SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city this week discussed legislation signed March 31 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo legalizing adult-use cannabis. 

The new law in New York legalizes use and possession of cannabis of up to three ounces for those over 21 and older. 

”I realize our last City Council meeting was actually on 4/20, and if I had been more clever I would have discussed this then,” quipped city attorney Vince DeLeonardis, referencing the April 20 or 4/20 so-called national holiday for cannabis culture. 

DeLeonardis told the council that multiple state agencies are being established to administer programs, issue licenses, and investigate and enforce infractions related to cannabis. The agencies include the NYS Cannabis Control Board and the Office of Cannabis Management. 

“This is anticipated to be very similar as to how the state regulates alcohol through the State Liquor Authority,” DeLeonardis said. 

Besides the newly legislated use and possession of cannabis in New York, the law allows for retail dispensaries and on-site consumption establishments, but those are not expected to take place until at least late 2022. Municipalities do have the ability to opt-out of allowing these, but to do so they must adopt a Local Law by Dec. 31, 2021, which will also be subject to a public referendum. 

Revenue-wise, there will be a 4% tax imposed upon the cannabis, with 3% of that 4% coming to the city.  In other words, if the city of Saratoga Springs does not opt-out it would receive 75% of the 4% tax, and Saratoga County would receive the other 25%. 

That 4/20 designation, according to an article published by Time magazine in 2018, traces back to five students at a Marin County, California high school, who in the early 1970s would say “420” to each other as code for marijuana, in advance of their meeting at 4:20 p.m. by a campus statue “to partake.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco was joined by the City Arborist, Steve Lashomb, and NYSDEC Regional Forester for Region 5, Jeff Speich, today, to celebrate Arbor Day with the planting of a new tree on Broadway. 

The City of Saratoga Springs has been recognized as a Tree City USA, since 2017, by the Arbor Day Foundation, and the planting of this new tree acknowledged the City’s continued commitment to its urban forest.

“The City of Saratoga Springs has demonstrated a real commitment toward protecting and promoting our urban forest. This has included investment from both the City and our community partners. DPW established a successful program managed by City Arborist and Urban Forestry Division to support the Urban Forestry Master Plan and ensure that city trees are maintained and cared for,” said Scirocco, in a statement.

The Tree City USA program, administered by the Arbor Day Foundation, designates municipalities following the review of their investment and maintenance to the urban tree canopy. The program requires spending of at least $2 per capita on urban forestry. Saratoga Springs budgets approximately $11 per capita to manage its urban forest.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — We can learn a lot from one another, even if we may never meet. So, what is daily life like for you?

The Saratoga Springs Public Library has launched a project to connect New Yorkers across the diverse state landscape through the act of letter-writing. 

The project was inspired by Sue Johnson, who first brought the idea to the Saratoga Springs Public Library a year ago after having participated in a similar program from Oregon Humanities called, “Dear Stranger” –   a project which since 2014 has seen almost 1,000 people exchange letters. 

Dear New Yorker is a creative writing project that allows people living in and around New York state to create connections through writing letters to other New Yorkers.  Saratoga Springs Public Library is the host of the project. 

Here’s how it works: Participants pen a letter, send it to the library and then the library will match it and send it off to another letter writer.  Volunteers will log and keep track of correspondences, but all participant addresses will be kept confidential and not shared with other participants. The only thing the letter recipient will get is your first name and letter – no contact information.

{loadmoduleid 268}

Participating in the project means someone in the state will receive your letter and you will receive one from someone else. The anonymous exchange provides the opportunity to share experiences about life across many miles.

“What’s a day in the life in your town? What do you like about it? What makes your town unique?” Johnson says. “Our state is so diverse, and in so many ways.” 

The project recognizes that a lot can be learned from our neighbors across the state, even if we may never meet one another.

While participants in the project may eventually have the opportunity to exchange addresses, all letters will be exchanged anonymously. “Strictly anonymous, unless the two parties decide they want to carry on and write to each other,” Johnson says. The letters participants receive will come from the library’s address, to ensure participant addresses are kept confidential. 

Interested in taking part? Here are some guidelines: include your full name and address on the envelope you send to the library so the library knows who to send a letter back to. Do NOT include your address on the letter itself and please do NOT include offensive language or inappropriate topics. Once you have written your letter, mail the letter to: Saratoga Springs Public Library c/o J. Ogrodowski/Dear NYer, 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

For more information: https:guides.sspl.org/dearnyer

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A three-week auction of the county-owned building at 31 Woodlawn Ave. recently concluded. The high bidder for the building, which once housed the DMV, was identified as the Adirondack Trust Company. The bid is for $2.8 million. County approval of the sale of the building is expected to take place later this month, city Supervisor Matt Veitch said. 

Click Here: Battleground Fitness to Expand This June

Saratoga County — The Saratoga County History Center participated in the statewide “Spring Cleaning” activities along New York State Canal System, April 24-25.  Scheduled to honor Earth Day 2021, this multi-community celebration is the product of a partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York. 

On Saturday, April 24, trustees, staff, and members of the History Center teamed-up with the Quaker Springs Country Kids 4-H Club to clean-up the Old Champlain Towpath Canal Trail in the towns of Saratoga and Stillwater.  The following day, History Center folks were joined by New York State Senator Daphne Jordan (R, C, I-Halfmoon), Saratoga Deputy Town Supervisor Michael McLaughlin, and students from the Notre Dame Visitation Church School to restore the March to Surrender Canal Trail in Saratoga.

Beginning with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the 524-mile New York State Canal System is comprised of four waterways: the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego, and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals.  The Canalway Trail System saw increased use in 2020, with nearly 3.9 million visits to the 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail, a more than 30% increase over 2019. 

For openers, this year’s Kentucky Derby will be different from past Derbies. This Derby will prohibit use of race-day medications, a decision not without some controversy.  How some runners react to racing 10- furlongs for the first time without medication is a new known unknown for fans and bettors. The industry’s goal, however, is to ban the use of race day medications by 2022.

A full field of 20 will again meet the starter. Contention begins with prep race winners and moves to “sneaky good” non-winners. Note, however, that the public’s “live” odds board continues to be a most reliable predictor of both contention and results. The winner will most likely emerge from among the public’s first 7-8 betting choices. 

Post positions and morning line odds in ascending order:

14) Essential Quality 2-1
15) Rock Your World 5-1
  1) Known Agenda 6-1
  9) Hot Rod Charlie 6-1
17) Highly Motivated 10-1
  8) Medina Spirit 15-1
  7) Mandaloun 15-1
  6) O Besos 20-1
11) Dynamic One 20-1
16) King Fury 20-1
10) Midnight Bourbon 20-1
19) Soup and Sandwich 30-1
18) Super Stock 30-1
20) Bourbonic 30-1
  2) Like the King 50-1
  3) Brooklyn Strong 50-1
  4) Keepmeinmind 50-1
  5) Sainthood 50-1
12) Helium 50-1
13) Hidden Stash 50-1

Line favorite (14) Essential Quality is talented but was all out in the Blue Grass chasing the length of the stretch to win over a tiring rival. For me, that is also a knock against the one he beat (17) Highly Motivated.  (16) Rock Your World easily defeated (8) Medina Spirit in the Santa Anita Derby, pressed by that rival before spurting clear. Florida Derby winner (1) Known Agenda is talented, but a one-paced grinder possibly hampered breaking inside and forced to race in and among rivals throughout. Louisiana Derby winner (9) Hot Rod Charlie is well posted to use his natural speed and tactical ability to secure good position and clear running. His win in the one mile and three-sixteenths Louisiana Derby was impressive. (8) Medina Spirit will be supported because of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey John Velazquez. This colt does not, however, have near the talent of Baffert’s recent Derby and Triple Crown Winners. (7) Mandaloun‘s defeat in the Louisiana Derby might be a sign he has peaked. (6) O Besos closed powerfully from the rear in that Louisiana Derby, and a repeat puts him in the mix. (11) Dynamic One, also trained by Pletcher, did everything but win the Wood Memorial when jockey Jose Ortiz did not see closing winner (20) Bourbonic rallying to his outside. 

So, I have knocks against the 1st and 5th morning linemakers choices. That leaves me with (9) Hot Rod Charlie, (16) Rock Your World, (11) Dynamic One, (6) O Besos, and (1) Known Agenda as my “key” horses, with questions surrounding both (8) Medina Spirit and (7) Mandaloun.

Statistics support the winner emerging from the first 7-8 public betting choices. Start with Morning Line odds. Then follow “live” odds, which will not change much from start to finish. Stick with the first 7-8 choices and you will most likely find the winner. But stats are predictors, not determiners. And Derby winners Victory Gallup, Thunder Gulch, Giacomo and Mine That Bird were among the longest odds when they won their Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Fun Facts

147^th running at Churchill Downs Racetrack Louisville, KY

30K – Number of attendees expected for the 2021 Kentucky Derby (half capacity due to COVID-19). Plenty will also view from home; 8.3M people watched the race on TV last year.

$126M – Total amount wagered on the 2020 Kentucky Derby (50% less than in 2019).

$805M – Sales of thoroughbred horses in 2020
(down 26% from 2019).

$3M – Kentucky Derby purse guaranteed by Churchill Downs Racetrack

$200K – Estimated value of the
Kentucky Derby Trophy

$350K – 2018 auction price of 2020 Kentucky Derby champ, Authentic

$1.86M – The winner’s share in 2021

$1.2M – Won on a $18 bet on a series of races in 2018 (second largest in Derby history!)

90% – Of female attendees wear a hat to the Kentucky Derby. High-end Derby hats cost $500-1,000 and can take up to 7 days to make. The most expensive Derby hat cost $3M!

120K – Mint Juleps are served during the Kentucky Derby weekend.

$3.4B – Horse racingís economic impact on Kentucky

$2.7M – Raised for charity by the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation since 2005

1875 – Year of the first Kentucky Derby making it the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the U.S.

400+ – Red roses are used to create the winner blankets; a tradition since 1896

1:59:40 – The fastest finish time in Kentucky Derby history by Secretariat in 1973

15 – Age of the youngest jockeys to win the Derby: Alonzo Clayton (1892) and James Perkins (1895). The oldest winning jockey was age 54: Bill Shoemaker (1986).

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Hospital has been named one of “The World’s Best Hospitals 2021” by Newsweek—a distinction earned by just six hospitals in the state. Other “World’s Best” facilities in New York are The Mount Sinai Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian, and NYU Langone Hospitals, all in New York City; North Shore University Hospital on Long Island and Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

“The 2,000 hospitals named in this list—which covers 25 countries, including United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada —stand out for their consistent excellence, including distinguished physicians, top-notch nursing care and state-of-the-art technology,” writes Nancy Cooper, Global Editor-in-Chief for Newsweek, whose rankings appear in the magazines April 27,2021 edition. 

Saratoga Hospital ranks number 162 on the list and is the only community hospital in the state to make the list. 

“We are in great company, and it’s all because of our amazing team,” said Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO, in a statement. “Regardless of their role or department, our team members put patient care and satisfaction above all else. That’s what it means to be part of Saratoga Hospital, and the results are obvious—in the excellent care we provide, our investments in technology, and our emphasis on kindness and customer service with our patients, visitors and each other.”

The Newsweek ranking lists the best hospitals based on three data sources: recommendations from medical experts, results from patient surveys and medical key performance indicators for hospitals.

Saratoga Hospital was the first in the Capital Region to be awarded Magnet recognition for nursing excellence and has maintained Magnet status since 2004. The hospital also is a U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Hospital for 2020-2021. Last year, Saratoga Hospital received international attention for its research and success in demonstrating that community hospitals could use pooled testing for COVID-19 to save time, preserve scarce resources and improve safety for patients and staff.

For the full Newsweek rankings visit The World’s Best Hospitals 2021 at www.newsweek.com/best-hospitals-2021/united-states. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Approximately 120,000 Saratoga County residents – just over half the total county population – have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and of those more than 91,000 have completed the vaccine series. 

Those numbers match similarly to the percent of the vaccinated population in neighboring Albany, Schenectady, and Warren counties. Under that 50% threshold: about 47% of Rensselaer County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and about 38% in Washington County have done so, as of April 28.   

“We’ve reached the point locally where our (vaccine) supply is appearing to be greater than the demand. We’ve had some openings and that hasn’t happened in a long time,” said Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston, who is also chair of the Saratoga County Health Committee. 

 “What we’re looking at now is: Where is the population that wants the vaccine, but hasn’t been able to access it – and what are the barriers? We’ve started working on some things – farm workers, migrant workers, groups like food pantry workers and those who just don’t have the time to find a spot and then arrange to go there twice,” Gaston said. 

“We’re also looking at whether a business or a certain community needs it, where are there 50 or 100 people.  We’ve done the stats from around the county and I’m working directly with the supervisors in those zip codes with the lowest rates. Do we need a POD (Point of Dispensing) in your town? Why aren’t people getting vaccinated and what can we do to get there?”

The CDC issued new mask guidelines on April 27, easing restrictions for people who are vaccinated. The CDC considers people fully vaccinated as two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. 

Following a thorough safety review, the CDC on April 23 determined that a recommended pause regarding the use of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine in the U.S. should be lifted and use of the vaccine should resume. The pause was recommended April 13 after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of that specific vaccine.

In the case of COVID-19 infections, the greater Capital Region, as well as Saratoga County specifically, remain under 2% over a 7-day average of those tested. That infection rate peaked at about 10% in early January. 

Currently those aged 16 and over are eligible for a vaccine. Pfizer has asked for authorization for 12-to 15-year-olds, which may be an opportunity for a mass vaccination site, such as the City Center, which officials in the county had considered as a potential site, but which has yet to be used in that purpose. “That might be an opportunity for a mass site because obviously as many school kids as we can get vaccinated prior to the fall, the safer our schools are going to be,” Gaston said. 

Earlier this month, the Saratoga Springs School District announced a temporary pause of in-person instruction at the high school due to an increase in the number of positive reported COVID-19 cases. A total of 90 positive COVID-19 cases were reported at the high school in the 7-month period between Sept. 8 and April 13. By comparison, 26 positive COVID-19 cases were reported at the high school in the two- week period from April 14 to April 27. The majority of the positive case results were in mid-month, with only 3 of the 26 from April 21-27. 

To find available vaccine appointments at state-run websites go to: am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov. To find available vaccine appointment at other sites, go to: vaccinefinder.org. 

After meeting the fully vaccinated criteria, New York residents may sign up for digital proof of their being fully vaccinated via the New York State Excelsior Pass. For more information about the Excelsior Pass, see Saratoga Today’s story last week at: saratogatodaynewspaper.com/home/item/13457-summer-outlook-a-safe-reopening-states-debate-venues-post-protocols. 

At its meeting on April 28 the county Health and Human Services Department announced it had used nearly all $1 million authorized in March 2020 by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors to be directed to battling the spread of COVID-19. The current funds remaining – approximately $15,000 – are expected to cover expenses into May. The department estimated an additional $600,000 will be needed to cover new costs through July. Those funds may come via a county transfer. About $500,000 in reclaimable costs that were spent have been sent to FEMA and other entities for reimbursement, but there is no indication when that funding may potentially come. The department also announced it will not seek, at this time, to renew a $2,000 per-week contract with the Saratoga Springs City Center that was in effect in the possibility the center would be used as a mass vaccination site. The contract expires April 30.

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors this week launched the Saratoga County Women in Government Leadership Program, an initiative designed to educate high school girls about with the functions and responsibilities of local government and inspire them to take on leadership roles at the local level. 

The program was launched by the three women on the Board of Supervisors: Jean Raymond, of the Town of Edinburgh, Tara N. Gaston of the City of Saratoga Springs, and Sandra Winney of the Town of Providence. New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul provided a recorded statement during the event, to help introduce the new program. 

“We need more women present in all levels of government, and there’s no better place to begin one’s public service journey that at the county level,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. 

The program, developed in coordination with Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, will engage participants on topics including setting goals, overcoming obstacles, and building confidence. Saratoga County government women in leadership roles will apply these lessons to their experiences in local government. 

“Representation and engagement lead to better communities,” said Supervisor Tara N. Gaston, City of Saratoga Springs. “These experiences and relationships gained will benefit Saratoga County, whether or not these young women end up in public service.”

Approximately 20 participants will participate in the first year, with selection based on an application including responses to short answer questions about what they hope to get out of the program and who they see as examples of leadership in their own lives. Applications will be forwarded to the Supervisors of their town/city, and each Supervisor will select one participant. 

Locally, dating back to 1990, four of the past eight city mayors in Saratoga Springs have been women, and the majority of the current City Council is comprised of women. 

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Women’s Leadership Council will work with Saratoga County to develop the program as a pilot that can be expanded to counties across the state. For more information about The NYSAC Women’s Leadership Council, go to: nysac.org/womensleadership.