I have the honor of representing more veterans in my district than any other district in New York State. With this honor comes a huge responsibility. Whether it is introducing and supporting legislation that will protect and serve them, or helping them resolve issues through veterans-focused casework – I am always looking for opportunities to serve our veterans and make a difference in their lives, as they have made an incalculable difference in each of our lives. 

I want to share a truly heartwarming story with you that I was lucky enough to play a small part in.  Mr. Henry “Chief” Bates Jr. is a 92-year-old World War II Veteran and former longtime Fire Chief in Cambridge, NY. Henry had been trying for three years to obtain a headstone for his friend Mr. Leo Vuori, who was also a World War II Veteran. Leo passed away after returning from the war and was buried in an unmarked grave in Woodlands Cemetery in Cambridge.

Leo has no relatives that Henry could find, and when he found out Leo was buried in an unmarked grave, he was deeply upset. Henry and Leo had been friends since their high school days in Cambridge, and Henry rightfully felt his friend’s legacy as a soldier and friend was not being properly honored in an unmarked grave. 

{loadmoduleid 268}

Henry’s son, Timothy Bates, reached out to my office in January of this year asking for help in obtaining a headstone for his father’s friend. After three whole years of working their way through the system, they were discouraged and pessimistic that they would ever be able to honor Leo’s life. We immediately sent a Congressional Inquiry to the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) and asked them to review and expedite the application for a headstone. NCA requested further information, so my office worked with the Washington County VSA, the Village Clerk of Cambridge, the Superintendent of Woodlands Cemetery, and Henry and Timothy to obtain all the relevant details needed. 

My office resubmitted the completed application to NCA on February 14, 2019. Just six days later, on February 20, we were notified that the application had been approved and the upright marble headstone for Leo would be delivered to Woodlands Cemetery within 45-60 days. After many long years, World War II Veteran Leo Vuori will finally receive the proper and long-overdue recognition that he deserves. 

A 92-year-old World War II Veteran should not have to spend his time working through bureaucracy for three years just to get his fellow veteran and friend a proper gravesite. I was honored that Mr. Henry Bates Jr. and his son reached out to my office and gave us the opportunity to help him fulfill a long-time wish to honor his friend. Speaking to Henry on the phone to notify him that we had secured a headstone for Leo was a powerful moment for the both of us. I am incredibly blessed to have a job that allows me to help veterans and change their lives for the better, because doing work like this also changes my life for the better. I look forward to continuing my commitment and advocacy for veterans across my district for many years to come. 

If you are struggling with an issue that you think my office can help with, do not hesitate to reach out.

Glens Falls: 518-743-0964
Plattsburgh: 518-561-2324
Watertown: 315-782-3150
Washington, D.C.: 202-225-4611

Click Here for Happy Hour Hot Spots

 SARATOGA SPRINGS – The city’s Land Use Boards are this week reviewing the following possible agenda items and applications under consideration. Planning Board and Design Review Commission meetings are held at the city Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Ave.

Ballston Ave Townhouses: 96-110 Ballston Ave. Site Plan Review for 18 multi-family residential units.

Weibel Avenue: 68 Weibel Ave. Permanent Special Permit Use for office, retail, storage, golf driving range.

Jefferson Street: 41-45 Jefferson St. Extension of subdivision approval of a 4-lot residential subdivision; 188 Jefferson St. Coordinated SEQRA Review for final subdivision review of a proposed 6-lot residential subdivision.

Station Lane Apartments: Station Lane. Architectural Review of a new 3-building, 39-unit apartment complex. 

Munter joins Tom Roohan and Steve Sullivan as 3rd Recipient

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that John Munter, Sr., has been selected to receive the 2020 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award. 

John Munter, Sr., will receive this award during the Chamber’s 102nd Annual Dinner, on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at the Saratoga Springs City Center. He is the third individual to receive this award following Steve “Sully” Sullivan, in 2018, and Tom Roohan, in 2019.

To be eligible to receive the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award, nominees must have a minimum of 25 years of faithful and loyal service to the Saratoga Community. According to Maria Trabka, Executive Director of Saratoga PLAN, John Munter, Sr., oversaw the original construction by prisoners of the Bog Meadow Trail more than 25 years ago and he volunteered his time just two years ago to see that trail reconstructed and expanded. He also served on Saratoga PLAN’s Board of Directors for 8 years serving as the Chair of the organization’s board for two of those years.

“Throughout the summer of 2018, John spent weeks on end installing the culverts and gravel for the Bog Meadow Trail,” added Greg Redling, of Saratoga PLAN. “He frequently worked full days by himself driving skid sheers, front loaders and operating all kinds of machinery. Our staff would check up on him every day in the morning and the afternoon. One day he was covered in mud trying to get his front loader out of five feet of mud. He cut dozens of logs and hauled them out of there. Without this effort, this project would never have been completed.”

{loadmoduleid 268}

His son, Mike Munter, added: “He is not one to enjoy being in the spotlight. He is 81 years old and a native of Saratoga County who has selflessly lent his physical support first and monetary support when people needed it. His impact spans beyond Saratoga County to a 2-year journey with the Army Corp of Engineers to build 2+ miles of trail along the Raquette River at Clarkson University and to build a girls dormitory at a school in Kenya. The trails at Clarkson University were, in fact, named the Munter Trails in 2012 in honor of my dad’s work and leadership.”

John Munter, Sr., is a 1962 graduate of Clarkson University. His career started as a rocket test engineer with GE at the Malta Test Division. In 1972, he left GE to form Munter Enterprises, a general contracting construction operation. More than four decades later, Munter Enterprises is now run by his two sons, John, Jr., and Mike. The firm specializes in design build commercial and industrial structures, as well as land development for industrial applications. In 2019, Munter Enterprises helped the Saratoga County Chamber to construct a new 7,700 square foot field house on the Naval Support Activity Center, in Saratoga Springs, to provide US Navy Sailors in our area to have a safe, secure, indoor facility for sports and recreational activities, training and drills, education and graduations.

John Munter, Sr., served on the Board of Directors of The Wesley Community and as the Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee for nearly 10 years. He served four years as the Vice Chair of the Saratoga Builders Association. In 2018, he purchase Camp Boyhaven, in Milton, from the Boy Scouts of America Twin Rivers Council to give the Town of Milton and the NYS DEC time to work out a deal to ensure the 297 acre property remains in public ownership. After the purchase at 80 years old, he was out setting fence posts by himself to safeguard the property for the coming winter.

John lives in Middle Grove with his wife of 51 years, Rosemarie. The couple has two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Katrina Trask Nursery School recently announced that they would be closing in June of this year. Originally founded in 1929 as a playgroup organized by Skidmore College, it later evolved into a full day childcare program in the 1940s, and then a cooperative non-profit nursery school in the late 1960s. 

“This was not a rash decision,” said Shelia Vanacore, President of the Katrina Trask Board of Trustees. “For several years we’ve been hanging on, and saying, ‘We can stay open for one more year.’” However, due to a lack of enrollment and fundraising, the nursery school decided to close. 

{loadmoduleid 268}

Vanacore stated that the school tried many solutions to its problems. “We did change some of the cooperative to a traditional drop off program in hopes that that would help,” she said. “But unfortunately everything that we tried just didn’t work.” Vanacore said that as enrollment and fundraising declined, so did staffing. The nursery was facing the loss of 3-4 teachers in the coming year. 

The nursery school is most well known for its annual consignment sale, which was a major fundraiser for the school. However, those numbers have also recently declined. “There used to be us and one or two other places with a consignment sale, but now with Facebook Marketplace and other stores, the market is spread out,” explained Vanacore. With a lack of funding, Katrina Trask did not want to burden parents with a higher cost of tuition, and was running out of its own finances. 

Vanacore said that many in the community have reached out to express their sadness over the school’s closing, and share their fond memories of the school and annual consignment sale. “We’re incredibly grateful to the families and entire community of Saratoga, especially what we were able to give to families and what they gave back to us,” said Vanacore. “We’re very sad to see it come to an end, but maybe someday there will be another Katrina Trask Nursery School. We’ll have to wait and see.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Casino Hotel is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a Blood Drive on Monday, January 20. Members of the local community are urged to join dozens of Saratoga Casino Hotel team members to give blood on Monday, January 20 from Noon to 6 p.m. inside the hotel ballroom. 

January is National Blood Donor Month, and right now, the Red Cross has a critical shortage of type O blood and urges donors of all types to make an appointment now to give and help replenish the blood supply.

“Declines in donations can affect patient care, and the winter months can be a difficult time to collect enough blood and platelet donations to meet patient needs due to inclement weather and seasonal illnesses causing some donors to temporarily be unable to give,” said Alyson Barraza, communications director with the Red Cross. “If you’ve ever considered giving blood to help save lives, now is the time to do it.”

In an effort to help more patients, Power Red donations will also be accepted at this year’s drive. A Power Red donation allows donors to safely donate a concentrated dose of red blood cells, which are the most commonly transfused blood component.

Each donation can help save more than one life. To date, Saratoga Casino Hotel has collected more than 1,300 blood donations at their biannual blood drives.

“We always see a tremendous response at our Annual Blood Drive.”, said Alex Tucker, General Manager of Saratoga Casino Hotel. “Year after year this event is embraced by our team members and local community. We’re very excited to once again partner with the Red Cross and help serve those in need.”

All presenting donors at this year’s Blood Drive will receive a $10 voucher to Perks Café, located in the hotel lobby.

Donors are encouraged to make an appointment prior to the January 20 Blood Drive. To schedule a time, call 518-581-5774 or visit RedCrossBlood.org. In an effort to receive as many donations as possible, donors are asked to complete their RapidPass® online on the day of the drive. Donors can complete their RapidPass® in 10 to 15 minutes by following the four steps. Donors will start by providing some initial information, before reading through the pre-donation materials and answering health history questions. After completion, donors are asked to print, download or email their RapidPass® to themselves, and bring it with them to the drive.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association is proud to announce our 7th Annual Chocolate Fest, taking place on First Friday, February 7, from 6-9 pm.  We are currently announcing sponsorship opportunities as well as a call for Chocolate Chef entries.

Area restaurants, bakeries, and chefs are all welcome to compete to showcase their talents and tastes by preparing small, sample sized chocolate offerings in up to 3 categories: Dessert (Sweet), Savory, and Chocolate Beverage. A panel of our First Friday Fanatics and visitors will judge these chocolate treats in the Fan Favorite competition. More information and applications to participate as a Chocolate Chef can be found atballston.org/category/first-fridays.

On First Friday, visitors can pick up a ballot form at any participating business and head to their favorite “Sweet Spot” shops, restaurants, and chefs to sample a $1 chocolate taste. While savoring these chocolate treats, visitors will enjoy a variety of First Friday activities going on throughout the Village, including art gallery openings, live music, artist demonstrations, and special promotions and sales just in time for Valentine’s Day. A complete listing of all events can be found at Ballston.org.

Last year featured over 20 “Sweet Spots” throughout our downtown area.  We were proud to welcome over 1,500 visitors to the Village for this annual event.

Sponsorships from regional and local businesses and community members help make this event possible.  For more information on advertising opportunities and how you or your business can support our 2020 Chocolate Fest, please visit: ballston.org/product/2020-chocolate-fest-sponsorship. 

 The Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association, established in 1983, is a non-profit organization committed to making the Village of Ballston Spa a better place to live and work, and to bringing quality arts and entertainment events for all ages to the community. More information can be found at www.ballston.org

LAKE LUZERNE — Howard Schaffer of Lake Luzerne has been elected President of the Hadley-Lake Luzerne Historical Society, following outgoing President Joe Kavanagh, who has served for the past four years. The Historical Society, founded in 1973, is one the region’s longest-standing historical preservation organizations and has been responsible for multiple conservation projects over the past half-century.

Among the noted projects the group has played a key role in preserving is the historic Hadley Parabolic Bow Bridge, as well as the Harmon House and the Gailey Hill Schoolhouse in the Town of Lake Luzerne. 

Schaffer previously served as Vice-President and Programming Chair, coordinating monthly programming for guest speakers including authors and historians over the past three years.

Professionally, he is founder of Media Marketing Inc. in Albany and has served as President of the Lake Luzerne Association, working on the effort to address milfoil and invasive species in the southern Adirondacks. He is a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club as well.

Also elected were David Cranston as Vice-President, Sally Goodhart as Treasurer, Christine Blakley as Secretary, Nan Plantier as Media Director and Susan Wilder with Maureen Jones as Programming & Events Chairs.

For additional information contact the Society at kinnearmuseum@gmail.com

Saratoga Springs — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club is holding their annual “Because Hunger Doesn’t End with the Holiday’s” food drive on Saturday, January 18 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at four different locations throughout Saratoga Springs and Wilton. The club will be collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to seven different food pantries in the greater Saratoga Springs area. The club partners with the Golub and Hannaford Corporations to hold this event. The four collection locations will be at:

• Hannaford on Weibel Avenue
• Price Chopper on Railroad Place
• Market 32 by Price Chopper on Ballston Avenue
• Market 32 by Price Chopper on Route 50 (Wilton)

The donated items will be assisting the Franklin Community Center Pantry, Wilton Food Pantry, St. Clement’s Church Pantry, Saratoga EOC, New England Congregation Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army Pantry, and Shelters of Saratoga. Last year the club collected a record amount of approximately 7,500 pounds of food to support the pantries. Monetary donations of $346 were donated to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which further supports all the pantries throughout the region. 

Anyone interested in donating that is not able to visit one of the locations above, please contact saratogaspringslions@gmail.com

The Saratoga Springs Lions Club is a volunteer-based service organization with a mission to serve its community and support local youth, promote diabetes prevention, and promote sight and hearing conservation. To learn more about the club, visit www.saratogapsringslions.com

SARATOGA COUNTY — The Saratoga County Foundation’s Veterans Business Council recently elected a new slate of officers for the 2020 year. Elected for a two-year term were Jason Collins, from SUNY Empire State College, as Chair, Erica Choi, from Bank of America, as Vice-Chair, Robert Scheurer, from Adirondack Trust Company, as Secretary, and Tom Dingley, from Mosaic Wealth Advisory, as Treasurer.

Outgoing Chair Karen Charbonneau, from Saratoga Home Team, was recognized by the VBC for her outstanding leadership the past two years as the Chair of the volunteer group of Veterans. During her time as Chair, the Veterans Business Council helped to coordinate funding and construction of a 7,700 square foot field house at the Naval Support Activity Base in Saratoga Springs, implemented a new scholarship program to aid Veterans pursuing higher education and established a new fundraiser to help raise money for Veterans initiatives in Saratoga County, among many other efforts to assist Veterans that the VBC undertakes.

The Veterans Business Council operates under the Saratoga County Foundation of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and is made up of a select group of Veterans who are business leaders in the region. The Veterans Business Council works to facilitate opportunities for military veterans residing in Saratoga County, including offering scholarship opportunities and connecting them with the business community to enhance their knowledge of employment opportunities, job or entrepreneurial training, and new business development.

More information on the Veterans Business Council is available online at www.saratogaveterans.org.