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Author: Aidan Cahill

“When you get a box like this, it looks like Christmas.”  Saratoga Springs VFW Assembles 98 Care Packages for Troops Deployed Overseas

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

The VFW partnered with Adopt a Soldier to send nearly 100 care packages to troops serving abroad. Most of the boxes are destined for the Middle East or Europe (Courtesy of VFW Post 420).

While the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be over, Saratoga Springs’ veterans aren’t forgetting those still deployed across the world. 

On May 16, the Saratoga Springs chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) filled boxes with coffee, hygiene products, snacks and other items as part of the VFW’s day of service. The boxes are being sent to troops currently deployed overseas through Operation Adopt a Soldier, a Saratoga Springs based charity that sends care packages to those overseas. 

Over 30 volunteers from the VFW, Boy Scouts, and Espey Manufacturing & Electronics filled 98 boxes to send overseas. The event started at 9:00 a.m. but volunteers worked quickly, only stopping to await more supplies to finish filling the boxes. While it’s unclear which country specifically the boxes will go to, representatives from Operation Adopt a Soldier said that based on zip codes, most will go to the Middle East or Europe. 

To fill the boxes, the VFW collected $2300 in donations and received support of Espey whose donation alone covered the cost of 58 boxes. 

Post Commander Jon Cheico. who served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield said that the packages help boost morale for troops deployed overseas by giving them a little taste of home and let them know they’re not forgotten. 

“These are things that soldiers or sailors would really appreciate being deployed for such a long time overseas,” Cheico said.  “When you get a box like this, it looks like Christmas.” 

While the majority of U.S. military personnel are stationed at home in the United States, an estimated 213,315 active duty, reserve and National Guard Troops are stationed overseas, according to data from the Defense Manpower Data Center. This number does not include those on temporary assignments or deployments in support of contingency operations. 

Cheico said the decision to support Operation Adopt a Soldier came due to the War in Iran, officially named “Operation Epic Fury” by the Department of War. This Operation has killed 14 American troops — seven due to enemy action, six due to accidents and one due to illness — and injured an additional 406 service members. 

As for the VFW, The Saratoga Springs post serves 380 members, with 300 being locals and around 80 or 90 being part-year or out-of- town members. 

Looking ahead to other events, on June 24, at 6 p.m. the organization is hosting a meeting of the Saratoga County Peer to Peer Group, Saratoga County Veteran Support Officers and other VFW posts to help veterans with any issues they may have with VA benefits and claims. 

Saratoga County School Districts Recognized as Top Districts for Music Education

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Education.

Six Saratoga County School Districts have been named being among the top communities for music education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). 

The 27th annual award recognizes schools and districts nationwide for their leadership in expanding equitable access to music education. In total, 1,008 districts and 127 individual schools across the country were recognized by NAMM. 

The six Saratoga County school districts recognized were: 

• South Glens Falls Central School District. 

o They have been recognized five times.

• Waterford-Halfmoon Union School. 

o They have been recognized three times. 

• Saratoga Springs City School District 

o They have been recognized three times 

• Mechanicville City School District. 

o This is their first recognition. 

• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District 

o They have been recognized 14 times. 

• Ballston Spa Central School District. 

o They have been recognized 10 times. 

Design Dilemma: Community Gathers to Discuss Changes to DRB

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

Mayor John Safford addresses a community meeting regarding proposed changes the Saratoga Spring’s UDO (Aidan Cahill)

It was a packed house on May 11 as members of the community gathered at the Spring Street Gallery to go over proposed changes to Saratoga Springs’ Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). 

The changes were proposed by Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford and primarily focus on the city’s Design Review Board (DRB) which reviews exterior designs in the historic and architectural review districts. 

The meeting was organized by Patty Morrison, a former member of the Planning Board and a self-described concerned citizen. It was originally set to be held at the Saratoga Springs Library but was moved to the Gallery due to space concerns. 

Over 100 people packed into the room to discuss the proposed changes.  It was the second of two meetings, the first being held May 5. 

During the meeting Safford defended the proposed changes to the DRB, saying they were part of a larger effort to improve the planning office and make things easier for builders and homeowners. During this process, Safford said he’s heard multiple complaints from people regarding the DRB, prompting the proposed changes. 

Many of the proposed changes specifically deal with the architectural review district, one of the two areas covered by the DRB. The area covers the downtown core of Saratoga Springs and approaches the city — such as the ones along Union Ave, Route 50, Washington Street, Route 9 and West Ave, among others. Safford described homes along some of these streets as “bargains” for people to buy and fix up. The problem, according to Safford, is that when they buy the homes they run into issues getting approvals to make repairs.

Safford cited a specific example where a couple bought a house with a leaky roof and were told by the DRB that they had to use slate in order to repair the roof due to historic significance, something that was cost prohibitive. 

“They asked, they begged, and there was no recourse to that,” Safford said. “Now they have a leaky roof that they can’t replace because they can’t afford a slate roof.” 

The proposal is not without controversy. During the meeting, members of the community brought up several concerns about the proposed changes including mandating that historic significance not be a factor in demolition decisions in the architectural review district, limiting the ability of the DRB to control mass and scale and creating an appeals process that would grant applicants the ability to appeal decisions to the Zoning Board of appeals. 

Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, spoke at the meeting and laid out some of the possible issues seen by the organization. While she agreed with Safford that there was room for improvement, specifically in the appeals process and in how historic standards are applied, she argued that removing the ability of the DRB to deny demolition on historic grounds could ruin the gateways to the city as the only protected buildings would be those with landmark status. 

“That is a significant change that could dramatically change how our gateways feel,” Bosshart said. “We have the gateways with a sign that says, health history and horses. Well, if all those lovely older homes are demolished with new construction, it’s not going to be much of an introduction to our downtown historic core.” 

It’s unclear when the new changes will be voted on by city council. While Safford had been aiming for a June passage of the reforms, due to community feedback, it’s now expected to go to a vote sometime in July or August. 

State Police Intercepts Money Destined for Scammers

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

 The New York State Police has announced that they successfully intercepted $10,000 sent by a Saratoga County man destined for scammers. 

The scam was a continuation of a previous attack by scammers on the man which occurred in March. 

According to New York State Police, the incident occurred when the man was contacted over the phone by alleged scammers claiming to be from their financial institution. The scammers claimed that they were following up on an investigation into compromised accounts. The alleged scammers instructed the man to send $10,000 to address in The Bronx. 

While the man complied and sent the money, the next day he realized it likely a scam and contacted State Police on April 24. Working with United Parcel Service (UPS), the State Police were able to locate and intercept the money in Yonkers and return it to the man. 

In light of the scam, the State Police offered the following advice from the FDIC : 

• Do not open emails from people you don’t know. If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

• Be careful with links and new website addresses. Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

• Secure your personal information. Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

• Stay informed on the latest cyber threats. Keep yourself up to date on current scams. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) can provide you with Alerts.

• Use Strong Passwords. Strong passwords are critical to online security. Review CISA guidance on Choosing and Protecting Passwords (PDF).

• Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs. Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

• Update the operating systems on your electronic devices. Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

Five Arrested in Biker Attack in Saratoga Springs 

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

Five men associated with the Red Devil’s Motorcycle Club have been arrested and charged in connection with an assault on two individuals that took place near Pavilion Row on April 11. 

Jamal J. Bridges, 28, of Castleton on Hudson, Nolan G. Empringham, 25 of Bowmanville, ON, Jerome Akers, 31, of Hampton ON, Charles J. Collins, 47, of Gansevoort and Jordan X. Prendergast, 31 of Hampton ON all face felony charges related to the assault. 

Akers, Prendergast and Collins were charged with felony 2nd degree attempted gang assault, Empringham was charged with felony tempering with physical evidence, and Bridges was charged with felony 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon and felony attempted gang assault. 

According to Saratoga Springs Police, the assault began after two men walking between bars on Caroline Street walked by a group wearing clothes identifying the men as members of the Red Devil’s Motorcycle Club. One of the victims asked the alleged gang members what they rode and were told to move along. 

The victims were then allegedly followed to their destination and assaulted by members resulting in injury. Immediately after the attack, several members of the group attempted to conceal clothing which would have identified them as members of the gang. In addition, one of the men was found in possession of brass knuckles, resulting in additional charges. 

“Our officers are the enforcers of law and order on Caroline Street,” Saratoga Springs Police said in a statement. “This community will not tolerate violent, senseless behavior in our bar district or anywhere else in our city. Those coming to enjoy the nightlife Saratoga Springs has to offer should not have to fear being violently attacked. This arrest should serve as a reminder to all who visit our vibrant downtown that you are on camera and will be held accountable for your actions when you break the law.” 

Taking off: New Daily Service from Albany to Denver has its First Flight

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

The inaugural United Airlines flight between Albany International Airport and Denver Airport goes under a water cannon salute. (Aidan Cahill)

A new daily United Airlines flight between Albany International Airport and Denver International Airport has had its inaugural trip on April 30. 

The flight took off at 8:00 a.m. and marked the first time the two airports would be connected by year-round daily service. It’s one of now three airports with non-stop service to Albany through United. 

“This is an exciting day; we’re thrilled to expand our presence in Albany and provide the community with direct service between Albany and Denver,” Kevin Keado, Managing Director, Regional Line Stations at United Airlines, said. “From family vacations, business trips and all the moments in between – this new route makes it easier for our customers in Albany to travel wherever they want to go. Whether that’s to United’s hubs in Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., to one of the hundreds of destinations that is easily accessible across the U.S. or around the world with convenient one-stop connections from these hubs.”

The flight took off from the newly renovated Concourse A. Passengers were offered donuts and refreshments before getting on the inaugural flight (Aidan Cahill)

The new flight took off from the recently renovated concourse A which has six gates and primarily serves United flights. For the inaugural flight, passengers were treated with donuts and other refreshments. During taxiing, the flight was given a water cannon salute by the airport fire department. 

This is not the first time Albany and Denver will be connected. Currently Southwest Airlines offers seasonal service between the two cities. 

“Today’s inaugural flight to Denver is an exciting milestone for Albany International Airport and for travelers across the Capital Region,” said Peter Stuto, Chief Executive Officer of Albany International Airport. “This new year-round route strengthens our connection to the western United States and gives our passengers more convenient access to destinations across the country. We are proud to celebrate this launch from our newly renovated Concourse A and grateful to United Airlines for its continued partnership and confidence in this market.”

While Albany International Airport may be a gateway to Saratoga, DEN is also known for its love of horses, in this case, mustangs. (Photograph provided courtesy of Denver International Airport.)

Denver International Airport is one of the largest airports in the United States. In 2025, the airport ranked second in both departures and arrivals, according to the Department of Transportation. That year the airport saw 705,469 total flights and served a total of 82,427,962 passengers, according to a report published by the airport. 

Burger Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charges After DWI Arrest

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

Saratoga Springs County Supervisor Sarah Burger has plead guilty to charges of driving while ability impaired. 

Burger had initially been charged with misdemeanor DWI, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 and received a speeding ticket but accepted a plea deal which saw the speeding ticket dropped and the two misdemeanors reduced to driving while ability impaired, an infraction. 

Burger was arrested in the early hours of January 11 by New York State Park Police after an officer observed her 2023 BMW going 41 in a 25 mile per hour zone on Broadway.  Upon being pulled over, the officer observed that Burger had glassy eyes, impaired speech, impaired motor coordination and smelled alcohol, according to court documents. 

Although she denied drinking multiple times to the officer, Burger subsequently failed a field sobriety test and a later breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of .13, according to court documents. 

Burger was sentenced on April 28 to a 90 day driver’s license suspension and a $300 fine. She is also required to attend a DWI victim panel and enroll in New York’s Impaired Driver Program.  

“Public service is built on trust and I remain dedicated to continuing to serve as Saratoga Springs county supervisor with integrity and focus and will continue doing the work the people elected me to do,” Burger said in a statement to media outlets. 

The case was handled by the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office after the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case. 

Burger won her seat on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors this past November and was sworn in on January 1 of this year. In her election, she received the most votes of any candidate running in a competitive race with 5,458 across the One Saratoga and Democratic party lines. 

Code Blue Shelter Gets New Permanent Location in Saratoga Springs

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


Parcel of land at 96-116 Ballston Ave., captured from Finley Street Aug. 21, 2024, with Route 50 visible at left. The existing building in the distance is 96 Ballston Ave. and is included in the county purchase. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos

The Saratoga County Code Blue Shelter will have a permanent location starting in the winter 2027 after the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved a site in Saratoga Springs. 

The new facility will be located at 96 Ballston Ave, directly across the street from Market 32, in the city of Saratoga Springs. It is listed as being a 25,600 square foot facility with a common room, office spaces, commercial kitchen and mess hall. When in operation, the shelter will have 75 beds available with capacity for an additional 43 beds in times of emergency. 

Under the ordinance, Shelters of Saratoga will build and operate the facility. It is expected to be open during the winter months and any time the temperate dips below freezing. 

The shelter was approved during a Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 21, 2026. The permanent shelter was described by members of the board as a good first step and that it would avoid the continual need to find locations for the shelter year after year. It also coincides with the end of the lease at the current code blue shelter located at 120 South Broadway.

During the meeting Saratoga Springs Supervisors Minita Sanghvi and Sarah Burger spoke about the impact the code blue shelter would have on the city. Both said they received numerous comments from residents speaking about safety concerns surrounding the shelter. According to the supervisors, numerous residents reported issues with public urination, verbal assaults, physical altercations, indecent exposure and incapacitated individuals in the neighborhood surrounding the current code blue shelter and the proposed site.

This has created concerns over public safety costs for handling the incidents. Sanghvi said that while those who use the services come from across the county, Saratoga Springs has had to bear the cost of providing emergency services to the shelter. 

“While the county dispatch would get the calls, Saratoga Springs police, EMS and fire will be responding to the calls,” Sanghvi said. “This is a significant burden on our city residents that we shouldn’t have to bear alone.” 

Sanghvi said that she hopes that the county can come to an intermunicipal agreement with the city to share resources and costs associated with the shelter moving forward.

Supervisor Burger echoed Sanghvi saying there were 264 emergency calls to the current code blue shelter in 2025 and that the city can’t afford the bill for the county.

Both supervisors emphasized that while this was an important first step, it shouldn’t be the only step. Sanghvi said that homelessness comes in many forms and that a single shelter open in winter cannot be the only solution. 

The discussion around a code blue shelter has been going on for over a decade. In 2013, the death of Saratoga Springs resident Nancy Pitts due to freezing temperatures led the City of Saratoga Springs to first establish a code blue shelter. Later in 2016, a statewide mandate was issued requiring counties to provide a code blue shelter when the temperature dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Saratoga Springs City Council Rundown: UDO, Parking and Charter Changes

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

It was a long night in Saratoga Springs as the City Council held its normally scheduled meeting on the night of April 21.

On the docket were clarifications to parking rules, discussions of charter review, and the beginning of the process to change the cities Unified Development Ordinance. 

From parking to planning and everything in between: here is a rundown of the updates from City Hall.

Possible changes coming to the UDO 

The City of Saratoga Springs is set to begin review of its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) after City Council vote 4-1 to approve a resolution initiating a review of the UDO and publishing a draft of proposed changes. 

The proposed changes mostly focused on the Design Review Board (DBR), one of three building-related boards in the City of Saratoga Springs. Under the proposed changes, the DBR’s role and abilities would be clarified. Among the more controversial changes is a change removing the ability of the DBR to prevent demolition of structures in the Architectural District for preservation purposes unless the structure had been designated a landmark by the City Council.

In addition, citizens would be able to appeal DBR ruling to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford said that the changes to the UDO were due to complaints he heard from citizens in dealing with the Design Review Board. Safford cited one instance where a resident was told by the DBR that if they didn’t want to pay for a slate roof, then they shouldn’t have bought a house in the architectural review district as well as several instances where businesses looking to modify or demolish structures were told no by the DBR. 

He also said that there was pressure to pass an updated UDO as it had become a “political” issue and was upset with the lone Democrat on the City Council, BK Keramati for voting against the ordinance proposing review of the UDO. 

During the meeting, Keramati had pressured the mayor for a list of specific reasons for the changes to the UDO prior to taking action on it. Keramati and Safford were seen talking after the meeting regarding his vote on the matter, with Safford expressing his displeasure with Keramati’s vote. 

The proposed changes were also met with push back by members of the public who protested the changes and cited Saratoga Springs’ historic character as a reason for people to move to and visit the city. Of the 14 speakers who gave public comment, eight spoke out against the changes. In addition, prior to the meeting, the Saratoga Springs Democratic Party had put out a public call for attendance at the meeting and voiced its opposition to the proposed changes.

Parking

Two bills clarifying parking regulations were passed during the meeting. The first of these bills set a two-hour limit on parking along Phila Street between Broadway and Henry Streets. The time limit is in effect between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

The second bill also impacted Phila Street, this time adding two commercial loading zones. The first of these zones will go from Broadway to Putnam Street on the North side of the street and be in effect on weekdays from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.  The second loading zone will be    on the South side of Phila between Putnam and Henry Streets. 

Pushback on Charter Proposal 

A proposal to change the language of Saratoga Springs’ charter regarding the number of city supervisors elected to the Board of Supervisors was met with pushback during the meeting. Under the proposed change instead of establishing two supervisors the charter would allow for “One or more Supervisors, as may be established by County Law”

While the proposals were introduced back in December, several speakers took time during public comment to address this proposed change, arguing that it would potentially diminish Saratoga Springs’ representation at the county level if the county chose to reduce the number to one. 

In response to these comments, Mayor Safford asked for comments from the two current Saratoga Springs Supervisors — Sanghvi and Burger. Both asserted that they saw no need to change the charter when it came to the number of supervisors. Instead, Burger advocated for compensation from the city for Supervisors’ attendance at City Council meetings — something done by most other municipalities in the county. 

Chamber Fee Waiver rejected

A proposed fee waiver for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce was unanimously rejected by City Council. The waiver, which covered public safety related fees associated with several events held by the Chamber had been introduced by Coll after he said he met with the Chamber the week prior. Coll opposed the measure and said that approving the waiver might show favoritism to the group. He wasn’t alone as Finance Commissioner JoAnne Kiernan said the fee waiver as proposed would violate existing Finance Department policies. 

County-Wide Short-Term Rental Registry Coming to Saratoga.

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

Planning on renting out your home as an Airbnb or VRBO in Saratoga County coming up? Well, you’ll have to register with the county before you do. 

A new law was passed by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors on April 21 establishing a new county-wide short-term rental registry. The law was enacted due to a statewide mandate requiring such registries which counties had the option of opting out of. 

Under the law, booking services are required to collect data on all short-term rentals in the county such as dates of stay, number of guests, costs, address, and registration number. Hosts meanwhile are required to comply with state law, self-certify that they complied with state law, and allow the county to inspect units to ensure compliance. It also allows the county to collect occupancy and sales tax on behalf of municipalities.

As for registration itself, all short-term rentals would be required to register online with the Treasurer’s Office prior to listing the rental. The registration would last for two years before renewal. 

While the law allows municipalities with existing short term rental registries like Saratoga Springs to continue to use those registries, it preempts the establishment of registries in new municipalities. 

While counties had the option of opting out of the legislation, Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett said they went with a countywide approach in order to benefit the municipalities. 

“The county has used economies of scale and shared assets to benefit all the municipalities,” Barrett said. “It saves the county money, and it saves the municipalities money.” 

Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford also welcomed the move, saying that the counties’ registry will have a huge impact in terms of sales and occupancy tax.