LOCAL • INDEPENDENT • FREE
Prepare for the Worst
Volume 11 • Issue 39 • September 30 – October 6, 2016
Hope for the Best
by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY
Members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department conduct an exercise in active shooter training on a public bus. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Workplace violence and school shootings. Catastrophic weather events and rail accidents exposing residential neighborhoods to hazardous materials. “Those to me are the hazards we face on any given day,” explained John Catone. The assistant city police chief recently completed a near-two-year project of compiling potential disaster concerns in Saratoga Springs and how to best address them. The Comprehensive
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Emergency Management Plan – comprised of approximately 500 pages of documents and annexes – was unanimously approved by the council this month. It is the first new comprehensive plan the city has had in nearly a decade. Risk preparedness, response, and recovery are three aspects of the plan. In terms of concerns, the potential of a catastrophic weather event, and terrorism register on the city agenda. “You’re also taking into account school shootings and workplace violence, because that’s really what’s going on today,” Catone said. See Plan pg. 16
True Sportsmanship Taxi With a Twist Compassion Trumps Rivalry
Schuylerville turns out to support young rival who was diagnosed with cancer. Photo by MarkBolles.com. See Sportsmanship pg. 12
by Megin Potter for Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On the road, life-altering decisions must be made in a heartbeat. As co-owners of a taxi company, Amanda and Tim Putman saw so many terrible things while they were out on the area's roads. Then Tim thought of a way to make a change that would add an amazing value to people who needed a ride; he started making sure their vehicle got home safely too. That’s how Saratoga’s Designated
Driver’s Car Service was born in January and since then it’s been a different scene full of people that are appreciative and happy. “The feedback’s been awesome. Customers rave the whole time about how much they love the service. It’s been that great response that keeps us moving every day,” Amanda said. What makes them different is that the drivers pair up and meet you at your location. One will drive you home in your car, while the other follows to retrieve the driver after the customers have arrived at See Taxi pg. 14
New
Korean BBQ See pg. 11
World's
Largest
Garage Sale See pg. 34
Honoring Local Legend See pg. 32
Inside TODAY Blotter 5 Obituaries 6 Business
15, 17-19
Education 22-23 Pulse 32-36 Sports 42-48
Weekend Forecast FRIDAY
63|50 SATURDAY
58|50 SUNDAY
66|55