Prevention Council News
Prevention Council News
The Prevention Council celebrates 30th anniversary
By SHALYN BENWAY Wednesday, March 21, 2012 The Saratogian The Prevention Council, the nonprofit agency that seeks to reduce the abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco in Saratoga County through education and counseling, celebrated its 30th birthday Tuesday. "Thirty years ago prevention was not on people’s radar," Executive Director Heather Kisselback said. The Prevention Council focuses mostly in the middle and high schools in Saratoga County by providing educational programs that raise awareness of drug and alcohol issues. There is good news, based on surveys of middle schoolers and high schoolers. "We have found that over the years the rates [...]
Aviation Mall to Go Tobacco Free
Tuesday, March 21, 2012 Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Officials at Pyramid Management Group, LLC, owner and operator of 15 shopping malls throughout New York State and Massachusetts — including Aviation Mall in Queensbury — announced today that all of their properties will be 100 percent tobacco-free on May 31, 2012. Pyramid has been working with regional tobacco control partnerships funded by the NYS Tobacco Control Program and the American Cancer Society on implementation of the new policy. “We strongly believe this new policy will not only support our employees and guests who are sensitive to secondhand smoke or are [...]
Crossgates, Aviation Mall to go tobacco-free May 31
March 20, 2012 The Saratogian QUEENSBURY — Aviation Mall and Crossgates Mall are both going tobacco-free May 31. Both malls are owned by Pyramid Management Group LLC, the company will ban smoking at all 15 of its properties in New York and Massachusetts by May 31, according to a press release issued by the company Tuesday. “We strongly believe this new policy will not only support our employees and guests who are sensitive to secondhand smoke or are trying to quit smoking, but it also will provide a more enjoyable and healthier shopping experience to the millions of visitors who [...]
30th Annual Safe Spring Student Leadership Conference
By YNN Staff Friday, March 16, 2012 For video coverage, click here. SARATOGA COUNTY -- Students from throughout Saratoga County participate in an event designed to help them make a difference in their schools. 250 students from 12 different districts came to Skidmore College for the 30th annual Safe Spring Student Leadership Conference. The conference is hosted by the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council. They designed this year's conference to help students go back to their schools with a positive message and an action plan. "It's hard to put it into words, that's how important it is. Once you [...]
Bar and club owners meet with city officials and police
March 9, 2012 By LUCIAN McCARTY The Saratogian SARATOGA SPRINGS — Spa City bar and club owners met with city police, New York State Liquor Authority representatives and other state and local officials Wednesday to go over the responsibilities of alcohol distributors before the city’s upcoming tourist season. "By bringing everyone together, we all heard the same message," Saratoga Springs Police Lt. John Catone said. Also in attendance were representatives from the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, Saratoga County Prevention Council and state Department Division of Licensing. The meeting was meant to coordinate [...]
Assemblyman Reilly again donates salary to local charities
March 4, 2012 By Katie Nowak Roberts The Troy Record ALBANY – For the seventh consecutive year, state Assemblyman Bob Reilly, D-Loudonville, has donated his Assembly salary to local charities. Reilly, who began his tenure in the legislature in 2005, has donated more than $467,000 since then, and has established an annual fund in his name that, in conjunction with the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and a committee of local citizens, disseminates grants to local charitable organizations. The Assemblyman Robert Reilly Salary Fund accepts applications from those organizations – located in Colonie, Clifton Park and Halfmoon – [...]
Senator says fake pot a threat to lives
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Courthouse Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 in Albany, N.Y. Joined by local law enforcement and Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, left, Schumer announced a push for legislation that would make synthetic pot illegal, and impossible for producers to slightly alter chemical compound to make it legal again. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) Sen. Chuck Schumer, joined by region officials, urges a national ban By Robert Gavin Thursday, February 23, 2012 Albany Times Union ALBANY — Three years ago, poison control centers across America reported only 13 calls from patients [...]
Tobacco foes smolder as plan cuts funding
Anti-smoking advocates cite $2B in taxes, but cash to end habit drops By CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY Albany Times Union Published 10:21 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2012 ALBANY — New York collects more than $2 billion annually in tobacco taxes and in money from a 1998 settlement with tobacco companies, but the amount used for anti-tobacco initiatives has gone up in smoke. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed cutting tobacco control spending by $5 million in the coming fiscal year, reducing it to a total of $36 million — or 2 percent of tobacco revenues. Four years ago, the state spent $85 million on [...]
Families in Transition program offers comfort to children without permanent homes
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 The Saratogian BALLSTON SPA — Volunteers in Ballston Spa Central School District’s Families in Transition program are preparing special Project Night Night packages for the children it serves. The packages are intended to ease some of the uncertainty the children may be feeling while residing in a local shelter or motel due to a loss of housing or a domestic violence issue. The package contains a book to encourage family bonding, a fleece blanket to provide a sense of security and a small stuffed animal to provide comfort during their time of need. While reading through [...]
Parent teen forum draws few parents
December 15, 2011 By GLENN GRIFFITH Community News CLIFTON PARK — Shenendehowa Community Coalition were there but where were all the parents? That was the major question confronting members of the Shenendehowa Community Coalition at last week’s parent-teen forum on substance abuse in the Shen school district. The coalition was established six years ago to reduce and prevent risky behavior among youth. Since its formation, data from several district-wide surveys of adults and teens has shown that Shen seniors are above the state average in the number of teens using drugs or alcohol. Twelve sectors of the southern Saratoga County [...]