From left: Grace Herzog, Sydney Wildermuth and Sophia Herzog.Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 Ladies Auxiliary awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Saratoga Springs High School seniors who demonstrated a variety of community service combined with exceptional grades while completing their years in High School.
Each winner and their family attended the Auxiliary’s Scholarship Recognition and Auxiliary Past President’s Dinner. Each student spoke about her service to their community and their plans for college and their majors.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Northshire Bookstore celebrated 10 years in Saratoga Springs on Friday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
At the ceremony, Mayor Ron Kim read a proclamation declaring Aug. 4 to be ‘Northshire Bookstore Day.’
Northshire initially opened in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 4, 2013, expanding from its first location in Manchester, Vermont. The store is currently owned by three sisters; Nicole Ihasz, Cathleen Ihasz, and Ashley Ihasz-Austin.
The sisters are natives of Manchester, with Nicole Ihasz saying they visited Northshire Bookstore often as kids. She said it is meaningful to “continue the legacy” of the store.
“We grew up in Manchester. So the Northshire store, I feel like we grew up in that store,” said Nicole Ihasz. “What the Morrows created is a cultural center for the town. It’s the heartbeat of the town, it’s a community center.”
Northshire’s Manchester location was originally opened in 1976 by Ed and Barbara Morrow. After the Morrows retired, the store was operated by Clark and Lu French, before the Ihasz sisters acquired Northshire following the passing of Lu French in 2022, the company’s website states.
Nicole Ihasz said the decision to purchase Northshire was ‘a no-brainer.’
“We’re so glad we did it,” she said. “We had tremendous support from Clark French and from the Morrow family as we made this transition. As I said, we have the most brilliant staff. We’re so lucky.”
Ihasz credited the store’s staff for their work, saying their time operating Northshire has been enjoyable.
“It’s really been a great experience. I am a huge reader, so I just love being in these spaces,” said Nicole Ihasz. “As I said, I feel like I grew up in the store, so it’s really fun for me to interact with our team, but also interact with our customers, and talk to them about books.”
BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops in August:
August 17 at 11 a.m.: Completing Job Applications. Statistics show approximately 50% of mid-sized companies and almost all large corporations use an applicant tracking system to screen candidates for job opportunities. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers. Facilitated by Warren and Washington counties.
August 22 at 11 a.m.: Overcoming Barriers. Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. Whether you’re facing transportation needs, childcare needs, prior justice system involvement, inexperience, health concerns or more, this workshop will provide you with resources and strategies to help you meet your goals. Facilitated by Saratoga and Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie counties.
August 24 at 1:30 p.m.: Social Media. Your social media presence can make or break your ability to find a job. Learn how to use social media to your advantage in searching for a job and marketing yourself to land the job or career you’ve always wanted. Facilitated by Schenectady county.
Registration is required for all workshops. Visit thejoblink.org/calendar to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at 518-884-4170 for more information.
SARATOGA COUNTY — Congressman Paul Tonko and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer announced the finalized rule announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would address a longstanding inequity, known as the Medicare Wage Index (MWI), that they say has short-changed Capital Region hospitals in Medicare reimbursement rates.
This formula adjustment will bring more than $190 million annually to Capital Region hospitals and an estimated $967+ million across New York State each year.
“This fix to the formula means an influx of hundreds of millions to our local hospitals — long burdened by the added strain from the COVID-19 pandemic — to address staff pay and retention, update medical equipment and technology, and further invest in patient care,” said Tonko, in a statement released jointly with Schumer.
For years, the Medicare Wage Index for the Capital Region has rested around 86 cents on the dollar, while nearby regions in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut were provided much higher rates. The finalized CMS rule for the FY24 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) will bring the Capital Region’s MWI up to around $1.22, delivering more than $190 million in federal funding to NY-20 hospitals each year.
The new FY24 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule will now increase the Capital Region’s adjustment to 122 percent of what the average hospital receives in wage adjustments, acknowledging that the region needs much higher than average wages to compete and bring in the best providers, according to the statement.
The specific impact on Saratoga Hospital is just over $2.7 million.
SARATOGA COUNTY —Three people aboard a sinking vessel safely reached shore after an incident on Round Lake Tuesday morning, Aug. 8.
“At approximately 9:42 a.m., members of the Sheriff’s Office responded to Round Lake for a report of boaters in distress. Upon patrol’s arrival the vessel was submerged, and the occupants were being assisted by kayakers,” according to a statement released by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
The two adults and one child were all wearing life jackets and were returned to shore by the members of the Round Lake Fire Department.
The preliminary investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol indicates that the damage to the hull was accidental and resulted in the vessel filling with water. The damaged vessel was towed to shore by the Round Lake Fire Department.
In addition to the Round Lake Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, Arvin Hart Fire Department, Ballston Lake Fire Department, Malta Ridge Fire Department and Malta-Stillwater EMS
Pictured: Joe Carr, Michele Charlton & Brady Duhame. Photo provided.
More than 300 people attended and over $50,000 was raised at the Toast to the TaTa’s Wine Tasting fundraiser on Aug. 1, with proceeds benefitting ToLife & Michele Charlton.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Sunday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m., Gloria May will lead a tour of the “Greenridge Cemetery & Civil War.” Come hear the “yarns and tales” of those who answered President Lincoln’s call to save the Union during the Civil War. This tour meets at the Sackett Gate entrance of Greenridge Cemetery located on Lincoln Avenue.
The following Sunday, Aug. 20, at 10:30 a.m., SSPF Executive Director Samantha Bosshart will lead “Summer Cottages of North Broadway,” a tour highlighting the architecture and the sharing of entertaining stories of those who built and resided in the grand residences. Meets at northwest corner of North Broadway and Van Dam Street in front of Witt Construction.
All Sunday morning tours last approximately 90 minutes and require walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours are limited to 30 and tickets must be purchased in advance. Please check the Foundation’s website at www.saratogapreservation.org, to confirm if a tour has sold out. If tickets are still available the day of the tour, they can be purchased at the tour’s meeting location. The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members.
STILLWATER — Saratoga National Historical Park continues its 2023 special events program in August. Programs include:
Saratoga Shooting Stars: Perseid Meteor Shower Watch Party. Saturday, August 12, 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Location: Visitor Center Lawn. A night under the stars on the Visitor Center Lawn during a peak night of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Ranger Kristin will give a short presentation about our connections to the night sky, the majesty of meteor showers, a night sky tour, and how you can help to protect this disappearing resource. After the presentation, attendees will have time to watch the night sky for meteors. Under favorable night sky conditions, it is estimated that you can see around 100 meteors per hour.
Limited space is available. Go to go.nps.gov/saratogastars and click the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the calendar listing to register.
Feeding an Army – Sunday, August 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Visitor Center. What did British soldiers at Saratoga eat, and how did they prepare their food? Join us as we explore these questions through a sensory exploration and live cooking demonstration using historical methods, tools, and reproduction foods. Visitors will have the opportunity to touch, smell, and hear the culinary past.
Elizabeth Huntley, Harpist – Tuesday, August 22, noon. Location: Visitor Center. Elizabeth Huntley is one of the Capital District/Saratoga/Lake George Region’s busiest musicians, showcasing the harp’s versatility by performing a wide variety of music.
Fort Ticonderoga Fife & Drum Corps – Saturday, August 26, 2 p.m. Location: Visitor Center. Listen to stirring tunes that eased the drudgery of a long march, or the many calls that regulated activity in a fort. Explore how drumbeats, trilling fifes, and songs created an 18th-century world of military music.
The entire Special Event schedule can be found at go.nps.gov/saraevents
