SARATOGA SPRINGS — There will be new parking rules in effect on public streets in proximity to Saratoga Springs High School this fall that are anticipated to affect neighborhood residents and student drivers alike.

Citing public safety hazards and disruptions caused by Saratoga Springs High School students parking vehicles on residential streets near the school, a group of affected residents took their grievances to the City Council this week. 

The residents, led by speaker Melissa Thompson-Flynn, provided a presentation that they said illustrated issues created due to the number, and in some cases the manner, in which students park their vehicles on streets neighboring the school during the semester.  The issues stated include: allowing little parking for residents or delivery vehicles, blocking residents’ access to their homes, difficulties for other vehicles to navigate, and insufficient clearance for emergency vehicles. 

Thirty-five signatures from 21 households were presented to the council on behalf of signees supporting the implementation of two-hour parking restrictions on five streets. The presentation, a Public Hearing and council discussion and eventual vote were held at City Hall July 18.    

Ultimately, the City Council, by a unanimous 5-0 vote, approved an ordinance to implement the “Time Limit Parking” on Willow Lane and Ash, Hyde, Birch, and Joseph streets. 

While students may continue to park on the streets come fall, they must now move their vehicles every two hours. 

The council said it anticipates - with no further action - that this will likely create similar problematic scenarios on other neighboring streets as students will seek a place to park their vehicles a few blocks further from the school. As such, they noted they were approving the ordinance with the acknowledgement that “this now puts pressure on us” as a council, as well as the school and potentially other stakeholders, to find a long-term solution.    

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new clinic will allow Saratoga Hospital and the Backstretch Employees Support Team (BEST) to expand on the existing healthcare services offered to members of the backstretch community. 

John Hendrickson funded construction of the new clinic as a tribute to his late wife, Marylou Whitney. The new, modern healthcare clinic was constructed to replace a doublewide trailer that previously housed on-site healthcare services at Saratoga Race Course.

“Mary Lou used to come to the backstretch activities and look over at the trailer and say, ‘They deserve better. We’ve got to do something about it,’” Hendrickson said during a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the new clinic this week. 

“When Mary Lou passed away, I thought Mary Lou would want some of her possessions to go to a greater good. And what greater good is there, than health care for the backstretch workers,” Hendrickson said. 

The building features a main entryway lobby and a series of rooms – a testing diagnostic room, a medication room and nearly a half-dozen exam rooms, among them. Large, framed paintings of races at Saratoga line the hallway walls.  The facility is located just off Union Avenue and opposite the main track.   

“They say health care is the foundation of every community. This fantastic new facility will improve lives and save lives,” Hendrickson said. “The backstretch workers now have a state-of-the-art medical facility which they truly deserve. Mary Lou thought Saratoga should be the summer place to be for everyone – especially for those who take care of our beloved thoroughbreds,” he said, “to the backstretch community: your work is appreciated more than you will ever know.”     

Speakers at the ceremonial ribbon-cutting included Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Jill VanKuren, BEST Executive Director Paul Ruchames, Dr. Alexander Cardiel - Medical Director of the Backstretch Clinic, Saratoga Hospital, as well as local political leaders and NYRA officials.   

Backstretch Worker Ismael Denalle, a survivor of heart surgery, expressed gratitude on behalf of backstretch workers for Hendrickson and Whitney’s efforts.   “I’ve been working for more than 20 years in the sport,” he said, “and it’s beautiful to have a place that I could call: My Little Hospital.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City of Saratoga Springs is seeking proposals to develop and construct a new Bike Park facility which is slated to operate at 30 Weibel Ave., in close proximity to the city’s two ice rinks.

Plan requests call for the park to include asphalt pump track; Skills training area with prefabricated features; Beginner level adventure zone, freeride jump zone, flow zone to practice jumping skills, and dual slalom course.

The city prepared the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Bike Park Design Services in mid-June. Any and all bids received for the project will be publicly opened and read on July 25.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The red-brick building located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Division Street that housed Fingerpaint Marketing has been sold for $11 million to Prime Group Holdings - a private equity company owned by Robert Moser with offices on Railroad Place. The future status of the building is not known at this time.

Ed Mitzen founded Fingerpaint in 2008 and in 2018 purchased the building at 395 Broadway for $9 million.  The building was originally developed in 2000 to house Borders Books & Music. Previously,  the spot had sited the Red Barn restaurant, Pope’s Pizza,  and the E-Z Laundromat earlier in the 20th century. 

More recently, Mitzen and his wife, Lisa, formed Business for Good, a nonprofit that aims to achieve social change through business. They plan to use the profit from the sale of the building for Business for Good, according to published reports. The sale closing on June 30 was first reported by the Times-Union.

Fingerpaint employs 800 people across the globe with a good number based locally, but with an increasing number having begun to work remotely in recent years, the two-story brick-and-mortar venue on Broadway was underutilized, and the marketing company plans on maintaining a smaller office nearby. 

“Admittedly I was a huge anti-proponent of working from home. I always felt if someone said they wanted to work from home they would be mowing their yard and watching ESPN, that they’re not committed, but now I’ve done a complete 180,” Mitzen told Saratoga TODAY in late 2020, when the effects of the pandemic, and people working remotely were in full effect.

“Our folks have been unbelievably productive – probably more productive than they’ve been in the office,” Mitzen said. “We’ve all learned different ways of doing things through all this.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A series of connected rooms showcase the type of work that will go on here as well offering the comforts of a personal touch by those who will be working in its second-floor offices. 

A spread of framed 8x10s cling to one wall, depicting the State Capitol following the soft drift of a winter’s snow. A large poster of Bobby Kennedy looks back from another. A bobble-head doll of Alan Chartrock and his West Highland Terrier Murray stands atop the desk of an aide, and a black-and-white portrait of Congressman Paul Tonko clings to the office wall of another. 

“It only seemed natural to move forward and grow a district office here,” said the congressman, seated inside his own office, two stories up with windows that look out over Broadway. 

Recent redistricting designated that all of Albany, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, as well as a portion of Rensselaer County, make up the 20th Congressional District.

“There was a sizable bit of redistricting that affected the district, so we thought: well, let’s reconfigure. As we added the 13 northernmost townships of Saratoga, it made sense to offer proximity for them and to offer another venue for southern Saratoga other than Albany.“

Tonko’s Saratoga Springs office - located on the second floor of 433 Broadway – and his office in Albany will serve as gathering points for those who live and work in the district.    

“It’s important to have that interaction with the district that you represent,” Tonko said. “And I have to say: this is a very interactive district and a great one to represent, calling with ideas, solutions, requests - not pulling away from government but getting in the middle of it, which I think was intended as a republic. “

Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand and Scott Murphy, as well as Republicans Chris Gibson and Elise Stefanik each set up city offices on Broadway over the past two decades, but it’s been a few years since the city has sited one. 

“This will be here for everyone in the district and beyond if you want to bring good ideas and opportunities for the 20th Congressional District,” Tonko said.  “It’s that building of a connection that’s important and we base that public service on trust: being a good listener and then taking action on what you hear. That trust is about making sure you do all that you can to honor the request of the people that you serve.”    

It is that communication from constituents that gets turned into action, Tonko explained. “If there is a struggle that a family or individual is going through, a business is going through, a not-for profit, a community – we want to be there,” he said.“This is about truly responding to those in government and making sure they hear the voices of the people in the 20th Congressional District… I think it’s a major part of the job to listen and understand people, whether that’s in written format or conversation, and achieve as much as we can on their behalf.”

The opening of the office was celebrated June 30 and included approximately three dozen supporters as well as area dignitaries, Todd Shimkus of the Saratoga County Chamber, Pete Bardunias of the Capital Region Chamber, city Mayor Ron Kim and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner – both Democrats,  and city Supervisor Matt Veitch, a Republican, among them. 

“I pledge to continue to work in a bipartisan, bicameral way,” Tonko said. “It’s the way I think the Framers of our government saw this working best. So, to those of different faiths: thank you for the opportunity to build those bridges and to respond to constituents across the board... we’re in this together.”       

Kristina Kruk, a locally based single mother who emigrated from Ukraine, spoke about the hurdles she and her young son faced during their relocation, issues that were resolved through the congressman’s office. 

“When I arrived in this country I faced numerous challenges, including the denial of my son’s social security application,” Kruk said through interpreter Elizabeth O’Connor. “When I reached out to Congressman Tonko’s office, things started to change. They listened to my concerns and took immediate action. He looked into our case and reached out to the Social Security Administration. Thanks to his intervention the matter was expedited, and my son’s application was accepted,” she said. “I encourage all of you to reach out to his office if you ever need his assistance.” 

BALLSTON — A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 27 for Foreverly House - a two-family home that will provide transitional housing for Veteran Moms and their children. 

Foreverly House will be located at 1214 Saratoga Road in the town of Ballston and next to Guardian House, where the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition (VCHC) provides housing and services for homeless Veteran women. It is the first known facility of its kind. 

A single Veteran Mom returning from service often chooses between giving up custody of her children to receive the support services she needs, or foregoing these essential services while making the transition back to civilian life. Without proper support, these women may continue to suffer from PTSD, sexual trauma, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and homelessness.

A grassroots effort began three years ago to build Foreverly House. It was an idea born out of a conversation in a West Ave. eatery three years ago when Veterans Ball Honorary Chair Ray O’Conor, Tiffany Orner – a veteran of the Air Force, and Cheryl Hage-Perez - who had served as executive director of VCHC, shared a conversation during breakfast at Shirley’s Restaurant.   

The name Foreverly House – is named after the song “Foreverly,” written by local singer-songwriter Jeff Brisbin. 

Without funding from state or federal agency resources, Foreverly House became through the generosity of major donors such as Business For Good, Stewart’s Shoppes, The Saratoga Foundation, IUE-CWA Housing Corp., the American Legion, and the South Glens Falls High Marathon Dance, as well as donations from dozens of other businesses and hundreds of individuals who care deeply about our Veterans. Trinity Building and Construction Management Corp. is donating its services as the general contractor for the project. Several subcontractors and area suppliers are also donating or discounting their services or products.

Moms are still a rarity in the military. Women make up 16 percent of enlisted forces and 19 percent of the officer corps, and a minority of those women have children under 18, according to a November 2020 article “The ‘Gut Wrenching’ Sacrifice of Military Moms,” written by Jessica Grose and published in the New York Times. 

The Veterans & Community Housing Coalition hopes to complete the project and move the first Veteran Moms and their kids into Foreverly House in November. For more information, go to: www.vchcny.org/foreverly-house.