Canfield Casino has reopened for 2021 weddings and events.

The venue closed in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and because of New York state health and safety mandates which limited social gatherings.

“Weddings and events are back at the Canfield Casino,” said Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. “Guests will still need to follow CDC and state guidelines to attend, but this is the first step towards normalcy.”

The occupancy of the Canfield Casino will allow for events of up to 150 attendees in compliance with state guidelines, he said. Additionally, as outlined by the governor, all attendees must have proof of a recent negative test result or proof of immunization prior to the event, masks will be worn at all times except when eating or drinking, and socially-distanced dancing is allowed in designated areas.

“While all of these requirements do not fit with what a traditional wedding or event would look like, these guidelines are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID. Hopefully as more people are vaccinated and time passes these restrictions will be eased as well,” said Scirocco.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Fans of the Trader Joe’s grocery store chain can rejoice at the news that they will no longer have to travel to Colonie to visit a store.

The chain is planning on opening a new store in Halfmoon. The store is under construction at 3 Halfmoon Crossing Boulevard, next to Red Robin and across the street from a Home Depot.

The building will be 12,500 square feet on a 4.7-acre site.

Town of Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen said at this time there is no official word about when the business will officially open its doors, but things are moving in the right direction.

The town “is incredibly proud that Trader Joe’s is coming to Halfmoon,” he said. “Trader Joe’s is a unique grocery store that carries different products and foods and will be a great benefit to our community.”

Tollisen said the town is excited about the progress of the construction and he looks forward to the first day of its grand opening.

by Andrea Harwood Palmer

Tailgate & Party Shop has moved to 33 Phila S. in Saratoga Springs. The store held a soft opening in late April.

“In one week, we moved our entire shop. We picked up one store and put it down in another. It was one of the hardest things physically that I’ve ever done in my life,” said owner Kirsten Lambert.

Lambert had been renting her previous location on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs for quite awhile. She and her husband had been considering purchasing property in for investment purposes. She then had a conversation with Richard Frank, owner of Four Seasons Natural Foods Café and friend of Lambert. At the time, Frank was deciding his own future plans.

“We had such great conversations about what each of us wanted to do,” said Lambert. “It was like the stars aligned. He was ready (to leave the  Café space) and we were ready.”

Lambert purchased the building that previously housed the Four Seasons Café. Frank will maintain the Four Seasons Natural Foods health food store on Henry Street.

The Nemer family and the company that bears its name made a gift to Saratoga Hospital Foundation in memory of the founder of Nemer Motor Group who died unexpectedly of a heart attack five decades ago.

As a tribute to their father and grandfather, the family is underwriting Saratoga Hospital’s subscription to the emergency Lifenet System.

Lifenet transmits electrocardiogram and other critical patient information to the Emergency Department while the ambulance is en route. Armed with this information, the hospital can prepare for the patient’s arrival and ensure that the emergency interventional cardiology team is at the ready, if necessary.

“For heart attack patients, every second counts,” said Ann Marie Cross, director of emergency services at Saratoga Hospital. “Lifenet is instrumental in helping us reduce the time between the patient’s arrival in our Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center and the start of treatment—and that saves lives.”

Officials said Saratoga Hospital significantly outperforms national benchmarks for quickly administering EKGs to heart attack patients and promptly performing balloon angioplasty and other procedures. The hospital’s response times helped Saratoga Hospital earn the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award two years in a row.

SUNY Empire State College is celebrating 50 years of academic achievements and excellence throughout 2021.

Founded in 1971, SUNY Empire State began as a bold re-imagining of higher education, one focused on increasing accessibility and opportunities for students.

Officials said that for the past five decades, SUNY Empire has transformed the face of student-centered, accessible, equitable education, ushering in a world of possibilities for busy adult learners. The college began utilizing mail-in correspondence and satellite feeds in the 1970s and was one of the first to move to internet-based and blended coursework in the mid-1990s.

Since then, SUNY Empire has been at the forefront of distance and online education and continues to explore new pathways for students of all ages to pursue their educational and career aspirations.

SUNY Empire’s mission aligns with that of the State University of New York’s, which aims to provide students with accessibility to the highest quality academic, professional, and vocational programs, officials said.

During his State of the University System address, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras not only highlighted SUNY Empire graduate student Nelson de Jesus Castilla Jr., who became the first Latino deputy police chief to serve on Stony Brook’s security team while pursuing his master’s degree at SUNY Empire, but he spoke of the recently announced SUNY for All campaign.