The Saratoga County Foundation’s Veterans Business Council recently elected a new slate of officers for 2020.
Elected to two-year terms were Jason Collins, SUNY Empire State College, chairman; Erica Choi, Bank of America, as vice-chair; Robert Scheurer, Adirondack Trust Co., secretary; and Tom Dingley, Mosaic Wealth Advisory, treasurer.
Outgoing Chair Karen Charbonneau of Saratoga Home Team was recognized for her outstanding leadership the past two years. During her time as chair, the council helped to coordinate funding and construction of a 7,700-square-foot fieldhouse at the Naval Support Activity Base in Saratoga Springs, implemented a new scholarship program to aid Veterans pursuing higher education, and established a new fundraiser to help raise money for veterans initiatives in Saratoga County.
More information on the Veterans Business Council is available online at www.saratogaveterans.org.
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First New York Federal Credit Union will issue four $1,000 scholarships this spring.
Applications for the scholarship must be submitted by March 6. Applicants must be a member in good standing with First New York Federal Credit Union, be a graduating high school senior, plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college and be active or volunteer within their community.
Interested students can complete the application at www.firstnewyork.org/home/accounts/youth/scholarships.
To accompany the application, students will need to submit a 250-word essay describing what motivates them and why, along with a letter of reference commenting on their character and abilities. A copy of the student’s high school transcript and a resume detailing honors, awards received, leadership roles and extracurricular activities will also need to be included with the application.
Selected finalists will be interviewed by the Scholarship Committee to determine the four winners. Winners will be notified by April 14 and will be invited to an awards ceremony on April 28, when they will be presented with the scholarships.
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Saratoga County announced that Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the county’s issuer and general obligation limited tax (GOLT) rating from Aa2 to Aa1.
Moody’s says that the coveted rating upgrade “reflects Saratoga County’s continued financial strength and steadily growing tax base.”
“This rating increase is great news for the taxpayers of Saratoga County,” said Saratoga County Treasurer Drew Jarosh. “As stewards of every taxpayer dollar we take seriously our responsibility to make smart investments and manage our continued growth.”
County Administrator Spencer Hellwig said because of the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, we’re able to leverage every tax dollar and receive the second highest rating issued by Moody’s.
Moody’s credit rating is based on the growing population that brings with it an increase in the collection of property and sales taxes that strengthen the county’s reserve budget.
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CDPHP has once again been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York, making this the 12th consecutive year the Capital Region’s number 1 health plan has received the award from the New York State Society for Human Resource Management.
The award, presented by the Best Companies Group, in conjunction with the New York State Society for Human Resource Management, is based on the company’s workplace policies, systems, and practices, as well as a survey, which is open to all employees, that measures employee engagement.
CDPHP employees enjoy a competitive compensation and benefits package, including a 401(k) program, tuition reimbursement, leadership development program, on-site fitness center with a full-time fitness specialist, on-site cafeteria, on-site farmers’ market, on-site dry cleaning, work site wellness programs and health screenings.
CDPHP employees also have the opportunity to participate in annual fundraising campaigns to support organizations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our community.
CDPHP will be honored at an awards dinner in Albany in May, where final rankings will be announced.
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The Skidmore College culinary team earned its seventh consecutive gold medal for culinary excellence at an American Culinary Federation competition at the College on Friday, Jan. 10.
Skidmore’s Dining Services organizes the annual competition to provide staff development, raise the standards of culinary excellence on campus and highlight Skidmore’s noted dining program.
Each of the nine teams— representing institutions from across New York and Massachusetts—was tasked with preparing a four-course menu based on the same ingredients.
Each team was allotted 15 minutes to plan and then just two hours and 15 minutes to prepare and plate creative, delicious and visually appealing dishes.
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BlueShield of Northeastern New York has again named Saratoga Hospital a Blue Distinction Center for three surgical specialties—spine surgery and knee and hip replacement—as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Saratoga Hospital is the only Capital Region facility to be recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery for meeting both quality and cost-effectiveness measures.
Blue Distinction Centers earn the designation, in part, by providing care that results in fewer complications and readmissions.
Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
For more information about the program and a complete listing of the designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
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First New York Federal Credit Union, which has offices in Saratoga County, has opened a new full-service branch at 31 Jordan Road, North Greenbush.
Officials said the new location is designed to better accommodate First New York’s growing membership in Rensselaer County and it will feature a full-service branch with two First New York Express Interactive Teller Machines and a knowledgeable branch staff to assist with accounts, loans and financial health and well-being of each First New York member.
The North Greenbush branch will offer ample parking and two drive-up, 24-hour teller machines.
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The Charles R. Wood Foundation is accepting grant applications from IRS-approved 501(c)3 organizations whose projects or programs assist children, healthcare or the arts in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas.
Eligible applicants can visit www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com to submit an online application by April 1 for consideration at the spring meeting of Trustees. The next subsequent deadline will be Sept. 1 for consideration at the fall meeting.
Over the past five years the foundation has awarded over $8 million dollars. Charles R. Wood established the Foundation that bears his name in 1978 to provide assistance in areas of special need in the Lake George and Saratoga regions
In 2019, the foundation gave grants to area nonprofit organizations totaling over $1.8 million.