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Author: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan

Fresh Herbs Bring Flavor and Beauty to Food

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

At the farmers’ market, fragrant herb bouquets and pots spilling with over with leafy herb plants offer market-goers an abundance of culinary exploration. While common herbs do compliment specific foods, there are no rules for what to use them in. Fresh herbs may be mixed and matched to your liking. 

Common herbs can be put into two categories: woody herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and sage, and soft herbs such as basil, parsley, and cilantro. Woody herbs can be added earlier in the cooking process while soft herbs are commonly added towards the end of the cooking process or as a garnish. 

Herbs can be easily stored upright in a jar of water or between a damp paper towel in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Here are just some of the common herbs available on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the farmers’ market.

Basil is recognized by its glossy, pointed leaves and sweet-savory flavor. Basil pairs well with tomatoes, strawberries, mozzarella, beef, and shrimp.

Parsley is a mild bitter herb that many use as a garnish for food, but it helps dishes like stews achieve a more balanced flavor. As an added benefit, parsley can aid in digestion. 

Cilantro is a delicate citrusy herb most commonly used fresh at the end of cooking. Cilantro is popular in Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines.

Mint has a subtly sweet and peppery flavor, and it is used for a variety of culinary and medicinal purposes. Its powerful flavor compliments lamb, feta, mojitos, and even chocolate.

Dill is a delicate and feathery herb with slender stems. Dill pairs with salmon, cucumber, and potatoes, and is commonly used in pickling mixtures, dressings, and egg dishes. 

Chives have a subtly oniony flavor with hints of garlic. Recognizable by its grass-like leaves and vibrant green color, chives make the perfect garnish for dishes with eggs or potatoes.

Thyme has small, pale green leaves and pungent aroma that pairs well with hearty meat like pork and chicken. Thyme holds up well to heat and can be used during the cooking process.

Oregano is a sweet, slightly peppery member of the mint family. This herb is commonly used in dishes like tomato sauce, yogurt sauce, and kebabs, and is a staple in Italian and Greek cuisine.

Rosemary has been prized for its sturdy, aromatic sprigs and oil for centuries. Its needle-like leaves can be used for roasted vegetables, goat cheese, and even flavorful bundt cakes. 

Sage is known for its fuzzy leaves and savory flavor with a peppery bite. Fresh sage leaves are commonly used in sausage and gnocchi. Sage can be cooked or fried as a garnish for squash.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

FM HerbYogurtDip

Saratoga County’s Largest Ribbon Cutting Ever

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Business.

It’s Friday, June 19, 2020, and we’re about to hold the largest ribbon cutting celebration Saratoga County has ever seen.

It will take place today at 11 a.m. We really have no idea how many people will participate. We’ve invited everyone!

BUT, this ribbon cutting will feature the same ribbon being cut in more than 2 dozen locations across Saratoga County simultaneously. That’s what makes it the biggest.

Normally when we do a ribbon cutting, it is for one business in recognition of an investment they’ve made in our community. It can be for a new business or an expansion or a relocation or a significant milestone anniversary.

Today’s ribbon cutting at multiple locations simultaneously is designed to celebrate the reopening of Saratoga County’s economy.

The Chamber and our partners at the Saratoga County Reopening Advisory Board as well as Discover Saratoga, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, the Saratoga Springs DBA, the Saratoga Springs City Center and SEDC will all be involved in one place or another.

We’ll be in downtown Saratoga Springs as well as the Villages of Ballston Spa, Schuylerville and Mechanicville. We’ll be in the Town of Day and Edinburg to the North and Waterford, Halfmoon and Clifton Park to the South. 

We’re now in Phase 3 of Saratoga County’s reopening. And while there are still some sectors that remain closed, we simply cannot wait two more weeks to share the news that Saratoga County is open for business for those who are wondering what is open and what is not.

The ribbon we are using features the Stronger Together Saratoga County logo created a month or so ago to celebrate the many collaborations we’ve seen that have helped us get to this point.

We’re also providing every City, Town, Village and Hamlet with two Stronger Together signs personalized for their local community to use in the ribbon cutting photos.

We’ve created a Saratoga County Ribbon Cutting event on Facebook. There, everyone will be able to see all of the ribbon cutting photos and videos our staff, partners and volunteers shoot capturing this historic day.

This ribbon cutting celebrates the investment of time we’ve all made during New York’s PAUSE as we sheltered at home to put health first while placing our economy in jeopardy. Today is the day where we hopefully can feel the freedom and safely start to return to the businesses we know and love more regularly. 

We believe every ribbon cutting is the celebration of a dream come true. For us here in Saratoga County as I write this, we dreamed of a day when there was no one in Saratoga Hospital fighting for their life versus COVID-19.

That day came a week ago, on Thursday, June 11. That was the day when we decided to break out the ribbon on June 19. That was the dream come true. Now we cannot let down our guard. 

As Angelo Calbone, the President of Saratoga Hospital told a group of local leaders the other day, we still must be vigilant. We need to social distance. When we can’t, we need to wear a mask. We need to wash our hands. We need to disinfect surfaces. We need to take special care of our seniors and those with underlying conditions.

But if we continue to do this, this countywide ribbon cutting today will go down in history as the day we turned the corner. 

The day we celebrated the sacrifices so many have made to get here as well as the potential of what we can do together going forward to rebuild our economy.

Getaway to Not So Distant Shores

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Sports.

Photos provided.

Return to the rhythm of nature while gliding through the lily pads and coasting along the sparkling, sunlit water.

Let your tension melt away with a visit to Fish Creek, a world away from it all, where the gentle sounds of songbirds and splashing fish are reminders of the enduring wellness that surrounds you.

The Kayak Shak on Stafford’s Bridge Road opened for the season on May 20th, just as the pleasant weather was beginning to shine its sunny face on the gentle waterway that connects Saratoga Lake to the Hudson River in Schuylerville.

“It worked out very nicely for everybody. This was the only place to be,” said the Kayak Shak’s manager, Suzanne Carpenter. 

GOING WITH THE FLOW

Getting out onto the water in a kayak or paddleboard is ideal for following this year’s social-distancing guidelines, but the Kayak Shak is taking additional steps to ensure they are offering a safe experience for everyone.

Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Go: 

• Limited Launches. To control crowding and keep things flowing steadily, the Kayak Shak is allowing 10 watercrafts to launch every 15 minutes. Guests are requested to arrive no more than 10 minutes early. To discourage gathering, no tables, chairs, or hammocks have been set up this year. Small groups will be allowed. SUP Yoga classes have been cancelled. 

• Reservations are highly encouraged. Before you head to the water for a day of fun, call or book a launching time online. By paying and signing the safety waiver electronically, you help ensure a speedier process time at the check-in window. The building is closed, but the restrooms are open. 

• Wear a Mask. Guests are asked to wear a mask during launch and upon their return to shore. The staff are wearing masks, as well. The watercrafts, lifejackets, and paddles are being cleaned and disinfected after each use. 

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE

More than ever, locals are finding that a regular trip to the Kayak Shak is a great way to spend their free time. 

“Come out and enjoy the summer by being out on the water. We provide some excitement and a chance for people to learn something new – they’re so grateful for that,” said Carpenter

The Kayak Shak has 85 kayaks and 74 paddleboards available for rent. They also offer watercraft storage for those with their own boats who want to use this access point to reach the water. A limited number of storage slips are still available. There is a launch fee of $10/boat. 

If you need to cancel or reschedule a reservation and provide at least 24 hours’ notice of the change before your launch time, you will be given a full refund.

The Kayak Shak, 251 County Route 67, Saratoga Springs, is open 7 days/week, 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single kayaks and paddleboard rentals are $25/person for 3 hours or $45/person for 6 hours. Double kayaks are $50/half day or $85/full day rental. For more information and to make a reservation, call 518-587-9788 or go to www.kayakshak.com

Cheesemaking is a Passion, an Art

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

A basic cheese can be easy to make. You heat milk to a particular temperature, stir in an agent such as vinegar or lemon juice to create curds, drain off the liquid known as whey, and wait for the curds to cool. Making a really great cheese, however, is more complex. 

“It is about using old world craftsman methods to produce cheese in a deliberate and careful, hand-crafted way,” says Sheila Flanagan of Nettle Meadow. “It is not overly industrialized or mechanized. It is connected to the animals whose milk is used. It is a way of life.” 

That way of life is reflected in the broad array of cheeses that Nettle Meadow brings each Saturday to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, along with R&G Cheese Maker and Argyle Cheese Farmer.

The cheeses are made from goat, sheep, and cow’s milk. They include soft chevres, camemberts, cheddars, mozzarellas, manchegos, blue cheeses, and more. 

Artisan cheesemakers such as Flanagan, Argyle’s Marge Randles, and R&G owner Sean O’Connor draw on historic customs to create cheeses with minimal machinery. Often, recipes are unique to the cheesemaker and evolve over years. 

For instance, Dave Randles’s favorite cheese – Mercy – evolved out of a recipe that Marge found in an old British cookbook, accompanied by several farmstead processes for making cheddar cheese.

Flanagan notes that many Nettle Meadow cheeses are complicated to make. “Those complexities make them stand out.” 

One favorite – Briar Summit – is made with goat, cow and sheep milk with raspberry leaf tea and cream added in. The ratios of milk vary by season. Two cultures plus a coagulant create the cheese. 

“After two hours, the curd is cut and then we wait an additional two hours to pour the cheese by hand into pyramid molds,” Flanagan says. “The next morning, we flip the molds and let the cheese fall out of them and place them on a tray where they travel down to the again cellar to rest for two days.”

Flanagan applies salt and a mold powder to help ripen and flavor the cheese. She turns it every few days while it ages.

Flanagan says, “It is a true cheesemaker’s cheese.” 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/weekly-newsletter.

FM MacCheese

Sliced by Pilgrim

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Hello my Foodie Friends!

Now that things are starting to open back up; I ask you, isn’t summertime wonderful? Summer is my favorite time of year. Along with beautiful weather, are moments of making memories through family gatherings and celebrations. Summertime is always filled with food and fun. Pineapples remind me of summer and its flavor is unmistakable. Think about it, whenever you think of pineapples, you almost always think of warm summer nights, camping trips, and backyard barbecues. 

The fruit was named pineapple by European explorers in 1493 because it resembled a pine tree. The name spread out, but the Tupi language called it “nanas”, meaning “delicious fruit” and this fact was recorded by a French priest in 1555.

So, what can we make with Pineapples? How about putting fresh slices on a pizza or on your Ice Cream? How about making a Pineapple Cobbler with freshly cut pieces?  If there is anything I have learned, it’s that fresh is always tastier than getting it from a can. My family was very strict about snacks while I was growing up. We could eat as much fruit as we wanted but no candy or chips. We were allowed to help mom prepare all the food and fruit and vegetables except pineapples. That was Dad’s job. Come to think of it, it might have been his only job. Cutting a pineapple up required the big knife! Was there an echo just now?  Yes, the Big Knife or the machete would come out of hiding to the delight of the three little boys in our family. Dad would lower his voice and look at us straight in the eyes and declare; “you three boys are never to touch this knife. Do you understand me?”  We would all nod that we understood as the blade smith used his weapon. “Thwap” came down his blade on the unsuspecting pineapple. His arm was strong and the prickly pineapple was no match for our version of John Wayne. 

However, there is a better way to cut your pineapples. A tool that we sell that would have really helped the three little boys get their chance to tackle the fearsome pineapple, is the stainless steel Pineapple Slicer by OXO. 

• It cores and slices whole pineapples quickly and easily
• Comfortable, non-slip knob ratchets to allow for continuous rotation without adjusting your grip
• Measurement markings help prevent piercing the bottom of the shell
• Parts separate for removing rings and easy cleaning
• Lays flat in drawers for storage
• Ratcheting turning knob for continuous rotations
• Measurement markings on shaft help preventpiercing the bottom of the pineapple shell
• Knob and shaft separate with the press of a button for easy cleaning and are dish washer safe
• Sharp, medium-sized blade is shaped for compact storage
• Accommodates most pineapple sizes
• Soft, comfortable, non-slip grip and BPA free

I wish we had this tool when the “Duke” ruled the prickly pineapples. I still have his knife, but it somehow doesn’t look as big as it did in the golden age of the Pilgrim. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your neighborhood kitchen and cutlery store, located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, for cool tools to help you serve up some classic dishes and memories. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.” Celebrate, reflect, and listen to the stories from generations beyond us. Savor the memories and bring back some of the recipes that those before you cooked for you.

 Take Care,
John & PaulaREARDON PineappleCobbler

The Importance of Fathers

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Families Today.

Can you believe it’s the middle of June already?

What a three months it’s been. And now it’s almost Father’s Day! Which means it’s time for my annual attempt to thank the dads most special to me (my own Dad and my husband) for being so wonderful.

I was reading about the importance of involved fathers in the lives of their children recently, and delighted in seeing scientific support for things I’ve experienced, both as a daughter and as a mother. 

Researchers have discovered that, for both boys and girls, having their fathers positively involved in their lives leads to a decrease in aggressive and high risk behavior, an increase in the probability of having high paying jobs and stable relationships, and less psychological problems throughout their lives. 

“Involved fatherhood” means having an active role in the lives of their children, including caretaking and playing, even when it’s not necessarily to Mom’s taste—for example, there’s evidence that fathers tend to be less overprotective than mothers, as shown in things like roughhousing (which fathers participate in more than mothers do) and learning how to swim (which at least one study showed that fathers are better at than mothers)—things that allow children to test their abilities and boundaries, which then helps to increase their confidence.

My Dad has always been as involved as they come. I don’t ever remember him shying away from all the daily things, like pacing the floors with crying babies, doing the bedtime routine (complete with songs that I still sing to my children today), helping us with our homework, leading us in prayers, and teaching us the “right way” to do chores (his raking technique is second to none). He was the one who took us sledding and ice skating, let us watch Saturday morning cartoons and play video games, and came directly to our baseball and softball games from work, cheering us on in his suit.

Dad has always been intensely interested in everything we’ve participated in, from academics and extra curricular activities to sports and jobs. He has always encouraged us to be ambitious and to take risks when it came to positive things and life lessons, and he’s beyond proud of all of his children and everything we’ve ever accomplished. I’ve particularly come to appreciate the fact that I never once was made to feel like I couldn’t do something because I’m a woman—on the contrary, Dad had the same high expectations and certain knowledge in the abilities of his four daughters as he did for his two sons.

My husband, too, has always helped out with the kids—he’s changed at least as many diapers as I have, he makes meals for the boys probably as much as I do, he’s the one who gets up with the big boys in the night when needed (I do the babies, since I’m the only one who can breastfeed them), he brings the boys to friends’ birthday parties, and does all the weekend sports things (practices, games, opening days, etc.). He equally shares with me the efforts to bring our children up in our faith, which is such an important thing for kids to see.

If it wasn’t for my husband, my kids would never go to a playground (I can’t even watch them on the playground equipment, it makes me so nervous). He joins them in playing video games (even though I generally hate them); he lets them stay up late to watch basketball games and the Super Bowl (even though I vastly prefer a regular bedtime); he was comfortable with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings for them long before I was (they’d probably all still be watching Curious George if I had my way); he lets them drink soda sometimes (I would never let them drink soda if I had my way). So many of the things my boys will remember fondly about their childhood are things my husband did with them, introduced them to, or allowed them to do. Like my siblings and me, they are lucky, lucky children.

The Child & Family Research Partnership out of the University of Texas at Austin notes that “[i]nvolved fatherhood is linked to better outcomes on nearly every measure of child wellbeing, from cognitive development and educational achievement to self-esteem and pro-social behavior,” and the Child Welfare Information Gateway (a service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) quoted sociologist Dr. David Papenoe as saying, “Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring.” 

That’s quite a statement, and quite a responsibility. Cheers to all the great dads!

I also want to acknowledge that Father’s Day isn’t easy for everyone, especially those whose dearly beloved dads have passed away, or for those fathers who have lost their children, or for those whose fathers haven’t been there the way they should have been. I’m so sorry for your sadness!

To my Dad and my husband and all the men who are trying so hard to be good fathers—Happy Father’s Day! I hope you are able to celebrate in the ways you love (in our house, if there are sports on TV, that’s what will be on all day, and I won’t even complain; I’ll also be making specially requested foods for both my husband and my dad, and we’ll have some other little treats from both me and the kids as well). We’re all so grateful for you!

Kate and her husband have seven sons ages 15, 13, 11, 10, 8, 6, and 1. Follow her at facebook.com/kmtowne23, or email kmtowne23@gmail.com.

Yoga for Sitting

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Families Today.

As our community begins to open up, we feel eager for the opportunity to help in any way we can. Over the last several weeks my staff and I have made major changes to how we operate. We decided early on that the lockdown was an opportunity to evaluate what we felt was working and what wasn’t working in our practice. 

One big area was realizing how much we like working one-on-one with our patients. The parameters of social distancing have allowed us to implement a more effective way of treating patients, we had to change our schedule to minimize how many people are in the building and at the same time ensure that every patient is scheduled one-on-one. 

We are choosing to be the best we can and are committed to living up to the “Best of Saratoga” award we just received for the second straight year. 

Thank you to everyone that voted for us, it is truly an honor!

For this week’s article, I asked Sarah Avery, DPT, PYT to share some strategies/solutions for people having pain when they sit. I wrote an article recently about the same topic, and thought that having a Yoga based point of view might compliment my tips.

HERE’S WHAT SARAH HAD TO SAY:

I hear frequently that sitting causes pain and discomfort not only in the shoulders, but also the low back and hips. Here are some yoga poses that combat forward head and rounded shoulder posture, tight/weak hip flexors, and an underutilized core. They can be done in your home or office when you have been sitting. They are safe and performed multiple times per day in most cases. 

These poses were carefully chosen to give you a well rounded approach to what your body needs when sedentary. Please note that these poses should not be painful, and should feel like a gentle stretch or muscle activation. If you experience pain please reach out to me for assistance!

YogaForSitting

In an effort to help our community, Goodemote Physical Therapy and FysioFit Physical Therapy will be continuing to offer virtual therapy and as I mentioned we have changed our clinics schedule to ensure we maintain social distancing parameters and provide one-on-one only therapy. 

For more information please go to: www.GoodemotePT.com or www.Fysiofit.com. Call 518-306-6894. 

Email us at goodemotept@gmail.com. Virtual Yoga Classes: www.fysiofitpt.com/virtual-classes

Black Lives Matter: Change Starts with Reflection & Vulnerability

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Families Today.

EVERY THURSDAY MORNING SINCE MID-MARCH I join the B94.5  Morning Getaway Crew to share tips on how to navigate the new normal of living in a pandemic.  I give steps on how to process uncomfortable feelings, how to cope with the stress of trying to work from home and take care of your family, and how to handle anxiety and depression during this time.

I do not prepare for these discussions nor do I feel anxious.  It’s subject matter I am familiar and comfortable with.  I don’t worry that I will say the wrong thing and I don’t shrink back from sharing tips I have learned personally and professionally. I speak with confidence and I feel relaxed.

So last week, when Angela, a white woman, and Jason, a black man, my Morning Getaway team,  asked me to address the murder of George Floyd and the protests going on in our Country and around the world for Black Lives Matter,  I immediately felt uncomfortable.

“I don’t know what to say, I feel like I have no right to talk about this and I’m so anxious of saying the wrong thing.  I feel paralyzed with anxiety.”

To which Jason replied, “Say THAT, just start with the truth, that is the conversation we all need to start with.” 

As we continued to talk and went on the air I realized that my silence is only perpetuating the problem.  My non-participation and silence is what needs to be examined, reflected upon and changed.

I don’t have the answers, I don’t know what it feels like to be afraid because of the color of your skin or afraid to leave your house in the evening for fear of being stopped by the police.  I will never understand what that is like.

Perhaps where we start is with the truth. You may not know what to say, you may not know what to do, but starting with that honesty breaks the cycle of silence. Participating in the conversation is where we start.  Reflecting on our actions (or lack of ) is where we start. 

As I said, I do not know what it is like to experience racism in everyday life in the workplace and in our communities. What I do know is the voice of compassion and the voice of love. I do know what it is like to be a Mamma and to know that when my son calls out to me I will drop everything to care for him. 

I have no idea how to do more or to help more.  But maybe saying that out loud is where I start.  We have to stop being silent and passive, we have to admit that we may be uncomfortable and scared.  We have to come to the table ready to talk honestly.  If we stay silent and shrink back with our support then we are cosigning on murder. 

WE MUST START TALKING. 
BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College, PA. For more information email: meghanfritzlcsw@gmail.com 

Estate Planning Update in the Time of the Coronavirus

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Families Today.

In March of this year, I wrote a column entitled “Estate Planning in a Time of Crisis,” which outlined possible options for having your estate planning documents witnessed and notarized during the Coronavirus crisis.  There have been some important developments since that time that merit this update.

In my column in March, I noted how remote notarization was authorized by Governor Cuomo in his Executive Order 202.7.  This capability has been extraordinarily important, given the fact that access to Notary Public services has been severely restricted since the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Typically, people could get a Notary to notarize their signature at their attorney’s office, their local bank, or potentially at a local city or town hall.  When the Coronavirus hit, attorneys’ offices were closed, and banks and municipal offices limited their personal contact with customers and residents.

The remote notarization authority allowed by Executive Order 202.7 has been a welcome tool for legal practitioners to continue to notarize documents for clients.  Documents needing notarization include Powers of Attorney, Deeds, Affidavits, and various important legal agreements. 

REMOTE NOTARIZATION
More than just notarization by video conference 

It is important to note that remote notarization is not as simple as having the Notary watch you sign a notarized document via video conference with FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype.  Executive Order 202.7 has specific additional procedures, including the necessity that the full notarized document be faxed or electronically transmitted to the Notary after the Notary watches the individual sign the document via video conference.  That transmission must occur the same day as the signing. 

After the Notary receives the transmitted document, they may notarize that copy and transmit it back to the signer.  The signer then, in turn, may mail the original and the copy back to the Notary within thirty days.  When the Notary receives the original and the copy in the mail, they can then notarize the original.

There are additional procedures involved, but it useful to understand the basic flow of the documents back and forth between the signer and the Notary.  To the extent that this document exchange and additional procedures are not followed properly, the notarization could be subject to legal challenge.  As a result, you should make sure the provider of remote notarization services is familiar with the specific requirements of Executive Order 202.7

REMOTE WITNESSING
An Important New Development

After Executive Order 202.7 was signed in March allowing remote notarization, Governor Cuomo later signed Executive Order 202.14 in April.  Executive Order 202.14 allows for remote witnessing of certain legal documents, including Wills and Health Care Proxies.  This is an important new development, which means that the basic documents for an individual’s estate plan (Will, Health Care Proxy, and Power of Attorney), can now all be witnessed and notarized remotely.

In my column in March, I noted that remote supervision of Will and Health Care Proxy execution could be possible if the signer of those documents had two appropriate witnesses present with them.  In practice, some people found it very difficult to secure two appropriate people to serve as witnesses because of quarantine and social distancing issues.

By virtue of the authority granted in Executive Order 202.14,
the two witnesses to a Will or Health Care Proxy signing need not be in the same location as the signer.  The requirements for remote witnessing are similar to the requirements for remote notarization, but not exactly
the same.

The Executive Order for remote notarization states that the signer “must” transmit the signed document to the Notary by fax or electronic means the same day it is signed.  The Executive Order for remote witnessing states that the signer “may” transmit the signature pages of the document to the witnesses by fax or electronic means the same day they were signed.  It has been said that this distinction was deliberate and would allow a signer of a Will or Health Care Proxy to make a copy of the signature pages and physically deliver them to the witnesses (potentially to a drop box, for example), thereby alleviating the need of the signer to have access to email or a fax machine.

Due to extensions of the original authority granted by the Governor, both remote notarization and remote witnessing are still available in New York.  Presumably, the authority will eventually expire, so anyone attempting to use either procedure should check to make sure it is still legally permissible.

Now that law offices are starting to open up in our area as part of the Phase 2, the need for remote notarization and remote witnessing will presumably decrease.  There may still be a need for these procedures for our more vulnerable communities, such as elderly persons in quarantine or nursing home residents subject to visitor limitations.  If you are in need of such services, you should contact an experienced estate planning attorney in your area to ensure all necessary legal procedures are followed.

Matthew J. Dorsey, Esq. is a Partner with O’Connell and Aronowitz, 1 Court St., Saratoga Springs.  Over his twenty-three years of practice, he has focused in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and estate administration. Mr. Dorsey can be reached at 518-584-5205, mdorsey@oalaw.com, and www.oalaw.com.