SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Community celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Saratoga Springs City Center last month with a fundraising dinner attended by about 150 people.

“It was a nice crowd with some folks who dated back quite a bit and it was a wonderful evening of reminiscing and acknowledging what Wesley has meant to the community,” said CEO J. Brian Nealon. “We got to catch up with a lot of board members from some years ago and also see some folks we don’t see enough of.” 

Original board member Bill Dake spoke about the community’s earliest days and the trials and tribulations involved getting the project off the ground, Nealon said. The nonprofit organization has supported seniors in the community since opening its doors in 1972.

In 1966 a motion approval established what was called the Saratoga Retirement Center. Groundbreaking for the Embury Apartments took place in 1969 and the doors opened in 1972.  Mrs. Selma Ogden was its first resident. The Victoria Building expansion came in 1985, the Wesley Health Care Center opened in 1973, an 80-bed expansion – the Hathorn building – was added 21 years later. Woodlawn Commons opened with 60 independent and 40 assisted living apartments in 1999.

In all, the Wesley Community is a 37-acre, not-for-profit agency which serves the needs of the elderly, as well as active seniors, adults and pediatrics. It is comprised of Wesley Health Care Center – the nursing home, Embury Apartments – subsidized senior apartments, and Woodlawn Commons – assisted living and market-rate senior housing. 

“All told, that’s 11 buildings. A little over 600 folks live on campus,” said Nealon, who first began working in the community in the mid-1980s. He became the organization’s third CEO after succeeding Neil Roberts in 2003.  

An aging population across the country has resulted in changes in both needs and services over the past half-century since the Wesley Community first opened its doors.  

The life expectancy 50 years ago was just over 71 years of age in America, the National Center for Health Statistics reported. In the pre-pandemic year of 2019, life expectancy had increased to nearly 79. 

Citing declining fertility and aging baby boomers by the year 2034 older adults are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history, according to a 2019 U.S. Census report titled “The Graying of America.” 

“As one of the largest generations in the country, boomers leave a substantial imprint on the population. They swelled the ranks of the young when they were born and then the workforce as they entered adulthood,” according to the report. By 2060, it is anticipated nearly one in four Americans will be 65 years and older, the number of 85-plus will triple, and the country will add a half million centenarians. 

A larger number of people living longer is coupled with people expressing the desire to live on their own to a greater age.  

“People are living at home longer and that’s a significant change,” Nealon said. “Now, folks are typically older and more frail than we were seeing 40 or 50 years ago. That’s also a trend nationally, and I do think that trend will continue as boomers want to be as independent as possible,” he added. “In housing at Woodlawn, an average move-in age is in the mid-80s, at Embury it’s a little bit younger, I would say mid-70’s, and the nursing home tends to be older.”

The continuum-of-care campus provides independent and assisted living for seniors, affordable independent senior housing, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, as well as home care services and outpatient therapies available for people of all ages.

The organization is looking at meeting the changing needs of modern-day and future populations, which includes expanding certain practices, remodeling existing buildings and exploring services it can provide to help people remain independent as long as possible.  

In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, a commemorative book and video that chronicle Wesley Community’s journey have been issued.  For more information, go to: www.wesley50.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi proposed a $54.2 million 2023 spending plan for Saratoga Springs during the city’s initial Comprehensive Budget presentation on Oct. 6.

While similar to the $54.1 million 2022 budget, next year’s proposal accounts for 7 percent more in revenues, as the 2022 budget contains $3.9 million of ARPA monies received from the Federal Government, Sanghvi explained.

The main sources of revenue were property tax, sales tax, mortgage tax, State aid, and VLT aid, accounting for 75 percent of the city’s revenue. 

Employee salaries, benefits and insurance costs account for 84 percent of the city’s expenses, with the rising cost of healthcare, retirement benefits, and insurance being the main sources of strain on next year’s expenses. 

The budget includes the addition of 16 new fire fighters for the 3rd EMS/ Fire Station under development on Henning Road. While these new additions will be paid for by a Federal SAFER grant, the grant only pays for personnel and benefits costs and would not cover the day-to-day operations, uniforms, medical exams, equipment, and other various costs of the fire station, Sanghvi said. 

To balance these costs Sanghvi proposed raising Real Property Tax from $6.43 to $6.67 for the Inside District, and from $6.37 to $6.61 for the Outside District; an average increase of 3.72 percent. 

 “This means if your house is assessed at $200,000 you will pay $4 a month more on your property tax. If your house is assessed at $300,000 you will pay $6 a month more on your property tax. If your house is assessed at $400,000 you will pay $8 a month more on your property tax,” Sanghvi said. 

A series of workshops – one for each city department – are scheduled to take place this month at City Hall. Upcoming workshops include: Public Works & Recreation (11 a.m., Oct. 17); Public Safety (3 p.m., Oct. 24); Capital Budget (4 p.m., Oct. 26), and Summary of Amended Budget (3 p.m. Oct. 28). 

The public will have the opportunity to comment on the budget during a 2023 Comprehensive Budget Public Hearing at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The First Baptist Church of Saratoga was established in October 1793.  Saratoga Springs’ oldest church has provided services at 45 Washington St. since 1855. This weekend, the church is kicking off a drive aimed at replacing its near 50-year-old organ.   

“We always celebrate our birthday in some unique way – to let people know we’re here, that we’re excited do our ministry for our congregation as well as the community, and to help those around us,” said Doris Seagrave, chair of the board of Deacons at the church. 

On Sunday, Oct. 16, organist Farrell Goehring will feature the music of Bach, Mendelssohn and others in a fundraising event that begins at 2 p.m.  

“This marks the start of the organ fund, and on Sunday there will be a good will offering after the concert,” said Seagrave. The church has begun reaching out to the community and will be pursuing donations and potential grants during its drive to replace the organ, which Seagrave estimated at a minimum cost of approximately $50,000.   

Over the past few years, renovation projects on-site have resulted in restoring some of the church’s stain glass windows, after being awarded grants from The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, and the Alfred Z. Solomon Testamentary Trust.   

The mission of the First Baptist Church in Saratoga focuses on three areas: homeless students and homeless adults, families subjected to domestic violence, and migrant workers at local dairy farms and racetrack.

 “We’ve been a very active in the community and we do a lot of ministry with the homeless shelter, with Wellsprings, and many of the other organizations in the area,” Seagrave said. 

For more information about First Baptist Church, go to: fbcsaratoga.org, or email: firstbaptistsaratoga@gmail.com.    

BALLSTON LAKE — On Sunday, Oct. 16, parishioners from four area churches will gather for a musical celebration of the centennial of Our Lady of Grace.  

The event takes pace 2 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Grace, a Catholic Community, 73 Midline Road, Ballston Lake and includes parishioners from Our Lady of Grace, St. Joseph’s Church, Scotia; Immaculate Conception, Glenville; and St. Augustine’s Church, Lansingburgh. 

The event includes 37 voices and 15 instrumentalists presenting an inspiring collection of music and readings to celebrate the seasons of the church year, directed by Patty Neumann, Director of Musical Ministries at Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph’s Church. 

All are welcome and there will be a free will donation. Gourmet desserts will be offered for $5 a slice. Finger desserts will also be offered. The fundraiser will support Centennial activities and the archiving of historical photos and documents. 

ALBANY — Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo was presented with the ‘Seven Seals Award’ Oct. 4 in the Assembly Chamber. 

The “Seven Seals Award” recognizes a significant individual or organizational achievement and initiatives that promote the ESGR mission including the efforts of more than 3,600 volunteers across the country.

ESGR is a Department of Defense office that develops and promotes supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws.  It also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between the Service members and their employers.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Officer Joseph Hughes was named 2021 Officer of the Year during a ceremony Sept. 27 with award-presenters Chief Shane Crooks and the Lieutenant’s PBA.

Hughes was recognized for his near-10 years of service. 

“He has proven himself to be an excellent role model and a hard worker, relied on by his supervisors to conduct thorough investigations, and plays an integral role in training many of our new officers,” according to a post by the Saratoga Springs Police Department congratulating Hughes.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Members of the Temple Sinai community were joined by religious school students and their families Oct. 2 to seal and place a time capsule on the synagogue grounds on Broadway. 

According to the Hebrew lunar calendar, every 7 years is known as a shmita, or sabbatical year. The cycle of Jewish time points to this year as a shmita year, a year of “release”
and regeneration.

The cycle of shmita invites all to reflect, contemplate, and recharge every seven years, said Sylvia Bloom, the director of education for the Temple Sinai religious school.

“In addition to all the challenges of COVID and this year’s hopeful emergence from its shadow, our Rabbis of 36 years will be retiring in December. It’s a good moment to take stock of who and where we are, and where we’d like to head as a community,” said Bloom. Rabbis Jonathan Rubenstein and Linda Motzkin are retiring this year.

More than one dozen objects that represent something important from the past year, or something individuals wish to release, were prepared for the capsule. The goal is to capture this moment in time.