March

MALTA, NY – Saratoga County will hold a free Narcan training and distribution event on Thursday, March 30th, from 3pm-6pm at the Malta Community Center in the Town of Malta (1 Bayberry Dr, Ballston Spa, NY 12020). This drive-through distribution event is in partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga County Department of Health, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Town of Malta.

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

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

Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can register to obtain an overdose rescue kit and view a schedule of upcoming distribution events at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

BALLSTON SPA, NY –The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops in April:April 5 at 10AM: Resume Development. This workshop presents the basics of a powerful and effective cover letter including formatting, tailoring to the job, and getting through the online application process to land an interview. Please have a rough draft of your resume with you. Facilitated by Rensselaer & Columbia-Greene.

April 6 at 11AM: Transferable Skills. Transferable skills are qualities you have already acquired that can be used in a different job. Learn how to make employers see the connection between your qualities and the skillset needed to do the job and market yourself as the solution to an employer’s problem. Facilitated by Warren and Albany.

April 11 at 10:30AM: Interview Preparation. Learn how to articulate your strengths, what questions to expect, how to address difficult topics, and ace the interviewing process. Facilitated by Schenectady.

April 12 at 10AM: Goal Setting. This workshop explores how goal setting works, why goals are important, and provides helpful resources to get you started to reach your dreams. Facilitated by Washington and Albany.

April 18 at 10AM: Overcoming Barriers. Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. Whether you’re facing transportation needs, childcare needs, prior justice system involvement, inexperience, health concerns or more, this workshop will provide you with resources and strategies to help you meet your goals. Facilitated by Saratoga and Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie.

April 20 at 11AM: Completing Job Applications. Statistics show approximately 50% of mid-sized companies and almost all large corporations use an applicant tracking system to screen candidates for job opportunities. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers. Facilitated by Warren and Washington.

April 27 at 1:30PM: Social Media. Your social media presence can make or break your ability to find a job. Learn how to use social media to your advantage in searching for a job and marketing yourself to land the job or career you’ve always wanted. Facilitated by Schenectady.

Registration is required for all workshops. Visit https://thejoblink.org/calendar/ to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at (518) 884-4170 for more information. The workshops are offered as part of the Saratoga County Career Center’s WorkPays! workforce education campaign.

The Saratoga County Department of Workforce Development provides comprehensive training and employment services to residents through its Career Center and works with local businesses to attract and retain the local workforce.

The Greater Capital Region Career Centers is a group of local county and city-based Career Centers and partners that coordinate services to address the workforce needs of the Greater Capital Region by providing a variety of career and workforce resources, training opportunities, and more. Members include Capital Region Workforce New York; Columbia-Green Workforce NY; City of Albany Career Center; L.E.A.P; Rensselaer County Career Center; Saratoga County Career Center; Schenectady County Connects; Warren County Career Center; Workforce Solutions System of Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie Counties.

MOREAU, NY – Saratoga County will hold a free Narcan training and distribution event on Tuesday, March 28th, from 3pm-6pm at the Moreau Town Hall in the Town of Moreau (351 Reynolds Road, Fort Edward, NY 12828).
This drive-through distribution event is in partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga County Department of Health, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Town of Moreau.

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

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

Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can register to obtain an overdose rescue kit and view a schedule of upcoming distribution events at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Saratoga County will hold a free drive-through Narcan training and distribution event on Saturday, March 25th, from 9am-12pm at Geyser Road Elementary School in the City of Saratoga Springs (61 Geyser Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866).

**If there is inclement weather the event will be held in the school’s cafeteria.**

This distribution event is in partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga County Department of Health, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs Police Department, and Saratoga Springs City School District.

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

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

Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can register to obtain an overdose rescue kit and view a schedule of upcoming distribution events at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

CORINTH, NY – Saratoga County will hold a free Narcan training and distribution event on Thursday, March 23rd, from 3pm to 6pm at the Corinth Fire House in the Village of Corinth (16 Saratoga Ave, Corinth, NY 12822).This distribution event is in partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga County Department of Health, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Town of Corinth, the Village of Corinth and the Corinth Fire Department.

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

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

Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can register to obtain an overdose rescue kit and view a schedule of upcoming distribution events at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

BALLSTON SPA, NY – The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency held its monthly Honor Deceased Veterans Program on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the County Building in Ballston Spa with a ceremony honoring Tuskegee Airman Clarence Dart of Saratoga Springs.Dart was drafted in 1942 and entered the US Army Air corps on August 27, 1942. He attended the Elmira Aviation Ground School. He served as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group and was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron in the 12th Air Force in North Africa.

As one of the now famous Tuskegee Airman flying P-40s with the 318th Army Air Force Unit Squadron F, he flew 95 missions and was shot down twice. He later flew P-51s escorting 15th Air Force bombers. Clarence was discharged from active duty at the rank of Captain on January 3, 1947. He went on to serve in the NY Air National Guard and retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

For his service Dart received two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained during air combat, the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the WWII Victory Medal, and the American Defense Medal, the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross, and the NYS Conspicuous Service Star.

Dart married his wife, Mildred, in June of 1950 and settled in Saratoga Springs, NY, where they raised their family of seven daughters and two sons.

Dart attended the Aero Industries Tech Institute in California, GE Flight Test School, and was affiliated with Knolls Atomic Power Lab from 1949-1987 where he was a Designing Draftsman. Mr. Dart’s honors include the Elmira Free Academy Wall of Fame, and 2011 43rd Senate District’s inductee into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. In March of 2007, he and fellow Tuskegee Airmen were also recognized at the U.S. Capitol with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor that Congress may bestow. Clarence was a noted guest speaker on black history at various local schools, colleges and universities, and his community service included the Charlton School for Girls Trustee Board, the Salvation Army Board, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. Community Relations Board, New York State Air Museum AIM High Program, and the finance committees of both the Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, of which he was a devoted member.

Clarence Dart was born on December 6, 1920, in Elmira, NY and passed away at age 91 on February 17, 2012.

Established in 1999 by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, the Honor Deceased Veterans Program provides a way for county leadership and residents to show gratitude for the service of veterans past and present. The program honors a range of veterans with tremendous stories of service, sacrifice, and historical significance. Honorees include those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the name of defending our great country and veterans whose stories continued past their military service.

The ceremony is dedicated to a different Saratoga County veteran each month. Board members rotate throughout the year in selecting a veteran to memorialize, providing for veterans from all over the county to be honored. To date, more than 300 Saratoga County Veterans have been honored.

The public is encouraged to show their support of our veterans at the Honor Deceased Veterans Ceremony, held at 2PM on the third Tuesday of each month.

For more information about the Honor Deceased Veterans Ceremony, please contact Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency at (518) 884-4115.

When: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.Who: Saratoga County Board of Supervisors; Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen; Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner; representatives from the offices of Congressman Paul Tonko, NYS Senator Jim Tedisco, NYS Assemblymember Carrie Woerner; and members of the Dart Family

Where: Saratoga County Office Building, 40 McMaster Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Notes:
Members of the public and media are invited and encouraged to attend.

As one of the now famous Tuskegee Airman flying P-40s with the 318th Army Air Force Unit Squadron F, Dart flew 95 missions and was shot down twice. He later flew P-51s escorting 15th Air Force bombers. Dart was discharged from active duty at the rank of Captain on January 3, 1947. He went on to serve in the NY Air National Guard and retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were a special group of airmen who volunteered to become America’s first Black military aviators, paving the way for desegregation in the U.S. military.

Ballston Spa – Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner today announced plans for the sixth annual Yellow Ribbon Day Donation Drive to support the efforts of the Blue Star Mothers of America local chapter. This year, Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola and Albany County Clerk Bruce A. Hidley also will join the initiative, further expanding the reach of the drive.

The collection of personal care and food items will run from March 17 through April 6 and will be donated to the local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, which will use the goods to put together “Freedom Boxes” and ship them to deployed military members who call the Capital Region home. The donation drive is held in conjunction with the annual celebration of New York State’s Yellow Ribbon Day, which takes place April 9 and is designated as a day to honor active-duty troops and their families.

In addition to the partnership with the county clerks, Hannaford Stores in Saratoga County also are participating in this year’s drive, serving as additional drop-off points for donations.

Saratoga County Clerk Hayner said he is excited to continue building on the success of previous Yellow Ribbon Donation Drive events. “I am thrilled to have the Albany and Rensselaer County Clerks joining our efforts this year to extend our outreach and support local troops serving our country overseas,” Hayner said. “Together, we can help even more troops enjoy a few comforts of home as they protect our freedom from many miles away.”

Albany County Clerk Hidley also pointed to the value of the regionwide partnership to gather donations for the drive. “It is truly an honor to partner with fellow County Clerks Craig Hayner and Frank Merola on such an important program,” Hidley said. “We have our service men and women to thank for protecting and preserving the freedom we value so much. This donation drive is just a small way to show them how grateful we are.”

Rensselaer County Clerk Merola expressed his appreciation for the work of the Blue Star Mothers of America NY-2. “We owe the Blue Star Mothers much respect for all they do to support our local troops,” County Clerk Merola said. “The drive is a wonderful way for people across the Capital District to express their gratitude to our deployed military members.”

Frank McClement, director of the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency, said he knows from personal experience the positive impact of receiving items from home while deployed overseas. “This donation drive does much more than simply provide snacks and personal-care items. The packages the Blue Star Mothers send also let our service men and women know how much we care and can boost morale. We hope everyone will join us in this effort to support our local troops,” McClement said.

Donna Abare, president of Blue Star Mothers of America-NY 2, said the organization continues to send hundreds of boxes throughout the year, but their shelves are running very low. “We get many requests for ‘Freedom Boxes’ throughout the year, and as parents of servicemen and women, it’s important to us to accommodate every request,” Abare said. “On behalf of the Blue Star Mothers, thank you for supporting our troops and the Yellow Ribbon Donation Drive.”

Abare said donations can include items like cookie and cracker snack packages, microwavable soup cups, fruit snacks, granola bars, and beef jerky, as well as personal care items such as insect repellent wipes, toothbrushes, body wash (small), deodorant, lip balm, puzzle books, and more.

Donated goods can be dropped off at the following locations during regular business hours:
• Saratoga, Albany and Rensselaer County Clerk’s Offices
• DMV locations in Saratoga and Rensselaer counties
• Saratoga County Hannaford stores
• Various town and village offices in Saratoga County (Call to see if your local municipality has a collection box.)

Monetary donations are also accepted. As a reference, it costs $18 postage to send each “Freedom Box”. The cost to fill one box is about $32, so a $50 donation covers the cost of filling and sending one box. Checks can be made payable to Blue Star Mothers of America-NY 2 and sent to PO Box 243, Delmar, NY 12054. Please write “In honor of Yellow Ribbon Day” in the memo section. To donate through PayPal, go to www.paypal.com/fundraiser/hub and search “Blue Star Mothers of America-NY2”.

All items collected will be presented to the Blue Star Mothers during a Yellow Ribbon Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, April 10, at the Veterans Memorial, 162 Route 236, Halfmoon. The public is welcome to attend, and donations also can be brought to this event.

For more information, please visit the Saratoga County Clerk’s Facebook page, @saratogacountyclerk, which will be updated throughout the donation drive.

Gansevoort, NY – GANSEVOORT, NY – Saratoga County will hold a free Narcan training and distribution event on Monday, March 6th, from 6pm to 8pm at the Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Department in the Town of Northumberland (1870 Rte 32N, Gansevoort, NY 12831). This drive-through distribution event is in partnership with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga County Department of Health, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Town of Northumberland and Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Department.

Training takes approximately 15 minutes, during which participants will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer nasal Narcan. Participants will receive a free Narcan rescue kit, which includes two doses of Narcan, a rescue breathing face shield, a certificate of training, a drug disposal system, and a mental health and substance use disorder resource guide.

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

Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can request an overdose rescue kit at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

Ballston Spa, NY – This March, when you buy a Fight Hunger Bag at the Ballston Spa Hannaford on Rossi Way, you’ll be contributing to the Saratoga County Senior Nutrition Program.

The Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services has been selected once again by local Hannaford store leadership as the benefiting organization in the Fight Hunger Bag Program for the month of March. Donations made through this program will directly benefit the Saratoga County Senior Nutrition Program, which provides healthy meals to participating seniors throughout Saratoga County.

The Senior Nutrition Program helps Saratoga County seniors remain independent while providing those individuals with daily nutritious meals. The home delivered meal program serves those who are primarily homebound and in need of nutritional support. The Gather and Dine program offers dining at eight meal sites throughout the county, giving seniors the opportunity to socialize with others in their community.

The Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program is an easy way for shoppers to give back to the local community and the environment as part of the regular shopping routine. For every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag purchased, Hannaford sends a $1 donation to an organization local to the Hannaford in which it was purchased. During the month of March, the Saratoga County Senior Nutrition Program has been chosen to receive $1 for every Fight Hunger Bag purchased at the Hannaford on Rossi Way in Ballston Spa.

For more information about the Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program, please visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com.

For more information about the Saratoga County Office of Aging and Youth Services Senior Nutrition Program, please visit www.saratogacountyny.gov.