Author: Saratoga TODAY

A simple box of snacks and personal care items can mean far more than its contents to a servicemember deployed far from home. Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner today announced plans for the ninth annual Yellow Ribbon Day Donation Drive, aimed at filling “Freedom Boxes” for local troops serving overseas.

The drive will run from March 14 through April 6. Donations of individual-sized snacks and personal care items will benefit Blue Star Mothers of America NY-2, who assemble and ship the packages. The effort coincides with New York State’s Yellow Ribbon Day on April 9, a day dedicated to honoring active-duty military members and their families.

Collection boxes will be located at municipal offices throughout Saratoga County, as well as at Hannaford stores across the county.

County Clerk Hayner said the drive offers residents a meaningful way to show their support. “For nearly a decade, this community has stepped up to remind our deployed men and women that they are not alone,” Hayner said. “These Freedom Boxes deliver more than everyday essentials — they deliver encouragement from home. As we launch our ninth year, I’m confident Saratoga County will once again answer the call.”

Donna Abare, president of Blue Star Mothers of America NY-2, said the annual Yellow Ribbon drive plays a vital role in helping the organization meet growing demand. “What we receive through the generosity of this collection will help us send hundreds of boxes in May to troops who truly look forward to them.”

Abare said the impact goes beyond the items inside. “When servicemembers receive a Freedom Box, they know someone took the time to think of them,” she said. “The reminder that they are not forgotten means everything.”

Frank McClement, director of the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency, said the impact is personal. “When you’re deployed, something as simple as a package from home can reset your whole outlook,” McClement said. “It lifts morale and reinforces that your community values your service. I hope everyone will take part in keeping this tradition strong.”

Donations can include non-perishable items like cookie and cracker snack packages, microwaveable soup cups, fruit snacks, granola bars and beef jerky, as well as personal care items such as insect repellent wipes, body wash (small), lip balm, puzzle books and more. 

Donated goods can be dropped off at the following locations during regular business hours:

• DMV offices in Saratoga County (located in Ballston Spa, Clifton Park and Wilton)

• Saratoga County Clerk’s Office, 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa

• Veterans Service Agency, 2144 Doubleday Ave., Suite 15, Ballston Spa

• Saratoga County Hannaford stores

• Various town and village offices in Saratoga County (Call to see if your local municipality has a collection box).

Monetary donations are also accepted. As a reference, it costs $18 postage to send each “Freedom Box”. The cost to fill one box is about $45, so a $63 donation covers the cost of filling and sending one box. Checks can be made payable to Blue Star Mothers of America-NY 2 and sent to PO Box 243, Delmar, NY 12054. Please write “In honor of Yellow Ribbon Day” in the memo section. To donate through PayPal, go to www.paypal.com/fundraiser/hub and search “Blue Star Mothers of America-NY2”.

All items collected during the drive will be presented to the Blue Star Mothers during a Yellow Ribbon Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, at Halfmoon Town Hall in Halfmoon. The public is welcome to attend, and donations also can be brought to this event.

For more information, please visit the Saratoga County Clerk’s Facebook page, @saratogacountyclerk, which will be updated throughout the donation drive.

Two Schenectady men have been arrested on drug and weapon charges in the Town of Wilton after they were pulled over on I-87. 

Stacy J. McDuffie, 52, and Eric Q. Parker were arrested after a traffic stop on Interstate 87. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the traffic stop occurred during the afternoon of March 10 after deputies witnessed the vehicle making an unsafe lane change.

McDuffie was charged with felony 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor DWI, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 or higher and moving from lane unsafely. Parker meanwhile was charged with misdemeanor 4th degree criminal possession of a weapon and 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Both men were found in possession of stun guns and controlled substances. Mcduffie had a previous criminal conviction, resulting in felony possession. According to the Sheriff’s Office, McDuffie failed a field sobriety test administered on scene and was later found to have a BAC of .11. 

The men were arraigned in the Wilton Town Court with Parker being released on appearance tickets and McDuffie being remanded into the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings. 

Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Adirondack) joined a bipartisan group of state legislators and highway superintendents from across New York to advocate for increased funding under the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) in the final 2026-27 state budget.

 The event highlighted the severe pressures facing local governments, including unprecedented inflation in highway construction costs and additional burdens imposed by the state’s All-Electric School Bus Mandate under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

 Preliminary data from highway superintendents indicates that heavier electric school buses cause faster subgrade rutting and reduce road life by about 20% (from a typical 10 years to eight years). This forces municipalities to shift from affordable resurfacing ($20,000–$50,000 per mile) to full reconstruction (around $550,000 per mile). The increased maintenance costs primarily impact towns and villages.

 “Local roads may be the most essential service the government offers,” Simpson said. “They connect rural communities in the Adirondacks and across Upstate New York, keep families safe, support businesses and ensure first responders and school buses can reach every corner.” 

 Despite record inflation driving up material and labor costs, Gov. Hochul’s executive budget maintains flat CHIPS funding with only a $50 million local add-on, failing to address an annual shortfall of $2.69 billion needed to maintain these critical assets.

“Standing here with highway superintendents and colleagues from both parties makes it clear that Albany’s flat funding and unfunded mandates are dumping massive new costs onto local taxpayers,” Simpson said. “We support cleaner transportation, but the state must step up with real resources to prevent devastating burdens on our towns and villages.” 

Saratoga County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Brown announced today that the Sheriff’s Office and Saratoga County police agencies will participate in special efforts to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving this St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The campaign begins on March 12, 2026, and runs through March 18, 2026. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the percentage of drunk passenger car drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes during the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day holiday were 31% and 43%, respectively. Young drivers between 21 and 34 years old accounted for the highest percentage (35%) of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes during the same time period. 

“If you’re going out drinking during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, plan for a safe ride now,” Brown said. “It only takes a minute to make a plan and prevent the kind of carnage that no luck of the Irish will ever overcome.”

“The designated driver is not the person who’s had less to drink than everyone else,” Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Captain and Saratoga County STOP-DWI Coordinator Dan Morley said. “Find someone willing to stay stone sober ahead of time and avoid becoming a percentage to be cited in years to come.”

The STOP-DWI Holiday Season High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign also targets Halloween, Thanksgiving, the Holiday Season, Super Bowl weekend, “420 Day,” Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day/End of Summer. 

Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. You can help to make a difference by having a sober plan. 

Download the mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp. Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. 

The 20th annual Upstate Sports Summer Expo is back at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Saturday-Sunday, March 14-15 – beat cabin fever and get excited about spring and summer at the gathering of outdoor sports, recreation, health/fitness, and travel enthusiasts!

The free admission, high energy show brings Upstate Sports & Vermont Sports magazines to life with 200 exhibitors covering running, biking, paddling, hiking, triathlon, recreation, health/fitness, and travel. We have many Upstate New York regional destinations represented, including Capital-Saratoga, Adirondacks, Hudson Valley, Catskills, Central NY, 1000 Islands, Finger Lakes, and Western NY. Attendees can also speak with ultralight canoe and kayak builders, local bike shops, camps and retreats, trails and sustainability, outdoor recreation, and health and fitness professionals.

Attendees can buy new clothing, gear, health/fitness and lifestyle products and services, enter to win many Expo prizes; enjoy in-booth demos; and bring the kids of all ages for educational, entertaining and fitness activities. Activities include disc golf, paddling, rowing, a working canal lock, Sunday morning group shakeout run/walk with Neighbor Running with Mizuno shoe demos, and much more! For kids, we’ll have kids on bikes indoor riding, hands-on wildlife displays, and fun interactive games. Plus, we’ll have lunch, snack, and drink options from 9 Miles East, Broadway Coffee, Ben & Jerry’s – and get a complimentary Summer Expo photo printout from Saratoga Photobooth!

The Summer Expo is an annual celebration of active, healthy living with like-minded people in an upbeat atmosphere – ideal to kickoff spring! Expo-goers can speak with local club members and join to get involved, speak with event directors and sign-up with show specials, set realistic health/fitness and wellness goals, and challenge yourself to make it a great year! Plan your next vacation, adventure and travel with our many destination exhibitors representing beautiful lakes, mountains, trails, communities, lodging, attractions, and events/races.

The free admission Upstate Sports Summer Expo is at the Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, on Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday, 10am-4pm. For more info and an updated list of exhibitors, visit: upstatesports.fun/summer-expo. For details and updates on the Summer Expo and our magazines, follow or like us on facebook.com/adirondacksports and instagram.com/adirondacksports.