HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Contact: Heap – 518-884-4146
Objectives: To provide energy assistance to families with low incomes by issuing regular and emergency grants to dealers for fuel for heating and utility related costs.
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Target Population: Low income individuals and families.
Eligibility Criteria: Household size, gross income and resources, heat source and type of housing. Guidelines established by NYS and change annually. Program is seasonal and operational when funding is available.
How to Apply for Services: Telephone for requirements or may apply online at myBenefits.ny.gov
CONNECT ALL NYS INTERNET SURVEYIs your internet service great, slow, non-existent or too expensive? Tell us about your broadband experience, whether it’s good or bad. Results of the survey will help New York State:
- Develop more accurate maps of internet service coverage;
- Direct future funding for internet service expansion projects;
- Increase the number of internet service providers available in an area;
- Make internet service more affordable for all.
Please also participate in the Federal Communication Commission's Broadband Data Collection Consumer Information Survey. This survey will help to ensure federal internet service coverage maps are accurate.
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTITION PROGRAM (SNAP)
Contact: SNAP/Ballston Spa Office – 518-884-4155
Objective: To reduce the hunger and to provide low-income households with a supplement to their income to purchase food.
Services: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); referrals to other agencies; free nutrition education to qualified individuals.
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Target Population: Any low-income individual/family living in Saratoga County.
Eligibility Criteria: Must meet income eligibility.
How to Apply for Services: Telephone for requirements or may apply online at myBenefits.ny.gov
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Test Your Well: Protect Your Family's Water
Take steps to make sure the water from your private well is suitable for drinking, preparing food and all household uses.Germs and chemicals can enter your drinking water from runoff and natural changes in the water that serves your well. The use of contaminated water for drinking, preparing food and making ice can make you, your family and your pets sick. Babies, children, pregnant people, older adults and people with health conditions are most at risk of health effects from consuming contaminated water.
Tips to Protect Your Family's Water
- Test your well water at least once a year for bacteria and for other contaminants every 3-5 years.
- Test your water for E. coli and coliform bacteria after you disinfect and flush your well, or perform maintenance on your system to make sure problems are addressed.
- Regularly check and maintain the well, system components and area surrounding the well.
- Test your water if you notice changes in how your water looks, smells or tastes, after floods, changes in land use or concerns about local contaminants.
- If you suspect your well could be contaminated by gasoline, heating oil or chemicals, contact your health department and the DEC Spill Hotline at (800) 457-7362.
- Keep records of maintenance activities and water testing.
- Contact your health department for advice on maintaining, testing, disinfecting and flushing your well.
- Take steps to get connected to a public water system, if you have the opportunity. Public water is the best option for household water because it is regularly monitored and managed by a certified water operator.
New York State Department of Health Regional District Office number is: 518-793-3893.
SARATOGA COUNTY CAREER CENTER ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY 2023 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
Free Career Workshops Provided by the Greater Capital Region Career Centers
BALLSTON SPA, NY -- The Saratoga County Career Center in conjunction with the Greater Capital Region Career Centers will hold the following free virtual career workshops in February:
February 1 at 10AM: Resume Development. This workshop presents the basics of a powerful and effective cover letter including formatting, tailoring to the job, and getting through the online application process to land an interview. Please have a rough draft of your resume with you. Facilitated by Rensselaer & Columbia-Greene.
February 2 at 11AM: Transferable Skills. Transferable skills are qualities you have already acquired that can be used in a different job. Learn how to make employers see the connection between your qualities and the skillset needed to do the job and market yourself as the solution to an employer's problem. Facilitated by Warren and Albany.
February 8 at 10AM: Goal Setting. This workshop explores how goal setting works, why goals are important, and provides helpful resources to get you started to reach your dreams. Facilitated by Washington and Albany.
February 14 at 10:30AM: Interview Preparation. Learn how to articulate your strengths, what questions to expect, how to address difficult topics, and ace the interviewing process. Facilitated by Schenectady.
February 16 at 11AM: Completing Job Applications. Statistics show approximately 50% of mid-sized companies and almost all large corporations use an applicant tracking system to screen candidates for job opportunities. Learn how to prepare your online application to get the most visibility from hiring managers. Facilitated by Warren and Washington.
February 23 at 1:30PM: Social Media. Your social media presence can make or break your ability to find a job. Learn how to use social media to your advantage in searching for a job and marketing yourself to land the job or career you’ve always wanted. Facilitated by Schenectady.
February 28 at 11AM: Overcoming Barriers. Join an informal discussion about how to overcome potential stumbling blocks to finding a job. Whether you’re facing transportation needs, childcare needs, prior justice system involvement, inexperience, health concerns or more, this workshop will provide you with resources and strategies to help you meet your goals. Facilitated by Saratoga and Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie.
Registration is required for all workshops. Visit https://thejoblink.org/calendar/ to register or call the Saratoga County Career Center at (518) 884-4170 for more information. The workshops are offered as part of the Saratoga County Career Center’s WorkPays! workforce education campaign.
The Saratoga County Employment and Training Office provides comprehensive training and employment services to residents through its Career Center and works with local businesses to attract and retain the local workforce.
The Greater Capital Region Career Centers is a group of local county and city-based Career Centers and partners that coordinate services to address the workforce needs of the Greater Capital Region by providing a variety of career and workforce resources, training opportunities, and more. Members include Capital Region Workforce New York; Columbia-Green Workforce NY; City of Albany Career Center; L.E.A.P; Rensselaer County Career Center; Saratoga County Career Center; Schenectady County Connects; Warren County Career Center; Workforce Solutions System of Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie Counties.
SARATOGA COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC
For more information and to book an appointment, please visit https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-vaccines-and-boosters
Daily Gazette - Saratoga is state’s healthiest county, according to U.S. News & World Report
By Andrew Waite | July 25, 2022
BALLSTON SPA – Saratoga County is New York state’s healthiest county and one of the healthiest counties in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. Saratoga County finished 60th – which was in the top 2% – in U.S. News & World Report’s Healthiest Communities Rankings 2022, released last week.
The rankings, analyzing 500 communities, used 89 metrics across 10 health and health-related categories to evaluate nearly 3,000 U.S. counties and county equivalents – think boroughs or other municipal entities – according to U.S. News & World Report. The study looked at population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality and infrastructure.
Saratoga County scored 79 out of 100 on the overall rankings, topping the state median score of 57 and the U.S. median score of 47, according to a Saratoga County news release on the study.
“The 2022 Healthiest Communities report establishing Saratoga County as the healthiest county in New York State underscores what we in local government, our economic development partners and local business leaders have known for a long time – Saratoga County is a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman and Town of Moreau Supervisor Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said in a news release about the report. “We’ve set the conditions for a robust economy and a healthful quality of life across Saratoga County through thoughtful planning, conservative budgeting practices, and limiting bureaucratic red-tape that leads to over-regulation. The proof is in our results – a safe and welcoming community for all in a county that also boasts the lowest property and sales taxes in New York State.”
Saratoga County scored 80 in education, 78 in public safety, 77 in economy and population health, 76 in infrastructure, 72 in food and nutrition, 71 in equity, 67 in environment, 64 in housing and 53 in community vitality. The next highest-ranking New York community was Nassau County at 98th. Los Alamos County, New Mexico, finished top overall.
To collect and analyze the data behind the rankings, U.S. News collaborated with the University of Missouri Extension Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES). Data was collected from well-recognized and validated sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Saratoga County’s data supported its strong ranking. In education, Saratoga County’s high school graduation rate is at 90.8%, compared to 89.3%, nationally, according to the county. Meanwhile 53.6% of Saratoga County’s residents have an advanced degree, compared to 30.6% nationally. In public safety, Saratoga County’s $441 per capita spending on health and emergency services is stronger than the national median at $358. The county’s violent crime rate is half that of the national average at 102.6 per 100,000 compared to 204.5 per 100,000 nationally.
Economically, the county’s poverty rate of 5.9% is below the national average of 13.6%, while Saratoga County’s median household income is $84,971 compared to $58,759 nationally, according to the county. The county’s business growth rate clocks in at 8.2% compared to the national rate of 7.7%.
“Saratoga County continues to grow upon our global hub of talent, innovation and opportunity. The combined efforts of county leadership, partner organizations and continued development investment positions us to support existing industry and encourage continuous investment; while also attracting targeted, complementary businesses,” Dennis Brobston, president of Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, said in the news release.
Saratoga’s recognition in the U.S. News & World Report rankings follows last year’s U.S. Census Bureau data showing Saratoga County to be the Capital Region’s largest population gainer, growing by 7.24%. Saratoga County’s population gain came at a time when nearly two-thirds of the state’s counties saw a decline in population.
Saratoga County Sheriff's Office partners with OffenderWatch
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with OffenderWatch to offer a new and free family safety mobile app to keep children and families safe. OffenderWatch is the nation’s leading sex offender registry partner.
The Sheriff’s Office announced the partnership on Wednesday and is offering the OffenderWatch App for free download on Android and iPhone smartphone devices. The app, which offers online safety information and tips for how to talk to children about sex offenders, will allow citizens to see registered sex offenders located near them or their family members. They will also receive alerts when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood.
“The safety of our community is one of the most important fundamental concerns we have as police officers,” said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo. “Our partnership with OffenderWatch provides our citizens with one more tool to keep them and their families safe.” Families will have the option to upgrade the app to a paid version, which will include additional features.
Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch, said that their mission is to help law enforcement protect their communities from sexual predators better. "As predators continue to groom and solicit children online, we’re helping law enforcement and families combat these efforts before it becomes a tragedy,” he said.
The OffenderWatch App works as follows:
Parents who sign up for the OffenderWatch App download the app on their own smartphone and their child’s android or iPhone device.
In the free version of the app, parents can see their child’s location and the location of registered sex offenders.
Parents will receive notifications if a sex offender moves into their neighborhood.
For the paid version, the app also monitors the child’s smartphone texts, emails, location and phone calls in the background without storing the child’s messages or interfering with its use.
If a registered sex offender contacts the child, or the child lingers near the address of a sex offender the parent or guardian receives an instant notification. From there, parents should ask their children about their smartphone activity or contact law enforcement to investigate. Parents and guardians can download the app or learn more at communitynotification.com or OffenderWatch.com
SARATOGA COUNTY ADVISORY YOUTH BOARD
The Saratoga County Advisory Youth Board encourages closer cooperation between employers, labor, schools, churches, recreation commissions, State and local employment programs, service clubs and other public and private agencies so as to stimulate employment for youth and encourage sound youth programs on the basis of community planning.
All members of the Youth Board are appointed by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. Membership is between 13 and 28 members, composed of a representative of each of the 19 Towns and 2 Cities in the County. Representatives from various agencies engaged in youth service, minority groups consistent with the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Plan, and 2 Youth 14-21 years of age.
The Youth Board meets at least 4 times per year. Regular meetings are open to the public.
SARATOGA COUNTY - Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Newsletters
2022-01-31_cce_newsletter__h_ext._news.pdf
2022-03-14_cce_newsletter.pdf