The 35th Annual Stewart’s Holiday Match campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Day at all shop locations.
The program supports nonprofit organizations impacting children.
Last year, customers donated an incredible $895,000 to the program, doubling to more than $1.88 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds were able to support 1,715 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located, company officials said.
Local organizations impacting children are encouraged to apply for funding online at www.stewartsshops.com/holiday-match/holiday-match-overview. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. A listing of all the local organizations that received funds last season is available online.
Stewart’s Holiday Match is a 501c3 foundation; all donations are tax-deductible. Stewart’s gladly accepts funds from groups or businesses, but only matches individual donations.
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The Village of Ballston Spa is looking to update its Comprehensive Plan to best define the needs of this evolving community and articulate a vision that will guide decisions affecting physical development and redevelopment within the village.
The Comprehensive Plan is expected to focus most significantly on effects of IT and climate change, buildings and village character, non-conforming land uses, village infrastructure, quality of life and local and regional economics.
A steering committee has been formed to work in conjunction with a professional planning consultant to identify and study several topics over the course of the next year in order to create a final plan for approval by the village board of trustees.
The committee is currently looking for additional members from the Ballston Spa community who would be interested in contributing their knowledge, skills and ideas. Meetings will be held twice a month, on the first and third Thursdays, at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga County Office building at 50 West High St. All meetings are open to the public and are Zoom accessible. Interested persons can contact steering committee chairperson Karen Martell at karenmartell27@gmail.com or the Village Office at 518 885-5711, villageclerk@villageofballstonspa.org.
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Saratoga Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award.
The national recognition acknowledges Saratoga Hospital’s commitment to providing patients with the most appropriate stroke treatment, in keeping with the latest research-based guidelines.
Officials said stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding recovery times.
Saratoga Hospital has made significant investments in recent years to enhance stroke care. In 2020, the hospital launched a teleneurology program—including telestroke care—to give patients 24/7 emergency access to neurologists who have extensive experience treating strokes.
In August, Saratoga Hospital received a $100,000 grant from Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York Blue Fund to advance the hospital’s stroke program. The grant will help cover education, equipment and other costs involved in attaining state Department of Health designation and Joint Commission-American Heart Association certification as a Primary Stroke Center.
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The Artisan Market at Brookside Museum will be returning in 2021, running through Dec. 24.
The 21st installment of the market will feature only handcrafted products created by local artisans. Items from natural soaps and lotions to ornaments and jewelry, to syrups and edibles will be available.
“There is such a variety of items, it makes holiday shopping simple, plus each item sold supports both the Saratoga County History Center and local artisans,” said center trustee Donna Dardaris.
Brookside Museum, headquarters of the Saratoga County History Center, is located at 6 Charlton St., Ballston Spa.
The 2021 hours are Thursday, noon to 5 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.m; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Face coverings are required. Hand sanitizer will be available.
All money raised by the Artisan Market will fund history center public programming and collection maintenance. Inquiries about the market can be directed to Donna Dardaris at donna@brooksidemuseum.org. Additional information can be found at brooksidemuseum.org.
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The Tri County United Way is offering free tax classes to potential volunteers joining the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
With the stimulus payments and recent changes to the Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Dependent Care credit more local residents may be looking for assistance completing their tax returns during the 2022 filing season.
Volunteers become IRS certified tax preparers upon successful completion of this training. They then work one or two days/evenings a week in the local communities assisting families and individuals free of charge with completing and e-filing their personal tax returns.
The local VITA team prepares tax returns throughout Washington, Warren and Northern Saratoga counties during the tax filing season of January through April. Other volunteers are needed to answer phones, make the tax appointments, and serve as greeters at the tax sites.
To learn more and/or register for these free tax classes contact Joan at 518-746-2560 or via email at tcuwvita@gmail.com or visit the website at www.tricountyunitedway.org.
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The Arrow Family of Companies donated $100,000 in November to 20 local nonprofit organizations in support of programs that benefit the economic well-being of families. This funding is a special contribution as part of the Arrow Family’s second annual Thankful campaign, and is in addition to its normal annual giving.
The Arrow Family of Companies, which includes Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co., Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. and Upstate Agency, LLC, is reaching out this month to the 20 community partners from Albany to Plattsburgh and thanking them for their mission-driven efforts.
All beneficiaries of the $100,000 provide services within Arrow’s eight-county footprint. Organizations receiving funds were: Adirondack Community Action, Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC Clinton County), Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area, CAPTAIN Community Human Services, Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country, Glens Falls Area Youth Center, JCEO, L.E.A.P., LifeWorks Community Action, Literacy Volunteers of Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties,.
North Country Ministry, North Country Workforce Partnership, Salvation Army, Southern Adirondack Child Care Network, SEAT (Social Enterprise And Training) Center, Tri-County Literacy Center Inc., Warren-Washington Assoc. for Mental Health, Warren County Employment and Training Administration, and YWCA NorthEastern NY.
To learn more visit gfnational.com/Thankful or upstateagency.com/Thankful.
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Tully Rinckey PLLC and Price Chopper/Market 32 distributed 250 free turkeys to Capital Region active duty and retired military personnel during the 12th annual Turkeys for Veterans initiative in November.
Over the last 12 years, Tully Rinckey PLLC has donated thousands of free turkeys to veterans across New York state in an effort to strengthen their bond with the veteran community.
Officials from Tully Rinckey PLLC hand delivered approximately 3,500 paounds of turkey to military personnel and veterans. To ensure safety during the COVID pandemic, turkeys were distributed via a drive through process, whereby veterans pulled up to the distribution area in their car and had their turkeys loaded by a Tully Rinckey volunteer.
Since 2009, the Turkeys for Veterans initiative has provided the Thanksgiving centerpiece for the families of more than 1,700 active duty and retired military personnel in the greater Capital Region. The firm has also provided turkeys to veterans in Binghamton, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester.