Members of the McDonald family with Saratoga County officials and representatives from state and federal elected officials’ offices at the Saratoga County Honor Deceased Veterans Ceremony on Sept. 19, 2023, memorializing David E. McDonald of the Town of Charlton.
BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency held its monthly Honor Deceased Veterans Program on Sept. 19, when it staged a ceremony honoring David E. McDonald of the Town of Charlton.
McDonald entered the US Army on Aug. 2, 1966 and served as a Field Artilleryman with 2nd Battalion, 10th Composite Artillery Battalion, 197th Infantry Regiment at Ft Benning, GEorgia – where he trained on 105- and 155-mm Howitzers, as well as “Honest John” rockets.
For his service he was awarded the National Defense Service medal and the Expert Rifle Badge. McDonald was honorably discharged on Aug. 1, 1968. McDonald married his soulmate, Shirleyan Shakan in 1966 and together they had four children.
After service McDonald worked for Sheet Metal Workers #83 as a superintendent, through MCD Mechanical. He was a member of the American Legion Post 234 in Ballston Spa and served as Commander for seven years.
While serving as Post Commander, McDonald played an integral role in the Saratoga County Honor Deceased Veterans program. He was born March 9, 1947, and died at age 75 on Oct. 24, 2022.
Established in 1999 by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, the Honor Deceased Veterans Program provides a way for county leadership and residents to show gratitude for the service of veterans past and present. The program honors a range of veterans and each ceremony – held at 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month – is dedicated to a different Saratoga County veteran. To date, more than 300 Saratoga County Veterans have been honored.
For more information about the Honor Deceased Veterans Ceremony, contact Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency at 518-884-4115.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Loughberry Road residents spent last Saturday morning, Sept. 16, eliminating invasive killer vines from trees and shrubbery along the entrance to the street. At the end of their efforts, over 25 large piles of the dead vines lined the road. The City Public Works employees remove the debris within hours.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In a six-page decision dated Sept. 8, Judge Constantine DeStefano denied a motion by Saratoga Black Lives Matter founder Alexis Figuereo to dismiss charges against him in connection with Figuereo’s alleged actions at a Saratoga Springs City Council meeting on April 4.
Figuereo pleaded not guilty on April 24 to the charges of obstructing governmental administration – a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct – a violation.
CLIFTON PARK — On Thursday, Sept. 14, residents of Clifton Park and Halfmoon approved the 2024 Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library tax levy of $5,103,252 by a vote of 595 to 79 for the purpose of funding the planned operating budget of $5,173,635.
Incumbents Stephen Meyer and Purushothaman Srinivasan were re-elected to fill the two open Clifton Park trustee positions. They will each serve a five-year term beginning January 2024.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The city of Saratoga Springs released an official statement noting councilmembers support in the unionization efforts of backstretch workers.
Recently a significant number of backstretch workers have asked organizers for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1430 (IBEW) to help them improve their work life. The City Council strongly supports this organizing effort and encourages stable workers to unionize, according to the statement, released Sept. 18.
“We believe all workers should have a voice. A well-represented workforce on the backstretch would be an asset to Thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs, which is a key economic pillar to our city,” Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi said.
The IBEW has been listening to employees of the trainers and backstretch enterprises and is seeking recognition that would lead to union representation of that workforce. The City Council explained it expects that both the workers and the union will be afforded every right of access allowed under law and is open to discuss improvement with appropriate leaders of NYRA.
“I support the effort by the backstretch workers to see collective bargaining status and I hope NYRA, stable owners, and fellow NYRA unionized employees will make every effort to allow the backstretch workers to decide their own destiny,” said city Mayor Ron Kim.
A rendering of the completed White Pines Business Suites and Mini-Warehouses. Image provided by Forest Ridge, LLC.
STILLWATER — The first steps of the planned Luther Forest Business Park are underway, with the White Pines Business Suites and Mini-Warehouses currently under construction.
The 30 suites are part of the larger-planned business park, said Jeffrey Chouinard, a partner in the project. The 1,500-square foot units are self-contained, with each including an overhead door for deliveries, a bathroom, internet connection, and more available amenities.
Chouinard said the units can be altered to fit the needs of businesses, mentioning possibilities such as adding a mezzanine level in one unit, dividing a unit into offices, or even combining two units into a larger one.
“It really gives people the opportunity, that are growing their business, to be able to take that next step,” said Chouinard.
Chouinard said he initially saw the idea in Florida several years ago, and noted there is a need for it in the area. He said there has been “significant interest” in the units, saying they are flexible for many business types and sizes.
“We have a handful that are already spoken for, which is great,” he said.
Chouinard said the units start at a base price of about $12 per square foot. Construction of the first building, containing 14 suites, began in the spring, and Chouinard said they hope to finish the first units in roughly six to eight weeks. A second building containing 16 units will also be constructed.
He pointed out the geographic location for the suites, saying they are under a quarter-mile from one of GlobalFoundries’ employee entrances.
“I would also think that it’s going to draw some attention from people that are going to be involved with the expansion there,” Chouinard said.
The units and the planned Business Park are surrounded by trees, with Chouinard saying they “tried to keep the legacy of Luther Forest as the forest.”
“We wanted to keep that forest kind of mentality,” Chouinard said.
The project is owned by Forest Ridge LLC, Chouinard said. The White Pines units are just one part of a much larger plan for the eventual Luther Forest Business Park, with Chouinard saying roughly 750,000 square feet of land has been approved in total. He said that one of White Pines’ neighboring properties is currently under contract, and they are in discussions for others.
Chouinard said they are aiming to complete the second building, with 16 units, “by next year at this time.” Altogether, the units are 45,000 square feet, he said.
“With the level of interest we have, once people start signing on the dotted line … we’ll probably just go right ahead and start the other building,” said Chouinard. “That way, next year by this time, this will all be landscaped, greened, done. Buildings up, and hopefully all rented.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Bonacio has announced a rebranding and restructuring of the company, with all of its associated businesses now under the Bonacio name.
The news was announced in an email from the company on Sept. 13. It states that Bonacio’s leadership, CEO Sonny Bonacio and President Julie Bonacio, will remain in their respective roles overseeing the entirety of the company.
“To continue the growth of the companies, we needed more structure and focus. It became clear rebranding was the way to do that,” said CEO Sonny Bonacio in a provided statement. “Now Construction, Development, and Management are unified under one brand – Bonacio. This is what I see taking us into the future, for generations to come.”
As part of the rebranding and restructuring, Spring City Development Group will be known as Bonacio Development, while West Side Management, LLC, will be known as Bonacio Management. Bonacio Metal Shop has also been rebranded to Bonacio Steel, according to the announcement.
In addition, the company has introduced a new logo to be used across all of Bonacio’s associated enterprises.
TROY — Local law firm E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP is celebrating the milestone of 125 years in business by giving back, partnering with Albany Law School to sponsor a prize for the school’s Senior Prize Trials.
The Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials are an annual legal competition for third-year students providing a simulated courtroom experience. According to a press release, E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP will award $2,000 to the winners of the Senior Prize Trials annually for the next five years, starting in 2024.
Teams of two compete by litigating fictional cases before a judge and a jury in an experiential learning opportunity that prepares prospective lawyers for the courtroom environment.
The semester-long competition will kick off Monday, Sept. 18 and conclude with an event in November to announce the winning team. This is the first year that students will receive a monetary prize for their efforts, the release states.
“One of the commitments I am most proud of throughout 125 years of business is our steadfast commitment to supporting the community,” said E. Stewart Jones, Jr., partner and third-generation lawyer at E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP, in the release. “Our firm is proud to support the next generation of lawyers as they get their first taste of the courtroom experience. We hope that this is the first of many courtroom victories for Albany Law School’s 2024 class.”
“Albany Law School is grateful for the continued support from E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, an historic and acclaimed local law firm that employs several alumni of Albany Law School. The sponsorship of a monetary prize for our annual senior prize trials will add a well-deserved reward for the competitors, who voluntarily participate in this immersive educational experience outside of their courseload,” said Jenean Taranto, associate dean for student affairs at Albany Law School, in the release.
Photo provided by Saratoga Springs City School District.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight seniors at Saratoga Springs High School were named Commended Students in the 2023-2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, the district announced in a release.
Maggie Anthes, Katherine Henry, Alexander Martin, Theresa Prehn, Max Sefcik, Hudson Shaw, Seth Tremper, and Stephen Zimmerman all received the honor of being named a Commended Student.
Commended Students placed among the top five percent of 1.5 million students who entered the 2023-2024 Merit Program by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship qualifying test, the release states. The students received a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
