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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Homeschooling 101: Week 2

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

OK Everyone, I want to congratulate you on a job well done…you have successfully made it through 2 weeks of homeschooling.
I assume you may be running out of fun and creative projects to keep the kids busy, so here are some fresh ideas…

ELEMENTARY GRADES 4th – 8th

RESEARCH FLAGS
of other counties or the 50 states and create mini flags with pencils as the flagpole. 

GREAT WEBSITES:

• Quizlet.com
  Flashcards, games, and quizzes for almost every subject.

• bls.gov/k12/games/geography-quiz
  How well do you know the United States? Great for a family competition.

• printables.atozteacherstuff.com 
  Are your younger children feeling left out of schooling? This site has fun printables for younger children on almost every subject.

• seussville.com
  Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss and his friends.

• funbrain.com
  Play Games while practicing math and reading skills.

POETRY:

poetryfoundation.org/poems 
Have your child choose a poem that corresponds with the time period they are studying in History.  Don’t shy away from the classics. Children can learn Shakespeare, Longfellow, Frost, and Whitman.
Memorize a couple of lines each day.  When completed, have them recite the poem and video it for friends and family. 

Benefits of Poetry Memorization:

• It builds vocabulary and reading comprehension.
• When a student performs a recitation, he is building speech and presentation skills.
• When students see references to great poems in plays, movies, comic strips, and other books, they will understand the references. This is especially true if your students memorize Shakespeare because he isquoted more than any other author.
• It fills up students with patterns of language. When your students start writing, these patterns will spill back out.
• They may be on Jeopardy someday!

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LOWER ELEMENTARY Grades K – 3rd

FAMILY FUN:

Play games with your children. Here’s a list of fun, but educational games: Monopoly, Bananagrams, Boggle, Scrabble, Rummikub, Rush Hour, Go, Chess, Mastermind, Risk…

Play the good old-fashion card game War.  It teaches number recognition and helps them learn number order in a fun way.

CREATIVE IDEAS:

• Write and illustrate a story together. 
• Make a comic book together.
• Use shaving cream on the counter or table to write in.  Practice math facts, spelling words, shapes,fractions… the list is endless and it’s ok to get messy because it’s basically soap!

Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership Business Outreach Survey

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, in collaboration with SEDC, and its local, state, and federal community and business partners, is conducting a survey to identify Saratoga County businesses in need of assistance, how the Saratoga County economy has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), and what resources are needed to ensure business continuity.

The Saratoga Partnership is looking to gather information so that they can assist in helping mitigate the impacts to businesses and the regional economy, as well as connect businesses to the tools and resources they need during this challenging time. 

Individual responses will remain confidential. Data collected will be aggregated to demonstrate economic impact. 

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership is a member of the Saratoga County Economic Development Alliance, which includes the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation.

The survey is available at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZWYJDHH. 

The Partnership informs that SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza has approved a statewide disaster declaration for N.Y. Eligible small businesses may now apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) online at: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. 

Hannaford Dedicates Early Morning Shopping for Vulnerable Customers

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Hannaford Supermarkets announced its stores will offer dedicated shopping hours for people age 60 and older, as well as those with compromised immune systems. 

Stores will open 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Tuesday through Thursday to service this vulnerable population and allow a less crowded shopping environment, which enables better social distancing.

In addition, Hannaford has shortened its general store-operating hours to provide for additional time to clean, stock shelves and give associates additional time to rest.  The new daily hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Providing a designated shopping period for seniors and at-risk individuals allows this population to shop prior to other customers being in the store. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people who are 60 and over and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. Although associates will not be requesting ID for entry, Hannaford urges the community to respect the intention for the early opening.

Locally, stores are located on Weibel Avenue in Saratoga Springs, as well as Ballston Spa, Malta, Greenwich and South Glens Falls. 

Hannaford Supermarkets also announced it is donating $250,000 to support area food banks that are experiencing increasing and unprecedented demand during the widening of the COVID-19 global pandemic – including $50,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which services many food pantries across Saratoga County. 

A register and store kiosk donation program has been initiated at all Hannaford grocery stores where customers can donate to their community’s local food bank at the register with a $5 or $10 donation, or with a cash donation at a kiosk located at the front of the store. 

Proctors Furloughs 80 Percent of Staff

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SCHENECTADY — Proctors Collaborative – the organization which reopened Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on Feb. 29 – announced March 18 it is furloughing roughly 80 percent of its workforce and that remaining staff will receive pay reductions.

The decision is the result of careful analysis about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the organization in the near- and long-term, the organization announced in a statement. 

Proctors Collaborative has postponed programming at all three of its venues – Proctors, Universal Preservation Hall and Capital Repertory Theatre – through April 12. With the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that gatherings of 50 people or more be postponed or cancelled for eight weeks, it could be mid-May or later before Proctors Collaborative venues reopens its doors for performances and classes.

“It’s an extraordinary time with daily new and revising understandings about the virus and about its implications on what we, in the performing arts, do: share, connect, celebrate, embrace,” said Philip Morris, CEO. “It’s incredibly painful but for the near future, what we do must simply stop for the good of our whole community and by extension the country.”

The circumstances come at a historic juncture for the organization. Proctors Collaborative just opened UPH in Saratoga Springs on Feb. 29, and is planning to open a new Albany home for theREP in July. Patrons are encouraged to hold on to their tickets for postponed performances and to subscribe to the 2020-21 seasons at Proctors and theREP. “We need to ensure we have full houses as soon as we reopen our doors,” Morris emphasized. “That support will accelerate our recovery.”

Two Ideas to Generate Cash Flow During COVID-19

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA COUNTY —The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus stated in a press release two creative ideas to generate income to small businesses.

A local couple looking to support some of their favorite small businesses presented the first idea. They have setup two “PRE-PAID house” accounts, one at a local hardware store and the other at a local market. A” PRE-PAID house” account means that an individual gives money to a local business and as this person makes future purchases the account is drawn down.

The store owner will treat the account as store credit. If your business would like to allow your most loyal customers to help you by setting up a PRE-PAID House Account, please send Devin Zurlo an email at dzurlo@saratoga.org.

“We want to help all businesses deemed non-essential to secure as much support and money as possible during this crisis,” Shimkus said.

Many businesses offer the ability to purchase gift cards online for products or services. The chamber announced working on a special promotion that can reach thousands of people via email and social media that will showcase our members who offer people the opportunity to buy online gift cards.

If you’d like to be a part of this promotion, please share with Andrea Cole via email at acole@saratoga.org your company email, the specific website link where people can purchase a gift card from you, and any special incentives you might be offering to encourage the sales of gift cards while your actual place of business is closed.

COVID-19 Response Team

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Hospital has established a COVID-19 Response Team that includes representatives of all disciplines of the hospital, from the main campus and all outpatient offices and facilities. Team members are in constant communication with each other and other area hospitals, as well as state and county health officials.

The best sources of information about COVID-19 plans at Saratoga Hospital are SaratogaHospital.org and the Saratoga Hospital Facebook page. These are updated constantly with their most current policies, including:

Visitation Guidelines: To minimize risks for their patients and staff, no visitors are allowed in the building at this time, with a limited number of exceptions dependent on appropriate screening. This policy also applies to their urgent care and emergent care facilities.

Elective Procedures: Effective Monday, March 23, most elective procedures have been postponed, as recommended by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Bell and Sharman Lisieski are leading the postponement protocols.

Donations: If you or someone you know wishes to donate, please direct inquiries to contactus@saratogahospital.org. We must follow strict guidelines on what we can and cannot use. While some donations may not meet these guidelines, they are confident they may be of use in non-clinical settings.

Self-Care Resources: Many in the community are understandably anxious with the arrival of COVID-19 in our corner of the world. The hospital has included some community resources to help you and your loved ones reduce stress and manage anxiety.

New Reduced Hours at Saratoga Springs Transfer Station

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco and Deputy Commissioner Joseph J. O’Neill announced the Department of Public Works’ operational plan following COVID-19 directives set forth by Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

The DPW work force will transition into emergency standby mode and will respond to emergency situations as-needed. Request for DPW service calls can be made to police dispatch, 518-584-1800.

The Weibel Avenue transfer station will also operate under reduced hours between 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 

“The Governor has directed all non-essential workforce to remain home, for DPW that means staying home and being prepared to respond as-needed, this is for the good of our personnel and to help stop the spread of
COVID-19” said Scirocco, in a statement.  “The public can rest assured that in any emergency during this time our work force will respond and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

DPW crews had remained operational earlier this month for lawn-debris pickup, roadway repairs, and routine calls for service.

Gov. Cuomo: DMV Close Offices, Shift to Online; Registration Dates Extended

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

STATEWIDE — The Department of Motor Vehicles is closed for all in-office visits. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed an Executive Order to temporarily close DMV offices and shift the DMV to online transactions. License and permit expirations will be extended. 

“So, if your driver’s license is about to expire — don’t worry,” Cuomo said, in a statement.

Specifically, this means: All Licenses, Non-Driver ID’s, and Registrations with an expiration date of March 1, 2020 or later will be extended. Road tests are suspended until further notice, and all reservations have been cancelled.

According to Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner, the Saratoga County DMV will be closed to the public until April 19. 

To view more information regarding online DMV transactions, go to: dmv.ny.gov. 

BackPack Program Receives Community Support

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District’s BackPack Program continues to receive generous support from members of the school community. At a time when restaurants are struggling, the Route 50 Diner has donated $800 after they collected and matched a weekend of customer donations to support the Scotties BackPack Program. With the support of many local businesses and organizations the Scotties BackPack Program is able to continue during the school closure and provide weekend meals to those students who may otherwise go without. For a list of supporters and details of the program, please visit www.bscsd.org/Page/13097.

In Need: What Local Businesses & Non-Profits are Searching For

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA COUNTY —While COVID-19 impacts the community, local hospitals and nonprofits are searching for item donations to continue their cause of serving the community.

Saratoga Hospital is looking for gloves, masks and protective eyewear. Respirator Masks, surgical gowns and ventilators are also a part of the products needed. 

The Franklin Community Center in Saratoga is asking for donations of juice, peanut butter, canned fruit, tuna and pasta/egg noodles. There is a food donation bin located in the front of the building. 

The Wilton Food Pantry is searching for canned fruit and personal care items. Peter Maynard, director of the food pantry, said donating a monetary amount is highly recommended because pantries can buy food from the Regional Food Bank at lower prices than the consumers can. The donations also allow the pantry to control inventory better, but no food donations will be turned down. 

The Wilton Food bank along with Schuylerville Area Food and Emergency Relief  (SAFER) Food pantry will take orders before clients arrive at the pantry. Participants are encouraged to order online or call-in before arriving. Drop-ins will be serviced as well but as asked to wait outside while their food order is prepared.