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Author: Aidan Cahill

Charter Review Commission Holds Public Forum on Proposed Amendments

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

The Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission recently held a public forum on several proposed amendments to the city’s charter that will be on the ballot in November. 

The proposed amendments represent phase two of the commission’s review of the charter which focuses on changes that would require ballot approval to be implemented. The first phase of the charter focused on things that could be addressed only by vote of City Council. 

Most of the changes proposed by the Charter Review Commission involve internal changes to certain functions of city hall as well as the transition between City Council administrations. 

Among the changes most impactful to voters will be a change to how the city deals with vacancies on City Council. Under the current charter, if a vacancy occurs, the council is required to fill the vacancy through appointment until the end of the year. If an election is not held by the end of the calendar year, then a special election is called. 

Under the proposed change to the charter, however, any vacancy that occurs over 180 days from the next general city election would be required to go to a special election between 70 and 90 days from the date of the vacancy. If the vacancy occurs within 180 days of a general election, however, the special election can take place on that day.

The other notable change to the charter concerns how budget programs are managed. Instead of starting the process in August with the issuance of a call letter, the new process would push the start date for the process up to July. It also provides more specific requirements for each department when submitting their budget requests.

During the public forum held on August 11, the commission heard from the public on the proposed changes. Five people spoke at the meeting, of whom two were city employees who had concern regarding language in the proposed charter impacting their work. 

Under the proposed changes, two offices — the Risk and Safety Office and the Public Information Administrator, would be brought under the umbrella of the Mayor’s Office. In the case of Risk and Safety, the responsibilities would be placed under the Office of the City Attorney. 

Currently, the Director of Risk and Safety is housed in the Accounts Department while the IT administrator is housed in the Finance Department. 

During the public forum both Rachael Capasso, Director of Risk and Safety, and Jeff Cornick, IT Systems Manager, expressed concerns that the current language of the proposed amendments would negatively impact their work.

Capasso pointed out that while the duties of the position transferred under the proposed amendment to the office, the position itself didn’t and requested that commission adopt language in their proposal ensuring that the position remains a professional role in the city.

“I’m not asking the committee to preserve an outdated reporting structure,” Capasso said. “I’m asking the committee to preserve the position title, professional responsibility, and civil service status while updating the reporting relationship to reflect the proposed charter amendment.” 

Cornick, meanwhile, expressed concerns that by making the positions appointed under the mayor’s office would remove civil service protection and make it so that the position could change due to the sole discretion of the mayor rather than professional needs. 

Outside of the two workers, the other three spoke about issues currently being addressed by the proposed phase two amendments such as providing more community input in government actions, elimination of language surrounding the supervisors, and the need for more information regarding the proposed changes.

The commission has until the end of the month to submit the proposed changes to be on the ballot.

Mechanicville Resident Promoted to Top Enlisted Position in New York Air National Guard.

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

Chief Master Sergeant Lynette Tangredi has been promoted to the top enlisted leader of the New York Air National Guard.

A Mechanicville resident has been promoted to the top enlisted rank of the New York Air National Guard. 

Chief Master Sergeant    Lynette Tangredi was promoted during a change of command ceremony in Latham on August 6. She succeeds Chief Master Sergeant Michael Hewson who served in the role since 2023. 

In her new role, Tangredi will serve as the top enlisted leader of the New York Air National Guard, advising commanders on “all matters concerning the health, welfare, morale, career progression, professional development and the effective utilization” of personnel in the New York Air National Guard.

According to her official biography, Tangredi first enlisted in the Air Force in 1997, serving in Virginia as a computer systems operator. After serving on active duty for three years, she joined the Air National Guard in October 2003 — first with the 152nd Airlift Wing in The Nevada Air National Guard. 

In June 2004, Tangredi joined the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing based out of Schenectady. She would serve with the 109th, rising through the enlisted ranks until 2021, when she became the superintendent of the New York Air-Active Guard Reserve Office. Her most recent assignment was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the New York Air National Guard Headquarters which she took over in 2025.

In 2016, Tangredi was named First Sergeant of the Year for both the 109th and New York Air National Guard and earned the Outstanding Enlisted Leader of the Year Ribbon. Other notable awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster.

The New York Air National Guard is comprised of five wings plus the Eastern Air Defense Sector and 152nd Air Operations Group. Its 5,900 airmen account for over five percent of the Air National Guard’s total personnel strength. The New York Air National Guard is unique as it contains the only ski equipped LC-130 cargo aircraft in the world. The LC-130 is the largest ski-equipped aircraft in the world and is in service with the 109th Airlift Wing out of Schenectady.

In addition to the 109th  , the Air National Guard is comprised of the 105th Airlift Wing out of Newburgh, the 106th Rescue Wing out of Westhampton Beach, the 107th Attack Wing out of Niagara Falls, and the 174th Attack Wing out of Syracuse. It’s also in command of the Eastern Air Defense Sector out of Rome which handles NORAD’s early warning mission for the Eastern United States and Canada.

Local Leaders Call for Tougher Child Neglect Legislation

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.


Legislators and local law enforcement officials held a press conference announcing new legislation that would stiffen penalties for child neglect. (Aidan Cahill)

The Death of a three-year-old girl in Corinth has prompted members of the state legislature to push for a new law aimed at increasing penalties for Child Neglect. 

The bill, named “Joycelynn’s Law,” is named for Joycelynn Ann Dylewski who died in February 2025 after being found covered in lice and struggling to breathe in Corinth. 


The death of Joycelynn Ann Dylewski and subsequent outrage over the 1⅓ to four year sentence for her parents for causing her death prompted the new bills

After her death, Dylewski’s parents Matthew and Samantha were arrested and eventually plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide and lost custody of their other four children. In June, the two were sentenced to 1⅓ to four years in prison — the max penalty under New York Law. 

This sentence is what prompted Senator Jim Tedisco and Assembly members Marry Beth Walsh and Matt Simpson to propose legislation that would enact severe penalties when a parent or guardian causes the death or injury of a child through neglect. 

The proposed legislation would amend the current statute for endangering the welfare of a child by creating a new felony charge, aggravated endangering the welfare of a child, resulting in sentences of 25 years to life for causing the death of a child and 5 to 15 years for causing severe injury. 

In a press conference held on Aug. 4, Senator Tedisco outlined the reasons for the law, arguing that the sentence didn’t provide justice for the three-year-old. 

“What we’re trying to do is provide justice,” Senator Tedesco said. “We’re not going to get the justice for Jocelyn, but the only good thing maybe is we can get some justice from some other children, and possibly send a message to individuals who are going to provide this type of neglect, this type of care, this type of trauma to young children.”

Tedisco also talked about the condition that Dylewski was found in, emphasizing the need for new legislation.

“The child had not visited a doctor or a dentist in close to one year,” Senator Tedisco said. “Her teeth were decayed and blacking. Her body was full of lice. She was skin and bones not getting nutrition, and she was given clonidine, which is a drug not prescribed for her.”

The legislators were joined at the press conference by Saratoga County Sheriff Jeffery Brown and District Attorney Brett Eby, both of whom spoke about the case and offered support for the legislation. Brown said the legislation helps solve a gap in the current laws by introducing more accountability in the system. 

“Accountability when we make an arrest, we get a conviction is important,” Brown said. “The laws simply do not allow these defendants charged with these types of fact patterns to be held appropriately accountable.” 

Eby, meanwhile, expressed similar sentiments and also announced the creation of a new task force to deal with child abuse in Saratoga County. 

“In the next few days, we’re going to be announcing the members of the Child Safety Review Commission, which is a multi-discipline effort that’s going to have Saratoga County residents that work in the school system, family court system, law enforcement, legislators to try to have a holistic approach to see where the gaps are in the system, so we can prevent future tragedies,” Eby said. 

The bill has yet to receive a number in the assembly and is currently being reviewed by the Rules Committee of the State Senate. In addition, Senator Tedisco’s Office is circulating a petition on his website encouraging passage of the bill.

Union Avenue Bridge to be Renamed in Honor of Longtime Legislator

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.


A photo of Bobby D’Andrea (left) with Senator Tedisco at the late Assemblyman’s home. 
(Courtesy of Senator Tedisco).

Coming into Saratoga on Union Avenue it’s easy to see the impact of the late former Assemblyman Robert D’Andrea. 

Starting at Fish Creek, the road takes residents and visitors from the rural east side of the County and into the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs. It passes by both the quiet retreat of Yaddo and the thrilling spectacle at the Race Course before ending at Congress Park. 

But before reaching those key landmarks, visitors traveling on Union Avenue and exiting Interstate 87 north have to cross a small bridge that will now bear the name of the man who represented the area for over 27 years.

The bill to rename the bridge was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C) and in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D). The bill passed both houses unanimously on June 2 and was signed by the Governor on July 31.

“Assemblyman Bobby D’Andrea was a good friend and an outstanding and dedicated public servant who was always accessible and visible to his constituents and a strong voice for them,” Senator Tedisco said in a statement.  “I was proud to have served with Bobby in the Assembly and work to get this bill passed for his family and remember his legacy of service to others.”

Known as ‘Bobby,’ D’Andrea represented Saratoga Springs at the county level as Supervisor for seven years and as an assemblyman for 27. In the that time, he was known for his efforts in environmental conservation and staunch community support. 

One of D’Andrea’s most notable was the expansion of New York’s recycling program so called ‘Bottle Bill’ which requires a five-cent deposit on many non-reusable containers in New York. D’Andrea was the sponsor of the bill, whose legacy can be seen on every bottle or can bearing “NY 5¢”  

D’Andrea helped clean up the lakes of the state by introducing legislation requiring ice-fisherman to remove structures before the thaw and improving regulations for transporting horses in the state.

 On a local level, D’Andrea secured funding for the Saratoga Springs Civic Center and intervened when Saratoga Central Catholic High School — at the time known as St. Peter’s Academy — was set for closure in the 1970s. 

Outside of politics, D’Andrea owned the Kaydeross Amusement Park for 30 years. When the park closed, the hand carved carousel was sold to the City of Saratoga Springs where it was restored and placed in Congress Park. 

D’Andrea died in March 2025 at the age of 92.

Spring Freeze: USDA Opens Disaster Loans for Saratoga County 

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Business.

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a Secretarial Disaster Designation for several New York counties — including Saratoga — after a late-April freeze damaged crops across the state. 

The declaration opens up Emergency Farm Loans for impacted farmers who have experienced significant damage or losses from the disaster and can’t obtain funding from other sources to meet their needs.

Saratoga was one of 28 counties listed as a primary disaster area for the freeze with farmers in an additional 24 counties eligible for aid should their lands touch one of the impacted counties. The freeze occurred April 19-21 and cost the state $30 million in crop losses, according to a release from New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

New York wasn’t the only stater impacted by this freeze. Areas of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Jersey, which touch the impacted counties in New York were also included in the declaration. A separate disaster declaration for 17 counties in Pennsylvania for a freeze at the same time was issued back in May.

In addition to the April freeze, Saratoga County farmers and ranchers whose lands touch Fulton and Montogomery Counties are available for aid due to a freeze that occurred in mid-May. The primary counties for this weather event were Fulton, Montgomery, Onondaga, Otsego, and St. Lawrence counties. 

In Saratoga County, the month of April saw major temperature fluctuations. According to daily temperature data from the Stillwater Reservoir Station, the days leading up to the freeze saw temperatures peak in the high 60s before dropping below freezing on April 19 and coming within 10 degrees of the lowest recorded temperature for that day during the freeze. 

While it’s far from the largest sector in the county, the agricultural sector still has a significant impact in the county. 

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, a report published by the USDA every five years, Saratoga County has 604 farms accounting for nearly 74,000 acres and nearly $29 million in revenue. In terms of total sales, it ranks 26 out of 62 in New York and 1,292 out of 3,078 nationwide. 

In terms of specific products, Saratoga County ranks 11 out of 59 counties statewide and for fruits, nuts and berries and 10 out of 60 statewide for specialty crops like Christmas Trees and nursery produced plants.

Saratoga County farmers impacted by the freeze are encouraged to contact the Washington County Farm Service Agency for information on how to obtain emergency loans.

Success on the Field and in the Classroom: NYSPHSAA Announces Awards for Academic Achievement 

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Education, Featured.


The Saratoga Central Catholic Baseball Team were one 15 teams that helped the school earn “School of Distinction” status (SCC Saints Athletic)

Saratoga County schools are well known for their achievements on the field. 

Spa Catholic went back-to-back as champions in Baseball, Burnt-Hills produced an All-American wrestler (see page 30) and Saratoga Springs was one game away from winning a state championship in Football. 

But that success doesn’t end when the students leave the field. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced which schools received School of Distinction and School of Excellence status for the 2025-26 academic year, including several Saratoga County Schools. 

These achievements recognize schools with high levels of scholar athletes. To be recognized as a scholar athlete, a student must maintain a grade point average of 90 or above. For team status, the top 75% of a team must be considered scholar athletes. 

At the end of the year, the total number of teams reaching Scholar-Athlete status and awards are given for schools with a high percentage of teams reaching that status. Schools with 75% of their varsity teams reaching the status are considered a “School of Excellence” while schools with 100% of their varsity teams reaching the status are considered “School of Distinction.” 

With all sports seasons over and GPAs finalized, here is a rundown of the Saratoga County Schools that achieved a high in and out of the classroom. 

School of Distinction 

Only one school in Saratoga County achieved school of Distinction status for the 2025-26 school year: Saratoga Central Catholic High School. All 15 of the Saints’ varsity teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with a total of 124 student athletes reaching Scholar-Athlete status across the three seasons. 

Schools of Excellence 

Six schools in Saratoga County achieved School of Excellence status. Here is a rundown of those schools. 

• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Senior High School. 28 teams achieved Scholar Athlete team status with 497 athletes achieving status across the three seasons. 

• Mechanicville Junior/Senior High School. 18 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 257 athletes achieving status across the three seasons. 

• Saratoga Springs High School. 35 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 715 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

• Schuylerville High School. 23 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 213 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

• Shenendehowa High School. 34 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 520 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

• Waterford-Halfmoon Junior Senior High School. 14 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 115 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

Full totals for all school districts statewide can be found on NYSPHSAA.org

Two Troopers Injured and 500 pounds of Weed Seized in Multicounty Chase 

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.


500 pounds of cannabis was recovered after a car chase which started in Queensbury and ended in Saratoga County ( Courtesy of NYSP)

A State Police Charger and Tahoe were damaged during a car chase (Courtesy of NYSP)

Two Massena residents have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after leading New York State Police on a two-county car chase that ended in Saratoga County. 

The driver, identified as Torrey Jackson, 39, of Massena was arrested and charged with felony attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, felony 1st degree criminal possession of cannabis, two counts of felony 2nd degree assault, 2nd degree felony criminal mischief, felony tampering with physical evidence, and several misdemeanors. 

The passenger, identified as Tori Rushlow, 29, of Massena, was arrested on charges of felony attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, felony 1st degree criminal possession of cannabis, felony 2nd degree assault, 2nd degree felony criminal mischief, felony tampering with physical evidence, and several misdemeanors. 

According to State Police, the chase began on Interstate 87 south in Queensbury at 3:24 p.m. on July 16 when Jackson allegedly failed to stop when Troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over. The chase entered Saratoga County and left the interstate at exit 17 — continuing through rural and residential roads, fields and people’s yards. 

The chase reentered I-87 at the exit 16 off ramp with Jackson allegedly traveling south in the northbound lanes of traffic. While entering the interstate, Jackson is alleged to have struck a State Police vehicle traveling north. Upon reaching a roadblock set up at exit 15, the vehicle turned around and proceeded north utilizing both the northbound and southbound lanes of traffic.

During this part of the chase, Jackson is alleged to have attempted to ram multiple State Police cars while Rushlow allegedly threw several garbage bags containing vacuum sealed bags of cannabis out the window of the vehicle, according to New York State Police.

Eventually the vehicle came to a stop in the median, with both Rushlow and Jackson allegedly attempting to flee on foot. Despite their attempts to flee and active resistance, Jackson and Rushlow were taken into custody, arraigned in Wilton Town Court and remanded into the Saratoga County Correctional facility. 

Two State Troopers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and two vehicles were damaged. All told, over 500 pounds of cannabis was recovered from the scene.

Man Arrested in Saratoga County for Possessing Hand Grenades Faces Additional Charges 

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

A Washington County man allegedly caught with two hand grenades in Stillwater is facing additional charges after a search warrant in the Town of Easton. 

Evan Giroux, 40, of Easton New York was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff after a joint investigation by the Washington and Saratoga County Sheriff’s Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives, Albany Field Office, and the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit on July 14. 

Earlier that day, Giroux had been arrested in the Town of Stillwater after a traffic stop allegedly uncovered two grenades in his vehicle and prompted the evacuation of a Stewart’s shop. 

The search warrant on his home in Easton is alleged to have found several illegal firearms — including an assault rifle — large capacity magazines and an explosive device. 

An assault rifle is defined by New York law as any semi-automatic rifle that can accept a detachable box magazine and has one or more “military characteristics.” High-capacity magazines are defined as any magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

Easton was charged with one count of felony second degree criminal possession of a weapon, and 20 counts of felony third degree possession of a weapon. 

Giroux was arraigned in the Easton Town Court and released after posting bail. 

Man Sentenced to up to 25 Years in Prison for Killing Walmart Employee

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

A Gansevoort man has been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to striking and killing a Walmart employee in October. 

Timothy Besaw, 35 of Gansevoort had plead  guilty in April to aggravated vehicular homicide and first degree vehicular assault. He was sentenced to two concurrent sentences of 12 ½ to 25 years and 3 ½ to seven years in state prison — the maximum sentence. Besaw was sentenced as a second felony offender. 

Besaw’s sentence comes as a result of an incident on Oct. 16 in which Besaw was chased by three employees at the Saratoga Walmart in Wilton. Besaw got in an argument with the employees before getting in his car and striking two of them, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. 

One of the employees, identified as Michael Bushey, 69 of Saratoga Springs died on Nov. 3 as a result of the incident. 

Besaw later crashed his car on Perry Road. While he refused a breath test at the scene, a blood test later showed that he was under the influence of alcohol and open containers were found in his vehicle. 

“Today’s sentence reflects the devastating consequences of the Defendant’s actions and holds him accountable for the immeasurable harm he caused,” District Attorney Brett Eby said in a statement. “While no sentence can restore the life that was taken or erase the trauma inflicted upon the surviving victim and the families involved, we hope this outcome provides a measure of justice and closure. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s loved ones, whose strength and resilience throughout this case have been extraordinary.”

Three Men Arrested After Violent Robbery

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

Three men have been arrested after they allegedly beat a Ballston Spa resident with a baseball bat during a robbery.

Braedon Loveday, 19, and Timothy Wilbur, 34 — both of Middle Grove — and an unnamed 18-year-old were all charged with felony 1st degree robbery, felony 2nd degree gang assault and felony 2nd degree assault. 

According to New York State Police, troopers were dispatched to a residence in Ballston Spa at around 10:50 p.m. on May 19. Loveday, Wilbur and the other individual are alleged to have beaten the victim with a baseball bat, knocking them unconscious. After knocking the victim unconscious, the three stole cash and the victim’s cellphone before fleeing prior to police arrival.

The three individuals were arrested over the course of the next three months. Loveday was arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 87 on May 23 while the 18-year-old was arrested in their home on July 3. The final individual, Wilbur was arrested on July 8 with the assistance of the Saratoga County Probation Department. 

All three individuals were remanded into the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of bond pending further proceedings.