SARATOGA SPRINGS — Congressman Paul Tonko announced last week that five local projects totaling $19.955 million that he pushed for to receive federal funding have been advanced out of the House of Representatives, as part of a major infrastructure package, the INVEST in America Act. 

The Capital Region infrastructure projects passed out of House include: $6 million for the purchase of eight CDTA electric buses, $5.7 million for a continuous bicycle and pedestrian route that will connect the Cities of Watervliet and Troy and $1.055 million for Bicycle & Pedestrian Access Improvements for the town of Clifton Park.   

The measure passed by a vote of 221-201, largely along party lines with two Republicans – Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and New Jersey U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith voting alongside 219 Democrats. 

The House of Representatives also passed lifesaving limo safety measures authored by Tonko – a Democrat who represents the 20th Congressional District, following the 2018 Schoharie limo crash that took the lives of 20 people. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, announced a bill she sponsored to create an Opioid Settlement Fund has been signed into law. The bill ensures opioid settlement money is used to assist those struggling with addiction through substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery programs.

“The ongoing opioid epidemic has had heartbreaking and deadly effects on families across the state, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified the struggle for individuals with substance use disorders,” said Woerner, in a statement. “Social isolation and economic hardships have taken their toll on most of us, but those suffering from addictions have also been cut off from in-person counseling and treatment programs during the pandemic. The new Opioid Settlement Fund to ensure that funds recovered by New York from the manufacturers of harmful drugs are invested in services that will prevent addiction, reduce harm from addiction and support people in recovery. This legislation gives us a chance to fund the programs that are necessary to support those on the road to recovery.”

The Opioid Settlement Fund will ensure any money the state receives from these settlements is used only for eligible expenditures, including substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery programs and public education campaigns to combat the epidemic. Additionally, the new law prohibits these funds from being used to supplant or replace existing state or federal funds that would be used for prevention, treatment and recovery programs or services. 

For anyone living with an opioid or other substance abuse addiction in need of help, the confidential New York State HOPEline can be reached 24/7 at 1-877-8-HOPENY or by texting HOPENY. 

Saratoga Springs — After months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center reopened to the public Thursday, July 8.

“We couldn’t be happier to reopen the Visitor Center,” said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga. “With summer travel heating up and COVID-19 restrictions lifted, it’s critical to have a place in our community where locals and visitors alike can go to gain important information about our city.”

The Heritage Area Visitor Center has adjusted its hours to Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Unvaccinated individuals are asked to maintain social distancing and wear a mask while inside the building.

Discover Saratoga has plans to offer community programs at the Heritage Area Visitor Center throughout the summer, including the ever-popular Summer Concert Series in historic Congress Park. This free, family-friendly event will take place Sundays in July (July 11-25) and Tuesdays in August (August 3-24) from 7-8:30 p.m. Complete concert series schedule to be released soon.

Guided walking tours are available Tuesday-Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. outside the Heritage Area Visitor Center and are led by experienced guides. Tours can be booked online at www.walkingsaratoga.com, by phone at 518-832-3796 or by email at walkingsaratoga@gmail.com. The cost is $20 per person and children under 12 are free. Tours are appropriate for the entire family.

For more information, please visit discoversaratoga.org/saratoga-springs-visitor-center.

MOREAU — The Friends of Moreau Lake State Park, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity, is conducting a survey of members and non-members with assistance from the New York Council of Nonprofits as part of a capacity-building grant from Parks and Trails New York.  The deadline for completion of the survey is July 14. 

The survey can be found directly at friendsofmoreaulake.org.  It should take about 10 minutes to complete.  Members who take the survey can enter a raffle to win a Stewart’s gift card, and non-members can enter a raffle to win free membership.  The survey will enhance the ability to carry out the organization’s mission: to partner with Moreau Lake State Park to enrich the experience for every park visitor through education, events, and stewardship. 

SARATOGA COUNTY — CAPTAIN Community Human Services and its partners kicked off this year’s Free Summer Meals Program on Wednesday, June 7, at Mechanicville Elementary School. 

On average, families spend $316 more on food during the summer months according to No Kid Hungry and the Center for Best Practices. The summer months also bring additional costs for childcare or summer camp for youth that would otherwise be in school. 

According to No Kid Hungry, offering free summer meals not only improves physical health, but can have benefits for mental and emotional well-being. In addition, the program has long-term impacts, including increased high school graduation rates and reduced number of chronic disease. 

The Free Summer Meals Program has been provided by CAPTAIN CHS since 1991, originating at the Community Outreach Center, Cheryl’s Lodge. It wasn’t until United Way of the Greater Capital Region funding was available that CAPTAIN CHS was able to expand and begin serving all of Saratoga County. In 2020, CAPTAIN CHS served over 17,000 meals throughout Saratoga County. 

Managed by the NYS Department of Education under the direction of and through funding from the USDA, this year Free Summer Meals will be provided to youth 18 and under at 20 different locations in Saratoga County through Sept. 3. Open site locations include Cheryl’s Lodge, D&R Village, the Greenfield Community Center, Kayadeross Acres, Louden Oaks, Malta Gardens, the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Mechanicville Housing Authority/JS Moore Homes, North Pointe Apartments, Park Avenue Playground, Pyramid Pines, Saratoga Hills, Saratoga Village, the Schuylerville Public Library, and the Waterford Town Pool. Other sites are available to local children in designated areas. All open sites are listed on the CAPTAIN CHS website at www.captaincares.org/summermeals or families can call 518-371-1185 for more information. 

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local organization Youth² – Youth Helping Youth will be holding a Community Care Pop-UP for feminine hygiene products on Saturday, July 10 at 112 Spring Street from 2-4 p.m. 

Many women struggle to get vital products because they aren’t covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) and instead they have to use their own money to buy the products. Youth² is trying to help out by collecting pads and tampons and distributing them between local organizations – CAPTAIN (Community Action Programs for Teens and Interested Neighbors), Wellspring, and the Oakwood Community Center Food Pantry – to help the women who need these products.

CAPTAIN aids runaway teens. Another organization that will be receiving the products is Oakwood Community Center Food Pantry in Troy, that distributes food, hygiene products, and more throughout the community. The last organization is Wellspring in Saratoga Springs, which takes in women and children that are victims of domestic abuse. Youth² is also looking for a contact to link them to a correctional facility or jail that is in need of feminine hygiene products for their incarcerated women.

If you want to help by purchasing feminine hygiene products (boxes of pads or tampons) or $5 gift cards from Price Chopper, CVS, Target, or Wal-Mart, simply drop them off at the 112 Spring Street parking lot (rain or shine).  It will be a Covid-19 safe drop-off. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation hosts a tour of the historic west side on the 4th of July. 

At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, George DeMers will lead guests through the restored West Side to learn about Saratoga’s Irish and Italian immigrants as well as the black community who helped shape the district. The tour meets at the entrance of Gideon Putnam Burying Ground located on South Franklin Street.

The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and requires walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours will be limited to 30 persons and tickets must be purchased in advance.  The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members.  Go to: www.saratogapreservation.org 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Organizers of the Saratoga Book Festival (SBF) announced that despite the festival’s cancellation last year due to the pandemic, they will welcome a live audience for author sessions and panels this fall. Russell Banks will provide the opening keynote address to kick off the festival on Friday, October 15 at 7 p.m. in the City Center in downtown Saratoga Springs. 

“On Saturday we plan to host upwards of a dozen author events around downtown Saratoga at various venues including the Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Arts, and Caffe Lena,” noted Ellen Beal, Founder and President of SBF. “Our programming committee expects to spotlight emerging local and regional authors, poets, children’s book authors and illustrators, along with some nationally known bestselling authors upstate New York readers love and appreciate. Readers should anticipate a diverse range of authors, genres, and formats like panels, moderated discussions, interactive programs, accompanied by author readings, signings, and more.”

SBF is accepting submissions of ideas for author panels and sessions until July 15. Authors, agents, publishers, and/or publicists are encouraged to send ideas to programming@saratogabookfestival.org, and should include author bio., location, contact information, title, subtitle, publication date, price, page count, press release or galley letter, and ISBN13 for their book(s). 

For more information visit: saratogabookfestival.org. 

BALLSTON SPA — This summer during the months of July and August the First Baptist of Ballston Spa will sponsor a Summer Lunch Program for children living in and around the village.  Nutritious lunches will be made daily and distributed in seven locations. Volunteers are needed to assemble and distribute the lunches. Anyone who is interested in volunteering in some way in making a financial contribution, or in obtaining an application or a menu can contact the church at 518-885-8361 or at bspabaptist202@gmail.com or bspabaptist.org. Please help to impact the children of Ballston Spa in a positive way.