SARATOGA SPRINGS — Julie & Co. Realty is pleased to welcome Kathie A. Spangler to our growing brokerage. 

A real estate professional since 2004, Kathie A. Spangler, Associate Real Estate Broker, is known for integrity, diplomacy, and professionalism in all her dealings. She has first and foremost strived to be someone in whom her clientele and colleagues can put their trust and faith. Every transaction, she believes, is always about her clients. “You are the driver, I am the passenger who’s there to guide, educate, and provide the best service possible.” 

It is the mission of Julie & Co. Realty, LLC to provide our clients with an exemplary experience, by the utmost attention to detail. Our agents will provide accurate, up-to-date market conditions, skilled analysis, and sound real estate advice. We will continue to provide our agents with innovative new ideas and tools that will benefit both the agent’s and client’s expectations. 

For more information, call 518-350-SOLD (7653), email info@juliecorealty.com or visit www.JulieCoRealty.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has once again been awarded Magnet recognition for nursing excellence—the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center, which administers the Magnet Recognition Program®, announced Saratoga Hospital’s redesignation last week. It marks the fourth time the hospital has attained Magnet status.

“The Magnet Recognition Program holds hospitals to the highest standards, and that makes a difference to everyone who turns to us for care,” said Mary Jo LaPosta, Ph.D., R.N., chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient care and organizational excellence at Saratoga Hospital.

She emphasized that, although it’s awarded by ANCC, “Magnet designation isn’t just for nurses. It acknowledges the culture of excellence that permeates the entire Saratoga Hospital organization.”

Because of the program’s emphasis on new knowledge and continuing education, Magnet hospitals tend to have a higher percentage of nurses with advanced degrees. That is true at Saratoga Hospital, where nurses are encouraged to continue their education beyond a bachelor’s degree and to pursue specialty certifications.

LaPosta gives much of the credit to the community and its support for Saratoga Hospital’s Nursing Scholarship Program. “Each year, community generosity helps us sustain a nursing workforce whose knowledge, skills and compassion have a direct, positive impact on patient care,” she said.

The gold standard for nursing excellence, Magnet recognition is considered when the public judges healthcare organizations. In fact, U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.  

Saratoga Hospital is a U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Hospital for 2020-2021, placing first in Northern New York, third in the Albany region and twenty-second in New York state. The hospital has been a Magnet facility since 2004, when it became the first in the Capital Region to attain this designation. Statewide, 30 hospitals have been awarded Magnet recognition. Two are in the Capital Region.

“To earn Magnet designation even once is a significant achievement,” LaPosta said. “To attain Magnet status four times sends a powerful message about the caliber of our nurses and our organizationwide commitment to the highest quality patient care.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Abigail and Keir Neighmond have joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Primary Care – Scotia Glenville. Each has nearly two decades of experience caring for patients of all ages.

The couple comes to Saratoga Hospital from Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri. The move is a homecoming of sorts for Keir Neighmond, who was raised in the Capital Region and has family here.

“Saratoga Hospital recognizes that primary care is of primary importance, so we constantly strive to increase access to these vital services,” said Dr. Richard Falivena, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital. 

“In Abigail and Keir Neighmond, our community gains two physicians who share Saratoga Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care–and who already have a strong connection to the region. They are a wonderful addition to our primary care team.”

Both Neighmonds earned their medical degrees from the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Abigail Neighmond completed an internship and residency at Des Peres Hospital, now St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital, in St. Louis. She is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians.

Keir Neighmond completed an internship and residency at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, now Mercy Hospital St. Louis. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Both physicians are accepting new patients. For an appointment, call 518-399-7723. To learn more, go to www.primarycarescotiaglenville.org.

CLIFTON PARK — Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. is proud to announce that Real Estate Salesperson, Merle O’Connor has joined our team.

O’Connor joined Miranda Real Estate with five-years of experience. Her core value system revolves around helping people, which is why real estate is the industry for her. 

For help buying or selling your next home, contact O’Connor direct at 518-893-0572 or merleoconnor24@gmail.com. Miranda Real Estate is located at 1482 U.S. 9 in Clifton Park and can be reached at 518-348-2060.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —
Dr. Robert Donnarumma has been named chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Saratoga Hospital, responsible for care at the hospital’s Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center and urgent care centers in Wilton and Queensbury.

He also will continue to serve as medical director of Saratoga Hospital’s COVID-19 testing tent, a responsibility he took on in March when the hospital launched its pandemic-related testing services.

“Donnarumma has demonstrated the skill, dedication and leadership to head one of our most critical and visible service lines,” said Richard Falivena, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital.

Donnarumma’s new responsibilities will also include serving as medical director of Saratoga Hospital’s stroke program. In addition, he will remain medical director of the hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program and Saratoga Hospital’s representative on the Regional Medical Advisory Committee.

A graduate of Cornell University, Donnarumma earned his medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla. He completed a residency in emergency medicine at the School of Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where his clinical rotations included a regional trauma center, a children’s hospital, community hospitals and an inner-city tertiary care center. He also has a Master of Public Health degree, with a specialization in health policy and management, from New York Medical College.Donnarumma is board certified in emergency medicine. He joined Saratoga Hospital in 2013.

Dr. Lorelei Bourla has joined Saratoga Hospital to lead the latest addition to its multidisciplinary medical group: Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The new practice provides care for patients of all ages who have asthma, allergies and other conditions caused by problems with the body’s immune system. These types of disorders are on the rise. Although most cannot be cured, treatments can help relieve and manage symptoms.

“These conditions can take a toll on individual and community health,” said Falivena. “Our new practice will increase access to care for these patients and help them improve and enjoy day-to-day life.” 

“Bourla is an excellent choice to launch this effort,” he added. “She has the clinical expertise and takes the time to get to know and understand the ‘whole patient,’ not just his or her condition.”

Bourla earned her medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. After an internship and residency at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, she completed a fellowship in adult allergy and clinical immunology at National Jewish Health in Denver. She is board certified in allergy and immunology and in internal medicine.

Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Allergy and Immunology is located at 3044 Rte. 50, Saratoga Springs. For an appointment call 518-886-5814. To learn more, go to www.saratogahospital.org.

ITHACA — Cornell University’s Milk Quality Improvement Program has awarded Stewart’s Dairy in Saratoga Springs top honors in New York state’s annual fluid milk competition, conducted on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

The Cornell program serves as the state’s official judging group. Stewart’s, which also won for best-tasting chocolate milk, topped a field of 21 dairies from across the state; results were announced Aug. 25.

“Congratulations to our dairy processors and our dairy farmers behind these fantastic products,” said Richard Ball, commissioner for the Department of Agriculture and Markets. “We know New York produces some of the best milk there is, and I am honored to join Cornell in sharing these stories of success with all New Yorkers.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the awards were presented online rather than on the traditional Dairy Day at the New York State Fair. 

“This annual milk competition is unique in that it considers the overall quality of fluid milk products throughout the entire time the product is on the market by assessing various characteristics, including – most importantly – milk flavor,” said Kathryn Boor, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Stewart’s won the competition five times previously, most recently in 2017, and has finished second twice. Garelick Farms of Rensselaer was the runner-up in the overall fluid milk category. The dairy won last year and in 2015.

Ithaca Milk of Interlaken won the top small-processor award for 2020; it won the same award in 2018.

Stoltzfus Family Dairy of Vernon Center won the flavored-milk category for its pasteurized, non-homogenized mocha and latte “cream line” milk.

Established in the early 1970s, Cornell’s Milk Quality Improvement Program (MQIP) is directed by Boor. It is funded by New York State dairy producers through the New York State Dairy Promotion Order Advisory Board, a group selected by the commissioner to promote New York milk and dairy product consumption.

In the last 12 months, the Voluntary Shelf-Life Program, part of the MQIP, received 362 pasteurized fluid-milk samples, performed more than 4,800 microbiological tests and 675 sensory evaluations on those samples, according to Nicole Martin, the MQIP’s associate director.

Samples are subjected to microbial analyses, freezing point tests, fat determination and sensory evaluation, according to Rob Ralyea, a senior extension associate in food science.

New York has nearly 4,000 dairy farms that produce nearly 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making it the nation’s fourth-largest dairy state, according to the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The dairy industry is the state’s largest agricultural sector, contributing nearly half of its total agricultural receipts.

New York is the only state to hold a regular milk-quality review for its dairy producers; it has done so since 1979.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Strike Zone bowling alley officially opened their doors this past week, placing precautions in place to bring safety and fun back to the community. 

Nick Stanislowsky, general manger at Strike Zone, said they are excited to be able to open their doors and ensures any guests will feel safe.

“When I heard the news [of reopening] I was ecstatic, it was like Christmas morning,” Stanislowsky said. 

He explained some safety and cleaning precautions the alley has put in place. Guests will notice some laminates on the floor that encourages people to keep their distance as soon as they enter the front door. 

“We are using every other lane so you won’t be right next to somebody, there will always be a lane in between,” Stanislowsky said. “Then after everybody is done using the lane we go through a clean off the bowling balls, including the holes, and disinfect the tables and keypads. Everything that gets touched will get disinfected.”

The alley is still welcoming larger size parties for events. Conveniently located just off Broadway, Strike Zone is the perfect entertainment fun spot for all kinds of indoor activities. Their bowling alley features 34 lanes, all with automatic bumpers if needed along with a state-of-the-art light and sound show. The alley also offers bowling leagues and tournaments for people who want to test their skills.

“We are just extremely excited to get back open and hopefully bring some fun and normalcy back,” Stanislowsky said.

The bowling alley is located on 32 Ballston Ave and can be reached at 518-584-6460.

By the time you read this, it is likely that the numbers will have changed. But it’s also very likely if the trends hold that these changes will be minimal.

You see the reality is that relatively speaking COVID-19 has spread and impacted people living in Saratoga County far less than many other places around the world, the US, New York State and the region as well.

We all mourn the 17 Saratoga County residents who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

We also understand that some of the 769 people who had COVID-19 and recovered may have to deal with lingering health issues for some time or maybe the rest of their lives.

This virus is dangerous. It is impacting local families and our neighbors. Thus, we need to continue to do everything we can to stop the spread for as long as it takes the medical community to develop a vaccine.

This starts with wearing a mask. It means avoiding large crowds and continuing to social distance from other people. It means following travel restrictions, washing our hands, etc.

As of today, Monday, August 17, 2020, we’ve had 828 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County. This means that just .0036 percent of the county’s 230,000 residents have tested positive. The 828 confirmed cases is just .014 percent of the 56,348 tests performed in Saratoga County.

The City of Saratoga Springs has had just 113 confirmed cases of COVID-19. That means just .004 percent of the City’s 28,000 residents has had the virus.

Best of all, 108 have already recovered and as of today there are just 4 active cases. 

Let’s remember that we’re in the third week of August now. Since early July, our hotels have seen an uptick in visitors, particularly during weekends. The Saratoga Race Course has been in operation for 24 days.

While we’ve seen a slight increase in positive tests, we have NOT seen a spike. The spread of this virus has been minimized by all of us doing our part and by local businesses reopening while putting the health of their employees and customers first. 

The minimal spread of this virus locally has also been managed thanks to the aggressive contact tracing performed from day one of the PAUSE by Saratoga County’s Health Department.

Just two of the Towns in Saratoga County have NOT had a single positive case – – Edinburg and Day. Several Villages have achieved zero cases as well, including: Galway, Victory and Stillwater.

But as we were advised recently in a Zoom session with Saratoga Hospital’s COVID-19 medical experts, we’re still practically looking to minimize the risk of spread versus eliminating the risk entirely.

We need to expect that there will be more positive cases. We will need to quarantine more people as more positive tests come up. We will need to continue to be diligent wearing masks and remaining socially distant.

We’re leading the way in Saratoga County as of today. 

As hard as this has been on our families and our economy, this is allowing us to reopen bowling alleys this week and fitness facilities next week. It’s positioning us to be able to safely reopen our schools next month. 

Hopefully soon if we can control the spread, we will also see our performing arts sector, the City Center, the Saratoga Casino, and local movie theaters reopen too.

Leading the way is not easy. It takes resolve. It takes focus.  It takes all of us doing our part. We’ve done that here in Saratoga County.

Let’s keep up the great work and continue to put health first so that we can recover sooner than most.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Julie & Co. Realty is proud to announce that Angela Dross and Erin Steinbach have joined their growing brokerage. 

Originally from the Potsdam, NY area, Angela Dross, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, grew up in a family business focused on real estate investing. In 2010, she developed her own marketing business based out of Saratoga Springs. Angela decided to merge her two passions to become a real estate agent, one that emphasizes strategic property marketing and expert guidance in the home buying process. Angela specializes in residential resales, new construction, investment properties, and agency for buyers and sellers. 

Erin Steinbach, Associate Real Estate Broker, hails from a long line of Realtors and has extensive experience both personally and professionally in the second home market and is eager to share the wealth of knowledge with her clients. In today’s complex real estate world, she realizes consistent communication and attention to detail can often be the key to a successful transaction. 

It is the mission of Julie & Co. Realty, LLC to provide our clients with an exemplary experience, by the utmost attention to detail. Our agents will provide accurate, up-to-date market conditions, skilled analysis, and sound real estate advice. We will continue to provide our agents with innovative new ideas and tools that will benefit both the agent’s and client’s expectations. 

For more information, call 518-350-SOLD (7653), email info@juliecorealty.com or visit www.JulieCoRealty.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce today launched a new charitable campaign designed to raise funds for Saratoga Springs-area non-profit organizations that have been impacted by the coronavirus global health pandemic.

Administered by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and held in partnership with the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund, NYRA Cares offers fans the opportunity to win a variety of Saratoga Race Course hospitality experiences, memorabilia and collectible items while supporting local non-profit organizations. All items have been donated by NYRA.

Fans can purchase entry tickets at NYRACares.org. Each ticket is $10 and provides one entry for the corresponding item. There is no limit on the number of tickets a fan can purchase per item. Tickets may be purchased until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, September 3. Winners of all items will be selected by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Sept. 4.

“Saratoga is a special place because of the connection between Saratoga Race Course, the downtown businesses and the community,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O’Rourke. “We thank our friends at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund for their partnership. We hope this campaign will generate much needed funds for local non-profits while offering racing fans the chance to win some terrific experiences, hospitality and merchandise.”

Featured items include one-of-a-kind experiences such as watching a live race call from the Saratoga announcer’s booth; passes to the historic Saratoga paddock; and a named race with the opportunity to watch from the winner’s circle and present the trophy to the winning connections.

A variety of hospitality options are also available for the 2021 Saratoga meet, including a table for four in the Turf Terrace and reserved picnic table for six on Travers Day; a table for four in the 1863 Club on Whitney Day; a Clubhouse box on Opening Day; four premium reserved seats in The Stretch on Opening Day; and a pair of grandstand reserved season tickets, among the many highlights.

Collectible items include an autographed Post Parade program book from jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. on July 23, 2020, when he notched five wins on the afternoon; as well as an autographed Post Parade from New York Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera on July 12, 2019, when he visited Saratoga Race Course one week prior to his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The selection also features collector’s images of some of the most well-known thoroughbreds to run at the Spa, including 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah; 2016 Travers winner Arrogate; and 2004 Travers winner Birdstone. Images are courtesy of official track photographer Coglianese Photography.

All proceeds benefit the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund, which will distribute grants from the funds that are generated to local non-profit organizations. Established in 2009, the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund serves as a source of philanthropic support for local charities.

“The Saratoga County Chamber is pleased to partner with NYRA and the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund to launch the NYRA Cares program,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “Local charitable organizations in the Saratoga area are seeing demand for their programs and services expand considerably as our unemployment rate has skyrocketed as a result of COVID-19. This program is yet another example of how NYRA collaborates with local organizations to make a positive difference for our local community and its residents.”

The 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will continue through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Racing at Saratoga is conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closing week will run Wednesday, September 2 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

Under New York state guidelines, Saratoga Race Course is currently operating without spectators in attendance.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit nyra.com/tv-schedule.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com.