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Author: Saratoga TODAY

BSBPA Scholarship Available

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Ballston Spa — The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) is once again offering a $500 scholarship to a Ballston Spa High School graduating senior.

High school students who hold jobs in the community, while maintaining good standards in their schoolwork and deportment, should be recognized for their diligence and responsibility. The Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association Scholarship shall be awarded to a graduating senior who has demonstrated professionalism in his/her place of employment and responsibility in their school community.

Students can pick up the application information sheet at the Ballston Spa High School guidance office.  A printable version is also available on the BSBPA website, www.ballston.org. 

Submit completed applications to the BSHS guidance office, emailed directly to the BSBPA at info@ballston.org, or mailed to: BSBPA Scholarship, PO Box 386, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Submission deadline is Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Saratoga Springs Lions Club Announces 2020-2021 Scholarships

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Saratoga Springs — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club is looking for scholarship applicants who are planning to attend a two or four-year accredited institution, or professional / vocational school.

The scholarships to be awarded include: 

• $10,000 Lions Foundation -Jack Berkowitz Memorial Award ($2,500/yr.)
• $5,000 Four-Year Academic Program Award ($1,250/yr.)
• $2,500 Four-Year Academic Program Award ($625/yr.)
• $2,500 Leos Club Member Scholarship Award (625/yr.)
• $2,500 Two Year Academic Program Award ($1,250 / yr.)
• $2,500 Professional/Vocational Licensed Program Award

To be considered, all applicants must include:

• A transcript complete through the fall semester of the senior year. 
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty or community leaders.
• A resume of School and Community activities, 
• An essay on “Lionism.” This essay should describe any experience the student has had helping others, serving their school, and/or the community.

Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2021. Applications are available online at www.saratogaspringslions.com/programs/scholarships

SUNY Empire Announces Increased Opportunities

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — SUNY Empire State College and Hudson Valley Community College have announced a new academic partnership.

Under the partnership, SUNY Empire will guarantee admission to the program for associate degree graduates, eliminate the orientation fee and provide a small scholarship to Hudson Valley transfer students with a concentration in information systems.

To increase access and support for our nation’s service members and veterans, they’ve also recently announced the SUNY for All campaign. Upon completion, students will be automatically accepted to any of SUNY’s 30 community colleges or SUNY Empire, with application and orientation fees waived.

SUNY Empire has also expanded academic programs in the undergraduate, graduate, certificate programs, and the first-ever Ed.D. in educational leadership. 

SUNY Empire State College will celebrate 50 years of academic achievements and excellence throughout 2021. Founded in 1971, SUNY Empire began as a bold reimagining of higher education, one focused on increasing accessibility and opportunities for students.

Mark Your Calendar: On Feb. 8, at 1:30 p.m. join alumnus Natural Langdon ‘18 and photographer and SUNY Empire professor Terry Boddie, for a screening of Langdon’s award-winning action movie, “Nikita,” a coming-of-age story about a blind 15-year-old girl who must save her family from the criminal underworld. 

For more information, go to www.esc.edu/50th-anniversary

Saratoga Celebrates Catholic Schools Week

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Saratoga Central Catholic School demonstrates how even COVID can’t take them down – awards $17,800 raffle prize to kick-off a week-long celebration that will culminate in a virtual gathering of thousands. 

Even the tiniest opening can let in the light. 

Abraham Lincoln was president in 1862, when Saratoga Central Catholic School was established. It’s a school that has remained steadfast in its mission- rooted in compassion and caring- ever since, while simultaneously demonstrating that the only way to survive is to adapt to change.

“Tradition is important because it grounds the school and connects different generations of students to one another – there’s meaning and value in that. It’s important that we honor the past by being realistic about the present,” said school principal Joseph Kilmade.

WEATHERING THE STORM
By merging the old with the new, they’ve been able to weather even the COVID pandemic, a storm that has forced so many other Catholic institutions across the nation to shutter their windows and close-up shop. 

“Saratoga Central Catholic is a mainstay in the area. It has always been the size it is. We know who we are. We’re a small school,” said Kilmade.

By focusing on their programming and offering both in-person and virtual learning models, they have been adapting to what families and students want from their education this year. This flexibility has allowed them to remain strong. 

CELEBRATING MIND, BODY & SPIRIT
Catholic Schools Week is a tradition that has been celebrated nationwide since the 1970s. Saratoga Central Catholic School felt like it was important to continue this annual tradition – a demonstration of individual and school spirit, despite the unique challenges this year due to social-distancing restrictions. 

They kicked-off the festivities with a non-gala raffle. 

Because a significant portion of their budget relies on fundraising, the relationships they’ve forged within the community, and the generosity of their patrons, they typically host an annual gala. That wasn’t possible this year, so instead they sold tickets to a “non-gala” raffle. They sold-out all 500 tickets. Coach Alphonse Lambert sold a whopping 100 of those tickets single-handedly.

The 50//50 raffle garnered $35,600, half of which, $17,800 was awarded to lucky winner Joe Kakaty. 

Other activities for the week include a school-wide rock, paper, scissors competition, dress-down days, and a diocesan-wide mass.

FAITH. EXCELLENCE. SERVICE.
This week, decorations line the hall of Saratoga Central Catholic School while students dress-down to rise up and meet the challenge of serving others. 

They are “paying” for the privilege by bringing in personal-care items that will be donated to help re-stock community service organizations including Code Blue Saratoga and the Franklin Community Center. 

“When we dress-down, we do it for a cause. We’re promoting service and helping others in the community,” said Maria Izzo. 

Izzo graduated from the school and has taught there for 32 years. Celebrating the values that they’d like the students to embody in fun ways this week will culminate and be reflected upon in a virtual mass on Friday. Every school in the diocese is slated to attend – a crowd of hundreds, if not thousands, of viewers.

“It’s a celebration of the value of the Catholic education and what we give to the community,” said Izzo.

Property Transactions: January 30 – February 5, 2021

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

BALLSTON

Rene Zeh sold property at 23 Jacob St to Christopher Frederick for $200,000.

JZ Development LLC sold property at 310 Goode St to David Prehoda for $250,000.

BDC Cornerstone LLC sold property at 51 Cornerstone Dr to Carolyn DeLuke for $264,000.

Sheila Bell sold property at 2 Tamarack St to Syma Islam for $475,000.

CORINTH

Eric Kuebler sold property at 109 Eggleston St to Malina Valentine for $155,000.

Konnor Kirchhoff sold property at 23 Pine St to Joseph Fitzgerald for $188,900.

GREENFIELD

Kent McKernon sold property at 18 Griffen/Locust Gove Rd to Melanie LaFond for $100,000.

Deborah Spackmann sold property at 215 Bockes Rd to Christopher Spackmann for $160,000.

Judd Krier sold property at 4 Lower Meadow Lane to Justin Bussen for $675,000.

David Gerardi sold property at 99 Goose Hollow Rd to Timothy Schultz for $212,000.

David Kirchhoff sold property at 427 Alpine Meadows Rd to Konnor Kirchhoff for $400,000.

David Jensen sold property at 32 Forest Rd to Millard Hofmann for $220,000.

MALTA

Abele Builders Inc sold property at 12 Cooper Ridge Dr to Abele Homes LLC for $115,000.

Abele Builders LLC sold property at 12 Cooper Ridge Dr to James Montross for $465,855.

Manuel Tan sold property at 1 Admirals Way to Bonnie Galvin for $590,000

Haokun Hu sold property at 17 Springfield Dr to Zachray Taylor for $386,000.

Mark Lawrence sold property at 9 Sand Spurrey Rd to Grant Helmerci for $317,999.

Tracy Lascheid sold property at 29 Hills Rd to Nathan Williams for $290,000

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Brian Jacot sold property at 9 Bluebird Ct to James McGillivray for $699,900

Robert Bertholde sold property at 19VNorthway Ct to Brian Fenton for $389,000.

William Fox sold property at 79 Ash St to Samuel Guba for $440,150.

David Fragomeni sold property at 3257 US Route 9 to 3257 US Route 9 for $1,750,000.

Millicent Serling sold property at 26 Carriage House Lane to Andrew Serling for $560,000.

166 Jefferson St LLC sold property at 166 Jefferson St Unit 1 to Michael Colvin for $185,000.

Nicholas Pavoldi sold property at 75 Lake Ave to Justin Blair for $475,000.

Ronald Nelson sold property at 98 Quevic Dr to Cara Duffy for $263,000

KDI Properties LLC sold property at 104-114 Congress St to MELH LLC for $775,000

Station Lane Associates sold property at 25 Station Lane to 60 West Ave LLC for $1,235,000.

WILTON

William Larrabee sold property at 9 Cobble Hill Dr to BGRS LLC for $565,000.

BGRS LLC sold property at 9 Cobble Hill Dr to Bradley Kriss for $565,000.

35 Worth LLC sold property at 35 Worth Rd to Peter McCarthy for $278,100.

Rt 9 Wilton Holding Company sold property at Route 9 to Mast Group LLC for $300,000

Matrilyn Vinciguerra sold property at 26 Timbira Dr to Joseph Murawski for $420,000.

Mark Conway sold property at 5 Erin Ct to BBLB Management for $290,000.

BBLB Management LLC sold property at 5 Erin Ct to Mako International for $290,000.

Michelle Hays sold property at 12 Whispering Pines Rd to Mark Smith for $197,000.

Davide Pacifico sold property at 54 Sheffield Rd to Andrew Barbarino for $449,900.

Saratoga Hospital Recognized for Maternity Care

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

The Distinction Center designation, from BlueShield of Northeastern New York, is reserved for programs that meet rigorous standards for quality, patient safety and outcomes. Criteria were expanded in 2020 to include efforts to prevent or treat maternity-related conditions, reduce the rate of cesarean section deliveries, and address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare.

“Blue Distinction affirms our unwavering commitment to high-quality, patient-centered maternity care,” said Dr. Amos Cutler, chair, of Saratoga Hospital’s OB/GYN Department, in a prepared statement. “The designation affirms what so many of our patients already know—that you can count on Saratoga Hospital to take great care of you and your baby.”

 The hospital has adopted a collaborative physician-midwife model of care that reflects best practices. Certified nurse midwives perform most routine vaginal deliveries, with OB/GYN physicians always available. The model helps ensure that, as much as possible, families have the experience they want during childbirth. 

 For more information about the Blue Distinction program and a list of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

Gallagher and Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. Extend Partnership with Glens Falls Arena Through 2025

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

GLENS FALLS — Gallagher, a global insurance and risk management brokerage firm, this wek announced it would join Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. in its support of the Glens Falls Arena, and extend its naming rights through 2025. The agreement comes following an announcement in December that Gallagher acquired Queensbury-based Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“A key part of growing Gallagher’s business is to work with people and organizations like Cool Insuring Agency who share our common values of ethics, integrity, service and community enrichment,” said Bob Crandall, Area President for Gallagher in Albany, in a prepared statement. “We can’t think of a better way to support the upstate New York community than by serving as a steward of the Arena, and we are excited to be part of its deep roots in Glens Falls.”

The 4,794-seat multi-purpose arena located in downtown Glens Falls currently serves as the home of a minor league hockey team and also hosts a 7,335 square foot banquet facility called Heritage Hall. While currently closed due to restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arena will continue to host popular local activities including tractor pulls, concerts, public skating, indoor walking and more to the upstate community.

Cool Insuring Agency, Inc. was founded in 1857 by Charles W. Cool, the first mayor of the city of Glens Falls and has served the community for the past 150 years. The partnership extension will include the naming rights to the Arena, which was officially named Cool Insuring Arena in 2018.

“We have developed a great relationship with Cool Insuring over these past few years as our naming rights partner, and we are thrilled that Gallagher wanted to extend our partnership,” said Jeff Mead, General Manager for Cool Insuring Arena. 

Harris Beach Relocation in Saratoga Springs

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs office of Harris Beach PLLC is relocating to larger office space in the city’s historic Broadway district to accommodate sustained growth in the region. Harris Beach attorneys and staff are now seeing clients at 513 Broadway, in accordance with proper social distancing guidelines and masking requirements.

The move is part of continued expansion for Harris Beach across multiple practice areas and industry groups. The firm employs 30 attorneys in the Albany-Saratoga Capital Region, up from 19 attorneys just 3 years ago.

The Harris Beach team provides counsel to clients in the public, private and non-profit sectors across the Albany-Saratoga corridor, the Hudson Valley and the North Country, and also supports a range of community organizations and charitable efforts.

“At this challenging time, we are excited to re-invest in the Saratoga community,” said John McManus, office managing partner, Harris Beach Capital Region, in a statement. “We have deep roots here and continue to expand our full-service capabilities to meet the needs of clients in the region and across New York State.”

Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide legal and professional services to clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. For more information, go to www.harrisbeach.com. 

Two Deputy Sheriff’s Recognized for Life Saving Efforts

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA — Deputies Eddie Hernandez and Jeffrey Kaplan were presented the Life Saving Award and Meritorious Service Award by Sheriff Michael Zurlo this week for their decisive action to save the lives of the two residents who were in immediate peril.

On Jan. 28, members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to an EMS assist call from a resident in the town of the town of Halfmoon.  It was reported that the two residents of a home on Oakleaf Drive had lost consciousness for unknown reasons.  When arriving, the deputies were met with a strong noxious odor from the residence and immediately located the two residents of the home who are both in their 60’s and who were having difficulty maintaining consciousness. The female resident was carried from the second floor of the residence outside by Deputy Jeffrey Kaplan and the male resident was dragged from the first floor to the outside by Deputy Eddie Hernandez. 

Both subjects were treated at the scene by EMS personnel and transported to Samaritan Hospital.  It was later determined that both had suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning due to an issue in the residence.  Both are expected to make a full recovery. 

“I have no doubt that the decisive action taken by these two deputies saved the lives of both of these residents,” Sheriff Zurlo said, in a statement. Both deputies will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony to take place later this year. 

Tonko Selected for Major Climate-Focused Committees

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

WASHINGTON, DC — House leaders announced this week that Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) has been selected to serve on three major climate committees in the House. Anchored by his key leadership role as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, Tonko will also serve on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and House Committee on Natural Resources. 

These appointments position Tonko, one of just a small handful of engineers in Congress, to continue leading Congressional efforts to build national climate action and advance climate-driven legislation through Congress. 

“America is at a crossroads. We can double down on the economic and environmental stagnation of the past or we can seize this moment to build back better and make ourselves a global leader in clean energy innovation, environmental and labor standards, and a new flowering of prosperity in communities all across America,” said Tonko, who represents the 20th Congressional District, including a majority of the city of Saratoga Springs.