated with scenes of historic Saratoga Landmarks, painted by local artist Cathi Anne Cameron. If you find all 20 pumpkins (which will be visible from the outdoors) and identify the store or restaurant where you find it, you could win a prize! Participation forms are available in downtown shops and businesses as well as online at saratogaspringsdowntown. com. Forms must be dropped off by 5 p.m. Sunday, October 25 at either Impressions of Saratoga, Caroline + Main or Northshire Bookstore to be entered to win one of three Downtown Saratoga Springs Gift Baskets valued at $200 each. Winners will be notified on Halloween.
Three nights of ghost tales will be told by author of Haunted Saratoga, Joe Haedrich. Haedrich will be LIVE on Facebook on Friday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m., with “A Haunted Adelphi Hotel.” On Saturday, October 24 Haedrich will tell “Ghostly Tales of the Arcade Building” and on Sunday, October 25, Haedrich will spotlight a “Spooky Olde Bryan Inn.” Each night a viewer will be randomly selected to receive a signed copy of Joe Haedrich’s book, Haunted Saratoga! In addition, Upset, the Dark Horse, will be making an appearance downtown sometime throughout the weekend! To top it off, there will be food and drink specials at participating restaurants. For a list of participating restaurants and their offerings, visit saratogaspringsdowntown.com.
One of 20 historic Saratoga pumpkins painted by local artist Cathi Anne Cameron for the Great Saratoga Pumpkin Hunt. Photo provided.
This unique Halloween celebration encourages families to share leisurely weekend fun together, enjoying the hospitality of the Saratoga Springs businesses and the great spirit of the community. A full list of events will be available on the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association website at saratogaspringsdowntown.com as
well as on Facebook. The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association reminds you to bring a face covering and “Mask Up!” The Saratoga Downtown Business Association’s Fall Festivities Weekend is supported by the generosity of Saratoga’s business community. For additional information visit saratogaspringsdowntown.com.
22 Arts &
Entertainment
Call For Talent Show Submissions: Adirondack Theatre Festival & The Wood Theater
GLENS FALLS — Adirondack Theatre Festival Producing Artistic Director, Chad Rabinovitz, announces the first ever Holiday Family Talent Show in partnership with The Wood Theater. The Holiday Family Talent Show is looking for video submissions (2 minutes or less) by Nov. 6 for the opportunity to win $1,000. Friends and family will have the chance to vote for participants online between Nov. 9-13.
Those who make it into the final 12 will be invited into a studio between Nov. 16- Dec. 4 to film a second performance to be broadcast in the organization’s live show on Dec. 17. Audiences who tune in will vote live and a winner will be revealed and awarded the grand prize of $1,000. Those wishing to enter must be registered prior to submission. Registration can be submitted at www.atfestival.org/registration with submissions due Nov. 6. Full
contest rules may also be found at www.atfestival.org/event/ holiday-family-talent-show. The December 17 broadcast will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40/household and includes a mystery box delivered to your door which will enhance your live show experience as part of ATF’s In The Box Entertainment. Tickets are available at woodtheater.org or by calling 518-480-4878. All proceeds benefit Adirondack Theatre Festival and The Wood Theater.
Call for Entries: Photography Show at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park WILTON — For photographers who enjoy taking pictures of nature or of people enjoying nature, entries for a photography show that will be highlighting the beauty and the mission of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park are being sought. The entry deadline is Nov. 30 and up to four entries will be accepted per person. Prizes awarded for the following categories: Best in Show, Best Nature in Winter, Best featuring Conservation, Best featuring Education, Best featuring
Recreation, Best Nature in Autumn, Best Animal Shot, Best Karner blue butterfly, and Best under-13. Entries should be submitted via email to info@wiltonpreserve. org with the following information: attached photograph files saved as jpeg, name, address, phone number, email, title of each submission, age if under 13. All work should be original and have been taken at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. This year the selected photographs will be displayed virtually, through a
virtual Photography Gallery. For more information, contact the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at www.wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Rock n’ Roll Fantasy Camp New Series Kicks Off with Alice Cooper On Halloween
Alice Cooper, pictured performing on stage in Glens Falls last November, will kick off a new Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp series via Zoom on Oct. 31. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
LOS ANGELES — The new series of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp will kick off with exclusive events with Alice Cooper – to benefit his charity Solid Rock, and Rock the Socks – at 8 p.m. on Halloween Oct. 31. Roger Daltrey, of The Who (Nov. 14), Joe Elliot of Def Leppard (Nov. 28), and Styx (Dec. 12) will follow. The sessions, conducted over Zoom, connect with fans with the musicians in a meaningful way, raising funds for a variety of organizations. The RRFC - a longtime rock ‘n’ roll institution where students learn from real-life rock stars – presents the new ‘Front Row Live’ series in partnership with Southern California’s Rock Station, 95.5 KLOS-FM. In
addition to the interactive tickets where fans can directly speak to the stars, the event may be viewed by fans to watch and submit online questions for $25 dollars. With no live music due to COVID-19, RRFC launched an interactive, online Masterclass Series in June, allowing musicians and music enthusiasts alike to learn from and speak with artists from the comfort of their own homes. Unlike typical meet and greets, attendees are able to hang for 60-90 minutes with their favorite stars, hearing intimate stories and asking at least one question directly to the artist. Since its launch, there have been over 100 classes. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster or at: www.rockcamp.com.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Saratoga Arts Announces New Executive Director: Louise Kerr SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arts Board of Directors has announced that Louise Kerr will serve as the new Executive Director of Saratoga Arts. Founded in 1986 by and for artists and audiences, Saratoga Arts’ mission is to enrich the region by cultivating a vibrant arts community and by ensuring that the arts are accessible to all. In its 30-plus years, Saratoga Arts has brought the arts to over 1,000,000 people through its programs and provided performing and visual artists opportunities to earn over $3,000,000 in art sales and performance fees. Saratoga Arts is a non-governmental, not-forprofit organization that relies on the support of our members, friends and community. Kerr is working currently with the staff on the first exhibit under her new role, which will take place late Fall. “As the new Executive Director of Saratoga Arts, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to return to
what I love best – connecting and nurturing artists across all genres, at all points of their careers and working collaboratively on a local and regional level to promote and sustain the meaningful impact a public arts center can have serving the community,” said Kerr, in a statement. Born and raised in Scotland, Kerr comes to Saratoga Arts from The Olana Partnership, The Historic New York State Park and Home of Frederic Church, the famed Hudson River School painter, where she served as the Director of Engagement and Visitor Operations. Prior, she was the Operations Manager for The Betty Cuningham Gallery in Manhattan's Lower East Side. She brings more than 20 years of diverse business management experience, both in New York and California, to her new post. Saratoga Arts is located at 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs. For more information go to: www.saratoga-arts.org.
Arts & 23 Entertainment
9 Maple: Celebrating 30 Years of Cool SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Oct. 12, the venue 9 Maple celebrated its 30th anniversary, albeit it in somewhat muted style due to pandemic precautions. Still, the group expressed its exuberance in virtual fashion with a social media post: “To our 9 Maple family: Today we celebrate 30 years of being in business! It is beyond words to try to express the heartache of being closed during this very special day. The concern for the safety of our staff and customers alike, as well as the size of our bar, make for a frustrating combination of reasons that keep our doors closed during the pandemic. 9 Maple has been a safe and comfortable spot for many, for 30(!?!!!) years now; we intend to continue to offer that comfortable, safe place, and when we can assure that it is, we will definitely celebrate these 30 years! Missing all of you very much! Happy Anniversary 9 Maple! We hope to see everyone soon as possible!!”
24 Arts &
Entertainment
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Northshire Fundraising Challenge to Keep the Music Alive at Caffè Bookstore Celebrates Lena; Grant Will Match First $50K Donated by Oct. 31 Neil Gaiman Release SARATOGA SPRINGS — grant to help Caffè Lena survive for higher level donors who want
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Northshire Bookstore is partnering with William Morrow to present a special virtual event with Neil Gaiman and Booker Prize winner Marlon James. Order a copy of The Neil Gaiman Reader from Northshire Bookstore, and your name and
email address will be sent to Harper Collins who will register you for a special pre-recorded conversation. At 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, when the interview will stream, Neil Gaiman will join in to live chat and answer your questions. For more information, go to: northshire.com.
COVID-19 Tracker; Weekly Update
The seats at Caffe Lena have been empty since March 14. But the venue’s stage has been busy nearly every night as bands play shows for three robotic cameras that stream live to audiences around the world. The Sarah B. Foulke Charitable Fund, set up to honor Saratoga Springs attorney and café volunteer Sarah Foulke, supports Saratogians and others by investing in causes she believed in. Sarah B. Foulke Fund advisor Suzan Nolan explains, “This is a double-your-gift challenge
the shutdown. Caffè Lena is a landmark venue. We want to help them evolve their online platform and we’re rooting for them to raise the full $50,000 this month so that we can donate $50,000. Unique cultural institutions such as Caffè Lena make our region special and deserve our help. We hope others who love Caffè Lena and Saratoga Springs will join our effort.” Caffè Lena is seeking donations from individuals, businesses and musicians. The venue is offering underwriting and sponsorship slots
their philanthropy recognized. “If this pandemic has taught us anything,” emphasized Sarah Craig, Executive Director of Caffe Lena, “it’s that every expression of care, whether it's a $5 tip, or a $500 donation, or a special comment, they all add up to helping live music survive and grow during this time of extreme challenge.” To make a donation to help Caffe Lena reach its $50,000 goal by Oct. 31, visit www.caffelena. org and click on the Sarah B. Foulke Donation Challenge link.
CDC: Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued the following information regarding steps to take when trick or treating. Make trick-or-treating safer: • Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters. • Give out treats outdoors, if possible. • Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take. • Wash hands before handling treats. • Wear a mask. These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives: Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them; Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends; Decorating your house, apartment, or living space; Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance; Having a virtual Halloween costume contest; Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with; Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-ortreat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house-to-house. Moderate risk activities: Participating in one-way trickor-treating where individually
wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard); If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags; Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart; Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart; Going to an open-air, one-way, walkthrough haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart; If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus; Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing; Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart; If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus; Lower your risk by following
CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs. Higher risk activities. Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19: Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door-to-door; Having trunk-ortreat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots; Attending crowded costume parties held indoors; Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming; Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household; Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors; Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19. Note: A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face. Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask. For more information, go to: CDC.gov.
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
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LEGALS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York will conduct a public hearing on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., or soon thereafter, in the Music Hall, City Hall, 474 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, to hear all persons who wish to speak for or against the Saratoga Springs Community Development Citizen Advisory Committee recommendations for a substantial amendment to the 2019 CDBG Annual Action Plan to facilitate the expenditure of the third tranche of CDBG-CV funding allocated to the City by the US Dept of Housing & Urban Development through the CARES Act in the amount of $358,743. The City Council has been presented with the following funding allocation recommendations: Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY – Homelessness Prevention - $15,000 Saratoga Senior Center – Essential Services - $15,000 Salvation Army – Essential Services - $4,000 Mother Susan Anderson – Essential Services - $22,740 Pitney Meadows Community Farm – Food Security - $10,000 Community Development Dept – COVID-19 Small Business Grants - $256,503 CDBG-CV Administration - $35,500 The public comment period will occur October 21 through November 2. It is anticipated that the City Council will vote on these recoammendations at the November 2 Council meeting. The Amended 2019 Entitlement Action Plan will then be submitted to the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development for approval. The Draft Amended 2019 Entitlement Action Plan recommendations are available for review on the City’s website
at: www.saratoga-springs.org and in the Community Development Office, City Hall, 474 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK By: John P. Franck, City Clerk 10/23, 100950 Notice is hereby given that a license, number Pending for beer, liquor, cider and wine has been applied for by the undersigned* to sell beer, liquor, cider and wine at retail in a country club under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at the Ballston Spa Country Club, 1366 Amsterdam Road, Route 67, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 for on premises consumption. * Mangino’s Gourmet Market, LLC 10/23, 10/30. 100936 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs, New York, will conduct a public hearing on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be reached, at City Hall, 474 Broadway, in the City of Saratoga Springs, New York, to hear all persons who wish to speak in regard to the 2021 Comprehensive Budget for the City of Saratoga Springs, NY. A copy of the proposed 2021 Comprehensive Budget and Budget Message will be available for inspection at the City Clerk’s Office, 474 Broadway, in the City of Saratoga Springs, Monday (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and Tuesday through Friday (9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), and it may also be viewed on the City website at www.saratoga-springs.org. Dated: October 21, 2020 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK By: John P. Franck, City Clerk, 10/23, 10/30. 100932
Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: Bluefish Properties LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on October 8, 2020. The county in New York in which the office of the company is located is Saratoga County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process may be served, and the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company served upon him or her to the LLC, 3 Care Lane, Suite 100, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866. The business purpose of the company is to engage in any lawful purpose permitted under the laws of the State of New York. 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20, 11/25. 100943 Notice of formation of The Rocking Table LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 09/29/2020. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 433 Lake Desolation Road Middle Grove, NY 12850. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20, 11/25. 100914 Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: PINATONE, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York on OCTOBER 6, 2020 under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law. Office location: Saratoga County. Secretary of State of New York designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Secretary of State of New York shall mail a copy of the process to: King, Adang & Arpey, 340 Broadway, Suite 3, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Purpose: any lawful business activity not otherwise prohibited by the laws of the State of New York. 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20. 100789 NOTICE OF FORMATION of Limitless Landscapes, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on August 3, 2020. Location: Saratoga County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process on LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Limitless Landscapes 2 Jackson Rd. South Glens Falls, NY 12803. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20. 100770 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF TM BLAST LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/06/2020. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 229 Washington Street, Suite 305, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: any lawful activity. 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20. 100752 Notice of formation of 193 Lake Avenue, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/29/2020 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom the process against it may be served. A copy of the process shall be mailed to: Scott M. Peterson, 125 High Rock Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, 11/20. 100675 Notice of formation of Livin’ The Dream LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 09/28/2020 Office: Saratoga
County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom the process against it may be served. A copy of the process should be mailed to the LLC at: 14 Spice Mill Blvd Halfmoon, NY 12065. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13. 100626 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NAME: Kennedy Lane LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/25/2020. Office Location: Saratoga County. Process may be mailed to: Elda Saljanin, 6 Kennedy Lane K5, Clifton Park, NY 12065 Principal business address: 6 Kennedy Lane K5, Clifton Park, NY 12065 Purpose: Any lawful acts. 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13. 100646 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) The name of the Limited Liability Company that was formed is: LEE’S MOTEL AND COTTAGES LLC. The Articles of Organization were filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on SEPTEMBER 28, 2020. The office of said Limited Liability Company is located in Warren County. The Secretary of the State of New York has been designated as agent of the Limited Liability Company upon whom process against said Company may be served and the post office address within the state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process is: The LLC, ROBERT FOGLIETTA, 1846 STATE RT 9, LAKE GEORGE, NY 12845 . The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful acts under the laws of the State of New York. 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13. 100614
26
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Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
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LEGALS NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) The name of the Limited Liability Company that was formed is: 18 MCGINNIS LG HOLDINGS LLC. The Articles of Organization were filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on SEPTEMBER 28, 2020. The office of said Limited Liability Company is located in Warren County. The Secretary of the State of New York has been designated as agent of the Limited Liability Company upon whom process against said Company may be served and the post office address within the state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process is: The LLC, 15 Sycamore Drive, Queensbury, NY 12804 . The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful acts under the laws of the State of New York. 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13. 100608 Notice of formation of NKE Realty, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York on 8/06/20. Office location: Saratoga County. NYS Secretary of State is designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at 19 Cambridge Court, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13. 100600 Notice is hereby given of PARASAIL NATION LLC as a domestic limited liability company. The Art. of Org. were filed with the NYS Sec of State on 9/29/2020. The Company is located in SARATOGA County. The Secretary of State is designated as the agent upon whom process may be served at 20 LEONARD
RD, SARATOGA SPG, NY 12866. NO registered agent. NO specific date of dissolution. The Company is organized for all purposes permitted under the laws of the State of New York. Filer: Colleen A. Dooley, Esq. PLLC PO Box 760, Latham, NY 12110. 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06. 100551
on 09/18/2020 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 24 Conifer Dr, Burnt Hills, NY 12027. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06. 100482
Notice of formation of Warthog Excavating, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York on 9/16/20. Office location: Saratoga County. NYS Secretary of State is designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at 40 Aldrich Road, Ballston Spa, New York 12020. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06. 100545
Notice of formation of 815 Saratoga Road, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 09/03/2020. Office: Saratoga County SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 221 Caroline Street, Apt. #2, Saratoga Springs, NY. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/06. 100476
Notice of formation of Catalfamo Enterprises, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF: BP Carstensen LLC, office in Saratoga County; Article of Organization filed with SSNY on 8/24/2020. SSNY designated agent
of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Bridgette Carstensen, 57 Sonat Road, Clifton Park, New York 12065. Purpose: any lawful acts and or activities for which limited liability companies may be organized under the LLC Law. 09/25, 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30. 100327 Notice of formation of Rafalik Law, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 08/27/2020. Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the PLLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the PLLC at: 14 Locust Drive, Greenfield Center NY 12833. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 09/18, 09/25, 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23. 100289 Notice of formation of First Fill Spirits, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the
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Secretary of State of New York on 09/08/2020 Office: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as the LLC’s agent upon whom process against it may be served. A copy of process should be mailed to the LLC at: 368 Broadway, Suite 7, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 09/18, 09/25, 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23. 100260 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Charlie’s CycleTherapy, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on September 9, 2020. Office location: Saratoga County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 376 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 09/18, 09/25, 10/02, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23. 100242
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I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!
HELP WANTED
Yard Work Part-Time
I need someone to help me with yard work. Will pay $15 per hour. Call 518-587-3248
with
GPS !
Batteries Never Need Charging.
For a FREE brochure call:
1-800-404-9776 ATTORNEY DIVORCE $389 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared. Only one signature required. Poor person Application included if applicable. Separation agreements. Custody and support petitions. 518-274-0380
HELP WANTED
27
28
CLASSIFIED
It’s where NEED to be.
YOU
MARKETPLACE
SPACE RESERVATION DUE:
Monday | 5 p.m.
PUBLICATION DAY:
classified@saratogapublishing.com
Friday
Call 518-581-2480 ext. 204
AD COPY DUE:
Wednesday | Noon
FOR SALE FREE!
Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE! ($500 Value)
Walk-In Tubs
WALK-IN BATHTUB SALE! SAVE $1,500 ✔ Backed by American Standard’s 140 years of experience ✔ Ultra low entry for easy entering & exiting ✔ Patented Quick Drain® Technology ✔ Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard ✔ 44 Hydrotherapy jets for an invigorating massage Limited Time Offer! Call Today!
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OFF
AND!
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1-855-478-9473
10
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SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS
Promo Number: 285
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
+
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OFF
TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS!**
Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST
*For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. ** Offer valid at estimate only. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #107836585501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H
REAL ESTATE LOCAL AGENT WILL BUY YOUR HOME AT A PRICE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU Free Report Available. Free recorded message 1-833-766-5431 ID# 2545
TV INTERNET PHONE
EDUCATION
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COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)
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REAL ESTATE
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD PHONE: 518-581-2480 ext. 204 FAX: 518-581-2487 EMAIL: CLASSIFIED@ saratogapublishing.com OR JUST STOP IN! HEALTH VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-855-579-8907. HEARING AIDS!! Buy one/ get one FREE! High-quality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Nearly invisible! 45-day money back guarantee! 833-448-0751.
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WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-361-0601 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com
FOR RENT
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
29
Puzzles Across 1 Low poker pair 5 Mus. key with three sharps 9 Nigerian seaport 14 Greet with fanfare 15 Pizza Quick sauce brand 16 “You’ve got a friend” 17 First name in scat 18 Region where broadcast reception may be poor 20 Mix 22 Former Soviet leader Brezhnev 23 Progress at a faster rate 26 Prefix with tourism 29 Navigation technology, briefly 30 Brooding genre 31 “Spartacus” Oscar winner 34 Bowler’s pickup 36 Amtrak express 37 Army rank last conferred in 1950 42 Breakout game developer 43 Pool triangles 44 Sent a message, old-style 47 Rock’s Ocasek 48 Grow older 51 Thorn __, former Virgin Records owner 52 Riot control weapon 55 Arizona MLBers 58 Dig find 59 Automatic functions in most cars, and what can be found in this puzzle’s circles 63 “Ciao!” 64 Take in eagerly 65 Yule tune 66 Saroyan’s “My Name Is __” 67 Collaborative 1993 Sinatra album 68 Looking like rain 69 U. of Maryland athlete
Down 1 Roald Dahl novel adapted as a 2016 Disney film 2 Big hit 3 Gretzky’s first NHL team 4 Word on the street? 5 Canine greeting 6 Tarnish 7 Like gymnasts 8 Capital near Glacier Bay National Park 9 Property claim 10 Dark purple berry 11 Plant custodian 12 Vein contents 13 Briny expanse
19 Neil Gaiman’s “American __” 21 Get rid of 24 Latin 101 verb 25 Circle dance 27 Cuba libre mixer 28 Racecourse shape 32 Chemicals carrier 33 Treats, as a sprain 34 Drought-plagued 35 Get an “Oh no” from Alex Trebek, say 37 Inevitable end 38 Tabloid couple 39 Stamp, as a passport 40 Teri of “Tootsie”
41 Vaping device, familiarly 45 Mark on metal 46 Puck-handling skill 48 Shining brightly 49 Instrument for The Romeros, a classical quartet 50 Pitch tents 53 Regarding 54 Tuned to 56 Very dry, as Champagne 57 Nile vipers 59 H.S. dropout’s test 60 __ de cologne 61 Scone go-with 62 Surreptitious
Writing the Right Word by Dave Dowling
Accuracy in word choice is a key to effective communication. In your daily writing and speaking, try to make sure you use the right word in the right place with the right spelling. By doing so, its effect will affect your communication in a positive way. This quick weekly tip will help you filter the confusion in some of our daily word choices. This Week: Laudable, Laudatory
Laudable means worthy of praise. The celebrity returned home for a laudable cause.
Laudatory means expressing praise. The concert last night received a laudatory review.
Dave Dowling is the author of The Wrong Word Dictionary and The Dictionary of Worthless Words. Both books are available from many book retailers, and signed copies can be obtained by contacting Dave at dave.dowling65@gmail.com
Puzzle Solutions
30
Sports
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
Saratoga Yankees
CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
by Megin Potter
for Saratoga TODAY The Saratoga Yankees wins their third Saratoga MSBL Championship. Previous wins took place in 2016 and 2018.
Photos by Miguel De La Cruz of Catherine and Miguel Photography and Video
T
he Saratoga Yankees have won their third Saratoga MSBL Championship in five years.
Formed in 2013 by then Manager Marty Migliori, The Saratoga Yankees is one of 10 local MSBL teams. Nationally, the MSBL (Men’s Senior Baseball League) is the fastest growing adult amateur baseball organization in the country, with 3,200 teams and 45,000 members.
After losing the first game of the playoffs, the Saratoga Yankees were reinvigorated by a home run from Nick Paniccia and swept through the remainder of the finals, winning against the Cubs with timely hitting and flawless defense from short stop Joe Sleeman.
Structured and well-run, the league is comprised of players looking for friendly competition who aren’t yet ready to retire into the world of community softball.
“There were a lot of things the league did to make this happen. It would’ve been a long summer without baseball,” said coach and player Mark Hertel.
NO SURRENDER
THE HUSTLE
The Saratoga Yankees’ current Manager, Jose Segura led the team, which fields players of all abilities age 28 and older, to their first tournament win in 2016, then again in 2018. In late September, they sealed their third Championship win.
The players on the Saratoga Yankees team wear many different hats. They have day jobs, families and other responsibilities, but spend two days a week during the summer season playing games on Saratoga baseball fields including at Geyser Park, East Side Rec (when it’s not under construction), and the Skidmore College campus.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR NEXT ROUND OF CANDIDATES FOR
Athlete of the
1 Week
They can be a STAND-OUT or STAND-BY, a SUPERSTAR, or a SUPER TEAMMATE. Send us your suggestions. Any and all sports welcome. Send: Athlete Name | Sport | Brief Description to: cbeatty@saratogapublishing.com Put ‘Athlete of the Week’ in the Subject
Membership fees are affordable and when needed, the team’s players, who are also local business owners, including Dan Bruno, of Bruno and Bruno Financial, and Sam Bottini, of Bailey’s Saratoga Bar and Eatery, help sponsor events. Hertel joined the Saratoga Yankees in 2016 when a co-worker at Global Foundries heard that he’d previously played college baseball for the University of Albany, and recommended joining the Saratoga MSBL team. “I joined for the love of the game, because I was new to the area and wanted to meet new people. Since then, I’ve forged so many friendships I never would’ve had otherwise,” said Hertel.
THE PAYOFF – TEAM UNITY Now, at age 52, Hertel’s role has evolved from playing to include coaching, as well. He’s even earned the nickname “Uncle Mark.” “My biggest enjoyment is leading, teaching, and guiding the younger players. They really respect the knowledge I have. That’s my biggest contribution now,” he said. With another championship under their belt for the Saratoga Yankees, the off-season will be a time for healing and mentally preparing before hitting the gym again this Spring. “That’s the secret to our success. We plan on sticking around for a while,” said Hertel. For more information or to join the team, contact Ken Banker 518-470-7894. Photo below: Manager Jose Segura and Coaches Mark Hertel and Dan Bruno
Week of October 23 – October 29, 2020
31
Sports
Ski Resorts Given OK to Open Empire State Games Cancelled
Photo provided.
The 2021 Empire State Winter Games have been canceled because of safety concerns posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Scheduled to take place January 28 to 31, 2021 in the Lake Placid region, in recent years, the Games have attracted more than 2,000 athletes from across New York and beyond — including 15 states and three countries — to compete in more than 30 winter sports events.
The challenges and uncertainty presented in appropriately planning, organizing, and producing events safely for the athletes of all ages and the nearly 20,000 spectators that the Games could draw proved insurmountable. The first Winter Games were held in 1981 and have continued annually since. For its 41st year, organizers hope to instead host a virtual or social media-based event for the Games participants.
NEW YORK STATE — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that ski resorts across the state can reopen under stateissued health and safety protocols starting Friday, November 6. The following precautions have been put in place. • Indoor capacity must not exceed 50 percent. • Outdoor capacity on the mountain must be reduced by 25% during "peak" days or if multiple trails are closed due to unseasonable conditions. • Gondola and lift riders must be members of the same party. • Ski lessons are limited to no more than 10 people. In addition, thorough cleaning of shared equipment, shuttles, food, beverage and retail services is required. Masks must be worn except when eating, drinking or skiing, and social distancing maintained. The announcement conforms to New York State’s new
"micro-cluster" strategy to tackle COVID-19 hot spots that may come with the Fall and Winter weather. Tracking cases based on address, the State will implement strict rules and restrictions directly targeted to areas with the highest concentration of COVID cases, known as red zones, and put in place less severe restrictions in
surrounding communities, known as orange and yellow zones. "One of the lessons we learned in New York is to look ahead and stay ahead. It's not checkers; we're playing chess with this virus. In the fall you're going to see an increased viral transmission rate — that's just a fact," Governor Cuomo said.