Author: Saratoga TODAY

NEW YORK STATE — The New York State Police want to warn New Yorkers, especially parents, following cases of teens being targeted by criminals while online.      

Investigators say the suspect(s) locate teen victims on social media, friending or following the teens, then gaining their trust. When trust is established, investigators say the suspects ask for photos and/or videos of the teen, usually provocative in nature. Once the videos are secured by these predators, they demand payment, sometimes thousands of dollars, or they threaten to release the images on social media. 

At least one case has resulted in a teen victim committing suicide.   

State Police offer the following internet safety tips, for teens, or anyone who goes online: 

For parents – talk to your children about going online and set rules about where and when they are surfing or chatting, and monitor your children’s social media accounts. 

For kids and teens: Be careful what you post. Never share personal information online. This includes full name, address, or phone number. Don’t accept friend requests from strangers.  Don’t open emails, click on links, or download anything from unknown senders. Never share photos online or through texts or direct message with people you don’t know.  If you, or someone you know is having thoughts of harming yourself, talk to someone who can help.

If you feel you have been a victim of this type of crime, contact your local police. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Department of Public Works provides curbside leaf and lawn debris pick up. Leaves/lawn clippings must be in a reusable container or paper bag and placed at the curb May 15 to Sept. 30, after which leaves can be raked to the curb in small piles. 

Crews will not go on private property to retrieve or clean up leaves. Small limbs no longer than 3 feet can also be bundled and placed at the curbside. Be sure to keep containers and limb piles to a weight manageable by one person. DPW does not take stumps, lot clearing, tree take-downs on private property, dirt/sod or rocks. Additionally, no plastic bags, and no chemical barrels. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS/ WILLISTON/ S. BURLINGTON, VT — Healthy Living Market and Café today announces that a combined $49,167 has been donated to food banks in each of its three communities as a result of its round-up campaign, Together We Can Help.

Four organizations received a donation for the 2020 fundraising campaign. In Saratoga, the Wilton Food Pantry and the Franklin Community Center Food Shelf have each received $3,186. In Vermont, $24,701 will be provided to Feeding Chittenden and $18,904 to the South Burlington Food Shelves. 

“Making such impactful donations is a team effort,” says Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, CEO of Healthy Living. “We are thankful to our incredible guests who share our desire to build stronger communities by helping our friends and neighbors. Food insecurity is a severe, increasing issue nationwide. With so many people facing hunger in the communities we serve since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, we hope these donations will make a difference.”

Guests can share in the mission to support the work of community-oriented nonprofits by choosing to round up at the register. This year, Together We Can Help donations will go to the Wilton Food Pantry, Franklin Community Center Food Shelf, the South Burlington Food Shelf and Feeding Chittenden.

CLIFTON PARK — The patience of thousands of N.Y. seniors and their families has finally been rewarded with relaxed visitation and communal activities now being authorized by the New York State Department of Health, the regulating agency. 

The Department of Health’s new guidelines, issued on March 25, have essentially opened the doors again for over 50,000 residents who call the assisted living community their home. This long-awaited guidance is based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMC) guidelines and allows for visitation more widely and for residents to go on outings without the heavy burden of having to quarantine for 14 days upon return. 

Some particularly significant changes that the new guidance makes, including that visitation and other activities will no longer need to be shut down for 14 days for all residents if there is a new positive resident or staff case, said Lisa Newcomb, Executive Director, Empire State Association of Assisted Living. In addition, standards for group activities and communal dining have been relaxed.  These changes mean that residents will be able to enjoy time with their fellow residents that they call friends, and enjoy all the wonderful amenities and activities provided by their assisted living community. 

Empire State Association of Assisted Living is a not-for-profit organization. Founded in 1979, ESAAL is the only association that exclusively represents the assisted living industry, serving 300 Assisted Living Residences, Adult Homes, Enriched Housing Programs and Assisted Living Programs throughout New York State. These member residences are home to more than 30,000 seniors.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Community announced on April 2 that in-person family visitations have officially resumed at the Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs. 

Wesley Health Care Center is currently welcoming families for 40-minute in-person visits with residents on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Families can register online through The Wesley Community’s website. All visits must be scheduled in advance.

In-person family visitations at the senior care facility had been temporarily paused in accordance with New York State health and safety rules and regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Throughout the pandemic, Wesley has kept families connected through outdoor window visits and virtual visits. Wesley expanded its Life Enrichment staff and technology to help facilitate more than 3,000 online visits since the pandemic began. Wesley has also provided opportunities for compassionate care visits amongst residents and their families.

Wesley Health Care Center is part of The Wesley Community, a 37-acre continuum of care campus in Saratoga Springs which provides seniors with a variety of levels of care including independent living, assisted living, long-term care, outpatient therapies, short-term rehabilitation and home care.