SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two tribute bands, Brit Floyd and Get the Led Out, will perform back-to-back at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Since their formation, Brit Floyd has put on more than 1,500 shows in more than 40 countries, bolstering their claim to be the definitive live Pink Floyd experience. Accompanied by a light show, lasers, video projections, inflatables, and theatrical staging, “The Moon, The Wall and Beyond” is being billed as Brit Floyd’s “most ambitious and immersive production to date.”
Get the Led Out consists of six veteran musicians who utilize multi-instrumentalists to re-create songs with studio overdubs that Led Zeppelin themselves never performed live.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com.
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.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Honorary Committee tickets for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s 2026 Belmont Bash are now available and may be purchased here: https://1049a.blackbaudhosting.com/1049a/Belmont-Bash.
The event takes place at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park on Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. The museum fundraiser will include an open bar featuring specialty cocktails, a buffet-style dinner catered by Mazzone Hospitality, entertainment from Garland Nelson and Soul Session, and an exclusive silent auction.
The Belmont Bash will honor the connections of 2025 Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty, including Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, jockey Junior Alvarado, and owner Godolphin. Cocktails begin at 7 p.m. with dinner at 8 p.m. Valet parking will be available.
With the Belmont Stakes returning downstate to the new Belmont Park in 2027, this year’s Belmont Bash will mark the third and final time the event is held in Saratoga Springs. All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Businesses or individuals interested in becoming a sponsor should contact Maureen Pasco at (518) 584-0400 ext. 109 or mpasco@racingmuseum.net. General event tickets will be available at the end of March.
Wall-E is a very affectionate 16 pound “lovebug” who thrives on human attention. He has high energy and especially enjoys playing with springs and running on a cat wheel. He is currently being fostered by the Small Animal Science students at BOCES, where he receives plenty of interaction.
Wall-E can be a bully toward submissive cats. His previous family noted that while he did well with female cats, he antagonized an older male cat in the home. For this reason, he would do best in a home without submissive or older male cats to ensure a safe environment for everyone. He is a bit shy at first but as soon as you pick him up or start petting he just melts and wants to be loved. He would do best in a home without young children.
Wall-E is neutered, up to date on his vaccines, and has tested negative for both FIV and FeLV.
The HOPE Pet Adoption Center is open to the public Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 11-4 and by appointment. Online adoption applications can be found at our website www.hopeanimalrescue.org.
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.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Annette Francis Burns passed away March 4, 2026. Calling hours are from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on March 14, at Compassionate Funeral Care, Saratoga Springs, followed by a service at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A graveside service will follow in Greenridge Cemetery, Saratoga Springs. Online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.
Thoroughbreds’ pitcher Quinn Hocom struck out 10 hitters across five innings in a game against Baruch College last Sunday. Photo by Matt Milless via Skidmore Athletics.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA — The Skidmore College baseball team swept Baruch College in a doubleheader last Sunday before then splitting another doubleheader against Rockford University on Monday.
The busy two days concluded with the Thoroughbreds earning a 3-1 start to their season at the Gene Cusic Classic in Florida.
Skidmore is currently scheduled to play its first home game at the new Ferrari Field in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, March 18.
Against Baruch, five Skidmore pitchers combined to surrender just three earned runs in two games. The Thoroughbreds won game one, 6-2, on a 10-strikeout performance from Quinn Hocom, and then won game two, 2-1, thanks to a one-hit, five-inning start by Chase Siegel.
In game one, Matthew O’Neill had three hits in his collegiate debut. He led off the bottom of the first inning with an opposite-field double and then scored on an error. He led off both the third and fifth innings with a single and a stolen base. Eddie Galvao was 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-RBI homer in the third.
In game two, O’Neill earned two more hits, wrapping up his impressive opening day with five hits, three stolen bases, and four runs scored.
Against Rockford, the Thoroughbreds dropped a back-and-forth opener, 12-11, before responding with an 8-4 victory in the second game to hand Rockford its first loss of the year.
In game one, Skidmore scored five runs in the first inning, but Rockford rallied late to snatch away the W.
In game two, the Thoroughbreds tallied 11 hits total, led by a 3-for-3 performance by Nate Vandersea. Galvao added two hits, including a double.
BALLSTON SPA, NY- Jennifer Wilcox, 53, passed peacefully March 8, 2026. Jennifer’s spirit, kindness, and the love she poured into her family will endure in the hearts of all who were blessed to share in her life. Calling hours are on March 16, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Burke Funeral Home. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.
