Displaying items by tag: malta

MALTA — A large-scale community COVID-19 testing site opened on Monday in Malta, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Kusnierz announced at a morning press conference. 

“One of the things we committed to in January of this year is we would make Saratoga County’s response to COVID our number one priority. And this is an extension of that effort,” said Kusnierz. “The opening of this testing site is another example of how Saratoga County has made fighting the pandemic our number 1 priority.” 

The site, located off the Northway Exit 12 at 100 Saratoga Boulevard in Malta can accommodate up to 1,000 COVID-19 testing appointments per week. It is part of a public-private partnership with Syracuse-based Quadrant Biosciences.

Kusnierz said the reason behind the opening of testing site is “to take the load off our health care providers and urgent care providers” around the region. During the past week, from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, there were nearly approximately 18,900 COVID tests performed across Saratoga County. Just over 1,350 people, resulting in a 7.2% positive average was returned over that 7-day period.   

Just over 72% of the Saratoga County population is fully vaccinated, according to the county health department. “As Dr. Kuhles (Commissioner of Saratoga County Public Health Services) has repeatedly said, vaccination is the best way to combat COVID,” Kusnierz said Monday. The county is hosting a handful of vaccination/booster clinics in the upcoming weeks. That information may be found at: www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-vaccines-and-boosters/. 

 The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors - the legislative and executive authority of County government - has not issued any mask-wearing or vaccine mandates, as some other communities in New York State have done. 

“This is another effort by Saratoga County to be proactive and to be ready for the holidays coming up – Christmas, New Year’s – we know that families will be getting together in close proximity and there is the anticipation that we will see a continued rise and one of the ways we can be proactive is to have this program up and ready before that time.” 

The site will not provide vaccinations and is to be used only by people who are having symptoms. 

Testing will be done using the Clarifi COVID-19 Saliva Test. Results will be available within 24-48 hours of testing. Those using the Malta testing site are required to create an account at app.clarifi-covid-19.com to access their results.  Appointments may be made 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 

For more information or to make an appointment, go online to quadrantbiosciences.com/covidtesting or www.saratogacountyny.gov/COVID. 

Published in News

MALTA — GlobalFoundries announced this week a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide a secure and reliable supply of semiconductor solutions manufactured at the company’s Fab 8 in Malta. The semiconductor chips will be used in some of the DoD’s most sensitive applications for land, air, sea, and space systems.

The new supply agreement builds upon the longstanding partnership between the DoD and GlobalFoundries to provide chips for defense, aerospace, and other sensitive applications. The company currently supplies the DoD with chips manufactured at its other on-shore facilities, Fab 10 in East Fishkill, NY, and Fab 9 in Burlington, VT.

“GlobalFoundries is a critical part of a domestic semiconductor manufacturing industry that is a requirement for our national security and economic competitiveness,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement.  New federal semiconductor manufacturing incentives were approved in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act. 

“I have long advocated for GlobalFoundries as a key supplier of chips to our military and intelligence community, including pressing the new Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, to further expand the Department of Defense’s business with GlobalFoundries, which will help expand their manufacturing operations and create even more jobs in Malta,” Schumer said.

A supporting statement from the U.S. Department of Defense reported that the agreement with GlobalFoundries is a forward step to ensuring the U.S. sustains the microelectronics manufacturing capability necessary for national and economic security. The first chips from the new agreement are targeted to begin delivery in 2023. 

GlobalFoundries employs nearly 3,000 people at Fab 8 and says it has invested more than $13 billion in the facility. 

The GlobalFoundries plant got its start in 2006, when Advanced Micro Devices agreed to become the first company to build at the Luther Forest tech park. Before that, county and state economic development officials had spent six years preparing and marketing the tech park as a site for semiconductor manufacturing. As the project advanced, Advanced Micro Devices spun off the manufacturing facility in a joint venture with the government of Abu Dhabi to create GlobalFoundries.

The company recently announced a land purchase option to provide additional flexibility to expand Fab 8’s footprint to support growing demand from the U.S. government and industry customers. In total, GF employs more than 7,000 people across the U.S., and over the past 10 years has invested $15 billion in U.S. semiconductor development.

Published in Business

MALTA — The Ballston Spa Softball Booster Club recently accepted a generous donation at the conclusion of a fundraiser held in conjunction with the opening of a new business in Malta. 

As part of the grand opening kickoff of the new Jersey Mike’s sub shop in Malta, the Ballston Spa Softball Booster Club was selected as the recipient of their local fundraising campaign.  Utilizing coupons provided by the shop, the club was able to raise $2,000 in just a few days. 

Published in Neighborhood Buzz
Thursday, 02 January 2020 13:01

Malta Flea Market to Add Indoors Venue

Malta — After two successful outdoor seasons at the Malta Drive-in, the Malta Flea Market will move indoors for the winter. Monthly shows are planned for January through April at the Malta Community Center at 1 Bayberry Dr. in Malta.

“Many of the vendors and patrons at our outdoor shows have asked me about adding an indoor market,” says promoter Jim O’Connell. “We’ve partnered with the Malta Community Center to use their wonderful facility for flea markets over the long winter months. Anyone who enjoys shopping for antiques, collectibles, crafts, tools, new items and more, can enjoy treasure hunting in comfort.” 

Indoor flea markets will be held on the following Saturdays: Jan. 25, Feb. 22, Mar. 28 and Apr. 25. Hours will be from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Features of the Malta Indoor Flea Market include up to 65 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, crafts, artwork and more, plenty of parking, no entry fee and new and interesting items each show.

Malta Flea Market is organized by JOCO Promotions, LLC. Jim O’Connell has been a marketing professional, antiques dealer and flea market vendor for more than 20 years. For more information, visit maltaflea.com or call 518-256-4409.

Published in Business

Photos provided/ Dated photos courtesy of Ron Smaldone. 


The Malta Drive-In Theatre soldiers on as one of the roughly 350 drive-ins left in America, down from a peak in excess of 4000 in the 1950’s. July 1, 2019 will mark the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Malta Drive-In Theatre. The screen was first lit on July 1, 1949 with a double feature of Abbott and Costello in “The Noose Hangs High” and Roy Rogers (and Trigger) in “On the Old Spanish Trail.” First owners, Sarto and Leona Smaldone, had been busy preparing the land and constructing the theatre since 1947. They continued to operate the business until 1977. 

Through the years many improvements have been made. Although the Smaldones opened with the latest RCA in-car corded speakers on the poles, during the 50’s they widened the screen tower to accommodate the new Cinemascope aspect ratio. In 1968 they undertook major remodeling which introduced the iconic “Googie” style marquee that remains. The marquee and the neon-topped entry arches are honored by a New York State historical marker. They also greatly expanded the snack bar and constructed a new box office with canopy.

Second owner, Thomas Thornton, replaced the original wood-framed screen tower with the current all-steel screen tower around 1980. Current owners, Tom and Ed Caro, have operated the theatre since 1988. 1991 brought FM radio sound transmitted to car audio systems, replacing the speakers on the posts. In 2008 the field was expanded and graced with a second screen tower. Since 2013 digital projectors have taken over from the original 35mm film projectors.

The Malta Drive-In Theatre continues the “ozoner” tradition of offering a double feature for less than the price of a single movie at a “hardtop” theatre. Many patrons will park backwards and view from an open tailgate or hatch or sit outside in lawn chairs they have brought. Guests enjoy more freedom than is possible in an indoor cinema.  Children do not have to be totally silent and can enjoy some playtime before the show. Some people even bring their pets with them! 

The snack bar is the heart of the operation. Patrons start arriving 2 hours before showtime to claim a great parking space and enjoy a meal from the concession stand. In addition to the popcorn, candy, ice cream and grill and deep fryer favorites, there are upscale offerings like Philly Cheesesteaks. Especially popular are the specialties: funnel cakes and deep-fried Oreos.

First-run movies are what packs the place. The current offering is a double feature of “Toy Story 4” and “Aladdin.” Starting July 2 “Spiderman: Far from Home” will be paired with “Men in Black International” on the other screen. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12, with an additional charge of $5 per vehicle if you bring your own food with you. The Malta Drive-In is open every night through the end of August and afterwards there will be weekend showings through the end of October.

Published in News
Thursday, 16 May 2019 13:56

Kathy's Comeback

Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A year after nearly losing her life to a rare cardiac condition, Saratoga Springs resident Kathy Yasenchak will run her fifteenth Freihofer 5K run. 
Kathy Yasenchak, 72, was in tip-top shape; a healthy active runner who kicked off her summer completing the annual Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K, in Albany. Just a short five days later, Yasenchak was overcome with unusual pain in the middle of the night. 
“It was just an ordinary day, I was getting ready for bed, all of a sudden my teeth ached, my jaw ached, my chest ached a very sharp deep pain and then a terrible pain across the top of my back - my shoulders, the back of my shoulders, and I just fell to the ground. I fell to the floor. It was horrific,” said Yasenchak. 
Earlier that night, Yasenchak devoured an entire pot of spaghetti and was certain the pain she was enduring was a bad case of indigestion. A few hours later, Yasenchak was rushed from the Malta Urgent Care and then was admitted into St. Peters Hospital where she underwent intensive surgery. Yasenchak suffered an aortic dissection, which is when the lining of the large blood vessel branching from the heart, tears. 
“The doctor that diagnosed me was the emergency room doctor and the test he ran showed the blood in my chest, so he knew it was an aortic dissection. That doctor said nothing about the prognoses, all he said was ‘you must be operated on immediately, or you’re not gonna make it until the morning.’”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nearly 40% of patients die immediately after suffering a complete aortic dissection. 
The aortic repair surgery lasted seven hours, in which Kathy’s chest was cut open, her breastbone sawed in two, and her ribs split apart.
“The recuperation time was long and painful,” said Yasenchak. “Because of the severity of it, you’re in a lot of pain. That lengthens your recuperation time, and you have to move, but you don’t want to move because you hurt.” 
While her cardiac surgeon, Dr. Niloo Edwards was confident that Kathy would make a full recovery and will be able to resume her regular physical activity in time, her follow-up cardiologist had a more cautious approach and told her that she may never run again. 
Despite the doctor’s advisement, Yasenchak had pure confidence and most of all faith, that she will run again. 
“The fact that I had total faith that God had healed me. And when God heals you, he heals you! He doesn’t heal you half, he heals you.”
Through months of painful recovery, Yasenchak says she could not have done it without her family, the aid of her church friends, from Saratoga Abundant Life Church and trainer at the Saratoga Regional YMCA. 
“God healed me, I know it was God, I know it was a miracle that I’m still alive, but it was the community and how different people in the community gathered around me and helped,” said Yasenchak.
Yasenchak will be running in the Freihofer’s run alongside her two daughters, Tonya and Tara Yasenchak and their team, “Kathy’s Comeback,” on June 1, in Albany.
Published in Sports
Friday, 29 March 2019 10:51

Smash Your Way to Satisfaction

MALTA — A new business called the Relief Room, slated to open on March 29, is a first for Saratoga County. The Relief Room offers a space for people to destroy junk material as a vessel to relieve, stress, anger or sadness in a natural way. It is also open to individuals, groups or just for fun. The Relief Room is located at 2381 on Route 9 in Malta. 

“We’re surprised at how invigorating it really is. Something about smashing a bottle with a crowbar and it explodes is a lot of fun,” said Lisa Birmingham, co-owner of  the Relief Room. Birmingham owns the Relief Room with her fiancé Steve Cusano.

ReliefRoom1Owners Steve Cusano and Lisa Birmingham.

On a trip to the Philippines, Birmingham saw people throwing and breaking plates in a rage room, which are common in Asia.

“I tried it out and found it was a lot of fun so I ended up a few years later as general manager of an optical practice and that’s when the idea hit me. I would pay money to go back there and do it because I was having a terrible day at work and I’m like, ‘you know what, it’s actually a hell of an idea to bring it here,’ because there is nothing like that in this area,” Birmingham said. 

Patrons suit up in coveralls, hard-hats, full-face shields, and cut-resistant gloves and enter the “smash rooms” to break junk items such as televisions, bottles and glass with crowbars, baseball bats, frying pans and hammers. 

“Quite a few of the newer trends of therapists and psychologists look at it as very cathartic because people have trouble communicating verbally their emotions and what’s going on inside, and this is more of an instinctual way to get it out,” Birmingham said. 

“So this space I created, really just honors it but honor it in a fun way so that way you can still express yourself without having to really talk about it,” she added. 

Birmingham maintains that she will have literature and resources for mental health because she still believes that people that suffer from mental illness should seek out traditional medicine and therapy.

Another core mission of the Relief Room is to reduce landfill contributions. Birmingham is sourcing inventory for smashing through junk removal companies. 

“What were doing with all of the broken pieces is.... we hold workshops every week to teach people how to take the broken trash and turn it into mosaics and wall decor.”

ReliefRoomArtArtwork made from broken material from the Relief Room.

Published in Business
Thursday, 06 September 2018 15:34

Matla 5K

Photos provided.

MALTA — On Saturday, September 8, the Roundabout Runners Club, will host its’ 9th annual 5K road race, starting at 8:30 a.m., in Malta’s two technology parks: NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park and Luther Forest Technology Campus. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is proud to be the title sponsor of this event which last year raised well over $37,500 to support the VetHelp and Malta’s emergency first responders. The event starts at Hudson Valley Community College TEC Smart located within NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology & Energy Park (STEP). The course then takes participants south though Luther Forest Technology Campus (LFTC). Once through LFTC, participants get the privilege of going through the Global Foundries campus. Almost 1 mile of the 3.1 miles will be on Global Foundries campus.  All participants will finish their 9/11 tribute under a giant American flag hoisted by the Round Lake Fire Department. Participants are encouraged to stick around after the event to enjoy post- race food provided by Hannaford. Fleet Feet Malta is our official prize sponsor and is providing cash prizes to our overall male and female winners. There will be over 54 award categories of all ages donated from local companies. The 1st 750 runners/joggers/ walkers are guaranteed a long- sleeve shirt. Interested participants can register from 3-8 p.m. on September 7th at Fleet Feet in Malta and the day off at TEC Smart at 7:30 a.m. Anyone registering the day of the race is urged to arrive at TEC Smart no later than 8 a.m. to ensure an on time start.

Published in Sports

MALTA - A Capital Region Youth Climate Summit was recently held at the Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART facility in Malta.   The NYS Capital Region Youth Climate Summit brought together students and teachers from high schools around the Capital Region of New York State to learn about climate change and develop Climate Action Plans for their schools and communities. The Capital Region summit was modeled after the Youth Climate Summit held at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake and combined informative plenary sessions and workshops in a fun atmosphere. National experts including Susan Powers from Clarkson University, iMatter, and the Sunshine Movement as well as students from The Wild Center/ Alliance for Climate Education presented at the summit.  The students were excited to hear from Congressman Paul Tonko on steps that are being taken by representatives in Washington to help address environmental issues. Congressman Tonko was able to hear directly from the students their ideas for reducing their footprint in their communities.  The team of students from Schuylerville won a gift card at the end of the summit based on their Climate Action Plan.  They will use the award to help implement their plan in their community.   The team from Queensbury earned a gift card to help with environmental projects in their community for having the most sustainable lunch at the summit.  The summit was held as a result of generous sponsorship from the Stewarts Holiday Match, Brookfield Renewable, The Wild Center and Hudson Valley Community College.  The Summit was organized and coordinated by students and teachers from the Ballston Spa Central School District, the Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries ECHS and Schuylerville Central School District with help from The Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

Published in Education
Thursday, 02 November 2017 13:07

Clean Tech ECHS

BALLSTON SPA– On Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. the Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School (Clean Tech ECHS) will host the first student project exhibition of the school year at the Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART.

Families, teachers, and community members are invited to come see what the students present their projects ranging from proposed activities for the Girls in STEM event, a mechanical car challenge, innovative solutions to problems identified in the environment, and marketing ideas incorporating nanotechnology. Over 275 area students in grades 9-12 (representing over 20 high schools) will attend to discuss their projects in the TEC-SMART Atrium.

For more information, contact ECHS coordinator Adrienne Snow at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-321-7274.

Published in Education
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