Saratoga Springs — On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge No. 161 will sponsor a Patriot Day Parade commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy. The parade’s theme will be “Honoring Our Community Heroes.”

The Elks plan to honor local first responders who went to New York City to assist with search and rescue efforts after the Twin Towers fell, as well as local community first responders, essential workers and community service providers who have been at the forefront of the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Elks are looking for musical acts, color guards, and marching bands to provide entertainment during the parade. Groups interested in performing, email the Lodge Secretary at saratogawiltonelks161@albany.twcbc.com and request a participation application. 

Parade participants will march down Broadway in the City of Saratoga Springs starting at noon. The Avant Garde Alumni will be again reuniting and providing a featured performance in the parade. 

ARGYLE — Join Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) for a “Farm Feast for Grassland Birds,” hosted by Pleasant Valley Farm 4 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1. 

This farm-to-table dinner sponsored by Stewart’s Shops will feature a chef-prepared buffet of fresh, locally grown products from Pleasant Valley Farm, Mack Brook Farm, Hicks Orchard/Slyboro Ciderhouse, Battenkill Valley Creamery, Winney’s Blueberry Farm, and more with fresh fish from Moby Ricks/PuraVida Fisheries. 

Pleasant Valley Farm owners Paul and Sandy Arnold have over 40 types of fruits and vegetables year-round on this certified naturally grown farm located at 118 S. Valley Road in Argyle. 

Take a free tour of the farm before dinner, catch a live bird of prey presentation by Trish Marki from Silent Wings and enjoy a chance to meet GBT board members and staff and fellow conservationists in a relaxing atmosphere. 

Limited seating; visit bit.ly/gbtfarmfeast to reserve your spot. Minimum donation $100.  Donate $250 or more to Grassland Bird Trust and receive two tickets to your choice of upcoming musical events at Hicks Orchard/Slyboro Ciderhouse.

All funds raised from this event will support GBT’s work to preserve critical grassland habitat for endangered, threatened, and rapidly declining grassland birds.  Learn more at grasslandbirdtrust.org or call 518-499-0012.

SCHUYLERVILLE — The historic Marshall House at 136 Route 4 North in Schuylerville will be open on Sunday, Aug. 1 as part of the Village’s Turning Point Parade celebration. 

The house played an important role in the area’s Revolutionary War history, serving as a field hospital for the British troops and the German soldiers who fought with them in the Saratoga campaign. The family of the German General Friedrich Riedesel had accompanied Burgoyne to the battlefront.

The Baroness Frederika Riedesel (as portrayed by Debbie Bailey) will greet visitors and tell the story of how she with her three children endured bombardment at the Marshall House during the American siege during the Battles of Saratoga in 1777. Docents will explain details of the historic house. 

Visitors will be limited to groups of fifteen in 45-minute sessions at 2:30, 3:15, 4 and 4:45 p.m. There will be valet parking at the house. While admission is free, a donation of $10 per person is suggested to further the educational outreach of The Marshall House.  Registration is required. To register, go to www.themarshallhouse.org and click on Special Event Sunday, August 1 on the home page. 

Ticks carry the risk for more than just Lyme disease. 

There are actually at least 18 known tickborne illnesses resulting from tick bites. Incidences of the lesser-known ones, including anaplasmosis, are on the rise in New York State. 

“Over the last several years there has been an increase in our area. It’s unclear whether that’s a reflection of an increase in the number of ticks, or a change in our behavior,” said Dr. Brian McDermott, an infectious disease specialist at Saratoga Hospital.

While there is still debate about whether the spike is caused by climate changing to enable these tiny parasites to survive longer, or if the soar is because more people are getting outdoors, counties across the state are warning residents to be cautious. 

Important Differences

Even with the surge, in Saratoga County, reports of Lyme disease remain approximately ten times more prevalent than those of anaplasmosis. 

One of the biggest concerns however, is that people with anaplasmosis often don’t know they have it. Unlike with Lyme disease, there is no tell-tale red bullseye when a person is bitten by a tick infected with anaplasmosis. 

Another difference is that for a person to contract Lyme disease, the tick must stay attached for 24 to 48 hours to give the bacteria enough time to be transmitted through the body’s bloodstream. There is no indication that ticks with anaplasmosis must engorge themselves for a prolonged period of time – meaning that even a brief exposure could cause an infection. 

Unexplained Symptoms

Symptoms of anaplasmosis typically appear within a week or two after you’ve been bitten and may include a significantly high fever (103 degrees or more), chills, dry heaves, head and muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. 

“Doctors often can’t distinguish it from any other viral infection you might have until a test is done specifically for it,” said Dr. McDermott. 

Left undetected, severe life-threatening complications, especially for those people with compromised immune systems, can result. 

Treatment 

Once anaplasmosis is diagnosed, it is treated with the antibiotic doxycycline (the same thing used to treat Lyme disease). 

Because anaplasmosis is a viral infection, the human body doesn’t produce protective antibodies, so it is possible that you can contract it more than once. 

In New York, there is also an increase in incidences of Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease similar to malaria. 

The way to prevent Lyme, anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, or any of the other diseases contracted through ticks, is to protect yourself and your pets from exposure. 

Prevention Tips

• Treat clothing and gear with products containing permethrin. 

• Avoid high grassy areas and walk in the center of trails.

• Use an insect repellent containing DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or other EPA-approved product.

• Take a shower soon after coming indoors and do full-body checks of yourself, your pets, and your gear.

For more information from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about tickborne diseases including anaplasmosis, go to www.cdc.gov.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Delays in the procurement of materials, labor shortages, and general supply chain issues have combined to cause a delay in meeting a previously anticipated September completion of the Ashdown Road bridge project, according to a statement released this week by Saratoga Deputy County Administrator Ridge Harris. 

Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett, who serves as Chairman of the County’s Public Works committee visited the Ashdown Road bridge construction site July 26 to receive a briefing on the project’s status.

“The delays are disappointing, but the county is committed to this important investment and will continue to work with the engineers and contractors to ensure the project is complete and the road is reopened as quickly and as safely as possible,” Barrett said, in a statement. “When completed, this project will bring enhanced safety to the many residents who utilize Ashdown Road.”

Construction began in late spring. The new estimated project timeline has not been finalized. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — “The American Rescue Plan has rescued an American music treasure,” according to Caffe Lena Executive Director Sarah Craig. The historic Saratoga Springs venue announced receipt of an award of $255,000 in the form of a Shuttered Venues Operators Grant. 

“The funds give us security during a very unpredictable time,” said Craig. The 110 seat venue on Phila Street is planning to return to full capacity on July 30 with a two-show night featuring the indie folk band Darlingside. 

A nationwide grassroots push to include assistance for  performing arts in the American Rescue Plan was facilitated by Senator Chuck Schumer. Schumer was a major force in securing $16 billion for live performance venues and cultural organizations.

Caffe Lena joins Capital Region arts organizations Proctors, SPAC and The Palace in winning funds to make up for 2020 losses and assist with the cost of returning to normal operations.

To learn more about Caffè Lena’s wide-ranging programs, visit www.caffelena.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The official opening of The Pines@SPAC was staged at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center this week. 

The $9.5 million renovation project “is going to be a game-changer for this facility,” said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who spoke during the event. 

The $9.5 million project was funded primarily by pop concert promoter Live Nation and by New York State – the latter of which provided $1.5 million in grants from Empire State Development and State Parks, awarded through the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

“What began in 2017 as a conversation about how best to upgrade aging concessions and bathroom facilities and address safety and security issues quickly expanded into a much bigger discussion about how to create a campus to align with SPAC’s broader evolving mission,” said SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol. “In short what you see is a world-class center for the arts; a major international destination for tourists poised to enrich the region both economically and culturally, for decades to come.” 

The Pines – a new multi-story building – offers sightlines from the Route 50 gate to the Victoria Pool, and features a second-story year-round event space, called the Nancy DiCresce Education Room, to accommodate education programming. 

The exterior facade of the upper level includes a glass and aluminum storefront design, allowing guests to walk out onto a rooftop terrace facing the amphitheater during outdoor performances. There are also new and expanded restrooms and concessions areas, and spaces for gathering outside of the amphitheater at the new Julie Bonacio Family Pavilion. Upgraded pedestrian walkways improve access between the amphitheater lawn and the main plaza and provide easier paths for travel throughout the venue.

Under NY Parks 2020, more than $18 million has been invested in Saratoga Spa State Park, including modernizing the Peerless Pool bathhouse, a one-mile paved accessible walking trail loop, a new disc golf course, a sensory pollinator garden and accessible, colorful and engaging playground. Other projects include opening the new Creekside Classroom environmental education facility, preserving the park’s historic campus buildings and adding new pavilions, trails and playgrounds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Council workshops this month will discuss board advisory opinions and determine final changes to the UDO Draft Document.

Workshops are scheduled to take place in the Council Room at City Hall and will be livestreamed and recorded.

Workshop dates are as follows: 

August 3 at 5 p.m. (followed by the regular City Council meeting).

August 10 at 6 p.m.

August 17 at 5 p.m. (followed by the regular City Council meeting)

August 24 at 3 p.m.

A Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is a tool which combines traditional zoning and subdivision regulations, along with other development standards for items such as design guidelines, storm water management, signs and street standards into one, easy-to-read reference document. It is intended to eliminate redundant or conflicting code provisions, help to streamline the review and approval process and clarify the steps and requirements with clear illustrations and language.

Advisory opinions from the DRC, City Planning Board and County Planning Board can be found on the city website, along with other UDO draft documents and maps. Go to: saratoga-springs. org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The popular State Seal water fountains in the Saratoga Spa State Park were temporarily closed last week “out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our patrons,” the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced. 

“We test the waters regularly and we just saw some traces of things we shouldn’t be seeing, so we just have to take a look at it,” said Erik Kulleseid, office of parks commissioner, after attending a ribbon cutting event at SPAC on July 27. 

Asked what those traces were, Kulleseid replied: “I don’t want to speculate. (But) as soon as we determine what the issue is, we’ll address it, and get it open again.”

BALLSTON SPA – On July 28, Saratoga County hit 4.6% positivity rate for COVID tests over a 7-day average, the second highest of all NY State’s 62 counties, and the first time to reach that high a weekly measure since Jan. 29.

Saratoga County Public Health Services announced July 29 it will be returning to providing daily COVID number updates after going to once-a-week posting schedule in late June. Since that time, local and regional numbers have multiplied in each of the past successive weeks. On its July 6, the county reported 7 people had tested positive for the virus in the previous 7 days, and a positive test rate of 0.30%. This week, the state reported 167 people tested positive with a positive test rate of 4.6% over a 7-day period.  

County Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Kusnierz also announced the formation of the Saratoga Health and Readiness Planning (SHARP) Task Force in anticipation of continued changes to COVID guidelines from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The recent increase in infections rates in Saratoga County is concerning, and with the formation of the SHARP Task Force, our county leadership will be able to quickly analyze any new guidance issued by New York State Department of Health and the CDC and make recommendations that make sense for our community,” Kusnierz said, in a statement, on July 29.

The SHARP Task Force will be reviewing guidance issued by other governmental entities, reviewing relevant local data, and providing recommendations and guidance to the Saratoga County community.

SHARP Task Force members include: Chairman Todd Kusnierz; Clifton Park Supervisor Jonathan Schopf, Vice Chairman of the Board; Malta Town Supervisor Darren O’Connor, Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee; County Administrator Steve Bulger; Dr. Dan Kuhles, Commissioner of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services; Scot Chamberlain, Saratoga County Director of Human Resources; Pete Bardunias, Senior Vice President of Community Advancement with the Capital Region Chamber; and Anita Murphy, Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent.

According to the county, 65.4% – or just over 150,000 of the county population has completed the vaccine series. Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston reported this week via the supervisor’s social media channels there have been a total of 174 “breakthrough” cases in Saratoga County – that is, 174 of the 150,000 who have been fully vaccinated had tested positive for COVID. Overall, more than 15,600 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and there have been 168 cumulative deaths.

(Note, this article has been updated to reflect stats released July 29)