WILTON — There are almost 2,400 acres of protected land in the area that is known as the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. There are also 25 miles of trails to explore. 

The newly created “The Great 8” trail challenge encourages visitors to walk a trail from each of the eight trailheads. This challenge can be completed any time of year, and there is no time limit to when it must be finished, so grab some friends or family and get outdoors today.

Here is how it works: walk a trail from each of the eight trailheads in the Preserve & Park.Record your trips on “The Great 8” challenge checklist. Then, send in your completed checklist to receive a prize. The parcels of land are owned by Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park partners: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Town of Wilton, Saratoga County and The Nature Conservancy.

Bring on your journey: the Challenge Checklist, trail map (all trail maps can be found on wiltonpreserve.org), water and a snack, and bug spray.

For more information, please contact  518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, visit the wiltonpreserve.org  The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The League of Women Voters and The Saratoga Book Festival Host a virtual event with Sally Roesch Wagner, a nationally recognized lecturer and author of The Women’s Suffrage Movement.

The program, which takes place 2 p.m. on Thursday April 29, 

Dr. Wagner’s anthology The Women’s Suffrage Movement, with a Forward by Gloria Steinem (Penguin Classics, 2019), unfolds a new intersectional look at the 19th century woman’s rights movement, and that gives voice to the unsung women who helped shape the suffrage movement, including African American suffragists who faced racism within the movement, and Iroquois women whose society influenced suffragists

Attendees need to register for the event at the Saratoga Springs Public Library website:  sspl.libcal.com/event/7474238?_post_id=1776 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A 38-year-old Schuylerville woman was killed early Sunday after being struck by a vehicle along State Route 9. 

Just prior to 1 a.m. on Sunday, April 18, officers from the Saratoga Springs Police Department responded to State Route 9 just north of the State Park’s East/West Road. The initial report was that a vehicle has struck a pedestrian. 

Officers arrived and located the pedestrian, who has been identified as 38-year-old Lindsey Irish of Schuylerville. The Saratoga Springs Fire Department also responded and provided emergency medical treatment to Irish; however, efforts were unsuccessful. 

Police said their investigation shows that Irish had been walking southbound along the east side of State Route 9 just prior to the accident. For unknown reasons, Irish partially entered the right northbound lane and was struck by a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit traveling northbound in that lane. There was no indication of alcohol or drug use with the driver of the Rabbit. The Saratoga Springs Police Department was also assisted at the scene by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Team. 

Saratoga Springs  — The Saratoga Farmers’ Market, the area’s longest running farmers’ market, will open their 43rd outdoor market season on Saturday, May 1 at its current location at the Wilton Mall, in the former Bon-Ton and Bow Tie Cinemas parking lots. Their Wednesday market will open on May 5 at downtown Saratoga’s High Rock Park.

This year’s Saturday markets, weekly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature around 65 local vendors selling fresh produce, dairy products, eggs, meats, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, and more. At Wednesday’s markets, weekly from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 20 vendors will be providing a similar range of items.

The decision to start the summer season in two locations was made to keep market vendors and customers safe while the COVID-19 pandemic still requires social distancing. A survey conducted among customers, which gathered over 700 responses, indicated an even split in their location preferences.

The markets will continue to follow current COVID-19 safety guidelines for farmers’ markets by hosting socially distanced markets, offering hand washing and sanitizing opportunities, and following mask requirements for vendors and customers. The Saturday market will continue to offer its online preordering and curbside pickup service. Market staff will continually assess market safety and updated operational guidelines for farmers’ markets and do not rule out moving back downtown when it is deemed appropriate to do so.

For more information about The Saratoga Farmers’ Market visit www.saratogafarmersmarket.org.

If you plan to preserve your harvest this year by canning, now’s the time to plan ahead. In 2020 canning jars and lids were hard to find, so shop now for these items. Only buy what you need for this year, resist the urge to hoard equipment. The shortage last year was due in part to many people buying more than they needed. 

Lids: The lid system that the USDA has tested extensively and stands by is the two-piece metal lid and screw band. The design of these lids has changed recently to be BPA-free. The new lids no longer require heating before applying to the jar which is an advantage. You may still have older lids, so check the direction on the package for preparing the lids for canning. This style of lid is meant for one-time use. 

Reusable lids are made by a few companies, these lids may be easier to find. Both plastic and glass lids with rubber rings are marketed. Obviously, the advantage of using these is that they are reusable, so you don’t have to buy more every year. Research done at the University of Georgia showed slightly more seal failures within 3 months of storage for the reusable lids compared to the two-piece system which in this study had no seal failures. (1)

Jars: Do an inventory of the jars you have noting the sizes and whether they’re regular or wide-mouth jars. Make sure you have lids that match the jars. If you plan to make a lot of jam or jelly this year, be sure to have an appropriate amount of half-pint jars, and try to estimate how many pint and quart jars you’ll need. 

Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing at CCE: The manufacturers of pressure canners recommend that dial gauges be tested annually before canning. CCE of Saratoga County and Albany County will test dial gauges at no charge. Contact Diane Whitten at 518-885-8995, or dwhitten@cornell.edu.

Last Season’s Canned Goods: Take a look in your pantry for last summer’s canned goods. Check the seals on the products, and discard any items if the seal is not intact. Make plans to use up last summer’s products (including frozen) to make room for new products to prevent food waste. If you have a lot of canned beans left over from last year, maybe you should can fewer this year, or visa versa. Only can what you will reasonably use within a year for best quality. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Arena football games at Albany’s Times Union Center. Rangers hockey at Madison Square Garden. The New York City Ballet at SPAC. 

Venues gearing up for the safe welcoming of an increasing number of attendees have begun to put requirements in place in an effort to minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 infection among those entering their respective facilities. Those vaccinated may show proof of vaccination. Those not vaccinated or unable to be vaccinated may show a negative COVID-19 test. The guidelines vary state-to-state, and combating the potential threat of phony vaccination cards are complicating matters.    

When the Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced its re-imagined summer ballet season this week, it came with a series of safety protocols.  Seats will be sold in designated pods of two inside the amphitheater, and designed pods of two and four on the SPAC lawn. Show attendees will be required to complete a health screening questionnaire, pass a mandatory temperature check prior to entry and wear a face mask at all times. 

Additionally, all attendees are required to show proof of a completed vaccination or a negative 72-hour COVID-19 test. 

In late March, New York became the first state in the country to introduce a digital pass to seemingly make it easier for attendees as well as for venues to validate the authenticity of that proof. 

Anyone vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 in the State of New York is eligible for an “Excelsior Pass,” and the passes provide proof of vaccination, a PCR test, or an Antigen test. According to the state, users are able to store their “pass” digitally on their smartphone with the Excelsior Pass Wallet app – which is free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store – or to print the pass from the Excelsior website and bring it to the venue with them. Businesses and venues can then scan and validate the pass to ensure COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements are met for entry. 

To facilitate the pass, the website collects a person’s COVID-19 status as well as their name, date of birth, zip code, vaccination or COVID-19 test type, date and location. The state says that personal information will not be used for marketing purposes. Some privacy advocates are concerned, however. 

“It is a little bit scary in that you put your information in, verifies that you’ve had the vaccine, and gives you a kind of pass that has a QR Code on it. The question then is that every time you go in to somewhere that requires you to show proof of vaccination, you could be tracked,” said Greg Rinckey, co-founder of Tully Rinckey law firm. 

“There could be a database of what type of venues you’re entering, when you’re going and when you’re coming. It’s not the same as just showing someone your vaccination card at the door. When someone is scanning a QR code, a database can be built that shows who went and what time you went. That’s where a lot of privacy advocates get concerned,” Rinckey said. “It’s one thing to require proof of vaccination, it’s another thing to say that you have to be scanned in with some mechanism that can track you,” he said. “I think as long as you can provide proof you’ve been vaccinated, that should be sufficient. Where a lot of people have problems is with the ‘passport.’ The passport can track you.” 

The state currently says that participation in the Excelsior Pass is voluntary, and New Yorkers can always show alternate proof of vaccination or testing – like another mobile application or paper form – directly at a business or venue. The small print related to the Excelsior Pass carries a lengthy list of disclaimers that includes notice that the state may disclose personal information without an applicant’s consent in certain instances related to legal matters. 

“We’ve all seen what can happen with the E-ZPass,” Rinckey said. “It’s meant to be used for paying the toll, but how many people have gone through an E-ZPass toll plaza a little bit above the speed limit and then suddenly get a letter in the mail that says you’ve exceeded the speed limit going through the plaza?”  In 2015, the New York Civil Liberties Union revealed that wireless E-ZPass tollbooth transponders were being read routinely throughout New York City to systematically collect location data about drivers.

“Unfortunately, what we’re starting to see now are fake proofs-of-vaccination, so I think there is eventually going to be a mechanism where you’re going to have to have ‘official’ proof of vaccination.  And that is what the Excelsior Pass does do,” he said. 

“It’s an interesting area of law with privacy concerns. You know that the government has an interest in making sure that there aren’t health concerns. And in order to reopen the economy and in order to reopen these venues – especially where there are going to be thousands of people – you really do have to have a mechanism to know that the people you’re allowing in who are going to be in close proximity with others, have either been vaccinated or have had a negative test,” Rinckey explained.

The potential solution? “Probably a mix. Having proof of vaccination in a system where you can verify you’ve been vaccinated, but in a way that can’t be tracked. It’s the act of scanning – that tracking mechanism – that makes people nervous.” 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced starting April 26, museum capacity will be raised to 50% and movie theater capacity to 33%. On May 19, indoor large arena capacity will be raised to 25%. “The numbers are stable and going down, so we can open up more economic activity,” Cuomo said. 

In Saratoga County, nearly half of the county’s overall population of 230,000 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Breaking it down further, over 60% of county residents over the age of 18 have received at least one dose, topping the national average, which is just over 50% for that category, according to the CDC.   

The guidelines regarding so-called vaccine passports are being debated at state levels, with some states – Arizona, Florida and Texas among them – already expressing their opposition to the idea, citing mostly privacy concerns. In the future, particularly when international travel begins to ramp up, Rinckey says he can see the federal government offering guidelines to instill a higher or enhanced level of proof than the states. 

At SPAC, the ballet schedule takes place in mid-July, and the venue says proof may come via either a card or a digital pass. It is unclear how the state’s indoor/ outdoor capacity designation may relate to Saratoga Performing Arts Center which has a capacity of 25,000 as an amphitheater (pavilion) and outdoor (lawn) venue. 

There has yet to be an announcement regarding other traditional SPAC programming – such as the Saratoga Jazz Fest – or the summerlong pop concert schedule which is tentatively slated to feature Dave Matthews Band, Rod Stewart and others, and is coordinated by concert promoter Live Nation. 

Click Here for 10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day in Saratoga County

On October 22, 2020, City Court Judge, Francine Vero, presided over the first session of the Homeless Court in Saratoga Springs. Since then, about 90% of individuals agreeing to participate in the Homeless Court have been connected to care management and community services and the court has seen a significant drop in repeat offenses.

The Homeless Court was designed in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, Judge Vero, and RISE Housing and Support Services (formerly Transitional Services Association). However, it was Judge Vero who first identified the problem and thought through the solution, “Individuals experiencing homelessness were accumulating multiple dockets and often failing to appear in court.  This population is particularly challenged in getting to court due to a lack of structure and resources. I decided the court needed to implement a new approach to address these issues and connect individuals experiencing homelessness to the services they need. I met with stakeholders, we discussed the issues, and the homeless court was created.”

On the two court dates set aside each month, Homeless Court Coordinators, Samantha Macio and Victoria Furfaro, head out in a van donated by the Mackey Auto Group to offer transportation to people who are scheduled for court. Because a person who is homeless does not have a permanent address or often does not have a phone, the court cannot send appearance notices nor can the court call to remind them of the date. Sam and Victoria make it their mission to locate individuals and help them to make their appearance in court.

Samantha and Victoria are experienced Care Managers at RISE Housing and Support Services. They work with participants outside of the courtroom several days a week through community outreach. It is an opportunity to develop a trusting relationship with people experiencing homelessness who might not have faith in the system. They provide a single and familiar point of contact for those appearing before the Homeless Court. On any given day, a person who is homeless may be hungry, need clothing, or need shelter. By doing outreach to the encampments, they learn what people are struggling with. They are then better able to assist the Saratoga County Assistant District Attorneys, Lyn A. Murphy and Samuel V. Maxwell, and Saratoga County Assistant Public Defender, Joseph W. Hammer in deciding a dignified approach to working with a homeless person.

To date, the Homeless Court Coordination program together with community partners have connected nearly 30 individuals to stable housing, substance use treatment, and mental health services. Community partnerships have been pivotal to the Homeless Court’s success, so when circumstances allow, individuals can take part in court-mandated services and programs instead of going to jail or being fined.

Healing Springs Recovery Centers offer peer-to-peer recovery coaching for individuals wanting to work on the development and implementation of a recovery wellness plan and welcomes all recovering people and families seeking recovery from the effects of addictions. The Salvation Army assists with care management as well as hot meals and groceries. CAPTAIN Community Human Services connects staff directly to youth ages 13-21 years. RISE Housing and Support Services helps people living with mental health, substance use, and other life challenges to remain safe and healthy in the community. AHI Health Home Care Management ensures all caregivers involved with a person so they can focus on their client’s needs. Shelters of Saratoga has programs including emergency shelter, case management, and drop-in centers.

In February, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Homelessness and Poverty met with Judge Vero and the Homeless Court Coordinators with praise for the establishment of a Homeless Court in Saratoga Springs. The Commission is committed to educating members of the Bar Association as well as the public about homelessness and poverty and how the legal community and advocates can assist those in need.

This dignified and research-based approach to working with people experiencing homelessness improves the quality of life within our community, and results in administrative cost benefits by decongesting court dockets and reducing the amount of time the police department spends responding to calls and arrests.

For more information about the Homeless Court and RISE Housing and Support Services, please visit RiseServices.org.

WILTON — The Wilton Volunteer Fire Department will be opening its station to potential area recruits and their families as part of RecruitNY. 

The open house will take place on April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilton Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) located at 270 Ballard Road. WVFD will be taking part in the RecruitNY initiative, as volunteer fire departments across New York at their respective firehouses hold a unified recruitment drive. A virtual option with the WVFD, for those unable to make it or with public health concerns, will be held on April 25 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is available by appointment only, and appointments should be made by April 22. You can email abobbitt@wiltonfiredept.org to schedule.

Partner agencies also attending the recruitment open house include Wilton EMS, Saratoga County Sheriff, NY State Police, FBI, and LifeNet. LifeNet’s helicopter is scheduled to land at approximately 10 a.m. The public can view the landing from their cars in the Ballard Elementary parking lot. 

RecruitNY in Wilton will highlight the rewards and responsibilities that come with being a firefighter, paramedic, or law enforcement officer. Also, raising public awareness about the need for recruits as volunteer fire departments across the state have struggled these past several years with decreased membership and increased call volumes.

The WVFD is hoping to bolster its ranks so it can continue to provide the optimum and necessary level of protection for its 15,000 residents. Last year the department responded to over 330 calls for events such as the following: fires, motor vehicle accidents, fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, natural gas/propane leaks, downed power lines, and EMS assists. The not-for-profit designated 501(c)(3) department is made up of entirely volunteers, including its officers and Chief. 

“This open house is a great opportunity for those interested in actively serving their community in an impactful way to meet their local volunteer firefighters and learn more about their local fire service and what is entailed in becoming a member,” said WVFD Chief Murray. “Our firefighters come from diverse backgrounds and ages with one shared common concern of helping people in their times of need, 24 hours a day – 7 days a week – 365 days a year. It is our hope after hearing how we teach, train, and serve together, more community members will become a part of our organization.”

For area residents looking for more information, visit fireinyou.org or the Wilton Fire Department at www.wiltonfiredept.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The final Draft of the UDO is expected to be released on April 19. Several summary presentations will kick-off the last phase of this project, and the public is invited to participate via the schedule below.

Major project steps during the coming months leading up to the Council vote include advisory opinions from the land use boards and other involved agencies, another opportunity for public comment, SEQR determination and public hearings. 

The Unified Development Ordinance is a tool which combines traditional zoning and subdivision regulations, along with other development standards for items such as design guidelines, stormwater management, signs and street standards into one, easy-to-read reference document. 

On the following dates listed below, an overview of the final Draft of the UDO will be presented by Camiros, the City’s consultant. All sessions will be held via Zoom. The public is invited to attend any of the presentations and may ask questions where noted. To register, follow the links for UDO at: saratoga-springs.org. 

April 20 at 7 p.m. – City Council Presentation.; April 21 at 2 p.m. – Public Presentation and Q&A; April 22, at 9:30 a.m. – Public Presentation and Q&A; April 22 at 6 p.m. – City Land Use Boards Presentation.