SARATOGA SPRINGS — As the community faces the first phase of the regional re-opening, Cheveux Design Hair Salon in Saratoga is hoping to open within the next three weeks.

Hair stylists and barbershops in New York will be allowed to re-open during phase two of regional reopenings as announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo this past week. Although specific guidelines were not shared in regards to re-opening, Cheveux Design Hair Salon owner Kelly Slywka already implemented safety precautions and practices.

“The salon had already implemented what other salons are doing now. I told the staff to use minimal products so they could pick them up and clean off after every visit. We also no longer offer magazines, coffee or water,” Slywka said. “We already restricted access to the building before we closed down. You get a text to enter, or waved in if you’re older and your phone doesn’t do texts.”

Slywka continued to say she plans to open the exact same way she closed, with minimal contact and safety precautions in place. She has installed plexiglass walls between each station. 

The salon has been closed since late-March and Slywka has 95 appointments already lined up due to the closure. To help save time with appointments, Slywka has cut down on some of the salon’s services.

“It’s going to be about getting your cut and getting your color. It’s just about getting everyone in and getting everyone back on their book safely,” Slywka said. “My staff will only see one customer and clients cut down at least 30 minutes of an appointment if they don’t get a blow dry. Now they wont be in the salon for a longer period. Let’s just get everyone on the book and everyone caught up to where they need to be.”

Despite feeling ready to open, Slywka said hairdressers are feeling frustrated. Hair salons are mandated by the state and undergo a yearly test to ensure everything is in proper shape. 

“It’s a surprise visit that can possibly have hefty fines. Salons have already done cleaning and safety practices… these are all things that have always been this way,” Slywka said. 

Despite the frustration, Slywka said clients shouldn’t be afraid when they venture back out into the community. She said those with underlying conditions or autoimmune should stay safe for a while longer, but urges others to get back out in the community. 

“If you are a healthy person you have got to get out there. We are avoiding the inevitable, you can’t beat nature,” Slywka said. “The only person who can advocate for you is you.”

Saratoga Springs started phase one reopening this week, joining other regions as they reopen. Regions are expected to pause for two weeks before moving on to phase two reopening. Slywka said, “I’m excited and ready to go.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Wednesday’s dawn brought to Saratoga a morning unlike any of the 58 days that had come before it. 

After hitting on all of the region’s required benchmarks that both document the downward trajectory of infections past, and prepare for potential viral spikes of the future, Saratoga and the seven other counties that surround it were cleared by the state to begin phase 1 of re-opening the local economy on May 20. 

“I feel like we’ve been in a bubble,” said Emma Lance, poking her masked face through the door of the Saratoga Tea & Honey Shop on Broadway, where the day’s online orders and curbside pickups were being prepared.  “You can’t see my mouth behind this mask,” she added, “but I’m smiling.” 

Commercial photographer Tom Stock escaped his daily honey-do list posted inside his home by planting a metal folding chair in front of Uncommon Grounds coffee shop on Broadway, where he took in all the wonders the blue-sky Wednesday offered, while thinking about future reopening phases that will allow more shops to open and people to more readily mingle. 

Wednesday’s Phase One reopening allowed for the first wave of industries to re-start – construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, manufacturing and wholesale trade, among them. Retail is limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off.  For all businesses reopening, physical distancing measures, face covering protections and maximum indoor capacity adjustments must be implemented and maintained.

Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton, city police Chief Shane Crooks and Fire Department Chief Aaron Dyer – all members of Saratoga Springs’ COVID-19 Reopen Task Force – visited businesses door-to-door Wednesday morning, talking to store owners and employees, and handing out safety plans outlining how businesses’ workplaces can prevent the spread of COVID-19. New York State requires each re-opening business to develop a written safety plan. Businesses may develop their own safety plan or use a template provided by the state. (Details about obtaining those forms are below). 

An Executive Order signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo put New York State on PAUSE on March 22, setting social distancing measures in place, closing non-essential businesses, and limited public gatherings in an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19. 

Statewide to-date, just over 350,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus. Overall, more than 28,000 have died due to COVID-19 in New York, more than 92,000 in the U.S., and more than 325,000 across the globe, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. 

Current daily figures point to an average of just over 100 deaths per day in New York due to the virus, matching just about where those figures were on March 26. In April, the death tally spiked to greater than 700 per day for several days.   

“We’re basically back to where we started before this tragedy descended upon us,” Gov. Cuomo said, this week. 

“What will happen with reopening?” Cuomo remarked May 20, on the day the Capital Region reopened for phase one. “Whatever we make happen. There is no predestined course. What will happen is a consequence of our choices and a consequence of our actions,” he said. “If people are smart and responsible and if employers and employees are responsible, then you will see the infection rate stay low. If people get arrogant, if people get cocky, if people get casual or people become undisciplined – you will see that infection rate go up. It is that simple. It has always been about what we do.”   

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The governor also announced on Wednesday that religious gatherings of no more than 10 people will be allowed as long as statewide social distancing measures are enforced and participants wear masks. Earlier in the week, Cuomo announced racecourses – such as Saratoga Race Course and the Saratoga Casino’s harness track – may open June 1 without fans. NYRA subsequently announced the Belmont meet will get underway June 3 and will concludes July 12. The Saratoga meet is slated to open four days later.   

“Do your part: wear a mask. It is amazing how effective that mask actually is,” Cuomo said Wednesday, pointing to statistics that show frontline workers – downstate hospital employees, transit workers, NYPD and FDNY/EMT workers – each having lower infection rates than the general population. “How can they all have a lower infection rate? They’re wearing the mask,” Cuomo said. “The mask works. It’s in the data.”    

Meeting the metrics and maintaining control over the virus spread is key to remaining “open,” as well as in moving forward through the series of successive phases that will see the reopening of an ever-increasing number of additional businesses. That holds true for the entire “Capital Region” designation. The Capital Region sector is comprised of eight counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Warren, Washington. 

There are four reopening phases in all, and 14 days – or less, should metrics not increase, as deemed by regional leaders –  are in between the phases. Those phases and dates are:

Potentially June 3 or sooner – Phase Two: Professional Services (which includes hairdressers and salons), Retail, Administrative Support, Real Estate / Rental and Leasing.

Potentially June 17 or sooner – Phase Three: Restaurants / Food Services.

Potentially July 1 or sooner – Phase Four: Arts / Entertainment / Recreation, Education. 

For businesses: Business plans do not need to be submitted to a state or local agency for approval, but must be retained on the premises of the business and must be made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection. 

An entire range of resources for businesses and residents are available via the city’s website. For questions on the re-opening plan for NY State and how it affects Saratoga Springs, email eileen.finneran@saratoga-springs.org or aadyer@ssfdny.org, or call 518-587-3550, ext. 2627. If calling, leave your name, address and a call back number.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Dr. Mallory Otto has joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Geriatric Care. The practice takes a holistic, age-friendly approach to caring for older patients.

“The population of Saratoga County is aging, and our community’s healthcare needs are changing,” said Dr. Richard Falivena, vice president and chief medical and physician integration officer at Saratoga Hospital. “In response, we’re providing specialized, patient-centered care that can have a positive impact on quality of life.”

Recent reports indicate the percentage of residents age 65 and older in Saratoga County has increased by more than 50% over the past decade, from 26,055 in 2007 to 40,355 in 2017. As a result, seniors now make up 18% of the population, compared with 12% a decade ago.

“Our older patients deserve geriatricians like Dr. Otto, who has the skills, expertise and compassion to help patients manage multiple health conditions and navigate the challenges that often come with aging,” Falivena said. “She is a wonderful addition to our multidisciplinary team.”

Otto has nearly a decade of experience, most recently at University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, where she specialized in aging and geriatric medicine. She also served as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine, teaching courses in geriatric medicine, palliative care and rehabilitation medicine. 

A graduate of Cornell University, Otto earned her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College. After an internship and residency in internal medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, she completed fellowship training in geriatric medicine at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. She is board certified in internal medicine with subspecialty certification in geriatrics.

Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Geriatric Care is located at 119 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, in the Wesley Community.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — May is bike month and more bicycles are on the streets now than at any point in recent history.  The “stay at home order” and its associated challenges have many of us looking for healthy ways to move our bodies and relax our minds.  This is where bicycles come in… as transportation, recreation and relaxation.

Recently, Palette Cafe has started up a weekly “Bike Talk” on Friday evenings as a way to educate, inspire and engage the community in all things bicycle related.  Interested in finding out where to ride? Concerned about  how to stay safe on the roads?  How do I get my bike ready to ride?

Palette Cafe along with co-hosts Maddy Zanetti, cargo bike-riding mother & dog/“porch package” transporter, and Ian Klepetar, founding director of Bicycle Benefits, will be welcoming new guests each week to cover specific topics which are of great interest to the listener/viewer.

Viewers can send questions and comments in as part of the Facebook Live forum. On May 15, Karen Karabell, Cycling Savvy, will host from fear to freedom, how to stay safe out there. On May 22-Evan Pack will share quick fix-it tips from a professional mechanic.

The bike talk will occur every Friday at 6 p.m. until May 29. Check out their Facebook Page atfacebook.com/events/649023728991037  or the Palette Website: www.thepalettecafe.com/event/bike-talk/all/ for more information. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — May 2020 marks the 5th anniversary of Saratoga Tea & Honey Company opening its doors at 348 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. 

Since 2015, the tea bar and tasting room’s selection of fine loose leaf teas and raw honey have grown, ensuring something for everyone’s specific tastes. The business has also grown to now offer tea tasting classes, wedding and party favors, a wide selection of gift baskets, vintage and traditional teaware, and other items sure to interest any tea or honey lover. 

Company Owner, Hayley Stevens, remarked: “We are so grateful to have found a home in Saratoga Springs. This little city couldn’t be a better place for a small business to take a chance. These five years have rewarded us with wonderful relationships with our customers, local community organizations and other small businesses. We are thankful that in these uncertain times we are still able to serve our customers from a distance, but we look forward to the day when we can see all your smiles. We love and appreciate our communi-tea.” 

While Saratoga Tea & Honey Co. staff were hoping to offer an in-store celebration to ring in the 5th year of operation, they instead would like to thank customers and other small businesses tremendously for their continued support during the uncertainty of the past few months. 

Saratoga Tea & Honey Co. staff looks forward to the future of continuing to serve both locals and visitors alike, sharing their love of tea and honey, and building wonderful connections inside the store at 348 Broadway. In the meantime, they are offering curbside pickup for tea, honey, merchandise and teas to-go, and invite those interested in exploring the collection of offerings to visit their website and social media. For the month of May, they are offering specials on the Tea of the Month, Kukicha, a Japanese Green tea from Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Wellness Tea of the Month, Mother Earth, an herbal blend that supports fertility. 

SARATOGA SRPINGS — Fat Paulie’s Deli in Saratoga Springs opened when COVID-19 struck the community, but co-owners Jason Friedman and Jo-Anne Lant have embraced the restrictions with open arms. 

Friedman opened Fat Paulie’s in November 2019, as a tribute to the old school local delis he grew up with in the neighborhoods on Long Island. Everything the deli offers is made in-house, including deli salads, soups, sauces and now groceries. 

“It’s slightly difficult to grow the business now, with everything that’s going on, but overall things are great. We have a lot of regular customers and we have actually grown the business a little bit even during this crazy time,” Friedman said. 

The deli prides itself on locally sourced and grown products. In addition to everything made in-house, fresh bread is delivered from Anthony & Sons Italian Bakery. Lant teamed up with Friedman this past February, growing the business through her contacts and friends. 

“Through the connections we both know, I already feel that Paulie’s has fans. I feel we need to gain new fans and let them know we’re here and we’re open for them,” Lant said. 

Customers are currently not permitted inside the deli, but they are accepting online and phone orders as well as offering curbside pickup and free delivery.

“We have increased our delivery area so we are able to reach more people and we will deliver grocery items too. People can order sliced deli and sandwich meats with toilet paper or hand sanitizer. We do it all,” Freidman said. 

Jo-Anne added: “People like that we’re one stop shopping. We do no contact delivery, so people feel safer. Even the curbside pickup, people can pop their trunk and we will place the items in.”

Friedman noted that their business model was designed as a delivery and take-out place originally, making it a smoother transition to fit social restrictions. The shop is located at 92 Congress Street.

“It was an easier transition for us than it is for some of these sit down restaurants who had to completely change their business models. I know it was difficult for some of them to do it,” Friedman said. “But just try us out. We really focus on where we are sourcing our ingredients and sourcing all these ingredients the right way.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — TBT87, “the new virtual fitness studio that ALWAYS feels like home” launches on Monday, May 18. It is the collaboration between area fitness leader Mary Anne Fantauzzi and two of her longtime instructors Renee Hostetler and Sharyn Kalinkewicz. 

Fantauzzi’s Total Body Trifecta, Inc. studio taught its last live class in mid-March at its Ballston Spa satellite within My Gym Fitness Center. When the pandemic closed all gyms on Monday, March 16, she and the gym’s group fitness participants faced the uncertainty of when they’d be able to resume classes.

Hostetler, also known as Kindermusik’s Miss Renee, suggested Zoom fitness classes as a possible interim solution. One week later, the trio started teaching free classes via Zoom without pay.  Their original free class end date was April 15, then April 30 and finally May 15 as the number of participants grew from 8 to over 100.  Former members from as far away as Virginia and Florida returned as regulars. 

The virtual class vibe when Gallery View appeared was both joyful and grateful as loyal fitness friends were reunited on screen. “The beginning of each class feels like Norm entering Cheers and the end of class like ‘Goodnight, Jonboy” of the Waltons. It felt like home in more ways than one”, Fantauzzi commented.

And so, TBT87 was created, its name honoring the “fitness family feeling” of Total Body Trifecta’s location at 87 Church Street in Saratoga Springs. Because of the burden of tough economic times, Fantauzzi brought back the original class card price of ten classes for $40 with no expiration date.

Although virtual classes are no substitution for the feeling of live workouts inside the expansive My Gym studio, Fantauzzi and her collaborators believe TBT87’s virtual class schedule can co-exist once they return to the gym setting by offering options to those who prefer to workout at home, at the gym or a combination of both. 

For more information about TBT87 and other Total Body Trifecta, Inc. offerings, visit totalbodytrifecta.com or the Mare at Trifecta Facebook page.

ALBANY — The Times Union and partners are hosting a virtual job fair from May 11 to May 25. Through this site, you can have access to all of the vendors at a physical job fair, but on your own time and from the comfort of your home. Schedule interviews with several different companies via a video conference line. Post your resume directly to the companies that you have interest in, or give it to all of the companies that attend.

WATERVLIET — There are a number of resources available to veteran owned businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which still has over $100 billion available in funding. 

The local Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership’s Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) in Watervliet has staff and resources to help veteran business owners navigate the intricacies of qualifications and applications. 

The PPP has supported more than 1.66 million small businesses and protected over 30 million jobs for hard working Americans. With the additional funds appropriated by Congress, tens of millions of additional workers will benefit from this critical relief. 

 “We’re here to help small, veteran owned businesses and entrepreneurs every day, but when something like this pandemic happens, those businesses need our help more than ever,” said Amy Amoroso, Director VBOC Region II. “No one could have predicted that businesses would be impacted the way they’ve been, so we want to make sure we’re reaching out to everyone who may need our services. During the past 60 days, over 9,700 clients and stakeholders received counseling or participated in one of our 25 training events.” 

If small veteran owned businesses are looking for assistance with any EIDL or PPP applications, they are encouraged to reach out to Amy Amoroso at 518-326-5522 or aamoroso@arsenalpartnership.com. 

The Arsenal Partnership’s Veterans Business Outreach Center is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Associations’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD). The OVBD exists to help veterans become full partners in economic development through small business ownership. You can visit their website at www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ovbd. 

For more information on the VBOC program, visit www.vbocregion2.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The iconic Larry’s Barbershop has welcomed a new owner, Hayden Sias, who has plans to renovate the inside.

“The place is an icon. Larry’s Barbershop has been in town for 50 years…I learned from him. Basically I’m trying to bring in today’s look but still keep the old flair,” Sias said.

Despite having some big shoes to fill, Sias hasn’t been in the barbershop business for his whole life. He previously owned a trucking company and has a background as a professional musician. Both jobs called for a lot of travelling and he found himself growing tired from it. In response, he sold his company. Sias added his sister has been a hairdresser her whole life, and it inspired him.

“I love my job. I don’t think I really intended being a barber originally, it never really crossed my mind, but it feels amazing. This is an amazing opportunity,” Sias said. 

The historic barbershop is seeing a re-model as Sias hopes to completely redesign the look of the shop. However, he doesn’t want to lose the history of the place.

Sias added: “this is a center hub, it’s a piece of history. Where I am [Larry’s barbershop] this is an institution. This shop has been here for 50 years. I have been lucky to learn from Larry and then carry on some of the traditions of the art itself. I’m finally able to have an opportunity to grow the business myself. It’s a once in a lifetime scenario.”

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Sias is currently renovating the interior of the shop to grow the business. He aims to attract a younger audience in addition to the regulars who have been visiting the barbershop for years. He hopes that by adding some personal touches to the place will help bridge the gap between the two generations. 

“I took the interior and made it a combination of my personal tastes, some of the things that surround me,” Sias said. “But I didn’t want to lose the old school flair. It’s a combinations of the things that are going to make me happy and bring it into a modern world.”

Larry’s Barber Shop is located at 74 Washington St. in Saratoga. The classic old time barbershop has welcomed generation of barbers. Sias hopes to finish construction this week. 

Although renovations finish this week, Sias is keeping safety at the front of his mind for the new design. Even though it’s just a haircut for most people, Sias noticed that others enjoy that personal contact and he can really connect to customers. He knows the new normal will be different for a while, but Sias will ensure safety and understanding as soon as his doors open.

“I’m going to do everything I can do to keep the safety of the customer in mind. I want people to be comfortable in addition to knowing and understanding,” Sias said.