Wesley Community Celebrates 50th Anniversary
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Community celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Saratoga Springs City Center last month with a fundraising dinner attended by about 150 people.
“It was a nice crowd with some folks who dated back quite a bit and it was a wonderful evening of reminiscing and acknowledging what Wesley has meant to the community,” said CEO J. Brian Nealon. “We got to catch up with a lot of board members from some years ago and also see some folks we don’t see enough of.”
Original board member Bill Dake spoke about the community’s earliest days and the trials and tribulations involved getting the project off the ground, Nealon said. The nonprofit organization has supported seniors in the community since opening its doors in 1972.
In 1966 a motion approval established what was called the Saratoga Retirement Center. Groundbreaking for the Embury Apartments took place in 1969 and the doors opened in 1972. Mrs. Selma Ogden was its first resident. The Victoria Building expansion came in 1985, the Wesley Health Care Center opened in 1973, an 80-bed expansion - the Hathorn building – was added 21 years later. Woodlawn Commons opened with 60 independent and 40 assisted living apartments in 1999.
In all, the Wesley Community is a 37-acre, not-for-profit agency which serves the needs of the elderly, as well as active seniors, adults and pediatrics. It is comprised of Wesley Health Care Center - the nursing home, Embury Apartments – subsidized senior apartments, and Woodlawn Commons - assisted living and market-rate senior housing.
“All told, that’s 11 buildings. A little over 600 folks live on campus,” said Nealon, who first began working in the community in the mid-1980s. He became the organization’s third CEO after succeeding Neil Roberts in 2003.
An aging population across the country has resulted in changes in both needs and services over the past half-century since the Wesley Community first opened its doors.
The life expectancy 50 years ago was just over 71 years of age in America, the National Center for Health Statistics reported. In the pre-pandemic year of 2019, life expectancy had increased to nearly 79.
Citing declining fertility and aging baby boomers by the year 2034 older adults are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history, according to a 2019 U.S. Census report titled “The Graying of America.”
“As one of the largest generations in the country, boomers leave a substantial imprint on the population. They swelled the ranks of the young when they were born and then the workforce as they entered adulthood,” according to the report. By 2060, it is anticipated nearly one in four Americans will be 65 years and older, the number of 85-plus will triple, and the country will add a half million centenarians.
A larger number of people living longer is coupled with people expressing the desire to live on their own to a greater age.
“People are living at home longer and that’s a significant change,” Nealon said. “Now, folks are typically older and more frail than we were seeing 40 or 50 years ago. That’s also a trend nationally, and I do think that trend will continue as boomers want to be as independent as possible,” he added. “In housing at Woodlawn, an average move-in age is in the mid-80s, at Embury it’s a little bit younger, I would say mid-70’s, and the nursing home tends to be older.”
The continuum-of-care campus provides independent and assisted living for seniors, affordable independent senior housing, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, as well as home care services and outpatient therapies available for people of all ages.
The organization is looking at meeting the changing needs of modern-day and future populations, which includes expanding certain practices, remodeling existing buildings and exploring services it can provide to help people remain independent as long as possible.
In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, a commemorative book and video that chronicle Wesley Community’s journey have been issued. For more information, go to: www.wesley50.org.
Historic Saratoga Church Kicks Off Organ Replacement Drive
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The First Baptist Church of Saratoga was established in October 1793. Saratoga Springs’ oldest church has provided services at 45 Washington St. since 1855. This weekend, the church is kicking off a drive aimed at replacing its near 50-year-old organ.
“We always celebrate our birthday in some unique way - to let people know we’re here, that we’re excited do our ministry for our congregation as well as the community, and to help those around us,” said Doris Seagrave, chair of the board of Deacons at the church.
On Sunday, Oct. 16, organist Farrell Goehring will feature the music of Bach, Mendelssohn and others in a fundraising event that begins at 2 p.m.
“This marks the start of the organ fund, and on Sunday there will be a good will offering after the concert,” said Seagrave. The church has begun reaching out to the community and will be pursuing donations and potential grants during its drive to replace the organ, which Seagrave estimated at a minimum cost of approximately $50,000.
Over the past few years, renovation projects on-site have resulted in restoring some of the church’s stain glass windows, after being awarded grants from The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, and the Alfred Z. Solomon Testamentary Trust.
The mission of the First Baptist Church in Saratoga focuses on three areas: homeless students and homeless adults, families subjected to domestic violence, and migrant workers at local dairy farms and racetrack.
“We’ve been a very active in the community and we do a lot of ministry with the homeless shelter, with Wellsprings, and many of the other organizations in the area,” Seagrave said.
For more information about First Baptist Church, go to: fbcsaratoga.org, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Reimagining Wilton Mall with 382 Luxury Apartments & Townhomes
WILTON — A proposal initiated last year that would see the development of nearly 400 apartments and townhouses alongside the Wilton Mall continues on its path forward.
The parties behind the development proposal recently launched the website “Reimagine Wilton Mall” that points to a detailed timeline of upcoming public meetings with local and regional officials for the purpose of seeking approval for the project.
The project, proposed by the Macerich Corporation and Paramount Development, includes 382 new “luxury, market-rate rental residences,” including both apartments and townhomes, and will feature “premium resident amenities with a sophisticated design,” according to the companies.
“What we see in the Wilton Mall is something that’s got some momentum. We do really well around retail,” Tom Snell, a partner with Paramount Development, told Wilton town officials during a public meeting earlier this year, when Paramount announced its plans to purchase two lots totaling just over 13-1/2 acres on the northeasterly side of the mall for the $100 million-plus project.
Santa Monica, California-based company Macerich has owned and operated the mall land since 2004. They own about 95 acres in all; JC Penney – owns just over two acres, and LBW Saratoga – occupied by BJ’s, owns just under four acres.
Paramount Development, based in Florida, has developed 200 rental apartment communities in dozens of states.
The potential project, which would be developed in two phases, would occur on the northeast side of the mall past Dick’s Sporting Goods, and see the removal of the former BonTon location, which closed in 2018. That was followed by the closure of Sears two years later.
At its peak in 2016, the mall generated about $95 million in sales. Figures provided by Wilton Mall Property Manager Mike Schafer earlier this year showed those figures were down to $55 million. “That’s about a $44 million sales tax loss with the retailers that we’ve lost,” Schafer said. “The sales in the mall dropped in half.” The addition of hundreds of residents to a new space is being viewed as a catalyst for growth, he added.
An application for establishing a Planned Unit Development District (PUDD) at the Wilton Mall to allow the development of 382 luxury rental residences was forwarded for review to the Town of Wilton Planning Board. Upcoming meetings to discuss the project are anticipated to take place at the Wilton Planning Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, the Saratoga County Planning Board on Oct. 20, and at the Wilton Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. All meetings are open to the public.
Temple Sinai Community Places A Time Capsule
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Members of the Temple Sinai community were joined by religious school students and their families Oct. 2 to seal and place a time capsule on the synagogue grounds on Broadway.
According to the Hebrew lunar calendar, every 7 years is known as a shmita, or sabbatical year. The cycle of Jewish time points to this year as a shmita year, a year of “release”
and regeneration.
The cycle of shmita invites all to reflect, contemplate, and recharge every seven years, said Sylvia Bloom, the director of education for the Temple Sinai religious school.
“In addition to all the challenges of COVID and this year’s hopeful emergence from its shadow, our Rabbis of 36 years will be retiring in December. It’s a good moment to take stock of who and where we are, and where we’d like to head as a community,” said Bloom. Rabbis Jonathan Rubenstein and Linda Motzkin are retiring this year.
More than one dozen objects that represent something important from the past year, or something individuals wish to release, were prepared for the capsule. The goal is to capture this moment in time.
Planning Board Proposes: Apartments, Townhouses, Workforce Housing
SARATOGA SPRINGS — An application proposing a multi-family residential project that would site four apartment buildings with more than 300 units in addition to nearly 50 new townhouses at Route 29 and Station Lane is under consideration by the city Planning Board this week.
Proposed Action:
Construction of multi-family apartments and townhouse dwelling units on 17 acres, located between State Route 29, and Station Lane. Proposed by: Prime Companies.
Specifics: Apartments - Four multi-family apartment buildings having a total of 338 units. Buildings would stand four stories tall with garage parking below each building. 184 one-bedroom units, 104 two-bedroom units, and 50 three-bedroom units. A recreation space for tenants only would include a swimming pool, outdoor putting green, outdoor pavilion and other amenities.
Townhouses -constructed in pods of 6 units over 8 pad sites, a total of 48 units. Townhouses would stand two-to-three stories high, garages located at the rear.
Additional applications under consideration include Site plan review of a proposed workforce housing project at Excelsior Avenue (Excelsior Avenue Apartments), a sketch plan review of a proposed five-lot conservation subdivision at 274 Kaydeross Avenue East, and sketch plan review of a proposed reconfiguration of a subdivision resulting in 16 new residential lots at Bemis Heights Road.
The Saratoga Springs Planning Board typically meets twice every month at City Hall. For meeting times and dates, go to: saratoga-springs.org.
Meeting Notes: Saratoga County Board of Supervisors
BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors represents all 19 towns and both cities in Saratoga County and oversees a $381 million budget.
The board meets monthly. Notes from the board’s last meeting on Sept. 22.
• A memorandum of agreement was authorized with the city of Saratoga Springs for the construction of a storage bay to house the Saratoga County Hazardous Materials Fire Truck. According to the MOA, the city will receive $300,000 - $30,000 per year for 10 years - to offset the cost of the construction of the new Fire Station #3 on Henning Road to include a storage bay to house the county HazMat truck.
• The Board of Supervisors accepted $56,377.69 in funding from the New York State Board of Elections for the reimbursement of expenses related to the expansion of early voting. The New York State Legislature recently enacted amendments to Election Law that requires county election boards to provide postage-paid return envelopes for absentee ballot applications and ballots, and appropriated grant funds to be distributed by the BOE to county boards to defray the additional expense of this expansion of early voting.
• The county approved using $100,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to design and build a veterans’ hall / county government building at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds.
• The county Board authorized the acceptance of a $1.4 million grant from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The grant is to be used for improving the interoperability and operability of emergency communications systems for a 24-month performance period, from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2024, and breaks down to just over $900,000 for Communications Equipment, and $500,000 for Equipment Maintenance.
• The Board adopted a resolution proclaiming October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in Saratoga County. Each year, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence, and nationwide domestic violence hotlines receive more than 19,000 calls on a typical day, according to the resolution. During the Covid-19 pandemic calls increased nearly 45% to the New York State Hotline.
Authorized Agreements:
• $23.6 million with Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) for the provision of medical and prescription health care insurance and administrative services for County employees from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.
• $3.8 million with MVP Health Plan, Inc. for the provision of medical and prescription drug health care insurance for Medicare eligible retirees from County employment under MVP’s Medicare Advantage Plan for the term Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.
• $925,000 with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc. (MetLife) for the provision of dental health care insurance for County employees and the offering of voluntary dental health care insurance plans to County retirees for the term Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023.
New Managing Members for Northshire Bookstore
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Northshire Bookstore has announced that Cathleen Ihasz, Nicole Ihasz and Ashley Ihasz-Austin have acquired a majority interest in and will be the new managing members of the Northshire Bookstore.
The Ihasz sisters assumed stewardship and operational control of the Northshire retail locations in Manchester, Vermont and Saratoga Springs, as well as the northshire.com online e-commerce business earlier this week.
Ed and Barbara Morrow started the original Northshire store in Vermont in September 1976, and with their son Chris Morrow opened the doors to the Northshire Bookstore Saratoga store on Broadway in August 2013.
The Morrows passed ownership to Clark and Lu French of Manchester, Vermont in May 2021. However, with the recent passing of wife Lu French, Clark French announced he would be stepping back from his roles at the Northshire to focus on family. French will remain a stakeholder in the bookstore, serving as a trusted advisor and supporter through the transition.
The Ihasz family has been part of the southern Vermont community for decades and continue to maintain their family residence in Danby, according to a statement issued by Northshire. Their goal is to preserve Northshire’s iconic legacy for future generations, according to a statement from the bookstore. For more information, go to: northshire.com.
Saratoga County Airport Gets a Makeover: $27 Million Awarded for New Terminal
SARATOGA COUNTY — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced nine upstate airports – Saratoga and Albany among them, have been awarded $230 million for revitalization projects to “reimagine and further modernize airports across upstate New York.”
“Great to be back. The last time I was officially here was for an ice storm in April, so this is much better,” Gov. Hochul said, announcing the grants during a Sept. 14 presser at Greater Binghamton Airport.
“Our upstate airports are our gateways to local economies and make lasting impressions, connecting New Yorkers and tourists to the beautiful destinations that the Empire State has to offer.”
Saratoga County Airport was awarded $27 million for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient terminal building.
The new building’s first floor will provide two spacious passenger waiting areas, a multi-media conference room, and a café and ice cream counter that will open onto a courtyard with outdoor access. The lobby area will feature a display area for automobiles from the Saratoga Automobile Museum, while the second floor of the building will provide space for pilots as well as a restaurant area and an exhibit area for local artists.
The hangar portion of the building will be finished with aged, reclaimed wood to mirror the look of the many Saratoga County horse and agricultural barns, while a solar array on top of the hangar roof will help reduce the airport’s collective carbon footprint.
The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meanwhile have hosted a series of on-again, off-again discussions and public hearings dating back to last year regarding a proposed lease at the Saratoga County Airport with Prime Group Holdings, LLC for the construction, maintenance and use of an airplane hangar on county land. It is not currently known how the governor’s new announcement of funding may affect that previous proposal.
The funding comes from the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, a competitive solicitation which aims to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports, helping to create airports for the 21st century.
“The grants are extraordinary,” Hochul said. “By making critical investments to further modernize facilities across upstate New York, we are lifting upstate airports to new heights and providing a 21st century transportation experience that travelers expect and deserve.”
The nine airports awarded grants are Binghamton, Albany, Watertown, Syracuse, Rochester, Ogdensburg, Saratoga County, Sullivan County, and Adirondack Airports.
Albany International Airport was awarded $60 million for the expansion of the airport’s terminal, which will provide enhanced passenger amenities pre- and post-checkpoint and more efficient passenger flow through security.
Pre-check point, the Albany project will create a modern business center for conferences and community gathering spaces to alleviate congestion. At checkpoint, the project will expand the security queue. Post-security, the project will expand the area where passengers prepare themselves for their journey, creating additional retail space, a children’s play zone, a multi-sensory calming room, and an outdoor green space. In addition, the project will improve the facility’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, for enhanced indoor air quality and filtration.
Under Development in Saratoga Springs: Buildups & Knock-Downs
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Applicants EC Woodlawn Vandam Property, LLC are seeking the demolition of an existing structure at 119 Woodlawn Ave.
The structure is “dilapidated, incapable of restoration, uninsurable unusable,” according to documents submitted to the city. Its demolition “would benefit the aesthetic of the neighborhood thereby increasing property values of the neighboring lots.”
The owner acquired the lot April 20, 2022. The structure is a single-family, 1,312 square foot home believed to be built about 1940, and is located just off Van Dam Street, and roughly opposite Bethel Saratoga Church.
A determination of the architectural/historic significance of that residential structure is under consideration by the Saratoga Springs Design Review Commission Board, which next meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at City Hall.
Additional applications under consideration at the DRC include: a determination of architectural/historic significance of the motel, spa structures and gazebo with a mineral spring located at 120 South Broadway – where demolition is sought, and the Architectural Review of a proposed six-story, mixed-use building development at 30 Caroline St.
Saratoga County Offering New Bivalent Booster Clinics for 65+ Over
BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County is offering a series of upcoming clinics regarding the updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
The boosters - called a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine - include components of the original virus strain and the Omicron variant and are designed to provide better protection against the Omicron variant, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
According to Saratoga County Department of Health data as of Sept. 2, 2022, since the start of COVID-19 in 2020 there were a total of 427 fatalities to county residents. Of those: 35 were vaccinated and up-to-date with booster recommendations, 68 were vaccinated but not up-to-date with booster recommendations, and 256 were not vaccinated.
The FDA authorized bivalent formulations of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months after completing primary or booster vaccination.
Moderna Bivalent Booster
Clinics - Individuals ages
65 years and over
Friday, Sept. 23: 8:30 -10 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 26: 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 28:
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 4: 2 - 3 p.m.
Pfizer Bivalent Booster
Clinics - Individuals ages
65 years and over
Thursday, Sept. 22: 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 27: 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Monday Oct. 3: 2 - 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 5: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
All clinics will take place at Saratoga County Public Safety Building – 6012 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa. To book an appointment, go to: www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-vaccines-and-boosters. For more information, call (518) 693-1075 Monday through Friday between 8AM and 4:30PM.
