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City Paving This Week

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

The following street(s) are to be paved/ milled this week. 

Paving will begin at 6 a.m. and should be completed by 2 p.m. There is no parking of cars on the street during these hours, and driveway access/egress will be limited with potentially lengthy delays.

Monday, June 10 – Victoria Lane from Excelsior Spring Ave through cul-de-sac.

Tuesday, June 11 – Mallard Landing from Pheasant Run through cul-de-sac.

Wednesday, June 12 – Victoria Lane from Excelsior Spring Ave through cul-de-sac.

Wednesday, June 12 – Ritchie Place from Pheasant Run through cul-de-sac. 

S.O.S Code Blue Season: 299 People Sheltered, 56 Moved Into Housing or Longer-Term Shelter

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Code Blue shelter wrapped up its 10th shelter season in April and provided access to shelter for nearly 300 people facing winter homelessness in the greater Saratoga area, Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) reported last week. 

The 2023-24 Code Blue shelter, located at 120 South Broadway opened for the season in October 2023 when temperatures dipped below 32 degrees, the threshold for inclement weather shelter in New York State. The shelter’s 75 cots were full within two weeks of opening, despite an unseasonably warm winter. 

The Code Blue shelter closed for the season on Tuesday, April 26, 2024. 

During the season Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) staff helped 30 guests successfully move into housing, and 26 guests transitioned to longer-term shelter with support services at SOS’s Emergency Shelter program on Walworth Street or the RISE Housing and Support Services’ Adelphi Street shelter. Fourteen guests chose to enter clinical care facilities. Placement into housing and transitional services helped minimize the number of guests leaving Code Blue without stable accommodations when the shelter closed.

“Once again, Code Blue was at capacity early in the winter season. A crucial element for our success has been our collaboration with RISE,” Duane Vaughn, Executive Director at Shelters of Saratoga, said in a statement.  “Our partnership has been instrumental in providing effective services to those struggling in our community. The Adelphi Street shelter operated by RISE provides the opportunity for guests to continue stability services that began at Code Blue. This partnership highlights the effectiveness of community collaboration in addressing homelessness.” 

The Code Blue shelter plans to reopen at 120 South Broadway in October 2024. Those in need of shelter may choose Shelters of Saratoga’s emergency shelter on Walworth Street, or the temporary low-barrier shelter operated by RISE on Adelphi Street, each operating year-round. 

The Code Blue shelter is operated by area non-profit Shelters of Saratoga, with assistance from Saratoga County and in accordance with NYS Emergency Measures for the Homeless During Inclement Winter Weather. The NYS measure mitigates the effects of inclement winter weather, and the resulting impacts of such weather on individuals experiencing homelessness, as the responsibility of each social service district. 

Over 11,500 meals were served to guests of Code Blue, donated by area restaurants, faith-based groups, and civic organizations. Community volunteers spent 312 total hours serving meals to guests. 

2023-24 Highlights

Number of people sheltered: 299

Meals served: 11,560

Nights open: 171

Housed: 30

Long-term shelter: 26

Clinical treatment programs: 14

Volunteer hours: 312

Dinner donors: 16 

Average length of stay: 35 nights

Range of length of stay:

1 day               41 guests

2-15 days        110 guests

16-30 days      32 guests

31-60               48 guests

61-90               30 guests

90+                  38 guests 

Police: Rally Violated City Code

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two local gatherings – held on May 1 and on May 25, have resulted in charges filed against Alexis Figuereo, who is suspected of organizing the events, and alleging City Codes were violated because permits were not secured in advance of the gatherings. 

A summation of the public announcements related to the two events follows:    

April 27 – Saratoga BLM Facebook posting. May Day Rally for Palestine, 6 p.m. May 1 at Congress Park. 

May 21 – Saratoga Springs Police Department statement, press release. 

On May 1, a pre-planned demonstration occurred in the city of Saratoga Springs. The demonstrators did not seek a permit prior to demonstrating in Congress Park, nor did they seek a permit to march on Broadway. These actions constitute violations of City Ordinances; chapters 98 and 151 respectively. Blocking streets without a permit is illegal. Doing so strains police resources, impedes our ability to respond to other calls for service and endangers public safety, as evidenced by the 911 calls made to SSPD during this incident. 

The primary organizer of the demonstration has been identified and charged for violating Saratoga Springs City Code 98 Demonstrations and 151 Parades due to not applying for a permit with the city. 

May 24 – Saratoga BLM statement, media advisory. 

On May 25, Saratoga BLM will be joined by organizations and community leaders across the Capital Region for a joint press conference in Congress Park regarding the recent charges filed against Lexis Figuereo. On Tuesday, May 21, the public was made aware that the Saratoga Springs Police Department would be filing charges against Figuereo for being the “primary organizer” of a May 1 rally for Palestine. Despite the SSPD knowing the event was co-organized by multiple organizations, they chose to single out Figuereo and falsely accuse him with no evidence that he was the primary organizer of said event. 

May 29 – Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll, press release. 

The city of Saratoga Springs requires that any group planning to demonstrate must submit a document called a “demonstration declaration.” There is no fee for the declaration and this requirement was established by the City in 2005.

The purpose of this document is to provide a way for the Department of Public Safety to work cooperatively with groups organizing demonstrations to ensure that the demonstrators and the public can be safe. 

In the case of the May 25 demonstration promoted on the Saratoga Black Lives Matter Facebook page, no such demonstration declaration was received by the Accounts Department. In advance of the demonstration, the Department of Public Safety took the proactive step of notifying Attorney Mark Mishler of the requirement for his client to file a demonstration declaration. Unfortunately, the Department of Public Safety received no response from Mr. Mishler and no demonstration declaration was filed. On May 29, Attorney Mishler accepted an Appearance Ticket on behalf of his client, Alexis A. Figuereo, for violating Chapter 98 of the Saratoga Springs City Code.

Free Talk on Physical Therapy Following Joint Replacement

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MALTA  — “Having a Knee Replacement? A Physical Therapist Can Help” will be presented on Tuesday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m., by physical therapist Matthew O’Neil, a partner with physical therapist Michael Cudahy at Saratoga Physical Therapy Associates. The event will be held at the multi-site practice’s 2388 Route 9, Malta location (corner of Knabner Rd./Route 9, just south of the Global Foundries traffic circle). This is a FREE community event.

O’Neil has been practicing physical therapy for three decades, specializing in working with patients with knee joint arthritis, both before and after replacement. His vast clinical experience makes him a preferred provider with surgeons and patients.

Topics to be covered include: Osteoarthritis Overview; Conservative Joint Management With Physical Therapy; Rehabilitation and Activity Following Joint Replacement.

Questions will be welcome at the talk. Seating is limited, so for more information or to reserve a free spot, call 518-899-1140.

Saratoga County Officials Celebrate Retiring County Fire Coordinator at Walkout Ceremony

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

A “walkout” ceremony was held May 30 to honor retiring Saratoga County Fire Coordinator Ed Tremblay. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County officials held a “walkout” ceremony on May 30 to honor long-time Saratoga County Fire Coordinator Ed Tremblay, who retired after 29 years of dedicated service to the County. 

Tremblay was appointed Saratoga County Fire Coordinator in 1995. During his 29 years with Saratoga County, he coordinated innumerable firefighter classes and fire investigations and oversaw the deployment of county based assets to multiple major disasters. 

Tremblay also established the County HazMat Team in 1999 and facilitated construction of a new burn building at the Fire Training Center in 2001 and its replacement, which is scheduled for construction in 2025. He is a life member of the West Crescent Fire Department, previously serving as chief for six years.    

Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance Stages Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

LAKE GEORGE — A crowd of nearly 100 people attended the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance’s annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony on May 27. 

The event was staged at the burial site in the park of four unknown soldiers who were killed during the Battle of Lake George in 1755. 

The keynote speaker for the event was retired US Army Brigadier General F. David Sheppard, a Vietnam veteran who rose to become the Deputy Adjutant General of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs and, subsequently, the Director of the State’s Office of Homeland Security. 

Other speakers at the event included Pastor Ali Trowbridge, Caldwell Presbyterian Church, and Bruce M. Venter, historian and Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance Trustee. The program also included tributes by the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department, Lake George American Legion Post 374, and re-enactors representing Fort William Henry. The program concluded with the traditional playing of “Taps” by Lake George Junior-Senior High School Music Director Amy Baker.

12-Year-Old Arrested in Connection with Threat Made to Middle School

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA —The Sheriff’s Office received a call at 6:57 a.m. on May 29 of a social media threat allegedly made against the O’Rourke Middle School, in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District.   

Authorities said an investigation into the matter led to the identification and arrest of a 12-year-old boy for making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor.

“Once again, the partnerships we’ve developed with the schools and the students led to a quick, safe resolution to this call,” Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said in a statement. “The safety of our schools is one of our top priorities, and our SRO program is integral to this goal.”

The threat was determined to be non-credible and there was no disruption to regular school activities, police said.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Glenville Police Department.

Historical Marker Celebrating 1898 Union Avenue Bike Path Installed

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A historical marker commemorating the 1898 Union Avenue bike path was installed in front of the Empire State College building at 2 Union Ave. on May 30. 

“The 1890s bicycle boom changed America and it changed Saratoga Springs,” said Bikeatoga Advocacy Chair Ed Lindner. The marker is meant to be celebrated by cyclists and history buffs alike. 

“Working-class families that couldn’t afford a horse and carriage had access to cheap and reliable transportation. For the first time, Saratogians of every social class could easily and quickly make trips around the city and to surrounding towns for commerce, employment, and social interaction,” Lindner said. 

A newspaper account of Saratoga Springs in 1895 declared a “Bicycle Summer,” reporting that 50 to 100 riders headed out to Saratoga Lake each morning, where hotels and roadhouses provided bicycle storage rooms and a hearty meal. Saratoga residents subsequently built a network of bicycle paths around the city that became the envy of neighboring communities. 

The historical marker, funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to Saratoga nonprofit Bikeatoga, was installed on Union Avenue near the location of the original bike path. 

“Bicycles and bike paths were very much part of the history and culture of Saratoga’s golden age.” Lindner said. “We can honor that history by building the bike lanes envisioned in our present-day Complete Streets plan, here on Union Avenue and throughout the city.” 

Bikeatoga is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created in 2005 dedicated to making cycling more convenient, accessible, and safer in and around Saratoga Springs.The group operates a bike workshop in the basement of St. Peter’s Church that repairs and recycles used bikes and gets them back out into the community on a free or “pay what you can” basis. In 2023, Saratoga families adopted almost 700 bikes from Bikeatoga. 

Saratoga Church Earns Environmental Recognition

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Presbyterian-United Church of Christ has been recognized by its two denominations for significant environmental achievements over the past five years.

The congregation was certified as an Earth Care church by the Albany Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and as a Creation Justice church by the UCC.

Led by its Environmental Action Team, the Saratoga congregation grows organic produce for food-insecure people in a large Interfaith Healing Garden just outside its sanctuary building at 24 Circular St.

Fifty-six of the congregation’s households participate in the Hope Community Solar Project, which reduces electricity costs by using solar rather than fossil-fuel energy. The church also has initiated a composting program, replaced its gasoline-powered lawn mower with a battery-powered model and saved more than $2,300 by installing an energy efficient refrigerator and converting to all LED lighting.

The congregation has hosted or co-sponsored numerous environmental programs, working with Sustainable Saratoga, Skidmore College and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs.

“Our efforts to promote and protect God’s great earth make us part of a national movement of churches to lead in combating climate change and creating a more just world for all,” said Judy Beers, chair of the Environmental Action Team. 

Hawley Foundation Collects $4,900 In Memory of Pamela Polacsek

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SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Hawley Foundation board members collected $4,900 in memory of Pamela Polacsek, a beloved board member for over 20 years, and former board president.

Polacsek lived out the mission statement of The Hawley Foundation by promoting the health, welfare, and education of children. She worked at Saratoga Bridges for over 25 years in various roles and capacities, most recently as the Foundation and Development Director. 

Polacsek, who died in February, was a fierce advocate for the disabled.

Funds donated in her memory will be used to assist disabled youth within Saratoga County through their family reimbursement program that provides goods and/or services not funded elsewhere in the community.