According to the US Census, Saratoga County’s population increased by 7.2 percent from 2010 to 2020. 

This rise in our county’s population continues a five-decade-long trend. During these fifty years, the county’s population has increased 53 percent. This compares favorably with surrounding counties, like Albany County which saw a 10 percent increase during this same time, or Rensselaer at six percent, or Schenectady at five percent.

When something increased 53 percent, it sounds like a lot. But over fifty years, it averages out to just about 1 percent growth per year. In raw numbers, the growth means about 1,600 more people a year are added to our population. 

During the last 10 years, the Towns of Ballston, Halfmoon, and Malta experienced the highest percentages of growth. In prior decades, it was Wilton, Milton, Moreau and Clifton Park that often led the way. In many respects, it is the Northway corridor where our growth has been concentrated because of the infrastructure — roads, water, and sewer — that is available in those areas.

In the City of Saratoga Springs, our population is now 28,586, up just a little more than 7 percent from ten years ago. The City added about 190 people per year during the last decade. This means we’ve experienced a .70 percent annual growth rate. 

We need this type of reasonable growth to continue if we want to sustain our economic success and quality of life. We also must simultaneously plan for our future growth. Our planning must include efforts to preserve our local farms, open spaces, and historical properties. We need to continue the many local and county efforts to integrate and expand our trail systems. We need more workforce housing so more people can live near where they work. We need expanded public transportation as well.

Our five decades of growth is no accident. But it is unique. Two-thirds of all counties in New York State saw a decrease in their population in the last ten years. We are fortunate to have tremendous amenities that make living here attractive. The list of these attractions includes but is NOT limited to: SPAC and our arts and cultural attractions; the Track, Casino, and Fasig Tipton; the Great Sacandaga, Saratoga Lake, the Hudson River, and our canal system; three beautiful state parks and the Saratoga National Historical Park; as well as an abundance of locally-owned small businesses in every City, Town and Village across the county. 

Our k-12 schools are among the top performing in the state. They are constantly innovating. In many cases, the people moving here went to school here themselves years before. As they start to have families, they come back knowing this is a great place to raise their children too. At the Chamber, we call these people “rebounders.” They come back with trailing spouses making them highly sought after by local employers growing their local operations.

The Chamber is working to grow our population because we need more people to fill the local jobs we now have. Our Healthy Saratoga campaign is part of our talent recruitment effort. More so now than perhaps ever before, we expect people will want to live in healthy communities going forward. The work of our Veterans Business Council helps to promote Saratoga County as a great place for Veterans and their families to live and work. Our work to promote Saratoga County as a great place to visit has also helped us convince people to live here. 

Thinking of the success and growth we’ve seen in the last fifty years, I am reminded of the quote often used in the investment community. “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.” We cannot be complacent. Where we can do better, we should. That’s what those leaders before us did over the last fifty years. Let’s make them proud by continuing this tradition for the next fifty years.

Dental care is one of the most difficult aspects of being on Medicare. Original Medicare does not cover dental services and most supplemental plans do not either. In fact, two-thirds of all people on Medicare do not have dental coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In terms of cost, Medicare recipients who used dental services spent $874 on average in 2018, and one-fifth spent more than $1,000, according to the foundation.

Figures like these can be enough to frighten many people. However, with proper guidance seniors can limit their dental costs and obtain needed procedures at an affordable price. The good news is that most Medicare Advantage plans available in the Capital Region include some dental coverage. However, copays and coverage limitations vary widely from plan to plan. For example, one plan may cover only preventative cleanings and x-rays, while another is more comprehensive in providing coverage for crowns, bridges and dentures.

When comparing dental plans, the challenge is to find one that meets your needs and allows you to visit the dentist you wish to see. Some plans have provider networks in which dentists must be contracted and others offer reimbursement programs where you can see any dentist you wish. In these arrangements, you pay the dentist upfront and the plan reimburses you for your costs, up to a maximum amount. Reimbursement plans offer more flexibility than a traditional provider network and are especially helpful if your dentist is reluctant to accept certain insurances.

Most Medicare beneficiaries will find that the key to obtaining dental services at an affordable price is being enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan that best suits their needs. Working with a knowledgeable health insurance broker to select a Medicare Advantage plan can help you receive dental services for a great value. To see if there is a plan that can help you get the dental care you need, please call Bruce or Logan at BlueChip in Saratoga at 518-584-8057 or visit our website at www.1bluechip.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tailgate and Party has had a successful summer at their new location on Phila Street. 

Tailgate and Party on 33 Phila Street, diagonal to Ben & Jerry’s is your go-to, one-stop-shop for all things celebration. The store has an assortment of merchandise that you might not find elsewhere, from track necessities to hostess gifts and milestone birthday supplies, including helium balloons. As the seasons change, owner Kirsten Lambert said some of the merchandise in the fall will transition to represent that, with more coolers, NFL gear, and tailgate-related items – true to the store’s name. However, a bestseller throughout the seasons has been their adult drinking games. Lambert said that customers who come into the store and see the display always have a story to tell or a memory to share. 

“It is a very happy store,” said Lambert. “Everyone is always laughing as they go through and look around at what we have.” 

{loadmoduleid 268}

Tailgate and Party fills a need for Saratoga, which Lambert realized when she had a hard time finding supplies for her mom’s 80th birthday. 

Lambert had always said she wanted to be three things in life – a hairdresser, a teacher (which she was for 25 years), and to work in a store. So, she opened Tailgate and Party, and found out that much like teaching, there is a planning aspect to owning a party store. 

This summer has been quite successful since the move from the corner of Henry and Caroline Street to Phila Street. Traffic is heavy in the morning, as customers wait for brunch downtown or the track to open. But as she has learned from other local Saratoga business owners, there is never a “method to the madness”. 

“When I was on Henry and Caroline Street during the pandemic, I got to meet and talk to the locals. I learned so much about Saratoga,” said Lambert. “It was great preparation going into this new location. We want to keep evolving, changing, and moving forward.” 

To view Tailgate and Party’s featured products, balloon inventory, and more, visit their website at www.tailgateandparty.com, or reach the store by phone at 518-886-9015. 

MANCHESTER, NH and SARTOGA SPRINGS — Forcivity has been named one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, breaking the top 400 on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row. 

This exciting news is announced in tandem with Forcivity unveiling a new logo and branding, capping off the merger with Jolt Consulting Group out of Saratoga Springs that was announced in March 2021.

Forcivity worked with Pennsylvania-based marketing agency Uncommon Marketing Works to put together the
new branding. 

“We knew we needed a new look to celebrate the joining of these two powerful companies with storied histories,” said Molly McGee, Director of Marketing for Forcivity. 

The new brand incorporated elements from each company’s original identities, but with a modern 2021 twist. 

“We are excited for the change not just because of the visual aspects, but because of what the new brand represents for our future,” said Steve Baines, Forcivity President and Chief Growth Officer. “We have been able to deliver so much more for our customers and employees since merging, and this evolution signifies our ongoing commitment to that. We’ve got a lot planned for our future growth and opportunity at our company.” 

SCOTIA — 1st National Bank of Scotia has announced the addition of William Faubion, Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, and Laura Siracuse, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer. As members of the Commercial Lending Team, they will play an inte-gral role in cultivating new business and serving the bank’s existing commercial customers. 

Faubion, formerly a Senior Lender at NBT Bank, brings 41 years of commercial lending, cash management, and wealth management experience to the bank. 

Siracuse has 29 years of banking experience and previously served as a Senior Relation-ship Manager at M&T Bank. She specializes in relationship management, commercial lending, fi-nancial management and staff development, and played an integral role during the pandemic help-ing businesses obtain financing through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Industry Disaster Loan.

CAPITAL REGION — On the heels of announcing its rebrand and the addition of four new affiliates, CanCode Communities has released its Fall 2021 course schedule for AlbanyCanCode and KingstonCanCode. Registration is now open for a mix of new, expanded, and popular courses designed to prepare individuals for technology careers while developing a tech talent pipeline to support businesses and fuel economic growth. 

Fall courses will be offered remotely in small classroom settings, with real-time instruction and hands-on learning. Classes will begin the week of Sept. 21, run for 12 weeks, and be conducted from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. 

The newest course in the CanCode Communities catalogue, Software Development Lifecycle, will provide an overview of the software development process and methodologies for managing ideation, planning, and execution of software development projects. The course will use the Scrum methodology for development, and students will also learn about other Agile methodologies as they iteratively develop their projects. It will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

A recently added course, Microsoft Azure & Cloud Computing, is being expanded to include additional instruction. Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service that enables complex computing, analytics, storage, and networking needs. This course will introduce students to the core concepts of cloud computing and the different services offered within Azure. It is being offered in partnership with SUNY Ulster and being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Front-End Web Development course, which teaches technical skills necessary for user interface (UI) development and wire framing, is an ideal starting point for individuals with basic computer skills that wish to take their first steps into the field of software development. It is being offered in partnership with Capital Region BOCES and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

And, classes will be offered in JavaScript Fundamentals, the dominant scripting tool for front-end web development. This course is intended for those who have taken Front-End Web Development in the past, or have experience in coding and wish to begin learning some of the most popular tools being used for web-based software. It is being offered in partnership with Capital Region BOCES and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

For more information and to register for Fall 2021 classes, visit www.albanycancode.org/for-students/courses/. Launched in 2016, CanCode Communities has produced more than 300 graduates that have secured tech jobs with leading employers – including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, New York State Office of Information Technology Services, MVP Healthcare, and Zones, among others – and seen average annual salary increases exceeding $18,000. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has named Meredith Borak as Associate Vice President for Quality and Performance Improvement. 

Borak comes to Saratoga Hospital from University of Chicago Medicine at Ingalls Memorial Hospital, where she was the Director of Clinical Excellence, responsible for risk management, quality and safety, regulatory compliance, and infection prevention. 

SEATTLE — Talking Rain Beverage Company, maker of Sparkling Ice® flavored sparkling water, has announced the winner of their second annual Cheers to Heroes contest celebrating everyday heroes from across the country. After receiving over 1,00 nominations from 905 cities across the U.S., the brand is honoring Michael Bayer from Ballston Lake as the official winner of this year’s Cheers to Heroes contest and $10,000 grand cash prize. 

In April 2021, Sparkling Ice teamed up with one of America’s favorite hometown heroes, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas to kick off this year’s campaign, where together, Gabby and the brand announced the campaign’s call-to-action for consumers to nominate a hero in their life. The nominations were narrowed down to three finalists including Michael Bayer from Ballston Lake, NY, Kay Menashe Ozone Park, NY, and Ryan Dwyer from Kenmore, WA. 

“I was humbled to have been nominated, honored to have been selected as a finalist, overwhelmed and grateful to those who voted for me,” said Bayer. “Winning this contest will enable me to participate in my youngest son’s promotion ceremony to Major in the US Army in January 2022 in Hawaii, and visit two of my grandchildren. I also plan to increase my involvement in National Cemetery services such as the Wreaths Across America Program. I hope my volunteer activities inspire others to open their eyes and hearts to volunteer opportunities and realize that in helping others, they will be fulfilled themselves.” 

“We are thrilled to honor Michael as this year’s contest winner for the extraordinary influence he’s had on the local Ballston Lake community,” said Chris Hall, CEO of Talking Rain. “As we continue to honor our everyday heroes, we’re excited to celebrate an individual like Michael who exemplifies what the Cheers to Heroes contest is all about – thanking and supporting local community heroes that continue to make a difference.” 

To celebrate all of the deserving nominees, Sparkling Ice has awarded Kay Menashe, the 1st place runner up with $7,500 and Ryan Dwyer, the 2nd place prize of $5,000. The brand has also extended a $500 3rd place cash prize to 300 nominees as a way to further celebrate and thank the heroes for their community service. 

For more information on Sparkling Ice and the Cheers to Heroes contest, please visit: www.sparklingicerewards.com/cheerstoheroes.

CHARLTON — David Wood owns one of the largest farms in Saratoga County, but estate tax increases are threatening the future of his farm.

Wood does not yet have a family member ready to inherit Eildon Tweed Farm. If a long-time employee, per se, were to take over his farm when he retires, federal tax policies do not include exclusions for anyone other than direct family members. Therefore, his successor could potentially have to sell the farm just to foot the federal tax bill. 

“It is quite an undertaking, but we are hoping to make provisions,” said Wood, about having a family member inherit the farm in the coming years. 

After 2025, the estate tax will increase to 40 percent for property valued above $6 million, which includes Eildon Tweed Farm. Additionally, President Biden is proposing to increase capital gains tax to 39.5 percent. Wood’s successor, if not a family member, would have to pay millions in taxes and the farm would not be able to make a profit. 

When Wood moved into the farmhouse in 1970, Eildon Tweed Farm was operating with 60 acres. In 2021, it now operates on 3,500 acres and is valued at $12 million.

“The farm has different types of assets,” said Wood. “Real estate, machinery, etc., add value, but they are not fluid and not spendable.” 

Undeveloped land in Saratoga County, such as the farmland at Eildon Tweed Farm, has been rapidly increasing in worth. Between offers from developers and high taxes, local farms are slowly disappearing. 

However, the New York Farm Bureau is working on behalf of farmers like Wood. See the following passage from the New York Farm Bureau 2018 Policy Book: “Estate taxes continue to be of concern to farmers as they impact their ability to pass the farm on to the next generation or to another farmer. Current laws need modification in order to assure the continuance of New York agriculture.”

SCHUYLERVILLE — Flatley Read, Inc. an environmental and community development services firm based in Schuylerville, NY has hired Colin McKnight as their Director of Community Development Programs. He started on Aug. 2, 2021. 

Mr. McKnight, formerly the Deputy Director of the New York State Rural Housing Coalition, will be working with small municipalities across New York State on issues such as affordable housing, historic preservation, and other challenges to thriving, vital neighborhoods.