SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Bunker, an indoor golf simulator and bar/restaurant, has opened its doors at 307 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. The location includes 7 virtual golf simulators, golf lessons, 2 full bars, a food menu, and darts. Rates for the golf simulator bays start at $60 per hour. For more information, visit getinthebunker.golf.

SARATOGA SPRINGS/BALLSTON SPA — As plans for multiple cannabis dispensaries in Saratoga Springs continue to progress, the budding industry now has ambitions to expand into Ballston Spa. 

According to Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi, on March 15 the village received an application for a cannabis dispensary that would be located at 303 Milton Avenue. The site is currently the home of Russell’s Deli. The application was made by Sachmarie Crowley of Saratoga Springs for Island Vibes Cannabis Dispensary, LLC.   

At a March 20 Board of Education meeting, Rossi said that the village could’ve opted out of having dispensaries in 2021 but didn’t. “There’s nothing we can do per se to stop a cannabis [dispensary] from locating in the village, it’s just a question of now doing the right thing, giving it its full review, etc.” 

Rossi wrote on his Facebook page that comments about the planned dispensary could be emailed to him at mayor@villageofballstonspa.org with the subject line “Proposed Dispensary Comment.”

Saratoga Springs also has a new dispensary application to review. At a Planning Board meeting earlier this month, a special use permit was considered for a High Peaks Canna Inc. dispensary that would be located at 137 Maple Ave. The site is currently used as an office building for The Towne Law Firm. Roohan Realty has the property listed as pending sale. 

High Peaks manufactures its own line of cannabis products, which are sold at dispensaries throughout New York, including several in the Capital Region.

Recently, New York has faced a number of issues regarding cannabis sales, including lawsuits, increased competition from illegal operations, and complaints about the difficulties of opening  dispensaries. On March 18, Governor Kathy Hochul began an assessment of the Office of Cannabis Management. “Today, we take the first step in revamping New York’s legal cannabis industry to ensure its long-term success,” Hochul said in a statement.

In addition to the proposed High Peaks dispensary, Saratoga Springs also has plans to open cannabis shops at 75 Weibel Ave, 95 West Ave, and 1 Kaydeross Ave West.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Joinery, a community woodworking shop on Caroline Street, had its grand opening last weekend. Visitors toured the new facilities to explore membership options (rates start at $89 per month or $918 per year), get a glimpse of the machinery, and chat with employees. A small display area up front showed off an elegant chair and nightstand. A lumber room in the back was filled with birch, cherry, maple, poplar, walnut, and other woods available for purchase.

Joinery members are given access to the space, their own area for storage, class discounts, and opportunities to sell or showcase their creations. Non-members can also take woodworking classes. “A big part of our mission is to bring people in who otherwise would have no touchpoint for woodworking,” said Executive Director Tori Colarusso in a statement. “There is definitely a need in this region. We have a lot of people who are members who live in an apartment, but have no space to engage in woodworking, despite having an interest in it.” 

“The idea is to create a safe, welcoming place for people to learn and develop skills,” said Founder John Haller. “There is a barrier to getting into woodworking, whether it’s not having the space, tools, or ability. The Saratoga Joinery’s goal is to meet people where they are at, while building a community at the same time.” 

To learn more about Saratoga Joinery, stop by their location at 69 Caroline Street, or visit www.saratogajoinery.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital’s new dialysis unit has opened just in time for National Kidney Month. The unit was dedicated in February in honor of Dr. Rachid Daoui, a nephrologist whose journey to Saratoga began in Algeria.

“When I came to [the United States], I had very limited resources,” Dr. Daoui said. “I had to start all over. I was not sure if I would be able to be a doctor here.”

After emigrating, Dr. Daoui learned the English language, completed his residency in internal medicine at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, and then began specializing in kidney disease. He had a number of job offers, but was especially impressed with the people he met in Saratoga. “I felt that from day one, they were just like my family,” Dr. Daoui said.

Dr. Daoui began working at the Saratoga Hospital in 2003. By 2012, he had become chief of the hospital’s nephrology division. When Frank and Colleen Messa made a large contribution towards the construction of a new dialysis unit, they requested it be named in honor of Dr. Daoui.

The unit, which officially opened last month, allows two nurses to give five patients dialysis treatments. During the peak COVID years, nurses were working from 8 a.m. until past midnight, struggling to keep up with high demands and limited resources. But the Dr. Rachid Daoui Dialysis Unit has changed all that. Dr. Daoui said that patients and nurses “love” the new unit. “They say that it feels quite spacious and welcoming, and they feel that they’re getting treated with dignity and respect in their own private space.”

Of course, it’s best to avoid kidney disease in the first place. Dr. Daoui said some of the most effective ways to keep kidneys healthy include checking blood pressure, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, quitting smoking, drinking plenty of fluids, limiting alcohol intake, and medicating diabetes (if necessary). “The best practice is to have a healthy life,” Dr. Daoui said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Earlier this month, Canadian water management company Soleno announced it will build its first U.S. plant in Saratoga Springs. The $22 million facility is expected to create between 35 and 50 new jobs, the company said. Construction has already begun and should be completed later this year.

“It is with great pride that we announce the establishment of Soleno in the United States. Through this new expansion, thanks to our unique technology and the expertise of our team, we will be able to pursue our mission by offering the most ecological and sustainable solutions for water management,” said Alain Poirier, President of Soleno, in a statement. 

The plant will be built on a 22-acre site on Duplainville Road. It’ll cover more than 45,000 square feet, and an extra 25,000 square feet could be added later. 

Soleno manufactures and distributes a wide range of products for the collecting, conveying, treating, and storing of water for the infrastructure, residential, natural resources, and agricultural sectors. The company specializes in making recycled high-density polyethylene pipes. To learn more about Soleno, visit solenousa.com. 

Getting your estate plan in place is sometimes known innocuously as “doing estate planning” or more ominously as “getting your affairs in order”.  There are many reasons to do it. They range from the somewhat ordinary, like you are nervous about getting on an airplane to see a relative – to the more significant, like you are facing a serious illness and want to be prepared if things do not go well.

I recently faced this situation myself, because I had to go in for surgery to address an arterial blockage – which is unfortunately not uncommon for a man my age.  I had great faith in the skills of my surgeons.  The likelihood of a serious problem was slim, but the possibility of an adverse result was not nonexistent.  Thankfully, I received excellent care and had a successful outcome.  I offer the following six steps for getting your estate plan in place, after having just done so myself.

Step 1 – put together a list of assets

You should put together a list of all your assets.  It is important to note how all the assets are owned and what their values are.  I have written previously in these pages about the “three baskets” of assets.  The first basket is made up of those assets you own in your name only.  The second basket is comprised of assets you hold jointly with someone else.  The third basket is made up of assets that are payable to a named beneficiary.  It is important to note which basket each of your assets is in.

Step 2 – check your co-owners and beneficiaries

Basket two and three assets will go to the surviving joint owner or beneficiary, if you were to pass away.  It is important that you note who those people are, and you should ensure they are who you want them to be.  For example, you may have an IRA with a beneficiary designation that you meant to change, but you never got around to doing so.  Now is the time to get that done, so you ensure the asset goes to the beneficiary you want. 

Step 3 – make sure your Will or Trust is in place

As I have mentioned previously, you will likely have a Will and/or a Trust as your main estate planning document.  Depending on your circumstances, you may have both documents and may even have more than one Trust.  Regardless of your circumstances, you should ensure the appropriate Will and/or Trust documents are updated and in place.

Step 4 – make sure you have a Health Care Proxy and POA

A health care proxy designates an agent to make health care decisions for you, if you cannot make them for yourself.  If you go into a hospital for a procedure, as I did, the hospital will ask you if you have one.  If you do not, they will suggest you do one.  In conjunction with the health care proxy, you can do a living will, which describes your wishes regarding your medical care.  A power of attorney (POA) is a document which designates an agent or agents to handle your financial decision making.  A POA is extraordinarily important to have, in the event you are temporarily or permanently disabled.  

Step 5 – assemble a list of your passwords

It is the scourge of modern life that we have a plethora of passwords.  They are the gatekeepers to our finances, entertainment, and personal affairs on-line.  If you become disabled and want your power of attorney agent to handle your affairs, they may find it quite difficult if they do not have access to your passwords.  You can put them together on a physical list, which can be kept in a home safe.  Another option is to purchase an on-line password protector like Keeper or Dashlane.  Whichever method you use (potentially both), make sure to share the safe combination or master password with your trusted agent.

Step 6 – put everything together on a master list

Your master list will detail all the information from steps one through five above.  The master list should be kept in a secure place, like a home safe or safe deposit box.  Obviously, you need to share the access information to the safe or safe deposit box with your trusted agent.

Getting your estate plan in place is as simple as the six steps set forth above.  While the steps collectively may seem like a lot of work, you can easily get through them if you methodically take them one at a time.

In my twenty-seven years of law practice, I have encountered many instances where a proper estate plan was not in place and someone died or became disabled.  Depending on the circumstances, the results can range from troublesome to catastrophic.  The good news is that by simply working your way through the six steps above, you can avoid such negative outcomes and ensure your loved ones are taken care of and your wishes are carried out.

As I mentioned at the outset of this article, the inspiration for writing this column came from my own personal experience in going in for a recent surgery.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my medical providers, including my surgeons Dr. Paty and Dr. Jayakumar, my anesthesiologist Dr. Wurl, and the wonderful nurses at the Saratoga Hospital PACU – Susan, Judy, and Colleen.  They all worked together as a team and provided me with skilled and compassionate care.

Matthew J. Dorsey, Esq. is a Shareholder with O’Connell and Aronowitz, 1 Court Street, Saratoga Springs, NY. Over his twenty-seven years of practice, he has focused in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and estate administration. Mr. Dorsey can be reached at 518-584-5205, mdorsey@oalaw.com and www.oalaw.com.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a springtime Southern Saratoga County Business Showcase and Job Fair. This new event is scheduled for 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 at the Hilton Garden Inn at 30 Clifton Country Road in Clifton Park. The event is open to the public and advance registration is not required.

The showcase and job fair is designed for both the public and business professionals, providing a platform for networking, collaboration, and finding new career opportunities. Employers looking to fill roles are encouraged to participate.

Exhibit booth space is available starting at $200. The event is sponsored by Capital Bank and Saratoga National Bank. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Andrea Cole at acole@saratoga.org.   More information and online booth registration is available at www.saratoga.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Fred Astaire Dance Studios, a franchise with a location in Saratoga Springs, is expanding to the Washington D.C. area, and local studio owners Elizabeth and Sergiy “Grey” Masko will oversee the new openings. 

“We’re planning in the next decade to open about ten studios in that area,” said Elizabeth Masko in a statement. “We will be in charge of the studios, but we won’t be running the day-to-day operations. We will be training the owners and helping them to grow and expand their business.”

It was after experiencing significant growth at their Saratoga location that the couple made the decision to purchase additional franchising rights. “We’ve been growing every year, and we decided to expand because it was the next logical step for us,” Elizabeth said.

In 2017, the Maskos opened a Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Maple Avenue in Saratoga. In 2020, they relocated to a larger space at 3257 Route 9. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Roohan Realty announced last week that Kelly Waechter has joined the team as a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson.

Waechter has been an active real estate agent for more than eight years, and has represented clients throughout the Greater Capital Region. She has experience in residential resale, new construction, and rentals. She was born and raised in Saratoga Springs.

Kelly can be reached at 518.210.5632 or kelly@roohanrealty.com.