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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Broadway Marker to be Installed Wednesday Celebrating Historic Bike Ride to Saratoga Springs

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

At the hour of 6 a.m. yesterday, a tall, stalwart young fellow, 6 feet in his stockings, and with muscles tough as steel wire, stood at the corner of 59th St. and 8th Ave.
He was about to start for Saratoga…

  – On a Bicycle To Saratoga, New York Times, July 4, 1879. –

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Wentworth Rollins set off on a 52-inch Columbia high wheel bicycle from 59th Street and 8th Avenue in New York City bound for Saratoga Springs. The N.Y. Times chronicled the trip in a series of articles, calling his journey “the longest ever made here on a bicycle.” 

“Rollins was among the first, and quite possibly the very first, bicycle tourists in America,” said Ed Lindner, Advocacy Chair for Bikeatoga, “and he chose to ride to Saratoga.” The trip was challenging. Bad roads and bad weather forced Rollins to walk in some places and to take the train for parts of the trip. But he arrived in Saratoga Springs in early July, 1879, and summer visitors reportedly flooded out of the hotels to gawk at him. 

Rollins visited Saratoga for more than two weeks before continuing his journey west, cycling more than 1,300 miles, and earning the title of “king of bicyclists in America.” 

“We want to celebrate the fact that he chose to ride to Saratoga Springs,” Lindner said. 

At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday June 26 Saratoga nonprofit Bikeatoga will unveil a new historical marker celebrating Rollins’ ride. The marker, funded by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, will be installed in front of the GAP store at 341 Broadway. 

 

 

Local Fundraiser Set for June 30 in Saratoga Springs

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, Neighborhood Buzz.

The Bernath Family. Photo provided

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ashley Bernath, then known as Ashley Johnson grew up in Saratoga Springs and today makes her home in Massachusetts with Ryan Bernath and their two daughters. 

Last October, the Bernaths’ then three-month-old daughter, Lucy, developed COVID and was admitted to a Massachusetts hospital with respiratory distress. While at the hospital, the girl developed Gastroparesis, a feeding aversion, and a secondary respiratory illness that required extended hospitalization. 

Lucy, whom is nicknamed “Little Lulu,” remained in the hospital until December, when she received a gastrostomy tube. Today, she is still nourished via feeding tube and requires full-time attention and the support of the Mass General Hospital Aerodigestive team, but is doing better. 

The Bernaths were finally home with their two girls, and feeling like they could see the light at the end of a dark tunnel.

This past May, after a few days of limping around the house, Ashley and Ryan’s older, 2-year-old daughter Charlie went to get X-rays for an injured foot. What was found instead was a broken femur. Less than a day later, a doctor announced the diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Two-year-old Charlie has cancer. 

A site was created to help with the expenses that will be accumulated over the coming months, and a posting on the fundraising platform Spotfund set $150,000 as a goal. To date, more than $120,000 has been donated. (For more on this, go to: spotfund.com and type The Bernath Family in the search box). 

A local fundraiser will take place from noon – 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30 at King’s Tavern on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs. For reservations, call 518-441-1103. 

Contributions will go toward Little Lucy’s many doctors visits, (physical therapy, weekly nurse visits, and monthly visits at MGH to maintain weight and strength) in addition to the enormous financial burden the Bernaths will soon face in the wake of Charlie’s Leukemia diagnosis.

Saratoga County Bar Association Holds Swearing-In Ceremony of New Officers

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

The Saratoga County Bar Association last week held a swearing-in of new officers at its installation dinner at McGregor Links County Club.

During the ceremony, Judge James Walsh, Saratoga County Supreme Court Justice, administered the oath of office for the following officers: Hon. Francine Vero: President, Scott Iseman: Vice President, Gordon Eddy: Treasurer, Anthony Morelli: Secretary 

Francine Vero, Saratoga Springs City Court Judge, also presented the outgoing president, Shawn Lescault, with a plaque for his leadership and service to the bar association. 

Saratoga County Bar Association Swearing-In Ceremony. Photo provided.

Tedisco, Walsh Pass New Legislation to Allow County DA’s Office to Hire Beyond Saratoga County; B-Spa To Milton Conservation Easement Land Transfer

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA— Sen. Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston) this week announced new legislation that they sponsored had final passage in both houses of the legislature.

The first bill waives the Saratoga County residency requirement for Assistant District Attorney positions in Saratoga County, the idea being to expand the pool of eligible applicants for the position. The legislation allows those who reside in adjoining counties to Saratoga the opportunity to apply for the job. 

“We need to support our district attorneys and ensure they have the tools they need to recruit and retain the best and brightest prosecutors to serve residents in Saratoga County and protect our communities. That’s why this legislation is so important,” Sen. Tedisco said in a statement. The exemption does not apply to the office of first assistant district attorney or chief assistant district attorney. 

The second bill sponsored and passed by Tedisco and Walsh is for a conservation easement land transfer of the Woods Hollow Nature Preserve from the Village of Ballston Spa to the Town of Milton., with the Woods Hollow Nature Preserve to continue to remain protected and forever undeveloped, and the land to now be owned by the Town of Milton.

“The sale is critical to the future of Woods Hollow, as it will require the addition of a conservation easement that will ensure it remains forever undeveloped, and it makes future maintenance of the large parcel more certain as it is likely to be better maintained by the Town in which it resides moving forward,” Ballston Spa Mayor Frank Rossi, Jr. said in a statement. 

Both bills now move to the governor’s desk for review.

June 15 – June 21, 2024

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Blotter.

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office 

A 20-year-old Watervliet man was charged with first degree manslaughter after allegedly “striking another person with a large wrench and causing that person’s death,” according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said they received a call of a fight in progress on Sparrow Drive in the town of Malta and the Investigation into the complaint led to the arrest of Cyrus J. Tetreault, 20, of Watervliet. 

The victim was identified as 53-year-old Malta resident Brian M. Miller. 

“It is truly tragic that this situation resulted in a loss of life,” county Sheriff Michael Zurlo said in a statement. “I am grateful for the professional response of the men and women of my agency and for the quick identification and arrest of the person responsible.” 

The Sheriff’s Office arrested Jacques S. Boisvert, 45, and Jacques A. Boisvert, IV, 20, of Malta on arrest warrants for criminal possession of stolen property in the 3rd degree (class D felony). The charges stem from an allegation that they possessed a stolen trailer that had a value in excess of $3,000. The original call was received by the Sheriff’s Office on April 23, 2024, and occurred on Hubbs Road in the town of Malta. The elder Boisvert was released to pretrial services while the younger was released on his own recognizance pending further action in the matter.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call on Sacandaga Road in the town of Galway. As a result of the investigation into the matter, Gerrod M. Jones, 40, of Galway, was charged with strangulation in the 2nd degree (class D felony). Jones is accused of placing another person in a chokehold resulting in loss of consciousness. He was arraigned in the Galway Town Court and released to pretrial services pending further action in the matter.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an inactive larceny at the Northway Golf Center on Crescent Road in the town of Halfmoon. Investigation into the complaint led to the arrest of Clayton J. Callan (age 37) Malta, charged with falsifying business records in the 1st degree and grand larceny in the 4th degree (class E felonies). Callan is accused of stealing from the store in an amount exceeding $1,000. Additionally, he is charged with falsifying the store’s business records with the intent to defraud and to commit another crime. He was arraigned in the Halfmoon Town Court and released on his own recognizance pending further action in the matter.

The Sheriff’s Office received a call of an inactive burglary at Fuller’s Corner Store in the town of Edinburg. Investigation into the complaint led to the arrest of Kerrilyn S. Polite, 41, of Northville, charged with burglary in the 3rd degree (class D felony). Polite is accused of entering and remaining unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime therein. She was arraigned in the Edinburg Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail pending further action in the matter. 

Saratoga County Court

Justin Franz, 39, of Cohoes, pleaded to robbery in the second-degree, charged July 2023 in Mechanicville. Sentencing Aug. 2. 

Alia M. Sullivan, 39, of Hadley, pleaded to felony DWI, charged July 2023. Sentencing Junly 29. 

Lovell T. Roper, 31, of Manhattan, was sentenced to 2-1/2 years incarceration/ 1 year post-release supervision, after pleading to felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, charged September 2020 in Moreau. 

Raymond K. Sedlak, 67, of Waterford, pleaded to DWI, and Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, charged Jan. 1, 2024. Sentencing Aug. 1. 

Leona McLean, 32, of Albany, was sentenced to 5 years probation, after pleading to criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth-degree, charged February 2023 in Malta. 

Joseph B. Farrington, Sr.

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Joseph B. Farrington, Sr., 94, passed peacefully with his daughters by his side June 13, 2024. Calling hours were June 18 at Burke Funeral Home where members of the Knights of Columbus and AOH met. Mass was June 19 at St. Clement’s followed by burial in St. Peter’s cemetery. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com. 

Rita S. Fischer

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Rita S. Fischer passed away peacefully on June 17, 2024. A funeral will be held at Congregation Shaara Tfille at 84 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs on Friday, June 21 at 11:00 a.m. with a meal of comfort to follow. Remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.

William Howard Hefner

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —William Howard Hefner, age 82, passed away on June 6, 2024, at Wesley Health Care Center.  At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service at this time.  For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com. 

Joel Brian Owen

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

WILTON — Joel Brian Owen, age 81, passed away on June 2, 2024, in the comfort of his home in Wilton.  At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service at this time. For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com. 

Anthony A. Johnson

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Anthony A. Johnson, age 79, passed away on June 13, 2024, at Wesley Health Care Center. At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service at this time.  For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.