SARATOGA SPRINGS — Dr. Lindsay Ferraro has joined the neurology team at Saratoga Hospital.

 As a physician with Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Neurology, Ferraro provides outpatient care and is available for inpatient consultations. She also works closely with the hospital’s emergency medicine team, 24/7 teleneurology service providers, and stroke care partners at Saratoga Hospital’s affiliate Albany Med.

 Ferraro was raised in Clifton Park. She comes to Saratoga Hospital from the Neuroscience Center at Ellis Medicine in Schenectady. After earning a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, Ferraro completed a neurology residency and epilepsy fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the flagship hospital of Penn Medicine. She is board certified in neurology with subspecialty certification in epilepsy.

Ferraro serves on the professional advisory board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York.

 SARATOGA SPRINGS — Roohan Realty has announced that Anny O’Neill has joined the team as a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker.

O’Neill has been listing and selling real estate in Saratoga County and surrounding areas since 2001. She has also been a member of the Church of St. Peter’s since 1986 and is a past member of the Parish Council, as well as a supporter of the Saratoga WarHorse Foundation, Mary’s Haven, the Franklin Community Center, Community Hospice and the American Cancer Society. 

O’Neill and her husband Vince have been residents of Saratoga Springs since 1986. They have been married for over 35 years with three adult children who were born and raised in Saratoga Springs and now live in the area.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Casino Hotel has kicked off their “30 Days of Giving” campaign, committing to donate a total of $100,000 to 38 local and regional non-profit organizations. 

Each day through Dec. 22, team members from Saratoga Casino Hotel will help to fill local food pantries, purchase essentials for families in need, and deliver checks to provide funding for non-profit programs and initiatives.

Each organization will be featured on Saratoga Casino Hotel’s social media pages highlighting their cause and promoting local support and assistance. Throughout the 30 days the casino will also feature four Player Choice contests on their Facebook page where fans can vote for particular organizations to receive a $1,000 donation. All organizations selected for the Player Choice contests will receive at a minimum $500.

In addition, Saratoga Casino Hotel is purchasing many of the non-monetary gifts for their program from small local establishments such as G. Willikers, Putnam Market, The Bread Basket Bakery, and D’Andrea’s Pizza. 

The following organizations will receive a donation ranging from $500-$10,000 during the “30 Days of Giving” campaign: After the Fire: AIM Services Inc.: Ballston Area Community Center; Ben Osborne Memorial Fund: CAPTAIN Community Human Services: Catie Hoch Foundation; Donna Crandall Foundation – Cystic Fibrosis; Franklin Community Center; Friends of Saratoga County Animal Shelter; Gateway House of Peace; Give a Child Christmas; Habitat for Humanity; Jake’s Help from Heaven; Mechanicville Area Community Services; Moreau Community Center; Nathan Littauer Foundation;         Nipper Knolls Equine Center; Operation Adopt a Soldier; Rebuilding Together Saratoga County; Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region; Saratoga Center for the Family; Saratoga County Foundation-Save our Locals; Saratoga EOC; Saratoga Hospital Community Health Center; Saratoga Senior Center; Saratoga County Children’s Committee Empty Stocking Project; Schuylerville Area Food Pantry; Shelters of Saratoga; Queensbury School District Snack Pack Program; Saratoga Springs School District SNACPack Program; Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar; Stillwater Food Pantry; Town of Malta Emergency Food Pantry; Wait House – Warren Washington County Homeless Youth Coalition; Wellspring; The Wesley Community; Wilton Food Pantry; The Corporation at Yaddo.

ALBANY ­— Local government sales tax revenue declined by 5.2 percent in October compared to the same month last year, according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. 

October’s sales tax collections totaled $1.4 billion for counties and cities, or $74.4 million less than in October 2019.

The drop was less severe than previous declines since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, however. In the spring, collections fell by double-digits. Overall, local government collections in 2020, from January-October, are down nearly $1.6 billion, or 10.4 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

Locally, from January through October, sales tax collections were down 3.3% in Saratoga County and 19.5% in Saratoga Springs. 

“Statewide local sales tax collections have declined year-over-year for eight straight months,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Our local governments are on the forefront of the pandemic response and they need financial aid from the federal government to help them get through this crisis.”

According to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, demand for hotel rooms in Saratoga County is down 37.6% versus the same time in 2019 through the first ten months of 2020. As a result, Saratoga County’s 2020 revenue per available room is down 49.8% vs 2019. Demand for hotel rooms in Saratoga Springs is also down 41.2% and revenue per available room down 53.3% in the first ten months of 2020 versus the same time in 2019, according to the Chamber.

Starting in late-March as our economy was shut down, the Chamber has teamed up in an unprecedented fashion with Discover Saratoga, the Saratoga Springs DBA, the City Center, and the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership to do everything we could to help our local businesses to survive the COVID 19 pandemic.

We’ve helped hundreds maybe thousands of local businesses across Saratoga County. We’ve served members and non-members seeking to help everyone in this crisis. We’ve been relentless in our communications keeping people informed and answering their questions. No one’s done more promotion of local businesses than we have collectively. We’ve been advocates at the Federal, State, County and local levels. We’ve helped promote local efforts and programs designed to help local people from hospitality workers, to essential workers, to health care workers, and first responders.

Darryl Leggieri, Deann Devitt, Ryan McMahon, Shelby Schneider and I have dozens if not hundreds of thank you notes, emails and texts from those we’ve helped. I can’t speak for them but I know that I have worked harder in these last 8 months than I have in my entire 25-year career in chamber work. The work we’ve done, however, has been humbling in that those in need really needed our help. Their businesses and their way of life was at risk. The safety of their employees and their customers was at risk. With every call we took, you could hear the anxiety, the fear and the determination thankfully.

We’ve said throughout this process that we’re Stronger Together. Now that winter is here and COVID 19 is likely to be around for some time, this will be even more important going forward. We’re already seeing businesses close or announce plans to shut down for the winter. Those who remain in business are likely to still be restricted as to the number of customers they can serve at any one time whether they are barber shops and salons, yoga or fitness studios, museums or restaurants, clothing stores or flower shops. These restrictions to keep people safe are limiting the ability for local businesses, in particular, to make money and to sustain their operations.

So our five organizations have now formally launched our SAVE OUR LOCALS campaign. This campaign is an invitation to everyone in our communities locally to help. Shop local. Dine out or do take out local and remember to tip big. Hire local contractors. Purchase every product or service you need at home or at your place of business locally. If you must shop online, try to do so locally too. Our local businesses are counting on you and me to spend whatever discretionary monies we have at local businesses. Help the local businesses you love before they are gone forever.

The importance and value of the SAVE OUR LOCALS campaign was made clear to me because of a call from Anita Daly, the Chair of the Saratoga County Capital Resources Corporation (CRC). The CRC wanted to support this campaign. She asked for details on what we would be doing and how they might help. I told her that we hoped to raise $10,000 to support this campaign. A few days later, she called to tell me that the Saratoga County Capital Resources Corporation voted to donate $10,000. They wanted us to be able to do everything we planned. They wanted to go big in the effort to support local independent businesses across Saratoga County. Besides this donation, the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association and the Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce also signed up to partner with our five organizations. 

You can see how these funds are being used by going to www.saratoga.org and clicking the SAVE OUR LOCALS button. From this page, you can get a list and links to local stores and businesses offering online gift cards. You can see an updated list of local restaurants doing take-out. We have a web page with links to local nonprofits who need our support as well. Visit us on social media to see the hundreds of posts we’re doing every week to promote local businesses, their hours of operation, their products, their specials and their Holiday gift ideas. We have SAVE OUR LOCALS posters too. We’re producing videos as well with tips and suggestions on how to SAVE OUR LOCALS. We’ve set up a help line for business owners to call to get answers or to get help. Our volunteer SCORE business advisors are ready to help business owners to adapt and to pivot their business plans, marketing, or operations to survive.

Like the Capital Resources Corporation, we’re going BIG to SAVE OUR LOCALS. We’re all wearing masks to keep each other safe and healthy. We all need to support local businesses as well to keep our local economy healthy too.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Seedlings Baby Food – the brainchild of Saratoga Hospital’s Chief of Newborn Medicine and Chair of Pediatrics, Dr. Jennifer Lefner, has come to life in the form of locally sourced, farm-fresh, responsibly grown and prepared baby food. 

In conjunction with 9 Miles East Farm, Seedlings endeavors to provide families with nutritious and delicious baby food. Dr. Lefner, double board certified pediatrician and neonatologist, launched the company with her husband, non-profit executive John Lefner. The family effort started in the Lefner’s kitchen when their two daughters, Sasha and Olivia, were infants. 

Seedlings is currently on sale at 9 Miles East Farm’s storefront at 64 Excelsior Ave. and available via Text-to-Order and Home Delivery Subscription Services.  To learn more about Seedlings, visit www.seedlingsbabyfood.com 

WILTON — Aldi, which counts 2,000 stores across 36 states, opens its newest store in Wilton this week. Located just off Lowe’s Drive, the grocer will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

Headquartered in Illinois, Aldi has more than 2,000 stores across 36 states, employs over 25,000 people and has grown steadily since opening its first US store in Iowa in 1976. The company says its national expansion is part of its plan to become the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022. 

“We are dedicated to providing the communities we serve the best groceries at the lowest-possible prices, and we look forward to introducing Saratoga Springs to their new neighborhood grocery store,” said Chris Daniels, South Windsor division vice president for ALDI, in a statement. 

Regionally, Aldi sites stores in Queensbury, Ballston Spa, Clifton Park and Glenville, according to the company’s store locator. The first store opened in 1961 in Germany. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ravenous, a locally owned, chef-run creperie on Phila Street will be closing its doors at month’s end. 

“The outpouring of wishes, pain and sadness has been overwhelming. Let’s go out with a bang!” Ravenous owner David Zuka said in a post on the company’s Facebook page. “Let’s celebrate the past 21 years and renewed beginnings.” 

The decision to close was a difficult one, Zuka added, and the outpouring of love he’s received since the announcement, “overwhelming.”   

Ravenous will continue to operate through November with varying times of operation. Hours of operation and reservation information may best be found on the Ravenous’ Facebook page, Zuka said.    

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital is among the nation’s first to earn a Clean Facility certificate, underscoring the healthcare organization’s commitment to hospital-grade cleaning and disinfection practices, including COVID-19-related protocols.

The certificate, from the Association for the Health Care Environment, attests that Saratoga Hospital has completed the Pathways to Clean program. Launched in response to the new coronavirus, the program includes education and training on infection prevention; cleaning, disinfection and sanitation; emerging pathogens; and preparedness for biological events.

“Our patients and staff deserve to know that we’re doing everything possible to keep their hospital hygienically clean and safe—and this certificate helps deliver that assurance,” said Jeffrey Casale, director of facilities operations at
Saratoga Hospital. 

 “We know a lot more about the new coronavirus than we did six months ago, but we still have much to learn,” he said. “Saratoga Hospital will continue to tap expert resources, stay on top of the latest information, and adopt best practices to protect patients, staff and our community.”

To date, individuals representing 11 organizations have completed the AHE Pathways to Clean certificate program. Saratoga Hospital is the first in New York state.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The area’s longest running farmers’ market, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association, will open their indoor winter market season on Saturday, November 7, continuing at the Wilton Mall. Markets will run each Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and will feature 50+ vendors selling a full range of locally produced items including fresh produce, ready-to-eat foods, and artisanal products. The market will be in the mall’s food court, accessible from the Bow Tie Cinemas mall entrance and from the mall interior.

The market’s summer season is currently running in the parking lot just outside of the food court. The mall location allows the markets to maintain COVID-19 social distancing and safety requirements. Association representatives and mall management staff are now focused on providing a similarly safe shopping experience indoors by taking measures such as spacing vendor stalls further apart, providing extra hand washing and sanitizing opportunities, and closely monitoring crowds.

Market manager Emily Meagher added: “We are working to continue the safe and pleasant shopping experience that we have established this summer, and are grateful to the Wilton Mall management for providing us with the additional space needed to accomplish this goal. Our vendors will continue to provide fresh and local food to help our community stay healthy throughout the winter.”

About the Saratoga Farmers’ Market:

Beginning in 1978 with a handful of vendors in a parking lot, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market
has grown to be one of the area’s largest markets. 

It is a year-round not for profit organization, which from November through April will host more than 50 vendors each Saturday, selling fresh and local produce, meats, eggs, dairy products, baked goods, jams, wine, spirits, coffee, soap, flowers, art, ready-to-eat foods, and more. The market provides customers with locally made products from five counties: Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Washington, and Warren. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is proud to be a predominantly agricultural market. More information is at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and on their Facebook and Instagram pages.