Tragedy in the arts community.
Plus: Nonprofit grants. Air quality, legal quality.
Welcome to the Daily Dispatch
In this issue of the Daily Dispatch, the afternoon newsletter for Saratoga Springs and beyond, we have a short piece on fines vs. jail time. A notice to local nonprofits that grants are available, and air quality is bad.
First up is an unfortunate story that is running through the arts community.
Scroll down and read all three (and click over to the emails you may have missed. See that as you scroll down, too).
Jacob’s Pillow loses much-loved colleague
The tragic passing of Jacob’s Pillow production manager Kat Sirico is grieved by Saratoga’s arts community.
By: Abby Tegnelia
There’s a certain strong camaraderie amongst a region’s performing arts companies and supporters, and this was a sad weekend in that slice of the creative world.
Everywhere I went, the conversation turned to the tragic accident that happened at the dance center and venue Jacob’s Pillow, our nearby neighbor in Massachusetts. The production manager there, Kat Sirico, tragically died from a “work-place accident” on Friday at the age of just 40, according to an Aug. 2 report in the Berkshire Eagle.
“No criminal charges will be issued,” said the outlet.
Sirico was with an intern, who saw Sirico trip and fall after losing control of a dolly holding a heavy production platform, according to multiple reports. People came running to help after seeing Sirico get run over by the dolly, but to no avail.
“Dear Pillow Community,” read an email sent out to supporters on Friday to cancel all weekend activities. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic news of the passing of a beloved member of Jacob’s Pillow’s staff: Kat Sirico.”
Oh, just pay the fine
Public hearings set on fines, jail time, speed limits and the capital budget
By: Stephen Thurston
Re-fining the city’s penalties
The City of Saratoga Springs will consider a change to its city code to remove about 40 references to jail time. The change is a chance to clean up the city code and reflect what really happens in the city, said Tony Izzo, the assistant city attorney.
It may look a bit as though the city is going light on crime.
Izzo said that is not the case.
The 40, or so, mentions of jail time that Izzo said the changes target, are on small-time offenses that offer a fine or jail time.
The problem in the code as he sees it: No one ever gets jail time. The city’s code has almost 200 chapters and thousands of pages. He said it was standard practice to add the jail penalty with the fine “usually $250 and/or 15 days in jail,” he said.
“The reality of it is that in the nearly 40 years that I've been here, I can think of only one instance where jail time was even a factor in many of these very low grade ordinances,” Izzo said, adding, “Fines have been assessed, of course, but jail time has not really been employed on a large scale, not by any means.”
The fines will remain.
The city will hold a public hearing on this change.
Speed Limit Public Hearing
Speaking of tickets, speed limits will change to 25 mph throughout the city if Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll gets his way. See our earlier coverage here. He has set a public hearing on the matter for the Tuesday Aug. 5 City Council meeting.
Long term Capital Budget Planning is also on the list of public hearings.
Public hearings:
Aug. 5
6:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
City Hall
474 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Grants open: Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation
Nonprofits: Application Deadline Sept. 12, 2025
By: Stephen Thurston
Aug 04, 2025
This exciting Positively Saratoga news is brought to you by our friends at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation will begin accepting applications for its 2025 grant cycle starting Aug. 6.
Dedicated to improving the quality of life, health, and well-being of Saratoga County residents, the Foundation supports charitable and public benefit organizations making a meaningful impact in the community.
To be eligible, applicants must be IRS-designated not-for-profit organizations providing programs or services that benefit Saratoga County. Priority consideration will be given to initiatives focused on problem gambling, youth programs, senior services, arts, recreation, and overall community enhancement.
“We take great pride in the strong partnership among the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association, and Saratoga Casino Hotel,” said Foundation Treasurer Skip Carlson. “For over two decades, our grants have supported organizations offering education, senior services, family assistance, food security, disability support, and help for those facing domestic violence and addiction.”
Applications must be submitted electronically through the Foundation’s website at www.saratogacasinohotelfoundation.org. The deadline to apply is Sept. 12, 2025.
The Foundation Board will meet on Oct. 1 to review submissions, with applicants notified of their status by Oct. 8. Grant recipients will be formally recognized at the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 21, 2025.
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to over 200 local organizations. A list of past recipients and more information is available on the website.
ICYMI…
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Air Quality Index alert
Health Dept. officials have warnings and suggestions.
By: Stephen Thurston
Aug 04, 2025
Editor’s Note CORRECTION: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation updated their advisory to include tomorrow (they emailed it but apparently did not post it to their website, where we looked for it). In the meantime, our air quality has spiked to 150 on the AQI scale, meaning we are close to “bad for everyone” not just for people in at-risk groups.
The New York State departments of Environmental Conservation and of Health have issued air quality alerts for the rest of the day today, and officials said in a news conference this afternoon that they likely will also continue the air quality alert into tomorrow. The hazy air quality that we are having now is a result of the Canadian wildfires, which produce particulate matter, but air quality monitors are seeing elevated levels of ozone in some locations in the state, such as New York City and Long Island.
“Later today, we will be evaluating whether or not it is necessary to issue an advisory tomorrow,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “However, we do expect this to be an extended event, and an extended air advisory is likely for some of those regions, and we'll be evaluating that at around three o'clock.”
Currently the Air Quality Index for the Saratoga Springs area is in the low 100s, a number that suggests the air is unhealthy for “sensitive groups,” meaning the very young, elderly people and people with compromised immune systems or lung issues.
Lefton and Health Commissioner Jim McDonald are asking people to check the website, airnow.gov, before being active outside.
This is particularly the case with workers outdoors, such as construction crews.
“Workers with asthma, lung disease or heart disease can have a harder time with this, and that's where the workforce supervisor needs to decide, can these workers work today and figure that out there,” McDonald said. “But I think it's really important to use the day they have in front of you make the best decisions possible to protect the workers health and well being.”
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said people should be checking the airnow.gov website often. She noted that spikes in poor air quality can occur, and people should regularly check the DEC and DOH websites and the EPA’s airnow.gov website, “so you can understand the real-time conditions for air quality in your regions to take appropriate precautions as we continue to see increased air quality concerns from wildfire smoke in Canada.”
Exposure to particulate matter can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive, the DEC’s website says.
For people outdoors, pay attention, McDonald said. If you feel affects of the poor air quality, head inside to an air conditioned space if possible.
“The first thing you'll notice is coughing,” if you are affected by the air quality, McDonald said. “Just say you're out hiking, and you're coughing and you're worried it's from the air quality, that'd be a good time to maybe turn around and return to where you started your hike from. I think it's really important to remember that if your body speaks to you, it's really important to listen to it.”