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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Saratoga Ladies Seeking New Members

Saratoga National Cemetery via the Saratoga Ladies Facebook group.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Ladies, an organization that honors fallen veterans and offers condolences to their families during internment ceremonies at the Saratoga National Cemetery, is seeking new members. The group is an all-volunteer community of women throughout the Capital Region. 

Members are expected to participate in internment services at the Saratoga National Cemetery a minimum of one day per month, or offer other crucial talents in support of program activities. No dues or clothing expenses are required.

For more information, visit saratogaladies.org.

BankWise Enhances Online Alert System

SARATOGA SPRINGS — BankWise Technology, a Saratoga-based technology provider for financial institutions, has partnered with River Valley Community Bank to enhance the bank’s online alert system with near real-time alerts for customers.

New software will detect transactions and use the alerting interface of the digital banking platform to notify customers within minutes.

“Our near real-time alert integration middleware enables community banks like River Valley to offer their customers enhanced security and control, with transaction alerts delivered within minutes,” said BankWise Technology President and Chief Technology Officer Sergei Morgoslepov in a statement.

Saratoga Biochar Blasts Construction Moratorium, Awaits DEC Decision

MOREAU — After some uncertainty about the status of a possible construction moratorium in Moreau, the Town Board last week advanced a moratorium for the Moreau Industrial Park, where Saratoga Biochar is attempting to build a manufacturing facility. 

In a statement, Saratoga Biochar CEO Raymond Apy called the moratorium “wholly indicative of the Town Board’s mission: to drive away business that it does not like, regardless of whether or not that business meets the town’s zoning and land use laws.”

Apy’s company is waiting for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to decide whether Saratoga Biochar should be granted a permit to build its facility. The NYSDEC had been gathering feedback on the issue, but the public comment period ended on Monday. 

“Saratoga Biochar will vigorously defend our prior approvals and our rights as an applicant to build a business in the Town of Moreau,” Apy said.

Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show: Commemorative 50th Anniversary Event

Photo provided

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs hosted its 50th Annual Home & Lifestyle Show at the Saratoga Springs City Center on March 2 and 3.  

The occasion was marked with a commemorative ribbon cutting attended by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner,  a representative from Senator James Tedisco’s office,  Charles Wait Jr of Adirondack Trust, Rotary District Governor Whitney Pangburn, and Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs members, William Bergan, President, Mary Lou Wheeler, 2024 Home Show Chair, Marisa Flynn, Susan Rhoades, Brian O’Connell, Laurie Miller, Galina, Balaskumpa and Brian Carroll to name a few.

Woerner presented the Club with a Legislative Resolution commemorating the anniversary.  Senator Tedisco’s office presented the Club with The Empire Award, the Senate’s highest honor for small businesses, presented periodically to those who exemplify a dedication to their communities and New York State at large.

This year’s Home & Lifestyle Show featured over 100 vendors, artists, and small businesses with thousands of attendees over the two-day weekend. The proceeds of the show benefit the Rotary Club’s Scholarship Foundation (benefiting Saratoga Springs graduating seniors) as well as the Club’s support of not-for-profits throughout the year.

31st Annual Northeastern Woodworkers Showcase

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 31st Annual Northeastern Woodworkers Showcase will be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs on March 23 and 24 from 10 am. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15, children under 12 free. 

The show will feature over 500 exhibits of the art of woodworking, including fine furniture, wood sculpture, carvings, musical instruments, toys, turnings, and all things crafted from wood. National and regional vendors will be offering a wide variety of wood, and wood-related tools and accessories for sale, along with demonstrations. There will be free lectures and demonstrations on a variety of subjects by talented artisans. 

Sunday is Family Day with a roving magician, and an opportunity for children to build a toy and turn a pen on a lathe. For more details, visit www.woodworker.org  

Sustainable Saratoga Call For Volunteers for TREE TOGA Event April 27

Volunteers are sought for the 10th Year Tree Toga planting event. 
Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Saturday, April 27, Sustainable Saratoga’s Urban Forestry Project will hold its 10th year of Tree Toga planting event, adding an expected 35 large-growing shade trees to the urban forest.

Volunteer Tree Planters are needed to help plant trees in the community. 

Volunteers will check in at Pitney Meadows Community Farm at 9:30 a.m. on April 27 and get a lesson in tree planting before heading off in small teams to their assigned locations across the city. Once the trees are in the ground, Tree Host homeowners and other volunteers provide the care that is critical to tree survival and the success of Sustainable Saratoga’s mission to preserve and expand Saratoga’s urban forest.

“This April’s Tree Toga will bring the total number of trees planted in the past 10 years to over 400.” said Sustainable Saratoga Urban Forestry Project Chair Caroline Rothaug, in a statement.

To get involved in this family-friendly community event, sign up at sustainablesaratoga.org/tree-toga.

Barbie Doll to be Topic of League of Women Voters’ Panel

Baffling Barbie: Feminist Friend or Foe? Discuss – March 9. 

CLIFTON PARK — To commemorate the 65th birthday of the controversial doll, the League of Women Voters is holding a forum titled, Baffling Barbie: Feminist Friend or Foe? on Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. The public is invited to attend.

Headlining the event will be Rosemary Armao, podcaster, professor at UAlbany, and previously on WAMC’s Round Table and Media Project. 

Panelists representing four generations of women will share their perceptions of how Barbie influenced their views of what it means to be a woman in American culture and if the Barbie movie changed their perceptions of the doll’s impact. Clips from the Barbie movie will be shown. 

There will also be a display of Barbie dolls by a long-time area collector, Myla Kramer. No registration is required for this free event. Kens are welcome. For more information, visit www.lwvsaratoga.org. 

Impressions Pups’ 10th Annual Birthday Pawty

Impressions Pups: Cookie, Smitty, Pupa and Thatcher. Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Join Impressions of Saratoga in celebrating the Impressions Pups’ Annual Birthday Pawty on Saturday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Impressions has been dog friendly since its inception. Each March they celebrate the Impressions Pups birthdays. This year marks the tenth year of the Impressions Pups’ Pawty.

This is a dog friendly event. Dogs must be well behaved, good with other dogs and must be leashed at all times. If your dog would rather stay home, you are welcome to stop in and grab a Pawty Pick Up Pack.

This year’s birthday bash will be “BONE Appetite” themed. InstaCakes will be serve. Each InstaCake Kit includes a pup cake that only takes a few minutes to make. Plus IdlePaws, a small natural pet treat company out of Syracuse, will be serving up samples. The InstaCake Kits and IdlePaws Pet Treats will also be available for purchase.

There will be activities, treat tastings, special deals on Dog products, coloring contest and a raffle for a prize basket. 

Donations will also be collected for Estherville Animal Shelter; accepting new or gently used toys, collars, leashes, beds, blankets, or towels. They can also use dried and canned dog and cat food and treats. Any donations are appreciated and will be delivered to animals in need.

Impressions of Saratoga is located at 368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. For more information email impressions@impressionssaratoga.com. 

Craft Fair at Brookside Museum – Vendors Wanted

BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County History Center is seeking vendors of handmade crafts, antiques and farm products for the annual craft fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 22. 

No mass-produced or commercially-made items will be permitted. Spaces are available outdoors, with limited spaces available indoors.  This is a rain or shine event. 

Visit brooksidemuseum.org/event/2024-craft-antique-fair/ for more information or contact Beth Silvestri at bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org.

March 2 – 8, 2024

Saratoga Springs Police Department

Margaret Cardamone, 66, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with DWI, and aggravated DWI. 

Carrieann Harter, 40, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with criminal trespass in the second-degree. 

Amir Pomykal, 21, of Schenectady, was charged with criminal mischief in the second-degree. 

Timoth Sims, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with criminal trespass in the second-degree.  

Joshua Usher, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with aggravated family offense, criminal contempt, and criminal mischief in the third-degree.

Daniel Ramirez De Jesus, 24, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with assault in the third-degree. 

Anija Jacotin, 23, of Albany, was charged with DWI, aggravated DWI, and two driving-related violations. 

Jonathan Emery, 32, no address listed, was charged with assault, criminal possession of a narcotic drug, and two counts criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

George Coleman, 36, of Milton, was charged with grand larceny, and criminal mischief.  

Jeremy Zepf, 44, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with obstruct governmental administration, and criminal mischief.  

Kevin Cuva, 51, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with criminal contempt, criminal trespass, and aggravated family offense. 

Isabell Seguin, 25, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was charged with DWI, and possession of a controlled substance. 

Joshawna Nomina, 21, of Troy, was charged with DWI.

Bobby Spearman, 57, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with criminal contempt, and aggravated family offense. 

Netasha Carleton, 30, of Ballston Spa, was charged with assault.

Terrance Crawford, 38, of Hudson Falls, was charged with the felonies rape in the second-degree and criminal sex act in the second-degree, following an investigation initiated by a family member of the victim – whom is a minor, police said.  Crawford is a Level 2 Registered Sex Offender, with a previous conviction for rape in the third-degree, according to police.

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office

On Feb. 23, the Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle on I-87 in the city of Saratoga Springs for an unsafe lane change. When the deputy approached the vehicle, the vehicle fled northbound on I-87, exiting at Exit 14, and continued westbound on NYS Route 9P when it abruptly stopped in the middle of traffic. The driver allegedly fled on foot into the area of Yaddo Gardens. 

Jose A. Guity, 25, of Queens, was subsequently taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit and charged with reckless endangerment in the first-degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh-degree, resisting arrest, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, reckless driving, moving from lane unsafely, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Guity is accused of traveling westbound on Route 9P in the eastbound lane while reaching a speed of approximately 75 mph in a 30-mph zone, in traffic. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

Saratoga County Court

Tristan J. Mason, 21, of Halfmoon, was sentenced to 5 years’ probation, after pleading to felony burglary, charged January 2023. 

Keith R. Kulsha, 37, of Schenectady, was sentenced to 1-1/2 to 3 years’ incarceration, after pleading to felony grand larceny, charged December 2022. 

William C. Ferrara, 34, of Niskayuna, was sentenced to 4-1/2 years’ incarceration and 3 years’ post-release supervision, after pleading to felony assault, charged January 2023 in Ballston Spa. 

Dean J. Atwell, 35, of Middle Grove, pleaded to felony grand larceny, charged January 2024 in Galway. Sentencing April 24. 

Betsy M. Jablonski, 40, of Amsterdam, pleaded to felony grand larceny, charged October 2023 in Clifton Park. Sentencing April 24.  

NY State Police

State Police of Clifton Park, while on patrol, witnessed a two-car crash on I-87 in Wilton. One of the drivers was identified as John A. Spiegel Jr., 32, of Wappingers Falls.  Spiegel was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. The driver and passenger of the second vehicle were transported to Saratoga Hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.  Spiegel was transported to SP Wilton for processing, where he refused to provide a sample to determine the alcohol content of his blood, according to police. Further investigations discovered Spiegel has had multiple DWI convictions in the last 10 years, police said. He was arraigned at the Milton Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility without Bail.

State Police of Wilton charged Rosemary E. Gorman, 62, of Ballston Spa with Driving While Intoxicated, Resisting Arrest, and Obstructing Governmental Administration in the second-degree. Gorman was transported to SP Wilton for processing, where she recorded a 0.20% BAC, police said.