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Author: Aidan Cahill

Maple Avenue Middle School Gets New Principal

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Education.


Michael Lopez has been announced as the new principal of Maple Avenue Middle School (Courtesy of Saratoga Springs City School District)

After a three-month search, Saratoga Springs City School District has appointed Michael Lopez to serve as Principal of Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga Springs. 

Lopez will start on April 13. The position has been held by interim principal Mark Fish since Nov. 19. Fish was hired after principal Scott Singer pleaded guilty to stealing funds from a union he was a part of.

“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Lopez as the new principal of Maple Avenue Middle School,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton. “His proven leadership as an educator and administrator, combined with his commitment to fostering academic growth and social-emotional development, make him an excellent leader for our students and staff.” 

Lopez is an assistant principal at Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School. Prior to that position, he worked as Assistant Academy Principal at Albany High School, and as a social studies teacher in Syracuse and Queens. 

As for education, Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Courtland and a master’s degree in adolescent education with a history concentration from Dowling College. 

Mike Brandi Steps Down as Chairman of Saratoga Springs Republicans.

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

Mike Brandi has announced his resignation as Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee due to a move to Wilton (Courtesy of Michael Brandi)

Mike Brandi, Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee has announced his resignation after four years on the job. 

Brandi made the announcement in a Facebook post on March 12. The announcement said his resignation is due to an upcoming move to Wilton. While he may be stepping down from the top job at the committee, he will serve as its Vice Chair. 

“Serving as Chairman has been an honor and a privilege,” Brandi said in the statement. “Together, we strengthened the committee, supported capable candidates, and worked to ensure that voters had principled, responsible choices. Our work promoted transparency, accountability, and professionalism—principles that I hope will continue to guide the committee for years to come.” 

During his time as chair, Brandi saw Republicans gain decisive control of the Saratoga Springs City Council. In 2025, Republicans elected Jessica Troisi for Commissioner of Accounts and JoAnne Kiernan for Commissioner of Finance while reelecting incumbent Mayor John Safford. Safford was first elected mayor in 2023, defeating then Mayor Ron Kim.  

Outside of elections, Brandi initiated a criminal complaint against then Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran for failure to comply with New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). In the subsequent trial, Moran was found guilty of three counts of unlawful obstruction of public records and fined $600 — the first case of a conviction for this offense in New York. 

Brandi testified against Moran in the trial and received acclaim for his actions. In December, he was honored by the New York Coalition for Open Government through its 2025 “Nice List.” Moran meanwhile lost reelection and was placed on the Coalition’s “Naughty List.” 

As for the Saratoga Springs Republicans, attorney Gerard Paris was unanimously elected to serve as chairman going forward. 

Local Election Round Up: Who’s on the Ballot for Saratoga County’s Village Elections

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Well, it’s election day. Again.

In addition to the school elections in May, primary elections in June, and general elections in November, New York will have its Village elections this Tuesday, March 18. While there are nine villages in Saratoga County, only three will host contested elections this Tuesday: Corinth, Victory, and Waterford.

Of the remaining six, two villages — South Glens Falls and Galway, both have candidates running unopposed. Meanwhile, the Villages of Stillwater, Schuylerville, Round Lake, and Ballston Spa all hold their elections at different times.

For those who live in the three villages with seats on the line, here is a brief guide on where to vote and who is on the ballot.

Corinth

Voters in one of Saratoga County’s northernmost villages, Corinth, are set to elect two Village Trustees this election cycle. The two Trustees will serve for your year terms. Three candidates are running for these positions.

Here are the three candidates:

Michael Bedell (Republican) incumbent.

Charles Pasquarell (Republican)

Jennifer W. Kietzman (Advocates for Corinth)

Those who live in the Village of Corinth can vote at the Village Hall at 244 Main Street starting at noon (12:00 p.m.) until 9:00 p.m.

Victory

Sixteen miles downriver from Corinth is where the next election will take place. Voters in the Village of Victory will vote for a single Village Trustee to a four-year term. Two candidates are running for this position.

John Nazarenko (Republican)

Ray J. Kemmerling (Next Victory)

Those who live in the Village of Victory can vote at the Community Center at 23 Pine Street. Polls are open from noon (12:00 p.m.) until 9:00 p.m.

Waterford

Further down the Hudson to Saratoga County’s southernmost village is where the final contested election will take place. Voters in the Village of Waterford will select a new mayor. The new mayor will serve for four years and succeed Mayor Bert Mahoney who has served for the last 28 years. Two candidates are running to replace the longtime mayor.

Craig Falcone

Michelle Cleary Polls in Waterford are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters in districts 1 and 2 vote at the Waterford Senior Center located at 125 2nd Street while voters in district 1 vote at the Waterford Fire Department located at 13 8th Street.

Malta Man Arrested for Animal Abuse

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

The Saratoga Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Malta man after he is alleged to have abused two dogs in the Town of Malta. 

Joseph Landry IV, 40, was arrested on March 5. He was charged with two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and two counts of failure to provide sustenance. All counts are class A misdemeanors. 

The dogs— a Maltese and Yorkshire terrier —were found on Jan. 9, 2026, at Landry’s residence on Route 9 in Malta. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the terrier was found with facial hair sticking to its eyes, overgrown nails, sores on its back and severe dental disease. The Maltese, meanwhile, was found with severe crusting of the eyes, ocular discharge, fur matting around its eyes, a flea infestation and a dewclaw growing on the pad of its paw. 

The dogs were transported to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter for treatment and Evaluation. The house was condemned by Malta Code Enforcement. 

Landry was arraigned in Malta Town Court and returned to the Warren County Jail where he was being held on other charges. 

Greenfield Man Arrested on Weapons Charges after Harassment Complaint

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

A Greenfield man has been arrested on several weapons and other charges after he sent threatening text messages to another person. 

Gerald Ovitt, 54, was arrested on March 2, 2026, after he allegedly sent a threatening text message to someone he knew, and resisted arrest when confronted by Saratoga Sheriff’s Deputies. 

According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ovitt allegedly threatened to kill the victim and sent them a photo of a rifle. When Deputies went to arrest Ovitt, he resisted arrest. 

After his arrest, a search of Ovitt’s residence found the rifle he allegedly sent a photo of and two large-capacity magazines. The investigation by the Sheriff’s Office revealed that Ovitt was legally not allowed to possess weapons due to a prior court order.

Ovitt was charged with felony 2nd degree possession of a weapon, four counts of felony 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor 2nd degree aggravated harassment, misdemeanor 2nd degree obstructing governmental administration, misdemeanor 2nd degree resisting arrest and misdemeanor resisting arrest. 

Ovitt was arraigned in Greenfield Town Court and remanded into the custody of the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings. 

“Gotta Catch ‘em all” Man arrested for Stolen Pokémon Cards

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

A Gloversville man has been arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly being caught with stolen trading cards. 

Stashu Roberts, 29, was arrested on Feb. 22 and charged with felony 3rd degree possession of stolen property and misdemeanor fostering the sale of stolen goods. 

According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Roberts is alleged to have been in possession of 105 Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards when he tried to sell them in Malta on Feb. 1. 

Roberts was arraigned and remanded into custody pending further proceedings. 

Aldi Issues Recall of Contaminated Meatballs

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

Food seller Aldi has issued a product recall for thousands of pounds of contaminated meatballs. (Courtesy of USDA)

News- Bad Balls2 – Food seller Aldi has issued a product recall for thousands of pounds of contaminated meatballs. (Courtesy of USDA)

Food seller Aldi has issued a recall for Bremer Italian Style Meatballs after they were found to have metal in them. 

The recall was issued on Feb. 22 and applies to 32-oz. packages of meatballs with a best-buy date of Oct. 30, 2026 and a print time of 17:08- 18:20. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 9,462 pounds of meatballs produced on July 30, 2025  were possibly contaminated. The meatballs are made by Rosina foods in West Seneca, NY and packaged as “Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs.”  

According to Aldi, the meatballs were sold in 37 states and territories across the US — including New York. Consumers who have purchased the meatballs are advised to throw them away or bring them back to Aldi for a refund. 

The USDA said that there have been no confirmed injuries or illnesses related to the contaminated meatballs. 

Air Quality Alert issued for Capital Region

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

An air quality alert was issued for most of the capital region, including Saratoga County after Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) monitors picked up increased levels of Fine Particulate Matter (PM). 

The alert was issued on February 18 and at time of publication, it was set to expire at midnight. It covered much of the state — from the New York City Metro area up to the Capital Region. 

The air quality was listed at 139 by the EPA, making it unhealthy for sensitive groups. The main pollutant listed by both the EPA and DEC was fine particle matter, defined by DEC as any matter that is 2.5 microns or less. Monitors detected this level to be around 115 parts per million. 

Due to the reduced air quality, the DEC recommended those with health conditions, children and the elderly postpone outdoor activities while the alert was in effect. According to the DEC, increased levels of fine particle matter can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath.

It’s unclear what caused the increase in fine particle matter. Past air quality alerts in the area have come due to Canadian wildfires. 

Harsher Penalties for Driving Offenses in New York State

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

The penalty for driving offenses in New York State have increased significantly after a series of new driving regulations went into effect on Feb. 16. 

Under the newly implemented regulations, point penalties for offenses such as DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in

“These updated regulations will have no impact on drivers who follow the rules of the road, but they will have a big impact on dangerous drivers and repeat offenders whose poor choices always put other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk,” said NYS DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark J.F. Schroeder. “Our job is to make sure that New York’s roads are safe for everyone, and if someone chooses to be reckless and unsafe, they do not deserve to be behind the wheel, period.”

The regulations were first proposed in 2023. At the time, the DMV said the goal of the changes was to take reckless drivers off the roads and address aggressive driving. In total, nine violations saw increases with two classes of offenses — DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation — resulting in automatic suspensions. 

In addition to the number of points increasing, they will also last longer. Under the old system, points on a person’s license would last for 18 months, however under the new system, they will last for 24 months. If a driver accumulates 11 points in this stretch, they their license will automatically be suspended. 

Here is a rundown of the updated point totals. 

• Any drug or alcohol offense. Previous point penalty — 0. New point Penalty — 11. 

• Aggravated unlicensed operation. Previous point penalty — 0. New point Penalty — 11. 

• Passing a stopped school bus. Previous point penalty — 5. New point Penalty — 8. 

• Speeding in a construction zone. Previous point penalty — based on speed. New point Penalty — 8. 

• Over-height vehicle or bridge strike. Previous point penalty — 0. New point Penalty — 8. 

• Leaving the scene of a personal injury crash. Previous point penalty — 3. New point Penalty — 5. 

• Failure to exercise due care. Previous point penalty — 2. New point Penalty — 5. 

• Facilitating Aggravated unlicensed operation. Previous point penalty — 0. New point Penalty — 5. 

• Speed contests or races. Previous point penalty — 0. New point Penalty — 5.

The new changes to the point structure aren’t the only recent changes seeking to curb dangerous driving. In 2025, a new regulation was implemented permanently stripping the license of those with four or more drug or alcohol convictions. 

Ballston Spa man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

A Ballston Spa man has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release on charges related to gun possession and cocaine trafficking. 

Jason Brundige, 51, of Ballston Spa was indicted in January 2025 and charged with two counts of distribution of controlled substance, use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm. 

As part of a plea agreement, Brundige pled guilty to a single count of distribution of a controlled substance, use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. All other charges were dropped. 

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of combining drug trafficking with firearms,” First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said. “Individuals who distribute dangerous drugs while armed put entire communities at risk, and our Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold such offenders fully accountable.”

According to federal court documents, Brundige is alleged to have sold drugs to an undercover member police officer on two separate occasions as well as a confidential informant on another occasion. Brundige is believed to have distributed 42.7 grams of cocaine from his home in the Town of Milton with an additional 59.67 grams recovered from a hotel room in Malta — along with drug paraphernalia, around $2,400 in cash and a loaded handgun which was found in a garbage can. 

Prosecutors allege that Brundige displayed the weapon — a pistol valued at $300 — to an undercover officer during a drug buy, telling the officer that he was nervous. 

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the investigation was conducted by both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. 

“This sentence sends a clear message that drug trafficking and gun violence will not be tolerated in Saratoga County,” Saratoga County Sherriff Jeffrey Brown said. “I commend the collaborative efforts of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing this case to a successful resolution.”