24th annual Saratoga Chowderfest will take place Saturday, Feb. 11. Artwork provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 24th Annual Chowderfest, one of the area’s most highly anticipated events of the year, is set to take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 in downtown Saratoga Springs.
Attendees of the fun, family-friendly event will have the opportunity to enjoy 4 oz. samples of chowder for $2 at participating Saratoga County establishments and vote for their favorite. Chowderfest features more than 80 vendors.
“Chowderfest is back,” said Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri. Discover Saratoga is a coordinator of the event. “We’re excited to return to the original model, a one-day event, which has received very positive feedback from participating locations.”
This year’s event will feature live music at various locations, Dog Lover Rescue’s pet adoption across from the Saratoga City Center and free Death Wish Coffee samples on Caroline Street.
Kids’ activities include Balloon Gal Jenny and face painting by Miss Stacey’s Faces at the Saratoga City Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway will also be at the Saratoga Springs City Center running a model train and hosting a coloring contest for the kids to win free tickets on the train. Other kids’ activities scheduled are drop-in crafts at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, literacy-based programs at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, and Character Creations by Erin Joyce will be providing face painting at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Take a picture with Chester the Chowda-Bear at Saratoga Candy Company from 12 -2 p.m.
Avoid parking challenges and jump on the free shuttle running from the Saratoga Casino Hotel (Crescent Ave parking lot) to Congress Park. The 3 shuttles will run from 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Official Chowderfest Guides, which include a list of participating chowder vendors and activities, can be picked up at participating locations on the day of the event, including the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center and the Saratoga Springs City Center.
Voting will take place online at www.discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest/vote. Only one vote per device will be accepted and voting closes at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center at 6:30 p.m.
Stay warm during the event with an official Chowderfest beanie ($10) and long-sleeve shirt ($10 or $12 for XXL), which will be sold at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center and the Saratoga Springs City Center.
For more information, including a list of participating chowder vendors, visit discoversaratoga.org/chowderfest or call 518-584-1531.
Drug-related overdoses by year in Saratoga County, as reported via Saratoga County’s new Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard at: Savealifeto.day.
BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County officials unveiled a new “comprehensive, near real-time substance use surveillance dashboard,” on Feb. 7 that coordinates and reports on substance use related data within Saratoga County.
Believed to be the first of its kind in use in upstate N.Y., county officials are hopeful the data the tool provides will aid in opioid and substance abuse education, prevention, treatment and response efforts.
“Death from opioid poisoning is a national issue of historic proportion,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Kusnierz, during Tuesday’s press conference unveiling the dashboard. The gathering included Clifton Park Supervisor and Health & Human Services Chair Philip Barrett, County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, and county Health Commissioner Daniel Kuhles, among others.
“Nationally we see about 50,000 overdose deaths per year and three-quarters of those deaths involve the use of synthetic or man-made opioids, other than methadone,” said Kusnierz, adding that the county will be re-investing millions of dollars, including funds received via opioid settlements, to “mitigate the growing influence of drugs and addiction in our communities, through a variety of programs.”
With the Surveillance Dashboard, Saratoga County Department of Health epidemiologists leverage data from six primary sources that originate across multiple disciplines (law enforcement, health care, mental health, and public health) to provide a comprehensive picture of the burden of substance use in the county. The standardized approach allows for the timely identification of concerning patterns, such as a spike in a limited geographic area over a defined period of time.
Some data: Drug-Related Overdoses in Saratoga County, 2018-2023
• 2018: 449.
• 2019: 467.
• 2020: 487.
• 2021: 584
• 2022: 671.
• 2023: 46 YTD.
According to the data, 48 of the 671 overdoses in 2022 were fatal. In 2023, those statistics are 7 fatalities of 46 overdoses, year-to-date.
The top five primary drugs in 2022 overdoses (that is, the first drug identified in the report and not including polydrug use) in order were: heroin, followed by RX drugs, fentanyl, oxycodone, alcohol.
Substance Use: Top Number of Annual Narcotic Prescriptions by Provider Zip Code
• Saratoga Springs (12866): 120,418.
• Clifton Park (12065): 85,250.
• Amsterdam – incl. portion of Saratoga County (12010): 60,929.
• Ballston Spa (12020): 34,186.
• Gansevoort – incl. portion of Wilton (12831): 23,676.
This narcotic prescription data – depicting the most recent information available in 2021 – is reflective of the provider zip code, and not of the patient receiving the prescription. As such, the totals may include non-Saratoga County residents.
Multiple departments across the county will benefit from this data including Department of Health, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Sheriff’s Office. The data will help identify high burden areas and to track overdose ‘hot spots’ to quickly focus on peer outreach, naloxone placement/distribution, and trainings throughout the county. The data will also be used to monitor trends over time and evaluate the impact of prevention and treatment programs such as: Jail MAT Program, Second Chance Program, and Naloxone distribution and administration in the County.
Saratoga County is also providing this public dashboard to assist healthcare organizations, first responders, community organizations, municipalities, and schools in their education, prevention, treatment and response efforts. Further, the dashboard provides residents with resources for mental health and substance use prevention and treatment.
To view the Surveillance Use Dashboard go to Savealifeto.day.
Sketch of proposal for lower Union Avenue enhancements. A public meeting will be held Feb. 9.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Changes are coming to Union Avenue. A public meeting scheduled to take place Thursday, Feb. 9 may go a long way in determining the substance of those alterations along one of the Spa City’s most notable thoroughfares.
Already decided: the NYS Department of Transportation will soon begin making improvements – including markings for a bike path – between Henning Road (by Exit 14 of the Northway) and East Avenue (where Saratoga Race Course is located).
The city meanwhile is considering making improvements along the lower portion of Union Avenue that would connect the NYSDOT’s bike path to Circular Street – the location of Congress Park.
Additionally, the city is considering the possibility of reducing vehicle lane traffic along a portion of that lower segment, between Circular Street and Nelson Avenue, and create a protected bike lane that would make that path safer.
Petitions with opposing viewpoints, each garnering hundreds of signatures, have been posted on the website change.org.
“Pump The Brakes. Do Not Rush Changes to Union Avenue!”
One group, calling themselves the Historic Union Avenue Neighborhood Association is asking the city to “not rush a major decision affecting a vital gateway to our city,” and recommends a comprehensive plan be developed that allows “stakeholders” such as NYRA, the National Museum of Racing, the Saratoga Historic Preservation Foundation, Empire State College, the business community, and area residents, to weigh in.
“Lets’ Get Bike Lanes on Union Avenue!”
A pro-bike group meanwhile is urging the City Council to build the Union Avenue bike lanes and the entire connected bike lane network. “We already decided on the city’s 2016 Complete Streets plan. It’s time to stop planning and start implementing.” The group says doing so will allow better safety for bike-riders, reduce traffic and parking needs, increase economic activity, and historically restore a 19th century bike lane on Union Avenue.
Pro-bike advocates additionally point out that that the smattering of bike lanes that currently exist within the city don’t connect to one another, making them difficult to use. More connectivity would bring increased use on those paths, the group says.
“No decisions have been made – except one,” city Mayor Ron Kim said. “A (previous) City Council passed a Complete Streets plan to implement bike paths throughout the city. Also, when we took office (in January 2022) the Department of Transportation was well underway to designing a bike path from Exit 14 (of the Northway) to East Avenue. That construction is going to start this spring.”
The Complete Streets plan was adopted in 2013. Ken Gray, of the Complete Streets Advisory Board, said he would like to see Union Avenue restored to its original beauty. “We’re looking at the opportunity of transforming 78% of asphalt into 78% of green space and useable things like bike lanes.” Reducing the lower segment roadway from four lanes to three would also allow for the addition of trees.
Mike King is a recent transplant to Saratoga Springs. He holds an extensive background in city planning and is a member of Complete Streets. In January, King delivered a presentation to the city regarding proposed enhancements on lower Union Avenue. “The State is building a bike lane between East Avenue and Henning. So, the question is: What do you do between East and Circular?
“We could go out tomorrow and stripe a five-foot bike lane that goes from East, all the way to Circular. No one would be happy, but you could do that. There is enough room. But, we could also question whether we need four lanes of cars,” King said, adding that the average speed of vehicles in the 30 mph zone was recorded at 41 miles per hour.
Union Avenue currently has parking on both sides of the street with four driving lanes in between – two lanes going in each direction.
“You can’t really cross the street. It’s not very safe. According to statistics it’s three-and-a-half times more dangerous than similar type roads,” said King, discussing the prospect of going from four lanes to three. “Some people have said they can’t fathom it. The Traffic Analysis that was done during the track season says it is possible to have three lanes and the world would not end.”
The city will host a workshop and public gathering titled “Enhancing Union Avenue” regarding the proposed project at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Saratoga Springs City Center.
Kevin Zacharewicz, a member of the Saratoga Central Catholic School Safety Committee, speaks at a meeting at the Holiday Inn on Monday, Jan. 30. Photo by Dylan McGlynn.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A plan by Saratoga Springs city officials to establish a homeless shelter on Williams Street has been met with backlash from parents and community members at Saratoga Central Catholic School, who say the shelter could create safety concerns for the school’s students.
On Monday, Jan. 30, a large crowd attended a meeting held at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs to discuss the shelter. The homeless shelter would move into 5 Williams St., a building that is currently occupied by the Saratoga Senior Center. The building borders Saratoga Catholic’s athletic fields.
The Senior Center will be relocating to the Saratoga Regional YMCA at 290 West Ave.
Kevin Zacharewicz, a member of the Saratoga Central Catholic Security Committee and parent of an SCC student, said that community members are not against the existence of the homeless shelter itself, but specifically its location near the school.
“I don’t want anybody thinking that we’re against the shelter,” said Zacharewicz. “We’re religious people, we are for helping, we’re for charity. We’re against the location. I have to get that out there, I have to make that straight. We do not like the location; we do not want this on our back doorstep.”
Other parents said they would question re-enrolling their children in the school if the shelter goes into place. Jan VanDeCarr, who has a daughter at SCC, said, “It’s not a good recipe” for the shelter to be located near the school.
The current shelter is located on Adelphi Street, with the lease expiring on April 30. It is anticipated the shelter will move into the space on Williams Street in the spring. The Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously passed a resolution approving the new location of the shelter on Oct. 18.
In a statement released Monday evening, Albany Diocese Superintendent of Schools Giovanni Virgiglio said Diocese officials met last week with officials from Saratoga Catholic, Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim, and Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino.
“Mayor Kim assured our group that no plans have been finalized, agreed to meet with our school community to listen to concerns, and committed to an ongoing dialogue to ensure that any considerations would not compromise school safety,” Virgiglio said in the statement. “The safety and well-being of our students and SCC community guides our decision-making and that is clearly our intention with this situation. At the same time, we cannot forget that care for the most vulnerable among us is a cornerstone of what we believe and teach as a Church.”
Some community members raised concerns about the possibility of the shelter receiving a ‘low-barrier’ designation, which could mean it may not require background checks, drug screenings, or other verifications.
“Pedophiles can go into a low-barrier shelter. There’s no background checks,” said Zacharewicz at the meeting.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the Williams Street shelter will receive a ‘low-barrier’ designation.
“All we have to do is bring awareness to this, because any reasonable person is going to agree with us that this is a very poor placement for a homeless shelter,” said Sara Nucera, a member of the SCC security committee, at the meeting.
Several parents also said there has been a lack of transparency and communication from city officials, with many parents on Monday claiming they were unaware of the plans for the shelter until recently. VanDeCarr said he wished the city had hosted a public hearing to allow residents to discuss the shelter.
“At this stage, there really should be some effort in that regard,” said VanDeCarr, who noted he was unaware of the plans for the shelter until roughly a week ago. “This is an adult problem. It should not be made a problem for kids at the school. The adults have to get together and figure out a solution.”
Duane Vaughn, executive director of Shelters of Saratoga, delivered a presentation to the city council on Oct. 18 in regards to the shelter, and the council engaged in a discussion before voting unanimously to pass the resolution to approve the shelter’s location.
Vaughn said at the Oct. 18 meeting that moving the shelter to the Williams Street location would allow more space for beds, and allow for other organizations such as RISE and the Salvation Army to possibly utilize the space as well. He said the Adelphi Street location has 60 beds.
A petition on change.org urging for ‘Safety for SCC Students’ has received over 1,300 signatures as of noon on Wednesday. The group is organizing a ‘Solidarity Walk’ to be held every Friday at 2 p.m. at the school.
Parents and community members were also encouraged to attend the next Saratoga Springs City Council meeting on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
Amber Cook (left), Paige Cook (middle), and Rachel Wilbur (right) qualified for the 2023 National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska. Photos provided by Kim Wilbur.
BALLSTON SPA — Three local teens are heading west in June, competing at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Amber Cook, Paige Cook, and Rachel Wilbur, members of the 4-H Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, all qualified for the National Championships after competing at the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships. Amber Cook will compete on New York’s Shotgun team, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will each compete on New York’s Archery team.
Paige Cook said it is “overwhelming, but exciting,” to clinch a spot at nationals.
“Yeah, it’s definitely overwhelming. But we’re all definitely blessed to have this opportunity and be able to experience this,” Wilbur added. “Very excited. We’re all working pretty hard at everything.”
The girls are also the first group from Saratoga County to even compete at the state championships, much less advance to nationals. Wilbur and Amber Cook competed at the state level in 2019, and all three girls competed in 2021 before qualifying for nationals at the 2022 State Championships.
“(In) 2019, we were the first ones to go out to the state competition, and now we’re the first ones from Saratoga County to go out to nationals,” said Amber Cook.
Kim Wilbur, mother of Rachel, said she is “so proud” of the girls, a sentiment that was echoed by the Cook’s parents. Renee Janack, mother of Amber and Paige Cook, pointed out that the girls are competing in fields that have been traditionally male-dominated.
“Proud just keeps coming to my mind,” said Kim Wilbur. “It’s exciting to see what the future holds.”
“It seems like such a cliche, I just keep saying how proud we are,” said Janack. “Not only are they the first going from Saratoga County, they’re young women. … It’s very male-dominated, so it’s thrilling to watch them grow as a team.”
Wilbur and Paige Cook both qualified for nationals at the New York State Championships in September. However, neither were certain they would make the cut.
“I didn’t think I was going to make it,” said Paige Cook.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to make it either,” added Wilbur. “I really just went in there with an open mind, like, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’”
Of course, both qualified for nationals, with Wilbur finishing second and Cook third overall.
Amber Cook, however, initially qualified for nationals in May 2022, but didn’t discover this until after her teammates had clinched their spots.
“I didn’t find out until after they did, in September. I was very surprised,” said Amber Cook. “I really did not think I was going to qualify, so it was just very exciting and I’m very proud of myself for being able to.”
Amber Cook will be joined on New York’s Shotgun team by qualifiers from Dutchess and Chemung counties, while Paige Cook and Wilbur will compete alongside a qualifier from Wyoming County on the New York Archery team.
Competitors will be scored individually, with their scores added up to generate overall county and state scores.
“We all go out there and shoot individually,” said Wilbur. “So we’re scored individually, and then all together as a team at the end.”
The group is currently in the process of fundraising for the trip, with Wilbur saying it will cost about $3,000 per girl for the travel alone. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships will be held from June 25 to 30 in Grand Island, Nebraska.
“(We’ve been) getting together and just making sure everything is very precise, so we can go out to different stores and even just individual people and do group fundraising,” Wilbur said. “We’ve been in the process of that for a few months now. It is a lot of work to do fundraising, especially this big.”
“It’s a long process,” added Paige Cook. “We’re mostly preparing to start in the next couple weeks, because getting the names and the emails and all that has taken quite a long time.”
The girls’ parents are also chipping in any way they can. Jeff Breedon, father of Amber and Paige, is an instructor at Saratoga County 4-H along with Janack and Kim Wilbur.
“Every one of us brings a different strength to the team,” said Breedon. “That’s how we’ve succeeded, I think, so well. If something needs to happen, one of us knows how to do it.”
And the time spent in 4-H has also helped the trio become closer, which Janack emphasized as one of the strengths of the program.
“That’s the beauty of 4-H, it’s a county-wide thing,” Janack said. “You have youth coming from all over who would have never met each other, would never have known how awesome their friendships are going to be. This is truly going to be a lifelong friendship between these three.”
Wilbur agreed, saying that while the girls knew each other before joining 4-H, the club has “really sparked that friendship in all of us.”
“I don’t even consider them my teammates, they’re just my family now,” said Wilbur. “That’s what 4-H has brought to us. It’s definitely a blessing.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new market in downtown Saratoga Springs is preparing to open soon.
PDT Market is “six to eight weeks” away from opening its new location at 55 Railroad Place, said owner Adam Foti, who described PDT Market as a “specialty grocery store,” with many other offerings.
“There are seven aisles of a grocery store,” Foti said. “So as far as people being able to come in and grab things like eggs, butter, milk, flour, the sort of staple things, as well as specialty things, like brands and things you may not find at other places.”
PDT Market will feature deli, seafood, and produce areas, along with a grab-and-go station, charcuterie station, flowers, personal items, and more. The market will also have a full-service bar with beer and wine on tap.
Foti said the new location, “just seemed like the right kind of space and time for us as a brand.”
“When we saw that Price Chopper announced last year in February that they were leaving, we thought this was a great space for all the things we wanted to bring together in the manifestation of all the things that I am and we are as a brand,” said Foti. “All the food bits and pieces, but also a space where people can be immersed in our brand, and transported, hopefully, to some other place.”
Foti said the store has been designed to be “really aesthetically pleasing.”
“Our brand lives in this sort of French and Italian-inspired place, and specifically our ques that we take from a design and food perspective are more like Provencal and Tuscan,” said Foti. “What that means to us is upscale comfort food, in a way. It’s not fussy, but it’s food made really well from scratch ingredients with a limited amount of things in it.”
Foti said the grab-and-go section will offer prepared sandwiches, salads, protein bowls, and more. The deli area will sell sliced meats, paninis, and custom sandwiches, while a hot bar will also be available with items such as macaroni and cheese.
The meat and seafood area will feature “super fresh” seafood, said Foti.
“Out of the ocean and into the store in a day to two days max,” Foti said. “Other prepared foods there, by the pound, things that you would find at a normal deli area, like macaroni salad, potato salad, pre-made entree things that people can just go home and heat up.”
PDT’s full-service bar will offer beers on tap, craft cocktails, and wine. Foti said the bar has a limited menu, and said they will also sell their own private coffee blend, pastries, and baked goods. The bar area can also be rented out for private events.
The store will also feature a build-your-own charcuterie station, and offer cooking classes to the public. Foti named regions of Italy and France as possible themes for the classes, and said they typically run about 90 minutes. Classes through June are open for registration on www.pdtmarket.com.
“We do all the chopping and cutting. You come in and do the fun part, which is cook,” Foti said. “Then you can get drinks from the bar, hang out with friends, and have a good time. So it’s sort of our version of Paint and Sip, but you get to eat and sip.”
PDT began as a catering company, and Foti said they will continue to offer catering services. The company formerly had a physical location in Ballston Lake, where they offered what Foti described as “lifestyle products.”
Now, in Saratoga Springs, PDT will be able to offer much more.
“In this case, there’s so many different types of food experiences that you can have in this space,” said Foti. “Whether it’s truly need-based, where I just need to get eggs, milk, and bread or whatever. … There’s that piece, but there’s so many other components to it.”
PDT is currently in the process of hiring employees, Foti said. As the store gets closer to opening, he said it is “really exciting” to see his vision come to fruition.
“I’m a super passionate person about the things I do,” Foti said. “Nothing fulfills my soul more than to have people smile and laugh while they’re eating, and just enjoy themselves. … That’s what sort of drives me, and why we do what we do every day.”
Foti said he hopes PDT will be an inclusive space “where everyone can come and enjoy us in whatever way they want to.”
“We hope, and we know, that there’s a community here already that will like what we have to put out there,” said Foti. “We feel that this type of concept is missing right now in this market, so we feel like this could be a great space where people could come together.”
Saratoga County data published this month in the New York State Department of Health County Opioid Quarterly Report.
BALLSTON SPA — A Public Health Advisory was issued Jan. 20 by the Saratoga County Department of Health reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses – 10 in all including one fatality – during a 7-day period between Jan. 13-18. Six of the 10 cases involved males and the overall ages ranged from 17 to 41.
The local advisory coincides with the New York State Department of Health’s County Opioid Quarterly Report for January 2023 – released this week, noting a statewide 14% increase in 2021 overdose deaths involving opioids, compared to 2020. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported a 30% increase in overdose deaths nationally.
The state report, published quarterly, provides information about county-level health impacts related to heroin and opioid use and enables local communities to better respond to the opioid crisis.
Findings comparing state totals for 2021 to 2020 data:
-14% increase in overdose deaths involving opioids, with 4,766 deaths in 2021.
-12.6% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses, with 10,430 visits in 2021.
-30.2% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses other than heroin, including illicitly produced opioids such as fentanyl, with 5,137 visits in 2021.
-11.8% increase in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) naloxone administration encounters, with 19,139 in 2021.
Fentanyl is involved in the majority of overdose deaths in New York State and is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, according to the state DOH.
Saratoga County says it has targeted responding to the opioid epidemic a priority. The County previously announced it will utilize Opioid Settlement Funds to expand efforts to mitigate the growing influence of drugs and addiction in local communities, through a variety of programs and investments.
“The County has multiple efforts underway to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse, to provide preventative and treatment measures to residents, and to provide law enforcement the tools and resources needed to combat the growing influence of drugs and alcohol in Saratoga County,” according to a statement released Jan. 21.
Last Sunday, the county DOH partnered with the Clifton Park and Halfmoon Emergency Corps to distribute free Naloxone Overdose Rescue Kits and provide Naloxone training in Clifton Park. Approximately 105 two-pack kits were distributed during the event. More than three dozen more kits have been requested since the event via the county’s website, according to a county spokesperson.
Naloxone – which works on opioids such as heroin, prescription pain medications and fentanyl – is a safe medication that can save someone’s life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Anyone interested in obtaining a Narcan kit can fill out a request form at: saratogacountyny.gov/narcan/.
Saratoga County also notes the existence of New York State’s 911 “Good Samaritan Law,” which allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness someone overdosing.
Everyone — regardless of age — who seeks medical help for themselves or someone else during an overdose is protected by the 911 Good Samaritan Law. Specifically, that law protects: Possessing controlled substances up to and including A2 felony off¬enses (anything under 8 ounces); Possessing alcohol, where underage drinking is involved; Possessing marijuana (any quantity); Possessing drug paraphernalia; and Sharing drugs. The law does not protect: A1 felony possession of a controlled substance (8 ounces or more); Sale or intent to sell controlled substances; Open warrants for your arrest; and Violation of probation or parole.
The State also continues to advance 25 Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) with over 81 sites statewide. SEPs address the needs of New Yorkers who use drugs and lead in the distribution of naloxone to New Yorkers vulnerable to overdose. The State’s 14 Drug User Health Hubs have been built upon the foundations of the SEPs. These centers focus on reducing overdose by providing easy access to buprenorphine, building safety plans with people who have experienced a non-fatal overdose and equipping participants with naloxone.
SCDOH and Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have developed a Substance Use and Mental Health Resource Directory that individuals and families can use to find area recovery and support resources. The 35-page directory is available via the county website at: saratogacountyny.gov.
Local residents requesting more information or seeking answers to questions regarding help with opioids/substance abuse may send their inquiries to: opioids@saratogacountyny,gov.
The Saratoga Senior Center on Williams Street in Saratoga Springs, on Jan. 25, 2023. The site is proposed to house a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter, tentatively slated to open in the late spring. A meeting will take place Monday at Saratoga Central Catholic School. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Plans are underway to site a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter at the soon-to-be-vacated Senior Center on Williams Street.
City Mayor Ron Kim originally announced the comprehensive initiative to address the city’s homelessness last October, and the City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the project.
The location is the longtime home of the Saratoga Senior Center, a structure developed by the city on city-owned property in the 1970s. The timeline of the shelter’s opening is tentatively slated for late spring, and is dependent on the components of the existing Senior Center relocating to a new venue at the Saratoga Springs YMCA property at 290 West Ave.
The search for a permanent shelter site has been ongoing for nearly a decade. The Williams Street plan is something city officials and Saratoga County officials began discussing early in 2022. The current lease for the temporary Code Blue shelter on Adelphi Street runs through April 30 at a cost of $8,000 per month.
The city resolution approved in October calls for the development of “a state-mandated Code Blue Shelter, a navigation center, and a full-time low-threshold shelter on the property.”
The specific definition of a “low barrier shelter” and of a “navigation center” vary from state-to-state. Recent legislation in California details “navigation centers” as providing temporary room and board while case managers work to connect homeless individuals and families to income, public benefits, health services and permanent housing or other shelter.
Meanwhile, having a “low barrier” points to things such as eliminating curfews and not requiring background checks, sobriety or mandatory treatment.
It is not clear at this time whether any of these points would be put in effect in Saratoga Springs.
The Dilemma
Some members of the nearby Saratoga Central Catholic School have expressed concern regarding the siting of a “low barrier” shelter in close proximity to children. The topic “caused an uproar” when it came up for discussion during a general meeting last week staged by the Saratoga Central Catholic Security Committee.
“As a committee, we have been talking about the homeless shelter on-and-off for a little while,” said committee member Kevin Zacharewicz. “We’re religious people, we’re Catholic people, so we’re not against the homeless shelter; we’re just against the location of the homeless shelter. We don’t feel that it should be basically touching the property, or be near our kids, our school,” he said.
The group met with Shelters of Saratoga Executive Director Duane J. Vaughn on Dec. 20, Zacharewicz said. “We talked about that it would be between basically 40 people on the average a night in the summertime, and 60 people an average a night in the wintertime. … We talked about if he does any background checks on his clients, the homeless. He kind of said no.
“We have to help these people out. We get that,” Zacharewicz said. “We understand all this, but again, the location is just not the right mix, and it caused an uproar, obviously, at the school meeting.” A meeting regarding the matter is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 in the school gymnasium.
City Mayor Ron Kim said this week that discussions with local school and church officials are ongoing and that the city is cognizant of mitigating any impact the center may have on them, and how that materializes is a matter to be decided with future conversations.
“Code Blue” shelter and shelter services are provided to the homeless community whenever inclement winter weather temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, inclusive of National Weather Service calculations for windchill. Motivated to action in the wake of the death of a city woman exposed to a winter’s elements on a December night in 2013, a temporary homeless emergency shelter was launched in Saratoga Springs that Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Parish Center. A series of temporary winter shelters have followed.
In addition to becoming a permanently sited 24/7 “Code Blue” shelter, the city had expressed some interest in also pursuing the possibility of adding about 40 affordable housing apartments in an adjacent space on the parcel that would assist residents in their transitioning process – a continuum of care with the ultimate goal of helping people move from homelessness to sustained housing on their own.
(Reporter Dylan McGlynn contributed to this report.)
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team pulled out a pair of huge victories on Tuesday, defeating Saratoga Springs and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake to win the Section 2 Division 1 Dual Meet Championship and clinch a spot at the state championships.
It is the first-ever Dual Meet championship for the Scotties, who beat Saratoga 33-29 in the opening round before coming away with another narrow victory in the championship, defeating Burnt Hills 34-33.
Ballston Spa will compete as a team at the NYSPHSAA Dual Meet State Championships, held Jan. 28 at SRC Arena in Syracuse.
See below for results from both matches:
Ballston Spa 33, Saratoga 29
(102) Quinton Warlikowski (B-Spa) def. Kyle Edwards (Saratoga) by pin at 4:15
(110) Ralph Keeney (B-Spa) def. Chase Matter (Saratoga) by pin at 2:26
(118) Tristan Hinchcliff (B-Spa) def. Luke Stoutenburg (Saratoga) by 10-4 decision
(126) Taylor Beaury (Saratoga) def. Mason Insogna (B-Spa) by pin at 1:12
Saratoga Springs senior Natasha Chudy is pictured after scoring her 1,000th career varsity point during a game against Section III’s Bishop Kearney last season (Photo provided by Robin Chudy).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Currently in her fifth year of varsity basketball, Saratoga Springs senior Natasha Chudy is no stranger to receiving recognition for her work on the court. This winter, however, Chudy received recognition on a national scale, as she was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
“I’m definitely really honored to have this nomination,” said Chudy. “It’s super important. I think it’s really cool to be in that category, and people looking at me and what I’ve worked for.”
Blue Streaks head coach Robin Chudy, who is also Natasha’s mother, said it has been “wonderful” to watch her daughter progress through the years.
“As an eighth-grader coming on our varsity team, it’s kind of neat to see where she is now,” said Robin Chudy. “And I think it’s a testament to her hard work, and all the practices and things that she’s put into her game, which is great. It’s really nice to see such a really big accomplishment come her way. Even to be nominated is just really remarkable.”
The Blue Streaks’ dynamic senior first joined the varsity team as an eighth-grader, and quickly joined the team’s starting lineup. In the five years since, she has reached 1,000 career points, become the team’s all-time leading rebounder, and been named to a pair of All-State teams.
And now, she’s received national recognition. This season, Chudy is averaging 18.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. She led Saratoga in all three categories as a junior, averaging 22.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in the 2021-22 season.
While her numbers certainly jump out, Robin Chudy said she is most impressed by Natasha’s role as a “team player.”
“She knows when to make the pass, she’s not selfish at all. If you watch her when she’s sitting on the bench, it’s really neat to see her cheer for her teammates,” said Robin Chudy. “She’s jumping around and going crazy for the girls when they’re scoring and doing some really good things. That part of her game is hard to come by, it really is. That kid who is not selfish, and has a really high basketball IQ as well.”
The team’s chemistry and closeness was emphasized by the pair, with Natasha saying that having strong chemistry with her teammates is one of her priorities.
“I’ve realized over the years that really does make a difference,” said Natasha Chudy. “I feel like I have such a good relationship with every girl on the team, and try to make sure that everyone feels like a part of the team. That’s really how you have a successful team at the end, if you work well together in every way.”
Chudy also said she has enjoyed playing for her mom, who she called “the biggest influence in my life.”
“She is my mom, and she knows me the best, so she pushes me because she knows where I can be,” said Natasha Chudy. “Sometimes it gets hard, but honestly, she’s been the biggest influence in my life in many different ways, especially basketball. I think her pushing me all these years has really, really paid off, and I love that she’s my coach.”
As a coach, while Robin Chudy admitted it can be “hard to turn it off” at times, she also said Natasha is a “great listener” who receives plenty of feedback from her family.
“She takes a lot of the things that we say at our house,” Robin Chudy said. “Our entire family is a basketball family. She grew up with three older siblings who played a ton of basketball, and we all say all the things that we think she needs to improve on, and try to give her the accolades when she does a good job.”
Chudy is committed to play college basketball at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, a Division 1 school and a member of the Patriot League. Chudy said she wanted to choose a school that had a strong balance of academics and athletics.
“When I made the decision, I chose a school that was a great balance of athletics and academics. But, especially, the coaches are amazing,” said Natasha Chudy. “They were very welcoming. They’re just so amazing. They would help me through this time, and they just wanted the best for me, and what was best for me was being with them.”
Robin Chudy was also complimentary of the Lafayette coaching staff, and said she is “so proud” of Natasha.
“Proud of her for all of her accomplishments and everything she’s done. This is what she’s worked for, which is great,” Robin Chudy said. “She picked a great school, with, like she said, a great balance of academics and athletics. For me, as a parent, I wanted her to find a home. It seems like the coaching staff is so welcoming, and I think that’s going to be a great place for her.”
But for now, the focus is on the current season. The Blue Streaks are 8-5 entering a non-league contest against the Albany Academy for Girls on Tuesday. The team has been dealing with injuries, Robin Chudy said, but have high hopes for sectionals.
“A couple are out with injuries. We’re rotating kids around and trying to get everybody healthy again,” Robin Chudy said. “I feel like if we can all get on the court at the same time, healthy and ready to go, we’re going to be a tough one to beat. We really are.”
Natasha Chudy said she feels the team’s chemistry has improved, saying that Saratoga basketball “prioritizes being a team.”
“I feel like we definitely have gotten so used to working with each other at this point, and I think that’s showing now more than ever,” said Natasha Chudy. “I feel like we’re doing a great job team chemistry-wise, on and off the court, and I think that’s definitely showing now.”
Ultimately, Robin Chudy said the opportunity to coach Natasha has been “amazing.”
“It’s been an honor to coach my kid all these years. And difficult. You’ve got a lot of people watching, making sure that you make the right calls with your kid, because it’s obviously sensitive,” said Robin Chudy. “You have a lot of coaching staff around you to make sure you’re grounded and you know you’re making the right decisions.
“But I don’t think I’d ever trade these years. It’s been amazing.”
