BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation to honor and memorialize the life of Spc. Abigail Rose “Abby” Jenks, who was killed in April while participating in an Airborne training operation from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter over Sicily Drop Zone in Fort Bragg

Jenks, of the Town of Wilton, grew up in the Greenfield-Saratoga area and was a 2018 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School. She enlisted in the U.S. Army and entered active duty in October 2018

In addition to the reading of the proclamation Tuesday, Wilton Supervisor John Lant presented to members of Jenks’ family the flag that was flown for 30 days in honor of Jenks at the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. 

Jenks was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Parachutist Badge.  Spc. Jenks was also posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

• The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services updates its reportage of county level COVID data once a week, on Mondays. 

July’s data, Saratoga County, by posting date:
July 6 – Positive tests previous 7 days: 7. Avg. positivity: 0.30%. Active Cases: 10.  Hospitalized: 1.
July 12 – Positive tests previous 7 days: 16. Avg. positivity: 0.70%. Active Cases: 16.  Hospitalized: 1.
July 19 – Positive tests previous 7 days: 54. Avg. positivity: 1.90%. Active Cases: 46.  Hospitalized: 2.

The NYS DOH tracks data daily in all 62 New York State counties. As of its July 21 posting, the 7-day average positivity rate in Saratoga County was 2.2%.  That rate ranks sixth highest in the state, just behind Essex (3.0%), Cattaraugus (2.7%), Greene (2.6%), and Warren and Schoharie (2.5%) counties.

In terms of vaccinations, just over 150,000 of Saratoga’s 230,000 county residents – 65.4% of the overall county population – have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 

“The county is doing very well on vaccinations (and) the good news is that the hospitalizations haven’t spiked, the fatalities haven’t spiked,” said Malta Supervisor Darren O’Connor, who on Tuesday was publicly named Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee. 

What impact the Delta variant has on the country in general and Saratoga County specifically remains to be seen. 

“It’s disturbing to see that uptick on the graph for infections and doubly concerning because we’re in late July and the fall is on the horizon,” O’Connor said. “And we know what happened last year in the fall, so we’re just hoping with the vaccinations being really effective – even against this Delta variant – that we’re not going to go back in to a place where we were.” 

The Saratoga County Public Health Services Department announced this week it will offer free community pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the following times and locations: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday, July 23 through Sunday, July 25 at the Saratoga County Fair, next to the Sheriff’s Department, Gate 5 – Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson available; 4 -6 p.m. Thursday, July 29 at Stewarts, 208 Broad St. in Schuylerville – Johnson & Johnson available; 10 – 11:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 6 at Living Hope United Methodist Church, 126 Middletown Rd in Waterford – Johnson & Johnson available. 

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose series authorized for use in individuals ages 12 and older. The Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is a single dose series authorized for use in individuals ages 18 and older. Those who receive the Pfizer vaccine will be scheduled to get their second dose at the Saratoga County Public Health office on a later date.

The vaccines are free and neither proof of insurance nor pre-registration is required.  Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. In addition to community Pop-Up clinics, SCPHS regularly offers vaccination to residents at its facility in Ballston Spa. For more information call 518-584-7460 Extension 8327. 

• Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Kusnierz announced the replacement of Supervisor Tara Gaston as both Chair and Member of the Health & Human Services Committee with the appointments of Supervisor Darren O’Connor and Supervisor Sandra Winney, respectively, in those positions through the end of the calendar year. Kusnierz also announced the replacement of Gaston as member of the Law & Finance Committee with Supervisor Joseph Grasso.       

• The Board approved a resolution that authorized the execution of agreements for the provision of School Resource Officer services with the following school districts: Ballston Spa Central School District, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District, Corinth Central School District, Galway Central School District, Mechanicville City School District, Schuylerville Central School District, South Glens Falls Central School District and Shenendehowa Central School District, and Saratoga Springs City School District for the assignment of Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department Road Patrol Deputies as School Resource Officers.

Previous school district agreements expired on June 30, 2021. The renewal of each agreement provides up to 12 Road Patrol Deputies to the school districts, subject to each school district agreeing to be pay to the County $74,093.75 per assigned Deputy Sheriff serving in the capacity of School Resource Officer for 2021-2022 school year to cover the school district’s pro-rata share of the County’s employee, transportation, equipment and patrol car costs for each assigned deputy.

The agreement commences with the 2021-2022 school year and is subject to the approval of the County Attorney and the Saratoga County Sheriff.

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County officials this week announced its Office of Emergency Services is hosting a contest with cash prizes for those who help locate AEDs around the county. The contest, in partnership with the EMS Council, is an effort to grow the county’s automatic external defibrillator (AED) database. 

Contestants are asked to locate and upload photos and information of AEDs around the county using the PulsePoint AED app.  The contest runs through Aug. 13. 

Cash prizes will be awarded to the five people who register the most AEDs located in Saratoga County and will be distributed as follows: $300 for first place; $200 for second place; $150 each for third, fourth and fifth place. The initiative is funded through grants from PulsePoint and the EMS Council, each providing $950. 

PulsePoint works in the background at the computer-aided 911 dispatch center. When the call-taker verifies the location and determines there is a sudden cardiac emergency in a public location, PulsePoint automatically notifies CPR-trained individuals within a quarter-mile of the event. The PulsePoint AED app provides visual directions to the emergency along with the location of nearby AEDs.

According to Saratoga County OES statistics, on average, there are 35 cardiac arrest events in Saratoga County each month with 10 of them happening in a public location. The OES currently has 251 AEDs registered throughout the county and estimates there are more than 2,000 in total throughout Saratoga County. Most AEDs are located in schools, businesses, stores, fitness centers and restaurants.

To enter the contest, individuals must download the PulsePoint app and register with the OES.  To register for the contest use this link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/AEDcontest. To learn more about PulsePoint use this link: www.pulsepoint.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — At City Hall on July 29, the Planning Board is considering an advisory opinion to the City Council on the final draft of the Unified Development Ordinance.

A Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is a tool which combines traditional zoning and subdivision regulations, along with other development standards for items such as design guidelines, storm water management, signs and street standards into one, easy-to-read reference document. It is intended to eliminate redundant or conflicting code provisions, help to streamline the review and approval process and clarify the steps and requirements with clear illustrations and language. 

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Casino Hotel is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a Blood Drive on Monday, July 26. Members of the local community are urged to join dozens of Saratoga Casino Hotel team members to give blood from noon to 6 p.m. inside the hotel ballroom. 

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now. The Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demands as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries. 

Donors who give now will help stock the shelves for the rest of the summer season. Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code SARATOACASINO, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. 

To thank donors who help refuel the blood and platelet supply during the blood drive, all will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card via email, $5 gift card to Fat Paulie’s Delicatessen in Saratoga Springs, an automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value), and a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm. For more information and details on the giveaways visit rcblood.org/fuel and rcblood.org/CedarFair. 

Over the past decade, Saratoga Casino Hotel blood drives have collected over 1,100 pints of blood. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city announced that last week, on the Railroad Run off of West Circular Street, an adult woman was bitten by a fox as she was walking. Incidents involving an aggressive fox were reported off of North Broadway this past week as well. 

The city says these types of actions by foxes are unusual and a reminder, is urging the public to exercise caution, should they come in contact with wildlife: 

Please be cognizant of unusual animal behavior and stay safe. Should you believe you are bitten or exposed to a sick wild animal, make sure to seek proper medical advice. The NYS Department of Environmental Services (EnCon Police) is aware of these incidents and report that these are likely gray foxes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Commander Raymond Gamicchia relieved Cmdr. Phillip Boice as Commanding Officer, Naval Support Activity Saratoga Springs. 

Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, presided over the ceremony and commended Boice for his leadership of the installation over the past two years, noting his accomplishments not only navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, but praising his work with local community leaders and stakeholders to ensure installation mission effectiveness during a historic time for NSA Saratoga Springs.

Boice, who served as commanding officer since August 2019 departs for his next assignment as the Surface Operations Officer for Carrier Strike Group 9 in San Diego.

Gamicchia, a Detroit native, most recently served as the Assistant Reactor Officer for USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) since July 2018.

“Everyone talks about how beautiful Saratoga Springs is, but it didn’t take long to realize that it is actually the people here that make this such a special place,” said Gamicchia as he addressed the sailors and staff of the installation. “Continue on with your high standards. Hold yourself and each other to these standards every day. Challenge yourself to find ways to make things better and focus on bettering yourselves every day.”

NSA Saratoga Spring’s mission is to deliver consistently efficient and effective shore readiness and operational support to the fleet, fighter, family and perform host command functions in support of supported commands and the military community.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council this week unanimously approved a bond resolution for the improvements of city security measures, that were “planned in light of recent events and long-term challenges in specific city locations,” according to city documents. The approval authorizes the issuance of $214,188 in bonds to finance the purchases and installation of additional cameras and analytics to increase safety and security in Congress Park and key city streetscapes. Details about the types of cameras and their placement in the city are anticipated to be announced in the near future. 

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“We’re seeing substantial improvements in city revenues”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Citing significant venues such as the Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Performing Arts Center reopening and the ability of restaurants and other businesses to welcome an increasingly number of consumers, there are early indications that the city is rebounding from the pandemic afflicted budget crunch of 2020.

“We’re seeing substantial improvements in city revenues as a result,” Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan said this week. 

Sales tax year-to-date revenue collected through the end of May are running 36% higher than in 2020, and 10% higher than in 2019. In mid-October, the city will receive reports for the months of June, July and August.

“We’ve got a new projection based on data received of potentially $14.5 million coming in in sales tax revenue – which is a lot more than what we received even in 2019. So, we’re trending well, which is good.” 

Mortgage Tax YTD amounts collected from October 2020 through June 2021 are running 60% higher than 2020, and 42% higher than 2019. The $1.56 million collected thus far already exceeds the $1.5 million that was anticipated in the budget. 

”Mortgage tax is performing very, very well for us,” said Madigan, adding that with additional mortgage tax revenue expected, total projections are being upped to $1.9 million. 

Occupancy Tax amounts collected the first two quarters “remain low, but are improving.” 

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Year-to-date collections are 40% higher than in 2020 and are projected to exceed the $338,000 initially budgeted. A new projection has been set at $375,000. “(But) that does tell you that the City Center is probably not doing so well since that is one of their main revenue drivers as well as Discover Saratoga. Hotels are booked right now, so we’re anticipating some occupancy tax coming from that.” 

As a result of the uptick in revenue, the 2021 budget has been increased to cover an increase of police officers, overtime adjustments and citywide security measures – totaling about $1.4 million, and reinstated 2021 employee contracts based on MOU’s the council approved Tuesday – which will total about $1.1 million. The amendments will occur mid-to-late Autumn, Madigan said.    

“Right now, revenues are looking very positive, and it gives us the ability to adjust some of our expense lines.” 

• MLK Saratoga donated $1,500 to be used for siting a memorial bench near the War Memorial Pavilion in Congress Park. 

The bench, in memory of longtime Saratoga Springs resident Lt. Clarence Dart will hold a plaque that remembers Dart as a husband, father and community leader, and notes his role as a Tuskegee Airman, a World War II fighter pilot, Congressional Gold Medal, recipient. Dart died in 2012 and members of his family attended Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall. 

• The council approved putting up for sale two parcels the city owns at the southwest corner of Caroline and Henry streets, adjacent to the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The property is comprised of 0.17 acres and is currently used as a parking lot. 

The property was appraised by the city at $500,000 and that will be the minimum bid accepted. Bids may be received by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at which time the sealed bids will be publicly opened and read.     

• Commissioner Robin Dalton requested the council recommend members for a COVID-19 Memorial Committee. Once formed, the group will suggest a location and design of a memorial that will recognize the more than 60 city residents whose lives were lost due to the disease, as well as recognize the efforts of first responders to protect the public health of the city.    

1st Place: Lifestyles of Saratoga – Lifestyles’ “Queen of Saratoga” themed window honors Marylou Whitney.
2nd Place: Tailgate and Party – Street mural depicting a bright scene of galloping horses and jockeys inspired by the Saratoga Race Course.
3rd Place: G. Willikers – “And they’re at the gate…” Playful display of toy horses “at the gate.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Downtown Saratoga welcomed racing fans back to the city with a creative racing-themed contest for local business owners – and the results are in.

The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association has recognized the winners of the Celebrate Saratoga window decorating contest, sponsored by NYRA. Participating local businesses in downtown Saratoga decorated their storefronts in a racing theme for the contest. 

“The collaboration between the Downtown Business Association and NYRA represents the community collaboration that is so important in a city like ours,” said Heidi Owen-West, Vice President of the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association. 

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The decorations were judged on July 14 by volunteer judges Liz Bishop, Walt Adams, and Tom Durkin. The winners were announced during opening weekend at the track, on Saturday, July 17, in the winner’s circle. 

First place went to Lifestyles of Saratoga, who won two tickets to the Rail at 1863 club, including buffet and lunch. Second place went to Tailgate and Party, who won two Clubhouse Reserved Seats. And, third place went to G. Willikers, who won two Grandstand Reserved Seats. 

Owen-West, who is also the owner of Lifestyles of Saratoga, and her team decorated their storefront as a tribute to Marylou Whitney. There was no racing season in 2020, following her passing in 2019, and so Owen-West and her team came up with the idea to honor her.

“It feels great winning, but most important were the comments,” said Owen-West. “People have walked in and choked up with tears and thanked us for our tribute to Marylou Whitney. It really feels like Saratoga is back and racing again.”

Other participating downtown locations included: Celtic Treasures, Complexions Spa, Crafters Gallery, Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs. Impressions of Saratoga, Saratoga Dance, Saratoga National Bank, Saratoga Saddlery, Saratoga Tea and Honey, Spoken Boutique, The Dark Horse Mercantile, and Walt and Whitman Brewing. 

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