Author: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan

Like most in the world today, I’m not sure the Saratoga County Chamber was ready for COVID 19. BUT in the face of this adversity, we’ve adapted. 

Our professional staff is working remotely from our homes in Clifton Park, Schuylerville, Wilton, and Saratoga Springs. We hold regular staff meetings via Zoom and we stay in touch constantly during the day via email, calls and text messages.

You can still call us at 518-584-3255. You can still email us. We’re still accessible and ready to help.

What we believe has made the Chamber so vital in this crisis is how we’ve connected our members with what’s really going on and what’s really important. We’ve been relentless in our communications sharing information, ideas, important news updates, and amazing stories of kindness.

Every day we’re sending out an email to just about everyone in our database. Since March 13, these emails have been opened more than 150,000 times.    

The work we’ve done has been helped immensely by the collaborations we started with SEDC, Discover Saratoga, the City Center, the DBA, and Prosperity Partnership on March 13. 

We’ve also joined forces with FLAG Saratoga as they lead an effort to purchase more than 2,000 meals from local restaurants for delivery to health care workers and first responders. 

We joined with six breweries who call themselves wearebrewnited.com as they raise money to support local hospitality workers. 

We are working with Death Wish Coffee as they sell t-shirts to support local businesses closed during this pandemic and their employees who are now unemployed.

We’ve been visible and vocal advocates. At first, we helped businesses get classified as essential so they could stay open. Later in this crisis, we helped local businesses who had important questions get answers about their PPP loans. 

We’re regularly in touch with elected and appointed leaders at the Federal, State, County and Local level. We are constantly sharing with them what they can do to help our economy to recover.

The response to our work has been unbelievable. We’ve lost track of how many people have thanked us for listening to them, advising them, helping them, advocating for them and giving them hope. 

I can safely say the Chamber is doing well. We’re making a difference. We’re helping to lead the economic recovery in Saratoga County. In fact, we helped write the plan.

So, if today your business or nonprofit organization is in a position to support us by joining or renewing your membership in full or in part, we’d be so appreciative. And if you are not, we understand and we’ll work with you as time goes on knowing that by helping you today that you’ll be able to help us tomorrow.

We know the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce helped make Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County one of the greatest places in the world to live, work and play. We’re going to keep adapting, communicating, and leading our community through the recovery. 

So how is the Chamber? We’re here to help. We’re ready to make a difference. We always will be.

IN THESE TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY and separation from family and friends we are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression, fatigue and insomnia. As summer approaches the hope of beach vacations and sunny pool days hang in the category of the unknown as any travel may lead to increased risk for the health of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. 

Now more than ever is the time to give yourself the grace, compassion and space to process uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness. For those trying to work from home and home school children, the days can feel never-ending and the only escape is sleep. For those essential employees who have to be around other people the panic can feel paralyzing. For those who live alone the loneliness can feel crushing. For those with family members far away the longing to get together can feel overwhelming. 

This is not the time to suck it up and put on a brave face. Now more than ever we need to be able to be vulnerable and authentic with ourselves and one another to keep ourselves healthy and sane.

The only way through this unprecedented time is to learn radical acceptance for our feelings so that we may safeguard ourselves from debilitating depression and anxiety.

If you try to repress, dismiss or avoid your feelings you will end up with a compromised immune system, low energy and outbursts of misdirected anger and impatience.

Start each morning with a check in of your emotional energy. Do you feel dread, anxiety, exhausted or angry? Whatever the feeling is embrace it and give it space to exist. If you try to avoid that dread for all the things you have to do it would be like driving on a highway without your gas cap on- you dump fuel which leads to a breakdown.

Learn to treat your feelings the way you would a small child, a puppy or a dear friend. Kindly and gently. If you have difficulty accepting uncomfortable feelings and tend to repress or avoid, get some help. Teletherapy is available to give you the extra support you may need right now.

Here is a quick way to learn how
to process your feelings and create peace in the midst of discomfort.

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE FEELING OUT LOUD
“I feel so tired and hopeless, how long can I go on like this?”

STEP 2: RESPOND WITH COMPASSION
“I understand, this is really tough, I am here for you.” 

DO NOT try to minimize or put a bow around your feelings. For example: “You are so fortunate that you get to work from home and still have a paycheck, think of the less fortunate who have lost their jobs and can’t pay their bills.” While there is a time for perspective, this approach will only lead to seething resentment and inner rage veiled with a thin smile and clenched teeth. You are allowed to feel what you feel. 

STEP 3: DO THE NEXT CONCRETE THING.
Identify one concrete task you can do in the moment that does not feel overwhelming. This could be pouring a cup of coffee, responding to an email, making your bed. Do one thing while continuing to give compassion to the feeling you identified. 

STEP 4: REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT
The best gift you can give yourself, family members and friends is a safe space to process feelings. The only thought this time is through it, we can’t go around it, above it or below it, we have to just get through this one step at a time. Use the exercise above to process your feelings daily and repeat all day long.

YOU ARE WORTH IT!

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

Hey there!

Fancy meeting like this again! 

I hoped by the writing of this I’d be able to include good news regarding the end of this terrible time, but alas—as of now (a week before you’re reading it), things are status quo. There is some good news—I anxiously await Governor Cuomo’s update every day, and it’s been so great to see the daily death rate decreasing. At the same time, as he states again and again, even one death is too many, and even though the numbers are coming down, the fact that they still exist is cause for sorrow. If that isn’t the grim truth, I don’t know what is.

But a really great thing is that Sunday is Mother’s Day! One of the best days of the year! Just ask any mother! There are definitely things that will be different this year—no brunch out at a restaurant, for one thing, and on a more serious note, you may not be able to visit your mom because of the stay-at-home orders (my heart goes out to moms who have to spend Mother’s Day apart from their children to preserve their health, especially those in nursing homes)—but there’s a lot that can stay the same. 

I read today that Mother’s Day sees the greatest phone traffic, not only in the U.S. but around the world as well, which is something that can stay the same this year! Call your mom! Or Zoom/Facetime/Skype/WhatsApp if you can—I’m sure she’d love to see your face!

You can send Mom a card (if you can’t get one during your more-infrequent-than-usual trips to the grocery store, just make one! Or write a letter!). You can send her flowers if you can find a florist that’s open. If you live close enough to your mom, you can leave a bouquet on her front step of flowers that you picked from your yard or made out of paper (just be sure to call or text to let her know it’s there!)—in fact, there’s a lot you can leave for her on her front step if you live close by. You can make a sweet treat (a flourless chocolate cake was one of my mother-in-law’s favorite things, which is kind of perfect for now, since I haven’t been able to find flour the last three times I went to the store!), or even a small meal, so she doesn’t have to cook. 

If you can’t pull together something like these things in the next day or two, at least call. Don’t let your mom think you forgot about her, even if you have the mother of your children to consider as well. 

For the mom that you live with (your own mom, or the mother of your children), you can make sure she has a great day by making it possible for her to do whatever she wants to do! If she wants to lay on the couch and watch TV all day, make that happen. If she wants to go for a run, or a walk, or a ride in the car, make that happen. If she doesn’t want to cook, make all the meals (and make sure she has food she likes!). If she hates that the laundry is backed up, get in there and wash the clothes. If she’s been bugging you about cleaning your room, clean your room. If she likes to take a nap in the afternoon, watch the kids so she can lay down. You get the idea. But even more than that—do it with a smile! Don’t let her feel like you’re only doing all this because you have to; make her feel like there’s nothing you want to do more than make her happy. It’s for one day—you can do it!

I also hold tenderly in my heart those mothers whose children have passed away, and those children whose mothers have passed away. We’ll be visiting the cemetery on Mother’s Day, where my mother-in-law and grandmother are buried, which is nice to do, if you can. Or you can do something else in their memory—have their favorite food, watch their favorite movie, take a look through photos of them. If it’s too painful for you to do so, be patient and gentle with yourself. 

Just because celebrations have to look different this year doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. Mother’s Day is about thanking mothers for all that they’ve done for their children, which is absolutely possible, no matter the circumstances. I hope you all have a great Mother’s Day!

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

Given the current events, many people may be looking to boost their immune health to help prevent and fight off illnesses 

There are several lifestyle and dietary changes you can make to strengthen your immune system. These include reducing your sugar intake, staying hydrated, working out regularly, getting adequate sleep, managing your stress levels and taking the proper supplements.

Although none of these suggestions can prevent COVID-19, they may reinforce your body’s general defenses against harmful pathogens.

1. Get enough sleep
Sleep plays an important role in immunity. While you sleep, the body releases proteins called cytokines, which are needed to fight infections. Inadequate or poor-quality sleep reduces cytokine production which can lead to a higher susceptibility to sickness. Adults should aim for at least 7 hours of sleep. 

2. Limit sugar intake
Added sugars contribute significantly to inflammation, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, all of which can suppress your immune system. Limiting sugar intake can reduce inflammation and decrease your risk of these diseases.   

3. Eat more whole plant foods
Whole plant foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes are rich in essential nutrients, fiber and antioxidants, all of which can lower your susceptibility to illness.

4. Take probiotics
Research suggests that a strong network of good gut bacteria can help your immune cells differentiate between normal, healthy cells, and harmful invaders. Taking probiotics and eating fermented foods can help populate your digestive tract with beneficial bacteria. 

5. Exercise
Moderate exercise can reduce inflammation and promote healthy turnover of immune cells by boosting blood flow and circulation of white blood cells. 

6. Reduce stress
There is a strong link between immune health and mental health. Long-term stress can cause inflammation and weaken the immune response. Meditation, yoga, exercise or journaling can help reduce stress. It may also be helpful to talk to a licensed counselor or therapist who can help you find ways to work through your stress or anxiety.

7. Stay hydrated
Proper hydration is essential for all bodily functions. The lymphatic system relies on proper hydration to remove toxins and waste from the body. In a dehydrated state, less lymph is produced, and the lymphatic system does not operate as efficiently, which can lead to a slower immune response. 

8. Supplement wisely
Since vitamins and supplements are not regulated by the FDA, there are a lot of unfounded claims about many supplements. However, studies have shown that the following list of supplements may strengthen immune response
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• Echinacea
• Garlic

Purchase supplements that have been independently tested by third-party organizations such as USP, NSF or Consumer Lab to ensure quality.

It is important to reiterate that none of the above mentioned suggestions can prevent or treat COVID-19. Use these techniques to help improve your body’s general immune response in conjunction with the social distancing and proper hygiene protocols set by the CDC.

AS THE ECONOMY BEGINS THE LONG, SLOW TASK OF RECOVERING from the government-imposed economic shutdown, families must take stock of the damage, and formulate a plan to capitalize on the recovery, safeguard against future calamity, and repair their personal economies to the degree possible. 

One of the cardinal rules of financial planning is to keep between three- and six-months’ worth of expenses in a cash reserve. This is true for businesses and individuals, alike. 

Until now, many people might have difficulty imagining a time in which they might need that much liquidity. Disability, loss of work, and now, apparently, total economic shutdowns can completely upend your financial life and induce massive amounts of stress. 

The unthinkable happens and having enough cash-on-hand to safely get your family or business through these times protects your ability to maintain your standard of living and resume normal life when circumstances make that possible. 

Cash is king, and if you did not have an adequate reserve prior to the shutdown, consider making that a goal over the coming year or two.

In the past two months there have been numerous programs introduced to help you through these tough times. The CARES Act includes options for individuals and businesses to receive benefits. There are increased unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their jobs, and for the self-employed workers who are kept from their avocation by the lockdown. Navigating the system can be difficult but, remember, the system is being overloaded by the number of applicants, so be patient.

There are several programs available for small businesses as well. The Payroll Protection Program, EIDL Loan Advance, and SBA Express Bridge Loans are all available to small businesses to help them retain employees, maintain solvency, and continue or resume operations when possible. Small businesses are the heart and soul of the community, and these programs offer a lifeline. If your business has been affected, consider exploring these options.

Finally, a word on the investment markets. 

Positioning your assets for a recovery is vital to helping your account balances heal. Consider whether your portfolio is out of alignment and may need to be rebalanced. 

Let’s say that you intend to be invested in a portfolio that is 80% stocks and 20% bonds. When the markets pulled back dramatically, the value of your stocks may have decreased much more than the value of your bonds. If you look at your portfolio today, you may find that it is now 70% stocks and 30% bonds. In other words, it may be much more conservative than you intended and that could impede the ability for your balance to recover if the stock market increases substantially. 

The depth and duration of the market slump will be determined by the length of the shutdown, so it is impossible to say how long a recovery will take. While the past is not guarantee of the future, it can be a guide and we do know that every single time the US markets have receded, they have eventually rebounded and found new highs. 

We will probably enter a recession this quarter, but it is likely a recession in name only. Recessions typically occur due to some underlying fundamental flaw in the economy which needs time to work itself out. That is clearly not the case this time around. In fact, the economy was extremely strong prior to the government hitting the emergency brakes, so typical thinking around how long a recovery might take could be grossly inaccurate. In fact, if the economy is substantially reopened by the end of the quarter, you might be surprised to see very positive data as early as the third quarter. 

Remember that any forward-looking statements are subject to change as new information becomes available, so work closely with your Certified Financial Planner® to make sure that your plan accurately reflects your needs, goals, timeframe, and risk tolerance, and economic reality. 

Stephen Kyne, CFP® is a Partner at Sterling Manor Financial in Saratoga Springs and Rhinebeck.

Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sterling Manor Financial, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor or Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc. Sterling Manor Financial and Cadaret, Grant are separate entities.