Author: Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS – BlueTriton Brands, Inc. has acquired local premium spring water brand, Saratoga Spring Water Company. 

Adam Madkour, CEO and sole shareholder of Saratoga Spring Water Company, has sold certain assets of the company to BlueTriton, a Connecticut investment firm previously known as Nestlé Waters North America. Latham & Watkins, LLP represented BlueTriton and KPMG Corporate Finance represented Saratoga Spring Water Company in the transaction; financial terms of the deal announced in November 2021 were not released. 

BlueTriton manages other regional bottled-water brands: Poland Spring, Pure Life, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills, and Arrowhead. The acquisition of Saratoga Spring Water, with its current vendors and distinctive blue glass bottles, gives BlueTriton access to the upscale beverage market in hospitality and retail channels. 

Saratoga Spring Water Company was founded in 1872 in Saratoga Springs and has its headquarters and bottling plant off Geyser Road. Saratoga Spring Water is sold throughout the United States and internationally. 

Saratoga TODAY reached out Saratoga Spring Water Company and BlueTriton Brands for comment but received no response. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The founders of FLAG Saratoga (Front Line Appreciation Group) have relaunched a grassroots campaign to help support local frontline workers at a time when hospitals and healthcare workers are being significantly strained again by the pandemic.

FLAG Saratoga was founded in the spring of 2020 by four Saratoga residents Nadine Burke, Becky Kern, Andrea Macy, and Lisa Munter. The group originally raised more than $40,000 – which resulted in more than 4,000 meals and gift cards delivered to over 30 different hospital departments, nursing homes, fire, police, and EMS departments throughout Saratoga. 

“We have been asked to restart our efforts and due to the outpouring of support that we received the last time, we knew we could quickly mobilize to help out,” said co-founder, Lisa Munter, in a statement. “Our community is filled with so many generous and resilient people who are always willing to give back and help each other, we are counting on this support so we can pass it along to our healthcare workers who really need it.” 

Working alongside the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, the group is raising money through the Chamber’s dedicated fundraising page on their website, at www.Saratoga.org. All money will go directly into providing meals, snacks, and other resources needed. 

“We’re proud to team up with FLAG of Saratoga and the Saratoga Hospital Foundation to show our gratitude to our frontline heroes,” “Our board, led by Tara Pleat, voted unanimously to help with seed funding to kickstart FLAG’s efforts. We look forward to working alongside the community to give back to our healthcare workers and first responders who continue to work tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy throughout this pandemic,” Chamber President Todd Shimkus said in a statement.

To learn more, visit FLAG Saratoga at their Facebook Group, or on Instagram at @Flagsaratoga. To donate, visit: www.Saratoga.org. For more information about FLAG Saratoga contact Becky Kern at: beckykernpr@gmail.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – MLK Saratoga’s 7th Annual Dr. King Celebration Weekend offers a range of programming illuminating, amplifying, and reflecting on social, environmental, racial, and economic justice issues. 

The events run from Friday to Monday and feature a variety of workshops, performances, lectures, and panel discussions. 

This year’s theme centers on Dr. King’s quote: “I have decided to stick with love.”

The DKCW opens with the Dr. King Challenge on Friday night featuring performances by regional artists, actors and musicians and continues Saturday through Monday with both virtual and in-person events for both kids and adults, and includes workshops, musical performances, film screenings and a multitude of other gatherings that will be staged at various locations across Saratoga Springs. 

 For a comprehensive list of in-person events, and links to virtual programming, go to: www.MLKsaratoga.org.

Newly elected Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi says she wants to implement all 50 recommendations of the Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force. Sadly, Ms. Sanghvi doesn’t seem to realize that some of those proposals cannot be legally implemented by the city since they conflict with state law.

For instance, the Task Force called for the diversion of “seized assets” to “Community Based Restorative Groups or community service organizations.” Unfortunately, this is not legal according to state law.

Ms. Sanghvi would do well to do some homework before she makes embarrassing statements to the press. Our city used to have a fabulous City Attorney, who would have been extremely beneficial in guiding Ms. Sanghvi, however, our new Mayor fired him.

– Tracey L. LaBelle, Saratoga Springs

SARATOGA COUNTY – Cornell Cooperative Extension is hosting Dining with Diabetes, a virtual program via Zoom on Mondays, January 24 and 31 and February 7 and 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Adults with type 2 diabetes (or those who are at risk of type 2 diabetes) and their family members, caregivers, and support persons are invited to participate in Dining with Diabetes.  This free virtual program will help you learn the skills needed to promote good health while living with diabetes.   Dining with Diabetes is an Extension program taught locally by Karen Roberts Mort, MS of Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County. 

Participants will learn how to read the new food labels, count carbohydrates and plan meals using the Plate Method. There will also be time to discuss ways to stay motivated to eat healthy and stay active during the current health crisis. This class offers opportunities to connect with others who are dealing with diabetes. Healthy recipes, cooking techniques and even ideas for making healthier choices at restaurants and grocery stores will be shared with the group.  A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist has been invited to attend one of the sessions. 

Please register at www.cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErf-ygqD4jH9f5xxKk0V3Il8E0bFtmCbCc in order to get the Zoom link for the series. For help with registering or any questions, contact Karen from CCE Albany at kem18@cornell.edu or leave a message at 518-765-3552. 

SARATOGA COUNTY – Cornell Cooperative of Saratoga County has partnered with Upstate Equine Medical Center to host a “First Responder Large Animal Training.” This training will be held on Feb. 8 at 6 p.m., at Update Equine Medical Center located at 362 Rugg Rd., Schuylerville. 

This training was designed for individuals who would be primary contact in an emergency situation: firefighters, police officers, EMT, animal control, etc. However, anyone who would like to know more about handling large animal livestock in emergency situations is welcome. The training will be conducted by Steve Sedrish DVM, Tracy Bartick-Sedrish DVM of Upstate Equine Medical Center, and Pandora Davis VMD of
H&N Bovine. 

For more information or to sign up for this training, please contact Nicolina Foti at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office of Saratoga County by email at nvf5@cornell.edu or by phone at 518-885-8995.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Casino Hotel is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a Blood Drive on Monday, Jan. 17. Members of the local community are urged to join dozens of Saratoga Casino Hotel team members to give blood from noon to 6 p.m. inside the hotel ballroom. 

The need for blood remains crucial for patients relying on lifesaving transfusions. The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O – are urged to make an appointment to give now. 

Schedule an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org and entering sponsor code SARATOACASINO, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa
Echo device. 

Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants, and elective surgeries. 

To thank donors who help refuel the blood supply, anyone who donates January 1-31 will be entered to win a trip for 2 to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. 

Saratoga Casino Hotel is located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs.