Author: Saratoga TODAY

 Monday at 5:22 p.m., the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office received notification from the Schenectady County communications center of a motor vehicle being operated by a minor in Saratoga County without the owner’s consent. The vehicle was reportedly taken in their jurisdiction.

At approximately 5:29 p.m., deputies located the vehicle in the area of Grooms Road in the town of Halfmoon and attempted a vehicle stop. The vehicle fled and was last seen traveling south on U.S. Route 9 at a high rate of speed into the town of Colonie. The Sheriff’s Office notified the Colonie Police Department and deputies terminated their involvement at that time for the safety of the public.

At approximately 7:00 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office was notified that the vehicle was believed to be in the D & R Village mobile home park in the town of Halfmoon. Deputies located the vehicle at that location and attempted to stop it at which time the vehicle fled again traveling eastbound on state Route 146. The vehicle proceeded to crash into a guard rail at the intersection of state Routes 146 and 4/32 causing significant front-end damage. It continued to flee southbound on Routes 4/32 into the village of Waterford nearly striking a flag in a construction zone on Third Street before driving across a resident’s lawn on John Street and into the Hudson River. 

The operator exited the vehicle once it had entered the river and attempted to swim away towards the city of Troy stopping approximately halfway. Deputies swam out to the person and took them into custody shortly thereafter. The operator was charged with reckless endangerment in the 1st degree (class D felony), two counts of unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the 3rd degree (class A misdemeanor), and two counts of reckless driving (unclassified misdemeanor). 

The minor is considered a juvenile delinquent under New York state law and was released on appearance tickets pending further proceedings in the Saratoga County Family Court. There were no injuries reported, and the vehicle was removed from the river by Lussier’s Autobody & Repairs and KJ Sterns Towing.

Congregation Shaara Tfille and The Jewish Community Center of Saratoga Springs are excited to present a play reading, “My Name is Asher Lev” at 2:00 pm and at 7:00 pm on Sunday, July 27, at Congregation Shaara Tfille, 84 Weibel Avenue. 

The performances are part of the 2025 Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival. This event is sponsored by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeast New York. There is a $5 admission charge that also includes light refreshments.

Advanced reservations are required and walk-ins will not be admitted. RSVP by phoning Congregation Shaara Tfille at 518-584- 2370 or email, saratogajcc@albany.twcbc.com by July 24. 

“My Name is Asher Lev” is a play adapted by Aaron Posner, from the novel of the same name by the acclaimed author Chaim Potok. This reading will be directed by Dianne O’Neill, who has directed numerous regional productions, including our moving 2023 production of “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok. 

The play follows the journey of a young Jewish painter, torn between his Hasidic upbringing and his desperate need to fulfill his artistic promise. When his artistic genius threatens to destroy his relationship with his parents and the community, young Asher realizes he must make a difficult choice between art and faith. 

This stirring adaptation of a modern classic presents a heartbreaking and triumphant vision of what it means to be an artist. The Philadelphia Inquirer, describes the play as: “…a profound declaration of the power of storytelling on a stage.”