tag:www.saratoga.com,2008-09-09:/today//10 2009-11-20T17:55:01Z Looking for Saratoga news? Saratoga TODAY is the local community's comprehensive, dynamic weekly newspaper. Digging deeper into the issues that effect local families and businesses, Saratoga TODAY is the paper of choice in this thriving region and can be found online at Saratoga.com/Today! Movable Type Pro 4.3-en tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5172 2009-11-20T17:53:42Z 2009-11-20T17:55:01Z

Kent and Sandy Tarkleson are on the brink of opening Tark's Indoor Golf Club, a state-of-the-art indoor golf facility that is open year-round....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 Kent and Sandy Tarkleson are on the brink of opening Tark's Indoor Golf Club, a state-of-the-art indoor golf facility that is open year-round.
"The biggest obstacle to bring people into the game is time. A typical round can take between four and six hours, plus the commute; but people's schedules are so tight these days, making it difficult to get enough time on the course. Here, you can come in and play for an hour, on your own time. You can even come on your lunch break from work, play two or three holes and then simply save your game and come back to it when you have the time," Kent said.

The facility brings convenience to the game of golf; visitors and members can enjoy the freedom of playing on their own time while enjoying the laid-back, all accommodating venue.
The Tark's atmosphere is very relaxed; every golfer can play at their pace, which makes the sport all the more approachable for new players.

According to Kent, many beginners are apprehensive about learning right out on the course. They worry about their ability to keep up, or potentially slowing down a more advanced game. Learning to play golf in an indoor facility takes that edge off, making it much easier for beginners to fully pay attention to every aspect. And, there's no need to worry about losing balls.

At Tark's, golfers can maximize their swing potential and fine-tune their golf fitness to step up their game. With a choice between five straight-view simulators, one three -dimensional simulator and 48 different courses, golfers can feel and visualize every aspect of their shot. Realistic sound-effects also add to the golfing experience.

The simulators at Tark's are the only simulators endorsed by the Professional Golf Association. Golfers can even play many of the PGA Tour courses, allowing them to see how they match up to the pros. You can watch a professional tournament on television and then come in to Tark's and try the course yourself.

The high-tech simulator system collects and logs data about each shot. That data is then available online for golfers, which can be very helpful for a beginner. When signing up for lessons with Kent, golfers also set up a "locker," which safeguards their personal swing data. After a lesson at the facility, golfers can go home and evaluate their moves online; they can see stats, watch video analysis and 3-D motion analysis to help track their progress.

Tark's also offers golf fitness training, which, according to Kent, is the fastest growing aspect of the game. As a certified golf-fitness instructor and PGA certified golf instructor, Kent screens his students to identify any physical limitations that correlate to their swing faults.
"If a physical limitation is causing a swing fault, you can't physically execute the motion and you can't achieve the desired shot," Kent said.

According to Kent, one common physical limitation is core-weakness.

"Our goal is to teach correct motion, make sure the player can physically execute the shot, match them with appropriate equipment, and then work on the mental aspects of the game (how to think their way around the course)," he said.

Tark's also offers a bar, serving beer and wine. Members and visitors can also enjoy pub-style foods. The facility hosts a pro shop with full service club repair and custom club fittings; you can build custom clubs or fit original brand clubs.

The facility is set up to accommodate family activities as well. Kids can play Wii on one of the simulators while their parents enjoy a round of golf or Reiki. Sandy, who is a certified Reiki practitioner, offers energy healing sessions for members and visitors as well. There is something for every member of the family to enjoy.

"We've created a golf field of dreams, where you can come in and play and learn the game with the latest, state-of-the-art technology. You can just have fun with it," Kent said.

For more information about Tark's Indoor Golf facility or for membership rates, visit their website www.tarksindoorgolf.com]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5171 2009-11-20T17:49:39Z 2009-11-20T17:51:30Z

Beginning this evening, The Great Escape will be transformed into a winter wonderland with themed shows, festive foods and thousands of twinkling lights....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 Beginning this evening, The Great Escape will be transformed into a winter wonderland with themed shows, festive foods and thousands of twinkling lights.
On weekends and select weekdays (see complete schedule on page 5) from November 20 - December 31, guests can experience the wonder and magic of the season while beginning what should become a new family tradition in this region.

Holiday in the Park's major features include thousands of sparkling holiday lights, a spectacular 60' Christmas tree, family ice skating and live reindeer that will help to transform the park into a one-of-a-kind winter marvel.

Also, carolers will serenade guests with holiday classics and Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves, though hard at work in Santa's Workshop, will still manage to make time available for daily meet and greets and photos. All new characters including playful reindeer, dancing gingerbread kids and The Great Escape's Spruce the Moose will join the popular Looney Tunes friends for the seasonal fun. Ebenezer Scrooge has also made his home at The Great Escape for the season spreading his bah-humbug humor to all.

Holiday in the Park also features festive, live entertainment including a Happy Holidays dinner show in the Bavarian Palace and in "Toy Box Christmas" at the Alpine Feat Haus a child's dream of her toys coming to life becomes reality. Even Frosty the Snowman will be on hand for live meet and greets in the Fest Area. Kids will be able to "strut their vocal stuff" with holiday karaoke in the Jolly Tree Theatre.

"We are very excited to introduce this all new event to The Great Escape this year. This celebration extends our season, provides an even greater value to our Season Pass holders and will deliver unforgettable family memories to last a lifetime," said Don McCoy, Park President of the Six Flags Great Escape Properties.

General admission to Holiday in the Park is just $19.99 for guests 3 and older, while children 2 and under are free. Great Escape Season Pass holders enjoy unlimited admission with a 2009 or 2010 Season Pass. 2010 Season Passes are on sale now for just $69.99, the lowest price of the season. With the purchase of a 2010 Season Pass, guests can enjoy unlimited visits to The Great Escape as well as all Six Flags parks, exclusive events and over $300 in park savings in 2010.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5170 2009-11-20T17:49:39Z 2009-11-20T17:50:15Z

Beginning this evening, The Great Escape will be transformed into a winter wonderland with themed shows, festive foods and thousands of twinkling lights....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 Beginning this evening, The Great Escape will be transformed into a winter wonderland with themed shows, festive foods and thousands of twinkling lights.
On weekends and select weekdays (see complete schedule on page 5) from November 20 - December 31, guests can experience the wonder and magic of the season while beginning what should become a new family tradition in this region.

Holiday in the Park's major features include thousands of sparkling holiday lights, a spectacular 60' Christmas tree, family ice skating and live reindeer that will help to transform the park into a one-of-a-kind winter marvel.

Also, carolers will serenade guests with holiday classics and Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves, though hard at work in Santa's Workshop, will still manage to make time available for daily meet and greets and photos. All new characters including playful reindeer, dancing gingerbread kids and The Great Escape's Spruce the Moose will join the popular Looney Tunes friends for the seasonal fun. Ebenezer Scrooge has also made his home at The Great Escape for the season spreading his bah-humbug humor to all.

Holiday in the Park also features festive, live entertainment including a Happy Holidays dinner show in the Bavarian Palace and in "Toy Box Christmas" at the Alpine Feat Haus a child's dream of her toys coming to life becomes reality. Even Frosty the Snowman will be on hand for live meet and greets in the Fest Area. Kids will be able to "strut their vocal stuff" with holiday karaoke in the Jolly Tree Theatre.

"We are very excited to introduce this all new event to The Great Escape this year. This celebration extends our season, provides an even greater value to our Season Pass holders and will deliver unforgettable family memories to last a lifetime," said Don McCoy, Park President of the Six Flags Great Escape Properties.

General admission to Holiday in the Park is just $19.99 for guests 3 and older, while children 2 and under are free. Great Escape Season Pass holders enjoy unlimited admission with a 2009 or 2010 Season Pass. 2010 Season Passes are on sale now for just $69.99, the lowest price of the season. With the purchase of a 2010 Season Pass, guests can enjoy unlimited visits to The Great Escape as well as all Six Flags parks, exclusive events and over $300 in park savings in 2010.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5169 2009-11-20T17:47:36Z 2009-11-20T17:49:04Z

Through the generosity of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club and AJ Arpey Inc. of Ballston Spa, the children living in the Allen Drive area will now have a safe place to play and get fresh air....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 Through the generosity of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club and AJ Arpey Inc. of Ballston Spa, the children living in the Allen Drive area will now have a safe place to play and get fresh air.
"Affordable housing is a huge issue right now in Saratoga Springs," said Deborah Miles Czech, Rotary Club member and past president. "We were also thinking of the health of the children living in that area."

The donation of $22,000 to the Affordable Housing Group and with A.J. Arpey Inc. agreeing to donate their time, there is now a playground and park located on Allen Drive, built just in time for more tenants to move to the area next year. The Affordable Housing Group received $1.8 million in state funding to build 15 new units for working class families - nine three-bedroom homes and six one-bedroom homes with three reserved for people with disabilities.

"This is more than just a playground. There are benches, trees; it's a very nice park for the residents," said Ed Spychalski, president of the Saratoga Springs Affordable Housing Group.
According to Maria Heise, chairperson of the Major Gift Program, there were 18 applicants for the grant this year - the highest number in many years.

"This was a very hard decision because everyone is in the same shape with the economy, but this is something that the Affordable Housing Group needed," she said.

Before the playground was built there were no recreational areas for the children to get outdoors and play, nor was there proper public transportation for them to get to a play area.
"This was a good donation considering the number of children living in the area, plus the 150 families living in surrounding areas who don't have a place to play. There are no recreation or exercise programs in the that part of town and parents need a place for their kids to go to get them out of the house and away from the television where they know the kids will be safe," Heise said.

The playground was given to the group in honor of local restaurant and lodging entrepreneurs Steve Sullivan and Yvonne Sinnamon whose generosity has supported many community service initiatives.

The Saratoga Springs Rotary has been serving the community for more than 85 years through financial donations as well as their own members donating their time and expertise to local causes and organizations.

The club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 at Longfellows Restaurant to discuss their community and international service activities. Funds raised by the Home and Garden Show, which will take place the weekend of February 26, 2010, and other small fundraising activities support four initiatives: donations to local organizations, scholarships, major financial gifts to deserving local organizations and support of Rotary International's humanitarian, educational and peace-building initiatives around the world.

For more information, visit www.saratogarotary.com.
]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5168 2009-11-20T17:46:44Z 2009-11-20T17:47:06Z

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13  On Sunday, November 15, Governor David A. Paterson announced his intention to eliminate the State's new license plate requirement if, prior to the release of his 2010-11 Executive Budget, the Legislature works with him to identify real, responsible, recurring alternative savings measures that will replace the revenue that would be lost and won't increase the deficit. The new license plate requirement, which is scheduled to go into effect on April 1 and is projected to produce $129 million in revenue in each of the next two fiscal years (2010-11 and 2011-12), was part of the enacted 2009-2010 budget, which was passed by both houses of the Legislature. The State has a current-year 2009-10 deficit of $3.2 billion and a 2010-11 deficit of $6.8 billion. "We need to act in a fiscally responsible way," Governor Paterson said. "When elected officials call for the elimination of revenue in a budget that is already $6.8 billion in the red without offering alternatives, it is simply not responsible."

Bomb Threat at Saratoga Bridges
At approximately 1:30 pm on Monday, November 9, a staff member at Saratoga ARC's Alpha building received an anonymous phone call from a blocked number stating that he/she was going to bomb Saratoga ARC. 911 was contacted, and officials began evacuation of the building. The state police arrived with a bomb-sniffing dog. They evacuated all the buildings on site. The officer and the dog checked all three buildings and found nothing at the Alpha building or the Wilton building. The State police recommended that ARC review their security plan and protocol. The issue has been turned over to an investigator within the State police.

Plane Crash Kills Two
Authorities confirmed two deaths Tuesday morning, November 17, resulting from a plane crash that occurred over the weekend. The Piper Cherokee 140 plane left Saratoga County Airport on Sunday night and crashed shortly after in the Adirondack Mountains, killing pilot Daniel R. Willis, 48 and passenger Ronald E. Rouselle.

New DWI Legislation
Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy, III announced Thursday, November 19, the passage of two bills, which call for sweeping reform in DWI laws in New York State. The first, commonly referred to as "Leandra's Law," will make it a felony for anyone to drive drunk and have a child less than 16 in the vehicle at the time, and the second, the "Ignition Interlock bill," will require the installation of an ignition interlock device for anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor DWI.  Murphy said. The laws apply to crimes convicted after the date of signage.
Murphy said the Ignition Interlock Bill will require anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony DWI in  New York State to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle, or any vehicle they drive, as part of the sentence.   According to Murphy, this is the strongest DWI law in the country.  Statistics indicate that the number of  DWIs in New York will reach 30,000 for 2009. According to Murphy, application of ignition interlocks in New Mexico resulted in an immediate 60 percent drop in repeat offenses.

Saratoga Springs City Council Budget Revisions
At a special budget workshop on Thursday, November 19 some potential changes to the 2010 budget were detailed by Commissioner of Finance Kenneth Ivins as a result of his discussions with all City departments. There will be another workshop and public comment opportunity on Monday, November 23 at 6 p.m., after which the Council may put an actual budget to a vote.
This amended budget is balanced at just under $35 million for 2010, about a half-million dollars less than first forecast. The major factors that were cited were a lower than anticipated health insurance increase, yet this was mitigated somewhat by a lower expectation (by $500,000) of  expected mortgage tax revenue.
Some of the major highlights of this amended budget include:
- A lowering of the property tax increase from 7.81 to 6.99
PERCENT
- Amended revenue increase and expense decrease assumptions from many departments
- The Director of Public Works, Bill McTygue has annouced his resignation and his position will not be funded in 2010.
- One of the seven unfunded firefighter postions was restored.
This was the first opportunity for many on the council to see the overall amended budget, so comments were limited. Commisioner of Public Works Anthony Scirocco did  note that in this revision his department  (losing its Director as well as a net loss of one full and one part-time position) had "done  more than it's share."
  Commissioner of Accounts John P. Franck did comment extensively on the use of paid parking revenues as a budget-balancing instrument. He cited the uncertainty of the amount that the city could receive in this new venture, and called paid parking a potential "nightmare" regarding losses of sales tax revenues from shoppers who would go to  places other than downtown Saratoga Springs.
Mayor Scott Johnson acknowledged having similar concerns about paid parking as a budget-gap closer, and noted the opposition of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Association. The downtown merchants "must be given an incentive to balance" the potential impact on their businesses.
Commissioner-elect for Public Safety Richard Wirth has the interesting circumstance of not voting on the 2010 budget, but he was consulted after his election and will administer it for his department. He noted that the budget situation "did not happen overnight... whatever budget is given to me by the current Council, my focus will be  to  assure that the City will continue to have
an appropriate level of essential
services."]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5167 2009-11-20T17:44:14Z 2009-11-20T17:45:02Z

This past September, Saratoga Springs High School launched an elective class for seniors aimed at local history....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 This past September, Saratoga Springs High School launched an elective class for seniors aimed at local history.
After learning about the class through her son who is taking it, Rilla Schulte, an employee of Bonacio Construction, Inc. thought it would be appropriate to have the class tour the new Park Place condominiums to view the original Grand Union Hotel chandelier that hangs in the Park Place Lobby today and see the view of Broadway from the top floor of the condos to see where the Grand Union once stood.

English teacher Kathryn Flanders said this opportunity went well with the curriculum as the students are currently reading Saratoga Trunk by Edna Ferber which partly takes place at the Grand Union Hotel.

"The students were excited to see the original connection to the past. This field trip fit in well with the curriculum, and I try to bring them to appropriate places so they can see history and relate it to what they are learning," Flanders said. "There is a lot of very interesting material particular to this region that we can cover in this class."

The chandelier dates back to the 1800's and hung in the Grand Union Hotel until the hotel was demolished in 1953. For 57 years, the crystal chandelier was housed at a doctor's home in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was brought back to Saratoga Springs by James Ackerman. Because the chandelier was so old, it was powered by gas, not electricity. In order to have the chandelier in working condition for the condominium's lobby, all 1,000 pieces of crystal were removed and the chandelier was completely rewired, Sonny Bonacio, President of Bonacio Construction, said.

When the students reached the sixth floor of the condominium complex, they were able to see just where the Grand Union Hotel stood and were able to see an original aerial-view photo of the hotel.

"Most of the students said this was a view of Saratoga that they had never seen," Schulte said. "When I heard about my son's class I knew this was something they should do."
Schulte said that during the field trip the students were able to learn about jobs in construction and had a discussion which is important for seniors who are beginning to explore the options for their futures.

Saratoga/Adirondack Literature is a half-year elective course and will be offered again next fall if interest is high enough, Flanders said.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5166 2009-11-20T17:42:06Z 2009-11-20T17:43:07Z

After 23 years of working for large real estate firms, Judith Van Patten decided to break out and begin her own business....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 After 23 years of working for large real estate firms, Judith Van Patten decided to break out and begin her own business.
With the announcement of GlobalFoundries building their chip fab plant in Malta, there was no question that Van Patten didn't have any time to wait.

"After 23 years of selling real estate, I just wanted to be on my own," she said. "I live five minutes from the Tech Park and the market in the Saratoga area is good right now so I thought this was the right time to go off on my own."

Luther Forest Real Estate focuses on residential and commercial sales and leases, new construction and Saratoga Lake homes. Van Patten credits her prior success in the industry to her integrity, professional service and her "caring about people" attitude, she said.
"I plan to continue that philosophy in my new business," she added.

Aside from her real estate business, Van Patten has also begun a new division of her business - property management. This division assists people who are gone from the area for extended periods of time and need some piece of mind that their property is taken care of while they are away.

Van Patten credits her husband, Michael, who is also her financial advisor, and information technology specialist Chris Comisky with getting her business off the ground.

"Their talents and trust-worthiness have given me the confidence to know I will succeed," she said. "I've always enjoyed working with each of my clients throughout the years. For my
buyers, I love the time I spend showing them our wonderful area and assisting them in making the best deal possible in a home choice. Many have become personal friends. For my sellers, their trust in me is humbling and I treat the sale of each of their homes as if it were my own."

For more information on Luther Forest Real Estate, LLC, please visit
http://lutherforestsales.com or call (518) 330-4800.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5165 2009-11-20T17:39:46Z 2009-11-20T17:41:03Z

With a strong commitment to supporting local small businesses and local lending, it's not a surprise The Adirondack Trust Company was awarded the title of Small Community Bank Lender of the Year for the fiscal year 2009 by the United...

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 With a strong commitment to supporting local small businesses and local lending, it's not a surprise The Adirondack Trust Company was awarded the title of Small Community Bank Lender of the Year for the fiscal year 2009 by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), Syracuse District.
The award is broken up into three districts -Central New York, Capital Region and Southern Tier - and further into three sub-groups - large commercial lender, large community lender and small community lender.

"Small business is the lifeblood of any community and these businesses rely on community banks to keep them going," said Stephan von Schenk, executive vice president of The Adirondack Trust Company.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the SBA was authorized to guarantee up to 90 percent of a loan from a bank with the guarantee from the SBA, when formerly the guarantee covered 75 percent of a loan if the business fell through and could not repay the bank. This allows banks to give loans to small or new businesses that may have otherwise been too risky to juggle.

"New businesses have many risks but with backing from the SBA, the bank has the money to lend," von Schenk. He added that in good times, larger banks are more willing to support new business, but when times are bad for large banks, such as the current economic state, the banks tend to retrench from loaning funds in high-risk situations. In addition, small banks know the communities they serve.

"Small banks have better access to senior management. Charles Wait and myself sit right here, the customers can see us when they walk in," von Schenk said. "We know this community better than large banks and people know us. At the end of the day it's the character of the community and people that pay us back."

Andy Ferrara, assistant treasurer in commercial lending, handled the majority of the SBA guaranteed loans that won the award for The Adirondack Trust Company. According to Ferrara, the majority of the businesses that borrowed from the bank last fiscal year are still in business today. The fiscal year runs from Sept. 30, 2009 through Sept. 29, 2010, and in the first month of the fiscal year, the company is already on top for small community lender with seven loans already made.

"A lot of people are looking into the business world especially if they have lost their job and are thinking of starting their own company," von Schenk said. "Community banks help these people to get their business started, and without small community banks willing to lend money, and small private businesses, there would be no community."

The Adirondack Trust Company has 10 branches in Saratoga and Warren Counties and will be breaking ground on their 11th branch which will also be the regional headquarters for Warren County in Queensbury within the next few weeks. The branch will be run by Kathy Duncan as regional president and like the building on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, the company will own the building and will use it to beautify the community it is in.

"It will be a work of architectural art and will replicate the work we have done in Saratoga as a small business lender," von Schenk said.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5164 2009-11-20T17:35:24Z 2009-11-20T17:38:55Z

On a more positive note, three Saratoga County farms recently participated in the Seventh Annual Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge, a local division of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, which took place on November 5 through 7....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13
]]>
The competition brought together agricultural students and industry leaders. The Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge is designed to create an educational environment and facilitate a real-world dairy team situation.

"You can think of the students as a consulting team, and they do a whole evaluation from finance to nutrient management, reproduction, crop management, everything so whole farm," Dayton Maxwell, SUNY Cobleskill College Department of Agricultural Business and Animal Science, said. Maxwell and Jenny Mills of Elanco Animal Health led the challenge.

To accomplish this, students on mixed-university teams are placed on a farm where they will analyze production and farm management data to identify problems and solutions for the dairy farmers. Following an operational evaluation, teams developed a comprehensive program including recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, housing and financial management.

According to Maxwell, a team of industry professionals also conducted an evaluation as a "judge's team." The students were ranked by how their recommendations compared to the judge's team's recommendations.

"The [farmers] get feedback from some of the best students and leading professionals. It's really a win-win situation for everyone," Maxwell said.

Both the students and the host farms benefit from the exchange of information and ideas. The farms are chosen according to success and precision of record keeping. Therefore students realize how an effective dairy business operates.

"The host farms are some of the best farms and are the best at what they do. They are all such good farms, its hard to final major issues, they are so well managed. What the students do is try to find top three issues that they should work on, and rank in order of priority," Maxwell said.

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge and it's regional contests have become the premier programs for promoting the future of dairy business through college and industry partnerships. The challenge is beneficial for everyone involved, which may point toward a brighter future for the dairy industry.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5163 2009-11-20T17:32:37Z 2009-11-20T17:33:48Z

In an effort to reduce the pressure on struggling dairy farmers, Schumer called on the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to take a hard look at the dairy industry and identify where the problems exist. In response...

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 In an effort to reduce the pressure on struggling dairy farmers, Schumer called on the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to take a hard look at the dairy industry and identify where the problems exist. In response to Schumer's urging, the nation's top antitrust official will be coming to New York State to meet with dairy farmers and consumers to explore this problem. Over the past year, dairy industry issues have often crept into the headlines; however, the issues are confusing to many consumers who don't understand the problems at large.
To put it simply, dairy producers are making too little and consumers are paying too much. This has caught the attention of legislators, including New York State Senator Charles E. Schumer.

The price paid to dairy farmers for their milk is nearly 50 percent less than it was in January 2008, while the price consumers pay in grocery stores has only fallen 15 percent within the same time period. Schumer speculates that potential anticompetitive practices within the industry are causing this problem.

 "These anticompetitive practices on the part of the nation's largest milk processors are squeezing both consumers at the grocery store and dairy farmers while securing the middlemen record profits," Schumer said.

Schumer announced on Monday, November 16 that Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division will come to New York to meet with dairy farmers and consumers to explore potential anticompetitive behavior on the part of dairy processors.

Varney identified monopsony, also known as "buyer power," as one of the leading factors contributing to the current dairy "crisis":

"When there are a number of producers in an 'input market' and a dominant buyer or buyers of those products, like a dominant dairy processor, the buyer under certain circumstances may exert its power to press the prices lower than would be the case if the buying market were more competitive," Varney said in her statement.

The DOJ has already planned seminars in other states to evaluate and discuss the topic of applying antitrust legislation to alleviate the hardships caused by monopsony in the dairy industry.

The workshops will address the dynamics of competition, including buyer power and vertical integration. By meeting with dairy industry leaders across the country, the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division will be able to gather and evaluate the information neccessary to determine if the solution is creating antitrust laws associated with monopsony power.
In a statement delivered to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in September, Varney discussed the dairy industry crisis and the prospects for sustainability within the industry to explain the purpose and themes of the upcoming workshop series.

This power is increased by consolidation within the industry, increasing buyer control over their purchase and resale price. This effect is the exact opposite of a monopoly, as buyers are able to drive the price down rather than up.

However, vertical integration, which has occured over the past 15 to 20 years, is a more questionable market attribute.  Varney explained the industrial phenomenon as "when a manufacturer participates in other parts of the supply chain, such as distribution of its products or supply of its inputs. Vertical integration frequently involves ownership at multiple stages [...] Vertical relationships in dairy markets would include, for example, a processor entering into exclusive agreements with a specific cooperative to buy raw milk."

In other industries vertical integration can have a positive effect, leading to "greater efficiencies and savings for consumers." According to Varney, another benefit is "transparency," which means that economic conduct would be visible and easier to regulate, thus helping the market as a whole. Yet, vertical relationships can also lead to increased buyer power, which is why Varney's workshops will lead an active and extensive investigation on vertical integration and it's relation to monopsony in the dairy industry.

The purpose of these workshops is to "examine whether changes in the marketplace, including increased consolidation and vertical integration, have generated efficiencies, or whether they have led to increases in monopoly or monopsony power," thus detailing the competitive dynamic of the dairy market to derive appropriate solutions.

It is locally important that Varney is hosting a workshop in New York in 2010, as  Saratoga County is home to a large number of dairy farms.

 "The Department of Justice is doing the right thing by sending the nation's top antitrust investigator to New York to suss out what's going on," Schumer said.

As a result of these plunging wholesale prices, family dairy farmers across the country have gone out of business or are in severe danger of doing so.

"This is a disaster not only for the thousands of rural communities that rely on the dairy industry for support, but also for the many consumers who want fresh and locally produced food," Schumer said in a press release.

Further, a reduction in the diversity of the supply of wholesale milk would likely lead to more vertical concentration in the dairy industry,  putting pricing power in the hands of a very few operations, an outcome that would weaken the interests of both dairy farmers and consumers.

While some dairy producers are struggling, some buyers and distributers have experienced  a correlating surge of profits. One particular firm, Dean Foods, the largest fluid-milk buyer in the country, reported record profits in the company's first fiscal quarter of 2009. Profits more than doubled from slightly more than $30 million in 2008 to $76.2 million in 2009. The company also controls approximately 70 percent.

"It defies logic that dairy farmers are getting raked over the coals and consumers have seen such a minimal drop in price." Schumer said.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5162 2009-11-20T17:21:38Z 2009-11-20T17:29:11Z

While it is always exciting to go on an adventure, it is also great to come home to Saratoga Springs. Many of my regular readers know I spent the last two weeks as a student at the Northeast Regional Training...

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 While it is always exciting to go on an adventure, it is also great to come home to Saratoga Springs. Many of my regular readers know I spent the last two weeks as a student at the Northeast Regional Training Center of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI).
During this very intensive training period, the dogs lived with us in our dorm rooms. We heard lectures each day and engaged in group and/or individual practice sessions. There were daily quizzes, homework assignments, a final exam and very little down time. There were five professional dog trainers who were very demanding, At times it felt like we were in a type of boot camp. As you can imagine there were moments of frustration as well as moments of joyful success. During all this, the ten of us quickly became a tight group and before the end, we all had gained not only an assistance dog, but also many new friends--people we will never forget.

I am just beginning to sort out all that I learned at CCI, but I plan to devote my next several columns to describing what we learned about dog handling. It will be a real pleasure to share these stories with the readers of Saratoga Today. I thought I would begin by printing the graduation speech that I wrote for the group.

The CCI fall class of 2009 all agrees that this experience, this very special gift, has been an amazing event in our lives. I describe it as a "moment of time, out of time." What I mean by this is that these two weeks of working and living with these marvelous dogs seemed like a period when ordinary time stood still. And in that space of "time out of time" we could focus entirely on the one task--bringing these animals into our lives to help us cope with each of our personal challenges. Some of us have children with special needs. Others of us have had our adult lives interrupted by challenging illnesses. What we all have in common is the will to live life to the fullest and to do so with love and personal strength. But now we have a four-legged helping partner to accompany us on our life's journey.

During our time at CCI we found encouragement and guidance from a dedicated staff and highly skilled trainers. We also found among ourselves new friendships that we will never forget. We cheered each other on and helped each other out. We heard each other's stories but there was no pity, only admiration. We each thought we were given the smartest, the sweetest, or simply the best dog, and we all agreed our trainers knew what they were doing when they matched us up with our canine companions.


We all wrote a bit about how our two weeks of training with our CCI dog has already changed us. Here are a few excerpts from our personal essays:

For someone who has never had a dog before, this has been an amazing experience. In addition to my initial bonding with our CCI dog, Thea, it has been touching to see my son, Benjamin cuddling with "his dog" and taking the responsibility of feeding and brushing him. He has even promised not to open the car door prematurely and give the command "release!" - Lana Oresky

My son Marky has improved beyond my expectations. I can only imagine what it will be like as the months pass. The constant drone he makes while riding in the car has turned into giggles and laughter. He is a happier boy because of our CCI dog, Ivory. What a beautiful experience for me to see this change in him. -  Mark DeMarzio Brandon was born healthy but at 13 months he was given a medication that caused muscle and brain damage. He is a sweet kid that loves animals so much that sometimes when the dogs are playing in the CCI yard, he thinks they are getting hurt and he cries. Brandon's father and I must fight for his equipment, his therapies, and more. With CCI, however, all we had to do was accept a tremendous gift. Our CCI dog, Elizabeth, is going to change Brandon's life. Brandon will always have a friend. Dogs love unconditionally and Elizabeth will be in Brandon's heart forever. -  Alicia Judd

We also wrote about some funny moments at CCI.  For example, pretty little Clare who at first was afraid of the dogs coming too close, was soon seen in the play yard smiling, squealing and laughing when a herd of dogs came flying by her almost knocking her over in her wheelchair. And we won't soon forget how Brandon flirted with the CCI photographer, Jennifer, by pulling his hood over his head and peeking out to see her in the lunchroom.

Hillary also made us all smile as she danced across the floor in her mini-skirt, black tights and boots. Then there was me getting lost every time while driving to our field trip locations. We also enjoyed how David's CCI dog, Kinsel, had a tail that wagged in tight circles like a helicopter ready to lift off the ground. It was also classic when Nancy's CCI dog, Monty, peed in the ladies department in Macy's. Finally, most of us learned with envy that soon Brittney's CCI dog, Shawnee will soon join the snowbirds migrating to Florida with her new family every winter.

To close, I would like to read a short poem that Nancy shared with the rest of us in the Fall 2009 graduating class:

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
you are his life, his love, his leader.
he will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
you owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

There was hardly a dry eye in the audience at graduation. It was a tremendously moving occasion. My new dog is a male lab and Golden mix named Moses II. Next week I will write more about him and more about the CCI team training. Happy Thanksgiving!]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5161 2009-11-20T17:16:39Z 2009-11-20T17:19:31Z

This year we can be thankful for this extended fall growing season that is giving us some of the most gorgeous fall veggies....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 This year we can be thankful for this extended fall growing season that is giving us some of the most gorgeous fall veggies.
Baked Cauliflower with Cheese and Shrimp
1-2 lb. of cauliflower
(I like mixing the romanesco
 with traditional forms)
1 lb. shrimp, cooked and cleaned
1 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
1 cup whole fresh milk or cream
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup grated artisan cheese
(hard, cheddar type -  
Longview Sunflower is
excellent)
2 cups water chestnuts, sliced thin
(optional - I         will use 1/4 cup
unsalted sunflower seeds
 when using the sunflower
cheese above)
salt and pepper to taste
dash of dry mustard
pimiento strips
1/4 cup sherry (optional)

Break up cauliflower into large chunks and steam until just tender. Make cream sauce by mixing butter, flower and milk (cream) together and cooking on medium heat until thick. Be sure not to let bottom burn - stir as heating. In a baking dish layer the cauliflower, then the shrimp with cheese, salt, pepper, dry mustard and pimiento. Add beaten eggs to cream sauce and pour over contents in casserole dish.  Sherry and water chestnuts (or sunflower seeds) can be poured evenly over top, if desired). Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until tender and hot.

The Saratoga Farmers' Market is now operating at its 2009-2010 Winter site: the Division Street Elementary School, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5160 2009-11-20T17:11:42Z 2009-11-20T17:12:51Z

For the fifteenth year, in a wonderful custom that celebrates the beginning of the holiday season, the Malta Ballet Company (a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young children and adults in the arts) will take the stage of The Egg...

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 For the fifteenth year, in a wonderful custom that celebrates the beginning of the holiday season, the Malta Ballet Company (a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young children and adults in the arts) will take the stage of The Egg for performances of "The Nutcracker" on Friday, December 4 (10:30 am and 12:15 pm) and Saturday, December 5 (2:30 and 7:30 p.m.).
At Saturday's performances, another tradition is renewed as once again special guests from the NYC Ballet Company will dance along with the young performers, which will elevate this production to much more than you would expect for a traditional Nutcracker performance. NYC Ballet's Rebecca Krohn will charm you as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and you'll be spellbound as Amar Ramasar dances as her Cavalier.


"The Nutcracker" performers include gymnasts who magically come alive as dolls and rats, and soldiers who tap dance with spectacular sounds.  Joseph the Magician will mystify you with his magic, and you will watch the Silberhaus's tree grow before your very eyes. The Choir sings joyous songs of the holiday season. You will witness ballerinas so elegant, they will entice snowflakes to fall from the sky, and angels with wings and candle lights will fly. As you enter the land of sweets, you will watch as delicacies from around the world come alive to excite and entertain.  Traditional dances of Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, China and Arabia will be performed, as well as the Malta Ballet Company's exclusive dances from Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. 

This is an opportunity to observe the great George Balanchine's original variations of the graceful Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, as performed by Ms. Krohn and Mr. Ramasar.
As always, there will be a special appearance by Santa and his reindeer.

A special school rate of $8.50 per seat for schools, organizations and general public with The Malta Ballet Company on Friday, December 4 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. This presentation sells out very quickly, so schools and organizations are encouraged to reserve their place now by calling The Malta Ballet Co. at (518) 899-6664.
The prices for the Saturday, December 5 performances at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with the special NYC Ballet Guests are Adult $30.50, Senior Citizen $25.50, Children 11 & under $16.50

Tickets for the Saturday show are now on sale at The Egg box office (518) 473-1845 or www.theegg.org and The Malta Ballet Co.
(518) 899-6664.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5159 2009-11-20T17:08:51Z 2009-11-20T17:10:52Z

The last time Colin Smith came to Saratoga Springs, he was the lead singer/guitarist of the alt rock/new wave band "MRNORTH," which enjoyed a great run and opened for Journey at SPAC. MRNORTH played the large festivals including Lollapalooza and...

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 The last time Colin Smith came to Saratoga Springs, he was the lead singer/guitarist of the alt rock/new wave band "MRNORTH," which enjoyed a great run and opened for Journey at SPAC. MRNORTH played the large festivals including Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo and shared the stage with the leading lights and legends of rock, including The Who, Van Halen, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams, OAR and Gavin DeGraw, in addition to releasing 2 well-received studio albums.
"During one of the tours, in the parking lot of a motel in a dry county in Florida, I wrote a song...a song of yearning. I felt adrift after a recent break-up, and I was looking for a different musical voice. The song was "Love" and it was a turning point for me. I knew I wanted to create something in a different way with some different results... that was enough to spawn the rest of the songs for my solo album, The Wilderness. I had never written like that before. I wasn't trying, and it was just coming. This is what I love about these songs, it's the purest expression of myself, my heart, my soul and my mind I have ever had."

"So that's it. I'm a singer. I love singing. I lose myself in it. That's who I am." - www.colinsmithmusic.com

Admission to the performance tonight is $5; $3 for students with valid ID. For more information, call The Irish Times at (518) 583-0003.]]> tag:www.saratoga.com,2009:/today//10.5158 2009-11-20T17:05:59Z 2009-11-20T17:08:21Z

As we approach the holidays, people are making all kinds of anticipatory preparations and gift plans. But part of the experience, for better or worse, is the soundtrack....

Saratoga Today http://www.saratoga.com/community/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=10&id=13 As we approach the holidays, people are making all kinds of anticipatory preparations and gift plans. But part of the experience, for better or worse, is the soundtrack.
What a fine time to present an alternative. The Community Café Music Hour & the Hudson River Community Credit Union have teamed up to create an All Local, All Original CD of seasonal and holiday Music. This CD is being sold at Saratoga's Community Credit Union and all Hudson River Community Credit Union branches as part of the annual "Credit Union's Care for Kids" campaign.

The CD sells for $8 and features a 'baker's dozen' of original songs by artists that have composed their take on the holidays. The songs reflect a local, collective perspective. And the profits from the CDs' sales benefit stay local to benefit pediatric care at Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Care, and Sunnyview Rehabilitation & Seton Health.

All the musicians donated use of their songs. The cover art use was donated by Clara Mae Orto, a Corinth resident.

On Sunday November 22 the Community Café Music Hour will preview the CD, in its entirety, with comments by the show's host (and one of the CD's performers) John Kribs. The hour long, Commercial free show airs on Q101.7 FM every Sunday at 9 a.m., and rebroadcasts at 10 p.m.

This CD was facilitated by Dennis Towers, who is the Founder & Producer of the Community Café Music Hour & Creative Director at McKinley Griffen Design & Advertising. Mr. Towers comments:
Community Café CD
 Brings Local Music Home for the Holidays

"I consider this to be the best original holiday CD you will ever own. These songs are destined to become the seasonal classics of our region. When so many parts come together to create a wonderful product, one that is truly local and benefits local community services, you have done things the right way. This community effort casts a positive light on every artist and business involved."]]>