Courtesy, TPP committee (2021)
26th Turning Point Parade “Family Farm—Planting Our Future”
Sunday Aug. 1, Schuylerville hosts the 26th annual Turning Point Parade at Ft. Hardy Park. “Family Farm–Planting Our Future” is the theme, press materials say. Steve and Laurie Griffen are the grand marshals of the parade and the owners of Saratoga Sod Farm. Ft. Hardy Park in Schuylerville is a central location in the Battle of Saratoga, considered the turning point of the American Revolution. The parade, which celebrates that victory, begins at 1 p.m. For more, click here.
Democrats move “Listening Tour” online after Suites pulls out
Citing troubles finding a “suitable public location,” for an in-person listening tour, Saratoga Springs Democrats are moving it online this evening, Thursday July 29. It will be held on Zoom and Facebook Live, press materials say. The zoom meeting can be found here. They announced the listening tour on July 14 after the Black Lives Matter protest in the city that resulted in five arrests. At that time, the Democrats said they planned the tour for the Embassy Suites on Congress Street in Saratoga Springs.
This morning mayoral candidate Ronald Kim confirmed that the hotel pulled out after the raucous July 20 City Council meeting [read more here]. At least 50 people showed up to that meeting, and the public comment time was loud and contentious. It was Kim's understanding that his group would be near wedding parties or wedding rehearsal dinners, and the hotel feared another loud expletive-laden meeting would be too disruptive.
"They cancelled on us, but we understood that," Kim said. They reached out to other locations, but those either said no or could not answer in time, he said, adding that with the Saratoga racetrack open and running, many locations were booked.
Tonight's stop on the tour is about police reform and social justice, but Kim said they have other discussions planned.
Jordan rides with police
“My night was non-stop action,” New York State Sen. Daphne Jordan writes on her official website. She conducted a ride-along with the Saratoga Springs Police and thanked them for their service, noting many instances in which the police were met with favor on the streets downtown on the overnight of July 23 and 24.
Among her observations: officers are devoted to their jobs and keeping the residents and visitors safe. The Department is thankful for the help they are receiving from the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. People thanked the police and sheriff’s deputies all night long for their service and keeping them safe. The officers exhibited great patience when being taunted and did not react to negative behavior directed at them. A strong police presence is necessary to dissuade trouble and to react quickly and effectively when there is trouble…. People liked this because they felt safe. The only people that were dissatisfied with police presence were the troublemakers, and those caught in the act of a crime.