SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Springs DPW will hold a free household hazardous waste day on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink facility in Saratoga Springs from 8 a.m. to noon.
The biennial event is open to Saratoga Springs residents only, and allows for the safe disposal of many home and garden products that contain harmful chemicals.
City residents must pre-register on the city’s website or registration forms can be picked up in-person at City Hall, DPW dispatch, or the transfer station on Weibel Avenue. Proof of residency is required during registration. Information on what is authorized for disposal is available on the city website.
Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation of registration and assigned time for drop-off. Registration can be completed at the following webpage: www.saratoga-springs.org/formcenter/public-works-5/city-of-saratoga-springs-household-hazar-127 .
Residents may also call DPW Coordinator Holli at 518-587-3550 ext. 2555 with any questions.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sustainable Saratoga will hold their annual Paint Collection Day on Saturday, Oct. 21 in the SPAC overflow parking lot on the west side of Route 50, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
There are no residency requirements for this event.
Pre-registration is highly encouraged to mitigate traffic during the event. Reserve a spot ahead of time through Eventbrite: eventbrite.com/ e/706038960537?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Cost is free. Donations to Sustainable Saratoga are appreciated.
Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices and the protection of natural resources, through education, advocacy and action, for the benefit of current and future generations in the Saratoga Springs area.
Samples of signage anticipated to soon be welcoming visitors to the city of Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Council Meeting: Oct. 17. Mayor Ron Kim led a moment of silence for the nation of Israel and a remembrance of civilians lost and those being held hostage, and the council’s four-hour meeting concluded with the board’s unanimous approval of a resolution condemning “atrocities committed by the terrorists of Hamas,” and the “unqualified support of the State of Israel and the Israeli people.”
Tuesday night’s meeting marked the final official gathering of council members prior to the Nov. 7 election; all five council seats and both city supervisor positions are to be voted upon, and new two-year terms will begin January 2024.
Democrat mayor Ron Kim is running for re-election. Both challengers to the mayoral seat – Republican candidate John Safford and One Saratoga candidate Chris Mathiesen, as well as Supervisor candidate Michele Madigan (D, One Saratoga), and local Democratic Party Chairman Otis Maxell spoke during segments where public comment was allotted. City Republican Committee chairman Michael Brandi released a statement that said litigation was served on the City at the Council meeting, and that he had commenced court proceedings to compel the city to address two FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests he is accusing the city of ignoring.
Welcome to Saratoga Springs
City Supervisor Matt Veitch offered a presentation showcasing new signage anticipated to be placed at entry and exit points in and out of Saratoga Springs in the near future.
“When you travel out of the city of Saratoga Springs you always see a sign welcome to the next town – welcome to Wilton, welcome to Greenfield – and it’s always bothered me as a native Saratogian that we don’t do the same thing on our side,” Veitch told the council.
The welcome signs that do exist display a variety of styles, fonts and sizes, Veitch pointed out. The new signs – large ones at major thoroughfares such as the exit 14, exit 15, and Route 9 entrances to the city, smaller ones to be placed on the more rural entry and exit points, will have more uniformity and consistency in style. The front side will feature a welcome for people coming in to the city, and a “thank you for visiting” text will appear on the back.
Veitch said he worked with city DPW Commissioner Jason Golub, as well as the county Public Works department among others and that the county set aside funds for the signs to be created. The large signs will be put out for bid by the county, Veitch added.
Free Pop-Up Health & Wellness Clinic for the Creative Community
Finance Commissioner Dillon Moran announced a Free Pop-Up Health Clinic will take place 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Caffe Lena.
Services will Include: Vision Care Clinic Including Exams and Eyewear, Custom Molded Earplugs, Blood Pressure Screening, Dietician Consultation, HEPC/HIV Screening, Insurance Navigation, Cancer Screening Services
Saratoga Hospital volunteer medical professionals will provide testing, evaluation, health & wellness education, as well as assistance obtaining access to ongoing care during a one-day pop-up clinic, free to anyone in the creative community. This includes artists, musicians, designers, photographers, filmmakers, writers, and all others who work in a creative capacity.
The goal of this service is to enable individuals in the creative community who are uninsured or underinsured to access healthcare in a trusted environment so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life.
For more information, go to: caffelena.org/health-clinic/.
City Connections
Jen Dunn, of the city Planning Department, delivered a 15-minute presentation regarding the department’s Missing Links Sidewalk Program. Dunn defined “Missing Links” as stretches of city pathways where sidewalks lead nowhere and discussed the remedies to fill in those gaps.
Missing Links Program Brings 1.8 Miles of New Sidewalks to the City Saratoga Springs, New York, October 17, 2023 – Mayor Kim congratulates the Planning Department on the, which strives to fully connect downtown to more neighborhoods and places in Saratoga Springs.
Between 2022 and 2023, the project completed 1.8 miles of ADA compliant sidewalk segments and crosswalks within a one-mile radius of the City’s urban core. The majority of the project’s funding was provided by a $1.52 million grant through the 2019-2024 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). After reimbursements are received later this year and next, the ultimate cost to the city will be approximately $382,000.
Jury Verdict in Mount vs. The City of Saratoga Springs
A few hours prior to the start of the Oct. 17 meeting, the jury in Mount vs. The City of Saratoga Springs, after a two-week trial, ruled in favor of the city. During the council meeting, city Mayor Ron Kim spoke about the trial outcome, with slight variations to the commentary released to the press earlier in the day.
“Darryl Mount’s death 10 years ago was a tragedy. The loss of a young man and fellow Saratogian left a void in our community,” Mayor Kim said. “I’m glad a jury finally had the opportunity to weigh the evidence and reach a decision, and I am gratified the city will now not face further liability. It’s always been my view that because of the failure to conduct an investigation 10 years ago into the death of Darryl Mount, a jury trial was the only way for a final decision to be made. Jury trials are a foundation of our democracy, as much as voting is. Clearly, the jury deliberated, listened to the facts, listened to the adversarial proceeding and rendered a judgement. It is unfortunate that we had to wait 10 years for this decision.”
A resolution declaring the City of Saratoga Springs a Safe Haven for Trans Youth was tabled with the understanding it will be brought to the table for discussion and vote at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 8.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga TODAY is accepting letters from candidates in Saratoga County running for office and on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Submissions should be limited to 300 words and explain how your background, experience, or expertise for office makes you the best candidate for the job.
Letters must include name, political office sought and municipality in which it is located. Letters may appear in print or online.
Send to cbeatty@saratogapublishing.com. Deadline for submissions: Oct. 25. Please include Candidate Submission in the subject line.
BALLSTON SPA —At its monthly meeting Oct. 17, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved authorizing terms of a settlement agreement to pay $40,000 to Deborah Papula in connection with a motor vehicle accident that occurred July 2017 on a county owned road.
Papula was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband, Peter Papula, when their car was involved in a two-car crash that occurred near the intersection of Lester Park Road and Middle Grove Road, according to a report published by The Saratogian in early August 2017. Peter Papula was taken to Saratoga Hospital where he later died from injuries suffered in the crash, and Deborah Papula was transferred to Albany Medical Center Hospital in critical condition, according to the report.
This week’s approved county resolution specifies that the Settlement Agreement resolves all claims in the aftermath of the crash – “litigation thereafter having been commenced against the County and other parties, a preliminary litigation having occurred, and legal proceedings having not yet concluded” – and resolves all claims without any admission of liability on the part of the County.
BALLSTON SPA — Recognizing the need to update its aerial images, the county board of supervisors approved an agreement at its monthly meeting on Oct. 17 to authorize a Rochester, NY based company to conduct a new countywide aerial imaging/GIS mapping program.
Last produced in 2019, those previous aerial photos are used by local municipal assessors and various county departments – the Office of Emergency Services, the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and Real Property Tax Services, among them.
The new captures will feature “significant enhancements in aerial image resolution and an improved delivery platform,” according to the county resolution.
The contract with Pictometry International Corp., a/k/a Eagleview Technologies Inc. is for a three-year term at a cost up to $225,000.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —More than 100 community leaders gathered in Saratoga Springs Oct. 10 for the inaugural Impact Sector Summit.
The premise? How do you solve significant community issues, such as lack of affordable housing, homelessness, opioid use, food deserts, and health care gaps?
Stephanie Norling, of Baldrige’s Communities of Excellence 2026, described the Communities of Excellence model and its transformative work in in helping communities across the nation thrive in the health, economic vitality, education and quality of life sectors.
Dr. Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote of the Saratoga Community Health Center has lead the Saratoga County Communities of Excellence initiative since 2021. Rodriguez-Goodemote described the innovative community work unfolding in Saratoga County where key leaders have been developing a sustainable framework where all residents can live well, be well and thrive.
A panel presentation representing stakeholders from the worlds of law enforcement, the medical field and the faith community and impact sector, presented four unique cross-sector collaborations. The panelists addressed access to health care, housing for single mothers, supporting individuals struggling with substance use disorder, and barriers to health care for those facing homelessness.
The theme of the summit was developing partnerships that utilize the resources of diverse partners, and working collaboratively to create innovative interventions that address community needs affecting the health and vitality of all people in Saratoga County.
For more information, visit www.saratogahospital.org/classes/community-of-excellence.
Location of the new Code Blue shelter opening this month at 120 South Broadway, captured in an image on Oct. 12, 2023. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Shelters of Saratoga has announced the 10th season of the Code Blue low-barrier winter homeless shelter – this year located at the former Grand Union Motel at 120 South Broadway – will open this month.
The Code Blue shelter was previously located 4 Adelphi St. That location is currently operated by RISE Housing and Support Services as a 24/7 year-round shelter, on a temporary basis. It houses approximately 30 beds. The city of Saratoga Springs is actively reviewing proposals recommended by the city’s homelessness task force in the hope of securing a long-term permanent shelter location.
The new Code Blue facility – which opens during the cold winter months – offers a nightly meal and semi-private accommodations critical for a healthy night of sleep.
“Code Blue is a life saving measure that protects people from harsh cold, snow, and ice common in our area, providing nightly respite and safety,” Duane Vaughn, Executive Director of Shelters of Saratoga, said in a statement.
In the 2022-23 season, the shelter provided 61 cots and served 271 adults. “Our Code Blue shelter was full almost every night. The new location increases our capacity by 23%, providing space for up to 75 people,” said Vaughn.
Code Blue is a state-mandated program administered by Saratoga County.
Code Blue was initiated after the tragic freezing death of Nancy Pitts in 2013. Shelters of Saratoga operates the program in collaboration with local human service agencies, state and local government, faith groups, volunteers, and businesses that support shelter operations and the nightly meal program. The shelter opens when the nightly temperature drops below 32 degrees, beginning in the fall and extending through early spring.
Shelter Needs: Nightly volunteers are needed from 5:30-7 p.m. to serve dinner to guests. Interested volunteers can sign up at sheltersofsaratoga.org.
For those interested in donating, the shelter is in need of the following items: Granola bars; Individually packaged snacks; Drink mix; Condiments; Peanut butter; Jelly; Stewart’s gift cards. Donations of goods will be accepted at 120 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs (center building) beginning in November.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.sheltersofsaratoga.org or contact Shelters of Saratoga directly at 518-581-1097 or info@sheltersofsaratoga.org
Judge Hon. Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson to speak Oct. 18. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Hon. Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, a leader of the New York State Unified Court System and the state’s Equal Justice in Courts Initiative will address the public at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs.
The event is presented by MLK Saratoga, the Saratoga Immigration Coalition, Mary A. Carter Temple #362, and When People Work. The event is free to the public.
Throughout her long career in public service, Judge Mendelson has worked to afford all New Yorkers equal access to justice. Currently the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, she is the state-wide judicial official responsible for ensuring meaningful access to justice for all New Yorkers in civil, criminal, and family courts, regardless of income, background, or disability.
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Hon. Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson leads the New York State Unified Court System’s Office for Justice Initiatives, tasked with ensuring meaningful access to justice for all New Yorkers in civil, criminal and family courts, regardless of income, background, or ability. Judge Richardson-Mendelson and the Office for Justice Initiatives administer a wide variety of programs, volunteer opportunities and resources across the state in service of this mission.
Judge Richardson-Mendelson also leads the Equal Justice in Courts Initiative, combatting racial, gender-based and all other forms of bias in the court system. For more information about this event, contact: 518-526-5272
SARATOGA SPRINGS —RISE Housing and Support Services has been awarded their bid to operate the 7,800 square-foot building on Williams Street that previously housed the Saratoga Senior Center.
Following the senior center’s relocation from 5 Williams St. and in the aftermath of thwarted plans to house a 24/7 year-round permanent homeless shelter on the site, the city – which owns the building – on Sept. 1 offered the building via a public bidding process to non-profits for a short-term lease.
As stipulated in the RFP, the term of the lease will be for 6 months and starts in November, with optional month-to-month leasing for up to an additional six months.
The winning bid by RISE was $500 per month.
The building will serve as temporary administration offices for the human services agency, as their own offices are currently under construction, and will not be used to shelter homeless people, the city said.
