Author: Saratoga TODAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Though the holidays may be past us, the generosity of this magical season is still being felt thanks to Stewart’s Holiday Match Program. 

The program matched donations from customers and donated a total of  $1.8 million to 1,753 organizations throughout the area who serve children. Franklin Community Center is honored to be a recipient of their generosity again this year.

The $5,000 donation received by Franklin will be used to offset costs associated with Franklin’s after school prevention program, Project Lift. 

“This show of community support came at the perfect time” states executive director Kari Cushing. “With our current climate so much different than anything we have ever experienced, our community’s children’s programs are now more vital than ever. We are very fortunate that Stewart’s Shops puts such a strong emphasis on philanthropy throughout the areas they serve.”

Project Lift, which has been operated by Franklin Community Center for over 30 years, is a unique and comprehensive after-school program for youth in grades 1-6 that places emphasis on positive youth development, raising self-esteem, and the development of refusal, decision-making, problem solving and communication skills. The research- based program is designed to enhance resiliency and equip children with information to make healthy decisions on their own.  Project Lift is free to the enrolled students, who also have access to the Community Center’s ancillary services, as needed.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — We are Brewnited, a collective of local brewers focused on giving back to our community. Our mission is to raise funds for our hospitality industry partners the best way we know how:  with a beer.

“Shortly after restrictions were put in place, I, out of habit, decided to head out for a beer. Quickly realizing I couldn’t, my brain filled with all of the bar and restaurant workers I know who are suddenly out of work with no income.  I remember thinking, ‘how can I help, even some of these guys?’… The next day at work I reached out to other local brewers, who, like me, owe our livelihoods to bars and restaurants that have supported our brands for so long. From this came the idea of a virtual collaboration beer where we could donate all proceeds directly to hospitality workers while creating a platform for other community members to contribute, knowing funds will be distributed locally,”  said Max Oswald of Northway Brewing Company.

Adirondack Brewery, Artisanal Brew Works, Bolton Landing Brewing Co., Common Roots Brewing Co., Druthers Brewing Co., and Northway Brewing Co. have collaborated to bring you Negative Input, an American Lager that represents our unity in these challenging times. We are working together to take the negative input that we are overwhelmed with and flip it upside-down to get a positive outcome.

All profits from the sale of these 4-Packs will be distributed to hospitality workers in Saratoga and Warren counties who are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs printing plant, Quad is considering whether to spend $45 million to install two new presses, which add 74 new jobs over the next two years. 

The printer of Time, W Magazine, and Popular Mechanics is seeking $9 million in incentives to justify making the investment in New York instead of Wisconsin where Quad is headquartered. 

Besides the incentive package, which is expected to include $2.25 million is assistance from National Grid as well as $6 million for Empire State Development.

Quad would need a building permit before it is allowed to start work. The company wants to get its approvals in place so that once the situation with the coronavirus improves, Quad can begin its expansion project.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Courage, makers of Pick Six Vodka, initiated a charitable production of hand sanitizer this week to support the community needs in response to the shortage during the current COVID-19 Pandemic. CEO and pharmacist, Holly Shishik, evaluated the distillery infrastructure and production line to produce a large batch of hand sanitizer to donate as an offering of good will to their trusted clients and local municipalities.

“For us, this was an opportunity to do something positive for the local municipalities and businesses that have supported our products over the years,” Shishik explained. “As a healthcare professional, I knew that we could quickly use our facility to produce hand sanitizer in bulk once the ingredients were identified and sourced.”

 Shishik teamed with their regular suppliers for donations of the ingredients as well as packaging.  She identified local first responders and businesses with a need for the sanitizer. For production, Shishik took the opportunity to include her teenage children in the effort. Family and friends also assisted in the assembly line to package the product as quickly as possible.

In all, 130 gallons of hand sanitizer were donated to area EMS and Fire Departments, as well as the Saratoga Hospital Emergency Department.  Donations were also delivered to some liquor stores and restaurants that regularly carry Pick Six.  Each bottle was hand delivered by a member of the Saratoga Courage Team.

 “This is another example of why “buying local” is critical,” Shishik added. “We’ve been proud to produce Pick Six as the local favorite vodka, and we’re grateful it afforded us this opportunity to give back to the community and to help protect our fellow neighbors and customers.”

Local companies that joined in to donate materials include Burch Bottle and Packaging Inc., Culligan Water, Greg Mastrianni Design and Grant Graphics.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) Executive Director Karen Gregory announced Sunday that The Holiday Inn, located in downtown Saratoga Springs, will serve as a temporary location for the city’s homeless. 

Isolating people experiencing homelessness in individual hotel rooms with access to private bathrooms is the best possible solution to facilitate safe distancing and the ability to practice good hygiene thus preventing a community-wide spread of COVID-19. Food service, basic necessities and case management is being provided to those staying in the hotel. The shelters on Walworth Street remain open and SOS is serving over 100 people through the outreach program, which provides people with food and hygiene products. 

“Our number one priority is the health and safety of people we are helping each day. Social distancing and hygiene is the only way to slow the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, people experiencing homelessness don’t have the ability to stay home.” Gregory said. “People experiencing homelessness don’t have regular access to sinks where they can wash their hands and those staying at homeless shelters can’t always remain six feet from another person. There are simply too many people and not enough space.” Quarantine for a sick or exposed individual would not be possible in these settings.

In addition, homeless individuals face a variety of issues when it comes to COVID-19. Age, poor health, disability, and living conditions make them highly vulnerable to illness. Once the virus is introduced to this high-risk population, further transmission will be very difficult to contain. As such, Shelters of Saratoga initiated this proactive, rapid response plan for this crisis.

Gregory stated “I made several requests to Saratoga County to move our shelters into a local hotel before someone was symptomatic or tested positive for COVID-19. I was told over and over again that would not be possible until somebody tested positive, although I explained at that point it would be too late and I was afraid we would have a shelter full of very sick people including my staff. Ultimately, I did not want anyone to die.”

When Gregory voiced her concerns and ideas to Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly, the Mayor was immediately aligned with her worries. They met the next morning and started going door to door to find a hotel. Kevin Tuohy, General Manager of the Holiday Inn in Saratoga, offered his support immediately and without hesitation. 

While the guests will be staying at the hotel, Gregory has opted to move in as well to keep operations running smoothly. “Although, I miss my family tremendously, it is critically important to me, to keep both my family safe as well as the people SOS is serving.”

Kelly shared this, “As Mayor, it’s my job to protect all of my citizens, including and especially those most vulnerable. Current federal and state guidelines for COVID-19 and homeless individuals set a reactive threshold – quarantine only after an individual presents with symptoms. For our city, this was not a high enough standard. I’m proud that Saratoga Springs is joining a short, but growing list of communities across the country prepared to prevent infection and spread among our homeless population by using hotels to practice social distancing and enable access to adequate hygiene, hand washing, and quarantine. This will save lives. And I’m grateful to Shelters of Saratoga’s Executive Director, Karen Gregory for her agility in the face of this crisis and to Kevin Tuohy, General Manager of the Holiday Inn here in Saratoga for stepping forward.”