SARATOGA SPRINGS — A first wave of vaccine mandates for health care workers landed in New York this week. Saratoga Hospital reported a higher percent of vaccinated employees than most other hospitals across the state, yet still stands to lose dozens of employees. 

“We have about 3,100 staff members across our institution. We had about 150 staff who did not want to get vaccinated, for various reasons, and about half of that number received medical or religious exemption,” said Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo Calbone. “We also have a number of employees who are on medical leave – nothing related to COVID or the vaccine. At the end of this process, it looks like we’re going to lose about 60 staff members who departed the organization due to the
vaccine mandate.” 

Some of those 60 employees have chosen to leave the organization, while others who have not met the vaccine requirement are being placed on unpaid leave for a 90-day period, after which their status will be re-evaluated. 

Statewide, there are just over 519,000 total staff in hospitals, and 347,217 direct care/patient-facing staff. Health care workers at hospitals and nursing homes were required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with a first dose received by this past Monday, Sept. 27. 

As of this week, 92.3% of all staff and 93.3% of direct care staff have received at least one dose, with an average of 87% of hospital workers having completed the vaccine series, according to the state Department of Health. The latter numbers are up from 77% of hospital workers being fully vaccinated on Aug. 24, shortly after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the Sept. 27 mandate.

Of the 10 state-defined regions, the Capital Region shows the highest percentage of hospital workers fully vaccinated – at an average of 94% – with Saratoga and Albany county workers topping the list, each at 95%. Schenectady County hospital workers reported a 94% completion rate, and Warren County hospital workers at 92%. By comparison, several different hospitals across the state reported staff figures in the 70-79% range.     

A Shortage of Workers 

Facilities across the country have been warning about a shortage of health care workers.

“Health care by nature, in my opinion, really draws a wonderful group of people. Our staff have been doing amazing work and taking care of our community, but they’re getting tired,” Calbone said.

{loadmoduleid 268}

“We’re in the midst of the worse staffing crisis I’ve experienced in my nearly 40-year career. I’ve never seen anything like it. We have staffing shortages across every category, and it is putting great pressure on the health care industry. You can talk to any hospital in the region, and they will tell you the same thing. At the same time, we’re seeing an unprecedented volume of patients. They’re doing great work, but I am worried about them, they’re getting tired,” Calbone said, adding that the hospital actively contacted past employees who might be interested in returning, asked volunteers to step back in, and re-allocated management staff with clinical skills back into clinical roles. “We’re trying just about anything that makes sense and can help out our staff. And we’re looking for anything the state can do to help out.” 

Addressing possible staffing shortages across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul this week announced a plan that includes potentially signing an executive order to declare a state of emergency that allows qualified health care professionals licensed in other states or countries, recent graduates, retired and formerly practicing health care professionals to practice in New York State. Another possible option is the deployment of medically trained National Guard members, as well as exploring ways to expedite visa requests for medical professionals.

Vaccine Mandates and Legal Challenges

A handful of lawsuits have been filed in N.Y. challenging the mandate. Some are based on First Amendment rights to practice religion, others seeking potential exemptions for things such as natural immunity, said Leslie Silva, partner at Tully Rinckey attorney law firm in Albany.

From the employer’s perspective, Silva said, “if there is no valid exemption, you haven’t been vaccinated and it is a requirement of your job – especially as a health care worker – your employer can fire you and that’s it. No compensation. As far as unpaid leave, you’re not collecting anything there either. What you’re getting is a promise that your job will be there.” Saratoga Hospital has chosen the latter route. 

In addition to the active mandate calling on healthcare workers in hospitals and nursing homes to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare employees who work in adult care, home care, and hospice facilities have until Oct. 7 to receive their first shot.

Calbone said what has been most surprising since the start of the pandemic is an unwillingness by some people to accept the reality of COVID-19. 

“Accepting the seriousness of the reality of this disease, related to masking, and then as the vaccine has rolled out, the resistance to the vaccine. Quite honestly a year ago we all assumed when the vaccine was available people would celebrate and universally step forward to get the vaccine,” he said. “I’ve been disappointed and surprised, but it’s the reality we’re in and we’re working hard to take care of people as they need to be taken care of.” 

Click Here for the Top Saratoga REALTORS® for August 2021

Click Here for the Top Saratoga REALTORS® for August 2021

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Sunday, Sept. 19, The Saratoga Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Saratoga Battlefield Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution had the 90th Annual Wreath Laying at the DAR Monument to Unknown American Dead at the Saratoga Historical National Park. 

From 1929-1931, the early part of the Great Depression, the DAR collected from the members $11,000 to install the monument at the Battlefield on Oct. 10, 1931. At the base of the monument is a tablet with this inscription: “The unknown soldiers who perished in the battles of Saratoga, Sept. 19 and Oct. 7, 1777, and were here buried in unmarked graves, helped to assure the triumph of the war of independence to create the republic of the United States of America, and to establish liberty throughout the world. In honor of those patriots and in recognition of the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington, this memorial is erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution of New York State.” 

Special guest was New York State Regent Patrice Birner to recognize this special anniversary. If you are interested in joining the DAR, please email saratogadaughters1143@gmail.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A free household hazardous waste collection day will take place 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco announced last week. 

The event is offered in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and only open to residents of Saratoga Springs. It will be held at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink.

The event provides residents the opportunity to safely dispose of a variety of materials such as poisons, pesticides, solvents, oil-based paints, household batteries, aerosol cans, fluorescent light tubes, and more. A full list of acceptable and non-acceptable materials can be found on the city website. 

Residents must sign up by Oct. 1. Residents looking to participate can sign up on the City website at the following link: www.saratoga-springs.org/FormCenter/Public-Works-5/City-of-Saratoga-Springs-Household-Hazar-113. 

For more information or assistance registering, contact Kari at 518-587-3550 ext. 2623.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — New Life Fellowship Church invites community members to a clothing and toy Giveaway event on Saturday, October 2, 2021, from 9 a.m. to noon at 51 Old Gick Road.

This event is free and open to the public.  Lightly used winter clothing for all ages, as well as “like-new” toys and children’s books, will be available for families and individuals in the community.

The event will practice social distancing and attendees are encouraged to wear masks while inside the church building, according to church officials.

More information about New Life Fellowship Church and its upcoming events is available at www.newlifeinsaratoga.org. or call the church office at 518-580-1810 Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

HALFMOON — As our troops head home from Afghanistan, it is an important time to be reminded of the significance of the yellow ribbon. 

Yellow ribbons traditionally represent the message of “Support our Troops.” New York State observes Yellow Ribbon Day to honor current and former members of the United States Armed Forces on April 9 of each year since 2006. 

Each year, Yellow Ribbon Day is championed by Carol Pingelski Hotaling, the “Yellow Ribbon Lady,” who began making yellow ribbons to donate to the family members of troops deployed during Operation Desert Storm. NYS Yellow Ribbon Day was originally held at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks and now takes place at the Halfmoon Town Hall. 

VFW Post 358 in Ballston Spa buys 72 rolls of yellow ribbon every year for Yellow Ribbon Day. At three county fairs this past summer, Scott Lamb, Cemetery Director at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery handed out flyers to raise awareness, which are printed by Business Products CO. of NE, Inc., a Clifton Park company who has done all Yellow Ribbon Day printing for free for the past 30 years. 

Hotaling wants to educate community members on why we put out yellow ribbons and yellow bows which can stay up year-round. The organizers of Yellow Ribbon Day hope it will grow into a National Day of Remembrance.

The next New York State Yellow Ribbon Day is Saturday, April 9, 2022, 11 a.m. at the Town Hall in Halfmoon. They will be accepting donations for NY2 Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. Donations received will be used to send Freedom Boxes to our deployed troops. Blue Star Mothers send Freedom Boxes throughout the year and collect donations year-round. 

Please contact Blue Star Mothers with questions at capitalregion2bsm@gmail.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga TODAY and Spa City Digital will be hosting two nights of political debates featuring Saratoga Springs candidates on Oct. 12 and Oct. 21.

All five City Council seats – Mayor, and Commissioners of Public Works, Accounts, Finance and Public Safety, as well as two city Supervisor seats – are up for election on Nov. 2. 

To submit a question for possible inclusion, email: cbeatty@saratogapublishing.com. 

Information for Online viewing of the live debates will be announced in early October.    

Photos by SuperSource Media. 

Beekman Street celebrated its 20th anniversary as an Arts District last weekend. The three-block mixed-use neighborhood just west of Broadway serves as a meeting place where neighbors and visitors may come to meet artists and view and purchase artwork they created. 

{loadmoduleid 268}

BALLSTON SPA  — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors held their monthly meeting Sept. 21. The in-person meeting was attended by approximately 50 people. The Board addressed the following issues: 

Cost-of Living Increases Approved for Some County Officials

• The board approved a local law amending the 2021 county compensation schedule to provide a cost-of-living increase for certain county officials.  Effective Jan.  1, 2021, the measure calls for the compensation for the following county officials to be increased to the following levels:

Elected Officials – Susan Hayes-Masa, County Coroner $31,182; David DeCelle, Coroner $31,182; Michael Zurlo, Sheriff $139,601; Craig Hayner, County Clerk $120,848; Andrew Jarosh, County Treasurer $120,848.

Appointed Officials; Christopher Schall, County Auditor $ 89,598; Andrew Blumenberg, Public Defender $135,095; Margaret McNamara, Director of Human Resources $135,182; Anna Stanko, Director of Real Property $ 89,209; Tina Potter, Commissioner of Social Services $141,918

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston cast the lone vote against. “I’m not opposed to the increases. I just would have don’t think that now is the time,” Gaston said. “There are a number of financial issues with regard to COVID that do impact the staff at the county that I would like to see handled prior to that – but again, it’s nothing against the staff here, I fully support them.” 

Positions Created for COVID Testing in Schools

• Earlier this year, the board accepted a $3.98 million Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Reopening Schools Grant. The funds are targeted to assist with establishing COVID-19 screening and testing programs for students, teachers and staff to support and maintain safe, in-person instructions for schools. 

{loadmoduleid 268}

As such, the board approved the creation of temporary positions of COVID-19 School Epidemiology Officers – as needed at the discretion of the Commissioner of Health – at the base salary of $40/hr.; as well as the temporary creation of positions of COVID-19 School Testing Site Supervisors (base salary of $25/hour); and COVID-19 School Testing Site Coordinators (base salary of
$20/hour). 

The Impact of COVID on the County Court System

• Due to the impact COVID-19 had on the Court system in 2020, many cases could not proceed through the system to conclusion, creating a backlog of cases which are now being disposed of in 2021, the board reported.  The backlog has caused an increase in assigned counsel attorney invoices. To this purpose, the board approved a transfer of $160,000 from its Fund Balance to the Human Resources Department to pay for additional assigned counsel attorney services.

October Proclaimed Domestic Violence Awareness Month

• The Board proclaimed October 2021 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” In Saratoga County.  The resolution cited “the horror of domestic violence (that) continues to plague our society.” In addition to resulting physical and emotional damage inflicted, the national financial ramification of domestic violence is $8.3 billion in expenses annually. The following statistics were also cited: 

– 30% to 60% of families where adult domestic violence is present, child abuse is also present; 

– Despite underreporting, domestic violence calls make up more than half of all calls to the police; 

– More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced rape, severe physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner; 

– The NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline received 8,584 calls last year.

The proclamation reports heightened public awareness is an effective tool and urges all citizens to support and participate in ongoing programs designed for the reduction and eventual elimination of domestic violence. The help hotline, which operates 24-7/365 is 1-800-942-6906.