SARATOGA SPRINGS — First, the money. In 2019, $2.1 billion was wagered on 2,000 races at Saratoga, Aqueduct and Belmont, according to the New York Racing Association. 

The Saratoga meet (40 days) delivered the largest return of gambled money – $147 million wagered at the track, and a $705 million all-source handle – meaning many more dollars were spent on Saratoga races at off-track betting sites across the globe, than were at the actual track. Other 2019 betting dollars: Belmont Spring & Summer – 48 days, $525 million all-source handle; Belmont Fall – 37 days, $275 million; Aqueduct – 25 days Fall, $205 million.      

What they are saying about Saratoga: 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo: You can’t open an attraction that could bring people from across the state to that attraction and overwhelm a region. We have time to decide first of all, but I don’t think you can open Saratoga Race Course (slated July 16) and the State Fair (Syracuse – slated Aug. 21) unless we can open all large-scale attractions statewide.  Density is not our friend…How do you do sit six feet apart at the racetrack?   

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New York Racing Association plans to open at Belmont first, then Saratoga – Closing to spectators and reducing employees and support staff to only those who are required under the rules of racing.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, 113th Assembly District: move forward planning to hold this year’s race meet. Potential “opportunities including but not limited to social distancing, limited viewership, and personal protective equipment.”

Elsie Stefanik, 21st Congressional District: explore options for the racecourse to reopen for the meet with updated operations based on public health recommendations. Protect public health but also ensure the meet moves forward in a modified capacity to protect the public’s health.

Board of Directors of the Adirondack Trust Company: give NYRA time to draw up careful plans—subject to state approval—that would allow a limited number of fans to attend racing consistent with safety protocols. Examples: limiting the number of seats and/or entry tickets sold, marking and monitoring designated viewing areas to ensure proper social distancing, plexiglass screens, mandatory temperature checks and masks, changes in backstretch housing and strong protections for workers, strictly enforced.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The pandemic brought the cancelation of many events, but one front line worker won a Wedding Relief Package from Saratoga Event Planner Fine Affairs. 

Healthcare worker Amanda Kondrat was announced as the winner this past weekend. The contest was hosted on Instagram, and users were encouraged to nominate and vote for their “Health Care Hero.” 

Fine Affairs partnered with other local businesses to offer the package, and received over 5,000 nominations. 

The package includes:

• Decor & Rental items by Fine Affairs, Geriann Eddy
• A Floral credit fromSurroundings Floral Studio
• Ceremony and Cocktail Hourlive acoustic music by Jay Yager
• Wedding Coordination Services from Wendy Lawrence Weddings & Events
• Bridal Day-Of Hair & Makeup by Blush518
• Barber Services for the Groomby Matthew Shufelt from Vinny’s Barbershop of Saratoga
• Penthouse Suite Planning Retreat at Pavilion Grand Hotelincluding a full pamper day by Make Me Fab Salon, Spa & Bridal
• Custom Hand Painted Wedding Glasses & Christmas Ornament by Custom Creations by Cyndie Wade
• Bridal Shop credit for in house gown and designer tux by Ferri Formals & Bridals
• A Credit towards The New YorkPlayers Mike Emery

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On May 4 construction began on the pedestrian bridge which will connect the Saratoga Springs City Center to the new Flat Rock parking structure. Designed for maximum transparency, the glass walls, which will be installed over the next month, will allow guests a view of the city.  Once completed the Flat Rock parking structure, which will have six hundred parking spaces, will allow Saratoga Springs to compete for new events that had not considered Saratoga Springs in the past.

Rendering of finished skywalk & parking garage. Image provided.

The dairy industry has been struggling for many years and recently COVID-19 has added additional pressure, forcing many producers to dump milk. Stewart’s dairy producers aren’t dumping milk; in fact, they’re receiving increased premiums and decreased hauling costs from Stewart’s that goes beyond what they receive above the Federal Market Administrator cost. In addition, Stewart’s has again decreased retail milk pricing. Effective May 4th, all gallons and half gallons were decreased by .10 cents for customers.

Stewart’s relief to dairy producers comes with increased competitive premiums, by .50 cents from .10/cwt to .60/cwt for the month of May and could be extended into June. In addition, the company is extending their fuel savings with a decreased hauling charge for the month of May.

With schools and restaurants closed, the dairy industry is producing 15% more milk than the American public can consume, leading many dairy producers to have no choice but to dump excess milk.

According to Stewart’s Shops president, Gary Dake, “We happened to be in the right position at the right time with our packaged dairy products and our nearly 100 years of experience in the dairy industry. Our fresh and local dairy products continue to experience more demand and we are pleased that we are in a position to offer savings to our customers and relief to our dairy producers during these uncertain times.”

The company relies on 25 local dairy farms, while many other retailers purchase their milk from co-ops. Stewart’s is in a unique position sourcing their raw milk from local dairies, picking up the milk with their own haulers, and processing and bottling it themselves at their manufacturing plant in Greenfield. This allows them to have more control and efficiency and pass on savings to both the customer and the dairy producer.

PALMERTOWN — Saratoga PLAN, preserving land and nature, received a $500,000 grant from the Sarah B. Foulke Charitable Fund, the largest private cash gift made to the organization.

The grant will go towards the planning and design of roughly 20 miles of trails built in the Southern Palmertown Range. Home to 8,000 acres of protected lands, the project will establish the area as a recreational destination while conserving its natural resources.

“The Palmertown Range forms the southeastern-most corner of the Adirondacks. The undeveloped acreage of this semi-wild woodland provides climate-resilient habitat, replenishes streams and lakes, our source of clean drinking water, and fosters a sustainable forestry and tourism industry,” said Maria Trabka, Executive Director of Saratoga PLAN in a release. “Fast-growing local populations and visitors to the area will be able to enjoy a permanently conserved wilderness experience within easy access of their homes and lodgings.” 

The project aims to protect and conserve the ecological areas in Palmertown. According to Saratoga Plan’s website, another goal is to use the grant to establish Community Forests. The Community Forests are communally owned woodlands managed by the local community.

The development of the multi-use trail will add to the spine trail system aimed to connect Saratoga Spa State Park to Moreau Lake State Park. Discussion of the trail master plan is currently underway. According to Saratoga PLAN website, the plan will be used to determine where trails can be sited appropriately and which recreational uses can be supported in the area. Developers of the master plan will design site-specific trail networks for properties with willing landlords. 

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“This grant will support the development of a recreational trail network within Saratoga County that will provide people with a place to enjoy nature and wildlife while also creating a vital protected corridor for wildlife habitat and movement. The trail system has been recognized as a top priority by business owners, partners, and outdoor recreation interest groups, and this funding will help make that goal a reality,” said Kim Elliman, president and CEO of the Open Space Institute (OSI). OSI has been collaborating with Saratoga PLAN on projects in the Palmertown Range for several years,” Elliman said in the release.

Saratoga PLAN aims to design Friendship Trails that will provide enjoyment through an inclusive spectrum of outdoor activities: walking, running, wheelchairing, dog-walking, mountain-biking, horseback-riding, bird-watching, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and learning about nature and local history. Saratoga PLAN will announce new trail segments as they open to the public over the next several years, beginning in late 2020 if public health restrictions are lifted.

Anthony J. (Tony) Izzo, one of three donor-advisors to the Sarah B. Foulke Charitable Fund, explained the grant in the press release.

“Sarah Blackwell Foulke, a Skidmore graduate and an attorney who practiced in Saratoga County, was a kind, giving, compassionate and courageous woman with an outgoing personality, strong spirit, and a great heart and soul. She sought respite and restoration in the woods, enjoying the company of her friends and four-legged companions. The Sarah B. Foulke Friendship Trails project embodies Sarah’s enduring love of Saratoga Springs, nature, dogs, horses, and the power of friendship. We are confident that this gift to the community will bring pleasure to many and benefit all forever. We hope that our donation will inspire others to donate their time and money to Saratoga PLAN projects for the benefit of present and future generations of Saratoga County residents and visitors,” Izzo said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In an effort to unite the Saratoga community in a spirit of good will, Network Saratoga LLC presents One For All, a Facebook Live Event. One for All will air on Facebook and You Tube channels on Thursday, May 14, starting at 6 p.m., and will be hosted by Star Radio Talent, Walt Adams.

One for All presents a warm blend of local talents singing their hearts out in support of local non-profit organizations. The evening will showcase the talents of popular solo artists who are part of the local Saratoga music scene including Rick Bolton, Jeff Brisbin, Justin Joyner, Matt McCabe, Garland Nelson, Rich Ortiz, Tim Wechgelaer and Jay Yager. Each musician, who will be performing from their home, will be paired with a Saratoga Non-profit Organization whose mission will be highlighted after the artist’s performance. One for All was created as an effort to help our local non-profits through this difficult period of time when they are called upon to meet the increased needs of our community.

“While complying with stay at home orders, I felt challenged to contribute something positive to our current situation and help in some way,” said Fran Dingeman, owner of Network Saratoga LLC.  “Inspired by the Elton John and Lady Gaga specials, I wanted to create a collaborative event that was similar but focused on our local scene. That was the genesis of One for All.”

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After coming up with the concept for One for All, the other elements fell into place when Fran reached out to Peter Jones of Coverbandtv.com and SAVI (Specialized Audio Visual Incorporated) to add the technical component to the live stream event. “Peter brought all the technical experience needed to bring One For All from the conceptual phase to reality. He immediately showed a passion for what I was developing and shared the local vision as well,” said Fran Dingman.

“We are always eager to help out our local communities through music.  Until we can gather collectively in our favorite venues, we hope that we can support our community with quality video, audio, and most of all our musicians,” said Peter Jones of Coverbandtv.com

Marci Fila of REDD (Real Estate Digital Designs) contributed the One For All logo and graphics. The Adirondack Trust Company, Star Radio and Social Radiant are proud supporters of the event.

Non-profit organizations whose work will be showcased throughout the evening include AIM Services Inc., Franklin Community Center, Saratoga Center for the Family, Shelters of Saratoga, The Prevention Council, The Saratoga Senior Center, Wellspring and The Wesley Community. The opportunity to make a donation to each of these organizations will be made available throughout the show. After the live event, One For All will be archived on both Facebook and You Tube channels for viewing and the opportunity for ongoing donations will continue to be possible after the event. For more information, go to Facebook.com/saratogaoneforall.

Network Saratoga LLC, founded by Francine Dingeman in 2015, is an event development, marketing and promotions company focused on non-profit fundraisers and events for communities, municipalities and small businesses. Network Saratoga LLC guides business owners through the social map and gets them involved in what best fits their goals and demographics. In addition to events, Network Saratoga LLC specializes in traditional advertising, communication and marketing efforts focused on optimal results for individual businesses. For more information, contact fran@networksaratoga.com.

Coverbandtv.com was inspired by Grammy Award Winner Kevin Brandow, lead vocalist for the Refrigerators. Their mission is to support and ‘Cover Bands Live’ across multiple online platforms, including facebook.com, youtube.com, and twitch.tv. Recently, CoverBandTV sponsored an online music festival called ALBFest518. For more information go to coverbandtv.com.

Click Here for Extinguishing Home Fires

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The city Finance Department submitted to the City Council on May 5 the First Quarter Financial Report of 2020.

The submitted material is as follows:

Please note that this report is prepared on a cash basis and no adjustments have been made for receivables or payables.

REVENUES:

General Fund Revenues

Property taxes in the General Fund are recognized as revenue for the full amount levied at the time the tax roll is posted to the general ledger. The Finance Office has reviewed the payments made as of 03/31/20 and 57% has been collected or $9,137,251.

Last year at this time 55% was collected. You will recall that property taxes can be paid in four installments with the first installment due March 1. However, the City offers a discount of 2.25% if the full year is paid on or before March 1. This accounts for the greater than 25% collection rate after only the first due date has passed.

As of 03/31/20 the City has not received many of the larger revenue streams.

– Sales Tax figures include only one month since February and March collections are not distributed to the City from NYS Taxation and Finance until April and May, respectively.

 – VLT Aid is paid in June.

– Hotel Occupancy Tax is paid to the City from the County on a quarterly basis. The first quarterly payment for 2020 will be received in April.

– County surplus distribution is paid on a quarterly basis too, with the first payment due in April.

– NYRA Admissions Tax is paid annually after the racing season has closed.

– The bulk of Franchise Tax is paid annually, in the last quarter of the year.

– State Aid Revenue sharing is distributed in two installments, September and December. The largest share is received in December.

– Mortgage Tax is paid semiannually in May and November.

Finance – When actual revenue is adjusted to reflect actual property tax receipts, then the Finance Office is at 24% collected.

Please note that Recreation revenues are only 11.8% as of March 31st. Recreation implemented a new online registration and payment system on January 13th. The company is required to provide a daily file that can be imported into the City’s financial software. As of 03/31 this process had not been completed and so revenue is not reported in the year to date budget report.

Taking into consideration the property tax revenue recognition issues, approximately 25% of revenues were actually received as of 03/31/20. In 2019 the adjusted approximate revenue collected was 26%.

Water and Sewer Revenues: The first quarter water and sewer bills for 2020 are mailed in April for a May 15th due date.

Capital Revenues: The City will issue a General Obligation bond in June to finance the 2020 capital projects.

EXPENSES:

General Fund Expenses

Mayor’s Office – Many contributions to outside organizations and events have been paid in full as of 03/31/20. Most other expenses are fairly consistent.

All – Liability insurance has been paid in full for the year. Additional expenses would be for claims or additional coverage. Most departments’ expenses are running at about 25%, which is on target for 03/31/20 and is consistent with the first quarter of 2019. Variances are due to seasonal expenses and grants.

Capital Expenses

Capital expenses are usually larger in the months where weather is more conducive to construction. In addition, large vehicle purchases often take many months to be built according to bid specifications.

Community Development

Since the Community Development block grants are awarded on a different schedule than the City’s fiscal year, no budget is established.

Submittal Date: May 5, 2020

In 2017, Jim Calhoun had no idea he was about to embark on a life-changing journey.

He was an outgoing guy who just liked to have a good time. 

The First Down

For 15 years, Calhoun worked full-time as a Human Resources Assistant at St. Peter’s Health Partners, while helping to build bathrooms, porches and decks in his spare time. He loved music, being outdoors, and trying out different craft beers. 

He was taking it easy that Labor Day weekend. He was vacationing with his family at their New Jersey lake house, but his father had just passed away two weeks prior and he wasn’t feeling the greatest. 

Falling asleep at 5 p.m. that evening, he woke at 11 p.m. and went to the bathroom. While washing his hands, he blacked out and hit his head on the granite countertop. It was only a small cut, but his face was badly bruised. 

At the hospital, blood tests revealed that Calhoun had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“I couldn’t believe it. I felt normal,” he said. 

The Greatest Gift

Jim Calhoun’s life changed overnight. 

“My focus was beating it and starting the process to get through it,” he said. 

Because he was 44 years old at the time he was diagnosed, in addition to chemotherapy treatments, doctors told him he was also going to need a bone marrow transplant. His name was put on the Be the Match national marrow registry. 

There was a 30-percent chance of finding a suitable donor match.

Over the next year, Calhoun was in and out of the hospital often, contracted pneumonia, and was battling fevers of 106 to 108 degrees. 

“My birthday is on Christmas and by that point I thought I just couldn’t fight anymore,” he said.

Not long after that, he got a text message saying he had a donor match.

“I called everybody I could think of, I was so excited!”

A Match Made in Marrow

Admitted to the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Care Center on January 26th, 2018, Calhoun spent three days getting high doses of radiation before his relatively painless transplantation procedure. 

A year later, he was able to meet his donor. 

“I was pacing around the house for two hours before I could call him. Once I did, it was like I’d known him forever,” said Calhoun.

Christian Montano lost several people close to him to cancer, so when the football team he was on at Brown University all decided to signup to be on the registry, he did too. 

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That simple cheek swab revealed that he matched all 12 genes for transplant compatibility with Calhoun. Extracting the marrow from his pelvis was much harder. 

The doctors told him afterwards that being a football player made it so tough to get through his muscles. Their drill had worn blisters into their hands. Still, he was in and out of the hospital in a day. 

Unfortunately, the fire alarm at his hotel went off that night and he had to walk down seven flights of stairs to get out.

“Christian said it was the worst pain he’d been in, in his entire life,” recalled Calhoun.

Celebrating Survival

The following year, when Calhoun and his family reached the gate at Montano’s Connecticut home for a “Celebration of Life” party, he had to turn around.

“I left for a little while to collect my thoughts. I was so nervous. Inside, I was crying like a baby. I could never thank him enough for saving my life and making it so that I could spend more time with my wife and children,” said Calhoun.

Now an offensive lineman with Tulane University, Montano is a soft-spoken, humble, kind, generous kid, said Calhoun. Montano’s family began referring to Calhoun as “Uncle Jimmy” and his parents call him “son.”

In this Together

It’s friendship that has made Calhoun’s more than two-year journey through cancer manageable. His niece, Magen Whalen, held a community fundraiser, and local businesses and organizations have pitched in to help Calhoun pay for medical bills and travel expenses. 

Teaming up with others, he’s held several successful blood and marrow donor drives. He’s also reached out to other adult patients with support. 

“I try to help who I can to make them feel better and stay positive,” he said. 

Calhoun’s immune system is still compromised, so other illnesses continue to crop up, but he is trying to stay active and hopes to be able to work again soon. 

“You have to ask yourself, ‘Do I sit here and wait for the cancer to come back or keep on living?”

To offer financial help, donations are being accepted at any Adirondack Trust bank branch to the #CalhounStrong account. 

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that portions of the state may be able to reopen on May 15 when the New York on PAUSE order expires. 

The potential reopenings will occur in phases by “regions,” and only if regions meet a series of benchmarks. 

The measures that need to be in place refer to the monitoring capabilities of new infections,  securing there is adequate capacity in the health care system to deal with potential new illnesses and hospitalizations, increased diagnostic testing, and having contact tracing in place to lessen the spread of the disease.      

Saratoga County is incoporated into the Capital Region – an eight-county area also consisting of Warren, Washington, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene counties.

The criteria to reopen is comprised of seven headings. The Capital Region currently meets five of those. Those five include: a 14-day decrease in hospital deaths or fewer than five deaths over a three-day average; less than 2 per 100,000 new hospitalizations over a three-day rolling average; having ample hospital beds available – 41 % of total beds and 44 % of ICU beds where a minimum of 30% is required for each, and exceeding the metric requirements for the number of contact tracers needed.

The regional shortcomings, as depicted in a slide presentation by the governor on Monday, are in two categories. Those are: showing a 14-day decline in hospitalizations or under 15 new hospitalizations, and having a minimum of 30 per 1,000 residents tested monthly. Both the categories are taken as a three-day average.

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Using Saratoga County specifically as a reference point, the number of hospitalizations has remained below the 15 person threshold since mid-April, although the county falls short in the testing criteria –  which would require approximately 700 Saratoga County residents be tested every three days. Recently the average number of residents being tested has been just under 500.

Still, it is important to note that Saratoga comprises just one of the eight counties in the Capital “Region” directive. Numbers from all counties must be collected an analyed, and the governor said Monday that regions believing they can start to reopen May 15 must first conduct their own analysis and ensure they meet the approriate criteria. “These are the facts they have to have in place to do it,” Cuomo said. “Start now with the analysis; don’t wait until May 15.”   

The  reopening would happen in stages.

Phase 1:  Construction, Manufacturing and wholesale supply chain, Select Retail – curbside pickup. 
Phase 2: Professional services, Finance and Insurance, Retail, Administrative Support, Real Estate/ Rental Leasing.
Phase 3: Restaurants/ Food Services, Hotels/Accomodations.
Phase 4: Arts/ Entertainment/ Recreation, Education. 

The regional approach would require input from, and the coordination of a variety of people – elected officials and hospital officials, among them. Details regarding the formation of a regional group, or the composition of its members is not immediately known.