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Saratoga Hospital Plans New“ Center for Successful Aging” and Daycare Center

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.

Image from Saratoga Hospital’s July 16 City Council Meeting presentation shows an aerial view of the office building (highlighted blue), which is located across from the hospital’s main campus. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital wants to build a new “Center for Successful Aging” near its main campus that would function as a one-stop shop for local seniors. 

The hospital presented an application for a Planned Unit Development Amendment to the Saratoga Springs City Council on Tuesday evening that would allow them to demolish an existing 10,000-square-foot, one-story building on Myrtle Street across from the hospital’s main campus, and replace it with the new 60,000-square-foot, three-story office center.

“What I’m proposing this evening is more than an office building,” Saratoga Hospital CEO Jill VanKuren told the city council. “It’s a change in the way we do business.”

“Our community is aging. We have an influx of older people coming into Saratoga, coming into our community, and one of the things they’re looking for is fantastic healthcare,” VanKuren said. “The concept is bringing together the services that people would need to age in place under the same roof, close to the hospital, so that existing services…can be accessed more readily.”

The Center for Successful Aging would aim to address the needs of seniors with multiple medical conditions, geriatric syndromes, and social needs that are the results of aging. Seniors visiting the center would be able to have chronic and complex conditions cared for in one location. The building would include offices for primary care physicians, specialists, care coordinators, social workers, pharmacists, and dieticians.  

“The ideal vision is you would come in one day with your family member, spend a few hours with us, get your appointments done, and walk out with a plan of care,” VanKuren said. 

As part of its proposal before the city, the hospital is also hoping to open a daycare center for its staff members. Although there’s currently no concrete plan in place, the hospital has already had some preliminary conversations with potential partners such as the YMCA.  

Because hospital workers have long shifts, work at night, and sometimes work only three days per week, it’s difficult for them to find childcare services. Creating a daycare center inside the hospital would likely help with staff recruitment and retention.

“When we do exit interviews, when people leave us, that’s one of the answers that they give, that they weren’t able to find daycare after they’ve had their children,” VanKuren told Saratoga TODAY. “They try to come back to work after maternity leave and they have a lot of difficulty finding that infant care or finding affordable care for their toddlers and preschool-aged children.”

Both the proposed daycare center and the Center for Successful Aging are works in progress, and the hospital is actively seeking community feedback. 

“We really look forward to welcoming [the community] into this conversation and truly building something that meets the needs of our community now and into the future,” VanKuren said. 

Design Group Awarded for The Coat Room

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Photo of The Coat Room interior via the restaurant’s website.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Phinney Design Group received the Citation award from the American Institute of Architects of Eastern New York (AIAENY) for its work on The Coat Room, a speakeasy in downtown Saratoga Springs. 

The Citation Award recognizes projects that demonstrate exceptional design, sustainability, and social impact. Phinney Design Group was selected from a competitive field of nominees and judged by a panel of industry professionals from AIAENY. 

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented team, and it inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of architectural design and sustainability,” said Michael Phinney, Founding Principal at Phinney Design Group, in a statement. 

Roohan Realty Adds Real Estate Salesperson 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Photo of Peggy King provided by Roohan Realty.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Roohan Realty announced last week that Peggy King has joined the team as a licensed real estate salesperson. 

After a long career in the insurance industry, King is transitioning into the world of real estate. While spending 24 years working for State Farm, King garnered experience in customer relations, negotiation, and financial analysis. 

Since becoming a Saratoga County resident 28 years ago, she has become very active in the local theater community.  

Celeb Stops By Northshire Bookstore 

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.


Actress Amanda Seyfried poses with novelist Liz Moore at the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs. Photo via Seyfried’s Instagram account.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Amanda Seyfried, an actress best known for her roles in “Mean Girls,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Dear John,” stopped by the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs last week in support of novelist Liz Moore. Moore was in town promoting her latest book, “The God of the Woods.” 

Earlier this year, it was announced that Seyfried would star in a Peacock series based on “Long Bright River,” one of Moore’s novels. “Long Bright River” is a suspense thriller set in Philadelphia about a female police officer who patrols a neighborhood impacted by the opioid crisis. Moore’s latest book, “The God of the Woods,” is about a teenager who goes missing at an Adirondacks summer camp. 

Seyfried lives in the Catskills with her husband, actor Thomas Sadoski. 

Revamped Cardona’s Saratoga Market Reopens

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — After an extensive renovation project, the Italian food store and catering company Cardona’s Saratoga Market officially reopened earlier this week. The family-owned business has been serving the Capital Region since 1945. 

The renovation project included the addition of a 1,400 square-foot, full-service kitchen. As a result, the Saratoga market is now able to feature ready-to-serve hot food items such as penne alla vodka, tortellini alfredo, chicken marsala, chicken meatballs, arancini, stuffed shells, and more.

To commemorate its reopening, Cardona’s held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor John Safford and Saratoga Live TV personality Richard Migliore, who handed out samples of “The Mig,” a sandwich named after him. 

Salvation Army Welcomes New Leaders to Saratoga Springs

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Captains Aida and Oscar Rolon have been appointed to the Salvation Army Saratoga Springs office, it was announced last week. Lieutenants Cassidy and Michael Dow, who served in Saratoga for the past two years, have been reassigned to Oswego.

“It is an honor to continue our journey and mission of serving others in these new roles,” said Captain Aida Rolon in a statement. “As the cost of living continues to have a bigger and bigger impact on families and individuals in Saratoga Springs already struggling to put food on the table, and a roof over their heads, we are eager to build upon our predecessors’ work and want to provide a strong foundation for the future.”

The Rolons have been with The Salvation Army for 15 years. Before coming to New York, they were stationed at The Salvation Army Guayama Ray and Joan Kroc Center in Puerto Rico. They grew up in Loiza, Puerto Rico and have two young adult children together.

An Update on Short-Term Rental Regulations

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Short-term rental regulations in Saratoga Springs will likely entail significantly lower licensing fees than originally proposed, Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran said during a July 2 city council meeting.

Moran updated residents on future plans for short-term rentals after his initial proposal attracted controversy in February for, among other things, a $1,000 licensing fee.

The details of an updated proposal are still being ironed out, but Moran said that recent state regulations have impacted the city’s plans. Moran expects the state to have a software solution for its registration requirement, meaning that Saratoga Springs will have a licensing process rather than a local registry.

Because he’s confident that sales and bed taxes will be collected, Moran said that licensing fees could be as little as $50 for homeowners renting out their primary residence. Non-primary residences, however, may incur a steeper fee.

In an effort not to harm those whose income is dependent on short-term rentals, Moran said the city would allow homeowners to rent out their properties for 180 days, or half the year. According to the city’s zoning laws, residential areas are intended for primary residences. As a result, Moran said, those homes cannot be rented out for more than 180 days. 

The revised short-term rental regulations proposal will reflect “a lot of thought, a lot of input, and the best direction for our community,” Moran said. 

Once the revised proposal is unveiled, the city will hold a public hearing to discuss it.

Druthers Brewing Launches Beer in Support of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Druthers Brewing Company launched its latest special brew this week. HorsePlay, a blonde ale brewed with peach tea from The Whistling Kettle, was created in support of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. 

Each purchase of HorsePlay will directly contribute to funding the essential care and well-being of the horses involved in therapeutic programs. The can’s design was created by local artist Frankie Flores.

HorsePlay will be available at all five Druthers Brewing locations, at the Saratoga Race Course, and at a variety of local vendors including Price Choppers/Market 32s, Bevs Beverage Centers, and Eddy’s Beverage.

“We are deeply grateful for the support of Druthers Brewing Company and the launch of ‘HorsePlay’,” said Meg Koloskie, development manager at Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, in a statement. “This initiative not only raises vital funds for our organization but also raises awareness about the transformative power of equine therapy. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals in need.”

Saratoga Hospital Reportedly Planning Expansion

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital is planning to build a new medical office building near its primary location at 211 Church Street, according to a request made to the Saratoga Springs Planning Board earlier this week. 

The hospital reportedly wants to demolish an existing building to build a new 60,000-square-foot facility. 

Saratoga TODAY will have more on this developing story in next week’s issue.