Ed Bartholomew (Photo: Donna Abbott-Vlahos, courtesy of Albany Business Review)
On the Passing of Ed Bartholomew
Former Glens Falls Mayor Ed Bartholomew, who went on to work in the State Senate for another Glens Falls native, Majority Leader Joe Bruno, has passed away. This is a huge loss for the City of Glens Falls and the region. Ed was CEO of EDC Warren County, the economic development office, and also was the City’s economic development director.
Ed had the best Rolodex in Warren County. He knew everyone. He knew Albany, and he knew how to play the game. Everyone took his call, up to the Governor. Soft spoken but incredibly influential, he did more for this region over the last 50 years than anyone I can think of.
While he was kind and gracious, he was also tough as nails. He fought for his hometown. He negotiated deals no one thought would be possible. He oversaw the building of the Civic Center, brought the Adirondack Red Wings to Glens Falls, brought professional baseball to East Field, and worked quietly behind the scenes on many other major developments like a regional sewer system.
We had our battles over the years, but when I left my previous job, one of the first calls I received was from Ed. He wanted to know how I was doing, and how he could help me. He kept calling, telling me about potential job openings and offering his assistance. He was one of my three professional references.
When we would talk, he would always ask about my parents and my family. And it wasn’t small talk. He truly cared.
And now he’s gone. I’ll miss his silly laugh and his good-natured ribbing. I’ll miss his commitment to his hometown. I’ll miss his grace and toughness.
Rest well, my friend. Your work here will never be forgotten.
New York State Issues Guidance for Schools
New York State released its guidance for school districts to help them plan for reopening in September. The 145-page document covers everything from ventilation systems to health monitoring to social distancing and use of outdoor spaces for classrooms.
Among the recommendations:
• Everyone must wear masks at all times, with a few exceptions.
• Daily temperature screenings for students and staff.
• Students be spaced six feet apart in classrooms, and desks should all be pointed in the same direction.
• Arrival/dismissal times be staggered to allow for social distancing on buses and classrooms. Students should enter from a variety of entrances.
• Windows should be opened whenever possible to increase ventilation.
• “Reduce in-school movement where possible by keeping students within a defined area or classroom and modifying class schedules or class transitions using these recommendations: If possible, have the same cohort of students with the same teacher each day; Special area teachers (e.g., music, art, physical education) may go to individual classrooms versus rotating all students through a shared space that is not able to be cleaned with each new use.
• “Whenever possible, hold physical education and music classes outside and encourage students to spread out; Stagger the use of restrooms, allowing use at other times when necessary.”
• “Ensure that a distance of twelve feet in all directions is maintained between individuals while participating in activities requires projecting the voice (e.g., singing), playing a wind instrument, or aerobic activity.”
• “Cancel/limit student assemblies, athletic events/practices, performances, school-wide parent meetings. Consider transitioning field trips to free virtual opportunities. Consider changing in-school events to a virtual format.”
• “It is strongly recommended that schools comply with CDC guidance and not conduct COVID-19 testing or require testing or antibody testing of students or staff members.”
Districts have until July 31st to submit their reopening plans. The state will then decide on those plans in the first week of August. Many local districts are including parents and staff in the planning process through surveys and questionnaires.
More info: www.nysed.gov/coronavirus/guidance-p-12-schools.
Fall High School Sports Delayed
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has delayed the start of fall sports until at least Sept. 21. NYSPHSAA officers also canceled fall regional and state championships, and are preparing to implement a condensed season schedule in January 2021 if high school sports remain prohibited for the rest of 2020 due to the coronavirus. At this point, that appears more and more likely.
COVID-19 Update
Late last week, Warren County Health Services began an investigation of the activities of a local high school-aged girls’ lacrosse travel team where a team member recently tested positive for COVID-19.
At least 10 Warren County girls play on the team with the player who tested positive, who is from Albany County. In violation of state re-opening rules that restrict competitive play to the Capital Region and contiguous counties, the team traveled to New Jersey for competition in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
The positive COVID-19 test occurred subsequent to this competition, and the mother of the girl who tested positive told the Post-Star that her daughter was infected from a family member and not from the lacrosse trip.
Warren County teammates have been identified, contacted and instructed to quarantine and to take a COVID-19 test. So far, all have tested negative.
In the days since learning of the lacrosse team, Warren County officials said they have learned of other teams who may have traveled out of state, including one team that traveled to Ohio for a tournament.
“Anyone who has left the state for a sports competition is directed to contact Warren County Health Services to go over protocols and practices to ensure that the appropriate precautions are in place,” said a press release. “Parents or guardians of any minor children who attended these competitions should call on behalf of their children.”
The number to call is 518-761-6580.
Travel teams are allowed to travel to competition within the Capital Region and to counties contiguous to the Capital Region.
Monday, Warren County announced one new case of a person who works in the health care industry. This person was tested in the course of routine testing, which likely indicates they work in a nursing home. The county now has quarantined 100 of this person’s contacts. The infected person shows no symptoms, the county said.
Sunday, Fort Hudson Nursing Home announced on its website that they were stopping limited visitation of residents because a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus. The statement reads in part, “NYS Dept. of Health provides a wide range of requirements for visitation to happen. Unfortunately, outside of anyone’s control, a prior test positive individual (after repeated negative tests) did have a positive read. The state does not allow for differentiation of past positive individuals – ANY new positive immediately halts visitation. We are working diligently with the state to review and allow for our reopening as soon as possible. We will keep families informed as we move forward.”
As of Tuesday, there were 266 active cases in the Capital Region, which includes Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Greene, Columbia and Albany counties. Thirty-four people were hospitalized, and 1,813 were under quarantine. There were 36 new active cases recorded from Monday to Tuesday in the eight-county region.
Saratoga Race Course: No Fans, But Plenty of Wagering
Saratoga Race Course opened for the season on July 16th, and the first four days seemed to go off without a hitch. There were no spectators, and the fields were small, but that didn’t stop fans from wagering! The total handle for the opening four days was a staggering $80.3-million, up 9.4% from last year’s total of $73.4-million. Roughly $2-million was wagered on each race during the first four days. This betting follows a national trend of record parimutuel wagering totals.
Last year’s total handle was $705.3-million. This year’s total will shatter that figure, if the first weekend is any indication.
Last Friday’s Pick 5, where you try to pick the winner of the first five races, featured two $41 horses to open the card, and concluded with a 50-cent winning ticket paying $9,609! Not a bad return on your investment!
Former Adirondack Hockey Broadcaster Mentioned for NHL Job
Former Adirondack Flames and Adirondack Thunder radio broadcaster Cameron Close is being mentioned for a prime National Hockey League job. Close, who left Adirondack in 2017 to become the radio voice of the Ontario (CA) Reign of the American Hockey League, was named in a story in The Athletic as a possible successor to Rick Peckham, the longtime TV play-by-play man of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The story said Close was one of several possible “under the radar” choices the Lightning have to fill the job.
DEC Closes Prospect Mountain Trail
Prospect Mountain Trail is now closed due to construction on the summit. The State Department of Environmental Conservation said in a press release, “The summit area, above the parking lot, has been closed to the public, and signs at the trail told hikers the summit area was not open. However, many hikers entered the construction zone, so DEC has closed the trail.
“The summit of the mountain and the trail will remain closed until late August while 500 feet of mortared stone border wall that is crumbling along summit lookout areas is removed and replaced with individual cut stone blocks.
“Due to the grades, the moving of the stone blocks is difficult and dangerous, especially with heavy equipment. The road and the path from the parking lot are blocked.”
Warrensburgh Blueberry Festival!
The inaugural Warrensburgh Blueberry Festival is Friday, July 24, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Warrensburgh Riverfront Farmers' Market on River Street in the park across from Curtis Lumber.
“Local vendors, local berries...early and late varieties of organically grown fruit, preserves, baked goods, cheeses and distilled beverages enhanced with blueberries,” says a press release. “Featuring Warren County farms and local businesses: Adirondack Gold Maple Farm, Caldwell Country Farm, Chipmunk Acres, Coffee with a Cause, Crazy Creek LLC, Dawn's Delights, Glens Falls Distillery, Jason's ADK Produce, Nettle Meadow Cheese Farm and more.” Info: 518-466-5497 or taawhalen@yahoo.com.
World’s Largest Garage Sale Canceled
The 2020 World’s Largest Garage Sale, scheduled for October 2-4 in Warrensburg, is canceled. "This was not a decision we arrived at lightly," Executive Director Suzanne Tyler said in a press release. Next year’s World's Largest Garage Sale is scheduled for October 1-3, 2021.
Price Chopper to Discontinue Offering Plastic Bags
Price Chopper announced they would no longer carry disposable, single-use plastic bags in New York stores. In the announcement, Price Chopper said the change would be effective August 1. The stores encourage customers to bring their own reusable bag, or to purchase one from the store.
Ending on a High Note…
And finally, congratulations to Matt Chase of Queensbury, who was named a Performer of the Week in the Independent Collegiate Baseball League. Matt plays for the Glens Falls Independents. A sophomore at Ithaca College, he helped the team to its first win with a brilliant pitching performance, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 in six innings.
