Author: Command

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A final draft document of the UDO was presented to the City Council this week. 

The UDO – a Unified Development Ordinance – is a tool combining traditional zoning and subdivision regulations, along with other development standards for items such as design guidelines, storm water management, signs and street standards into one, easy-to-read reference document. 

It is intended to eliminate redundant or conflicting code provisions and help streamline the review and approval process. 

The April 19 presentation effectively kicks-off the last phase of the project. Discussions will continue at the next City Council meeting, on May 4, after which advisory opinions will be requested from the city and county Planning Boards and the Design Review Commission. 

Additional public hearings will be scheduled later this year, after which it is anticipated the City Council will vote on the matter. 

The 304-page final draft UDO document is available for view at: saratoga-springs.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Representative Paul D. Tonko announced this week that applications are being accepted for funeral assistance for New Yorkers who have lost a relative to COVID-19. Tonko helped establish this program as part of the American Rescue Plan recently passed by Congress and signed into law. 

“No amount of money can heal the loss of a loved one,” Congressman Tonko said, in a statement. “While we cannot erase that pain, we can help those facing the added financial strain during this dark time. This funeral assistance program is here to help New Yorkers and all Americans access needed relief and lessen the economic burden they have had to carry during this prolonged pandemic.”

New Yorkers who paid for funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020, for an individual whose death may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19 can apply for up to $9,000 of assistance per funeral through FEMA’s dedicated call center at 844-684-6333; TTY 800-462-7585, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. No online applications will be accepted. There is no deadline to apply.

The applicant responsible for COVID-19 funeral expenses will need to provide the following information below when they call FEMA to register for assistance. FEMA recommends gathering this information ahead of the application process: Social Security number for the applicant and the deceased individual; Date of birth for the applicant and the deceased individual; Current mailing address for the applicant; Current telephone number for the applicant; Location or address where the deceased individual passed away; Information about burial or funeral insurance policies; Information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations; CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations; Routing and account number of the applicant’s checking or savings account (for direct deposit, if requested). 

Learn more about the program from FEMA at: www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance/faq. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) will be hosting three virtual town hall meetings in the last week in April to provide legislative updates and hear from constituents. 

These town halls will provide members of the community to share their suggestions and concerns, and ask questions about issues important to their communities. The virtual town hall schedule is as follows: Tuesday April 27 6:30-8 p.m.; Wednesday April 28, 6:30-8 p.m.; Thursday, April 29, 1-2:30 p.m. 

Space is limited and those interested in participating are invited to call Woerner’s office to reserve a spot and to enable them to connect to the event: 518-584-5493.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Foundation’s Veterans Business Council announced the 2021 Veterans Business Council Scholarship Program. 

Under the Program, one $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a veteran or service member that lives in, attends college in, or works in Saratoga County, New York. 

The mission of the Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is to facilitate opportunities for our military veterans residing in Saratoga County.

For full program details and eligibility criteria, visit www.VeteransBusinessCouncil.com. Veterans interested in this opportunity should reach out to Denise Romeo at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at 518-584-3255 or dromeo@saratoga.org. 

WILTON — There are almost 2,400 acres of protected land in the area that is known as the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. There are also 25 miles of trails to explore. 

The newly created “The Great 8” trail challenge encourages visitors to walk a trail from each of the eight trailheads. This challenge can be completed any time of year, and there is no time limit to when it must be finished, so grab some friends or family and get outdoors today.

Here is how it works: walk a trail from each of the eight trailheads in the Preserve & Park.Record your trips on “The Great 8” challenge checklist. Then, send in your completed checklist to receive a prize. The parcels of land are owned by Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park partners: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Town of Wilton, Saratoga County and The Nature Conservancy.

Bring on your journey: the Challenge Checklist, trail map (all trail maps can be found on wiltonpreserve.org), water and a snack, and bug spray.

For more information, please contact  518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, visit the 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. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The League of Women Voters and The Saratoga Book Festival Host a virtual event with Sally Roesch Wagner, a nationally recognized lecturer and author of The Women’s Suffrage Movement.

The program, which takes place 2 p.m. on Thursday April 29, 

Dr. Wagner’s anthology The Women’s Suffrage Movement, with a Forward by Gloria Steinem (Penguin Classics, 2019), unfolds a new intersectional look at the 19th century woman’s rights movement, and that gives voice to the unsung women who helped shape the suffrage movement, including African American suffragists who faced racism within the movement, and Iroquois women whose society influenced suffragists

Attendees need to register for the event at the Saratoga Springs Public Library website:  sspl.libcal.com/event/7474238?_post_id=1776 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A 38-year-old Schuylerville woman was killed early Sunday after being struck by a vehicle along State Route 9. 

Just prior to 1 a.m. on Sunday, April 18, officers from the Saratoga Springs Police Department responded to State Route 9 just north of the State Park’s East/West Road. The initial report was that a vehicle has struck a pedestrian. 

Officers arrived and located the pedestrian, who has been identified as 38-year-old Lindsey Irish of Schuylerville. The Saratoga Springs Fire Department also responded and provided emergency medical treatment to Irish; however, efforts were unsuccessful. 

Police said their investigation shows that Irish had been walking southbound along the east side of State Route 9 just prior to the accident. For unknown reasons, Irish partially entered the right northbound lane and was struck by a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit traveling northbound in that lane. There was no indication of alcohol or drug use with the driver of the Rabbit. The Saratoga Springs Police Department was also assisted at the scene by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Team.