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Author: Saratoga TODAY

SIS Keeps End of Year Traditions Alive Amist In Person Gathering Restrictions

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Independent School’s 2019-2020 school year came to a close on Friday, June 19.  Due to the national health crisis and school closures, students from Saratoga Independent School spent the last few months engaged in remote learning from home. 

The school has many end-of-year traditions that the students have grown to love, including Field Day, Yearbooks, an Art Show, a Variety Show, and Carnival.  Usually these events are held in person, during the school day.  This year, students and teachers came up with creative solutions to keep these traditions alive virtually. 

Head of School Lisa Brown, said, “Our Saratoga Independent School community is extraordinarily strong.  We have always put our students first and wanted to find a way to give them the community experience they have always appreciated during our year-end activities.” 

A week full of events was enjoyed by all students, from the safety of their homes.  “We have incredibly thoughtful and creative faculty and students. They worked together to make the end of the school year memorable,” stated Brown.

The first event was a car parade held at the school.  Students saw their teachers and received their yearbooks, which included pages dedicated to remote learning.  All teachers and staff wore masks, along with our mascot, Thunder the Moose.

Physical Education teacher Trish Bendon, aka Coach B, created a virtual Field Day for all grade levels.  Each class section joined a live Zoom to compete against another class in at-home activities, including penguin walking, flip your lid, paper airplane corn hole, and more.  Students enjoyed the friendly competition and opportunity to engage online with students from other classes.

Spanish teacher Lisa-Renee Ackerman, aka Señora Chocolate, created a Virtual Variety Show, which was shared online with the entire school community.  A Padlet allowed viewers to offer virtual applause.

Art teacher Gabi Moore created a Virtual Art Show, showcasing student work, including box sculptures, paintings, shadow drawings, and even graphic design and videos.

On the last day of school, students usually participate in an outdoor carnival with booths designed and operated by our Intermediate, Fifth Grade, and Middle School students.  This year was no different. Jeny Randall, Middle School Coordinator, led the charge to create a Virtual Carnival.  Students designed booths held during live Zoom meetings where students participated in an array of carnival games.

In lieu of the usual Fifth Grade celebration, this year Fifth Graders received lawn signs to display at home to celebrate their graduation and move to Middle School.

Brown stated, “It was amazing to see the school community come together to create such wonderful activities.  I am so happy the students ended this unusual school year with positive and meaningful memories.” 

Brown expects that Saratoga Independent School will be open for education in person in the Fall.  The school has already begun planning and implementing new health and safety measures.  The 2020-2021 school year will mark the first year with all three Middle School grades and Brown is excited for the first S.I.S. 8th Grade graduation next spring.

Saratoga Hospital Needs To Re-Evaluate Visitor Policies

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.

Last month, I needed emergency care unrelated to COVID-19. My experience made my family acutely aware of the emotional impact caused by hospital visitor restrictions for families. I recall a visit from my doctor discussing the findings of the test and not being coherent enough to understand what was being said and no family to ask questions made me feel quite anxious.

I acknowledge the seriousness of COVID-19 and the need to protect health care workers, patients and the public. I’m confident the current policies were made with the best judgment to promote safety in hospitals. However, these policies should be reexamined and adjusted to allow every patient the right to a support person to accompany them in the hospital.

The CDC has already outlined guidelines for hospitals in managing visitor access within their facilities. These guidelines include: limiting visitors to those essential to the well-being of the patient (such as care partners), limiting points of access to the facility, screening all visitors for symptoms of COVID-19, denying access to the facility to visitors who present with a fever, requiring all visitors to wear face masks, restricting visitors to the patient room and taking special measures to control visits to patients with COVID-19. These guidelines do not call for the complete restriction of all visitors in the hospital setting. Actually, they highlight the essential role care partners play in supporting a patient’s emotional and physical well-being.

Care partner presence promotes healing and lessens the burdens of health care workers. Hospital administrators should consider changing visiting policies to reflect CDC guidelines, improve recovery and healing and lessen demands on their staff.

– Robin Mitchell

Let There Be Light

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Mary Martin Day Spa is the first in the Northeast region to utilize the XtraLight UV System to sterilize her spa as customers return for her Spa’s services.  The unit will allow for sterilization in between patients in her patient rooms. In addition with the XtraLight handheld unit her staff can easily sterilize the bathrooms, counter tops, waiting room area in just a few minutes.

“Treating spaces with Xtralight’s UVC disinfecting devices are an excellent way to assure people the spaces they enter are safe to visit.” stated XtraLight CEO Jerry Cation.

For more information on the XtraLight system, or to book an appointment, contact Mary Martin Day Spa at: 518-583-4222 or visit them on Facebook.

City Building Department: “We’re Fully Operational”

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — While City Hall offices remain closed to the public, the Building Department is fully operational, the organization announced this week. 

Permit applications are being reviewed and issued as usual.  Email notifications are automatically sent to inform applicants as their application moves through the review process. 

However, at this time, applications for building permits continue to be accepted via U.S. Mail only.  Until the Building Department has moved into its new location on the 3rd floor of City Hall at 474 Broadway, and City Hall reopens to the public, the department is unable to accept applications and documents in person. 

The Building Departments says it will communicate via email with applicants at the following stages: When an application is received in the mail; When all required information has been received, the application is complete and has been checked into the department’s Review Queue; When a building inspector is assigned to review the application and plans; When permit is approved and ready to issue.

Inspections are being performed in all cases when the state-required “Safety Plan” is in place.

Inspections can be requested three ways: Submit request directly into system (preferred) using the online form from the city’s website at: saratoga-springs.org; Email request to building.office@saratoga-springs.org; Call the inspection line at 518-587-3550, ext. 2511. 

Saratoga 4-H’rs Participate in Capital District 4-H Tractor Safety

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Seventeen teens from across the Capital Region, including three Saratoga County 4-H members, completed the NSTOP Tractor Safety Program offered by the 4-H Youth Development Program. 

This intensive course requires youth to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to safely working within the agriculture industry. The certification that is earned is needed for youth ages 14-15 to operate certain types of machinery while being employed in the agricultural field. The 2020 Tractor Safety program had to adapt due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with much of the programming taking place in a virtual space. The youth participated in an online learning environment, and even had the opportunity to practice and demonstrate equipment operation while observing all necessary safety guidelines. 

Leland Bunting, 4-H Resource Educator with CCE of Saratoga County says, “The annual 4-H Tractor Safety program is a very important offering from our Capital District 4-H program. The skills that the youth learn go deeper than operation of equipment, and really make the participants aware of the many hazards that exist while working in agriculture. When we certify a youth, we feel confident that they possess the knowledge and skills necessary to learn and work safely in agriculture. This certification is very important for many of our youth, as it is commonly a requirement for summer employment. We hope that the skills learned in this program allow our youth to explore their passion for agriculture.” 

The 4-H Tractor Safety program is offered every spring through Cornell Cooperative Extension, and is open to all youth ages 14 and older. 

If you would like more information about the 2021 program, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County at 518-885-8995.

Julie & Co. Agents Awarded New Real Estate Designations

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lisa A. McTygue, ABR of Julie & Co Realty LLC was recently awarded the Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI) designation. 

McTygue earned the “Graduate, Realtor Institute” (GRI) Designation by attending a minimum of 90 hours of classroom instruction, covering a variety of real estate specialization subjects. The GRI designation sets the individuals who have attained it apart from other practitioners because it indicates to the public that the individual has an educational foundation on which to base the services they provide and that they are a member of the National Association of Realtors. 

Julie & Co. Realty, LLC is also pleased to announce that Monika Patrycja Cronin, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson from The Monika Cronin Team has been awarded the Seller Representative Specialist (SRS), Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE), and Certified Real Estate Team Specialist (C-RETS) designations.

SRS is the premier seller agency designation in the country. RENE certification is the premier negotiation credential in the country. C-RETS certification is the premier team credential in the country. 

Cronin was required to successfully complete comprehensive coursework in seller representation, demonstrate significant seller representation experience and expertise, negotiation, team development and management and continuing to subscribe to the Realtor Code of Ethics.

June 27 – July 3, 2020

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Police Blotter.

POLICE

Michael Joralemon, 43, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 26 with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. 

Courtney Murray, 22, of Slingerlands, was charged June 26 in Saratoga Springs with felony grand larceny, felony identity theft, and the misdemeanors: criminal impersonation, and unlawful possession personal ID.

Zyaire Nays, 29, of Ballston Spa, was charged June 26 in Saratoga Springs with criminal mischief, and act in manner injure child. 

Matthew Moran, 25, was charged June 27 with misdemeanor DWI and failure to obey a traffic device.

Jonah Stallard, 27, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 27 with assault in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

David Lewis, 57, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 27 with misdemeanor DWI, criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, harassment, and three driving violations, after being involved in a personal injury accident.

Diane Foglietta, 61, of Schuylerville, was charged June 28 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a speeding violation.

Nathan Surprenant, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 23 with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Andrea Smith, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 24 with petit larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property. Both charges are misdemeanors. 

Craig Bassett, 44, of Ballston Spa, was charged June 26 in Saratoga Springs with possession of a controlled substance in a non-original container. 

Brian Raymond, 50, Chad Lang, 46, John Lavada, 30, Jason Rector, 39, Lorie Savage, 54 – all of Saratoga Springs, were each cited June 24 with one count trespass on Woodlawn Avenue. 

Dennis Lascault, 28 and Dylan Barber, 27 – both of Saratoga Springs were each cited June 27 with trespass. 

Daniel Flores, 24, of Glens Falls, was charged June 28 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, refusal to take a breath test, and two driving violations. 

Janice DeMaria

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Janice DeMaria, 78, passed away Monday, June 29, 2020. Memorial donations may be made to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. Services were private. When the Covid-19 pandemic is behind us, all family and friends will be invited to a celebration of Janice’s life. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.

Amelia Theresa Dejnozka

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Amelia Theresa Dejnozka, 91, passed away June 25, 2020. She was born in Schenectady on August 18, 1928. Memorial donations in Amelia’s name to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Hospital. Services took place on July 1 at Burke Funeral Home, followed by burial at Maplewood Cemetery. Visit burkefuneralhome.com.

Remigia A. Foy

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Remigia A. Foy, 91 passed away June 30, 2020. Calling hours: Monday July 6, 2020, 2-6 p.m. at Burke Funeral Home. Following required health protocols- maximum attendance of 30 people in the facility at a time.  Masks/face coverings must be worn. Services and burial will be private. Visit burkefuneralhome.com.