SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents a Zoom panel discussion on Sunday, April 16 at 7 p.m. of The Zookeeper’s Wife, a 2017 film adapted from the book by Angela Workman and directed by Niki Caro.

The film is a story of Jan and Antonina Zabinska, Polish husband and wife zookeepers. He was the Director of the Warsaw Zoo who opened the zoo to fleeing Jewish refugees when prize animals had been taken to Berlin by Nazi zookeepers after the September 1939 German invasion of Poland. 

The film premiered in theaters and festivals in Warsaw, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. The Zookeeper’s Wife is available to subscribers free on Netflix or for rent from Apple, Amazon, and others.  To Register for the Zoom discussion of this program on April 16 at 7 p.m., email sjca.sjcf@gmail.com.

ALBANY — Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Horicon) attended a press conference March 30 in the Capitol alongside Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski), Dr. Michael Prezioso, Commissioner of the Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and several members of the Assembly Minority Conference. After many discussions with parents, teachers, mental health experts and law enforcement, the lawmakers announced the release of the final report from the Minority Conference Task Force on School Safety & Security, which included solutions and recommendations such as:  

• Increasing law enforcement presence in schools

• Addressing mental health issues in schools

• Open communication between stakeholders

• Innovative state support for school safety and security

• Identifying threats and providing support to at-risk students

“No parents should have to worry when their child goes to school that they might not return. Teachers should not have to prioritize emergency procedures or be in fear in the classroom, which takes away from their lesson plans for the day. We have a serious crisis that is not only in New York but across the country–something has to change. By implementing the real solutions contained in the task force report, with input from professionals, I am hopeful we can take appropriate measures to protect our children and teachers so this is no longer a fear and schools can be a safe space once again,” said Simpson. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Franklin Community Center was recently awarded several grants in support of its Project Lift program; $500 from the Town of Greenfield Lions Club, $3,000 from the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs, $5,000 from the Stewart’s Holiday Match, $9,000 from The Christopher Dailey Foundation and $14,000 from The Hawley Foundation for Children. Project Lift, created in 1984 as a free after school program, addresses the growing need for youth to have prevention-based conversations as well as the opportunity to enhance their social and emotional skills. The funding assistance will support the impactful program as well as provide for the ancillary services offered to the Project Lift students and their families.

Thanks to Franklin Community Center’s long-standing grant support, the students who attend the after-school program are able to benefit from the Back to School Backpack program, Holiday Assistance, Food Assistance and Camp Assistance. 

Project Lift works directly with students in grades 1st to 6th in the Saratoga Springs City School District. The program serves up to 175 children and their siblings in all 6 elementary schools and the middle school, with support to the students’ families. Services include Camp Assistance, which offers scholarships for Project Lift participants to attend summer camp. The goal is to offer students a place where they may learn about and better understand themselves in a safe, supportive, and relaxed natural environment. Providing camp opportunities to children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds helps the students to constructively learn independence and safe risk-taking, build relationships with peers and reap the benefits of connecting with nature. Community members interested in learning more about supporting the program and the services provided, can find more information at www.franklincommunitycenter.org. 

SARATOGA COUNTY — The Saratoga County Department of Health regularly holds Narcan distribution events throughout the county. 

Participants will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer nasal Narcan, which takes approximately 10 minutes. Participants will receive a free Narcan rescue kit, which includes two doses of Narcan, a rescue breathing face shield, a certificate of training, a drug disposal system, and a mental health and substance use disorder resource guide.

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a safe medication that can save someone’s life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. It only works on opioids, such as heroin, prescription pain medications and fentanyl, but it is safe to use even if opioids are not present. 911 should always be called after administering Naloxone. New York State’s Good Samaritan Law allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness someone overdosing.

These are free, drop in events. Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can register to obtain an overdose rescue kit or view upcoming events at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Gordon Boyd, a Democratic candidate in this year’s county supervisor election has proposed the county prepare and adopt a local law to prohibit being  “armed while intoxicated” anywhere in the county.   

“I call it a ‘Drunk With Guns’ prohibition,” Boyd said in a statement, adding that he is writing to county Board Chairman Todd Kusnierz to let his intentions be known. 

“The gun violence that occurred last November 20 in downtown Saratoga Springs was frightening and horrific. It put our courageous police officers in danger, as well as dozens of bystanders, casting a cloud over our vibrant downtown,” Boyd said. “The dangerous troublemakers involved in the downtown shootout have been charged by the DA, which is appropriate. However, if we had had a law making it a crime to be intoxicated while possessing a firearm, the perpetrators might have thought twice about coming to Saratoga Springs.”

Boyd proposes the county approve a local law that specifically creates a misdemeanor crime with penalties, including fines and prison time. if elected, Boyd said he will present a local law as such, but added that he wishes the current Board of Supervisors do so at its earliest opportunity.

Both city supervisor positions will be up for election in November. 

SARATOGA COUNTY —Congressman Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) celebrated the White House announcement March 30 that New York State will receive $100 million in federal funding to expand broadband internet services. That funding was delivered under the American Rescue Plan that Tonko successfully pushed to advance.

“The COVID pandemic shined a spotlight on the vital need—as well as the current deficiencies—of broadband internet access across our nation,” Tonko, an author of the Access Broadband Act, said in a statement. “I was proud to help secure funding to expand and improve broadband for unserved and underserved communities with our American Rescue Plan, and I am thrilled that these critical investments are reaching our state.” 

It is anticipated organizations and municipalities will be able to submit grant proposals, and then the state will handle the allocation of those funds.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — During the last week of March, The Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund announced that its Independent Advisory Committee has awarded Lend-A-Hand Grants to 35 local nonprofit organizations.

The Community Fund’s Autumn of Giving Campaign raised $85,864.08, which has been generously matched by Adirondack Trust Company, while $75,560.68 was awarded in grants. The grants were presented at the Community Fund’s Annual Lend-A-Hand Grant Award Reception on December 1, 2022, at Longfellows Restaurant.

“We are so fortunate to have the support of our communities, which enabled us to award 35 Lend-A-Hand Grants this year,” said Colleen Carlson, Volunteer Chair for the ATCCF Independent Advisory Committee. “This year, we received 54 grant applications. Although we wish we could fund every request, each year we are fortunate to be able to fund more and more as our community support grows. The awarded grants will support programs for a wide variety of needs, and will include the areas of the arts, education, health, and family activities.”

 Lend-A-Hand Grant Awards for 2022 were provided to the following organizations:

A Dapple a Day Equine Center, AIM Services, Inc., After the Fire, Ballston Area Community Center, The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Inc., Caffe Lena, Camp Abilities Saratoga, Camp Little Notch, Catie Hoch Foundation, Community, Work & Independence, Inc., C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios, First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa’s Summer Lunch Program, Flutters of Hope, Inc., Franklin Community Center, Inc., Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties, Hudson Crossing Park, Malta Avenue Elementary PTA, NYSARC, Inc., Saratoga County Chapter (Saratoga Bridges), Nipper Knolls Equine Center, Open Door Mission, Operation Adopt-a-Soldier, Inc., Prospect Center—Center for Disability Services, Inc., Queensbury Senior Citizens, Inc., Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, Saratoga Center for the Family, Saratoga County Children’s Committee, Saratoga County History Center, Saratoga Pride, an affiliate of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, Saratoga/Wilton Soccer Club, Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs, Inc., Shelters of Saratoga, SNACpack (Saratoga Nutritional Assistance for Children), Stories for Success Saratoga, Inc., Veterans & Community Housing Coalition.