RIBBON CUTTING
Ceremonies in multiple communities celebrate region’s reopening
SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y. » Local business leaders celebrated the region’s reopening with a special ribbon cutting event held simultaneously in multiple communities throughout Saratoga County.
More than 25 ribbon cutting ceremonies were held as the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, with the support of Saratoga County’s Reopening Committee, attempted to host the largest ribbon cutting in Saratoga County’s history.
“We believe every ribbon cutting is the celebration of a dream come true, and I think today the dream is that we got to celebrate the fact that almost all of our economy now is reopen,” chamber president Todd Shimkus said shortly after attending a ribbon cutting event in the town of Halfmoon.
“Within the next couple of weeks, we’ll reopen more of it — and we thought this was a great chance to celebrate that right before a beautiful weekend, so hopefully people know that Saratoga County businesses are open, and if they’d like to travel here from the surrounding areas we would welcome
them with open arms - and face masks.”
In the Spa City, members of the local business community gathered in Congress Park at the Native Dancer statue, which reads “Welcome to Saratoga Springs” at its base.
“Saratoga County has now entered Phase 3 of reopening. We want to celebrate this milestone in our economic recovery in the most inclusive way as possible,” Discover Saratoga president Darryl Leggieri said to the group gathered in Saratoga Springs. “Although not all of our businesses are open, Discover Saratoga and the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association stand by the symbolic message that this ribbon cutting represents: that our economy is making steady and safe progress towards reopening.
“As our community moves forward, we truly have something to celebrate.”
Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association president Deann Devitt added, “We couldn’t be where we are today, with our reopening, without our partners in the city, without our partners within all of our organizations and our partners in our businesses, and I think it would be remiss to not also thank all of our local residents.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be here. We have seen them creatively support us all throughout the shutdown, and they will continue to support us through our reopening.”
“Over the past few months, we have really truly shown our strength,” Devitt continued. “We’ve shown our strength as a community. We’ve shown our strength as a team, and I think it’s very important that we continue to show that strength and continue to grow stronger together.”
Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly was present at the celebration as well.
“Today we’re opening the City of Saratoga Springs. We’re open for business,” she said. “It’s been a long run with this COVID-19. The pandemic is starting to wind down. Our numbers are terrific here in Saratoga Springs, so we just want to let the whole world know that Saratoga Springs is open for business.”
Additional ribbon cutting ceremonies were held simultaneously at sites in Ballston Lake, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills, Charlton, Clifton Park, Corinth, Day, Edinburg, Galway, Greenfield, Hadley, Malta, Mechanicville, Milton, Northumberland, Round Lake, Schuylerville, South Glens Falls, Stillwater, Waterford and Wilton.
More information about Saratoga County’s reopening process, which is anticipated to enter its fourth and final phase on July 1, is available online at www. saratogacountyny.gov/ county-reopening.