Author: Saratoga TODAY

MALTA – Small businesses will be getting an added boost through May 2, and consumers that spend at least $20.21 can enter to win weekly gift certificate giveaways and a $500 grand prize.

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a Saratoga County-based economic development organization, this week unveiled the MaltaWorks $20.21 Campaign in partnership with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Malta Economic Development Committee. 

The MaltaWorks $20.21 promotion will help drive traffic to small businesses in the Town of Malta that have been fighting to keep their operations open after battling the economic impacts of COVID-19 for the past year. 

Customers participating in the program can enter to win weekly giveaways by simply spending at least $20.21 at a small business in the town of Malta, then emailing a copy of their receipt to info@saratoga.org. Each week, MaltaWorks $20.21 will randomly choose the winners of a $100 and $50 gift certificates. At the end of six weeks, all participants will be entered into a drawing to win the grand prize of a $500 gift certificate at a business of their choice in the Town of Malta. Week 1 will kick off with a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Lake Ridge Restaurant or a $50 gift certificate to Malta Farm & Garden. 

Malta businesses, residents, and community organizations can support the MaltaWorks $20.21 effort by visiting the MaltaWorks website at www.saratoga.org/maltaworks where they will find promotional posters to print and share on social media, with the #Maltaworks hashtag.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Democrat Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, who represents the 113th Assembly District, issued a statement March 2 that called for the State Legislature to “take back its power, return to normal working order,” regarding a March 2020 bill that gave the governor emergency powers to suspend, modify, and create laws by issuing directives, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The powers were set to expire April 30, 2021.

Assemblywoman Woerner’s statement, in its entirety, is as follows: 

“Last year, as our state was thrown into turmoil as COVID-19 hit Upstate New York. Much was unknown and uncertain, and we needed government to respond quickly as circumstances changed and as we learned more about the virus and how it spread. At that time, it was prudent to grant the governor emergency powers to deal with the onset crisis of the pandemic. But now as we have learned more and things are beginning to stabilize, it is time to restore the balance of power in our state government.

“The measure announced today will immediately revoke the emergency powers that were granted last year and will ensure legislative oversight of changes to state laws or directives. This will restore the checks and balances that are necessary to our legislative process while ensuring there is still a fast path to respond to emergencies. This legislation also returns power to our local governments. This is a solid plan that will return us to normal working order.”

WASHINGTON — Congressman Paul Tonko announced this week that Albany International Airport will receive a combined $5,412,267 to support COVID pandemic response at the facility. Tonko helped advance the funding as part of the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act of 2020, passed by Congress last year. The funding includes economic relief for struggling airport concessions and funds the purchase of life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and other measures to combat COVID-19.

“This Coronavirus Relief grant will enable the Airport Authority to continue to provide a safe environment for travelers and staff members and meet our ongoing operational expenses which have remained constant despite the significant drop in air travel,” said Philip Calderone, CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority, in a statement.

• $5,091,757 will go to cover costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services and other measures taken to promote passenger safety.

• $320,510 will go to deliver economic relief from rent and minimum annual guarantees to on-airport car rental, on-airport parking, and in-terminal concessions.

Since the start of this pandemic, Tonko has worked to advance a federal rescue that meets the needs of Americans in the Capital Region and beyond. Last week, he voted to advance the American Rescue Plan in the House, legislation that delivers a lifeline to struggling workers, families and communities, enacts a comprehensive national vaccination plan and provides resources to schools to support safe in-person learning. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS/ LAKE PLACID — New research conducted by Camoin 310 of Saratoga Springs for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) in Lake Placid and the Economic Development Corporation of Warren County (EDC) shows there is a strong interest for relocation to the Adirondacks across all income brackets in the Regional Market Area. This area includes New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. 

A total of 6,733 responses were collected and analyzed by Camoin 310 from Jan. 19- 29. More than 80% of respondents now live in the Northeast, but there were responses from as far away as Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota, and Oregon, as well as international locations.

Key findings indicate nearly 25% of respondents said they were either “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to relocate here in the next five years. Some indicated they have already moved here. The Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Lake George regions were the three most cited locations for relocation. The majority of the respondents said living in the Adirondack communities with access to high-speed internet, health care, and dining and shopping opportunities is a priority. 

Nearly 23% of Regional Market Demand is between ages 25 to 45. Quality housing and outdoor recreation were the most important factors cited when selecting a community. Remote workers and retirees present the greatest opportunity and over 40% of respondents who are working have the ability to work remotely either full-time or a majority of the time. 

Full results of the assessment can be found at: www.roostadk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Adirondack-Relocation-Assessment-Survey-2021.pdf. 

ADIRONDACK REGION — The brand-new 15th edition of High Peaks Trails, the flagship of ADK’s (Adirondack Mountain Club’s) comprehensive Forest Preserve Series of guidebooks, has just been released. The volume is edited by longtime Adirondack adventurer Tony Goodwin, who has been writing and updating guidebooks for over 30 years.

Since the 14th edition was published in 2012, 47,000 acres of Forest Preserve have been added to the High Peaks Wilderness Area. Its boundaries have been redrawn, and new regulations governing use of these areas are anticipated. The new 15th edition addresses the significant zone changes that have been implemented by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as new acquisitions, new trails, reroutes, restored and altered trailheads, and parking regulations.

This guide corresponds to ADK’s High Peaks: Adirondack Trail Map, and to National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated maps 742 and 746. Waterproof, durable, and tear-resistant, all three maps are available from ADK and at book and outdoor supply stores.

High Peaks Trails (softcover, 312 pages, 5×7”) is available for $19.95 ($15.96 ADK members) and $29.95 for the book-and-map pack ($23.96 ADK members). It can be found at book and outdoor supply stores, at ADK’s High Peaks Information Center in Lake Placid, online at ADK.org, or by calling 800-395-8080. Proceeds support ADK’s programs in conservation, education, recreation, stewardship, and advocacy.