SARATOGA SPRINGS – Several local nonprofit agencies are dealing with the adverse effects of Saratoga Taxi’s suspension of services, speaking to the larger issue of the lack of transportation resources for Saratoga County. 

Saratoga Taxi has been serving the community for 55 years, and as of Nov. 1, 2021, they have temporarily ceased operations. In a Letter to the Editor of the Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Taxi Owner Larry Kupper cited the reason for this as the $300,000 insurance mandate from the City of Saratoga Springs, without any temporary relief. For 40 years Saratoga Taxi has been operating with the required $50,000 NYS insurance that other taxi companies servicing cities with rural areas (such as Glens Falls for example) are operating with as well. 

With Saratoga Taxi out of operation for several months now, the lack of public transportation that has been an issue in Saratoga County for years is even more apparent. Local nonprofit agencies that help many low-income individuals and families in the community are now struggling to find reliable and affordable transportation options.

CAPTAIN Community Human Services (CAPTAIN CHS) relied on Saratoga Taxi to take homeless and runaway youth to school and healthcare appointments within a 50-mile radius of their shelter in Malta. 

CAPTAIN CHS has scrambled to contract other taxi services that do background checks and have GPS safety protocols like Saratoga Taxi. They have relied on staff to transport the youth they serve as well; however, they lack resources, and this is not a sustainable option for them. 

“Saratoga County is in need of transportation for low-income community members,” said Andy Gilpin, Executive Director of CAPTAIN CHS. “Saratoga Taxi was one of the larger fleets in the Saratoga area. This is an impact to the community at large.” 

Wellspring is another local non-profit that Saratoga Taxi has helped throughout the years. 

“Saratoga Taxi has been very valuable, and losing them affects all members of the community,” said Maggie Fronk, Executive Director of Wellspring. 

In addition to their clients, Fronk said that Saratoga Taxi’s services were valuable to senior community members and others who can’t drive, or community members that don’t own a car and need to get to work. The county’s lack of public transportation is especially an inconvenience to those that live in less densely populated towns at the outskirts of the county such as Corinth and Stillwater. 

 “Social determinates lead to disparities,” said Fronk regarding this. “The underserved in our county have limited employment opportunities.” 

CDTA and other taxi services in Saratoga County are very limited, as the CDTA bus route is confined to the Route 50 corridor. These non-profit agencies have demonstrated the high demand for CDTA’s pilot program, Flex. The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is working with the CDTA to test the program in Mechanicville, Halfmoon, and Clifton Park. 

“This service is door-to-door with uniformed drivers and safety cameras. It’s been well received so far in helping people in those communities to get to work, healthcare appointments, and food shopping,” said Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “If it works there, our hope is that we can expand CDTA’s Flex service to other parts of Saratoga, including here in the City. We’re hoping to meet with CDTA leaders soon to see what kind of resources would be needed to perhaps expedite that expansion.” 

Until there is a reliable and affordable transportation solution in place, Fronk suggested to reach out to those you know in need of transportation, as well as connect and communicate with county leaders as they gather to address the situation. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – A new City Council for a new two-year term staged its first night meeting Jan. 4 at Saratoga Music Hall. The cordial meeting lasted just over an hour and included four new council members.

Mayor Ron Kim announced the appointment of Angela Rella as his deputy mayor, and provided guidelines for Public Comment period, during which speakers may address concerns or issues for up to two minutes’ time: Be kind; We’re a community; Speak to each other in a way that community members speak, Kim said. “Bickering and fighting, we prefer you not to do that, but, it’s your time. Be factual. We don’t want alternative facts. We want to hear the truth, as you see it, and we’re happy to hear it.”

One meeting change will be in the order of addressing the council. Returning City Supervisors Matthew Veitch, and Tara Gaston – who normally address the council at the end of the agenda – will speak first.

Limited Number of COVID-19 Rapid Tests Available for Residents

During her comment period on Tuesday, Gaston announced the city had earlier that day received “a small number” of at-home rapid COVID tests that were distributed from the state to the county, and then on to county-based municipalities. The city will be distributing their portion of at-home tests to city residents, while supplies last, from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at Geyser Road Elementary School. The kits have two tests per box. Proof of city residence is required.

Outside of Saratoga Springs, county municipalities are distributing their allotment of at-home tests in a variety of ways. For specific distribution information, residents should contact their respective town or city hall. A list of municipal phone numbers and websites may be found HERE. 

The city had previously received 19,000 K95 masks from the state, which Gaston said she has been distributing to city residents. Masks continue to be available at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, the Saratoga Springs Visitors Center, and the city Recreation Center.

The seven-day positive infection rate of Saratoga County residents is currently 18.6 %. 

New Methods, New Appointments

Mayor Kim explained a new “Question Period” segment will be launched in the near future during which community members in advance submit any questions they have for a specific council member. Those questions will typically be discussed and answered at the end of council meetings. Those inquiries will employ a pre-registration tool, and more information will be forthcoming in the near future.

Also soon forthcoming, perhaps later this month, will be a cost/expense tally presentation regarding the vacant city attorney position. The mayor said a discussion will take place regarding a plan aimed at both – reducing city costs and making the position more effective, while meeting the needs provided by a city attorney.

Kim also announced the establishment of a city Infrastructure Committee, which will be tasked with organizing a priority list of city infrastructure projects. The mayor said he has had discussions with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko regarding federal funds targeting local infrastructure projects, and the local plan is to reach out to experts as well as the local community to initiate a list of needs and potential projects. Kim appointed former Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen as chair of the city Infrastructure Committee and requested each council member propose appointments to staff the committee during the next couple of weeks.

New Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran started his first term and announced Stacy Connors as his deputy commissioner.

New Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi started her first term and announced Heather Crocker as her deputy commissioner.

Returning Public Works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco re-appointed Joe O’Neil as his deputy commissioner.

Mayor Kim, a Democrat, complemented DPW Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, a Republican, on the “exceptional job” Scirocco and his department has done on the recent renovations to City Hall. Commissioner Scirocco, during his agenda time, made an announcement commemorating the work of former DPW Commissioner and political rival Thomas McTygue on the work McTygue conducted in Congress Park specifically on the Carousel.

Public Hearing on Civilian Review Board Set for Feb. 1

New Public Safety Commissioner announced the appointment of Jason Tetu as Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety. Tetu spent a quarter of a century as a member of the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

Montagnino set a 30-minute Public Hearing to take place prior to the Feb. 1 council meeting regarding the creation of a Civilian Review Board, as per the recommendations of the city Police Reform Task Force. “Promises were made and now is the time for promises to be kept. I want to shepherd into existence a Civilian Review Board that is meaningful, that has authority and that is there to answer the questions that people have about the way our city is policed,” said the public safety commissioner.

The council unanimously approved that a letter be sent to the Saratoga County District Attorney requesting a grand jury investigation regarding the Darryl Mount matter. Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said on Jan. 5 she would not be able to discuss the matter until she is in receipt of the letter.

Montagnino added he anticipates hosting an oral presentation regarding the Mount case in mid-February. Previously announced to take place as soon as he took office on Jan. 1, Montagnino said the delay was due to his being stricken and recovering from COVID-19, which recently landed him in the hospital for nine days. Montagnino said he was released from the hospital on Dec. 31.

“From what we heard tonight, it seems like there is progress and things are moving in the right direction,” said Saratoga BLM activist Lexis Figuereo, at the conclusion of Tuesday’s council meeting. “It seems that we may be able to have some actual answers in the community and maybe see some actual change, and not just talk about it. It was a very peaceful meeting and we’re looking forward to meetings being more like this, and to have dialogue with the council members,” he said.

Saratoga Springs City Council meetings are typically held the first and the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall.

STILLWATER – The primary visitor experience at Saratoga National Historical Park is about to benefit from $6.6 million in funding provided by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

Extensive work on the park’s popular, self-guided battlefield Tour Road will begin in 2022 andresult in increased accessibility and visible improvements to the parking areas, trailheads, walkways, seating, exhibits and viewing areas along the ten-mile-long route. 

“It is a big step in preparing the park for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and interpreting the critical role that the Battles of Saratoga played in turning the tide of Revolution and changing the world,” said Saratoga NHP Superintendent Leslie Morlock, in a prepared statement. 

The current Tour Road experience is more than 50 years old. This renovation will expand physical access and safety enhancements for more than 100,000 visitors annually and eliminate $4 million of the park’s maintenance backlog. It will also be instrumental in preparing the park for the extra attention it will receive related to the upcoming 250th anniversary commemorations of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 and of the battles in 2027. 

The parking areas and walkways will be revamped at all ten tour stops to meet universal standards for accessibility, including seating with companion seating, new improved exhibits, and audio description provided on an app for public use. Modern outdoor exhibits will replace the existing informational waysides that are well beyond their intended design life.

The 60 new exhibits will be constructed of durable steel, aluminum, and bronze. In addition to being more cost-effective by requiring less routine maintenance, the new exhibits will include replica objects and convey updated information about the battles, the landscape, multiple perspectives, and the roles of lesser-known participants to better connect visitors with the Saratoga National Historical Park.

Saratoga National Historical Park preserves, protects, and interprets the sites associated with the battles, siege, and surrender of the British forces at Saratoga. The park encompasses five sites including the Saratoga Battlefield, General Philip Schuyler’s House, Victory Woods, the Saratoga Monument, and Sword Surrender site totaling 3,579 acres. It was here in September and October 1777, during the American War for Independence, American troops battled and defeated the British invasion force. A British Army surrendered, for the first time in history, on October 17, 1777. This crucial victory secured essential foreign recognition and support and boosted the morale of the American forces making it the turning point of the
American Revolution.

The project is being financed through GAOA’s National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund. Supported by revenue from energy development, the fund provides up to $1.9 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks and other public lands to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment for current and future visitors. 

For more information about Saratoga National Historical Park, please call the Visitor Center at 518-670-2985, visit www.nps.gov/sara.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The city’s three Land Use Boards – the Planning Board, Design Review Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals, launch their 2022 meetings this week.   

The city’s Design Review Commission hosts its first meeting of the calendar year at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12.  Among applications under consideration are a historic review of a new 6-story mixed-use building at 269 Broadway, and a proposed fifth-floor addition to the existing four-story at 422 Broadway, the building that sites Northshire Bookstore Saratoga on its ground floor.   

A renewable Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review to maintain existing property as improved at 68 Weibel Avenue are two of the permits under consideration at this week’s meeting of the Planning Board, which takes place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 13. 

Applicant Gary Stone, of Saratoga Springs, is offering a proposal to operate and maintain existing mixed land uses on a 22.5-acre parcel on Weibel Avenue and a portion of a 40-acre parcel. The parcel includes approximately 145 feet of frontage on Weibel Avenue, with several existing commercial buildings on the parcel used either for storage or as currently occupied office buildings. 

The land includes a 900 square-foot building, two storage buildings (2,400 and 1,500 square feet, respectively), a 12,500 square-foot office building, a 1.5-acre boat storage area, a small clubhouse and 10-acre driving range area – the latter of which “has not been in used for few years,” according to documents filed with the city. All the buildings were approximately constructed in 1968.   

The existing buildings and boat storage are currently the subject of a land use and zoning violation identified by the city Building Department, and the application would attempt to cure those violations, according to documents seeking a Special Use Permit. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals hosts its first meeting of the new year at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10.

Meetings are held at City Hall, 474 Broadway. For information regarding attendance at meetings, safety protocols, and livestream options, go to: saratoga-springs.org. 

BALLSTON SPA – The Village of Ballston Spa’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will meet twice during the month of January to identify and discuss the effects of climate change and information technology advancements on the development, population, employment and economic prosperity of the village. 

The meetings will be held on the first and third Thursdays of the month. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 20, at the Saratoga County Office Building at 50 West High St. 

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee has been formed to work in conjunction with a professional planning consultant to identify and study several topics over the course of the next year in order to create a final plan for approval by the Village board of trustees.  All meetings are open to the public, either in-person attendance or via Zoom. Zoom link will be available prior to each meeting online at www.villageofballstonspa.org/comprehensive-plan-steering-committee.

For more information, contact steering committee chairperson Karen Martell at karenmartell27@gmail.com or the Village Office at 518 885-5711, villageclerk@villageofballstonspa.org.

The Blue Streaks have six wrestlers who are currently ranked in the top five in their weight class for Section 2. Photos by Kim Delgado.

Queensbury Holiday Tournament 

Queensbury held their annual Holiday Tournament on Dec. 30, in which 16 schools across New York and Vermont competed. This year’s winner was Saranac (170.5) followed closely by Coxsackie Athens (170.0) in second place. Taking third and fourth were Shaker (146.5) and Queensbury (144.0), respectively. Rounding out the top five was Guilderland (115.0). Other local school placed as follows: 7th – Hudson Falls; 8th – Hadley Luzerne-Lake George; 10th – Glens Falls; 13th – Schuylerville; 14th – Corinth, 16th – South Glens Falls. 

The results of the Championship Finals in each weight class are listed below: 

102: Riley Bernash (Corinth) dec. Neil Murphy (Coxsackie-Athens), 7-6

110: Avi Berg (Glens Falls) maj. dec. Ryker Cox (Coxsackie-Athens), 14-2 

118: Michael Santore (Shaker) dec. Ryan Devins (Saranac), 4-0

126: Ashton Seymour (Saranac) pin Alan Frost-Jones (Beekmantown), 1:34 

132: Ashton Thompson (Rome Free Academy) pin Sameer Abbaszadeh (Shaker), 3:22

138: Sawyer Bell (Beekmantown) pin Cayden Bouvia (Saranac), 3:25 

145: Collin Clancy (Saranac) pin Antonio Rezek (Shaker), 1:04 

152: Hunter Davis (Saranac) dec. Lucas Shell (Queensbury), 7-2

160: Dylan Smith (Queensbury) dec. Aidan Jones (Schuylerville), 5-1 (OT) 

172: Dylan Schell (Queensbury) maj. dec. Jordan Koenig (Holland Patent), 11-2

189: Dillon Blanchard (Guilderland) dec. Ahmad Farzad (Shaker), 8-2 

215: Logan Marissal (HL/LG) pin Vincent Morizio (Guilderland), 0:36 

285: Connor Bushey (Beekmantown) pin Andrew Morris (Holland Patent), 5:31 

Section 2, Division 1 Rankings 

Team Rankings: Per cnywrestling.com, the Burnt Hills Spartans are at the top of the leaderboard. The Shenendehowa Plainsmen are ranked second, the Shaker Bison are third, and the Averill Park Warriors are fourth. Rounding out the current top five rankings for the 2021-22 season are the Ballston Spa Scotties. 

Several local athletes are also ranked within the current top five in their weight class: 

102: #2 – Danny Dacey (8th Grade, Saratoga Springs) 

110: #3 – Tyler Whiteley (Freshman, Burnt Hills); #4 – Ralph Keeney (Sophomore, Ballston Spa) 

118: #2 – Tristan Hinchcliff (Junior, Ballston Spa); #3 – Ben Taylor (Sophomore, Burnt Hills)

126: #1 – Gabriel Goss (Junior, Burnt Hills); #2 – Liam Carlin (Freshman, Burnt Hills); #4 – Cameron Hinchcliff (Junior, Ballston Spa) 

132: #3 – Taylor Beaury (Freshman, Saratoga Springs) 

138: #2 – Tyler Rossini (Senior, Burnt Hills); #3 – Colin Carlin (Junior, Burnt Hills); #5 – Kyle Griskowitz (Senior, Saratoga Springs) 

145: #1 – Joshua Warland (Junior, Burnt Hills) 

152: #1 – Connor Gregory (Junior, Ballston Spa); #4 – Gordon Murray (Junior, Saratoga Springs); Thomas Pawlinga (Junior, Burnt Hills) 

160: #3 – Sachiel Chuckrow (Junior, Saratoga Springs) 

172: #1 – Ryan Buthfer (Senior, Burnt Hills) 

189: #3 – Lorenzo Paleschi (Junior, Saratoga Springs); #5 Danny Casey (Senior, Burnt Hills) 

215: #1 – Darrien Insogna (Junior, Ballston Spa); #4 – Trevor Ismail (Senior, Burnt Hills) 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Due to increased COVID-19 cases, Discover Saratoga has decided to reschedule Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour for the safety of our community, local businesses and event goers.

 Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour will take place Saturday, March 19 through Saturday, March 26. Event goers will have the opportunity to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts to-go at participating restaurants all week long. Discover Saratoga will end the week with the traditional celebration we all know and love! Chowderfest will take place on Saturday, March 26. Enjoy live entertainment and family-friendly activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. Try $2 chowder samples and vote for your favorite. This event is presented by Discover Saratoga and sponsored by Saranac and White Claw.

For more information, including participating restaurants and discounted hotel rates, visit discoversaratoga.org/Chowderfest.

Discover Saratoga, known as the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau contributes a positive impact on the local economy by promoting and marketing Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County as a world-class destination for meetings, conventions, and groups. For more information about Discover Saratoga, please visit discoversaratoga.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The post-election campaign financial disclosure statement regarding newly elected city Mayor Ron Kim has been posted by the state Board of Elections.

The disclosure statement was due 27 days following the Nov. 2, 2021 election. When that period passed without the post report, two attorneys filed a formal complaint against Kim with the state Board of Elections. Michael Brandi was one of the attorneys who had sent a letter to the state Board of Elections Enforcement Counsel.

Tuesday morning, following the posting of the report, Brandi said: “the complaint has been made and the Board of Elections has the ability to look at the facts and pursue enforcement. What that looks like, the ball is in their court.”
On Jan. 5, the state BOE Enforcement Counsel responded to an email from Saratoga TODAY seeking comment about the status of the matter.  “The disclosure of Enforcement Division materials not only has the potential to impede or obstruct investigations, but potentially undermines principles of fundamental fairness in investigations and prosecutions. Therefore, we do not comment concerning whether the Division received complaints, the status of complaints, or whether investigations are undertaken.” Signed: Michael L. Johnson, Chief Enforcement Counsel.  

Late last month Kim told the Times Union that he had filed his post-election report, but a technical issue prevented it from being viewed.

Campaign finance disclosure statements for candidates may be found at: the NYS Board of Elections campaign finance page.

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