Author: Saratoga TODAY

On Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., I met up with Ryan McMahon, Darryl Leggieri, and Deann Devitt on the City Center’s surface parking lot. We were meeting with Peter and Cole Gailor, of Gailor Landscaping. They had generously agreed to help us move concrete blocks to support the local restaurants on Henry, Caroline and Phila Street.

One year ago, D.A. Collins had donated and installed these concrete blocks in the same places. Over the winter, the City Center had stored them so that they could be reused. With several new restaurants participating this year, D.A. Collins would again help us out. Standing there looking at the blocks before they were moved, the four of us reminisced a little bit. Not one of us ever thought we’d still be doing this a year later. But the virus had other ideas.

Last March, we formed a partnership with the Saratoga County Chamber, Discover Saratoga, the Downtown Business Association, the City Center and the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. We had been meeting every week since. We had been talking, texting and collaborating nearly every day since. We had help as well from Samantha Bosshart, from the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, and Martin Mbugua, from Skidmore College. 

We said that if you called any one of us, we’d all come to help. We did this. We are still doing this. It was this Saratoga Crew that gathered information that all of us shared via email and social media to help local organizations to stay informed about EIDL and PPP loans; reopening protocols; special promotions and events. We coordinated on a range of advocacy efforts. We created and distributed hundreds of recovery kits filled with PPE to area employers as they reopened. We were the ones that drafted and then implemented the Saratoga County Economic Recovery Plan. We organized Saratoga County’s reopening ribbon cutting and the Save Our Locals campaign.

We’re all great friends now as well as colleagues. We were there to help everyone in our community as well as each of our organizations. This work was not without stress. We struggled too at times. We always knew we could count on each other. Sometimes we offered advice. Sometimes we offered a joke or a reason to laugh. We lived the mantra we had pushed out across our community. One year later, we know that WE are Stronger Together. 

I learned recently that while our groups were collaborating in an extraordinary fashion, so were others. The leaders of a group of local impact sector organizations have been collaborating to create and implement a comprehensive effort to help those who are homeless in our community. The leaders of a group of arts organizations and local venues have been collaborating to create an extraordinary series of events we’ll all be able to enjoy later this year. This gives me hope.

As we recover and reopen, I hope we find joy not just in gathering again but also in collaborating like never before. Let’s do our best to not just meet together but to take action together. Let’s not just collaborate together but celebrate together. We’ve been living, working, learning, and doing alone for too long. I’ve witnessed the power of collaboration at what might have been our darkest hour as a nation and a world. 

Our small businesses are not out of the woods yet. Our civic institutions continue to be challenged. We have people living in poverty whether that is defined by the absence of income, food, a place to live, a job, health, personal safety or someone to care for them. We’ve got more work to do. There are more people who will need our help. To really help them, we will need to always be Stronger Together.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Capital Bank, a division of Chemung Canal Trust Company, today announced the recent hiring of Billie M. Taft as its newest Commercial Loan Officer.  Taft brings strong commercial-banking experience to Capital Bank, having worked over 10 years in the field.

In 2010, Taft joined Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, where she enhanced her commercial-credit experience. In 2013, Taft was promoted to Commercial Loan Officer, followed by a promotion to Vice President in 2016.

Taft graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business & Economics from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs  and now lives in Greenfield Center. 

Capital Bank is a division of Chemung Canal Trust Company, a full-service community bank with full trust powers. Established in 1833, Chemung Canal Trust Company is the oldest, active, independent bank headquartered in New York State.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco announced this week that the historic Canfield Casino has reopened for 2021 weddings and events. 

The venue closed in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and because of New York State health and safety mandates which limited social gatherings.

“Guests will still need to follow CDC and State guidelines to attend, but this is the first step towards normalcy,” Scirocco said, in a statement. 

The occupancy of the Canfield Casino will allow for events of up to 150 attendees in compliance with NYS guidelines. Additionally, as outlined by Gov. Cuomo, all attendees must have proof of a recent negative test result or proof of immunization prior to the event. Masks will be worn at all times except when eating or drinking, and socially distanced dancing is allowed in designated areas.

“An upgraded sound system was installed in the venue, and detailed restoration work of the decorative woodwork in the parlor and bar was completed, along with refinishing the bar and ballroom floors during the casino’s closure, Scirocco added. 

The casino was originally built in 1870 as a gambling establishment by John Morrisey, and upgraded by Richard Canfield in the early 20th century to include the ornate ballroom. Canfield closed the establishment in 1907 and it was sold to the then-Village of Saratoga Springs in 1911.

Interested parties should contact Mary in the Department of Public Works at 518-587-3550 ext. 2555 or mary.castanza@saratoga-springs.org to obtain a contract or for more information. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Stewart’s Shops employees now own over 40% of the company through profit sharing, the company announced. 

Last week, 2,850 Partners received their 2020 Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) statements. Their accounts received approximately 20% growth and a $19 million contribution, which is about 19% of their 2020 pay. 

There are now 105 Partners with a balance of over $1 million and nearly a third of these millionaires are still actively working. This is possible because of Stewart’s stability, enabling years of double-digit percent of pay contributions, plus double-digit growth of balances each year.

The ESOP program is 100 percent funded by the company for anyone working at least 1,000 hours a year. After six years in the plan, a Partner’s balance is usually greater than a year’s pay. 

Founded in 1945, Stewart’s Shops is an employee and family-owned convenience store chain based in Saratoga Springs.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will host a panel discussion via Zoom with Sarah Craig, Executive Director – Caffe Lena; Louise Kerr, Executive Director- Saratoga Arts; Elaina Richardson, President- Yaddo, and Elizabeth Sobol, President/CEO – Saratoga Performing Arts Center. 

The virtual event takes place 10 – 11 a.m.  on Wednesday, April 28. Fee/admission is $25 for the general public, $15 for Chamber members. Please register online at: Saratoga.org.