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The “Morning Call” wakes you up with the top stories from the Dispatch and other news outlets that affect Saratoga.
Air Quality Warning
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the State Department of Health have issued another Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. The warning covers most of the state including the Capital Region and Adirondacks, a joint email from the departments says. The “fine particulates” are smoke particles from wildfires in Canada. According to the Airnow.gov website, the Saratoga Springs area has an Air Quality Index of 147. An AQI of 100 to 150 is considered bad air for “sensitive groups,” and 150 to 200 is “unhealthy” for everyone.
Scotia coffee shop stopping
Scotia Books & Vintage, the former Scotia Coffee, is closing the location by year’s end, the Daily Gazette is reporting. The company's Jay Street spot, named Storied Coffee & Milk Teas will remain in operation and allow the staff to focus on one location, the story says.
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Plot to pollinator garden
The SoBro Conservancy nonprofit tackled the brambly mess at the South Broadway Triangle, the former site of a gas station where South Broadway, Ballston Avenue, Circular and West Circular streets meet. After talking the owners of the property into donating the property to SoBro, the group turned it into a pollinator garden, now home to butterflies, bees, moths and more, a story in the Times Union says.
Photos: Beach volleyball tourney
The Times Union is running a photo slidshow, a segment of their “were you seen” series. This one took picture at the 34th annual Million Dollar Beach Volleyball Tournament.
Hochul at “war” with Texas, GOP
The potential gerrymandering of U.S. House of Representatives in Texas, pushed New York state Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, to call the effort an act of “war,” a story in the Times Union says. Texas Democrats left the state in order to stop the procedure from moving forward and likely creating districts in the state that would benefit Republicans. Six of them came to New York to speak with the governor. Hochul pledged to do the same thing in New York to benefit the Democratic Party.
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Nonprofits: Grants application is open
The Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation will begin accepting applications for its 2025 grant cycle starting Aug. 6., we reported in the Dispatch through our partnership with Positively Saratoga. Applicants must be IRS-designated nonprofits with a focus on Saratoga County. Apply at www.saratogacasinohotelfoundation.org. The deadline to apply is Sept. 12, 2025.
Below the fold: Paradox brewing review. Electric City’s first Hispanic judge. Indoor cornhole. Weather, traffic, stocks and more.
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