Thomas Dimopoulos

Thomas Dimopoulos

City Beat and Arts & Entertainment Editor
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Thursday, 09 February 2023 13:49

Saratoga: Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County officials unveiled a new “comprehensive, near real-time substance use surveillance dashboard,” on Feb. 7 that coordinates and reports on substance use related data within Saratoga County. 

Believed to be the first of its kind in use in upstate N.Y., county officials are hopeful the data the tool provides will aid in opioid and substance abuse education, prevention, treatment and response efforts. 

“Death from opioid poisoning is a national issue of historic proportion,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Kusnierz, during Tuesday’s press conference unveiling the dashboard. The gathering included Clifton Park Supervisor and Health & Human Services Chair Philip Barrett, County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, and county Health Commissioner Daniel Kuhles, among others. 

“Nationally we see about 50,000 overdose deaths per year and three-quarters of those deaths involve the use of synthetic or man-made opioids, other than methadone,” said Kusnierz, adding that the county will be re-investing millions of dollars, including funds received via opioid settlements, to “mitigate the growing influence of drugs and addiction in our communities, through a variety of programs.” 

With the Surveillance Dashboard, Saratoga County Department of Health epidemiologists leverage data from six primary sources that originate across multiple disciplines (law enforcement, health care, mental health, and public health) to provide a comprehensive picture of the burden of substance use in the county.  The standardized approach allows for the timely identification of concerning patterns, such as a spike in a limited geographic area over a defined period of time. 

Some data: 

Drug-Related Overdoses in Saratoga County, 2018-2023

• 2018: 449.

• 2019: 467.

• 2020: 487.

• 2021: 584

• 2022: 671.

• 2023: 46 YTD. 

According to the data, 48 of the 671 overdoses in 2022 were fatal. In 2023, those statistics are 7 fatalities of 46 overdoses, year-to-date.    

The top five primary drugs in 2022 overdoses (that is, the first drug identified in the report and not including polydrug use) in order were: heroin, followed by RX drugs, fentanyl, oxycodone, alcohol. 

Substance Use: Top Number of Annual Narcotic Prescriptions by Provider Zip Code

• Saratoga Springs (12866): 120,418.

• Clifton Park (12065): 85,250. 

• Amsterdam – incl. portion of Saratoga County (12010): 60,929. 

• Ballston Spa (12020): 34,186.

• Gansevoort – incl. portion of Wilton (12831): 23,676. 

This narcotic prescription data – depicting the most recent information available in 2021 - is reflective of the provider zip code, and not of the patient receiving the prescription. As such, the totals may include non-Saratoga County residents. 

Multiple departments across the county will benefit from this data including Department of Health, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Sheriff’s Office. The data will help identify high burden areas and to track overdose ‘hot spots’ to quickly focus on peer outreach, naloxone placement/distribution, and trainings throughout the county. The data will also be used to monitor trends over time and evaluate the impact of prevention and treatment programs such as: Jail MAT Program, Second Chance Program, and Naloxone distribution and administration in the County. 

Saratoga County is also providing this public dashboard to assist healthcare organizations, first responders, community organizations, municipalities, and schools in their education, prevention, treatment and response efforts. Further, the dashboard provides residents with resources for mental health and substance use prevention and treatment. 

To view the Surveillance Use Dashboard go to Savealifeto.day. 

8-drug_Capture.JPG

Drug-related overdoses by year in Saratoga Springs, as reported via Saratoga County’s new Substance Use Surveillance Dashboard at: Savealifeto.day.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City Council meeting Feb. 7 was abruptly adjourned early following a lengthy and an at-times raw public discourse between members of the City Council members of Saratoga BLM.

The regularly scheduled council meeting- which began at 7 p.m., was adjourned at 8:02 and resumed at 8:13, before eventually adjourning for the night at 8:38. 

Both - members of the City Council and members of Saratoga BLM, committed to staging a public meeting with one another. The date of that meeting and the room where the meeting is to be held need to be confirmed, as well as ample time given for public notice. As such, a date was not immediately available regarding the staging of that meeting. 

Due to the early adjournment, no agenda items anticipated to be heard during the regularly scheduled meeting took place. These items included all five city department and both supervisor reports, as well as an anticipated discussion under the mayor’s agenda titled “Homeless in Saratoga.” 

It is anticipated a public meeting regarding the items not addressed on Feb. 7 will be scheduled prior to the City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 21.     

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Shelters of Saratoga has announced it is canceling plans to site its shelter on Williams Street. 

“We value your trust in us as a homeless services provider in the greater Saratoga area. After hearing the concerns of the community, we’ve decided not to move forward with a shelter at 5 Williams St.,” the organization posted on its social media pages. 

Plans were underway to site a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter at the soon-to-be-vacated Senior Center on Williams Street. The city of Saratoga Springs announced a comprehensive initiative to address the city’s homelessness last October, during which time the City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the project.

In January, some members of the Saratoga Central Catholic School, which partially borders the Williams Street Senior Center, began to express concerns regarding the siting of a shelter in close proximity to the private school. Last Monday, a meeting was held at the Holiday Inn where the shelter proposal met with backlash from parents and community members.

“The proposed city-led shelter proposal is a serious issue for the City’s administration and the Saratoga Springs community as a whole; however, the placement of such a facility near our school is fundamentally flawed,” said Dr. Giovanni Virgiglio Jr., Superintendent Of Schools, Diocese of Albany Catholic Schools, in a statement.  “Asking school parents and administrators — Catholic school parents and administrators at that — to reconcile the proposed location of a low-barrier shelter is not only unfair, it’s unacceptable. When considering the care and concern for both vulnerable populations, the welfare of our children and students must take precedence. Their safety is already our top priority, and we cannot stand for anything, no matter how well-intentioned, that may put their safety in question.”

“Code Blue” shelter and shelter services are provided to the homeless community whenever inclement winter weather temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, inclusive of National Weather Service calculations for windchill.

Members of the Saratoga Springs community, motivated to action in the wake of the death of a city woman exposed to a winter’s elements on a December night in 2013, helped initiate a temporary homeless emergency shelter that Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Parish Center. A series of temporary winter shelters have followed.

Local philanthropic efforts have raised more than $1 million and the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors have additionally expressed both verbal and financial support for the siting of a permanent shelter, but all efforts to site such a location have been rejected by residents or other stakeholders located in those specific communities.

The current lease at a temporary Code Blue shelter located on Adelphi Street runs through April 30 at a cost of $8,000 per month.

According to a statement issued by Shelters of Saratoga (S.O.S.), the organization has “identified a more viable location to operate Code Blue… We will continue to engage our community as our plans progress, and look forward to making an announcement soon,” said Duane Vaughn, executive director for Shelters of Saratoga.

A follow-up statement, released by the marketing wing of Discover Saratoga in care of S.O.S. states: “the plan we proposed to the city was to establish a permanent Code Blue Shelter and resource navigation center for the Williams Street property owned by the City. We have been negotiating in good faith for a long-term lease… however, the conversation began to focus on operating a 365-day, 24-hour per day shelter, including the idea of a low-barrier shelter. We made the effort to explore this idea. There are many implications to this type of shelter, a significant departure from our recommendation, with a wide range of new factors that must be cautiously evaluated. After careful consideration, we chose not to pursue the Williams Street location.”

The statement again re-iterates: “recognizing the imminent need for a Code Blue shelter commitment, we made the difficult decision to seek an alternative solution. We are finalizing a new agreement for a new location, which we will share with you in the very near future.”

A few hours following the initial announcement by S.O.S., city Mayor Ron Kim delivered the mayor’s annual State of the City Address and said, in part, that he will be forming a Task Force on Homelessness with the goal of selecting a permanent site for a shelter and navigation center by this fall.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Challenges of the past, prosperity and hope for the future. 

City Mayor Ron Kim delivered Saratoga Springs 2023 State of The City Address Feb. 3 at Saratoga Music Hall. 

“This is the Year of the Rabbit,” said Kim, the first Asian American city mayor in New York State, one month into his second year in office and one week after celebrating the Lunar New Year. “In Asian culture, the rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity and 2023 has been designated A Year of Hope,” he said. 

“While Saratoga Springs has some challenges, the State of the City is strong, its people and businesses are vibrant and 2023 can be a year of continued prosperity and hope.”

Infrastructure-wise, the city is nearing completion of a long-awaited third fire station; final designs have been approved and implementation begun on a comprehensive “missing sidewalks” program throughout Saratoga Springs, Kim said. 

This month, the first public hearing is anticipated take place with neighbors living in the western part of the city, tasked with the ultimate goal of developing a design for a multi-use trail on Grand Avenue that will connect the West Side. Additionally, a “destination” playground is anticipated to soon undergo development at Veterans Memorial Park, as is an undertaking of a comprehensive rehab at the city’s Waterfront Park on Saratoga Lake. 

Calling 2023 the year that the city makes great stride towards a carbon neutral future, the mayor informed that the city will create a Climate Action & Resiliency Plan. 

“Just in the last few days, the Mayor’s Office obtained a Climate Smart Grant for $37,500 to review the city’s carbon footprint and develop strategies to reach carbon neutrality,” Kim said. “This grant will allow the city to assess where it can reduce its carbon footprint so we can move to a carbon less and eventually carbon neutral future by 2030.” 

Regarding affordable housing, Kim referenced a recent partnership struck with Putnam Resources LLC on a proposed project at a brownfield site opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library; a 200-unit Liberty Affordable Housing project adjacent to Saratoga Casino currently under review by the city’s Land Use Boards, and a pair of ongoing construction projects on the west side anticipated to add 202 housing units at Tait Lane. 

“The city not only needs to improve its affordable housing options, but also must offer shelter for its homeless residents. In June, I held the first Mayor’s forum on Homelessness at the City Center,” Kim said.  “In addition, my offices supported the successful ‘member-item’ funding effort by Congressman Paul Tonko to build a $2 million dollar Homelessness Day Center at RISE facilities.

“Currently, the city’s homeless take refuge during a major portion of the year in one of the city’s garages on Woodlawn. Not only is this inhumane, it is dangerous for residents, visitors and the homeless,” Kim said. “To remedy this situation and establish a long-term strategy, I am forming a Task Force on Homelessness with the goal of selecting a permanent site for a shelter and navigation center by Fall of 2023.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Shelters of Saratoga has announced it is canceling plans to site its shelter on Williams Street. 

"We value your trust in us as a homeless services provider in the greater Saratoga area. After hearing the concerns of the community, we've decided not to move forward with a shelter at 5 Williams St.," the organization posted on its social media pages. 

Plans were underway to site a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter at the soon-to-be-vacated Senior Center on Williams Street. The city of Saratoga Springs announced a comprehensive initiative to address the city’s homelessness last October, during which time the City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the project.

In January, some members of the Saratoga Central Catholic School, which partially borders the Williams Street Senior Center, began to express concerns regarding the siting of a shelter in close proximity to the private school. Last Monday,  a meeting was held at the Holiday Inn where the shelter proposal met with backlash from parents and community members.

"The proposed city-led shelter proposal is a serious issue for the City's administration and the Saratoga Springs community as a whole; however, the placement of such a facility near our school is fundamentally flawed,” said Dr. Giovanni Virgiglio Jr., Superintendent Of Schools, Diocese of Albany Catholic Schools, in a statement.  “Asking school parents and administrators — Catholic school parents and administrators at that — to reconcile the proposed location of a low-barrier shelter is not only unfair, it’s unacceptable. When considering the care and concern for both vulnerable populations, the welfare of our children and students must take precedence. Their safety is already our top priority, and we cannot stand for anything, no matter how well-intentioned, that may put their safety in question.”

“Code Blue” shelter and shelter services are provided to the homeless community whenever inclement winter weather temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, inclusive of National Weather Service calculations for windchill.

Members of the Saratoga Springs community, motivated to action in the wake of the death of a city woman exposed to a winter’s elements on a December night in 2013, helped initiate a temporary homeless emergency shelter that Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Parish Center. A series of temporary winter shelters have followed.

Local philanthropic efforts have raised more than $1 million and the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors have additionally expressed both verbal and financial support for the siting of a permanent shelter, but all efforts to site such a location have been rejected by residents or other stakeholders located in those specific communities.

The current lease at a temporary Code Blue shelter located on Adelphi Street runs through April 30 at a cost of $8,000 per month.

According to a statement issued by Shelters of Saratoga, the organization has “identified a more viable location to operate Code Blue… We will continue to engage our community as our plans progress, and look forward to making an announcement soon,” said Duane Vaughn, executive director for Shelters of Saratoga.

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Changes are coming to Union Avenue. A public meeting scheduled to take place Thursday, Feb. 9 may go a long way in determining the substance of those alterations along one of the Spa City’s most notable thoroughfares.   

Already decided: the NYS Department of Transportation will soon begin making improvements – including markings for a bike path - between Henning Road (by Exit 14 of the Northway) and East Avenue (where Saratoga Race Course is located). 

The city meanwhile is considering making improvements along the lower portion of Union Avenue that would connect the NYSDOT’s bike path to Circular Street – the location of Congress Park. 

Additionally, the city is considering the possibility of reducing vehicle lane traffic along a portion of that lower segment, between Circular Street and Nelson Avenue, and create a protected bike lane that would make that path safer.

Petitions with opposing viewpoints, each garnering hundreds of signatures, have been posted on the website change.org. 

“Pump The Brakes. Do Not Rush Changes to Union Avenue!” 

One group, calling themselves the Historic Union Avenue Neighborhood Association is asking the city to “not rush a major decision affecting a vital gateway to our city,” and recommends a comprehensive plan be developed that allows “stakeholders” such as NYRA, the National Museum of Racing, the Saratoga Historic Preservation Foundation, Empire State College, the business community, and area residents, to weigh in. 

“Lets’ Get Bike Lanes on Union Avenue!”

A pro-bike group meanwhile is urging the City Council to build the Union Avenue bike lanes and the entire connected bike lane network. “We already decided on the city’s 2016 Complete Streets plan. It’s time to stop planning and start implementing.” The group says doing so will allow better safety for bike-riders, reduce traffic and parking needs, increase economic activity, and historically restore a 19th century bike lane on Union Avenue. 

Pro-bike advocates additionally point out that that the smattering of bike lanes that currently exist within the city don’t connect to one another, making them difficult to use. More connectivity would bring increased use on those paths, the group says. 

“No decisions have been made - except one,” city Mayor Ron Kim said. “A (previous) City Council passed a Complete Streets plan to implement bike paths throughout the city. Also, when we took office (in January 2022) the Department of Transportation was well underway to designing a bike path from Exit 14 (of the Northway) to East Avenue. That construction is going to start this spring.” 

The Complete Streets plan was adopted in 2013. Ken Grey, of the Complete Streets Advisory Board, said he would like to see Union Avenue restored to its original beauty. “We’re looking at the opportunity of transforming 78% of asphalt into 78% of green space and useable things like bike lanes.”  Reducing the lower segment roadway from four lanes to three would also allow for the addition of trees. 

Mike King is a recent transplant to Saratoga Springs. He holds an extensive background in city planning and is a member of Complete Streets. In January, King delivered a presentation to the city regarding proposed enhancements on lower Union Avenue.  “The State is building a bike lane between East Avenue and Henning. So, the question is: What do you do between East and Circular? 

“We could go out tomorrow and stripe a five-foot bike lane that goes from East, all the way to Circular. No one would be happy, but you could do that. There is enough room. But, we could also question whether we need four lanes of cars,” King said, adding that the average speed of vehicles in the 30 mph zone was recorded at 41 miles per hour.

Union Avenue currently has parking on both sides of the street with four driving lanes in between - two lanes going in each direction.

“You can’t really cross the street. It’s not very safe. According to statistics it’s three-and-a-half times more dangerous than similar type roads,” said King, discussing the prospect of going from four lanes to three.  “Some people have said they can’t fathom it. The Traffic Analysis that was done during the track season says it is possible to have three lanes and the world would not end.” 

The city will host a workshop and public gathering titled “Enhancing Union Avenue” regarding the proposed project. A new date for that gathering was announced by the city on Feb. 6. The public design workshop will take place 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 16 at the third floor Music Hall in City Hall. 

Correction: The original publication of this story misspelled the surname of Ken Grey, of the Complete Streets Advisory Board.That correct spelling Grey.   

 

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced the return of its resident companies -- New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra -- to their summer home in Saratoga Springs for a celebratory season that will feature masterworks from the classical cannon, alongside SPAC premieres and debuts.

New York City Ballet returns with the full company from July 18 – 22, with its roster of more than 90 dancers under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, led by Music Director Andrew Litton.

The Company will present four programs including “NYCB On and Off Stage,” hosted by NYCB dancers for a unique “behind the curtain” experience featuring excerpts from the week’s ballets.

Highlighting the season are contemporary new works including Play Time by Gianna Reisen set to music by Solange Knowles; Love Letter (on shuffle) by Kyle Abraham, featuring the music of James Blake; and Liturgy by Christopher Wheeldon with music by Arvo Pärt, in addition to two works by Justin Peck including the SPAC premiere of his first full-evening ballet, Copland Dance Episodes, set to four of Aaron Copland’s most acclaimed musical scores:  Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Fanfare for the Common Man, and Rodeo, as well as Scherzo Fantastique set to music by Igor Stravinsky, which had its World Premiere at SPAC in 2016.

Also featured is a program dedicated to three story ballets including Balanchine’s Swan Lake, Robbins’ Fancy Free and Firebird by both choreographers.

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s three-week residency (Aug. 2 – Aug. 19) will feature Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Aug. 11–12) leading two programs including a Rachmaninoff 150th birthday celebration, and appearances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma (Aug. 17) and violinist Gil Shaham (Aug. 16), returning for the first time in a decade in a special SPAC premiere leading Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

Making their 2023 SPAC debuts is a diverse roster of artists including Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony Award-winning icon Audra McDonald (Aug. 10) for a Broadway program, and global “little orchestra” Pink Martini, featuring China Forbes (Aug. 4), in addition to pianists Isata Kanneh-Mason (Aug. 3) and Bruce Liu (Aug. 11). The 2023 season also includes a diverse line-up of conductors making their SPAC debuts, including Fabio Luisi (Aug. 2-3) for the opening two nights including the popular Festive Fireworks program, Enrico Lopez-Yañez (Aug. 4) to lead Pink Martini alongside the Orchestra, Roderick Cox (Aug. 9) in a performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, and Xian Zhang (Aug. 17) for Yo-Yo Ma Plays Dvořák.

SPAC also revealed its 2023 festival theme of EARTH would be integrated throughout the Orchestra’s residency, highlighted by Earth: An HD Odyssey (Aug. 18), featuring ravishing images of the planet on a large LED screen accompanied by Richard Strauss’ epic tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey and John ¬Adams’ exhilarating Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Continuing the theme, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra in the SPAC premiere of Pulitzer-Prize winning composer John Luther Adams’ Vespers of the Blessed Earth, alongside Stravinsky’s famed The Rite of Spring (Aug.12). 

The popular film nights will also return to delight audiences of all ages as the Orchestra accompanies, live to picture, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert (Aug. 5) and Jurassic Park in Concert (Aug. 19), celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film.                                                                                           

Tickets will be available beginning on Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. for members (tiered by level) and on Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. for the general public. For specific program dates and performances, visit spac.org for details.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Plans are underway to site a permanent 24/7 year-round county shelter at the soon-to-be-vacated Senior Center on Williams Street. 

City Mayor Ron Kim originally announced the comprehensive initiative to address the city’s homelessness last October, and the City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the project. 

The location is the longtime home of the Saratoga Senior Center, and is a structure developed by the city on city-owned property in the 1970s. The timeline of the shelter’s opening is tentatively slated for late spring, and is dependent on the components of the existing Senior Center relocating to a new venue at the Saratoga Springs YMCA property at 290 West Ave. 

The search for a permanent shelter site has been ongoing for nearly a decade. The Williams Street plan is something city officials and Saratoga County officials began discussing early in 2022. The current lease for the temporary Code Blue shelter on Adelphi Street runs through April 30 at a cost of $8,000 per month. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved the short-term lease arrangement last July, during which board members also expressed a desire to seek a county location that could be used on a permanent basis following the expiration of the lease.

The city resolution approved in October calls for the development of “a state-mandated Code Blue Shelter, a navigation center, and a full-time low-threshold shelter on the property.” 

The specific definition of a “low barrier shelter” and of a “navigation center” vary from state-to-state. Recent legislation in California details “navigation centers” as providing temporary room and board while case managers work to connect homeless individuals and families to income, public benefits, health services and permanent housing or other shelter. 

Meanwhile, having a “low barrier” points to things such as eliminating curfews and not requiring background checks, sobriety or mandatory treatment. 

It is not clear at this time whether any of these points would be put in effect in Saratoga Springs. 

The Dilemma

Some members of the nearby Saratoga Central Catholic School have expressed concern regarding the siting of a “low barrier” shelter in close proximity to children. The topic “caused an uproar” when it came up for discussion during a general meeting last week staged by the Saratoga Central Catholic Security Committee. 

“As a committee, we have been talking about the homeless shelter on-and-off for a little while,” said committee member Kevin Zacharewicz. “We’re religious people, we’re Catholic people, so we’re not against the homeless shelter; we’re just against the location of the homeless shelter. We don’t feel that it should be basically touching the property, or be near our kids, our school,” he said. 

The group met with Shelters of Saratoga Executive Director Duane J. Vaughn on Dec. 20, Zacharewicz said. “We talked about that it would be between basically 40 people on the average a night in the summertime, and 60 people an average a night in the wintertime. … We talked about if he does any background checks on his clients, the homeless. He kind of said no.

“We have to help these people out. We get that,” Zacharewicz said. “We understand all this, but again, the location is just not the right mix, and it caused an uproar, obviously, at the school meeting.” A meeting regarding the matter is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 in the school gymnasium. 

City Mayor Ron Kim said this week that discussions with local school and church officials are ongoing and that the city is cognizant of mitigating any impact the center may have on them, and how that materializes is a matter to be decided with future conversations.    

Dr. Giovanni Virgiglio, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Albany, shared his comments via a statement on Jan. 27. :

"We always place priority on the safety and well-being of our students and the entire school community and that is very much the case in this situation," Virgiglio said.  "At the same time, care and concern for the most vulnerable among us is a cornerstone of what we believe and teach as a Church. We need to get a true understanding of the city’s plan before drawing any conclusions and determining the best course of action. To that end, the principal, members of the school board, and I will meet with Mayor Ron Kim so we can learn more about the city’s proposed shelter. Following that meeting, we will share the information with our school families so we can make an informed decision about what our next steps will be."

“Code Blue” shelter and shelter services are provided to the homeless community whenever inclement winter weather temperatures are at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, inclusive of National Weather Service calculations for windchill. Motivated to action in the wake of the death of a city woman exposed to a winter’s elements on a December night in 2013, a temporary homeless emergency shelter was launched in Saratoga Springs that Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Parish Center. A series of temporary winter shelters have followed. 

In addition to becoming a permanently sited 24/7 “Code Blue” shelter, the city had expressed some interest in also pursuing the possibility of adding about 40 affordable housing apartments in an adjacent space on the parcel that would assist residents in their transitioning process - a continuum of care with the ultimate goal of helping people move from homelessness to sustained housing on their own.        

(Reporter Dylan McGlynn contributed to this report.)

Thursday, 26 January 2023 14:01

Saratoga County Drug Overdoses on the Rise

BALLSTON SPA — A Public Health Advisory was issued Jan. 20 by the Saratoga County Department of Health reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses – 10 in all including one fatality – during a 7-day period between Jan. 13-18. Six of the 10 cases involved males and the overall ages ranged from 17 to 41.

The local advisory coincides with the New York State Department of Health’s County Opioid Quarterly Report for January 2023 - released this week, noting a statewide 14% increase in 2021 overdose deaths involving opioids, compared to 2020. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported a 30% increase in overdose deaths nationally. 

The state report, published quarterly, provides information about county-level health impacts related to heroin and opioid use and enables local communities to better respond to the opioid crisis. 

Findings comparing state totals for 2021 to 2020 data:

-14% increase in overdose deaths involving opioids, with 4,766 deaths in 2021.

-12.6% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses, with 10,430 visits in 2021.

-30.2% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses other than heroin, including illicitly produced opioids such as fentanyl, with 5,137 visits in 2021.

-11.8% increase in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) naloxone administration encounters, with 19,139 in 2021.

Fentanyl is involved in the majority of overdose deaths in New York State and is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, according to the state DOH. 

Saratoga County says it has targeted responding to the opioid epidemic a priority. The County previously announced it will utilize Opioid Settlement Funds to expand efforts to mitigate the growing influence of drugs and addiction in local communities, through a variety of programs and investments. 

“The County has multiple efforts underway to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse, to provide preventative and treatment measures to residents, and to provide law enforcement the tools and resources needed to combat the growing influence of drugs and alcohol in Saratoga County,” according to a statement released Jan. 21. 

Last Sunday, the county DOH partnered with the Clifton Park and Halfmoon Emergency Corps to distribute free Naloxone Overdose Rescue Kits and provide Naloxone training in Clifton Park. Approximately 105 two-pack kits were distributed during the event. More than three dozen more kits have been requested since the event via the county’s website, according to a county spokesperson. 

Naloxone – which works on opioids such as heroin, prescription pain medications and fentanyl - is a safe medication that can save someone’s life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Anyone interested in obtaining a Narcan kit can fill out a request form at: saratogacountyny.gov/narcan/. 

Saratoga County also notes the existence of New York State’s 911 “Good Samaritan Law,” which 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. 

Everyone — regardless of age — who seeks medical help for themselves or someone else during an overdose is protected by the 911 Good Samaritan Law. Specifically, that law protects: Possessing controlled substances up to and including A2 felony off¬enses (anything under 8 ounces); Possessing alcohol, where underage drinking is involved; Possessing marijuana (any quantity); Possessing drug paraphernalia; and Sharing drugs. The law does not protect: A1 felony possession of a controlled substance (8 ounces or more); Sale or intent to sell controlled substances; Open warrants for your arrest; and Violation of probation or parole. 

The State also continues to advance 25 Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) with over 81 sites statewide. SEPs address the needs of New Yorkers who use drugs and lead in the distribution of naloxone to New Yorkers vulnerable to overdose. The State’s 14 Drug User Health Hubs have been built upon the foundations of the SEPs. These centers focus on reducing overdose by providing easy access to buprenorphine, building safety plans with people who have experienced a non-fatal overdose and equipping participants with naloxone.

SCDOH and Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have developed a Substance Use and Mental Health Resource Directory that individuals and families can use to find area recovery and support resources. The 35-page directory is available via the county website at: saratogacountyny.gov. 

Local residents requesting more information or seeking answers to questions regarding help with opioids/substance abuse may send their inquiries to:  opioids@saratogacountyny,gov. 

Thursday, 19 January 2023 13:47

First-Of-Its-Kind - Affordable Housing in N.Y.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council unanimously approved a resolution to seek $1 million in grant funding - via the Restore NY Communities Initiative Municipal Grant Program – that anticipates taking a currently vacant parcel at 53 Putnam St. and redeveloping it into a multi-story building with affordable/mixed-income housing units that will house low-income individuals and families.   

At least 20 units in the anticipated 60-unit building are expected to be made available “for low-income individuals and families to own and occupy their own home,” according to the city. 

“It’s a win for environmentalists, a win for developers, investors and a win for the city of Saratoga Springs,” city Mayor Ron Kim said during the council’s discussion of the matter on Jan. 17. 

The project is located on a NYS Brownfield Environmental Remediation lot, sited opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library. 

Dubbed as “Putnam Square,” the project anticipates development as a public/private partnership between Putnam Resources, and the city along with a variety of local non-profit organizations. The estimated overall project cost is just over $15 million. More than $3 million has already been invested by developers to acquire, manage and clean the site. 

“If this works the way it is currently positioned, it will be the first of its kind in the state,” said Commissioner Dillon Moran, drawing a contrasting comparative with the typical home-by-home basis actions, which takes a while to develop, by organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. 

Mayor Kim said that “one-third or more” of the 60-unit building will be offered at HUD affordable prices at a percentage of the region’s determined area median income, or AMI. The AMI for all cities across the country fluctuates, and is defined each year by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

I Hear America Singing

• The City Council approved the appointment of Joseph Bruchac as Poet Laureate of the city of Saratoga Springs. Bruchac was born and raised in Saratoga Springs and has authored more than 120 books, along with numerous poems and short stories. 

The appointment marks the first by the city of a Poet Laureate and carries the duties of serving as a representative of the Saratoga Springs in creating literary and artistic works in commemoration of the city, its history, and its people. The position, which carries through 2025, was unanimously approved by the Council and will be under the supervision and guidance of the Mayor’s Office, in consultation with the arts commission. 

Saratoga New Year’s Fest Will Be Back for 2023/24

• Bob Millis, primary producer of the inaugural Saratoga New Year’s Fest staged Dec. 31-Jan. 1 told the Council that the event was an overall success and will return for its second year. 

“We hit all of our markers. We attracted people from across the Northeast, we put them in hotels, we sent them to downtown venues and we generated sales tax,” Millis said. “It was such a great success we have committed to continuing the event into the future.”   

School Resource Officer(s)

• The council approved an addendum to the agreement between the Saratoga Springs City School District and the city of Saratoga Springs that will - beginning on Jan. 30 - have the city assign an additional School Resource Officer to the District’s Elementary Schools.

“The school district had a Safety Survey Report that recommended the addition of two School Resource Officers – one to be provided by the Sheriff’s Department for the two elementary schools outside the city limits, and a recommendation that the city provide an SRO from the Saratoga Springs Police Department for the four elementary schools that are in city limits,” city Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino told the council Jan. 17. “That recommendation was adopted by the school board last week.” The measure was approved by the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education by a 5-4 margin.

The school district will pay $74,285 as reimbursement toward the cost of the Elementary SRO, prorated from the Elementary SRO’s start date through the end of the contract. The district currently employs two SROs, one at the high school and one at the middle school campuses.

The four district elementary schools within Saratoga Springs city limits are: Caroline Street Elementary School, Lake Avenue Elementary School, Division Street Elementary School, and Geyser Road Elementary School.

The elementary schools SRO will be on duty from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each school day, at or between the elementary schools. In all, the city has seven officers currently trained as SRO’s on staff, Montagnino said.

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Blotter

  • Saratoga County Court  Kathleen M. Callanan, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced to 1 year in local jail, after pleading to felony grand larceny.  Cassandra R. Barden, 38, homeless, was sentenced to 1-1/2 to 3 years incarceration after pleading to felony attempted assault, charged in Milton.  Ashley Vetrano, 35, of Glens Falls, pleaded to felony robbery, charged in Moreau. Sentencing May 23.  Gabrielle Montanye, 63, of Stillwater, was sentenced to 5 years probation, after pleading to felony attempted identity theft, charged in Ballston Spa.  Daniel J. Koenig, III, 53, of Round Lake, was sentenced to 2 to 4 years incarceration, after…

Property Transactions

  • BALLSTON Eastline Holdings LLC sold property at 12 Aspen Dr to Shaun Scott for $596,673 Sunmark Credit Union sold property at 15 17 & 19 Main St to Landmark Holdings 2023 LLC for $240,000 CORINTH Gary ONeil sold property at 115 Hollister Dr to Aaron Schips for $345,000 GREENFIELD Jeffrey Fuller sold property at 4 Lanie Dr to Jacob Brooks for $221,700 Bernice Moeller sold property at 395 North Creek Rd to Devin Vernon for $270,000 MALTA  Maureen Weise sold property at 13 Pepperbush Pl to Robert ONeill for $245,000 MECHANICVILLE Robert Murphy sold property at 406 Park Ave to…
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