MOREAU — Saratoga Biochar Solutions has accused the Moreau town supervisor and town board of “underhanded and potentially illegal actions” after Moreau officials held a closed-door meeting regarding a possible construction moratorium at the Moreau Industrial Park, where Biochar is attempting to build a facility. 

In a statement, Biochar said the meeting was “in likely violation of New York state open meeting law.” As of January 31, the Town of Moreau’s website had not posted any record of the January 19 meeting taking place. A request for comment from the Moreau town supervisor’s office was not returned.

Raymond Apy, founder and CEO of Northeastern Biochar Solutions, the parent company of Saratoga Biochar, said he hasn’t heard from any Moreau officials since his company released a statement criticizing them on January 24. “I would not accuse them of malicious activity,” Apy said. Rather, Apy said he was disappointed that “they’re not holding true to their campaign promise of transparency.”

Gina LeClair, a former member of the Moreau Town Board from 2008 to 2020, said that closed-door meetings are common but “not something that’s lightly done.” 

“They’re legal meetings,” LeClair said. “The town board meets every two weeks. If something comes up that they need the advice of their attorney, they can, at any point that’s convenient for them and the attorney, get together.” LeClair said that attorneys present during the meetings would “immediately speak up” if a specific discussion was not allowed in private.

Biochar has been attempting to build a fertilizer plant at the Moreau Industrial Park for the past two years. Possible construction of the facility has led to opposition from local politicians, as well as the formation of anti-Biochar groups such as “Not Moreau,” which was co-founded by LeClair and currently has 1,700 followers on Facebook.

LeClair said that opposition to a Biochar facility in Moreau is motivated by concerns with emissions, truck traffic, noise pollution, odor, and a potential decline in property values. “Twenty jobs at a sewage sludge handling plant is not significant enough to put all of this down on all of these communities,” LeClair said. “There’s really not much in there that’s good for the residents of Moreau.” 

In contrast to local opposition, Apy said his interactions with New York State officials have been “very collaborative.” Biochar recently received its Notice of Completed Application from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). NYSDEC is expected to make a final decision on solid waste management and air emissions permits for Biochar at some point this year.

“We’re a small startup company. We’ve been accused of being some big, giant corporate greedy pig,” Apy said. “We care about environmental sustainability. That’s our entire company ethos.”

Apy said he remains optimistic about not just building a plant in Moreau, but also expanding his company to Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, and even Australia. “It would be unfortunate for New York not to gain the recognition of a groundbreaking facility like this coming online before some other state or even another country,” Apy said. 

NYSDEC will hold both virtual and in-person public hearings about Biochar in South Glens Falls on February 7 and 8. Anti-Biochar activists are planning their own meetings on February 6 that will teach attendees “how to make an impactful statement or letter to convince [NYSDEC] to not issue permits to Saratoga Biochar,” according to an event flier.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Adelphi Hotel in downtown Saratoga Springs hosted actor Chevy Chase last weekend. Chase and his wife Jayni celebrated their daughter Caley’s birthday at the hotel. Chase called the experience a “wonderful weekend in Saratoga Springs” in an Instagram post.  

Chase is currently filming the holiday movie “The Christmas Letter” in various locations across upstate and central New York. The film will see him reunite with “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” co-stars Randy Quaid and Brian Doyle-Murray.

MALTA — Wellspring, the domestic violence and sexual assault services resource for Saratoga County, added three new members to its Board of Directors last week: Matthew Coldrick, Jeana Labas, and Nicholas DeCelle.

Coldrick was born in the UK and moved to Saratoga County in 2005. He currently works for Novo Nordisk. He previously served on Round Lake’s planning board and is currently the Village’s Deputy Mayor. Prior to joining the board, he was involved with the Men with Wellspring program and volunteered for many Wellspring initiatives.

Labas was born and raised in Saratoga Springs. She currently works for Kodiak Construction as an office manager and client selection representative. “I have a strong desire to get more involved in the community and supporting Wellspring in addressing workforce development is the perfect fit,” Labas said in a statement.

DeCelle is a Saratoga County native and resides in the Town of Stillwater. A licensed funeral director, he manages William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home in Saratoga Springs. He serves on the Dake Foundation board and is a Leadership Saratoga graduate. DeCelle also worked at the Saratoga Springs YMCA and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center.

According to its website, Wellspring’s mission is to “support survivors and engage our community to end relationship and sexual abuse.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Downtown hotels The Adelphi and Saratoga Arms are both offering locals rates during the winter months.

From January 1 through May 5, the Saratoga Arms Hotel is offering 40% off its signature rates for those who live within 50 miles of Saratoga Springs.

During January, February, and March, the Adelphi is offering 10% off for guests who live within a 50-mile radius of the hotel. The locals rate applies to bookings Sunday through Thursday, as well as select weekends.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York unveiled its Dr. J. Peter McPartlon Wishing Space in downtown Saratoga Springs last Sunday. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured remarks from Mayor John Safford, State Senator James Tedisco, and Star Wars droid R2-D2.

Jamie Hathaway, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Northeast New York, showed off some of the facility’s features, including an “immersive” 180-degree movie theater that screens short animated films explaining the Make-A-Wish process to children. The lobby featured large stuffed animals, Legos, and a Pac-Man arcade game. All of these elements are designed to “remind children and to tell children that they have agency over something in their lives,” Hathaway said. “When you have a critical illness, sometimes you feel that it’s only happening to you. You feel very alone in the process, and so what Make-A-Wish does and what this space does is they create community around families in crisis.”

The facility is named in honor of Dr. J. Peter McPartlon, who passed away in 2020. Members of his family said in a statement that they were “honored to be part of this incredible project that embodies the spirit of our father. He believed in the power of wishes to bring joy and healing to children and families in crisis. This Wishing Space is a tribute to his memory and a celebration of the hope that Make-A-Wish instills in the hearts of wish kids and their families.”

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor John Safford said that Saratoga Springs “is thrilled to have this in our city, and we look forward to all the wonderful things this organization is going to continue to do for our region.” 

When asked for comment, R2-D2 beeped and whirled its head.

The Dr. J. Peter McPartlon Wishing Space is now open to the public at 92 Congress Street, next to Fat Paulie’s Delicatessen. For more information, visit www.wish.org/neny.

LAKE PLACID — Last week, The Phinney Design Group announced the opening of a new office in Lake Placid. In a statement, the company said it was “thrilled to bring our services closer to north country partners and customers.” The new location at 2413 Main Street will be open Thursdays through Saturdays, 9am to 4pm. 

“We are excited about the opportunities this expansion brings for both our team and our customers,” said Michael Phinney, Founding Principal at Phinney Design group, in a statement. “This new location will enable us to better serve our existing clients while also fostering new connections within the vibrant Lake Placid community. My family is six generations from the Lake Placid region and my father, a former bobsled racer. It feels like coming home in many ways.”

Phinney Design Group is an architecture, interior design, and green building consulting firm that focuses on sustainable and environmentally sensitive construction.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Casino Hotel is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. Upon opening on January 28, 2004, it became the first video gaming facility in New York. Since then, the facility has expanded to include table games, live entertainment, a steakhouse, and a 117-room hotel.

“We have been committed to providing exceptional entertainment experiences for our guests since we opened,” said Alex Tucker, Chief Operating Officer of Saratoga Casino Hotel, in a statement. “As we reflect on the past 20 years, I believe it’s this core mission that has made us successful. We are grateful to our guests, and we are proud to be one of many factors that make Saratoga Springs such a prosperous and thriving community,” said Tucker.

A study released by the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency said that the Saratoga Casino Hotel receives an average of 1.5 million visitors per year. The property hosts harness racing, concerts, and corporate events.

For more information on the 20-year anniversary celebrations, visit saratogacasino.com.