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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Waldorf School Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, beginning with a fall festival in October. 

As you venture down Broadway in Saratoga Springs this week, you might notice the flags popping up to announce the celebration of the Waldorf School’s 40th anniversary. They will kick off their year-long celebration by partnering with Pitney Meadows to put on a fall festival open to the public. The Waldorf School is an alternative to conventional public school, where you will find students not only learning their multiplication tables and reading the classics, but also knitting, gardening, moving, playing instruments, and more.

Save the date! Saturday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the first celebratory event – Jump Into Fall: Fall Festival with Pitney Meadows and The Waldorf School of Saratoga. Join the Waldorf School for their anniversary as Pitney Meadows Community Farm also celebrates their 5th anniversary. The festival, held at Pitney Meadows Community Farm (223 West Ave, Saratoga Springs) will be reflective of the fall season with interactive activities such as sheep shearing, basket weaving, a hay jump, and more. Admission is free, just pay-to-park; $12 pre-pay or $15 the day of the event. To learn more about the festival, pre-pay for parking, or sponsor the event visit: jumpintofallsaratoga.com.

 Established in 1981, with its first graduating senior class in 2001, the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs began teaching pre-school and then primary students. They purchased the old public high school on York Avenue in 1987. They now have three campuses across the city with the High School on Regent Street (an old Skidmore College building), the Lower School at the York Avenue location, and Forest Kindergarten on Spa State Park land near Kaydeross Creek. Class sizes range from 8 to 15 students who learn in blocks, focusing on one subject during 3 to 4 week periods. 

Here are some things you will find Waldorf School students learning about: 

At the Forest Kindergarten, youngsters learn how to garden, cook, and more in a playful setting focused around the seasons, helping them to develop their motor skills. 

In the Lower School, field trips are introduced. The students are taught the French language and get to take a hallmark trip to Quebec to practice it in real-life scenarios in the French culture. Although with COVID, they creatively improvised to set up a French village of their own with French speakers who graciously traveled to the area to participate. 

At the high school, there is continued focus on academics, but also community service. The Waldorf School has a unique  Junior Internship Program, where high schoolers spend a week working with a community member. Students have shadowed police officers, filmmakers, attorneys, contractors, financial advisors, and many other professions. In their senior year, students delve into a chosen passion and show how they have grown into young adults throughout their time at the school in a year-long individual project. 

“We are proud of our graduates. They learn many diverse skills at our school and become creative thinkers and excellent problem solvers. They do remarkable things with their lives,” said Abigail Reid, Administrator of the Waldorf School. 

Through all grade levels there is a progression in academic and practical skills, a hands-on education, and connection to the arts. 

“There is beauty and truth in education. You can see that idea everywhere you look in the school,” said Evelyn Barber, retired Waldorf School teacher and 40th anniversary committee member. 

“Our school has grown incredibly during these 40 years. This school originally was supported by the parents who wanted this education for their children. And to this day we are here for the same reason. Now we are even stronger,” added Reid. “We love our school, and we are looking forward to celebrating these 40 years with the greater Saratoga community.” 

For more information on the Waldorf School visit their website at www.waldorfsaratoga.org. For additional information regarding tuition, contact Elisabeth Garofalo, Admissions Coordinator, at 518-587-2224 or admissions@waldorfsaratoga.org. For additional information on how you can support the Waldorf School, contact Carla Metz, Development Director, at 518-581-1466 or highschool@waldorfsaratoga.org. 

Students Experiencing Homelessness

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA COUNTY — As we roll out of summer into September, it’s back-to-school time for children and students. It’s a time of year that is equally exciting and stressful for students, parents, teachers, administrators and support staff, particularly with COVID-19 still on the rise around the country.

Over the past several months, the Saratoga County Alliance to End Homelessness has been highlighting different aspects and forms of homelessness that affect our community – but one of the rarely told stories of homelessness is that of homeless students. Back-to-school time is different for everyone, but it is particularly challenging for students who are experiencing homelessness. Most often, discussions around homelessness focus on adults, but what is often overlooked is discussing how homelessness of a family unit impacts children, their education, and social development.

According to the NYS Department of Education, Saratoga County school districts reported 474 registered K-12 students experiencing homelessness in the 2019-2020 school year. Across New York State (excluding NYC) that number swelled to 31,611. In 2019, CAPTAIN Community Human Services housed 92 youth in their shelter alone. The Saratoga-North Country Continuum of Care reported 21 unaccompanied youth in staying in an emergency shelter on a single night in January 2021. It is a significant issue and highlights the often forgotten and untold story of childhood homelessness. 

The contributing factors leading to family/youth homelessness vary widely, and the resulting predicament can significantly impact a student’s education trajectory and social network. For example:

• A mother of three flees a domestic violence situation and is fearful for her children to continue to attend school in their home district as their abuser will know where to find them.
• A family of four, with two young elementary school-aged children, are evicted from their home and placed in a motel outside of their home district by the Department of Social Services. The supportive educational environment at school, where the teachers know them and their friends, is now gone. 
• A high school senior is kicked out of their home and finds themselves at a runaway and homeless youth emergency shelter and struggles without the emotional support they need to graduate successfully. 

National studies confirm that if a student remains connected, active, engaged, and present in their home school district, the rate of reaching graduation successfully is significantly increased. When there are disruptions to school attendance, periods of non-enrollment, multiple moves from one school district to another, and/or falling behind grade level academically, students are negatively impacted and the chances of graduating successfully – and on time – is severely reduced. According to the National Center for Homeless Education, when students were administered a survey measuring the stress of life events, researchers found that students reported changing schools being as stressful as the hospitalization or incarceration of a parent. Coupled with worries about where they will be sleeping at night or if they will have food to eat, this kind of dramatic transition is especially stressful for children experiencing homelessness. Nationally, 75% of homeless children perform below grade level in reading, 72% perform below grade level in spelling, and 54% perform below grade level in math.

Thankfully, in Saratoga County there are committed resources, programs, and dedicated school employees who are focused on the needs of homeless students to ensure they are successfully connected to the school system and have the resources they need to continue their education with their cohort. Federal legislation called the McKinney-Vento Act provides rights and services to children and youth experiencing homelessness. 

Melanie Faby, the State McKinney-Vento Coordinator – who happens to reside in Saratoga County – explains the importance of this legislation, as it protects “the students’ rights to receive a ‘free, appropriate public education,’ by mandating that elementary and secondary school students without a ‘fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence’ are provided educational services comparable to those provided to their permanently housed peers. This provides stability that may be missed when a student is temporarily housed.”

Although the McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law, New York State laws further clarify some of the federal protections and add more. Some important, additional protections for New Yorkers are: 

• Continued enrollment and transportation for students in their final year in a school building (such as their senior year in high school), even if they have found permanent housing in a different school district.
• Transportation responsibility is assigned to the designated district of attendance (or to the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) under certain conditions) regardless of the student’s present location.

Ultimately, the goal of the legislation is to ensure that homeless youth are identified, enrolled in school, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed academically. This can include academic support, transportation to and from their home district for the entirety of their homelessness episode or the end of the school year, access to school breakfast and lunch programs, after-school programming, and many other support services. The McKinney-Vento Act also requires all school districts around the country to have a Homeless Student Liaison to work with children, and their families, when they enroll in school as a homeless student or become homeless at any point during the school year.

In the big picture of addressing homelessness and creating successful outcomes, the community of service providers working together to serve the whole family is critical. Although the primary focus is helping families find, secure, and maintain permanent housing, careful attention must also be paid to the particular needs of children – ensuring that students maintain the vital link to school to help them successfully complete their education. The housing providers and services agencies which comprise the Saratoga County Alliance to End Homelessness, and several school district Homeless Student Liaisons contribute to this collaborative work. 

For more information on resources for students experiencing homelessness or contact information for local Homeless Student Liaisons please visit www.nysteachs.org 

Long-Term Care Insurance Offers More Than Just Nursing Home Coverage

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

The first image that often comes to mind when people think about long-term care is an elderly person sitting alone in a depressing nursing home. The misconceptions about what long-term care involves and peoples’ images of the most common care settings are understandable, since long-term care insurance originally started as nursing home insurance four decades ago. However, it has evolved into a much more flexible solution that allows you to receive care in a variety of settings.

Most of us want the ability to age at home, in a familiar setting surrounded by family and our favorite things. The fact is, 90 percent of adults who need long-term care services receive assistance at home or in another community setting. 

If the level of care you need evolves over time, most long-term care insurance policies not only allow you to transition to a nursing home, but some may also provide you with support during the transition. Since you can’t predict the care you might eventually need, it’s important to have the flexibility to choose the setting that best fits your needs at any given time.

Many long-term care policies available today can provide you with a choice of where you want to receive care, including:

• At home, with the help of a home health aide or in some cases a family member or friend to assist with daily activities
• In a community setting, such as adult day care services
• At an assisted living facility, where you can receive help with transportation and meals
• In a nursing home, if you need around-the-clock care

Each of these options provides a different level of care depending on how much assistance you need. Receiving care at home is the most popular and preferred option, and some policies even provide benefits that allow you to make home modifications that can help you stay at home longer. Policies that provide home care allow you to receive care from a professional, or possibly a friend or family member if informal care is covered.

While most people hope they won’t ever need to worry about long-term care, the reality is more than half of Americans will need long-term care assistance after age 65.  Women are even more at risk, primarily because they tend to live longer. The thought of not being able to care for yourself can be difficult and creating a plan for care can be daunting. However, it’s best to not let long-term care planning get pushed aside, because your age and health both factor into whether you’ll qualify for insurance and how much you’ll pay for coverage.

 By including long-term care in your retirement planning, you’ll have the peace of mind that you’ve taken the steps to help protect your family from the financial and emotional impact of a long-term care event. Take the time to research available options, decide how much coverage you need based on estimated costs, and create a plan that will give you the flexibility to choose where and how you receive care. If you need additional information, contact a New York Life agent to find out more about our solutions.

This educational third-party article is provided as a courtesy by Barry J. Bruno, CLU, ChFC, Agent, (CA Insurance Lic. #OB65966) and Daniel D. Bruno, Agent, (CA Insurance Lic. #4097332) New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Barry or Dan at Bruno & Bruno Financial Services LLC 518.587.9295 or email: barry@brunofs.com or dan@brunofs.com. Bruno & Bruno Financial Services LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company

Munger Appointed Director of Compliance and Risk

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

GLENS FALLS — The Arrow Family of Companies is pleased to announce the appointment of Leslie Munger to Director of Compliance and Risk. 

Munger will be responsible for all compliance and risk functions for the Arrow Family Companies including Arrow Financial Corporation, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, and Upstate Agency, LLC. In her new role, Munger will lead corporate enterprise risk management and oversee information security, fraud, and regulatory compliance for the company. 

Ms. Munger started with the company in 2007 as Assistant Compliance Officer and most recently served as Vice President Compliance Manager. 

James Lee, CFP Elected 2022 President-elect of the Financial Planning Association

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

DENVER, CO — The financial Planning Association® (FPA®) has announced that the Board of Directors elected James, Lee CFP®, as the 2022 President-elect for a one-year term. Lee’s term will begin Jan. 1, 2022, succeeding incoming 2022 FPA President Dennis Moore, MBA, CFP®.

Lee is president of Lee Investment Management in Saratoga Springs, which he established in 1998 to provide clients with independent financial planning and investment advice. A passionate volunteer in the financial planning profession, Lee is currently completing a three-year term on the FPA Board of Directors. 

Cardona’s Market Celebrates Grand Re-Opening in Latham

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

LATHAM — Cardona’s Market, a three-generation, family-owned, Italian specialty market and caterer for more than 75 years, will bring its high-quality Italian products, scratch cooking, and traditional fresh-from-the-kitchen dishes to Latham area residents with the grand re-opening of its new store at 9 Cobbee Road. 

With its acquisition of
Roma Foods, Cardona’s also took over the company’s Saratoga Springs market, which has been operating under the Cardona’s banner since June and will undergo its own renovations with an anticipated grand re-opening in late spring 2022.

Cardona’s Market celebrated the grand re-opening of the Latham store with an official “sandwich cutting” featuring a four-foot “Frank B.” sandwich, which is named in honor of Frank Bolognino, the second-generation owner of Roma Foods Importing Company along with his brothers, John, Peter, and Paul. 

The centerpiece of the newly remodeled market, which is now operating under the Cardona’s banner following the acquisition of Roma Foods Importing Company this past spring, is the signature Cardona’s hot table, offering more than a dozen dishes which rotate daily, such as classic Italian recipes as well as daily and seasonal specials. 

The Latham market will also feature a full-scale commercial kitchen to accommodate catering orders and operations. In line with the market’s rich traditions, Cardona’s Latham will offer an array of fine Italian import goods; restaurant-quality grab-and-go meals; artisan sandwiches and salads; homemade sauces and famous meatballs. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate the grand-reopening of our newest location and excited to bring the quality and convenience of Cardona’s Market to the Latham community,” said Cardona’s Market Owner August Cardona. “As a three-generation family-owned and operated business, we take pride in offering the finest products, fresh hand-crafted sandwiches and authentic Italian dishes using our famous recipes that date back for generations. We are honored to have the opportunity to share our rich family traditions and menu offerings with our neighbors in the Latham community.” 

Current hours for the Cardona’s Market locations in Latham and Saratoga Springs are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Latham market is also open on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Albany location is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Both the Albany and Saratoga Springs markets are closed on Sundays. 

For more information about Cardona’s Market, call 518-434-4838 or visit www.CardonasMarket.com 

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Hosts Region’s Largest Networking Event

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the return of the 2021 B2B Expo. The region’s largest networking event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, attracting organizations from a variety of industries representing the private, non-profit, and public sectors. 

“As vaccinations continue to trend upward in our region, we’re excited to bring the B2B Expo back to our community,” said Todd Shimkus, CEE, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “We invite every business and non-profit in Saratoga County to join us for a hands-on, interactive day of networking to increase collaboration among our local business community.” 

The 2021 B2B Expo will be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center and will be open to local businesses and the public from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow local business owners and professionals to gain exposure and find future partners to collaborate with. 

Throughout the years, participating businesses and sponsor organizations have turned to the Chamber’s B2B Expo as Upstate New York’s premier showcase for the technologies, products, and services that represent our community.

“Incorporating community leaders, professionals, and interested participants at all levels, the B2B Expo serves as an unparalleled marketing, branding, and communication resource for regional collaboration,” said Howard S. Foote, UHY, Office Managing Director – Capital Region. 

“The B2B Expo is an all-around great networking event, providing the opportunity to give back to local businesses, which we all need to do during these difficult times,” said Jamie Kennedy, Owner, KPM Restoration. “This is a great way to get involved in our community.” 

Attendees are encouraged to register ahead of time. Active Chamber members will enjoy complimentary admission, and attendance for others will be $5 and a business card at the door. 

For more information on how to become a sponsor, book a booth, or register as an attendee, please visit www.chamber.saratoga.org/events/details/2021-saratoga-county-chamber-of-commerce-b2b-expo-41687?calendarMonth=2021-10-01 or email Andrea Cole at acole@saratoga.org. 

The Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2021 B2B Expo possible. Presenting sponsors: Adirondack Trust Company, UHY LLP, and Crown Castle Fiber. Diamond Sponsors: ADKtechs and RIP Group. Gold Sponsors: Academy of the Holy Names, Albany Firewolves, Interactive Media Consulting (imc), National Grid, NBT Bank, NBT Insurance Agency, Red Roof Inn, Spectrum Reach, The Wesley Community, Times Union, KPM Restoration, and Arnoff Moving and Storage. 

Saratoga Hospital Adds Two Primary Care Physicians

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Drs. Meghan Monthie and Bernard P. Possidente have joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Primary Care – Scotia-Glenville. Both have strong ties to the region. 

Monthie came to the Capital Region to attend Siena College and has remained here ever since. She earned her medical degree from Albany Medical College and completed an internship and residency in family medicine at Albany Medical Center Hospital. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Possidente was raised in Greenfield and graduated from Skidmore College. After earning a medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania, Possidente returned to the Capital Region to complete a residency in family medicine at Ellis Medicine in Schenectady. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Possidente is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Osteopathic Association. 

Monthie and Possidente see patients at 112 Charlton Road, Ballston Lake. For an appointment, call 518-399-7723. To learn more, go to www.SaratogaHospital.org. 

Wellspring New Mission-Based Facility

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

MALTA – For nearly 40 years Wellspring, the organization that provides crisis and support services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Saratoga County, has operated from an out-of-sight basement office on Broadway. After decades of planning, a successful fundraising Campaign, and support from hundreds of community members – Wellspring is moving into a new mission-based facility located on route 9 in Malta. 

Last year, Wellspring responded to over 1,300 hotline calls, says Wellspring Executive Director, Maggie Fronk. “Even so, we know that there are many victims who we are still not connecting with. This new building will make Wellspring much more visible, and we hope this means that more people will know that we are here as a resource.”

Wellspring’s new home will expand their ability to serve more clients. The agency’s new building will have program space for workforce development to enhance clients’ job skills for career growth and financial literacy classes for self-sufficiency. The new location will also include ample space for community prevention and education programs. 

“This building will allow us to invite the community in,” said Fronk. “We will host professional trainings for our partners in law enforcement and healthcare, leadership seminars for high school and college-age students, programs for parents so they can learn how to talk to their children about healthy relationships and consent, partnerships with local businesses, book clubs, a conversation series, and so much more.” 

Wellspring raised more than $3 million for the project. Visit www.wellspringcares.org/campaign-information to see the list of donors who made the project possible. 

Wellspring will begin serving clients in this space on October 4. To support Wellspring’s mission, please visit the Wellspring website www.wellspringcares.org/donate or call 518-583-0280. Wellspring 24/7 Phone hotline – 518-584-8188. Wellspring Live Chat Online Hotline – available through our website, www.wellspringcares.org, to meet the needs of victims of relationship and sexual abuse.

$6 Million in COVID Relief Will Expand Broadband for Local Students; New Round of Funding Applications Are Open

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

WASHINGTON, DC — Nearly 20 schools across the Capital Region will be receiving just over $6 million to help expand and improve internet access for students and teachers, and applications for second round of funding has just opened, Congressman Paul Tonko announced this week. 

The funding is being administered by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, established under the American Rescue Plan to help schools and libraries update services for remote learning during the pandemic. Tonko, D-Amsterdam, voted in support of the plan, and represents the 20th Congressional District, which includes all of Albany and Schenectady Counties and parts of Montgomery, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties.

This first round of funding will deliver more than $1.2 billion to schools and libraries that serve more than 3.6 million students. 

“Throughout this COVID-19 crisis we have heard about the hardships millions of Americans are facing without access to broadband,” Congressman Tonko said, in a statement. “We have heard from students unable to connect to their classes and submit assignments, and from educators who have to drive to parking lots with public Wi-Fi and teach from their cars. For years I have pushed to expand and improve internet access to deliver this critical resource to underserved and unserved communities, and I was successful in my fight to include additional support for broadband as part of our American Rescue Plan legislation. I am delighted that this needed funding is being delivered to our Capital Region and beyond.”

The largest area recipient of the first round of funding is the Albany Central School District, which will receive just over $1.3 million. 

Applications for a second round of funding opened Sept. 28 and will close on Oct. 13. This will provide funding for eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. The funding is available for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need, and is available to support off-campus learning, such as homework and virtual learning as schools continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.