A team of Saratoga Hospital doctors and laboratory professionals say they have demonstrated that pooled testing for COVID-19 can save time, preserve scarce resources and improve safety for patients and staff.
At a time when hospitals nationwide are hampered by shortages of testing materials, pooled testing has enabled Saratoga Hospital to test all patients before they’re admitted and isolate those who have the novel coronavirus, according to officials.
Pooled testing combines samples from several low-risk people in a single vial. If the test is negative, everyone whose sample was combined has tested negative for COVID-19—using supplies for only a single test. If the test is positive, each person must be retested individually.
Malta Business Community Alliance Unveils Website To The Community And Businesses
Courtesy Chamber of Southern Saratoga County/Capital Region Chamber
The Malta Business Community Alliance (MBCA) has launched a website to promote the benefits of doing business in the community.
The new website is the culmination of an effort, led by Malta businesses/residents, officials said.
According to the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County/Capital Region Chamber, it is the first initiative of the recently formed Alliance, which is the new name for the former Malta Business and Professional Association after it affiliated with the combined chambers.
At a meeting with local business community representatives on Feb. 27 at Bryant & Stratton College, development of a website was identified as a top priority by the businesses in attendance. Despite the ensuing COVID-19 crisis, which prevented subsequent face-to-face meetings, the website team, assisted by the Capital Region Chamber, worked to develop the website.
Kimberly Hickok of Marketing Kangaroo assisted with web development. Pamela Grandin, owner of Clipcorner Business Solutions in Malta, and Pete Bardunias, Chamber senior vice president, community advancement, provided content.
Malta Drive-In Still Getting Cars In For Movies, Using Other Ways To Bring People In
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jill Nagy
Business at the Malta Drive-In theater is “not near where we were last year,” noted co-owner Ed Caro, but, he added, “I’m glad I’m not an indoor theater. I’d be glad to see half of last year’s income. Fifty percent is better than zero percent.”
Last year, the drive-in was showing first-run films from the major studios. This year “the studios are not releasing,” he said. With some 300 drive-in theaters nationwide and no functioning indoor movie theaters, it is not worth it for a studio to release new films.
On a recent weekend, Malta Dive-in was showing two golden oldies from the 1970s on one screen, “Grease” and “American Graffiti.” On the other screen, they offered two new independently-produced film, “The Lentil” and “The Big Ugly.”
A big draw this season was not a conventional movie at all but a filmed concert by Garth Brooks, At $100 a carload, Caro said. Other filmed concerts are planned for August and September. In addition, live bands play before some of the movies.
Insightpath Formed To Help Companies Organize Feedback From Customers, Others
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Many businesses, both large and small, need customer feedback to be successful.
In response to the need, Insightpath LLC, was cofounded by Terry Nawrot, CEO, and Joe Tyler, CTO. The Saratoga company has developed a system for businesses to gather feedback from their customers in an organized and efficient way that will allow for improved customer satisfaction.
Nawrot said in her experience running a business, she found that she needed something that would collect and organize feedback from both customers and employees through live interviews. She and Tyler worked hard to develop a product that efficiently takes customer feedback and turns it into information that can aid businesses in various ways.
Shelters Of Saratoga Hires Duane J. Vaughn As Its New Director Effective This September
Courtesy Shelters of Saratoga
Shelters of Saratoga (SOS), homeless service providers and operator of Saratoga County’s Code Blue program, has hired Duane J. Vaughn as its new executive director.
Vaughn starts on Sept. 7.
He joins the SOS team with significant nonprofit leadership experience. He served as executive director for the Tri-County United Way for the last four years and was previously the executive director for 13 years of WAIT House, an emergency and transitional shelter program for homeless youth in Glens Falls.
With the WAIT House, he opened the emergency shelter program in December of 2003 and the transitional living program for homeless pregnant and parenting youth in July of 2010.
“We are confident that Duane’s leadership will help Shelters of Saratoga continue to expand and strengthen its mission of providing individuals with safe shelter, supportive services and sustainable strategies to end homelessness in the Greater Saratoga region,” said Peter Capozzola, board chair for Shelters of Saratoga. “Duane’s many talents, collaborative approach and wide-ranging experience will help us accelerate opportunities for long-term sustained housing for Saratoga Springs’ most vulnerable population. He’ll be an asset to the community, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him lead our organization.”
Geico Office Allows Safe Space For Dealing With Customers During Virus Pandemic
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Geico’s new Central Avenue location in Albany came at the perfect time for insurance agent Rick Schrade.
The relocation may not seem like a major change, but Schrade said the new space has allowed him to open up in a safe way that is pandemic ready. The office reopened in late June.
“The new space has really given us the capability to create something that is safe for our employees and for our customers,” he said.
The agency moved in late spring. When the coronavirus pandemic hit they immediately got to work, making sure to meet health and safety precautions that were being asked of them, according to Schrade.
“We’re now fully open and ready for people to come in and shop for a policy that works for them,” he said.
In response to the coronavirus, Schrade said some of the safety precautions include contactless photo inspections, daily temperature checks for employees, frequent hand washing and disinfecting surfaces on a regular basis. The new lobby includes ceiling-to-floor plexiglass.
“We really invested into ensuring that the health and safety of our office was our top priority. The new 5,000 square foot location has really been a bright spot for us. The space allows us to be socially distant, have cubicles for our employees, and really be spaced out in a safe way,” said Schrade.
He said the pandemic has had a financial impact on not only his office, but insurance nationwide. While people are looking to find ways to save money within personal and family budgets, saving on insurance is something many people seem to overlook.
Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill Plans Expansion, Buys More Property Adjacent To Premises
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan Elise Campbell
The Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill at 9 Gridley St. in Saratoga Springs, near Saratoga Race Course, has long been a favorite place to be after track for drinks, meals, and entertainment outside.
Owner Daniel Drellos said recent changes, along with some plans in the works, will make the outdoor service larger and easier to get around—critical in the era of social distancing.
“We have always had a good following,” said Drellos, whose two business partners, Brandon Drellos and Charlie Hoertkorn, also co-own Caroline Street Pub with him. Even with the racetrack closed to spectators, “it can get congested at happy hour in the summer.”
The team has secured approval for plans to expand the entire bar area and to increase the size of the bar itself to 70 or 80 feet long “so that people can get around it and to it,” he said. “We will put in a new tent and new outdoor coolers and change the look of the bar.”
Sen. Schumer Urges Passage Of Bill To Help Tech Companies Like GlobalFoundries
Following his unveiling of the bipartisan American Foundries Act and his push to include major federal support for the U.S. microelectronics industry, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer stood with GlobalFoundries CEO Tom Caulfield in Malta, to call for swift passage of an act that would help tech companies.
The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes the provisions from the Senator’s bill to continue U.S. leadership and revitalize innovation in the global microelectronics sector.
Schumer said the bipartisan legislation, among other things, will launch federal initiative into semiconductor manufacturing, including companies like GlobalFoundries, by providing new federal incentives to conduct advanced research and development of semiconductor technology, secure the supply chain, and ensure national and economic security by reducing reliance on foreign semiconductor manufacturing.
The amendment passed in the Senate 96-4 as part of the Senate-passed NDAA which now awaits final consideration and passage.
Schumer called it a major step forward in providing unprecedented support for the U.S. semiconductor industry and creating opportunities to bring hundreds of jobs to Saratoga County and Upstate New York.
Shaker Logistics Selects Sales Operations Firm
Relay Integrated Logistics & Solutions (RILS) has been selected to create a sales operations program for Shaker Logistics, a third-party logistics provider headquartered in Waterford.
“We are aggressively going after new growth and projecting a 20 percent increase in revenue from new customers in the next three years, as well as continued growth from our long-time partners,” said Jason Smith, CEO of Shaker Logistics. “Our new headquarters and warehouse space will drive new service offerings. We anticipate full retention of our workforce of 81 people and an expansion of hiring in roles like sales, warehousing, customer service, and drivers over the next several years.”
The Center for Economic Growth assisted in the collaboration.
State Gives Grants To Help Maintain Parks
The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York have awarded grants to support nonprofit organizations involved with stewardship of 29 state parks, historic sites and public lands.
The grants—including five in the area—provided to partner organizations will help to improve the maintenance of these historic open spaces.
The grants “will help bolster efforts to keep New York’s open spaces beautiful and pristine at a time when more New Yorkers than ever are turning to nature for refuge and relaxation,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “New York is thankful for this dedicated group of volunteers, which provide invaluable support to our park system by devoting their time to help make improvements that all of us can enjoy.”
The program grants are funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund .
Grants in the area went to: