ALBANY — In the final week of legislative session both the state Senate and Assembly unanimously passed the New York State 250th Commemoration Act.

Sponsored by Assembly-member Carrie Woerner and Sen. Shelley B. Mayer, the act is part of a national effort to commemorate the founding of the United States.

When enacted, this legislation will create the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission to develop a plan to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and establish the
250th Commemoration Commission Fund. 

“Passing this legislation is tremendously important for Saratoga County,” said Saratoga County Historian Lauren Roberts.  “The most internationally significant historical event to ever happen within our borders was the surrender of Burgoyne’s Army after the Battles of Saratoga, the Turning Point of the American Revolution. The creation of the NYS 250th Commission will aid local historians and historical sites in commemorating these important events. These types of anniversaries often bring our past to the present, encouraging the public to become engaged with our history and celebrate our sense of place.”

A 13-member commission will be co-chaired by the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Commissioner of the Department of Education, or their designees, and include the New York State Historian as well as stakeholders from across the state with knowledge of history, historic preservation and tourism. They will support and facilitate local efforts by heritage organization, municipalities and others in commemorative planning and programs. 

There will be a focus on the narratives and ensuing struggles of women, people of African descent and indigenous people, whose freedoms and rights during the revolution were far from complete.

The fund’s creation is essential for the state to be eligible to receive funds from the federal Semiquincentennial Commission, created in 2016, and the America250 Foundation, the official nonprofit partner and operational arm of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission.

“With this legislation, New York State will have the framework to plan programs and projects that will recognize the birth of this nation nearly 250 years ago. These benchmarks in time are occasions to celebrate but also to contemplate the enormity of our mutual undertaking to form and nurture a nation that is utterly unique,” said Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake. 

“We can lead the way in this national celebration as New York is emblematic of the diversity of the American experience, encompassing indigenous American nations, the sites of several pivotal events in the birth of the nation, abolitionists and the underground railroad, the crucible of woman’s suffrage, urban immigrants, and generational custodians of farmland, vineyards, and orchards.”

The legislation includes a commitment to economic development through active support for heritage tourism and other local business initiatives, thus generating tax revenues and supporting the local taxpayers. 

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Spa City is the recipient of The Votingest City Award – an award  given to two cities, one small and one large, in New York State, which achieved having the highest percentage of eligible voters who have voted, city Mayor Meg Kelly announced this week. 

Rejoice The Vote – and its Votingest City Award was founded by Jeff Furman, served on the Ben & Jerry’s corporate board for almost 40 years, providing in-house legal counsel and fostering many of the company’s social initiatives. Jerry’s Foundation. 

The city-to-city Votingest City Challenge encourages cities to enter into a lighthearted competition to see who gets the highest percentage of eligible voters to vote and which city is the most improved from 2016 to 2020, according to the organization. 

There are just under 20,000 currently active registered voters in Saratoga Springs, according to the state Board of Elections. 

Rejoice The Vote is dedicated to enhancing voter participation through a combination of honoring those who have dedicated their lives to democracy, to rewarding those doing that work now, and to encourage young people to participate.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A proposed new six-story development that will house 87 multifamily dwelling units and 23 luxury hotel suites on Washington Street is under current review by the city Land Use Boards. Plans call for approximately 100 on-site parking spaces located in two levels of structured parking, one of which would be located on a basement level. The proposed project at 19-23 Washington Street is located just west of Broadway and nestled between an existing Starbucks Coffee Shop, and the Bethesda Episcopal Church and Universal Preservation Hall. 

BALLSTON SPA — Six Saratoga County municipalities will host Primary Elections on Tuesday, June 22. Primary Elections are open only to voters registered with those specific parties holding primaries. Polls are open 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. 

City of Saratoga Springs – Working Families Party Only 

Supervisor (Vote for any two):

Tara Gaston; Bruce Altimer;

Gabriel O’Brien

Polling Place: Saratoga Springs Senior Center, 5 Williams St.

Town of Clifton Park – Conservative Party Only

Town Justice (vote for one):

James Hughes; Jennifer Jeram 

Polling Place: Clifton Park Town Hall, 1 Town Hall Plaza (Clifton Park Center Rd.)

Town of Corinth – Republican Party Only

Supervisor (Vote for one): 

C. Eric Butler; Jeffrey Collura

Council Member (Vote for any two): Joseph Mihalek; Edward Byrnes; Kiley Crooks 

Polling Places, All Districts:

Corinth Town Hall, 600 Palmer Ave.; Methodist Church, 10 Chapman St, Porter Corners

City of Mechanicville – Democratic Party Only

Commissioner of Public Safety (Vote for one): Frederick Hosley, Jr.; Timothy Hipwell

Polling Places, All Districts:

Mechanicville Senior Center, 178 N. Main St.; Mechanicville Housing Authority, 2 Harris Ave, Suite 1

Town of Providence – Republican Party Only

Council Member  (Vote for any two): 

Audrey LaHoff; William Hartman; Adrian VanHall; Paul Munchbach

Polling Place: Providence Town Hall, 7187 Barkersville Rd.

Town of Stillwater – Republican Party Only

Town Clerk (Vote for one):

Jennifer Weaver; Danielle Cowin

Polling Place: Stillwater Town Hall, 881 Hudson Ave.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Mayor Meg Kelly named three members to an independent advisory committee, as part of the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Plan 

“The committee has a dual role. Members will research and analyze how a Citizen’s Review Board will be implemented in Saratoga Springs and then provide the council with their findings for deliberation and decision this year,” city Mayor Kelly said on June 1. “The second item is: members will advise the police chief and the commissioner of Public Safety in implementing the recommendations adopted in the resolution.” 

The three members appointed are: Charles “Chuck” Caputo, Kimberly Galvin, and Jason Golub. 

The advisory committee will provide public progress reports of their work at the first regular council meeting each month. Their first report is slated to take place July 6. 

BALLSTON SPA — Mohawk Chevrolet will host the popular Cars and Coffee Show for those looking to experience the area’s best classic and sports vehicles. 

The Sunday morning event will take place at Mohawk Chevrolet’s new location as part of its Grand Opening Weekend at 639 State Route 67, Ballston Spa. The event takes place 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Guests will have the opportunity to browse the classic cars while enjoying live music provided by Riley Williams Acoustics, a Mohawk Chevrolet photobooth station, and complimentary coffee and bagels.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Department of Public Works Commissioner Anthony “Skip” Scirocco announced that work commenced this month on the West Side Playground Sidewalk Replacement Project. The project will replace 2,166 square feet of broken, cracked, and lifted sidewalks along the perimeter of the playground and splash pad area of the park, adjacent to the corner of Division Street and Beekman Street.  $31,100 in capital funding from the Saratoga Springs City School District, as part of a yearly agreement between the two entities, will cover the cost of materials and DPW labor to complete the work.

“This is a great project to provide a much-needed improvement at the West Side Playground so that kids and families have better-quality access to the playground and splash pad,” said Commissioner Scirocco, in a statement. “I’m glad the school district supported this capital project DPW proposed because the playground gets a tremendous amount of use throughout the year and this work was needed.”

Although it is dependent on weather and concrete availability, the project is anticipated to take approximately six weeks. Residents can contact DPW dispatch at 518-584-3356 with any questions.

BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), in cooperation with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is hosting its 15th contactless drive-thru food pantry on Tuesday, June 15. 

The event begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Bank’s corporate offices located at 990 State Route 6, Ballston Spa, and is open to area families and individuals in need of food assistance. Patrons will receive food on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

BSNB employee volunteers will welcome attendees and load boxes of food directly into the trunk of each vehicle. All volunteers will follow CDC guidelines by wearing appropriate masks and gloves while actively practicing social distancing. Thanks to the Regional Food Bank, an anticipated 18,000 pounds of food will be distributed at the event. Items to be distributed include fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats and non-perishable food items.

In addition to volunteer support, a series of matching campaigns initiated by the bank have generated donations from community members totaling $31,000. Combined with support from BSNB, the Regional Food Bank has received more than $101,000 to date to help those challenged with food insecurity in the region. The Bank’s final matching campaign will run from now through June 15. Donations received from the community will again be matched up to a total of $5,000. 

Over the last 13 months, the drive-thru food pantries hosted by BSNB have distributed 252,000 pounds of food and served 13,000 people across the Capital Region. The public is encouraged to support the Regional Food Bank’s continued efforts. Donations under BSNB’s matching campaign will be accepted until June 15. Donate directly via the Regional Food Bank’s donation site and select ‘BSNB Matching Campaign’ as your donation designation. Donors may also make checks payable to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and drop them off at any BSNB banking location or mail to BSNB, ATTN: Regional Food Bank Matching Campaign, PO Box 70, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.