Month: May 2019

Grant Awarded To Northwestern Mutual’s Sherry Finkel Murphy Will Help Wellspring

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Sherry Finkel Murphy, center, of Northwestern Mutual, will donate her grant to Wellspring.
Courtesy Northwestern Mutual

From connecting families with housing and food resources, to providing valuable mentorship opportunities to local youth, Northwestern Mutual financial advisors aim to lead impactful change in communities across the country.
Through its foundation, the company is recognizing these efforts through its 2019 Community Service Awards program by awarding nearly $300,000 in grants to nonprofits nationwide.
Each year, Northwestern Mutual selects 16 financial advisors nationwide to receive grants to benefit a nonprofit of their choice as part of the program. Local resident Sherry Finkel Murphy, a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual – Albany, has been chosen as a 2019 Most Exceptional recipient of the award, receiving a $25,000 grant for Wellspring. Wellspring is dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and engaging the community to end relationship and sexual abuse.

As Business Grows, Saratoga Olive Oil Buys Building To Renovate Into Warehouse Space

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

The former Aquawood building will be renovated into a Saratoga Olive Oil warehouse.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf

Saratoga Olive Oil has purchased a 7200-square-foot warehouse facility at 1341 Saratoga Road in Moreau, just a short distance off Northway Exit 17 of the Northway.

Owners, Clint, Barbara and Chad Braidwood purchased the property from real estate holding company Jabro Development LLC. Prior to being purchased, the building was used for boat storage. At one time, it was occupied by Aquawood, a pool, spa and billiards supplier.

State Says Its ‘Taste NY’ Program Sales Jumped To A Record $17.8 Million Last Year

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Taste NY sales increased to a record $17.8 million in 2018, state officials announced.
Total gross sales of New York products from Taste NY events and locations last year, including the opening of six brand new Taste NY Markets in Welcome Centers across the state, increased by $1.7 million over the previous year. The continued year-over-year growth reflects increasing consumer demand for local food and beverage products, officials said.

Laraine Desmond Named Citizen Of The Year By County Committee For Mental Health

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Laraine Desmond, Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health’s Citizen of the Year.
Courtesy Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health

The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) named Laraine Desmond as 2019 Citizen of the Year.
Desmond has provided direct care for hundreds of severely mentally ill individuals during her 30-year career working with Transitional Services Association (TSA), thee agency said.
For most of that time, she has served as the program director for the Stonebridge Community Residence. Officials said she has served with integrity and commitment through more than a few transitions and changes within the field of mental health and at TSA.
“The stability, sincerity, and experience Laraine brings to her job is both substantial and significant. It is impossible to calculate the positive impact Laraine’s service has had on TSA residents over the years,” the agency said in a statement. “It has literally been felt daily by people living with mental illness for her entire tenure at TSA. When asked about her work, Laraine said, ‘Often you hear people saying they love helping people, but I say I love the people I help. It is that simple.’”

Certified Nurse Midwife Named A Fellow For National Nurse Leadership Program

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Jennifer Kittell was named a fellow for the Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

Certified nurse midwife Jennifer Kittell, of Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Midwifery and Women’s Health Services, was named a fellow for the Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program.
A partnership between Duke University School of Nursing and Johnson & Johnson, the program provides leadership development for nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, especially those who work in community practice settings.
Kittell is one of 41 nurses from across the U.S. who were selected for the 2019-20 program. Fellows will participate in three leadership retreats, monthly distance-based learning activities and a transformative health leadership project. A key objective is to equip fellows to provide more effective, efficient healthcare services to vulnerable populations and to lead innovative health improvement initiatives for their organizations and communities.

Saratoga County Program Teaches Veterans About Healthy Stress Management Tools

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Local veterans are given the opportunity to focus on health and resilience thanks to the 100 Day Transformation Challenge program created by Saratoga County in partnership with Purebred Athletics and Dig Deep Chiropractic & Massage Therapy PLLC.
Through the Veterans Peer Connection program operating under the county Veterans Service Agency, Saratoga County is currently sponsoring 15 veterans who will participate in the 100 Day Transformation Challenge, allowing them the opportunity to learn healthy stress management tools as well as establish a community with other veterans in the program.

Saratoga Hospital Completes Update And Expansion Of Its Cardiovascular Services

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Saratoga Hospital completed an expansion and renovation of its Cardiovascular & Interventional Suite. The facility includes two state-of-the-art catheterization suites and 16 patient care bays.
Courtesy Saratoga Hospital

Saratoga Hospital recently completed a $3.25 million update and expansion of its Whitney-Hendrickson Cardiovascular & Interventional Suite to meet increased demand for advanced cardiovascular and cancer treatments.
The expansion added a second catheterization suite to support critical services, including the hospital’s 24/7 emergency interventional cardiology program and state-of-the-art minimally invasive oncology procedures.

State Adopts Programs To Raise Awareness Of The Dangers Of Synthetic Cannabinoids

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

A statewide plan to combat synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K-2, has been established. The multi-agency agenda includes wide-ranging prevention, education, treatment, and community engagement efforts, building upon the state’s commitment to add dozens of synthetic cannabinoids to the state’s controlled substances list.
These new initiatives will help remove these substances from circulation, raise awareness on the dangers of K-2, and provide additional guidance to healthcare providers on effective treatment and recovery services, officials said.

Remodeling Of Kitchens And Bathrooms, Adding Space, Is Common In Area Homes

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Bob West is the president of Old Saratoga Restoration in Saratoga Springs.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill Nagy
Many people who buy a house in Saratoga Springs decide to change it: things like redoing the kitchen or bathroom, add a master bedroom suite, or turning the backyard into an outdoor family room.
Bob West, president of Old Saratoga Restoration, speculated that it is almost inevitable. “People want to be in town,” he said, and “the housing stock is quite old. Most houses require work.”

Group Plans To Build Apartment Complex At Clifton Park Center Road And Wall Street

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

This is a rendering of an apartment building to be built in Clifton Park by Atrium Properties. It will have 39 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Susan E. Campbell
Atrium Properties expects to break ground this summer on an as-yet unnamed apartment complex in Clifton Park, according to Jacqueline Phillips Murray, Esq., a principal of the firm.