Operation Adopt a Soldier delivered 122 Shoe Box Christmases to the Veterans Home in Holyoke, Mass on Dec. 12. Left to right: Danielle Hayes Recreation Coordinator and Colleen Strunk-Ackerley Volunteer Coordinator, Marine Lcpl. Rachael Pinter), Cliff Seguin- Founder of Operation Adopt a Soldier and co-chair Mike Lehet. Photo provided.
WILTON — Operation Adopt a Soldier located in Wilton, delivered 122 Shoe Box Christmases to all the veterans in the Veterans Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts last week.
The Shoe Christmas were wrapped by volunteers of OAS and the boxes consisted of fruit, warm hat and gloves, small Christmas Tree, stuffed animal, and many other items.
Come meet some adoptable dogs, cats and guinea pigs at our Holiday Adoption Event on Sunday December 15th from 11-2 at the H.O.P.E. Adoption Center in the Wilton Mall. Graphic provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced on Tuesday that Saratoga Race Course will host an expanded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and, for the first time, a special July 4th Racing Festival in 2025. Both events will fall outside of the traditional 40-day summer meet.
The upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include one additional day and be conducted from Wednesday, June 4 to Sunday, June 8. In addition, Saratoga will host a special July 4th Racing Festival from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6. Typically held at Belmont Park, the 2025 July 4th Racing Festival will serve as a prelude to the traditional summer meet and conclude the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.
With the addition of the Belmont Stakes and July 4th racing festivals, Saratoga will host nine live race days in 2025 outside of the traditional 40-day summer meet, which will open on Thursday, July 10 and continue through Labor Day, September 1.
Ticket information for both the Belmont Stakes and July 4th racing festivals will be available in early 2025.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Pantone, a company that creates colors used in a variety of industries, has partnered with Saratoga Spring Water to create Saratoga Signature Blue, a new color inspired by the water brand’s glass bottles.
“A powerful force in design, blue is a dependable, timeless color family known for tranquility, while reminiscent of the sea and sky. The feelings evoked and the connection to nature make it the perfect choice to become Pantone’s Saratoga Signature Blue,” the company said in a social media post debuting the new hue.
Saratoga Spring Water bills itself as a premium bottled water company that traces its history back to 1872, when water from a natural spring in Saratoga was bottled under the name “Saratoga Vichy.” Today, the source of the company’s water supply appears to primarily come from Maine and/or Vermont.
Friday, November 15, was a day the Saratoga Springs High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team will never forget. Known as the #DreamTeam, this talented group of athletes accomplished something truly special: securing a spot in the state semifinals after a hard-fought victory over Section 3 champions Cicero-North Syracuse. This was the first time in school history, the Blue Streaks advanced this far, capping an incredible season. This historic achievement followed their thrilling 1-0 win over Shaker to capture the Section 2 Class AAA title—the first in more than 30 years.
A large part of this team’s success is rooted in the deep bonds they’ve formed over years of playing together. Many of these athletes have been teammates since their early days in Rec Soccer, through the Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club’s travel program, and now into their high school careers. Through it all, they’ve built not just a soccer team, but a sisterhood—and they proudly call themselves the #DreamTeam.
The team was sent off to the state tournament in spectacular fashion, with supporters from the Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club, the Saratoga Fire Department, the Saratoga Police Department, and even Saratoga Santa joined the send-off! Students from Saratoga High School also gathered to cheer them on, and the community came together in full force to celebrate their achievements.
The Saratoga Springs High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team ended up taking 3rd place in the state. Great job girls!
Memorial day. A close up portrait of female soldier in uniform salutes against the background of the American flag. The concept of the American national holidays and patriotism.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Being homeless or at risk for homelessness is one of the most difficult things a person can face and is one of the last experiences anyone would expect a Veteran to ever suffer. Lacking the security of knowing where they will sleep at night, having no place to keep their belongings can lead to stress, anger, a sense of shame, depression, and physical discomfort.
Too often, after serving this nation and protecting our homes and freedoms, some Veterans return to civilian life with no job, limited job skills, loss of family, and find themselves spiraling into homelessness.
The stress of war leaves many veterans with severe psychological illness as well as physical illness and disabilities. PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, addictions, are some illnesses.
Lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest obstacles for a veteran returning from service. Communities are supporting housing development, but few are for low-income families. Veteran single moms as well as 78-year-old veterans are not able to secure safe, stable, decent and affordable housing.
Homelessness among female Veterans is on the rise with single moms enlisting at a higher rate. Often, they enlist with the hope that they will be able to support their children with military stability.
Women Veterans can face many challenges when returning to civilian life, including raising children on their own, dealing with the psychological after-effects of events such as military or sexual trauma, loss of platoon members, effects of war or employment and housing barriers. Without intervention, these and other issues can put women Veterans at greater risk of homelessness. This creates a dangerous situation for the mom as well as the children.
Military Sexual Trauma (MST), also known as rape or sexual harassment occurs at a high rate. One in three women in the military report some degree of Military Sexual Trauma both physical and harassment.
Guardian House, operated by VCHC, is a transitional home that serves homeless female veterans. It is the only female home funded by the VA in NYS.
Due to regulations, the program cannot admit veteran moms with children. The mom has to make a choice. Does she give up her children to get the help she needs, taking a risk that she won’t get them back or not get help and keep her children?
Of course she chooses to keep her children. That leads to no services, escalation of illness symptoms, and homelessness. In this scenario, the children are also negatively affected.
To address this unmet need, VCHC is building a duplex home for veteran moms and their children. This program will work with the moms to achieve self-sufficiency and schools to ensure a positive education for the children.
This project is a grass roots effort supported by many in the community as well as the Annual Veterans Ball.
The program will have two units ready for occupancy by the end of 2024. VCHC will develop two additional units.
Cheryl Hage-Perez is the Executive Board Liaison of the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition (VCHC).
BALLSTON SPA— Saratoga County received a clean audit report, demonstrating the excellent fiscal stewardship of the Treasurer’s Office and depicting an important measure of financial stability for county government, county Acting Treasurer JoAnn Kupferman announced. The audit also reaffirms the County’s strong credit ratings by both Standard and Poors (AA+) and Moody’s (Aa1) and reflects the County’s responsible and transparent financial practices.
The independent auditor, EFPR Group, reported that Saratoga County received an unmodified opinion (clean opinion) for FY2023, in a report dated Oct. 23, 2024. According to the report, the auditor found the financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Additionally, the audit did not identify any deficiencies in internal control and noted the County’s exceptionally light debt burden.
Review of the County’s financial reports for the past 10 years shows that the County has seen an exponential growth in investment income, a steady increase in its fund balance, and has consistently kept expenditures below revenues, providing for the County’s financial stability.
Saratoga County’s financial reports spanning the years 2006 to 2023 can be found at www.SaratogaCountyNY.gov/Treasurer.
The 8th Annual Saratoga Motor Car Auction achieved several milestones this year. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 8th Annual Saratoga Motor Car Auction generated gross sales of $7,223,586, the Saratoga Automobile Museum announced last week. The sale concluded Sept. 21, at the Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The auction achieved a sell-through rate of 73%, as well as several milestones, including the highest number of cars sold over $100K, the highest price car sold at $647,350, and the highest average sale price per lot. Additionally, it attracted the largest number of bidders and prebids to date.
Highlighted sales included a pristine 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition that sold for $647,350, a restored 1970 Plymouth Cuda 426 that went for $253,000, and the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series, hammered at 308,000.
For more information visit saratogamotorcarauction.org.
Cole Donnarumma, a scout in Saratoga Spring’s Cub Scout Pack 4016, was honored at the October 24th Twin Rivers Council Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner by receiving the Lifesaving and Meritorious Action award. Cole was able to put recently-learned first aid skills to use when his older brother Liam started choking on his dinner. Cole quickly leapt into action, performing the Heimlich maneuver on Liam, dislodging the food and saving his life. Pictured is Cole with Den Leader John DeMarco.
For more information about scouting, contact John Koch at saratogascouter@kochny.com. Adventure Awaits – start your Scouting journey!
SARATOGA SPRINGS— The Veterans Business Council of The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual breakfast at 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs. The yearly event celebrates area veterans and supports vital work of the VBC in providing scholarships and career connections for veterans.
The event will feature recognition of the council’s scholarship recipients along with a keynote address Captain James R. Diefenderfer, Jr., Commanding Officer of the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa.
Tickets are $40 per person, and the proceeds will benefit the programs and mission of the Veterans Business Council. Advance registration is available online at https://www.simpletix.com/e/veterans-breakfast-2024-tickets-187910. For further information, please contact The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at 518-584-3255 or visit www.saratoga.org
