BALLSTON SPA — The nationally recognized Second Chance program has helped 1,000 people and their families in Saratoga County access addiction treatment and support services, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo announced this week.
The program began Aug. 9, 2017 and created a new approach to addressing substance use disorder and strengthening the relationship between police and people suffering from addiction in Saratoga County. Through the program, Sheriff’s deputies and their partners follow up with every overdose call in Saratoga County to connect overdose survivors and their families with treatment providers and support services in the community.
The program hit a milestone earlier this year, following up with 1,000 overdose survivors.
“It throws a lifeline to someone at what could be the lowest point they’ve known and can be the difference between life and death, Zurlo said in a statement. “I’m thankful to the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors for their support of this program and to our community partners, without whom reaching this milestone and impacting so many lives wouldn’t have been possible.”
Since its inception, the program has expanded through multiple partnerships with community organizations such as the Healing Springs Recovery and Outreach Center, Prevention Council, and Recovery Alliance in Saratoga (RAIS).
Additionally, in 2018, the Office received New York State Department of Health certification as an Opioid Overdose Prevention Provider, allowing the Sheriff’s Office to train law enforcement and civilians in the use of Naloxone.
For more information about the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Second Chance program, contact Captain Dan Morley at 518-885-2403.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Three patrol officers of the Saratoga Springs Police Department rescued a horse in imminent danger of freezing, after the horse had fallen through ice and was stuck in a pond at a local farm.
Police Dispatch received a 911 call from a local farm shortly before 4 p.m. on Feb. 24. Patrol Division officers were sent to the call and immediately began rescue efforts upon arrival, police said.
Patrol Officer Kyle Clinton was first on scene and began to assist the owner in pulling the horse out with a rope. Patrol Officers Kris Camarro and Dominic Martuscello arrived shortly after and working as a team with the horse owner successfully rescued the horse from the frozen pond.
After reaching solid ground, the horse was able to get to its feet and was walked back to the barn to begin receiving veterinarian care.
LAKE GEORGE — A celebration combining history and local craft beverages will take place March 22 to mark the 270th anniversary of the construction of Fort William Henry and the 268th anniversary of Vaudreuil’s Raid of 1757.
The event will be staged at Fort William Henry, a historic site originally constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian War and overlooking the southern basin of Lake George. The original fort burned to the ground during the war and was meticulously reconstructed in the 1950s and is part of the Fort William Henry Resort.
Reenactments – Vaudreuil’s Raid of 1757. 11:00 a.m. & 1 p.m. – Reenactments will portray the surprise winter assault on the fort that was repulsed after several days in the face of overwhelming odds. Lunch of soup, sandwiches, and hot beverages will be provided for participants.
Faire & Meet – Sutlers & Reenactors & Beverages. 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Fort William Henry Museum. Historical Sutlers and Crafts – demonstrations, displays, and sales. Local Craft Brewers, Distillers and Wineries – tastings and sales.
At 7 p.m. guest speaker Dr. Steven C. Eames presents “Warfare on the Colonial Frontier” in the Fort William Henry Conference Center.
Free Parking is available for guests in the South Lot of the Fort William Henry Hotel and Museum at 46 Canada St., Lake George. Parking for all other visitors is $10. For more information, visit: fwhmuseum.com or email: info@fortwilliamhenry.com.
BALLSTON SPA — Mia’s Fashion & Home Boutique in Ballston Spa is celebrating International Women’s Day by co-hosting an event featuring women-owned businesses, and raising money for The Foreverly House.
The non-profit Foreverly House is dedicated to providing a safe and sustainable home for homeless women veterans, including mothers with children. This continues the legacy of Mia Jones – the boutique’s former owner, who actively supported the Veterans Housing Coalition throughout the years.
“With the brands we carry, we’re celebrating and supporting women every day—it’s part of our mission—but for International Women’s Day this year, we wanted to do something special to bring women in the community together to celebrate and make a difference,” says Elena Wise, Mia’s owner.
The event will take place 5-9 p.m. Friday, March 7, one day prior to International Women’s Day. Mia’s is partnering with Sage Wine & Spirits to host a Sip N’ Shop at 124 Milton Ave. where visitors who shop can enjoy free samples from women-owned wine brands and 20% off Mia’s selection of women-owned brands, as well as make a monetary donation to The Foreverly House.
BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops:
March 5 at 10 a.m. and March 6 at 10:30 a.m. Resume Development – This workshop presents the basics of a powerful and effective cover letter including formatting, tailoring to the job, and getting through the online application process to land an interview. Please have a rough draft of your resume with you.
March 6 at 11 a.m. and March 30 at 1:30 a.m.: Transferable Skills – Transferable skills are qualities you have already acquired which can be used in a different job. Make it easy for employers to see the connection between your qualities and the skillset needed to do the job and market yourself as the solution to an employer’s problem. Learn ways to research the employer’s needs then identify and show them that you have these skills.
Registration is required for all workshops. Visit https://swwworkforce.org/calendar to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at (518) 884-4170 for more information. The workshops are offered as part of the Saratoga County Career Center’s WorkPays! workforce education campaign.
The Saratoga County Department of Workforce Development provides comprehensive training and employment services to residents through its Career Center and works with local businesses to attract and retain the local workforce.
BALLSTON SPA — For eleven minutes on Thursday afternoon more than a dozen members representing the legislative authority of Saratoga County government sat in silence and listened, the gravity of the moment spreading across their faces.
The supervisors spent the earlier part of their monthly meeting working on the executive decisions for which they had been elected – authorizing memorandums, accepting grants, amending policies and designating for use funds in Saratoga County’s nearly half-billion-dollar annual budget.
When Ballston Spa resident Cari Scribner stepped to the mic to hold up a photograph during the meeting’s Public Input segment, silence fell upon the large room.
“This is my son Nicholas,” she began. “He worked for the Saratoga County Sewer district.”
Nicholas Scribner grew up in Ballston Spa, graduated from Ballston Spa High, served four years as a lifeguard at the village pool – “after that decided he didn’t want children,” his mom quipped – and worked as an associate electrician for the Saratoga County sewer system. “It was a job he loved.” After his death last November, the American flag was lowered to half-staff and flew over county facilities for seven days.
“Nick had a very common affliction: insomnia. Since he was a child, he could not sleep,” Scribner said. “A friend told him about an herbal, all-natural energy enhancer to overcome fatigue with no side effects. This substance was kratom. Of all the adults that I’ve talked to about it about 10% have heard of it; of all the kids I’ve talked to about it, it’s 100%.”
When Nick was 17, a doctor prescribed medicine to help with insomnia. “In an effort to take something from nature rather than from a pharmaceutical company, my son chose this all-natural substance,” Scribner said. “And that choice ended his life.”
Kratom – a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, commonly refers to an herbal substance that can produce opioid- and stimulant-like effects, according to the National Institutes of Health. While its use or sale has been banned or restricted in several countries, kratom and kratom-based products are currently legal and accessible in many areas.
“Kratom managed to stay under the radar. Most adults have never heard of it, but here is its tricky little secret: it is enormously addictive. It affects the same opiate brain reducers as morphine, exposing users to high risks of addiction, abuse and dependence,” Scribner said. Recent media reports have referred to it as “gas station heroin.” It may be sold as powder or gel, tea, gummies, fruit flavored energy drinks and honey sticks.
“Kratom sells all over Saratoga County at gas stations and quick stop markets,” said Scribner, displaying a colorful can labeled as kratom Seltzer energy drink to the supervisors in the room. “I purchased this in the village for about $7. Zero sugar, zero alcohol, zero calories – OK, great! And the name on it: A Different Kind Of Energy Drink, Watermelon Candy Kratom Seltzer,” said Scribner, gesturing to the can. “Now who is this watermelon seltzer with a cartoon rabbit aimed at?”
While there are no uses for kratom approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, people report using kratom to manage drug withdrawal symptoms and cravings (especially related to opioid use), pain, fatigue and mental health problems, according to the NIH. An estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021. It contains two main chemical compounds which bind to the same receptors in the brain as opioid drugs such as codeine.
“Within a short time unless they keep upping their dose, kratom users will experience shocking side effects – including crushing stomach pain, migraines, tremors, hot flashes, insomnia. My son was trying to overcome insomnia and chose something that caused insomnia. No side effects on the can. Nowhere does it say this is what it will cause, no warnings,” Scribner said.
“In 2016, in response to increasing calls from poison control centers, the DEA sought to classify kratom as a Schedule 1 drug. This means the substance has no currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse. But no action was taken. And you know what? My son would be alive if they had done something in 2016.”
Without federal action a handful of states have taken steps to protect its people, she says, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island and Vermont among them. There are currently no age restrictions in New York state to buy kratom.
“Due to my big mouth all over Albany,” Scribner said there are currently four bills in the New York State Assembly and one in the New York State Senate. Some simply place purchase age minimums. A recent state Senate Bill, sponsored by Sen. Patricia Fahy and introduced in February, seeks to prohibit the sale of kratom to individuals under the age of 21, imposing a civil penalty of up to $500 for its sale.
“We all know how kids are. Someone who is 22 will get it and pass it around. I mean that’s what we did with cigarettes back in the day,” Scribner said.
“Nick did not overdose on kratom or mix it with other drugs or alcohol. His death was a complete accident. Two common kratom side effects, again not listed anywhere, are vomiting and catatonic sleep,” Scribner said. “He lived alone and while sleeping on his back in November he began to wretch, couldn’t turn over, and asphyxiated from the contents of his stomach. Twenty-seven years old. His brother found him later, already cold.”
Scribner urged supervisors and residents to contact legislators to support the bills.
“As a family we are gutted. None of us sleep. I cry in waiting rooms, in the grocery store. At stop signs in my car. My tears froze to my face while I was out shoveling these past couple of weekends and I’m really afraid that I’m going to forget the sound of his voice,” Scribner said. “Parent-to-parent, please help me save some of the other children, because no one sounded the alarm in time to change to keep my son alive. Please. Sound the alarm.”
BALLSTON SPA — After more than a decade of failed attempts, a measure to go to earlier bar closing times across Saratoga County – including in the city of Saratoga Springs – is picking up momentum and will likely stage a Public Hearing in March in Ballston Spa.
The New York State Liquor Authority would need to ultimate give its approval, but the Saratoga Springs proposal is, unlike previous efforts, making positive inroads at the county level.
The proposal targets an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026 and details new closing times of 2 a.m. – from Nov. 1 through April 30, and 3 a.m. from May 1 to Oct. 31.
“So, we would no longer be at 4 a.m. in the city,” said Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matt Veitch, who chairs the county Law & Finance Committee, and is also co-chairperson of the entire Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
Currently, the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits sales of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption in Saratoga County between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, and between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on any other day.
The county Law & Finance Committee discussed the proposal at its meeting Feb. 12.
“We did not make any decisions at the meetings – there were a couple of supervisors who wanted to have a little more time to think about it, although nobody expressed any opposition to it at the meeting,” Veitch said.
The county Law & Finance committee is expected to return to the discussion at its next meeting – which will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 – and it is anticipated that a legally required Public Hearing will also be held at that time.
The full county supervisors board – which next meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 and then again on April 15 – would then be required to vote to approve the matter and sent it off to the SLA for ultimate approval.
All Saratoga County meetings take place at the county complex in Ballston Spa.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Chuck Marshall will serve as Saratoga Springs’ new Commissioner of Public Works and one of its five voting members on the city council.
Citing “an expensive cost to mount an appeal,” interim Saratoga Springs DPW Commissioner Hank Kuczynski announced Feb. 24 that Democrats will not legally challenge a recent ruling by Saratoga County State Supreme Court Judge James Walsh regarding the citywide special election between the Kuczynski – a Democrat, and Marshall – a Republican.
The announcement came minutes after Kuczynski served as council member at the table in a special meeting at City Hall.
Approximately 3,500 city residents cast ballots in the Jan. 28 election for the Saratoga Springs DPW Commissioner/ fifth City Council seat, in which Marshall’s name appeared pre-printed on the ballot, and Democrats backed Kuczynski as a write-in candidate.
The unofficial election results from the Saratoga County Board of Elections showed a 29-vote lead for the “write-in” candidate. Following two days of inspecting ballots in the basement vault of the Saratoga County Board of Elections, Republicans objected to just over 100 of the ballots.
On Feb. 14, Saratoga County State Supreme Court Judge James Walsh released his 12-page decision. Judge Walsh, a Republican, ruled invalid several dozen ballot votes that Democrats said showed voter intent for write-in candidate Kuczynski, and which Republicans objected to. Republican candidate Marshall was shown to emerge with a margin of victory close to equal the number of ballots ruled as invalid.
The county Board of Elections certified the election Feb. 25. The position will seat a commissioner for the balance of this calendar year, with elections for all five council seats slated to take place in November.
Kuczynski was appointed by the City Council late last October to fill the vacant Public Works Commissioner position. He said he will not seek election in November.
In his statement regarding the election, Kuczynski said: “I received more votes for a total of 1,769 but lost the election. A judge invalidated ballots based on legislative intent versus voter intent.” He added that after reviewing the decision with counsel and an election attorney, however, “the expensive cost to mount an appeal precludes me from moving forward.”
Kuczynski, who had previously served Saratoga Springs’ first deputy mayor, said It was “an honor and privilege” to serve as DPW Commissioner, and wished “the best to the department’s hardworking employees who are the backbone of the city, and to the incoming administration.”
BALLSTON SPA — Interim DPW Commissioner Hank Kuczynski remains seated as a member of the City Council following a too-close-to-call special election in January, a subsequent ruling by a county State Supreme Court Judge on Feb. 14, and in advance of a potential appeal that may ultimately play out in the appellate division of the State of New York Supreme Court.
Approximately 3,500 votes were cast the citywide special election for the Saratoga Springs DPW Commissioner/ fifth City Council seat between Republican candidate Charles (Chuck) Marshall – whose name was pre-printed on the ballot, and Democratic write-in candidate Hank Kuczynski. The unofficial results showed the candidates separated by approximately one dozen votes.
Republicans objected to just over 100 of the ballots, and on Feb. 14 Saratoga County State Supreme Court Judge James Walsh released his 12-page decision. Judge Walsh, a Republican, ruled invalid several dozen votes of the ballots that Democrats said showed voter intent for write-in candidate Kuczynski, and which Republicans objected to.
Specific to the ballots ruled invalid: 63 showed the written word Dem, or Democratic, or Democrat, on an area outside the ballot area designated for the write-in vote; 14 had candidate Kuczynski’s name correctly written in the write-in box, but showed his name also written additionally in other areas of the ballot, and a handful of others depicted discrepancies in either name or in writings on the physical ballot.
Following the judge’s ruling, Republican candidate Marshall was shown to emerge with a margin of victory essentially equal to the number of ballots ruled as invalid. Approximately two dozen undervotes – ballots cast but with no voting machine discernible candidate preference – were not believed to have been involved in the judge’s ruling, and their status remains not known.
“In a democracy, adherence to rules is fundamental, especially during elections,” the Saratoga Springs Republican Party responded in a statement. “We have full confidence that Commissioner Marshall will hit the ground running and serve the entire city with dedication and integrity, making all citizens proud, regardless of how they voted.”
Democrats, however, said they had yet to come to consensus about whether to appeal the judge’s ruling and that a court transcript was requested and review by appellate counsel underway.
“It’s extremely disappointing to see this partisan effort to disenfranchise 90 voters and invalidate their ballots despite absolutely clear voter intent,” interim commissioner Kuczynski said Feb. 18. “We hope to appeal the judge’s ruling and look forward to the court of appeals protecting every vote of every Saratogian.”
As of Feb. 19, the county Board of Elections had yet to conduct a final canvassing of the ballots; the completion of the adjudication of ballots and an understanding of whether or not an appeal will be conducted is necessary before the election may be officially certified.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — “Brookmere Wedding Showcase,” an event that offers the opportunity for engaged couples to explore a luxurious venue while connecting with top industry wedding professionals will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2 at the Brookmere, located at 500 Union Ave.
“A select group of wedding professionals from a variety of categories will be present to help answer questions and guide engaged couples toward the services they need to fulfill their dreams,” said Fran Dingeman, owner of Network Saratoga LLC. and presenter of the show. “We look forward to warmly welcoming engaged couples, as well as their families, friends, and attendants, to this exclusive new venue space in Saratoga Springs.”
The three-hour event will include hors d’oeuvre tastings, a champagne toast, giveaways, and the opportunity to win a variety of prizes and gift certificates.
Local musician Garland Nelson, will act as the Master of Ceremonies as well as perform at the event. The showcase will also feature a variety of vendors.
Early registration for the Brookmere Wedding Showcase is encouraged as space is limited. To register, visit www.brookmere wedding showcase.com A show entrance fee of $10 per person will be collected with online registration prior to the show and a fee of $15 per person will be collected at the door.
For more information about the Brookmere Wedding Showcase, contact Network Saratoga at fran@networksaratoga.com or call 518-365-3459.
