SARATOGA SPRINGS —  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) Executive Director Karen Gregory has announced that The Holiday Inn, located in downtown Saratoga Springs, will serve as a temporary location for the city’s homeless.

Isolating people experiencing homelessness in individual hotel rooms with access to private bathrooms is the best possible solution to facilitate safe distancing and the ability to practice good hygiene thus preventing a community-wide spread of COVID-19, Gregory said.Food service, basic necessities and case management is being provided to those staying in the hotel. The shelters on Walworth Street remain open and SOS is serving over 100 people through the outreach program which provides people with food and hygiene products. 

“Our number one priority is the health and safety of people we are helping each day. Social distancing and hygiene is the only way to slow the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, people experiencing homelessness don’t have the ability to stay home.” Gregory said in a statement. “People experiencing homelessness don’t have regular access to sinks where they can wash their hands and those staying at homeless shelters can’t always remain six feet from another person. There are simply too many people and not enough space.” Quarantine for a sick or exposed individual would not be possible in these settings.

In addition, homeless individuals face a variety of issues when it comes to COVID-19. Age, poor health, disability, and living conditions make them highly vulnerable to illness. Once the virus is introduced to this high-risk population, further transmission will be very difficult to contain. As such, Shelters of Saratoga initiated this proactive, rapid response plan for this crisis.

Gregory stated “I made several requests to Saratoga County to move our shelters into a local hotel before someone was symptomatic or tested positive for COVID-19. I was told over and over again that would not be possible until somebody tested positive, although I explained at that point it would be too late and I was afraid we would have a shelter full of very sick people including my staff. Ultimately, I did not want anyone to die.”

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Gregory voiced her concerns and ideas to Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly, who Gregory credits in assisting in the search to find a hotel. Kevin Tuohy, General Manager of the Holiday Inn in Saratoga, offered his support immediately and without hesitation.

“In 1961 the idea of a community hotel in Saratoga Springs was born.  While asking for donations from locals, the founders of the hotel stated that “change can impact a community in a positive way”. Fifty-six years later, we are incredibly proud to have the opportunity to change the way we operate to support the Saratoga Springs community in this time of unprecedented crisis,” Tuohy said. Gregory is also moving in to the hotel to keep operations running smoothly. 

“As Mayor, it’s my job to protect all of my citizens, including and especially those most vulnerable,” Kelly said. “Current federal and state guidelines for COVID-19 and homeless individuals set a reactive threshold – quarantine only after an individual presents with symptoms. For our city, this was not a high enough standard. I’m proud that Saratoga Springs is joining a short, but growing list of communities across the country prepared to prevent infection and spread among our homeless population by using hotels to practice social distancing and enable access to adequate hygiene, hand washing, and quarantine. This will save lives.” 

Tuesday night, the city will host a public hearing and a potential vote to provide financial support to Shelters of Saratoga to move the homeless population, currently sheltered at Code Blue, from their congregate setting to the Holiday Inn at 232 Broadway. The matter is documented as: new activity under its 2019 CDBG Action Plan, rising to the level of a Substantial Amendment, and thus requiring Council action…city funds to be reallocated to this emergency priority project are to be drawn from the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund in the amount of $61,950.

Shelters of Saratoga’s mission is to provide individuals with safe shelter, supportive services and sustainable strategies to end homelessness in the Greater Saratoga region. Since 1991, Shelters of Saratoga has been providing assistance to people who are facing homelessness by offering a path to self-sufficiency and helping these individuals to get back on their feet. 

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National Tartan Day Campaign by Local Designer Sends
“Wee Cuddles” To Loved Ones During Crisis,
Portion of proceeds to benefit Wesley Healthcare Center

 Special Video Greetings featuring Bagpipes, Tartan Weaving, Scottish Cooking
 Signature Scottish Take-Out Dish & Drink by Morrissey’s at The Adelphi
Date marks 700th Anniversary of Scottish Declaration of Independence 
& Five Centuries of Scots in America

On Monday April 6, the Spa City will once again embrace Scottish-American culture with its second annual celebration of National Tartan Day.

This year, organizers are asking people to celebrate together in spirit, while socially distancing at home.

“There are so many ways to come together, virtually, this April,” said Tartan Day organizer Deborah DePasquale, owner of TOGA Heritage. “And you better believe we have a few surprises under our tams!”

Last week, dozens of festive flags bearing the TOGA Heritage logo and tartan began flying on Broadway and will remain through April. Originally, the flags were meant to kick off a week of bag pipes, scotch tastings, weaving demonstrations and, of course, lots of people sporting tartan caps, scarves, kilts and “trews.”

For DePasquale, the flags have taken on new meaning. “Now that most of us are socially distancing at home, we have more time to really focus on what matters most,” she said. “What matters to me most is community and keeping up traditions that embody the best of what Saratoga has to offer.”

As the global health crisis has deepened, DePasquale’s efforts have migrated online and have taken on even more symbolic weight.

SEND A WEE CUDDLE

On April 6, DePasquale will debut an online TOGA Heritage store featuring “Wee Cuddle” care packages to send to friends and loved ones who are currently forced to stay apart. She describes the “cuddles” as thoughtfully curated collections of fine goods to bring comfort and joy. A portion from all sales in April will benefit the Wesley Healthcare Center, a senior living provider in Saratoga Springs.

Though TOGA Heritage previously raised money for the Center last year, in memory of DePasquale’s late aunt, she said this year’s goal of raising $5,000 for their capital campaign is even more pressing as seniors are the most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.

The four care packages include assortments of signature TOGA Heritage items including tartan scarves, blankets, candles, totes, plates, mugs and more. When placing an order, customers can provide a personal message to be printed on a collectible TOGA Heritage postcard. Cuddle packages range in price from $98 to $176.

The online store is at: https://togaheritage.com

“Wee Cuddle” care packages include assortments of signature TOGA Heritage items.

TARTAN DAY SIGNATURE FOOD & DRINK TAKE-OUT

TOGA Heritage has partnered with Morrissey’s at the Adelphi to offer a Monday take-out Tartan Day signature dish and beverage, with a portion of those proceeds to benefit the Wesley Healthcare Center as well. All orders will include commemorative TOGA Heritage tartan coasters and napkins.

A TARTAN FOR SARATOGA, MADE IN SARATOGA
What’s Tartan Got To Do With Toga?

One of the most distinct symbols of Scottish culture, tartans are plaid patterns that have a connection to a family, community or place.

Though Americans tend to use the words “tartan” and “plaid” interchangeably to describe almost any checkered fabric, there can be subtle differences between the two regarding the criss-cross pattern and number of colors.

“All tartans are plaid, but not all plaids are tartan,” says DePasquale, a professional designer who has worked for haute couture clothing brands including Givenchy. “As a designer, it’s such a fun textile to work with. It’s more than a fabric design — tartan is a global brand that is sophisticated and rebellious, like the Scottish spirit.”

TOGA Heritage tartan is made at Frittelli and Lockwood Textile Studio in Saratoga Springs.

Inspired by her own Scots ancestry, DePasquale began work in 2015 to create a four-seasons “TOGA Heritage” tartan to represent her native city of Saratoga Springs. After two years of research, design and development, DePasquale’s TOGA Heritage tartan was officially entered and archived in the Scottish Registry of Tartans in 2017.

That same year, DePasquale opened a TOGA Heritage brand and retail shop at 398 Broadway selling items featuring the tartan pattern and more. While TOGA Heritage belongs to the “corporate” class of tartans, it was designed with civic pride in mind using shades of black, white, red, grey and gold that appear throughout the city.

“The heart of the tartan is a sense of connection to a place,” DePasquale said. “The TOGA Heritage tartan is steeped in tradition but has a modern style — it’s classic yet contemporary like our beloved city. The colors I chose can be found popping throughout Saratoga — like the red and white awnings at the track — but are subtly infused into the design in a classy way.”

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TOGA Heritage tartan scarves, wraps and blankets are made locally at Frittelli and Lockwood Textile Studio located in the Beekman Street Arts District in Saratoga Springs, where the tartan is woven using fine New England wool.

Soon, DePasquale plans to add TOGA Heritage tartan neckties, bow ties and silk scarves to her fashion line, which will someday include proper kilts.

“Anyone can find comfort in the stylish, traditional textile that is tartan. You don’t need to be Scottish or have Scottish ancestry,” DePasquale said. “The TOGA Heritage tartan is for anyone who is a Saratoga local or local at heart.”

Designer Deborah DePasquale in her TOGA Heritage store.

MAKING AND KEEPING TRADITIONS

The mark or logo of DePasquale’s TOGA Heritage brand is equally welcoming and inclusive, while also combining her love of all things Scottish and Saratoga. The letters “T-O-G-A,” are arranged around an X within a square that resembles the “Saltire” or “St. Andrew’s Cross” on the flag of Scotland. Beneath that symbol is the company name, which borrows the city’s nickname used by locals and tourists alike, “Toga.”  Then there is the tagline: “Love Where You Live.”

All together, the TOGA Heritage name, logo, slogan and tartan amount to what DePasquale describes as a “lifestyle brand” that includes fashion, home decor, entertaining and pet collections.

“Everyone can get behind this brand that celebrates the whole Saratoga experience and not just the track. TOGA Heritage is about backyard family gatherings and golf at the Gideon. It’s about concerts at SPAC, weddings at the casino, enjoying our parks and drinking from our springs,” she said. “Everything I do at TOGA Heritage is about making and keeping traditions.”

TARTAN DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

DePasquale asks those looking to join in on the Tartan Day celebrations to follow the TOGA Heritage Instagram and Facebook channels, where she will be publishing videos featuring a special bag pipe performance, a Scottish baking lesson and a Scotch toast.

For children, she made a tartan coloring sheet to share and she will be introducing a new “Togie” plush toy, hand-sewn in Saratoga using locally-woven TOGA Heritage tartan. Now that everyone is being responsible and staying at home, DePasquale said the mythical Saratoga Lake monster affectionately known as Togie is more likely to come out of hiding. A distant cousin of Nessie, Togie also wears a fashionable Scottish tam made from velvet.

“Togie” plush toy, hand-sewn in Saratoga using locally-woven TOGA Heritage tartan.

ABOUT NATIONAL TARTAN DAY
700th Anniversary of Scottish Independence

In 1998, the U.S. Senate declared April 6 to be National Tartan Day in recognition of contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States. Local celebrations are often held on the Saturday leading up to National Tartan Day — the largest is an annual parade in New York City which was called off in early March this year.

The date was selected in honor of the April 6, 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, a letter declaring Scottish independence from English rule and naming Robert the Bruce as lawful King of Scotland. The document, which turns 700 years old next week, is believed to have inspired the American Declaration of Independence, of which two signers were Scottish-born and half were of Scottish ancestry.

“We all know the role that Saratoga played in America’s fight for freedom,” DePasquale said. “Today, we are united in a different national fight against a dangerous virus. One of the goals of Tartan Day in Saratoga this year will be to inspire and remind people that we’ll get through hard times together, as we have before.”

FOR INFORMATION

For information, call 518-944-8951, email info@togaheritage.com or visit  https://togaheritage.com, https://www.facebook.com/TOGAHERITAGE or https://www.instagram.com/togaheritage (@togaheritage)

ABOUT TOGA HERITAGE

TOGA Heritage is a Saratoga Springs, N.Y. lifestyle company and purveyor of thoughtfully curated fine goods for home, office, celebrations, and giving. Woven throughout the collection is love for Saratoga Springs, past and present, and respect for the city’s tradition of elegance, culture, play, and timeless design. Founded by Saratoga native Deborah DePasquale in 2016, TOGA Heritage distills the spirit of Saratoga into custom-made goods of the highest quality, so that locals and visitors alike can own and cherish that spirit in their daily lives, wherever they might be.

The store is located at 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (in the lower level of Silverwood Home and Gallery). Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Contact Deborah DePasquale at 518-944-8951 or deborah@togaheritage.com

ALBANY – The State will open a critical new COVID-19 mobile testing site for the Capital District region on Monday.  The mobile testing center will be located in a parking lot at the State University of New York at Albany campus – 1400 Washington Ave., Colonial Quad parking lot, accessible from the main UAlbany entry, off Washington Avenue. The campus is located just south of The Northway.

The site will prioritize tests for individuals that are among the highest risk population.  Residents who would like to be tested must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065. There will be no walk-ins allowed and all patients must be in a vehicle.  The center is slated to be operational on Monday, April 6, at 10 am. Site hours will be Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm. in partnership with Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners and The University at Albany.

The state has opened seven mobile facilities to date.

New York is currently testing more than 16,000 people per day, more than any other state and more than China and South Korea on a per capital basis.

During his Saturday presser, Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed 10,482 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 102,863 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 102,863 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the regional geographic breakdown is as follows: Saratoga County 141, with 9 new positives; Albany County: 267, with 14 new. Rensselaer: 56, 3 new; Schenectady: 110, 9 new; Warren County: 19, 1 new, and Washington County: 15, with 3 new.

In Saratoga County specifically, 1,899 persons were tested – 57 persons thus far tested today – and of those 1,899 persons, 141 tested positive – a rate of 7.4%.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will issue an Executive Order allowing the state to redistribute ventilators and personal protective equipment, or PPE, from institutions that don’t currently need them and redeploy the equipment to other hospitals with the highest need. The National Guard will be used to transport the ventilators and PPE across the state. The equipment will be returned to the hospital or the hospital will be reimbursed for the equipment in the future.

Cuomo also announced the launch of www.ny.gov/covid-19tracker, which will provide New York State’s comprehensive coronavirus testing data to the public. The website, which will be updated daily with the latest data, presents visualizations of statewide and county-level testing and results. The public can also access the testing data through Open NY at data.ny.gov, New York State’s open data portal, which offers machine readable datasets in downloadable standard formats that can be sorted, searched, analyzed and applied to new uses.

ALBANY — “A thriving equine industry is absolutely essential to New York State’s economy,” said Senator Daphne Jordan (R, C, IP, RFM), a member of the NY Senate Agriculture Committee, as she called upon Governor Andrew Cuomo to consider a $10 million ‘Equine Facility Disaster Relief Fund’ to help equine small businesses — including boarding, lesson, and rescue barns – as part of the forthcoming 2020-21 State Budget.

The relief package has been proposed by HORSEPOWER, Inc., the equine welfare policy organization. HORSEPOWER is working to educate the legislature about the financial realities of shutting barn operations down.

Senator Jordan said, “Establishing a $10 million ‘Equine Facility Disaster Relief Fund’ as part of the 2020-21 State Budget would help the estimated 1,860 boarding, lesson, and rescue facilities throughout New York who are hurting from the economic downtown caused by the coronavirus crisis.”

Last Sunday, as New York State moved to 100% closure of all nonessential businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HORSEPOWER, Inc., began hearing from boarding stables concerned about the financial impact, and responded by putting together a proposal for relief that was shared with Agriculture Committee members in both houses.

Senator Jordan is listening to HORSEPOWER’s call for action: “New York’s horse farms, training centers, and riding stables preserve 1.3 million acres of open space across our state that is home to nearly 157,500 horses. The equine industry has a $4.2 billion positive effect on the state’s economy, has generated 33,000 full-time jobs, and equine commerce results in $187 million in state and local taxes. That’s significant revenue that New York state and local governments need now.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The circumstances of the Saratoga racing meet remain status quo as of this week, with the season scheduled to run July 16 – Sept. 7. 

The Aqueduct winter and spring meets meanwhile have been cancelled. Aqueduct Racetrack will serve as a temporary hospital amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will serve the borough of Queens – where the racetrack is located – as a 1,000-plus patient overflow facility.  Aqueduct is the only racetrack in New York City, occupying 210 acres in South Ozone Park.

“We stand ready to assist in any way we can,” New York Racing Association CEO and President Dave O’Rourke said in a statement. “Aqueduct Racetrack will serve as a safe haven for those recovering from this virus. We recognize that we all must work together as a community to meet this challenge and emerge stronger for it.” 

The Big A winter meet was slated to run through March 29 with the 13-day spring meet scheduled from April 2 through April 19. The 51-day Belmont spring/summer meet featuring 58 total stakes races worth $18.65 million is slated to run April 24 through July 1.

On March 30, Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended by two weeks the length of his directive putting New York State on “pause” – directing the state nonessential workforce to continue to work from home through April 15.   

The NY Race Track Chaplaincy meanwhile continues to work in partnership with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST). The recently formed NYRA Preparedness and Response Plan Committee, which is comprised of key NYRA staff members as well as representatives from NYTHA, BEST, and the NY Chaplaincy, is monitoring and assessing developments regarding the coronavirus.

NYRA-operated racetracks have been used in prior emergency situations, including in 2012 when NYRA donated the use of the Aqueduct parking lot to the American Red Cross to operate a mobile feeding kitchen and relief supplies staging area in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. In 2001, Belmont Park served as one of the staging areas for emergency vehicles and personnel in the days following 9/11.

• New York State will stay on PAUSE through April 15, meaning the non-essential workforce is directed to continue to work from home until at least April 15. The timeline will be re-evaluated every two weeks. 

• Pharmacies will now offer free home delivery. After speaking with the state’s major pharmacy chains, Gov. Cuomo says pharmacies have agreed to offer free home delivery to help reduce long lines for prescriptions at their facilities. 

• The State’s Wadsworth Lab, located in Albany, has developed a less intrusive COVID-19 test that is expected to begin within the next few days. The new test is done through a saliva sample and a self-administered short nasal swab in the presence of a healthcare professional. The test will help conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, reduce potential exposure of the virus and allow the state to continue to test as many individuals as possible. 

• All non-essential construction is suspended. Essential construction, for example construction on roads, bridges, transit facilities, homeless shelters and health care facilities, may continue.

• Via the governor’s issuing of an Executive Order, the presidential primary election in N.Y. has been moved from April 28 to June 23, aligning it with the congressional and legislative primaries in New York

• Due to the limited availability of COVID-19 tests available in the Saratoga region, the number of confirmed cases is not believed to accurately reflect the number of COVID-19 positive cases in
the community.

HALFMOON — Carol Pingelski Hotaling started to honor New York State Yellow Ribbon Day in 2006. The day was selected to honor and remember active troops and the daily sacrifices they make. The New York State Legislature began to honor Yellow Ribbon Day on April 9 of each year through the passing of a resolution. Her goal now is to make the resolution to not only be for NYS, but nationwide. Here is her story and how the yellow ribbon making began. 

Who: Carol Pingelski Hotaling, 78-years-old, Halfmoon resident.

“I just sit here and make bows I don’t get involved with anything else except my troops. Every single day I make them,” Hotaling said. 

How it all got started: Hotaling has made thousands of hand crafted yellow ribbon bows for the past 30 years.

“It’s all about current troops, that’s what Yellow Ribbon Day is all about,” Hotaling said. “I started making yellow bows in 1990, Desert Storm. In 2004, my sister lives in Ohio and she kept telling me about a Matt Maupin, the first prisoner of war captured in the Iraq War. I said I wanted to meet Matt’s parents so she contacted them and I talked with them. In 2006 I went to their program called Yellow Ribbon Support Center in Cincinnati Ohio for six weeks and I volunteered. It was the first time I flew and probably the last and I stayed there. Their first banquet was that year and was at the Oasis Country Club in Loveland, Ohio. I made over 1000 bows for that banquet. When I got off the plane in Albany that day, I said to myself I got to do than make bows and do fundraisers for our troops, so I started NYS Yellow Ribbon Day.”

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Helping Hands: Hotaling said the VFW in Ballston Spa buys all the ribbons each year to distribute through the town and stores. This year they purchased Hotaling 72 rolls of ribbon with 100 yards per roll to create the ribbons for Ballston Spa. 

“One year they had to buy me a $1000 worth because I ran out. They came this past Monday and picked up 80 bows, so the town of Ballston spa will have 80 bows. I’m now making them for the town of Clifton Park because every year they get filled with bows for yellow ribbon day,” Hotaling said. 

Moving Forward: As April 9 Yellow Ribbon Day starts in Hotaling’s room creating the ribbons, it has since expanded from Saratoga County to Halfmoon, Ballston Spa and Clifton Park. However, Hotaling doesn’t want to stop just there, her goal is to pass a resolution to recognize the date nation wide. 

“We have to make sure it’s all about current troops because that’s what it’s all about they don’t have a day of their own so that’s what I’m fighting for. That was our number one priority in this world before this virus was the troops. They’re out there every day for you and I. I’m trying to get it passed nation wide. It’s my last bucket list item I need to do before I die, I’ve done everything else I set out to do,” Hotaling said. 

Of the 26 dozen eggs sent out, 12 dozen were hatched at the 4-H training center, a learning facility in Ballston Spa. Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — While schools across the state closed their doors and people self-isolated in their homes, 26 dozen chicken eggs wanted to break out of their “home” and hatch during COVID-19. 

The fertilized eggs were sent out to participating elementary schools in Saratoga County as a part of the 4-H outreach program. The program allows classrooms to experience the 21-day development of a chicken egg. Brieanna Hughes, program coordinator for Saratoga County 4-H animal science, said a surprising amount of eggs still hatched despite being moved from schools. 

The eggs were due to hatch on March 18, the week most schools announced their closings. Hughes said she reached out to schools that prior weekend to ask if teachers were willing to take the eggs home, or offered to pick them up and bring them to their facility to hatch. 

“Because a lot of teachers were being told they couldn’t go into their schools so I didn’t want anyone to be burdened with this,” Hughes said. 

Despite school closings, only 12 dozen eggs were collected from schools and hatched at the training center in Ballston Spa. Of the 26 dozen eggs sent out, over 75 percent hatched which Hughes was surprised by. 

Hughes said the hatch rate was by chance, and added that she expected a lower hatch rate simply from moving the chicken eggs. Transportation of the eggs is not recommended due to drastic temperature changes. However, the unstable period for the eggs is earlier in the development as well as the day of hatching if a small movement occurs. 

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“We almost got them at the ideal time. It isn’t ideal to move them at all, but it was pretty cool to have such a good hatch rate,” Hughes said. “What that means is that the school did a really good job taking care of the eggs for the first 18 days and then we were able to finish that out.”

Seeing the eggs develop for the 21 days allows students to learn about the development and embryology. Hughes said in the beginning, the program attains the fertilized eggs and provides the schools with incubators and equipment. 4-H hosts a small teacher training where they pick up all the needed materials and bring them to their classroom. Not having a set curriculum, schools are at liberty to teach what they want. 

“But our program is incubation and embryology so that is what they’re learning about, the development of an organism. They get to candle the eggs and actually see the changes in the embryo. They can see the first veins coming and an eye during the forming of the head,” Hughes said. 

Once the eggs are hatched, teachers are at liberty to keep them or give them pack to the program. 

“A lot of teachers have friends that want chickens, but we want to make sure there is a resource so we also provide someone to take them,” Hughes said. 

She added that these eggs were a part of the first rotation for the hatching program. The second session was anticipated to start at the end of April, but Hughes said they’re waiting to see how the self-distancing plays out. The participating schools for this sessions included Schuylerville, Arongen Elementary in the Shenendehowa school district and Greenberg Child Care Center.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — They stood several feet apart from one another at a noisy intersection where Broadway meets Lake Avenue on a Tuesday morning that marked Day 18 of the city’s declaration as a state of emergency.    

Three months into her new job, the city’s Public Safety Commissioner took her turn at the portable lectern stationed in front of a City Hall under renovation, but where the tools of its reconstruction have been muted. 

“This is not the time for sleep-overs, play-dates, or dinner parties,” instructed commissioner Robin Dalton. 

One of the essential keys of trying to keep people healthy is social distancing – that is: remaining six feet from all other people when in public, and refraining from nonessential gatherings – be it socially, recreationally, or otherwise. Saratoga Springs is taking up Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s guidelines – “These are not helpful hints, these are legal provisions” – and implementing those provisions. 

“As a city we will be enforcing those through warnings, ticketing and fines if needed, because your actions are that important and our health and safety depends on them,” Dalton said. “The longer people break the rules, the longer we are going to be in this situation. How we come out the other side depends on you – the public…we’re going to need the help of every resident in our city to help slow the spread of coronavirus.”

The gathering included city Mayor Meg Kelly, Police Chief Shane Crooks, Fire Chief Joe Dolan, and Saratoga Hospital President Angelo Calbone – the latter of whom explained that the hospital had 10 COVID-19 cases in the building, and that they possessed sufficient Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE’s, to take care of patients and staff at this time. On Thursday, April 2, The Saratoga County Department of Public Health  announced county-wide that there were 139 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County with 19 of those individuals hospitalized at this time.

Saratoga Hospital has also joined the “statewide hospital system” as proposed by Gov. Cuomo, following the Covid-19 outbreak. “To that end, we are comforted to know  that if Saratoga Springs needs it, help will be there from other New York providers,” Mayor Kelly said on April 3. The same afternoon, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, NY-21, released a statement to say she was “very concerned about Gov. Cuomo’s announcement regarding his plan to sign an executive order to shift ventilators from Upstate to Downstate New York.” Stefanik’s district includes a portion of the city of Saratoga Springs, as well as municipalities east, west and north of the city.  

“The North Country comprises the largest number of seniors of any Congressional District in New York State, the most vulnerable age group to COVID-19. Our critical needs and vulnerabilities must be considered….our rural hospitals are already very limited in resources and we must ensure Upstate New York’s needs for testing supplies and ventilators are fully met.”

Mayor Kelly said the city’s parks are still safe for people to go to – as long as social distancing measures are observed. “We want to keep separated right now, and the last thing we want to do is close parks.” One day later, on Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo announced, due to city residents repeated violation of distancing rules, playgrounds in New York City will be closed to the public, although open space areas will remain open.Local authorities in Saratoga Springs re-iterated on Thursday that while the playgrounds and basketball courts where high-density congregation may occur are closed, the parks remain open. 

During his daily briefing from the State Capitol in Albany, Gov. Cuomo warned that rules of social distancing will be in place for a while. “We’re still going up the mountain, and that’s where the battle will be in 14 to 21 days, depending on who you believe. That’s the apex,” the governor said. “We still have to come down the other side of the mountain (before everything re-opens).”

During a mid-week teleconference with the press, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who represents the 21st District, said she is concerned about non-essential travel. “We want to mitigate non-essential travel from anywhere in the state. We have rural hospitals that are already in challenging positions. If the numbers continue to go up or surge, our rural hospitals are not in the same position as some of the hospitals downstate, in terms of bed-count.”    

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While the renovation of City Hall has stopped, for the time being, the building of the multi-story parking garage adjacent to the Saratoga Springs City Center has received approval, with some restrictions, to continue with its construction, building for the time when visitors will once again flock to the city and engage in its multitude of events, conferences, and happenings. 

Site-specific COVID-19 procedures will be met during the building process and the continuation of the Flat Rock Parking Structure is vital for the city’s ability to recover from the damages of the pandemic, City Center Executive Director Ryan McMahon said in a statement. “The Saratoga Springs City Center Authority’s action is in keeping with guidelines issued by Empire State Development (ESD) and is an essential infrastructure project.” 

Financially, the city is bracing for a multi-million dollar loss in revenue due to the pandemic and the resultant closing of all but “essential” businesses, the potential cancellation of major public events, and the stifling of tourism. 

At this time, the city is considering a scenario of a $7.8 million loss of revenue for the first half of 2020, and potentially a total 2020 year-end revenue shortfall of $16 million, Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan estimated in March. With a 2020 General Operating Budget projecting total 2020 revenues of approximately $48.7 million, the scenario equates to a 33% shortfall in 2020 revenue to what was previously anticipated. 

“We are proceeding with caution regarding how to address this loss-of-revenue scenario.  Both over- and under-estimating our response has consequences,” Commissioner Madigan said in a statement.   “Given the city’s good financial position and excellent community partnerships, we have many options, including cash-on-hand, healthy reserves, borrowing, various bonding tools, and shared services…It is too soon to determine what combination of these efforts will fit our needs.  But it is not too soon to state that all options will be considered very carefully.” 

The potential finance losses may be tempered somewhat should the city receive state for hosting a VLT casino. Earlier this year, the city, along with other state municipalities, was warned it might lose approximately $2.35 million in that aid.  On March 31, the city received the hopeful news that the aid may be restored. Madigan said the restoration of that VLT Impact Aid in the 2020-2021 State Budget would be a very positive outcome, particularly as the city works through COVID-19 related fiscal uncertainties.

“We are very hopeful that the city will be receiving its VLT aid based on the budget bill that was published today,” said Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, via phone late Tuesday afternoon. “The bill was published and is now aging for us to vote on it, and the cut that the governor had proposed in his Executive Budget has been removed. So, we are hopeful that the legislature will soon be voting on that bill and the aid will be available to the city.”

However, Woerner echoed Madigan’s sentiments regarding the restoration of that $2.35 million to Saratoga Springs. “You know, it’s not done until it’s done,” she said.