Why I’m joining the ‘Dispatch,’ from a Gen Z thought leader
PLUS: Mouthwatering bakery goodness and WSWHE BOCES steps into the future.
Why I’m joining the ‘Dispatch’
Gen Z writer Sophia Olechowski explains why her doomscrolling generation needs super-local journalism like the ‘Dispatch’ as its lifeline back to real connection.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Like most people my age, I’ve carried the double-edged blessing of technology for most of my life. But recently, social media has felt like a burden on my soul. Instead of a place to catch up with friends and laugh at silly videos, I find myself drowning in a sea of politics, natural disasters and tragedies from around the world. I feel guilt, anger and sadness — and want desperately to help in situations that feel urgent but are impossible to fix through a phone screen.
My generation is struggling with this constant bombardment. Social media makes everything seem so overwhelming, throwing a nonstop stream of new headlines in our faces that can make it feel like life as we know it is falling apart. We have the weight of the world on our shoulders because we carry it in our pockets everywhere we go. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to “doomscroll” than to take action, and even when we genuinely want to, it’s hard to know where to start.
I’ve decided to start right here in Saratoga Springs. Change doesn’t happen everywhere all at once; it begins with small steps in our own neighborhoods and communities. It looks like being kind to your neighbor, showing up for the people around you, and using whatever resources you have — no matter how small — to make life a little better. And the most direct path to knowing these neighbors, small businesses and crucial nonprofits is via super-local publications like the Dispatch.
I want to use my writing to shine a light on the good, the bad and the complicated realities of the place I call home. If the world feels overwhelming on a screen, then I want to look up and pay attention to what’s happening right here with the people and stories that shape my community. One of my best resources is my writing, and my goal is to use it to share local Saratoga news in a way that is meaningful, heartfelt and impactful.
Like Michael Jackson said, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror.”
Much like its slogan, “Health, History, and Horses,” Saratoga Springs is a simple yet substantial city. It knows where it came from and cares about where it’s going. Local Saratogians have always put effort into preserving its history without letting it hold the city back from embracing modern ideas and keeping pace with the world. This spirit is reflected through the Saratoga Dispatch, and I’m delighted to join as a contributor.
Keep reading!
Why I’m contributing to the Saratoga Dispatch, by Kathleen Willcox
Saratoga Dispatch: now on Facebook. Support independent, local journalism (for FREE!) by giving us a “Like”! And be sure to share this story with all your friends who love Saratoga.
Pint Sized and Herbie’s settle in
Pint Sized and its new partner Herbie’s are settling in nicely to their new (joint) home on the corner of Phila and Putnam, in the place vacated by Mittler’s. Open seven days a week (12 p.m. to 1 a.m. Mon.-Sat. and 12 to 10 p.m. Sun.), the hotspot is popping with a full liquor license, pool table, dart board and arcade cabinets. Congrats, guys!
Keep reading!
Breakfast beer and pre-turkey pairings
(Almost) too pretty to eat
If Bear’s Cup Bakehouse — the uber-popular Bolton Landing bakery/cafe that’s opening soon on Broadway — was trying to make our mouths water with its new video, it worked! Opening date coming soon…
Got a business to promote, story to tell or event to share? Respond to this email or reach Abby at abby@saratogadispatch.com.
ICYMI»>
Last chance! Don’t miss the ‘fantastic’ ‘Baker Street’ final weekend.
Bursting the ‘bubble:’ a potential battle for the future of Saratoga’s Dems?
Make your list, check it twice: Canopy is officially open!
Thanksgiving bevs grocery list? Check!
WSWHE BOCES steps into the future
For K-12 students with an interest in certain technical studies, the future is looking bright after a major groundbreaking in Wilton.
Nov 19, 2025
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The Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES is getting ready for 2027 with a visionary new plan — and just broke ground on a major project at 230 Ballard Road in Wilton called “Vision 2027: Future-Focused Facilities.”
The 291,650-square-foot project marks a significant step toward a modern, centralized K–12 instructional campus designed to expand hands-on learning for technical studeies — bringing WSWHE BOCES programs currently offered in Saratoga Springs, Hudson Falls and Glens Falls together in one future-focused instructional setting.
“This groundbreaking reinforces our commitment to creating modern instructional environments that equip students with the skills and confidence they need for success,” said Dr. Turina Parker, District Superintendent of WSWHE BOCES, in a statement.
The new campus will bring all WSWHE BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Exceptional Learners Division (ELD) programs together on one site.
The campus includes:
Three new instructional buildings (K-6 ELD, 7-12 ELD, CTE)
44 CTE classrooms/shops and specialty labs
53 ELD classrooms with proximity to service providers and student supports
Gymnasiums, playgrounds, and therapeutic spaces
Enhanced transportation access within one mile of I-87, Exit 16
The Early College Career Academy programs housed at SUNY Adirondack will continue operating at those locations and are not part of the project.
WSWHE BOCES explained how this project is a strategic and cost-effective investment, sharing that growing enrollment, facility limitations, and increasing demand for specialized instruction informed the project design. A 2024 building condition survey identified more than $80 million in necessary repairs to the two BOCES-owned sites over five years to maintain existing buildings. Constructing a new BOCES-owned campus was estimated at over $160 million.
Following collaborative review with component districts, a 20-year lease totaling approximately $98.6 million in construction costs was approved as the most cost-effective and instructionally aligned approach.
Current programs will continue uninterrupted during construction. WSWHE BOCES will provide a detailed transition plan for families, staff, and districts closer to campus completion.
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